My name is Angela, and I’m filling in for your faithful correspondent Daniel this month. I’m the new Development Associate here, and I have spent my first month here in awe and delight at the splendid cats and the amazing mission of Tabby’s Place. It’s an honor to be a part of this life-saving work!
It has been a mellow and merry month for our special tabby girl. I am happy to report that the little cyst removed from Ana’s shoulder last month was found to be benign. She is in good health and good spirits, continuing to enjoy the sweet life with her good buddy Desi.
There have been some changes to the cast of characters in Anastasia’s room recently. Mo has entered one of the larger suites, where he enjoys racing about with his many new friends – and racing for the door each time it’s opened! Taking his place in Ana’s room is another smoke-gray male, Disco. At only about one year of age, Disco is a little dynamo, with more energy and joie de vivre than Anastasia knows how to handle. Currently she’s handling it by following Disco around and growling. Sardi has also taken to “hazing” the newcomer a bit, giving him a swipe if he seems to be getting too rowdy. Wide-eyed in wonder (or terror?), Desi watches it all from the safety of the window. Star and Venice aren’t overly concerned as long as they have one another close at hand.
Ana enjoyed – or maybe didn’t so much enjoy! – a unique adventure earlier this month. The staff at Tabby’s Place had an emergency training session, in which we practiced the procedures for evacuating the building as swiftly as possible (as we would need to do in case of a fire or similar situation).
Since the goal in such a case would be to save the maximum number of feline and human lives, we needed to each be prepared to remove cats easily and speedily. It turns out that one of the best ways to do this is to put each cat in a pillow case! (If you’ve ever visited Tabby’s and seen the boxes of pillow cases in each suite and room and wondered why, now you know!)
Anastasia’s room had the strange fortune to be chosen for this exercise. We walked in and surveyed the cats – Desi was clearly alert to something fishy, owlish eyes wider than usual, so he was spared. Star and Venice wisely fled beneath a couch. (Disco hadn’t yet moved in.) That left Sardi and Anastasia.
Swish! Up Sardi went into a pillow case, in one fluid motion. We were all impressed with Executive Director and Founder Jonathan’s prowess at “cat bagging.” Another staff member approached our dear little Ana. Whoosh! She was bagged, with a minimum of kicking. (Thanks, Ana!) Upon release, she joined Star and Venice beneath the couch. Desi remained frozen in the window, his face screaming, “not me, not me!” So, in thanks for her good-natured handling of this session, Sardi was “bagged” no fewer than five times, by five different staffers (myself included). What a good girl to train us so generously!
Ana, her fluffy friends and I thank you so much for YOUR generosity in helping her to have a life of sweetness and top-quality care. I have fallen hard for this sweet girl and have high hopes that she’ll find her forever home someday soon!