Happy Announcement Anniversary!

3 years ago today, we announced the forming of Joa’s Arc and our mission to help special needs animals right here through this blog.

As you may or may not know, Joa’s Arc today is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, receives no government or public funding, and relies entirely on donations from the public to carry out our mission to assist special needs animals.

Joa’s Arc has no paid staff and plenty of animals in our care...

Like Tiffany who started out life in a home with about 200 other cats and very little attention, let alone affection. Because of this, Tiffany is extremely shy and needs a home with someone who will allow her to be herself and come around on her own terms. Sweet, silly Riley came into a local shelter with a leg wound. The wound has healed and now he's all purrs, energy and tail-wags for attention waiting for a home of his own. Oh, and adorable Fox. Who could resist this boy!? We're not sure and yet, he's still in need of an adopter.

Not to mention, Joa’s Arc has also been able to help place several animals directly from shelters into homes, Joa’s Arc has gotten other animals from local shelters into no-kill shelters or rescues when we haven't had the space ourselves and our girl Daphne is being adopted this weekend. She is a little pit puppy who was tossed from a car and had sustained a leg injury. She needed the care of an ortho specialist and Joa’s Arc got that for her.

Do you have some free time?
Can you make some free time?
We need your help!

We could use more fosters, volunteers (especially a Grant Writer) and someone willing to create a website for us.

Fostering is easy - just open your home to a furry friend. You can pick what kind of special need you have experience or interest in helping and some are as simple as socializing or recovering from surgery. You provide the food, water & love ... and let everyone know you have an extra-special animal up for adoption to help try to find that munchkin a home.

Volunteers are needed from everything to help with the animals, get updated photos, sit at events or share information about our group to get the word out there to help Joa’s Arc and the special needs animals in our care.

A grant writer would help us extremely right now by finding us the funds to continue to care for the animals that would usually be put to sleep in shelters before even being considered for adoption.

Although we have a blog, a website would be a huge help as well - somewhere people can find information on the animals we have available for adoption, easy access to a link to donate, how to care for them if they adopt or are interested in fostering, a list of resources of other groups that help special needs animals, etc.

We've been doing great work, we plan to continue to do great work for the special needs animals and your assistance means we can reach our hands out further. There is something that everyone can do! Just ask (or offer) :)

Finally, in case we don't say it enough - thank you!

A tea cup poodle with a broken leg (Cup of Joe) or a pit bull puppy with a fractured elbow (Daphne),
neurological cat (Nero) or a kitten with a birth defect (Nennee),
victim of cruelty (Valentine) or shut down from fear at the shelter (Beanie),

Joa’s Arc is willing to pay to help these beautiful little lives.

We have been able to do so much for so many animals ... and none of it would have been possible without your support. So, truly, thank you so very much for your kind words, donations, adoptions and unending support.

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Caring for Another Type of Special Needs Animal – Community Cats

It's not just domestic pets that need assistance. Community cats can get sick too and today, Joa’s Arc's friend, Debbie R, was nice enough to put together a list of ways to help Community Cats too

Whether you are caring for a colony or notice a cat needs additional veterinary care at the time of spaying or neutering, we have a responsibility to provide the best care we can for each individual animal. But providing daily or routine care of cats that can’t be handled presents a very special challenge.

Here are some of the ways you can handle some of the more common issues:

Fleas: If you notice your cats scratching and you suspect fleas, a Capstar pill crushed up into their wet food will kill fleas within 3-6 hours. Capstar is safe and effective and doesn’t require a prescription.

Ear Mites: Revolution (prescription & purchased through a vet) effectively treats ear mites but must be applied topically. It could be done while the cat is under anesthesia or when in a trap. Revolution also treats fleas and intestinal parasites, but does need to be applied monthly if the problem continues.

Intestinal Parasites: For roundworms and hookworms, in addition to be being able to use Revolution to treat for these parasites, you can safely put Strongid into the wet food to treat the cat.

Ringworm: “It takes 21 days for ringworm to heal if you treat it and 3 weeks if you don’t.” Some strains of ringworm respond to a double dose of Program flea treatment. Good nutrition also helps the cat’s own immune system to respond.

Viral Infections: Treating eye infections is difficult, but can’t be neglected. Loss of vision is common if left untreated. Antibiotics have no direct effect on viral infections such as URI (upper respiratory infection) or Herpes virus eye infections. However, azithromycin has been found to be effective in resolving herpes eye infections. Often vets will prescribe antibiotics to prevent a secondary bacterial infection for an URI. In addition to crushing pills or adding liquid to wet food, prescriptions can be compounded with cat-pleasing flavorings. If you have the cat contained in a trap to care for it, you can put the trap under a heavy bath towel with a humidifier to aid in moistening the mucus membranes and ease breathing.

Bacterial Infections: Giving antibiotics to feral cats or kittens twice a day is difficult. However, there is a one-time injection of Convenia that provides 7-14 days of antibiotic treatment. It can be given at the time of spaying or neutering if an infected wound is discovered or teeth need to be pulled. Also, if an infection is noticed in one of the colony cats, the cat could be re-trapped and given an injection while in the trap.

For many other procedures, such as examining an injury or cutting out large clumps of matted hair, you will need to sedate the cat.

We hope you find this information helpful in caring for community cats.
A great, big thank you to Deb for putting this together.

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Spotlight: Jensen

Keeping on the theme of special pets, Joa’s Arc's friend, Debbie R, wrote up something about a "less than adoptable" kitty she currently has. Deb writes:

I have a kitten that was brought into a local animal hospital by a good samaritan. The kitten was underweight and had damage to the nerves in his shoulder (I'm not a medical person), but I think it was the plexis - he drags his front paw backward from the "wrist". His shoulder also drops down somewhat. Because of this, we thought the kitten was going to need the leg amputated.

Now in my care, this kitten is being seen by an orthopedic vet. Oh, and he has a name now too - Jensen.

At the most recent ortho visit 3 weeks ago, it was decided to work on stretching the leg muscle in Jensen's damaged leg because it seems Jensen is able to lift his leg from the shoulder somewhat now. So, we are now hoping to not amputate and have a brace made for the "wrist" so that Jensen does not get a wound from dragging.

He will be having a follow up appointment soon with the specialist again to see how he is progressing.

Jensen is absolutely an adorable, sweet little boy and gets along with other cats and dogs. He loves to sit on the end of the couch, watch tv and fall asleep... and his "disability"? It doesn't keep Jensen from running all over the place, torturing those in his path and when you sit down, he runs to jump in your lap. He spends his evening sitting with me and then running over to sit with my husband, then back to me again - he's a true people-cat.

Jensen isn't quite ready for adoption until his orthopedic issue is resolved. After that, he will be neutered, combo tested and of course be up to date on the appropriate vaccinations, worming, flea treatments.

If it weren’t for a truly compassionate vet, several vet techs (including my rescue friend, Chrissy), this little guy would not be here.

A great big thank you to Deb, Chrissy and everyone involved keeping Jensen alive, comfortable and healing.

Interested in possibly adopting Jensen when he's ready for a home? Contact us to get in touch with Deb.

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Less Adoptable Pet - Coco

No longer able to walk and blind from malnutrition, Coco was found by Animal Control Officer John M after starving for weeks in an empty house. Although Coco was able to spend time overnight in an emergency vet facility, it was obvious Coco needed more extensive care than the local shelter would be able to provide him. John was able to make arrangements for Coco to be fostered by Joa’s Arc's wonderful friend, Karen, and Karen reached out to Joa’s Arc for our help.

After some fluids, blood work, food and care, Coco's ability to walk return and his eyesight followed slowly after. In fact, it only took about 24 hours before Karen was reporting, "by this evening he took his first steps and quickly found a bone...then peed on my carpet LOL...he is starting to act like a dog :)"

Coco is now about 10 months old, housebroken, knows his commands (sit, stay, come and off), is excellent in the house, gets along with dogs, cats and people adore him. He is extra loveable.

Why Coco this week? Coco is not just a pit bull , a breed hard to place due to a poor reputation (http://www.petfinder.com/before-pet-adoption/pit-bull-myths-reality.html) and the overwhelming number of them in local shelters, but Coco is also special because of his history of neglect. He is a wonderful dog right now, but that's because he's socialized, being trained, has structure in his life and rules to follow. We are looking for a home that will continue with Coco's training so he develops into a great dog for years to come. This is one special boy, and we are looking for a special person/family that will be committed to him forever.

Thanks to ACO John M for his compassion and quick thinking, Karen for finding the room in her heart & home, Camden County Animal Shelter & Joa’s Arc for working together, all those who donated to Coco's care and those who shared his plight, Coco is doing amazingly well.

More posts and info on Coco are available: - http://joasarc.blogspot.com/2012/06/meet-coco.html - http://joasarc.blogspot.com/2012/06/more-on-coco.html - http://joasarc.blogspot.com/2012/06/update-on-coco.html - video collection of Coco's journey to recovery

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Adopting a "Less Adoptable" Pet

It seemed fitting to start this week off with a successful adoption story - even if it wasn't one of your animals :)

Joa’s Arc's friend, Chrissy, writes:

I recently adopted a "less adoptable" pet earlier this month and I can honestly say it was the best choice I have ever made. I was going back and forth on what kind of dog I wanted to adopt and knew from the start I wanted to adopt an adult.

What I didn’t know was that there were so many wonderful “special needs” dogs out there that needed homes. My good friend, Debbie, had recently adopted a senior dog and I was so proud of her decision to take in something that other people just discarded that it empowered me to follow in her footsteps.

After doing some research I found Louie.

Louie is an 8 year old Great Dane who was left in a home after a foreclosure to die alone. When the home appraisal people came into the house to evaluate the home they found Louie nearly starved to death in the kitchen. Louie was then transferred to a high kill animal shelter where his kennel run was so small that he couldn’t even lie down and could barley turn around. Louie was scheduled to be euthanized later that afternoon due to the severity of his medical needs. Louie was saved by one of the staff members there who placed a call into the Great Dane rescue. The Great Dane rescue believed in a hope for Louie and gave him a chance at recovery.

Today Louie has been happily adopted by my family where we can not imagine not having him. Louie is on several medications a day and is currently going to dog physical therapy to help build up some muscle mass that was lost during his bad days. Louie is thriving when his new doggy brother, Ben, and we are so thankful everyday to have been the chosen ones for Louie.

Adopting a less adoptable animal has been the most rewarding experience imaginable and from this point forward we will always be a “rescue” family with a “special needs” dog. I consider ourselves to be the lucky ones in these stories, to be able to experience such love and appreciation from our rescued friends.

Sincerely,
The Kellner-Filer Family

Interested in looking into adopting an older special needs dog after reading about Louie? Check out Sampson.

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Update on Coco

From his foster mom: UPDATE: COCO - the Starved Pittie from Camden

Coco is doing amazingly well. He is enjoying life and LOVES his friend Adeline - another Camden County Animal Shelter Pit Bull that was dumped by her owner in a field.

Coco's blood work came back perfect and it appears that his sight is improving. He is a smart pup and is learning his commands. He now knows "sit" and "off". We are continuing to work on his housebreaking (that's why he is wearing his belly wrap) and he is showing tremendous improvement. Coco will be ready for adoption soon so please keep him in mind - he deserves the BEST home.

Thanks again to everyone who helped Coco: ACO John Micklewright, Camden County Animal Shelter, Joa’s Arc, those who donated to his care and everyone who shared his plight. It takes an army to save one dog - but by working together we can help so many.

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Meet Coco

Coco is a 8 month old chocolate pit bull boy who came into our care at just 20 lbs!

Left in his home in Camden, NJ, after his owner was arrested, a neighbor alerted Camden City Animal Control of his condition.

Coco is now in foster care with our good friend, Karen, so he can gain some weight and get ready to be adopted to someone very special who will make sure Coco only knows love for the rest of his life.

When Coco saw the vet several days after coming into Karen/Joa’s Arc's care, he had already gained a pound, was walking again (he wasn't the first day) and his blood work looked good for the physical condition he was in.

His foster mom wrote just yesterday: "This morning I let him out at 6:30(AM) then we went back upstairs. When I got back in bed he was walking all around my bedroom...then he came to the side of the bed and put his paws up to come in bed. It was too cute. He climbed in bed - put is head on the pillow and his body next to me and fell sleep. :)"

Joa’s Arc is happy to help Karen help Coco to recover and, in turn, assist Camden County Animal Shelter in their efforts to give every animal in need a chance ... even the "extra special" ones.

Donations for Coco's care can be made to:
Joa’s Arc
PO Box 243
Audubon, NJ 08106

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Fundraiser!

A personal friend of Joa’s Arc volunteer, Jen W, recently wrote a book on losing a pet and dealing with the loss. In preparing to write this book, this friend spoke with lots of pet parents, owners and fans. He also took accounts from rescuers.

"A pet is a companion, a loyal friend, a playmate, and, for some, a soul mate. So when your beloved pet dies, the grief can be overwhelming. It's so easy to fall intro the traps of sadness and guilt: Did I make the right decision? What will I do without my pet? Will the pain ever end?

Written with compassion and understanding, When You Lose the Pet You Love will help you understand the grieving process and get you through the difficult times, including making tough decisions, discussing the loss with your family, and providing creative ideas for remembering your pet - and moving on."

Joa’s Arc currently only has 11 books available and for a donation of $8, you can get one of these books for yourself. Best of all, 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Joa’s Arc thanks to the author and friend kindly donating these 11 books to us!

There was quite a bit of interest in them when the possibility of getting them was mentioned, so if you're interested, I'd suggest getting an email out to us (JoasArc@gmail.com) quickly to reserve yours!

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A Special Spotlight

This beautiful girl is Nickel from Almost Home Animal Shelter. Nancy wrote to Joa’s Arc about this wonderful girl because Nickel is definitely a cat that fits in with the Joa’s Arc crowd.

Our beautiful Nickel is one of those inspiring animals who teach us that beauty comes from within. Despite the injury she sustained trying to save her own life, she is one of the friendliest and most loving cats you will ever meet.

I received a phone call late on a Sunday afternoon in February 2010. A family went out to their shed to get some shovels out for the snow storm that was coming. It was already bitter cold outside. When they opened the shed they found a cat laying flat on the floor, barely breathing and very emaciated. The family called Almost Home Animal Shelter and I went to pick up the cat.

I wasn't sure she would even survive the trip to the emergency hospital, so I brought her back to the shelter. I put her in a bed on a heating pad and gave her some warmed fluids. In just a few minutes she was meowing and attempting to lift her head to look at me. I made her a "smoothie" of good nutritious food and began putting tiny portions on her tongue. In another few minutes she was lifting her head and licking out of the bowl! By morning she was sitting up, walking around, demanding more food and wanting to be hugged.

It was quite obvious that this survivor had sustained some sort of injury to her top lip. The vet couldn't quite understand where her top front teeth had gone or how she had damaged the lip so severly. So, I went back to take a look at the shed Nickel had been found in... I could see the splintered wood around the window where Nickel chewed trying to get out of the shed. Apparently Nickel's lip injury and missing teeth were sustained from her trying to set herself free from the shed she found herself locked in.

Nickel is a very normal cat despite her slight deformity. She eats and drinks normally. She prefers soft canned food, but she also eats crunchies too. If Nickel had her way she would sit on someone's lap all day long and she loves hugs & kisses. Nickel has the most beautiful green eyes. Her pictures don't do them justice because she is a bit camera shy. You can fool her the first time but she doesn't like the flash. Although she is queen of the office here at Almost Home, we here would all love to see her in a forever home.

If you are interested in adopting this special girl, check out her Petfinder bio for contact information.

It is "Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week" this week! What a perfect week for the animals of Joa’s Arc. We have been posting every day with special needs animals in the care of Joa’s Arc. Keep in mind Joa’s Arc is constantly getting requests about animals in need like these special furbabies on our site. Even a dollar will help! Please donate what you can to the animals of Joa’s Arc:

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Elwood Raising Money For Joa's Arc!

On Saturday, March 20th there will be a "Spring Open House: at Winslow Animal Hospital from noon - 3:00 at 640 Sicklerville Road, Sicklerville, NJ.

What does this have to do with Joa’s Arc? Well, our good friend Elwood and the Easter Bunny will be welcoming Spring at this fun event!


Come join in the fun, have your pet's photo taken with the Easter Bunny and Elwood will also be available for photos for a $10 donation to benefit Joa’s Arc! The whole event will begin at 11:00 and Elwood will be arriving at noon. They'll be balloons and treats for the kids, pet costume prizes, and a pet Easter Treat Hunt. Great fun family day, so please come on out!

If you're really lucky, you might time things perfectly and get to see Elwood and Nennee, who Elwood and his mom Karen have personally requested to see. What can we say? Our girl's a hit! Though there's no guarantee Nennee will be able to make it (she's got a busy weekend already), we're all hoping everything works out for her to see her buddy Elwood - they met at another Joa’s Arc fundraising event, as you can see in this photo, at Bill's Wonderland of Pets.

We hope you enjoyed the gorgeous weather we had in NJ today ... and hope to see you this weekend too :) Tweet This