OUR WORK

HOW WE GET THE MAJORITY OF OUR ANIMALS

We are often asked how our animals come to our organization. Potential adopters are often not aware that the overpopulation of stray and unwanted animals struggle to find permanent shelter, at least temporary shelter until they can be cared for and find a loving home.

Questions we are often asked:

What is the history of the animal?

What is the age of the animal?

Where was the animal was previously housed?

Where were they found?

What is their medical background?

How do we know the breed of an animal?

Why would this animal be homeless or discharged

by another?

The truth is, we often do not know.

We are often as dumbfounded as others as to

how, when, where, WHY?!?!

THEIR TIME IN ANIMAL CONTROL

The majority of municipal animal controls are forced by the structure of their operation, limited in size and capacity, as open admission facilities (e.g. meaning they take in any unwanted or stray animal in need within their jurisdiction/county), are forced to euthanize animals for various reasons. One of the main battles these facilities have to deal with is overcrowding. The overcrowding of any animal species poses multiple health concerns for the animals. Aside from the health concerns, animal controls must have continuous available space to house the influx of animals within the community that need to be taking in on a daily basis. Euthanasia of shelter animals is often determined by several components, most specifically: the facilities capacity to safely house the animals, health condition of the animal, age of the animal, and behavior/temperament of the animal. Every year, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized in our nation’s animal shelters because there are more pets than there are responsible homes for them.

TRANSPORT TO OUR ORGANIZATION

County animal controls, usually those located in more rural areas, are often faced with overcrowding of animals. Multiple reasons contribute to the high numbers of animals that find themselves found in rural animal control. The most common reasons are as follows: higher stray animal populations, greater financial struggles among the community, lack of spay/neuter access, and lower incidence of responsible in-facility adoptions. These facilities are often forced to euthanize some percentage of the animals they take in. Once an animal exceeds their stray holds/impoundment, is identified as needing extra training or medical care, or relinquished by owners, private organizations such as Créme de la Créme Animal Foundation, non-profit and licensed by the state they reside in, offer to take in (essentially a transfer) of animals into their facility. Once the animal is deemed available for transfer, the organization assumes the care and ownership. Within days, an animal transport is arranged. Animal transports are typically large efforts, involving multiple facilities and numerous dedicated volunteers, who safely transfer each and every animal from destination A, to destination B, to destination C, to destination D, and so on... These transports often involve hundreds of miles in travel and hours of commute to get to their final destinations. This occurs all in the effort to give these animals another chance at life. The effort is gallant, and organizations such as ours, are extremely grateful to all the coordinators and volunteers who make this heroic convoy possible! Our animals could never make it us safely without them. THANK YOU TRANSPORTERS!

SETTLING IN WITH US

At our Adoption Center we provide them with individual cages to feel secure and comfortable. We offer them fresh food and water, privacy and quietness. Being housed in most animal controls, followed by a

long noisy transport is extremely stressful and often traumatizing. Each animal is allowed a few days to settle

in and slowly adapt to their new surroundings. Time for some good chow, playing catch-up on a good television series, R & R, and good heavy snoooozzzzzz-ing.

PROVIDE VETERINARY CARE, COMFORT ENVIRONMENT, DIETARY SUPPORT AND TLC

Many of the animals who settle in with us can experience some sort of illness due to the series of stressful events they have endured prior to getting to us. This can range from an upper respiratory infection, kennel cough, lack of appetite, cage-related injuries and behavioral changes/aggression. As they remain isolated, we watch them closely, provide them with veterinary care, offer a multitude of comfort measures (i.e. warm beddings, pheromone therapy, hiding enclosures), a variety of dietary selections (i.e. moist foods, supplements, probiotics), and physical reassurance (i.e. petting and handling). This period can often be another challenging time for an animal. Medical issues they may have previously had can come to the surface as well as new "stress-induced" conditions. Settling in with us can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks to months. Each of the animals are different, as are their needs.

POSTING FOR ADOPTION AND WAITING FOR A PLACE TO CALL HOME

We are just about there! Once determined, to the best of our ability, that the animal is at their optimal condition, they are placed as available for adoption. We assess each animal's health and behavior as a group effort. In collaboration, our volunteers, daily caretakers, trainers (if applicable) and veterinarians all weigh in on the health, temperament and appropriateness of the animal. We do our best to understand the animal and their future needs. We are always hoping we make the right decisions as we assist them with their journeys to new loving homes.

FOR SOME, ADOPTION DAY NEVER COMES...

And then there are the ones that are overlooked, are handicapped, are permanently injured, have hard to mainitain/costly health conditions, have a serious cattitude, like to not follow potty rules, and/or are up in the golden years. These cats live at our facility and learn to adapt to our surroundings as their home. Warm snuggly beds, yummy treats/meals, stimulating toys, and visitors make such a huge difference to their long repetitive days. They love to binge series on Netflix (: PURRRRR....