Spring Into Action
Spring is “kitten season,” the time of year when birth rates begin to rise among homeless animals, and shelters see an influx of newborn kittens and puppies needing care.
Rescue Village is preparing for these litters of babies requiring extra time and veterinary attention, especially kittens and puppies who arrive without their mothers. They’ll need round-the-clock care and feeding to save their lives.
From kittens with serious injuries like Caracara, to dogs like Drax with complex needs that may extend their stay at Rescue Village, to small animals and domesticated barn animals who are sick, injured, abandoned, or abused, they are all counting on the expert care we provide here at Rescue Village.
Caracara, a sweet kitten, was found abandoned outside a veterinary clinic with his mother and siblings, already facing serious medical challenges.
Caracara arrived at Rescue Village with a severely swollen back leg. X-rays revealed a femur fracture that required immediate specialized care and ongoing medical attention to prevent long-term mobility issues. While all the abandoned kittens needed care, Caracara’s injury meant he required extensive veterinary treatment and time in a foster home to heal properly.
Many people think it’s easy to find homes for puppies and kittens. But Caracara is proof that even the youngest animals can need a lot of extra time and care — and shelters across the country are being overwhelmed by the number of puppies and kittens in need.
Though his femur healed, Caracara developed a luxating patella as a secondary condition. It took two months of dedicated care before he was healthy enough to find his forever home.
During his recovery at Rescue Village, this resilient kitten’s fighting spirit touched everyone who met him. His journey from injured stray to beloved family pet shows the incredible impact of Rescue Village’s veterinary team, shelter team, and network of foster volunteers.
Kitten season doesn’t mean dogs don’t need our ongoing help — whether you are a cat person or dog person or both, dogs like Drax and other adult animals are still in need of care.
Drax is a Great Dane whose larger size matches his large personality. Drax was rescued from a neglectful situation and was very fearful when he arrived at Rescue Village.
Life at the shelter can be stressful for any dog, so Drax had his own special room at Rescue Village to get lots of enrichment.
Rescue Village’s shelter team ensures that all the animals in our care receive the enrichment they need to thrive. Enrichment for canine residents includes treats such as puzzles or Kongs, walks twice a day on our mile of dog walking trails, and puppy playgroups in our dedicated play yard. These programs ensure that dogs have the chance to get essential physical and mental exercise while they’re living at the shelter along with behavioral monitoring. Rescue Village cares for animals of all sizes and is committed to providing them with the enrichment they need while they are waiting to find their forever home.
We are happy to report that over the holidays, the perfect family found Drax. They had lost their previous dog and came to donate, but once they saw Drax they knew it was meant to be. They lovingly now refer to him as their ‘moose’ and he’s settling into their family. To help Rescue Village and the influx of animals this spring, consider making a donation today to support this life-saving work!