Hey Kehorner... (help finding rescue in Lansing, MI)

[slvrwhispr]

A friend of mine, who lives in Lansing, found a stray living inside his garage. He said the cat is declawed and very malnourished, but he doesn't have the money for vet bills, and he's not allowed to have any pets where he lives, either. He was just going to take the cat to a shelter, but I told him I'd help him find somewhere that they'll actually work to find the cat a new home. (We discussed finding a previous owner, but by the look of the cat, it's been gone for quite some time, and it's kind of a rural area, on the outskirts of Lansing, so who knows how far the little guy travelled to get to his garage.) Any suggestions? The only place I can think to look is the places on PetFinder, or maybe get in touch with one of the pet stores, since Pet Supplies Plus or PetCo usually work with shelters to do adoption days.

If you know of any rescue organizations that are good, though, I'd love to get their contact info. Gordon says the cat is a REAL sweetheart, very affectionate and playful, but he knows next to nothing about cats so he can't really assess its condition other than to say it's very thin. And Lansing's about an hour away from where I am, so I can't really take a look myself. :/

I just don't want the little guy to go to a shelter if he's loving and affectionate. He needs a home, not a cage and an eventual injection...

[kehorner]

Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with any rescues out here. There are some groups, I know, but it seems that there are fewer here than in Arizona. I worked rescue in AZ, but I just don't have the time now. I came with my three boys, so I haven't done much adopting here.

My parents got their boy from the shelter in Mason (Ingham County Animal Control). A good place to adopt from, because they aren't a no-kill shelter, but not where you'd want to drop off an animal. I know that they were trying really hard, but it was sort of dirty feeling, and Toby came home with and upper respiratory infection and eye infection (developed a few days after he came home), and possibly worms. (Toby is doing just fine now.) It also smelled bad, but apparently that was the stray goat they had picked up who was waiting for its owners.

Anyway, I know there are a few rescue groups, if not right in Lansing, at least within a half hour's drive or so. A quick search brings up these... I don't know any of them, nor have I heard anything about them. I am not sure if they are all no-kill, but they are rescue groups rather than shelters, so that is promising. None of them explicitly state that they are not taking animals at this time, so hopefully something will work out.

Friends of Ingham County Animals
HollyLS (at) sbcglobal.net

Animal Resource Network Inc
517.853.8239

Friends for Felines
kittiglo (at) aol.com

www.mid-michigancatrescue.com

JJs Feline Friends
989-224-0522

[slvrwhispr]

Thanks, I'll look into these!

Although it seems like so many people have expressed interest in adopting the little guy anyway that he might not have to go anywhere anyway.

[Cleo]

I don't know MI at all but found this place in Waterford. If it's too far, maybe you can call them or the others that kehorner mentioned to ask for references to a reputable place closer to you. GOOD LUCK!

Silver Lake Animal Rescue League
Dixie Highway
Waterford, MI
248-545-6583

[slvrwhispr]

I actually live in Waterford, if you didn't notice.

But they're ALWAYS full. I've tried taking strays to them before, and it's almost impossible to get a cat in with them. Which is too bad, because they're a great group of people.

[Cleo]

I actually live in Waterford, if you didn't notice.

Sweetness I don't even notice the nose on my face half the times! Sorry 'bout that.

[k9Karen]

I would at least ask around to see if anyone is missing a cat and maybe check back issues of the local paper's "Lost and Found". Is there a campground nearby? Sometimes people travel with their pets and they get loose, or they move and the cat tries to go 'back home', or, was hiding when they left and they had to leave after telling the neighbors to call them when they found him. There could be any number of reasons why this guy isn't where he should be, but is wanted by his owners. (I know it's a long shot, but if I lost a pet, I'd expect the person who found him to at least try to find me). Has he been checked for a microchip?

I can't help with anything specific except to say that if any of the other options mentioned don't work out, try calling around to the local veterinarians. They should know if there are any rescue groups nearby. My vet also has a bulletin board where people can put up info and pics of any pets they have available for sale or adoption. I suspect most vets do the same.

Good luck. If you can't figure out where he came from, I hope you can find him a good home!