EASEL Animal Rescue: Kia Pet Adoption Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
This grant helped EASEL focus on adoptions for pets in the "mature" age bracket (5-10 years old). Reduced-fee adoptions are important for giving animals who are often overlooked a chance to find their forever homes.
Located in Mercer County, NJ, EASEL runs a small shelter that takes in strays from Ewing township and owner-surrendered pets from surrounding towns and, when space is available, assists nearby high-volume animal shelters by taking some of their cats and dogs.
The group adopted during the winter of 2023-2024 happily included some bonded pairs! All of the pets are thankful for the Petfinder Foundation Kia grant's assistance in their adoptions.
How many pets did this grant help?
18 total: Two dogs and 16 cats.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Richard Webber (photos 1-4) was one of the senior cats who was helped by the grant.
Richard, fondly called Dickie by some of the volunteers, lost his home of nearly eight years when his elderly owner could no longer cope with her pet.
He was scared and confused, but his transition to shelter life was made comfortable by our volunteers. Still, the months of his stay dragged on.
Then a local woman searching for a companion came in to meet Richard. It was love at first sight and he went to his new home. Now he gets lots of cuddles and his own special window ledge with a view of a lush backyard.
We’re also thrilled that Tigger and Sheeba (photos 5-7) found their happily-ever-afters and are living their best lives, together forever. Considering their separate but all-too-familiar journeys before coming to EASEL, that outcome was far from guaranteed.
Judging by their “plus” sizes, both cats were clearly loved by their original owners. Unfortunately, sometimes bad things happen to good cats, and they eventually found themselves at high-volume shelters where their prospects were dim at best.
Those prospects brightened considerably once they were pulled by EASEL. Once they settled into shelter life, both were eventually allowed to roam the cat room in an effort to help them lose some weight. While roaming, they discovered each other and became fast friends. They would hang out together and would often swap cages after their walks. When potential adopters visited, the cats would take turns following the adopters, meowing and demanding attention. The fact that many other cats went home and they stayed never diminished their perseverance.
Tigger and Sheeba were each an adopter’s second choice several times. As much as we wanted them to go home together, we recognized that it was quite the ask of potential adopters, and the decision was made that each could go home separately.
Finally, an adopter came in specifically to see Tigger and immediately fell in love. Tigger was going home! Luckily for Sheeba, the adopter saw what staff and volunteers saw: Tigger and Sheeba were friends and needed to go home together. Sheeba was going home too!
