Quarterly Newsletter
Vol. 2 Iss. 2 | Spring 2012
The Cat’s Meow
Visit us on Thursdays from 6pm-9pm!
www.HappyEndings.us!
!
[email protected]
& Saturdays from 11am-4pm!
5349 West Forest Home Ave.! !
Milwaukee, WI 53220!
Baron’s Corner Seasonal Reminders Success Stories
Our mascot,
Baron, answers
readers’ questions
about your finicky
felines!
Spring is upon us and
with it comes potential
dangers for your cats.
Page 3
In each issue, we will
give updates on some
of our truly Happy
Endings.
Page 6
!
(414) 744-3287 (vm only)
Natural Balance Cats About Town
Donation Program
Check out where
A terrific & easy new
some of our
way to donate money
adoptables are
to Happy Endings!
living around the
Page 7
city.
Featured Adoptables
Page 2
Page 9
Long-Term Residents Crossword Puzzler Upcoming Events
Merchandise
Useful Info
Pages 3-4
A listing of events
Original crossword
Show your
Special
list of
happening soon;
support of Happy Mobile Feral Rehab puzzle created for cat
mark your resources just for
lovers!
Check out our
Endings
cat owners.
calendar!
innovative new method Page 7
everywhere you
go.
Page 2
for socializing timid &
feral cats.
Pages 8-9
Sponsorship Form
Sponsor a Shelter Cat
form to print & mail.
Page 11
WE Energies
Give the Gift of Light
donation form.
Page 12
Page 10
Page 5
Adopting from Happy Endings
About Us
Happy Endings No Kill Cat Shelter is
a nonprofit 501(c)(3) no-kill
organization run solely by
volunteers who have been saving
lives since 1994. It is the mission of
Happy Endings to find permanent
homes for unwanted, stray, abused,
or feral animals that are brought to
us or rescued from the street.
Happy Endings provides a safe
haven for feral, stray, abused,
neglected, unwanted, and/or
critically injured cats until they are
ready to be adopted. Animals are
never euthanized by Happy Endings
unless they are in a terminal state of
Happy Endings Quarterly Newsletter
All of our adult cats are spayed or
neutered before adoption. Happy
Endings currently places about 200 cats
into loving homes each year. All
potential adopters go through an
application and interview process.
We have very special volunteers who work
with feral cats born on the street so that
they learn to trust humans and find their
forever homes!
suffering as determined by a
veterinarian. We also aim to rescue
cats scheduled for euthanasia due to
overcrowding from other shelters.
Potential “parents” are matched with the
cat that touches their hearts and fills the
empty spaces in their homes and lives.
Many of the cats at Happy Endings are
strays or have been mistreated. As a
result, some are quite shy and
considered unadoptable by other
shelters. Happy Endings has a
socialization program where volunteers
work with the cats on a daily basis to
build trust with people.
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B A R O N ’ S C O R N E R Sponsor a Shelter Cat!
Hello all my friends out there,
We have recently introduced a Sponsorship
Program at Happy Endings. When you
sponsor a cat or condo, your monthly
donations go toward the health, happiness,
and wellbeing of one of our shelter cats. You
will receive photos and updates on your
sponsored cat. You can choose to sponsor a
cat or condo for as little as $10/month; you
can stop at any time. In addition, you can
visit during regular shelter hours and attend
special sponsor-only events.
For more information about becoming a sponsor,
out the final page of this newsletter, or visit
furry and otherwise. This month I printwww.HappyEndings.us/Sponsoring.htm
have a little bit of bad news. The
building we were planning to
purchase was sold out from under
us. But never fear, we are still
looking for a bigger place and have
a lot of people helping!
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about
whether my extended feline family
members should be allowed
outside. Personally, I do not care
to go outside. I once lived on the
streets and I know how horrible it
can be out there for a kitty. There
are many dangers: diseases, fleas,
parasites, animals, nasty people,
cars, and many other harmful
things. Wild animals have been
known to attack - and sometimes
kill - cats. No kitty should end up
as dinner for a fox or coyote, which
live in cities, not just rural areas.
All cats can adjust to indoor-only
life, and they will be much safer.
Indoor cats have a lifespan of
15-20 years, or even longer.
Outdoor cats are lucky to survive
three to five years. Please think
about these dangers the next time
your little one tries to bolt out the
door. They may be giving up the
best home they have ever had. The safest (and most comfortable)
arrangement is having kitty beds
by windows with views of birds,
b u t t e r fl i e s , a n d m ay b e e ve n
chipmunks. Harmless wildlife like
these don’t like being lunch for
kitty cats either. Keep your
questions coming in and I will talk
to you again next time. Bye and
stay safe!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
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Find Us Online!
Check out all of our adoptable cats on
PetFinder!
!
!
@HappyEndingsWI
and “Like” us on Facebook
Now Available: Best of Country
Cookies Cookbook!
The Best of Country Cookies cookbook is
only $9.99 and filled with over 250
award-winning recipes. Stop into the
shelter and pick yours up today!
We have a variety of t-shirts and tote bags
available for purchase at events and the
shelter (pictures are available on our website):
• Double-sided “Cat Hair Everywhere!” tees in an
assortment of colors
• Double-sided “Dog Hair Everywhere!” tees in
an assortment of colors
• Double-sided “Wild About Pets!” tees in slate
blue or kiwi green
• “CATS” tees in an assortment of colors
• Regular Totes ($4) and Insulated Totes ($6)
with Happy Endings logo
• First Aid Kits, either for humans or animals, are
available for $12/each
We are also selling adorable animal rescue t-shirts (example
below) through LaCroixTees.com and $5 from every item sold
through the Happy Endings link below goes straight to us!
Shirts are available in short sleeve, long sleeve, tank top,
sweatshirt, and hoodie in both adult & youth sizes.
Make sure to shop using our link: www.LaCroixTees.com/
animal-rescue/HappyEndingsNoKillCatShelter
Your feline friend,
BARON
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The Cat’s Meow
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Featured Adoptables: Long-Term Residents Seasonal Reminders
Noah (right), born
March 2003, was quite
literally knocking on
death’s door: he was
about to be euthanized
at animal control when
Happy Endings rescued
him. He is very sweet
and quite charming. He
will even do flips so
you can rub his belly.
Because of his
traumatic past, he is
cautious of other
animals.
Are you and your kitty ready for spring?
Happy’s name says it all! This big orange
sweetie of a lap cat (left) is as happy as
they come. Trust us when we say that
Happy is a true lap cat and will make do
with whatever lap he can get! When
volunteers squat down to clean cages, he
will climb up on any amount of lap
available, regardless of how (un)
comfortable it might be for the person.
Happy would be very happy to take up
residence on your lap today!
Baby (right) was born in April 1998 and
has made it quite apparent that shelter
life is not for her. She is a very sweet
orange tabby girl, but doesn't like the
company of the other cats at the shelter.
Baby wants to be the only cat in her
forever home. She is spayed, up to date
on her shots, and declawed.
Carmen & Calypso (below) are gorgeous long-haired calico sisters who lived in
an auto shop garage for their first five months. They are still rather shy due to
their rough start, but are ready for a patient and understanding owner.
Happy Endings Quarterly Newsletter
• Prevent feline heartworm disease.
Mosquitoes carry heartworm larvae. Your cat
can be at risk for mosquito exposure if your
window/door screens are loose or damaged,
or if they are allowed to roam outdoors. While
there are no approved treatments for feline
heartworm infections, they are easy to prevent
with a monthly dose of topical preventive
medicine. People seem to misjudge when
mosquitoes are in season so they stop treating
too soon and/or start too late. Start using
preventive treatment by April. After the first
hard freeze of winter, mosquitoes and their
larvae should no longer pose a threat.
• Ensure secure screens. What cat doesn’t love
to lounge by an open window? The start of
spring is a good time to check that the screens
in your windows (and/or doors) are securely
in place, so your cats won’t potentially push
them out, fall through, and be seriously
injured.
• Keep cats indoors. Even during nice weather,
the safest place for your cat is inside. When
cats are allowed to roam free outdoors, they
can be hit by cars, attacked by animals, or
harmed by cruel people. If you decide to let
your cats outside, make sure they are under
constant supervision by keeping them in a
proper enclosure (a fence that’s too high for
them to climb/leap over, screened-in cat walk,
etc.) or on a harness & leash.
• Forgo lilies. Lilies are toxic to cats and if you
plant them in your garden, your own or
neighborhood cats might accidentally ingest
them. Ingesting any part of a lily can be
extremely dangerous for cats. There are many
other cat-friendly flowers you can plant so
everyone stays safe.
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More Featured Adoptables: Long-Term Residents
Wheezy (below) would “wheeze” when
she got excited and played hard as a kitten.
The name stuck and it suits her quite
perfectly! Wheezy is a very sweet kitty who
sometimes confuses playing with biting. If
she is in a playful mood, she thinks it's fun
to attack someone's feet. A few squirts with
a water bottle definitely deters this
behavior, though. She also gets very
curious and loves to explore everything!
Wheezy is a little timid around those she
doesn't know. She definitely warms up to
females much faster than males. Wheezy is
a wonderful kitty who needs patience and
love from someone that is willing to let her
take her time in getting to know them.
Blush & Blossom (above) are beautiful short hair
brown tabby girls with striking white markings.
(They are also the sisters of Pip & Squeak.) They
were feral kittens, but after many months of hard
work by our volunteers, they are ready to find
their forever home! They love other cats and kitty
treats.
Beanie & Buck (above) are extra-large short
hair gray & white sweethearts. They are welladjusted to cat and humans after living at
Happy Endings for quite some time. They
enjoy snuggling on the couch, leisurely naps
in the sun, and the occasional romp with
some sparkly toys.
Winston (above), a laid-back boy with tons of
personality, is looking for pet-parents who will
understand that no one --felines included-- is
perfect. When Winston first came in, he wasn't so
pleasant to be around. After many months of our
volunteers’ patience and persistence, Winston has
blossomed into a great cat! Because of a possibly
traumatic past, we suggest that his new home
does not have any kids. And potential adopters
must also have a quick wit about them!
Pip & Squeak (above) are brown tabby brothers
who had a rough start in life and are still working
on learning to fully trust humans. They need a
forever home where they can continue to come
out of their shells and become lovely pets.
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Beamer (below), born October 2008, was
found under the hood of a car with a
rubber band wrapped tightly around his
back foot. The band was removed before
any permanent damage occurred, but now
he has a bald spot on that foot. He was
very shy and scared when he arrived at
H.E. and had a very hard time adjusting to
shelter life. Now he is full of energy and
comes out to play and run with the other
cats. He is still a bit scared of humans, but
he’s a talker and will even tolerate some
human affection.
Cheddar (above) is a special cat looking for a
unique home. He was adopted out once
before, but his owners returned him to Happy
Endings when they couldn’t handle his hotand-cold behavior. Cheddar tends to get nippy
with humans if rubbed the wrong way and
would prefer a home without small children
or other pets. He is looking for patient and
loving pet-parents who are willing to work
with him to overcome his moodiness.
Cheddar really is a sweetheart (and loves
men!), he just needs some time and
understanding in order to shine.
The Cat’s Meow
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Mobile Rehabilitation Program for Feral Felines
We are criss-crossing the country . . . have you seen us?
Happy Endings now has a mobile-rehab-unit-of-sorts for feral cats. Jessica and Mark Trucking, volunteers
and the official trucking company of Happy Endings, not only proudly display the Happy Endings logo on
their truck, but also rehab feral cats as they cross the country!
Mark Wiesner, co-owner of Jessica and Mark Trucking out of Milwaukee, is a life-long lover of cats.
Given his special affinity for feral cats and his thick skin (literally), Mark takes feral cats with him
in the cab of his truck as he drives across the country. The confined environment and constant
human contact helps feral cats adapt to life with humans and build much needed trust and bonds. The cats ride in the cab with him and often sit on the dashboard, trying to catch the bugs as they
hit the windshield. As these ferals slowly learn the skills they will need in order to find a forever
home, they are often joined by other felines Mark picks up along the way. Stray and abandoned cats are often picked up and make the trip back to Happy Endings where
they find a warm, loving environment as they await a home of their own. Be sure to keep your
eyes open as we travel the country, and if you need to hire a trucking company, call Jessica and
Mark Trucking at 414-406-3319 where you get a great deal and help rehab feral cats at the same
time!
Happy Endings Quarterly Newsletter
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Donation Wish List
• Non-Clumping Cat Litter (clay type)
• Tidy Cats 24/7 Non-Clumping
• Fresh Step Non-Clumping Clay
• K-M-R Kitten Milk Replacement (powder or
liquid)
• Gerber Baby Food - Chicken (#2 size jars)
• Cat Food:
• Purina Kitten Chow
• Purina Cat Chow
• Science Diet Light
• Science Diet Senior
• Science Diet Sensitive Stomach
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Sparhawk’s Success Story: Another Happy Ending
As you have seen by now, Happy Endings has a new mobile rehab unit. A couple
who volunteer for the shelter, Jessica and Mark, run a trucking company and it
seems like Mark always has a feral or unruly cat with him in his 18-wheeler. As
he crosses the country in his semi, Mark occasionally picks up a stray along the
way. This is where Sparhawk’s story begins.
Sparhawk was found in a steel mill facility in Saukville, Wisconsin. He was very
young - just under a year - and unaltered. He was emaciated, his fur matted like
a brillo pad and full of cockleburs. In short, he was a hot mess.
After thorough examination at Crawford Animal Hospital, we found out just
what a mess he really was! He had fleas, mites, and two or three different kinds
of internal parasites, including a rare lung worm. He also had a few intestinal
problems from the garbage he had been eating.
Additionally, x-rays revealed a bullet from a pellet gun lodged in his liver.
Despite not being able to remove the pellet, he completely recovered. Sparhawk
is now in a the happiest furever home he could dream of and enjoys himself
immensely . . . a true Cinderfella story. He went from a filthy ragamuffin to a
dapper gentleman. We are so very grateful to Mark and Jessica for this truly
Happy Ending. • Science Diet Original
• Natural Balance Green Pea & Duck
• Catnip, kitty treats, & toys
• Rubber-backed rugs
• Cleaning Supplies:
• Hand Sanitizer
• Paper Towels
Sparhawk “after” being
cleaned up. What a
transformation! (below)
• High-Efficiency (HE) Laundry Detergent
• Bleach
Sparhawk’s “Before” Photo:
A Hot Mess Indeed! (above)
• Heavy Duty Trash Bags
• Office Supplies:
• Stamps
• Colored paper (8 ½” x 11”)
• Volunteers
• Cash donations are always appreciated for
our Medical Fund or for supplies to help our
day-to-day operations
Board Members
Pat Haberski — President
Angela Slawny — Vice President & Medical Coordinator
Linda Green — Treasurer
Karen Jacobs — Secretary
Darlene Rager — Media Relations & Event Coordinator
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Give the gift that never stops
giving!
Participate in WE Energies’ “Give the
Gift of Energy” program. Print out the
donation form at the end of this
newsletter, fill it out, and mail it in
with your donation. It’s quick, easy,
and literally lights up the shelter!
The Cat’s Meow
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Crossword Puzzler
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Cat Got Your Tongue?
Across
Down
1. The fastest land mammal
4. Plant that some cats go crazy for
6. A Parisian cat (le ____)
7. Name of the mean, sneaky cat in
Disney’s Cinderella
8. Only lions are able to make this
uniquely feline sound
9. _______ killed the proverbial cat
11. Largest house cat breed
12. This procedure for female cats
is important in preventing both
overpopulation and disease
14. Mama cat
15. First name of 2 Down
18. Hello Kitty’s parent company
19. Only domestic cats can make
this soothing noise
20. Cat breed lacking a tail
21. First non-human to keep cats as
pets, _______ the gorilla
22. A group of cats, e.g.
23. White House cat during the
1990s
2. American writer known for
keeping polydactyl cats in Key
West, Florida
3. A cat in Barcelona (el ____)
4. Animals that must eat meat to
survive
5. A cunning fairy tale feline,
“______ in Boots”
10. Detroit’s baseball team
11. Fur around the neck of an adult
male lion
12. Popular breed originally from
Thailand
13. Fat orange cat who loves
lasagna
16. Hairless breed of cat
17. Tom cats (males) should have
this simple surgery performed
around six-months-old
20. Earl’s black-and-white feline
BFF (from the comic strip Mutts)
loves playing with his little pink
sock
Puzzle created by Correy Barone & Dustin Kozal using Crossword Forge (2012)
Natural Balance® Nonprofit
Charity Rebate Program
Did you know that Natural Balance® Pet Foods will donate money to Happy
Endings when you purchase their food? Simply cut out the UPC code from the
Natural Balance® bagged food or case of canned food, attach it to the register
receipt as a proof-of-purchase, and mail it to Happy Endings. When 50 UPC
codes are collected and submitted, Happy Endings receives a check from
Natural Balance®. It's just like donating cash to Happy Endings!
Additional details can be found at NaturalBalanceInc.com PETCO IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM.
Answer Key
Across: 1. cheetah, 4. catnip, 6. chat, 7. Lucifer, 8. roar, 9. curiosity, 11. Maine Coon,
12. spay, 14. queen, 15. Ernest, 18. Sanrio, 19. purr, 20. Manx, 21. Koko, 22. clowder,
23. Socks
Down: 2. Hemingway, 3. gato, 4. carnivores, 5. Puss, 10. Tigers, 11. mane, 12. Siamese,
13. Garfield, 16. Sphinx, 17. neuter, 20. Mooch
Happy Endings Quarterly Newsletter
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April 2012 “Holidays”
National Pet Day (Apr. 11)
National Pet ID Week (Apr. 15-21)
National Hairball Awareness Day (Apr. 27)
World Veterinary Day (Apr. 28)
National Pet Parents Day (Apr. 29)
April is National Pet First Aid
Month!
Dog & cat first aid classes are
offered by many clinics and
shelters, but you can also order a kit
for training for animal emergencies
at home from RedCross.org for
$16.95. Better safe than sorry!
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The Cat’s Meow
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CATS ABOUT TOWN
Two PETCO stores in the Milwaukee area are
hosting some of Happy Endings’ cutest, most
adoptable cats at their in-store adoption
centers. Stop by to see the pretty kitties at the
South 76th Street location in Greenfield and
the South Howell Avenue store in Oak Creek.
We are also very fortunate that two veterinary
clinics -- Crawford Animal Hospital in
Greenfield and Animal Hospital of South
Milwaukee -- have been fostering some of our
friendly adoptables as clinic cats. The extra
exposure in the community eases crowding in
the shelter and enhances the cats’ chances for
adoption!
Happy Endings Quarterly Newsletter
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Useful Information for Cat Owners
We have compiled some useful information that we think all cat owners should have
on hand. Keep this page for reference in case you ever need it in an emergency.
• Elmbrook Humane
Society: (262) 782-9261
• Emergency Disaster
Hotline (AHA): (800)
227-4645
Important Numbers
• American Veterinary
I.D. Devices (microchip
database): (800) 336AVID
• Animal & Pet Travel
Resources: (800) 545USDA (option 3)
• Animal Emergency
Center, Milwaukee:
(414) 540-6710
• Animal Legal Defense
Fund: (800) 555-6517
• ASPCA Pet Loss
Hotline: (877) GRIEF-10
• ASPCA Animal Poison
Control - 24/7 ($65/call):
(888) 426-4435
• Milwaukee Area
Domestic Animal
Control Commission:
(414) 649-8640
• National Pet Recovery
Hotline: (800) 984-8638
• Alcoholic beverages
• Onion, Garlic
• Avocado
• Raisins & Grapes
• Chocolate, Coffee
• Yeast dough
• Macadamia nuts
• Products with xylitol
Poisonous Plants
• Lilies
• Cyclamen
• Marijuana
• Pet-Friendly Hotel
Directory: (310) 515PETS
• Animal toxins: toads,
insects, spiders, snakes, • Kalanchoe
& scorpions
• Sago Palm
• Fly, slug, snail, mouse,
& rat baits
• Yew
• Pet Loss Support Line
(U of IL College of Vet.
Med.): (877) 394-2273
• Citronella candles
• Chlorine
• Tulips
• Narcissus Bulbs
• Human Medications:
• Amaryllis
• Azalea
• Pet Poison Helpline
($35/call): (800) 213-6680
• Stolen Pet Hotline:
(800) STOLEN PET
• Vet. Medical Teaching
Hospital at U of WI,
Madison - 24 hrs: (800)
DVM-VMTH
• Cat Care Hotline
(Purina): (800) 228-2273
• Wisconsin Vet Referral
Center, Grafton: (262)
546-0249
• HomeAgain Pet
Recovery Service
(microchip provider):
(888) 466-3242
• Wisconsin Vet Referral
Center, Waukesha: (866)
542-3241
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Animal Emergency Kit
Toxins to Avoid
In the case of an emergency that
requires evacuation, always
bring your pets with you. Each
of your animals should have a
special kit in case of a disaster
when you have to leave your
home quickly. It should include:
• A carrier large enough for
the animal to stand up and
turn around. It should be
clearly marked with your
contact information and
large enough for a litter
pan as well.
• Proper-fitting collar with
ID tags and leash if your
animal uses one.
• Rhododendron
• At least a 3 days’ supply of
food & water. Make sure
to store dry food in an
airtight and waterproof
container.
• Cold medicine
Antifreeze,
Mothballs
•
• Autumn Crocus
• Poinsettia
• Food & water bowls that
can be easily cleaned.
• Fabric softener sheets
• Chrysanthemum
• Oleander
• Extra litter and a scoop to
keep their box fresh &
clean.
• Aspirin, Vitamins
• Antidepressants
• English Ivy
• Castor Bean
• Mauna Loa Peace Lily
• Pothos
• Scheffiera
• Treats, toys, & a bed that
fits in the carrier.
• Paper towels, plastic bags,
and spray disinfectant for
animal waste clean-up.
• First Aid Kit for
companion animals.
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Happy Endings No Kill Cat Shelter
5349 W. Forest Home Ave.
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
12
53220
The Cat’s Meow