Big Sid's OPEN HOUSE / WHO DO YOU ADOPT??

BIG SID'S SANCTUARY
is proud to be
hosting our
FIRST EVER OPEN HOUSE!

So mark your calendars to come visit all of the kitties:

Where: 781 College Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
When: Sunday, May 6th from 1pm - 5pm
Why: Because we appreciate all that you have done for these special kitties,
and we would like to show them all off to you!
They are very excited about this!

Now, don't worry, as you cannot bring Feline Leukemia or FIV
back home to your kitties simply by loving on ours!

Speaking of love, our kitties just LOVE treats, toys and attention,
so feel free to bring these along when you come!


There are millions of cats out there, let's face it. But a few have really gotten me in the past year.



That's Mikey. His new name is Michaelangelo and he is a resident of Big Sid's. He lived with us for several months. Despite all the hoping in the world, he continued to test positive for Feline AIDS. Saint Jen Petrovich found a place for him and he now has a home for life. I would have loved to keep him, but unfortunately one of my own cats is part tiger, and Bob's tendency to play rough would mean the spread of the fatal disease. If I had docile cats keeping Mikey would have been no problem and I would have done it in a heartbeat.




This is a picture of Midnight, napping. He tested positive for feline leukemia. He would have lived with me anyhow, because there is a vaccine for that and I keep my cats up to date on all their shots. But then he was misdiagnosed by the Humane Society of Kent County and ended up at Big Sid's. He probably would not have died so soon if not for that misdiagnosis.

Once my herd of cats has passed on my next group will be cats with Feline Leukemia and FIV. Why? Well, why not? The cats you'll meet at Big Sid's are much like any other. They don't look sick. Those with FIV will likely live for many, many years. Just because they may die someday of their disease doesn't mean we need to kill them now.

So here's a toast to Mikey and Midnight. And Dr. Jen, who gives these cats life, and Dr. Batten whose house is full of cats like these.

Coming out ahead

Hurricane Katrina devastated a region like nothing I could ever imagine. The estimates are over a hundred thousand cats and dogs died. The area has nowhere near recovered. It will be a decade before it looks like it never happened.

But I have to tell you, I came out ahead. Other people's loss was my gain. Because I got Bob from the 9th ward and Cuddles from New Orleans East. After Jandy died I cried every day for almost 4 years. She was a once-in-a-lifetime-cat. I figured I used up my allotment of awesome cats/best friends and that was it. Until I met Bob and trapped Cuddles.

Here's Cuddles. He knows who he has to convince in order to get to be the 6th cat in the house!!


Every cat knows animal bowls are for dogs--cats drink out of the human's containers!


Bob in a bag!


Bob napping in the clean laundry pile! And people wonder why my "just washed" clothes are already covered in cat hair!