Springsummer2013newsletter

Home for Life速 Animal Sanctuary Spring | Summer

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Home for LIfe's 2013 faLL GaLa wItH tempLe GrandIn 2 VIneyard supports Home for LIfe 3 emerGency medIcaL care fund makes a dIfference for many specIaL anImaLs 6 tHe bLInd cats of Home for LIfe 10 pLanet doG supports Home for LIfe 18

Home for Life Animal Sanctuary Spring | Summer 2013 pHotoGrapHer:

Mark Luinenburg except where noted, all photographs in this edition of the newsletter were taken by mark Luinenburg, a professional photographer from minneapolis who donates his time and talent to the creation of our newsletter. most of the photos on our website were also taken by mark. mark has traveled the world on assignment for national Geographic adventure magazine, GQ, espn magazine and Health magazine. purina recently sent him to numerous cities across the u.s. for the second year in a row, photographing pets and their owners. the ads for purina one have appeared in numerous national magazines.

Photo of Momokun, here and on the cover, taken at Home for Life Animal Sanctuary, Fall, 2012 by Mark Luinenburg

Home for Life® is a nationally recognized sanctuary that provides loving, lifetime care for dogs and cats who are unable to find homes due to old age, disabilities, or medical or behavioral issues. the special needs animals of Home for Life® come to us from all over the united states and many foreign countries. In addition, Home for Life® offers several community outreach programs that expand the impact of the sanctuary’s mission of kindness and compassion.

Home for Life® is a non-proit, tax exempt 501(c)3 corporation as defined by the Internal revenue code. Home for Life® funded entirely by donations from our supporters. we receive no money from any governmental entity. our administrative staff, including our board of directors and executive director, is unpaid.

Home for Life® P.O. Box 847, stillwater, Mn 55082 1.800.252.5918 | info@homeforlife.org www.homeforlife.org we do not sell our mailing list to other charitable organizations or mailing list vendors. Home for Life® a registered trademark of the animal sanctuary of st. croix Valley, Inc.

tHIs newsLetter made possIbLe tHanks to tHe GenerosIty of

Robert M. Weyerhaeuser 2

Home for L Ife ® sprInG–summer 2013

with special guest

Temple Grandin

“Autism made school and social life hard, but it made animals easy” -Temple Grandin Temple Grandin, voted one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, in the “Heroes” Category, will be the featured guest at Home For Life Animal Sanctuary's Fall Gala:

The Fancy Feast Friday, October 18, 2013, 6:30 pm temple Grandin’s books “Animals in Translation” and “Animals Make Us Human” were both on the new york times best seller list. “Animals Make Us Human” was also on the canadian best seller list. Her life story has also been made into an Hbo movie titled “Temple Grandin", starring claire danes. the emmy award wimming movie shows her life as a teenager and how she started her career.

International Market Square, Minneapolis 275 Market Street Minneapolis, MN 55405 During her keynote address, featured guest Temple Grandin will talk about her insights that have changed forever the way we look at and treat animals. Enjoy a spectacular evening of fine wines, gourmet food, silent and live auctions and an opportunity to meet Temple and hear her revolutionary ideas about what animals want and need to be happy and have a truly good life.

Reservations available July 15, 2013: $100 per person ($50 tax deductible) For more information: www.homeforlife.org or 800-252-5918 www.Homefor LIfe.orG

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Z Wines and Stonehill Vineyards of South Africa Supporting the animals at Home For Life® H

ome for Life® has several international rescues, dogs and cats we have taken in from foreign countries. Currently we have animals from Saudi Arabia, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Canada and Mexico. We’ve always believed that where an animal has been born should not preclude Home for Life® from providing the care we are uniquely able to offer if that animal needs our help. People who want the best for animals in need and who believe in our mission come from all over the world, and the concern we share for the special needs animals unites those of us who love these dogs and cats irrespective of nationality and miles.

and the cabernet rose, sold around the world, are named after Bristle, —yes there really is a Bristle! She’s a little wire hair mutt that Stonehill’s founder, Lorna Hughes found in a rubbish bin when she was hardly past a new born puppy.

Lorna nursed her back to health, and she has become Lorna’s faithful companion, one of her eight personal dogs, and the inspiration for the internationally acclaimed wines which bear her name. “Attitude on four legs” is often how this feisty canine is described by Dave Hughes, Lorna’s husband and world-renowned wine judge and writer. Bristle’s image-with

Our collaboration with Z Wines and the Stonehill Vineyards illustrates that alliances are possible among those of us who want to help animals, no matter how many miles separate us.

Stonehill Vineyards, located in Stellanbach South Africa produces notable wines including a cabernet rose which has a cult following among wine connoisseurs. Their red, viognier

Clockwise from top: Roy Gosselin of Z Wines with Bristle at the Stonehill Vineyards;Stonehill Vineyards, Stellanbach, South Africa, Bristle with the wine named in her honor, Lorna and Dave Hughes and their pack walk among the vineyards of Stonehill, Lorna and her "manager" Bristle

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Home for L Ife ® sprInG–summer 2013

Stonehill  Bristle Viognier

Stonehill  Bristle Rose

Stonehill  Bristle Red

crisp and fresh, yet firm and full in the mouth with fine texture and more stone fruit flavors than the nose suggests. white peach and apricot become more evident with time in the glass. a hint of clean oak. fascinating appearance of sweetness on the palate, yet finishes bone dry. delightful in it’s youth yet has all the potential to develop like it’s predecessors.

a cabernet drinkers rose! rich, red rose colour. floral and ripe berry fruit aromas greet the nose while sweet spice follows. the wine is lively and provides layers of cherry, plum and strawberry flavours as it develops on the palate. the oak is not visible but has done it’s job in adding the extra complexity to the wine. a fascinating bite of light tannin gives just the grip needed in the long, fresh finish. already a year old at release the wine has developed considerable complexity yet still has potential to grow.

Hand harvested grapes. bright red ruby color. nose leads with ripe berry fruits where dark cherry, plum and strawberry play a part. Great spicy backing with just a subtle hint of oak in support. Hints of fynbos and smoke slowly emerge to add greater complexity. supple tannins give lively mouth feel.

this is a great accompaniment to seafoods, asian and mediterranean cuisine. the wine is ready to be enjoyed now but will develop complexity in the next two to three years. alcohol: 13.5% upc #: 6009820510069 ★ Rated Best Value Imported White– Food & Wine Show, Minnesota

this 100% cabernet rose is finished delightfully dry and makes a wonderfully versatile drink. this pair well with spicy foods, salmon dishes, pork dishes and salads. drink well chilled. alcohol: 13% upc #: 6009820510021

*Proceeds of the sale of these wines goes to the Animal Welfare Society, Stellenbosch, South Africa, and Home For Life® Animal Sanctuary. a vine cutting in her mouth appear on bottles bearing her name produced by the Stonehill Vineyards. A percentage of all proceeds from sales of the Bristle Wines are dedicated to support the animal shelter in Stellanbach South Africa, The Animal Welfare Society of Stellanbosch,where Lorna, a devoted dog lover, is a dedicated volunteer and president of the board of directors.

Z Wines of Minneapols are generous supporters of Home for Life who have have donated wine tastings for our gala events. When we approached approached Dianne Ferrandi and Roy Gosselin of Z Wines. Minneapolis, about a private label wine for the 2011 Home for Life event, they suggested another idea: a collaboration with Stonehill Vineyards where a portion of all sales of the Bristle Wines sold in the United States would be donated to Home for Life to help our ani-

the wine is 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% shiraz. the shiraz vines are all old and gnarly and are now 33 years old giving us a very small quantity while the cabernet is 17 years old. the wine is aged in a mixture of new and older french oak for around 10 months.

It is a seamless blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz without either being dominant this is a great accompaniment to red meat dishes, pasta and cheese dishes. the wine is ready to be enjoyed while now but will develop complexity in the next two to three years. alcohol: 14% upc #: 6009820510014

mals. Roy and Dianne presented the idea to Lorna who was very receptive, and especially after she visited Home for Life when she was in the Twin Cities in the Spring of 2012 to meet the many animals who would be helped because of her generosity. Thanks to the kindness of Lorna Hughes of Stonehill Vineyars and Roy Gosselin and Dianne Ferrandi of Z Wines, Home for Life now receives a percentage of all sales of the Bristle Wines sold in the United States. Look for the Home for Life seal on all Bristle Wines, as well as the seal for the Stellanbach Animal Shelter, whose animals also benefits from all sales of the Bristle Wines.  Learn more about tHe anImaL weLfare soceIty of steLLanboscH, soutH afrIca at tHeIr websIte: Http://aws-stb.co.za/

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Kitchee runs free and without pain, her deformed legs repaired.

Home for LIfe’s

Emergency Medical Care Fund makes tHe dIfference for many specIaL anImaLs

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world away in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a German Shepherd puppy stood alone in a narrow street. She had been born with deformed hind legs. When her owners realized she wouldn’t outgrow this condition they had abandoned her.

With no home and no one to protect her, the small female puppy was soon surrounded by a gang of boys. She tried to get away but could not break out of their circle, and could not have run far anyway. That’s when a rock hit her on the side of the ribs. Then another slammed against the side of her head.

Dazed, she tried to get away but was struck again, this time on the shoulder. Desperately, in pain, the puppy pushed herself forward on her twisted hind legs, trying to get away, to dodge the stones which hit her small body from every direction. Kitchee was being stoned to death!

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In the nick of time, a Good Samaritan found Kitchee. Chasing off the boys, the kind man picked her up, nearly dead from the beating, and rushed her to a local veterinarian. The vet was able to save her life. He gave her a name - “Kitchee” - and a safe place in a back room of his clinic where she recovered from her injuries. The room was dark and had no windows, the floor cement. The puppy was alone most of the day, but she was safe. An animal rescue based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, learned of the small puppy living alone in the storage room. Touched by her story and the cruel abuse she had survived, they brought her back to Dubai and boarded her at a kennel where she would receive more attention and better care. Reaching out online to rescue groups and shelters around the world, they tried to find a permanent home for Kitchee.

Many people were interested in helping Kitchee, but didn’t want to adopt her for their own, worried about the effort and costs her special medical needs would demand. After months of trying, the Dubai rescue group learned about a special place they hoped would help Kitchee: Home for Life Animal Sanctuary. In the fall of 2011, Kitchee traveled all the way from Dubai to Minneapolis, where we met her flight and took her to Home for Life, just 45 minutes from the Twin Cities.

The obvious question is why Home for Life would take a dog who lived thousands of miles away in another country. When we heard Kitchee’s dramatic story and took one look at her picture, we couldn’t disregard her just because of where she was born.

No matter where she came from, it was clear she had few options and desperately needed our help. As the writer Maya Angelou wrote: “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

Part of Home for Life’s mission is showing what’s possible — that animals like Kitchee can live a great life if just given the opportunity.

Although Kitchee is but one animal that we have helped, she is emblematic of the many animals who come to Home for Life: these animals have nowhere else to turn.

As one of the Country’s only care for life sanctuaries, Home for Life is often called upon to help desperate animals whose needs are beyond the scope or capacity of other shelters focused on adoption. Often other shelters will turn away animals with extraordinary medical needs, applying a triage philosophy to helping the most animals with limited resources. Occasionally a shelter will take in an animal with special medical needs, and then later recognize that the dog or cat will require on going, complex care that an adoption focused organization cannot provide. In such situations, Home for Life offers another chance- the “door number three” -for animals who are passed by for adoption but who can still live a quality life.

Everywhere there are many animals like Kitchee who deserve a chance and want to live, but for whom adoption into a typical home is not an option. While conventional shelters and rescues focus on “adoptable” dogs and cats, few oppor-

tunities are available for special-needs animals like Kitchee.

Home for Life, the “third door” in animal welfare, provides a loving, lifesaving and innovative alternative for animals who many never find an adoptive home but for whom euthanasia is premature and inhumane. Kitchee’s story illustrates what’s possible: that animals like her can live a great life in a setting suited for their needs. Thanks to contributions from compassionate Home for Life supporters like you, Kitchee underwent reconstructive surgeries to relieve her pain and restore her mobility. Although her legs will never be “normal”, she now walks and runs free of pain after the successful surgeries. And best of all, Kitchee has regained her faith in life and is no longer fearful. She loves her dog friends and welcomes

Kitchee after her surgery to repair her second leg: smiling because her days of pain are over

the attention of our staff and supporters who visit Home for Life and want to meet “the puppy from Saudi Arabia!”

Kitchee’s life and story proves that is possible to make the best of a terrible start in life. She is a living example of goodness triumphing over selfishness, meanness, cruelty and fear.

The most gratifying aspect of our work at Home for Life is seeing the transformations in the desperate animals that come to Home for Life. To see a vulnerable animal,wounded in body and spirit transformed, now happy and confident now that they are cared for and loved, is our greatest reward.

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Home for LIfe’s emerGency medIcaL care fund and a condition also seen in people. Famous human beings who were affected by dermatomyositis include the actor Laurence Olivier (1907 – 1989) who suffered from dermatomyositis from 1974 until his death, Tim Rooney (Jan. 4 1947 - Sept. 23 2006) an Actor who was the son of actor Mickey Rooney and the The American football running back Ricky Bell (1955 - 1984), the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1976, and the number-one choice in the NFL draft in 1977, who died at the age of 29 from heart failure caused by this disease.

Dora with Alli, Home for Life animal care specialist, taken at Home for Life,Fall, 2012

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Dora, a small, female red heeler was found abandoned in the woods in rural Missouri, starving, emaciated and in obvious need of medical care, at a mere six months old. The individual who found her forlorn and alone could not keep her but brought her to a local veterinary clinic, hoping to find help on her behalf. Fortunately for Dora, the veterinarian and his wife were very kind people and not only took Dora in but also worked diligently to restore her health. With good food and care, Dora’s weight stabilized, and she was able to be spayed. She never grew very big, and has remained a small and dainty dog. While her overall condition improved thanks to the care provided by the veterinarian and his wife, her appearance remained baffling; Dora was missing fur on her face and in patches on her feet, tail and other spots on her body. Dora underwent testing to rule out the most obvious explanations for her condition and unconventional appearance: allergies, mange or parasites like mites. All of these possible causes were excluded. While a diagnosis was sought for Dora’s symptoms, the vet and his wife tried as hard as they could to place Dora with a rescue or shelter who they hoped would find her a home of her own. Dora was gentle and courageous, good with all people and other animals. But because of the way she looked and her perplexing health issues, no adoption program would take Dora on, and after over a year of effort to place Dora, the vet and his wife worried that Dora would have to spend the rest of her life in a kennel cage at the clinic.

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.

One of the rescue groups the vet contacted about Dora referred him to Home for Life. Like everyone else we were taken aback by Dora’s photos but our heart went out to this young dog whom the vet and his wife described as brave and gentle, a rare spirit with a strong will to live. They had just taken a skin biopsy and sent it to a veterinary pathol-

— John Ruskin

D

ora is another of Home for Life’s dogs helped by our Emergency Medical Care Fund. Dora was born with an autoimmune condition affecting the muscles and skin called dermatomyositis seen in the Australian cattle dog breed 8

Home for L Ife ® sprInG–summer 2013

ogist as the last effort to establish a cause for her condition which would determine a way to treat her. The pathologist came back with a diagnosis: based on the skin biopsy he thought Dora either had lupus or more likely dermatomyositis: an autoimmune disease found in heelers also known as cattle dogs, which causes inflammation of the skin and muscles.

to the Emergency Medical Care Fund, Dora will be assured the best quality of life possible for as long as she may live. 

Although the prognosis for dogs diagnosed with dermatomyositis is guarded, we wanted to give Dora the opportunity to have her own home, a home for life which she has found at our sanctuary. At Home for Life, Dora lives in our main building where she is never caged or kenneled and enjoys the loving attention of our staff who are in the building all day throughout the day and where she gets to greet all visitors and tourists who come to Home for Life. Her favorite spot is on the couch in the front entrance, where the big windows create a solarium effect, warm and bright even in the winter. She enjoys the company of our other “kitchen dogs” who live in the main building. Always cheerful, Dora stays on the sunny side of life despite physical challenges.

Once Dora arrived at Home for Life, we sought treatment and guidance for her from dermatology specialists at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. There, the diagnosis of dermatomyositis was confirmed, and a treatment plan set up to provide Dora Dora was found abandoned in the the best possible quality of life. Dora sees her veterinary woods starving, emaciated and in specialist at the U every 6-8 weeks and is on a protoobvious need of medical care col of medicines to control her symptoms and halt the progression of the disease. We don’t know how long we will have Dora with us or how long we will be able to keep her comfortable to assure her quality of life. For now, Dora epitomizes the saying “life may be short but its wide”. She is happy, comfortable and lets us know that she appreciates all the loving care she receives at Home for Life. She takes her daily medication in liver sausage, her favorite treat, and loves to run in the meadow with her dog friends including her best friend Igor, a blind lhasa apso cross. She loves to sunbathe on the couch in the front entrance of our main Dora with her doctor, Veterinary Dermatologist building and loves attention from our Dr. Sandra Koch at the University of Minnesota staff and visitors. She is a special favorVeterinary Medical Center in Minneapolis. ite of her doctors at the University who Dora has been diagnosed with an autoimmune marvel at her bravery and sweet nature. condition which affects the muscles and skin With the support of her doctors, our staff and all our donors who contribute www.Homefor LIfe.orG

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The Blind Cats of Home for Life: Part Two tHIs artIcLe Is second In a serIes ( tHe fIrst appeared In our 2011 newsLetter) about tHe bLInd cats at Home for LIfe.

momokun: MOMOKUN, one of Home for Life’s blind cats, is featured on the cover of our newsletter.

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nimals are resourceful and courageous about living their life to the fullest, always focusing on what they CAN do and not their lack and limitations. Among our many dogs and cats who are blind, it is apparent that they compensate by relying on their other senses: hearing, touch smell and taste. Their other senses become especially acute to allow them not only to get by but also to relish their lives. At Home for Life, we reinforce and develop these senses by feeding tasty, high quality and aromatic food, playing beautiful classical and jazz music, providing brushing and grooming to keep their coats clean and healthy and stimulate their sense of touch and by providing safe access to the outdoors where even our blind cats can enjoy the fresh smell of springtime grass and the crisp fall weather, the sounds of birds singing and the quiet settling sounds as evening falls. Their disability has not stopped our blind cats from learning, growing, and enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

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pHoto by sarabetH pHotoGrapHy

Celeste

Home for L Ife ® sprInG–summer 2013

Momo’s story begins in Okinawa, Japan, where he was found by some elementary school children. Just a kitten, Momo was also blind (his name comes from the Japanese word for blind “momokun”). Eventually, animal control was called and Momo was taken to the local pound. There, he would have only days to find a benefactor or face euthanasia by gas chamber. Okinawa is a small island only 67 miles long, and the stray animal problem is overwhelming with many unwanted dogs and cats.

Luckily, Momo was rescued. A woman whose husband was stationed in Okinawa had recently founded an animal rescue. A small organization consisting of the woman, her husband, and a few friends, they were paying for each rescue out of pocket. One of the veterinarians at the pound contacted them about Momo.

It was speculated that Momo’s blindness was the result of an untreated upper respiratory infection;upper respiratory infections are common in Okinawa, where the climate is damp and warm.

The rescue group was unable to locate a home for Momo, but they could not give up on him. When they talked with the

animal control director about fostering Momo, they were instructed to take a healthy cat instead. They persevered nonetheless, and eventually brought Momo home. They were wary to adopt him out in Okinawa as there is a significant animal abandonment problem, and the rescue could not risk Momo’s life a second time.

Home for Life® is now happy to be Momo’s permanent residence. The rescue organization contacted us on Momo’s behalf and flew him to the U.S. to live at our sanctuary. Momo did very well traveling via air from Okinawa to Denver Colorado and then to Minneapolis, Minnesota where we met his flight.

The couple cared for Momo for several months, treating his infection and teaching him basic kitty manners. However, being in the military, their future in Okinawa was uncertain, and they wanted Momo to have a permanent home. Knowing how hard it was to place abandoned pets on the small island, they were hesitant to find a local solution for Momo. Another consideration in their decision to seek a sanctuary setting for Momo was the fact that he had had grand mal seizures while in their care; the seizures were idiopathic- cause unknown.

Since coming to Home for Life®, Momo has had just one seizure, after a day in the car, travelling back and forth to the vet.

It seems that if he is kept calm and not put in stressful situations, he does not have seizures.

Last fall Momo saw a veterinary ophthalmologist at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center to determine if the remnants of his eyes should be removed.

Dr. Lim found that Momo has smaller than normal eyelid openings and that his third eyelid were adhered in place.

From the appearance of his eyelids and the condition of the tissue of around his eyes, Dr. Lim diagnosed Momo with congenital microphthalmos,yet she also believed it possible that a severe injury with scarring could have caused the abnormalities with Momo’s eyes,leaving him blind. For now with special daily drops for his eyes, Momo is comfortable and free of infections. In all other respects, Momo is a healthy, happy cat.

Now a year old, Momo loves to be around people and stretch out on his back for naps. He gets along well with his cattery mates, although he has a tendency to nip them enthusiastically. Because he is young and blind, Momo uses all available senses, including taste, to learn about his world. Like all cats, he will learn to “taste” others in a more appropriate manner as he gets older.

Momo also uses his hearing as a guide, following his cat friends to learn his way around his new home. He listens for his name and will follow the sound of it when called. In fact, he responds to any friendly voice, even though his first language is Japanese!

Momo has also developed an affinity for holiday music and always ventures closer to the speakers when he hears it.

Momo also loves classical music and will get as close as he can to the source of the music, be it a radio or a speaker to enjoy the harmonious sound. Somehow the melodies must soothe him: Mom proves that music is the universal language ( Home for Life® believes in music to soothe the souls of our “savage beasts” and plays music for all the cats and dogs at the sanctuary: their favorites are jazz and classical music (with the exception of opera) and holiday songs!

momukun

As you might expect, Momo is especially sensitive to touch.

Because he cannot see, the reassurance of being held is very important to him. He looks forward to being brushed and petted every day. We look forward to spending time each day with this special and delightful cat, for many years to come!

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ceLeste: Celeste came from Roberts, Wisconsin, where she lived outdoors as a stray in a trailer park. She was blind and survived only because kind residents of the park made sure to leave food and water out for her that she could easily find. Rescued as a young adult, she was admitted to Home for Life just as winter approached.

needed to be closed to prevent the chance of an infection.

The undeveloped eye tissue was removed and the sockets and eye lids closed to prevent the chance of infection.

Not only is Celeste blind but she is positive for leukemia, which was discovered at the time she was admitted and routine screening was done by our veterinarian. Leukemia positive and blind, it is simply astonishing that Celeste survived as a stray as long as she did.

When we met Celeste it was evident that she was not feral though she had been living on her own and wandering the Celeste has been at Home for Life since 2006 and has always trailer park for at least six months. She obviously recognized resided in our cattery devoted to our feline leukemia cats. kindness and caring and benefitted from it because, nor- She has blossomed in the secure and loving environment mally, a blind cat outdoors alone who was feral would never of our sanctuary. She can find her way around the cattery, to the food and have survived for long, water dishes nor have made friends With her gentle and calm purr-sonality, and her favorite with nearby people. chair, and even we have recruited Celeste as a therapy After her arrival at the through the cat sanctuary, we took cat, for our Peace Creatures program. doors to go outCeleste to a veterinary side, where she opthalmologist. The loves to be in doctor believed that Celeste’s lack of eyes was the result of the summer months. Like all our blind animals, Celeste was a birth defect, and that she never had the gift of sight. She able to learn the layout of a room and use that knowledge was born with very small undeveloped eyes, and has never as long as the landmarks remain in the same place. Despite been able to see. The eye sockets, open holes to her head, still being leukemia positive, she has enjoyed excellent health and is in beautiful condition. Celeste is a dilute calico with muted patches of grey and peach against a soft white fur coat.

She loves to give hugs and loves to be held. Listening for the sound of staff and visitors she will eagerly approach to seek attention. With her gentle and calm purr-sonality, we have recruited Celeste as a therapy cat, for our Peace Creatures program. Celeste regularily travels from Home for Life to Minneapolis with our volunteers to visit the small children who are living in a domestic abuse shelter as their mothers attempt to rebuild their lives. These children, deeply impacted by domestic abuse, are delighted to meet the loving Celeste and learn about her inspiring story of how she has thrived despite all she has faced-abandonment, disability and disease. She loves the children and doesn’t even mind the car rides to get to the domestic abuse shelter, and the exhuberance of the kids that greets her arrival.

Celeste

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This wonderful photo of Celeste in the cattery reveals her resiliant spirit, and her ability to make the most of all the opportunities in her life: a ray of sunshine though the cattery window on a winter day, the kindness of strangers at the trailer park where she was rescued, her good health despite being positive for leukemia, the care she has received at Home for Life from our caring staff who always make sure the cattery landmarks are where she can reference them to get around, and the love of the children who look forward to her visit each month.

determined that Stormy had suffered trauma to the skull, from either a car or most likely, from a kick or a smack with a bat or shovel. The severe head trauma resulted in retinal detachments and bleeding in both eyes with cataract formations. When there is enough inflammation to cause the eye to shrink, as Stormy’s had, there is a chance of a future tumor in the eye called “post traumatic sarcoma”. The decision was made to have the non-visual eyes removed and the eyelids closed over the empty sockets to prevent any chance of tumors forming and infections occurring. The financial support to help Stormy and pay for his surgeries were available from our Emergency Medical Care Fund, which underwrites treatment for animals admitted to Home for Life with serious injuries or illnesses.

Stormy

stormy: Stormy is another of the Home for Life cats who has no eyes.

Unlike Celeste who was born with no eyes, Stormy lost his sight through an injury. Because Stormy could once see, there is a difference in his demeanor as compared to Celeste, who was born blind and has never known otherwise. Stormy had beeen born able to see and to rely on his sight so the loss of his eyes through injury as an adult cat created a profound challenge for him.

Stormy, a recovering tom cat, was running as a stray in a trailer park in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities, Minnesota. A rescue group called St. Francis of Forest Lake, MN initiated a trapy/neuter/release program for the many cats who ran loose in the park, most of whom were feral or untamed.

While setting traps and making ready their preparations for the widespread feral cat operation, representatives from St. Francis observed a cat who was obviously blind, frantically running into the buildings and around the trailer homes. He was thin and had obviously been struggling to survive for a long time. They were able to trap the cat, and called Home for Life to ask if we could help him.

Stormy was neutered, and then we arranged for a veterinary ophthalmologist to evaluate his eyes to see what could be done. Sadly, the doctor discoverd that Stormy was blind in both eyes with no hope for future vision. The specialist

Stormy has been at Home for Life for several years now and courageously, has done his best to put the hard times behind him. Initially, he stayed in the outdoor cat run at all times and had to be fed out there. He only ventured indoors to the cattery late at night. Although tolerant of petting and not feral, he did not seek contact and was very wary and timid, as if he had lost all confidence in life and himself now that he was blind. But the appeal of regular mealtimes, a warm place to live, a soft bed and kind people to care for him finally persuaded Stormy that life was worth living as a tamer cat. He will never be the life of the party, but he now enjoys receiving attention from our staff and also eagerly awaits his daily canned food cat brunch.

Many cats that are identified as feral are simply stray catshouse cats who have been turned loose outside and abandoned to fend for themselves. They grow cautious out of necessity,but once their confidence is won again,they readily take to being cared for like the most loving of house cats.

Stormy's turn around, as documented in this photo of him posing on the peak of the catscratch teepee, has been especially gratifying as he had so much to overcome: an abusive, neglectful past, a label of " feral" and also the trauma which left him blind and vulnerable. Stormy bravely faced these challenges- the pain from his injuries and the surgeries, and the unfamiliarity of a new home to which he had to adapt- despite being unable to see. In some ways life was harder for Stormy because, when he was able to see, he experienced fear and trauma. Those memories were what he was left with when he lost his sight. Even after he became blind, he must have retained the visual memory of the fear,neglect and abuse he suffered. Once he became blind, those traumatic memories were all he had to rely on, and they didn't serve him any longer in his new life except to make him shy and wary. Nurturing his other senses, with every expectation that Stormy would be able to fully enjoy his life even though blind, helped him build the positive experiences that allowed him to leave his painful past behind.  www.Homefor LIfe.orG

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Star—an elderly English Setter—was found alone and cold.

death by euthanasia. Animals who are unlikely candidates for adoption—the old, disabled, medically or behaviorally challenged—have little hope for life anywhere else Where do Home for Life’s animals come but a sanctuary. Dogs and cats in one of the four categories above from? From all over the world and from can be offered to sanctuaries from a variety of sources—private parnearly every state in the country. Their ties, veterinarians, shelters, foster geographic derivation is straightforward and rescue organizations, animal control facilities, and breed resbut only part of the answer. cue groups. Some of Home for Life’s animals arrived via abandonment—tied to the front gate, ccording to Wikipedia’s an animal sanctuary “ is a facility where animals are brought to live and thrown over our fence, left in boxes on the driveway. be protected for the rest of their lives. Unlike animal Most of the animals who come to Home for Life have shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals had at least one home, and most have had two or three with individuals or groups, instead maintaining each and some as many as five or six adoptive homes before animal until his or her natural death. The mission of coming to the sanctuary. sanctuaries is to be a safe haven,where animals receive The best things in life are never free, and this is true the best care the sanctuary can provide”. for sanctuaries which will offer the only opportunity A sanctuary will often be the last resort and only for life for the animals surrendered to them. Home for chance that animal will have to avoid an untimely Life’s cost of care for the average animal at the sanc-

Consider the Source

A

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Home for L Ife ® sprInG–summer 2013

tuary is $202.00 per month: this amount covers food, veterinary care, grooming, staff salaries, utilities, and many additional costs to keep the sanctuary running and care for the animals. Any person or organziation who wants to surrender an animal to Home for Life is asked to fill out our simple application so we can evaluate whether this dog or cat truly has no other option. In our application we ask the surrendering party to contribute to the animal’s cost of care through sponsoring the animal. An amount of $100/month is suggested—less than half of what it costs us to care for the animal at Home for Life. There is space on our form to explain if sponsorship at this amount is not possible, and to suggest a different amount. If sponsorship of the animal is out of the question then, we ask for the best one time donation the surrendering party can make.

In other words, we will negotiate, but we will not take an animal for free. We believe that the service we offer of lifetime care for special needs animals is valuable. We need to be able to pay our staff a living wage in order to retain quality people, to pay our vendors and maintain our facility. We believe people value what they pay for and that includes care for animals and saving their lives.

Many sanctuaries begin with the best of intentions but because of lack of funding, become unable to care for the animals. One issue is that organziations need to decide if they are a sanctuary or a shelter: sanctuaries offer lifetime care for animals while shelters are temporary living arrangements where the goal is to see animals adopted. Animals at a facility permanently need different accomodations made for them and different care and committment then animals for whom an organization is a temporary waystation.

Saving animal lives requires a multi-faceted approach. Spay and neuter strategies avoid the births of unwanted animals, aggressive adoption and marketing strategies will find homes for many others. But for those animals already born, who may not be ideal adoption candidates, “the third door®”* offered by sanctuaries such as Home for Life provides a viable lifesaving alterSanctuaries offer a lifesaving, life native. Historically, animals entering a affirming third option for animals who shelter have had two ways to leave: door #1 via adoption and door #2 via euthamay not be able to be adopted but for nasia. Sanctuaries offer a lifesaving, life whom euthanasia is not a good choice affirming third option for animals who may not be able to be adopted but for either. The problem is that that sanctuaries whom euthanasia is not a good choice and “the third door” option they provide either. The problem is that that sanctuaries and “the third door” option they have not been embraced by the animal provide have not been embraced by the welfare community. Because of this lack animal welfare community. Because of this lack of recognition, sanctuarof recognition, sanctuaries struggle for ies struggle for legitimacy and for the financial support which makes their legitimacy and for the financial support work possible.

which makes their work possible.

Sanctuaries have been discredited in the press and by national animal welfare organizations who have equated them with pathological hoarding situations.

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There is a huge cost associated with lifetime care for animals with special needs. Sanctuaries cannot rely on the income generated from adoption fees. Animals offered to sanctuaries as a last resort often are accompanied by an ultimatum: take the animal—at no charge—or it will have to be put down, put to sleep (killed). It is not hard to understand how sanctuaries who are founded with the mission to help the most desperate of unwanted animals get into trouble; when told that that the animal offered for placement will be killed if not taken, that the sanctuary is the last resort, the sanctuary stretches one more time, to help just one more, in order to save the animal’s life.

A few weeks ago, Home for Life received a magazine from one of the very wealthy, national animal welfare organizations which raises money nationwide. The cover story was all about the horrors of animal hoarding, and the example cited in the article involved an animal sanctuary where this national organization had intervened to take the dogs and cats from the facility due to the neglectful conditions in which they were being kept. The article discussed how, sadly, the sanctuary may have started with good intentions about helping unwanted animals, but soon became overwhelmed and financially unable to provide for their charges on even the most rudimentary level.

Star, is a deaf, elderly english setter, estimated to be age 10. She was found alone and cold on a blustery March day this year by Sheriffs in Marble, Minnesota, far north of the Twin Cities. She had no collar or tags, but she did have several mammary tumors, including one the size of a baseball on her inner thigh.

Star

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Home for L Ife ® sprInG–summer 2013

Just a few years ago, this same national organization—rich and endowed beyond the wildest dreams of most animal rescue groups—had called Home for Life.

They requested help and sanctuary placement for a one year old paraplegic pitbull at their shelter. Paraplegic animals are incredibly difficult to care for well, to insure they reach their potential for a quality life and that they stay healthy. The monthly cost of a paraplegic animal easily exceeds our average monthly cost of $202.00 a month due to the amount of staff time and veterinary care devoted to them. We explained this to national organization representative and sent national organization an application—the same application we send to anyone wanting Home for Life to take an animal.

(We have had the same application for 12 years and have not increased our suggested donation and sponsorship amount in that timeframe). National organization got back to us in due course, stating that they would not contribute to Home for Life for taking the paraplegic pitbull and for her lifetime care with us because they were a non profit charity. Home for Life projected 10 or more years of care for the lifetime of this special need, high maintenance dog, that we would have to subsidize—while national organization took the credit for saving the dog’s life.**

Star, is a deaf, elderly english setter, estimated to be age 10. She was found alone and cold on a blustery March day by Sheriffs in Marble, Minnesota, far north of the Twin Cities. She had no collar or tags, but she did have several mammary tumors, including one the size of a baseball on her inner thigh. She was unspayed—of course. The Sheriffs brought her to the Star of the North Shelter in Coleraine MN In late April, 2011 Home for Life received an email from a shelter volunteer who was fostering the setter. She has stepped up to help the dog when the shelter decided to close due a dirth of funding.

The volunteer asked for help on behalf of her charge—veterinary care and permanent placement—as she was unable to keep the dog. Home for Life’s Emergency Medical Care Fund paid to have her spayed and the tumors removed (all were benign thankfully). It had been out of the question given the shelter’s circumstances to pay for the surgery for the dog, and we knew this would be the case when we offered to help. She did convalesce after surgery at the home of the foster in Northern Minnesota, and in late May joined Home for Life as a permanent resident of the sanctuary. We thought that was the end of it and were glad we were able to help the shelter with at least one of their dogs—who among those in animal rescue would not have comiserated with the heartbreak of having to close the doors and the struggle and challenges of survival in this economy? She was named Star in honor of the Star of the North shelter who took her in when she was abandoned even though they were fighting for survival.

We were so moved by this card and that this shelter, facing closure, still somehow found the money for a contribution to acknowledge and support the work of Home for Life.

Their contribution, a fraction of what we had spent to help Star, still conveyed that they recognized and valued the life saving service sanctuaries like Home for Life provide. For that recognitions and validation of our mission,we are very grateful.  *tHe tHIrd door® Is a reGIstered trademark of tHe anImaL sanctuary of st. croIx VaLLey dba Home for LIfe. ** tHe parapLeGIc pItbuLL from tHe natIonaL orGanIzatIon was adopted by a doG wHeeLcHaIr manufactuturer.

To our surprise, about a month after Star came to Home for Life, we received a thank you note from their board and a check for $100—unasked for and unexpected—from this organziation stuggling to survive.

Their note read:

n”

eciatio r p p A t s e rm “With Wa

to you. k c a b e m o c : e for Life ers always h t o o t e Dear Hom u giv indness yo k e h t ll a May . ur Star. o g in lp e Thank you h or gratitude f t s e p e e d Our Directors f o d r a o B , ty Sincerely mane Socie u H h t r o e N Star of th

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Juliet with her student at Totem Town.

Juliet is young a doberman rescued from neglect and abuse by the Dakota County Sheriffs and South St. Paul, MN Police departments. Juliet is now a graduate of the Renaissance Program!

Sit* Speak* Act

ÂŽ

pLanet doG supports Home for LIfe's renaIssance proJect

D

ogs are amazing. We all know dogs have a natural capacity to make us feel better, cared for and unconditionally loved. But when working for people in need, they are capable of so much more. They visit sick children and the elderly in hospitals and locate endangered species in threatened habitats. They alert a deaf person when someone is at the door and locate hikers lost in the mountains. They recognize a dangerous drop in blood sugar in their diabetic partner and avert a life-threatening seizure. They provide emotional therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and become service dogs for those soldiers with combat-related mobility 18

Home for L Ife Ž sprInG–summer 2013

challenges. They can enable a blind person to cross a busy city intersection; locate a child lost in the woods from one sniff of clothing; help a child master reading skills and help locate a bomb buried in rubble. Therapy dogs. Service dogs.

Search & rescue dogs. Bomb sniffing dogs. Police dogs. The Planet Dog Foundation celebrates all "working" dogs that are enhancing and saving human lives. They do this by supporting innovative, respected and effective non-profit organizations that work tirelessly to train and support these dogs who help people in need.

-tHe pLanet doG foundatIon

P

lanet Dog is an innovative creator of dog supplies, toys and care products based in the state of Maine. Since incorporating in 1997, they have been known as the industry's leading socially responsible, values-based design house, bringing people and dogs together for fun and mutual support. In their words “ The fire in our belly is to concept, innovate and develop premium products "made for dogs, by dog lovers" all while being fully dedicated to satisfying both you and your best friend's needs... all in the name of the dog. We "romp the romp" by providing financial resources to those in need, educating consumers about canine-related issues, creating an array of non-toxic and recyclable products, and keeping the tails of "our pack" wagging. Planet Dog’s flagship initiative is the Planet Dog Foundation,which supports working dogs nationwide and. whose internal mantra of "think globally, act doggedly."

pice facilities. To date over 130 kids and 70 Home for Life dogs have successfully completed the Renaissance program.

We thank the Planet Dog Foundation for their recognition of Home for Life's Renaissance Project and for supporting this program which helps so many people. Each session of the Renaissance Program is commemorated with a photo session by Mark Luinenburg who captures the student trainers, the dogs they are paired with to train and the touching bonds that develop between the kids and the Home for Life dogs.

The confidence and trust fostered during the course of the session provides the foundation for all subsequent contributions the dogs make. î Ź Leah

Planet Dog donates 2% of every purchase to the Planet Dog Foundation which helps fund the training, placement, and support of working dogs, service and therapy dogs helping people in need.

For the second year in a row, Home for Life has been the recipient of a generous grant from the Planet Dog Foundation for support of the Renaissance Project, now in its 13th year. Young dogs who are at Home for Life due to behavior concerns or disabilities are trained by students of Boys' Totem Town, a detention center for delinquent boys operated by the St. Paul School System and and Ramsey County Corrections. The dogs from Home for Life travel from the sanctuary for a twice weekly class at Boys Totem Town, taught by staff from Home for Life and volunteers. The boys train the dogs in basic obedience skills to attain a level of achievement to allow the dogs to become certified for therapy work. Home for Life dogs trained through the Renaissance Program, paired with one of our volunteers provide solace and joy to at risk people of all ages through our innovative, model community outreach programs where at risk animals help at risk people. The Renaissance Program is a mighty force for good: the immediate result is that Home for Life's young dogs receive extra attention and dog training. The kids who participate learn skills like goal setting, patience, focus and gain a sense of an achievement when they successfully graduate from the program and train their dog to meet the requirements of the therapy dog certification. The boys who train the dogs know that they have helped the Home for Life dog they have trained to learn and grow, and that the dogs they have trained will go on to help hundreds of children and adults whom they will touch through our outreach programs: families impacted by domestic abuse, hospitalized children and adults, the fragile elderly, veterans healing from traumatic war related injuries and lonely residents of hos-

Tiger, a pitbull mix and Henrietta a boxer

Leo

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Home for LIfe tHe anImaL sanctuary of st. croIx VaLLey, Inc.

non-profIt orG us postaGe

paId

a minnesota non-profit corporation p.o. box 847, stillwater, mn 55082 800.252.5918

st. pauL mn permIt no. 2961

homeforlife.org adress serVIce reQuested

OUR WisH LisT: Queen or full-size futon mattresses, couches, and love seats for both the cats and dogs | premium quality canned dog and cat food such as royal canin canned cat food, precise, wellness, science diet, and fancy feast and sheba for our finicky cats | Garage building, preferably insulated, to store vehicles | Gift certificates to petco, petsmart, petedge.com, Lowe’s, Home depot, walmart, menards, and foster and smith | dish soap, dishwasher detergent and laundry soap | paper towels and bleach | contributions to our capital campaign: our next goal is the completion of the dog training and exercise building. we are also raising funds to purchase 160 acres of former farmland adjacent to the sanctuary to prevent development that could disrupt the sanctuary’s serene environment. | contributions for fencing the meadows on our property to create more off-leash exercise areas for the dogs dOGs’ WisH LisT: big puffy dog beds and thick orthopedic beds for the older arthritic dogs | old quilts and blankets to act as dog beds for those dogs who like bedding but also like to chew | dog toys, especially sturdy ones for our big dogs | dog biscuits (old mother Hubbard, milk bone) | more sponsors!

CATs’ WisH LisT: climbing trees | cat toys | more sponsors!

We’Re BLOGGinG! now there are more ways than ever to stay in touch with Home for Life®! check in regularly to learn what’s happening in our residents’ lives, and find out about events and volunteer opportunities at www.homeforlifesanctuary.blogspot.com/ We’Re On TWiTTeR! foLLow us @HfLanImaLs

We’Re On FACeBOOk TOO! fInd us at facebook.com/HomeforLIfeorG

HOMe FOR LiFe is On YOU TUBe! www.youtube.com/HomeforLIfesanctuary

Find Us On PinTeResT TOO!