One of our awesome volunteers, Laura B. from Helena, adopted Bandida the cat today. Bandida had come to us from an animal hoarder case in the Flathead Valley of Montana last year. The hoarder kept 28 cats in an attic in deplorable conditions. When finally discovered, the local animal control agency had to euthanize 20 of the cats.
A rescue group took the remaining eight cats. They managed to adopt out six of them, but couldn't find homes for the remaining two cats, Bandida and Domino, because they were considered elderly. So the rescue group called us.
We generally don't take in animals just because they're elderly ... if we did, we wouldn't have any room for disabled animals. But we had already said 'no' to this rescue group several times in the past -- again, because the cats weren't disabled -- and by this time we felt guilty enough that we said, "Well, okay!"
Both Bandida (we named her that because her little black mask reminds us of a bandit) and Domino turned out to be incredibly sweet, affectionate cats. Ironically, another of our volunteers, LuAnn W. from Helena, adopted Domino last Sunday! (For some strange reason, I completely forgot to capture 'blog moments' last weekend ... what was I thinking?)
Thus when Laura came this morning to pick up Bandida, I was ready with the camera. Incidentally, Laura has also adopted old, deaf Chance the black Lab and Winchester, a cat who had been shot four times and survived on his own. (Both have great stories, but you'd better grab the tissue box before you start reading!) So Laura adds beautiful, loving Bandida to her Rolling Dog Ranch collection of animals.
Thank you, Laura!
(Click on photo for larger image.)
What a lovely bunch of animals you have Laura!!! :)
Posted by: Sarah | January 16, 2006 at 02:29 PM
Good for Bandida, I am sure all your animals will enjoy each day just to be warm and safe and loved.
Glad the days are going well at the ranch, and real glad you have an employee, welcome Beth. It is a lot of work, and must be done each day. Too much for you two alone.
Posted by: Karen/ TX | January 16, 2006 at 10:57 AM
Thank you so much, Laura. You're the best for adopting these beauties, Bandida, Chance and Winchester. I did need the tissue box.
Posted by: Roz | January 16, 2006 at 10:22 AM