Tradition has it in many countries around the world that the day after Christmas is Boxing Day, or St. Stephen’s Day. It’s a day when goods or money are wrapped in boxes and shared with the poor and the needy.

One of the earliest accounts of the origin of this day appears in the Christmas Carol, “Good King Wenceslas.”

“Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen’s Day, 26 December, when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snowstorm. Moved, the King gathered up surplus food and wine and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant’s door.” [1]

Given that bit of history about this day, it seems quite fitting that today I tell you the rest of the story about one of our Canadian rescues who came to us in need.

Stray Guy had been left behind when his family moved away. He was on his own to forge out a survival. But from the scratch on his face, it did not look like things were going so well for him. A woman named Irene who lived nearby did all she could to help him, but because she had dogs of her own, she did not feel she could take him into her home. So she began her search for a home for him.

One of the people Irene contacted was Ginette, a Let’s Adopt member, who contacted me. We immediately sent out a request for a forever home or a foster home so we could get this boy off the street. This was in July, 2010.

A woman several hours away from Ottawa offered her home, but the lack of transportation became an obstacle.

That’s when Maggie stepped up saying she could foster him in her home. She had several cats of her own and was familiar with our needs having rescued and fostered cats on her own in the past. She had a bedroom she could keep him in while we went through getting him tested and neutered and on his way to a new life.

We had a plan! Irene caught Stray Guy one evening and put him in a carrier. Ginette picked him up and delivered him to Maggie. In the coming days, we got him vetted and neutered. At this point, Stray Guy became Stary. In making his vet appointment, Stray was misspelled as Stary… and it was discovered that he had a small white “star” on his chest.

During vetting, we ran into another speed bump. Testing revealed that Stary had FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). Though that is not a death sentence, it does require a special family to adopt him. One that is aware of his illness and can provide for his needs. Simply put, he has a compromised immune system so he has to be treated quickly if a secondary infection occurs. Here is a link to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s webpage about FIV.

In late September, Inessa and Paul came forward and asked about Stary. They were familiar with FIV and were interested in meeting him. Emails, Facebook messages and phone calls were exchanged; a visit was arranged; and it was unanimously decided that Inessa and Paul were perfect for Stary.

On the first Sunday in October, Stary was loaded into his carrier for his trip to his new forever home.

And the news is all good. He has since been renamed Vovochka (or Вовочка). His family describes him as a playful, friendly cat. In the beginning, he slept with his new family in their bed and never let them get very far from his sight. He has become more secure, but still keeps his eye on them. And from the looks of things in these photos, life is good in his world. Stray Guy aka Stary aka Vovochka is finally and forever home!

So on Boxing Day, we wrap the story of this once needy little guy who was left behind by his family, but was eventually adopted by a wonderful couple in a tidy box for you to enjoy.

It takes a concerted effort of caring people to rescue our homeless pets and find them the forever homes they deserve. I hope in the coming year, you will be a part of the efforts to find homes for them. Did you realize that if just 3.5% of a community adopted the pets from their shelters, the shelters could be empty?

Please be part of the 3.5% solution and opt to adopt.

Click the photos to enjoy all of Vovochka’s handsomeness.

Ciao, Holly

As you head into your weekend to hang out with your friends and family, please tell them about these companions still in need of a home. It’s just a matter of luck — whether good or bad — that has created their homelessness.

Buster and Patches took it into their own hands to save their own lives by breaking out of the barn; Bentley was discarded after a divorce; and Stary was left behind when his family moved out. You can read their stories by clicking on their names.

We can change their lives. We can help them start a new life in a new home. Please SHARE their stories.

Buster and Patches

Currently living in the Moose Jaw area
Since settling into their foster home, they have become more confident and independent. It seems they will do okay separated and so we are looking for a home that will adopt either one or both of them. They have been vetted, are current on their vaccinations and are neutered. They are ready to start a new life as Canadians!

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Bentley

Currently living in Vancouver
UPDATE: Bentley has been adopted! Bentley is a very loving boy, but he still has some issues of insecurity and occasional outbursts towards other cats and dogs. He loves people. He needs a special home that will help him adjust. The by-product of a divorce, he was tossed out when the Mrs. left. We need to find foster and/or an adoptive home for beautiful Bentley.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Stary (formerly known as Stray Guy)

Currently living in Ottawa
Stary has been neutered and vetted. He is current on his vaccinations, however he has tested positive for Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). This is not a death sentence! His immune system is compromised so he has to be treated quickly if a secondary infection occurs. Here is a link to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s webpage about FIV that explain FIV. So far, he has shown a love of everything and everybody. I think he is genuinely happy to be off the streets.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

If you are interested in fostering/adopting, please contact me.

Stray Guy spent the night in a house last night. The first time since his family moved out and left him behind to fend for himself.

Thank goodness for the generosity of a kind woman named Irene who has been feeding him. Because she has dogs, she was not able to bring him inside, so she sought help to find him a new home.

From the photos we have received, it seems he was so excited that, after eating, he spent a lot of time cleaning up. Probably felt like he finally had a reason to.

Through a couple coincidences, Stray Guy’s name is becoming Stary. First off, many people may be feeling that Stray Guy is just too hard or odd to say when you are calling a cat… “Here, Stray Guy, Stray Guy.” Others may feel it’s just not personal enough. “Stray Guy? Is that really a name?”

One of the women involved in the rescue misspelled it in a message as Stary. Then it was discovered that he has a small white star on his chest.

So, now off the streets and no longer a homeless stray, I guess Stray Guy is evolving into Stary.

Our next step is getting Stary vet checked. And he has an appointment on Friday to be neutered — or as a friend says, “to lose his ‘twins’.”

We are again putting the word out that we are looking for a forever home for Stary. Someone to love this guy as he deserves.

If interested in adopting Stary, please contact me.

I leave you with a few more photos from Stray Guy/Stary’s first night inside. Click the images to see a larger version.

UPDATE: Bentley has been adopted!

There is a home out there looking for this handsome man.