By Sharon Wylie, Crash’s Landing
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Last year — 2017 — was quite the year of changes for us, as we had to combine both of our shelters under one roof, though keep the populations separate; one side of our building houses the Crash Cats and the other houses Big Sid’s, our rescue for FIV-and Feline Leukemia-positive kiddos.
Space limitations are greater now than they were when we were fortunate to have our Sid’s Kids running around a huge, two-story building; we had to decrease the number of residents we could have at any one time. Needless to say, our intake has drastically reduced, much to our dismay. However, always willing to lend a hand (er, paw) when we can, we have been able to open our doors to some newbies-in-need, just on a much smaller scale than we had grown accustomed to.
MacDonald came to us with his brother, Barleigh — both beautiful FELV+ brothers transferred from Focus on Ferals. They’d been the duo since they were about eight weeks old (born in March of 2016). Since it is extremely challenging to adopt our cats carrying this virus, FOF had no luck in getting these boys homes, so they asked for our help in placing them. They also wanted the pair to have more room to roam around in, and even though our floor plan is less spacious than the good, old days, it is still free-roaming and has multiple rooms with lots of vertical spaces, walkways, stairs, cubbies, nooks and crannies to explore and hang out on (and in)!
MacDonald is very social, always seeking out the volunteers and asking for pets. He’s not that fond of being held, but he’s a constant companion to the hard workers who care for him and his 50+ feline roommates. Extremely playful, he will chase ANY toy thrown for him … repeatedly … over and over again.
MacDonald will make someone a very fine feline companion!
More about MacDonald
NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.
Interested in volunteering at one of the cat shelters? Email volunteer@crashslanding.org.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
