 We hope this finds you and your family safe and healthy this holiday season. Above are just a few of the 1468 precious souls who were once homeless in 2021 but are now part of their very own families. Thank you for supporting Cape Ann Animal Aid this year by opening up your heart and home to an animal in need or donating to the lifesaving work that takes place at our Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter. Before they became a beloved family member, they were part of our family. They made an imprint on our hearts because from the moment we carried them inside our shelter doors, we made a promise to make them feel safe, to be cared for and trust that we would find them a home. They needed us to find them a family of their own.  They needed us to partner with rescue groups to transport them safely to our shelter. In 2021 we transported over 1,400 cats and dogs from Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Mississippi, Florida, and other areas of the country including Massachusetts. Priscilla and Leo, pictured here, came from an overcrowded shelter in Georgia. They needed us to be there, waiting with open arms. Team member Brittany holds Priscilla close as she carries her to a warm comfortable space inside our shelter.  They needed a clean living space with lots of blankets, food, water and toys. At our shelter, 240 loads of laundry are done each month. Leo and Priscilla were never without warm clean blankets. They needed to play and socialize! Being a kitten, Leo loved affection almost as much as he loved to play. He would demand our attention which we happily supplied.  They needed our veterinary team to provide life-saving health exams, vaccinations, medical treatments and spay and neuter procedures. Dr. Becket and the shelter medicine team compassionately cared for Priscilla and Leo to make sure their health was made top priority before being adopted.  They needed you. Priscilla and Leo were recently adopted into wonderful families who will spend this holiday season together and for many years to come. Thank you for helping us find homes for 1,468 homeless animals so far in 2021! Please give so we can continue the work of saving animal lives while bringing unconditional love and joy to families like yours. We wish you much happiness in the new year and if you are in need of a little extra joy, keep reading to see more happy “tails” from 2021! Animals and families you helped us unite in 2021 "Wellie has brought so much love and happiness into our home. He's just the perfect addition! He is just the best lil' snuggler. Thank you to CAAA for all that you do. Keep changing lives!"  "Gorty (after Gorton's Fisherman) has been a great companion and adventure buddy! You were great to work with and I appreciate everyone who cared for Gorty that made it possible for him to get to me."  "When I came across Emma's picture, I knew she was meant to be a part of our family. My son is as in love with her as I am. She is loving her toys and her neighbors. My son now has his best friend and so do I. We are happy to be chosen to raise her."  "I am so glad I brought Holly home just prior to the start of the pandemic, she has been great company. Her age does not slow her down. Senior cats are the best!"  "Gwen has settled in very well and is loving playing with her new brother bear (3 yr old Golden Retriever). She has become a very happy lapcat when not playing with her brother!"  "Fox asked me to let you know he's doing great. He gets along with the other dogs in our home. Together they make an amusing pack. He sends his love to the wonderful caretakers he had during his stay there." Thank you and happy holidays from Priscilla, Leo, Wellie, Gorty, Emma, Holly, Gwen,
Fox plus so many other precious lives you helped us save this year and everyone at Cape Ann Animal Aid!
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 We’ve all heard some form of the adage, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Although this may hold true for many, at Cape Ann Animal Aid we believe it’s ALL about the destination. For the 1,300 plus animals that typically arrive at our Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter each year, the destination means a chance at a better life filled with love and a family of their own.
Things are bad right now in Texas for animals - maybe the worst we have ever seen them. Shelters are closed and euthanizing due to lack of space. Rescues are overflowing. Dogs are being dumped by the litter in parks, roadways, and cemeteries. Craigslist and Walmart parking lots are full of ‘free puppies.’ Gas stations and convenience stores routinely have hungry adult dogs looking for food. It is heartbreaking and overwhelming."
These two best friends were transported to our shelter in August along with 13 other abandoned pups. Levi was diagnosed with heartworm disease which can result in severe organ damage and death if left untreated. With the high volume of heartworm-positive homeless animals in Texas, rescue organizations cannot afford to treat them all and are faced with making difficult decisions.
Cape Ann Animal Aid’s Safe Harbor Program allows us to commit to saving as many homeless animals as we possibly can while allowing us to help our partners in areas of the country who are overwhelmed and stressed.
Jazz arrived from our partners in Georgia in early spring. He was found by himself at a very young age. He needed medical attention for an upper respiratory infection and a good amount of socialization help.
Animals can form bonds naturally in a previous home or while in foster care. They can also have friendship bonds strategically created to help reduce stress and/or correct behaviors.
Rat was transported to our shelter from a local Massachusetts rescue group and was diagnosed by our veterinary medical team with a heart murmur. Like humans, cats and dogs can live long healthy lives with heart murmurs but getting adopted is not always easy. Lucky for Rat, he now had Jazz to keep him company.
"Philip and Thomas, are a delight and best friends. Philip (Rat) is very kind and patient with Thomas’ (Jazz) shenanigans. My husband Bill died last year, and these two characters are wonderfully comforting companions. I am so grateful they were recognized as buddies at the shelter, as they helped each other adapt to their new home." Your compassion and support for homeless animals like Levi, Julian, Jazz, and Rat mean the world to us and the many other animals who benefit from our life-saving programs. Please give so homeless animals near and far, who rely on Cape Ann Animal Aid's Safe Harbor Program, can be guaranteed a second chance at a better life.
A mother dog travels far to Cape Ann Animal Aid for a better life for her and her newborn pups.7/9/2021
Rescuing Boo Boo and her pups from an unsafe home
It was discovered that Boo Boo was actually unable to care for her pups because she was malnourished and as a result not producing the proper amount of milk. Rescuing this family was crucial. When a mother dog stops feeding and begins rejecting her pups, malnutrition and disease can affect the health of the newborns. Transporting family of 7 to a safe shelter.
Because of you, animals in need are transformed and able to live their best life.
Please donate to help animals like Boo Boo and so many others who rely on the love and life-saving services at Cape Ann Animal Aid to ease their suffering and unite them with families who will become their forever homes.
Welcome to Takeover Tuesday! Each Tuesday in March, we have invited a different department to give a glimpse into what their typical day at 4 Paws Lane looks like on our social media. If you don't follow us on Facebook or Instagram, we've compiled all of our posts here to share with you! Tuesday, March 2nd: Sunniva Buck, Executive Director
My team and I meet each morning to discuss our plans to care for and ultimately find homes for each and every dog and cat at our shelter. Today we are talking about a recent transfer of animals that just arrived, reviewing the plans for our current animals in our care to determine who is ready for adoption, coordinating the 8 spay/neuter surgeries on our calendar, and discussing behaviors that we need to work on or consult with a trainer on. We are also discussing what volunteers will be joining the team today and what projects or animals we need their help with, like throwing the tennis ball 300 times to an extra active pup who is getting bored, hand feeding a cat that needs to feel we can be trusted or attacking the 6 foot high dirty laundry pile from our adorable but messy furry guests!  Like most days here, we are off to a busy start. For me, any day that begins with making a difference for dogs and cats is a good day. When you add an enthusiastic face wash complete with dog breath aromatherapy from a grateful guest, well it is hard to top. Thank you for caring about what we do and I hope my takeover brings you both some insight into what goes on here at CAAA and some smiles into your day.
Tuesday, March 9th: Mikayla and Taylor, Animal Caretakers
We got to see some of our great volunteers who have been taking dogs on offiste trips and helping around the building. Now, we're hanging out with our most recent transport of pups from Mexico and enjoying the warm(er) weather we're finally getting. There's nothing like a wet nose to cap off your day, before the craziness of tomorrow picks back up. Tuesday, March 16th: Shelter Medicine Team
Tuesday, March 23rd: Volunteer Team
 Hello CAAA friends! My name is Laura O'Neill, and not counting the year of hiatus due to the pandemic, I have been a volunteer working with our pups every Tuesday for about 6 years. I can't tell you how happy I am to be back!!!! This afternoon was my third shift back in the swing of things, and I loved every minute of it. I had the pleasure of romping and snuggling with so many sweet peas who will no doubt find their furever homes soon, and bring so much joy and love to the folks lucky enough to make them family.
After a check on the laundry (a constant need here as you might imagine) I get to head on up to the pups. My primary goal is to get them out, spend time socializing with people and other dogs, which includes comforting, playing, working on manners, watching for any strengths to be highlighted, areas where extra time and attention might be helpful to bring out their best. I get to be their buddy as they explore this new world they are in, and help make them ready to join a home. And it is a weird new world for sure. We are often like elephants to them... big, different language and movements... some dive right in, others (reasonably) need a little coaxing and extra love. There's good reason when you think about it for a pup to pause and feel things out. Today, I had one in particular who was sweet and easy to leash up, but anxious to leave her kennel, her safe place. A treat or two, soft encouraging words, and look at us outside cuddling like we've been buddies forever! I'd be reluctant too even if I met the sweetest elephant for the first time, and they asked me to go for a walk. It takes a bit of empathy, patience, gentleness and yes, sometimes bribes. But once outside it was belly scratches and hugs and zooms around the yard! She is perfect. As were all the dogs I spent time with tonight. It was fantastic to see her and four other pups just zip about together, socialize with each other, then make eye contact and come flying in for a hug and rest time in my lap, the others eyeing staff members and doing the same (always one outlier hanging on to a prized toy trying to egg the others back out into the field). My day was made much better by these fur heads, and while I would love to see them all again, my hope is I don't, at least not at the shelter, as it means they have moved on to the home they deserve. Be well! |
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An opportunity for you to learn more about the mission and programs of Cape Ann Animal Aid. Sharing candid insights, guest columns, breaking news, and of course, adorable photos of shelter animals. Archives
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Cape Ann Animal Aid • Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter • 4 Paws Lane • Gloucester, MA • 01930 • 978.283.6055
© Copyright 2020 Cape Ann Animal Aid • All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2020 Cape Ann Animal Aid • All rights reserved.