Don’t let fears of illness keep you from adopting the pet of your dreams.

We are so proud to share that long stay Nala, finally found a home after waiting for approximately 2 years!! Nala was a 7 year old, beautiful, gentle girl. When she first came to us, she was actually at another facility, she desperately needed a dental, and she had FIV. This, combined with the stress of moving around, she was shy and didn’t get much adoption interest. It took us a while to figure out her dental issues, but eventually we were able to remove the affected teeth, which happened to be all of them! Slowly, she started to feel better and look better. But, she still had FIV. And as the years went by and she became more brave and even affectionate, she still had FIV, and our customer’s fears kept them from taking that step with her. She was lucky to spend time in a foster home, but had to eventually come back to the Center.

When adopters hear feline immunodeficiency virus, it is understandable if their first reflex is fear. FIV makes it harder for cats to fight off illness it does NOT create sickness. This just means they need a little extra help if/when they ever do get sick. If the cat is given quality care and lives in a clean indoor environment with regular vaccines, they will live a long and fulfilling life. FIV is also not easily passed from one cat to another. It can only be spread through deep bite wounds, and it is not contagious to people or other species. So cats like Nala, who have a positive history with other cats, would not be at risk of spreading! For years, people didn’t think they could adopt Nala, for the fear that they could not handle the combination of her FIV and her susceptibility to stomatitis flare-ups.

Until one day, a sweet customer looking to adopt a cat, came through our doors. Her heart ached for Nala. Not only did she refuse let her FIV keep her from adopting, but she embraced it, knowing it was something that could be managed. Thank you so so much to Nala’s new mom for adopting, it means so much to us, and we know it means the world for Nala!!

Our sponsors at Bank of the James also deserve a shoutout for being this month’s sponsors!

Pets that were adopted this week!

Cats that were adopted:

Aire, Boss Man, Bubly, Buttons, Chicken Noodle, Eggs Benedict, Haze, Hungry Hippo, Joy, Katara, Katz, Kel, Kili, Lindsey, Little, Panther, Misha, Nala, Orbit, Splash, Storm, Tootsie.

Dogs that were adopted:

Benny, Biscoff, Callie, Gerald, Ginger, Ginger Spice, Izzy, Jocelyn, Lilo, Robbie, Saint, Stella. 

Small pets adopted:

Lemon, Orange.