Summer Newsletter 2013

Your support has made the difference for many animals since the Artemis

Project began in 2001. We work exclusively with Lincoln Square Veterinary

Hospital (LSVH) at 140 W. 67th St. in Manhattan. By donating to Artemis,

you have helped to bring joy to many people and a fresh start for hundreds

of stray and abused animals. Thank you for your kindness.

—Dorian Rence

Thank You, Button

The Artemis ProjectThe Artemis Project Helping Homeless Animals in NYCHelping Homeless Animals in NYC

If you are a Great Soul, you might have felt a shimmer in the cosmos a few months back. That would have been a fellow Great Soul departing this world. Her name was Button.

Button was a black and white kitten found beneath a parked car. She was tiny and “cute as a button.” However, we couldn’t help noticing there was something odd about her.

First off, her head was strangely shaped and it drooped. Her eyes did-n’t quite track right. Walking was a chore. She had chronic diarrhea. Some thought we should put her out of her misery. Trouble was, But-ton was having the time of her life.

Enter Sarah. Sarah was a Philharmonic violinist friend who heard Button’s story and offered to foster her. At first, Sarah gave her 24-hour TLC. Button curled up in Sarah’s lap while she practiced. Then Sarah devised exercises to strengthen Button’s neck and leg muscles. She bathed her twice a day for the diarrhea. Soon Button’s head didn’t droop any more. She moved better. Button was so proud of herself! She didn’t just walk, she PRANCED.

Button had come a long way but it was obvious she would never be normal. Who would ever adopt such a special needs cat? Enter Gail. She and her husband, Al, had a vacancy in their multi-cat household. Gail happened to be in the LSVH waiting room when she saw Button strutting her stuff. Gail was smitten. She and Al wanted to adopt her.

At first, I had reservations. How could such a tiny cat (Button never weighed more than three and one-half pounds) ever hold her own with Gail and Al’s other “normal” cats? Still, this was Button’s big chance. It turned out my fears were unfounded. Gail and Al’s other cats seemed to sense Button was different. They mostly deferred to her. When mealtime came, if Button was crowded out, she simply scooted beneath the other cats’ bellies to get to the food bowl.

Button lived happily for five years with Gail and Al. Al continued the rehab program Sarah had begun. He put Button through her paces, teaching her to complete a circuit of various cat trees and cardboard

boxes. Button followed Gail and Al from room to room. She had six sets of doggy stairs to help her up the furniture. Button was even learn-ing to “play piano.”

Although Button liked a challenge, her favorite things remained bask-ing in the sun, sleeping on Al’s chest, and prancing down the hallways. She became quite the celebrity in her building. Neighbor kids knocked on the door and asked if Button could come out to play—she always did. Some of the older residents requested Button pictures for their apartments. Button’s zest for life was infectious.

We all sensed how fragile she was. Every year Gail and Al hosted a Button Party to celebrate another wonderful year with their special girl.

This spring, Button began having trouble breathing. Gail and Al spared no expense to find out why. They took her to multiple clinics and vets. As always, Button made friends wherever she went. Everyone loved her yet no one could seem to help her. When the bad days outnum-bered the good, Gail and Al released her.

Gail and Al wanted an autopsy done. No one was prepared for the results. It turns out that Button had been living on half of one lung, her heart had moved into the cavity where the lungs belonged, dragging the trachea with it. She had a misshapen spine, soft ribs, a short intestine and an even shorter colon. She had almost no spleen. The vet said it was a miracle she wasn’t stillborn. The fact she lived five joy-filled years in that feeble little body was a tremendous testament to Button’s spirit. As Gail put it, “She enjoyed life more than anyone I’ve ever known (of any species).”

Thank you, Button, for sharing your life and joy with us.

They say cats have nine lives. Gracie’s on her fourth and they’re just the ones we know of.

In her first life, Gracie was a young mom with kittens living on the street.

Her second life began when some kind soul brought them in to Arte-mis. The family got exams, shots, treatments for fleas and worms, and were put up for adoption. Her kittens were adorable and soon adopted. Gracie was harder to place.

Enter Elaine. Elaine is a senior citizen living alone in the city. When she lost her beloved cat of many years, Elaine craved the companion-ship of another cat. She came to Artemis and met Gracie. It was a match. That’s how Gracie began her third life.

At first, Gracie was skittish in her new home. Carolyn, an LSVH tech and Artemis volunteer, spent many hours with Elaine and Gracie, working until Gracie settled down. Although Carolyn eventually moved to New Jersey, she continued to make trips into the city every three months to give Gracie a pedicure.

This last year, Elaine’s health deteriorated. What began as a short hospital stay ended up lasting months with no end in sight. For three months a JASA (Jewish Association Serving the Aging) volunteer went in daily to feed Gracie. JASA eventually got Elaine’s permission for us to take Gracie back and to find her a new family. I felt sad to think of taking away one more thing from Elaine. She’d already lost her health and independence. Now I was taking her cat.

I met a JASA volunteer with Elaine’s keys and we entered the apart-ment. It was dark with all sorts of medical apparatus lying around. It was obvious no one had been living there for a very long time. I crawled into closets and searched under furniture until I finally found Gracie hunkering under a table, huddled against a wall. She looked very scared. Suddenly, I knew I was doing the right thing. Living

alone for that long was simply not fair to Gracie.

I got her into the carrier and we went back to LSVH. It took awhile for Gracie to adjust to this new upheaval in her life but every day she showed more of her gentle nature.

It wasn’t long before a young couple came in and fell under her spell. When they heard her story, they asked to foster her. We began receiv-ing cute pictures of Gracie with her new foster family. Everyone looked happy.

I wasn’t surprised when I heard the couple wanted to officially adopt her. And that’s how Gracie started her fourth life (that we know of).

Page 2

The Many Lives of Gracie

Atticus

Gracie’s adoptive parents

Atticus and Scout A few months back, Artemis received an email with a picture of two kittens. A friend of a friend familiar with Artemis had found them in a box in a churchyard but couldn’t keep them. Unfortunately, neither could the Artemis supporter.

Artemis takes in a lot of animals no one else would—animals that are older, need medical care and/or socialization. These kittens looked friendly, adorable and in the pink of health. They should be easy to place. We agreed to take them.

When they arrived at LSVH, they were christened Atticus and Scout

(characters from the book To Kill A Mockingbird.) At first, everything went according to plan. Scout was friendly and deemed healthy. Atti-cus was also friendly and his blood work came back normal. However, his physical exam showed bite wounds to his belly and a tail that was hanging on by a thread. The LSVH staff thought Atticus had probably been the victim of a dog attack.

Scout was quickly snapped up and adopted. The road for Atticus would be harder. Atticus had to have his tail amputated. Worse, New York State law mandates any animal with bite wounds and an unknown vaccination status has to be quarantined for six months due to potential rabies exposure.

Poor Atticus! His road to happiness had taken a major detour.

Enter a couple, grieving the loss of a long-time pet. Although they couldn’t have direct contact with Atticus, they could see what a sweet boy he was. The couple visited every day, sometimes even twice a day.

LSVH was able to cut through red tape and get permission for Atticus to serve out the rest of his “sentence” on Long Island where his new parents spend their summers. Come September, Atticus will be a “free man” and ready to return to his city home. Atticus, his new family, and Artemis couldn’t be happier.

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New Adoptables

Believe it or not, Amelia was discovered in a kitchen sink after somehow wandering into someone's apartment. Attempts to find her owner failed, which is when we stepped in to care for her and help place her in a home. She's an adorable, fun, and playful girl

with a bit of a sassy side to her. She did really well in a foster home and just needs to find the right permanent home where she will be loved un-conditionally.

Blue is a brave and fun guy who also enjoys getting TLC. He gets along with dogs and some cats. He loves to play and when he is all tired out this cute little macho guy has no problems becoming a snuggler!!!

Elliot is a 1-2 year old sweetie who was rescued by a police officer in Upper Manhattan. He is currently in a foster home with other cats and doing great! He is a mild mannered cat with a personality that will melt your heart!

Elliot

Ina

Blue

Artemis has helped hundreds of animals since 2001

We’re different from other rescue organizations. We don’t turn animals away on the basis of age or health. We see every animal’s life as precious.

• Tigger is a young pit bull that was abused then abandoned by his owners when they moved from their apartment. Tigger was found tied to

the door with no food or water. He lay in a pool of his own urine. Being tied to the door was nothing new for Tigger. The tops of his front paws had been rubbed raw from the constant opening of the door. The Good Samaritan who found him was appalled. She wanted to adopt him but lacked the funds. Artemis paid for Tigger’s exam, shots, and treatment. Tigger is now being cared for by the young woman who found him. She is helping to re-establish Tigger’s trust in people.

• Charlie is a young marmalade cat brought in by an NYPD officer. The officer saw what a sweet boy Charlie was. He didn’t deserve life on

the street. Artemis agreed to take him. Charlie passed his health exam with flying colors. However, he was terrified at the clinic. He peed on himself whenever anyone approached. Charlie is now in foster care. He loves being pet, purring ,and flexing his paws in obvious delight. However, Charlie has rules. He insists on being pet only when sitting to the right of the petter and with the petter’s right hand. Obviously, there’s still work to do but Charlie will make someone (presumably right-handed) a remarkable pet.

Please support The Artemis Project. We help animals other organizations don’t.

Gus is a sweet, gentle boy who loves to play and be on the receiving end of a good scratch behind the ears! He was found on the Upper West Side near a bar but is ready to give up night life for the purrfect furever home.

To find out more about these animals, e-mail info@artemisprojectnyc.org or visit artemis.petfinder.com

Neffi is a young and vibrant girl who loves to play with wands or string but also take some time out for affection. Currently in foster care, she's had her share of traveling and seems to love it and adapt quickly to new environments. She is about 9-12 months old and would be great in any loving home.

Ina was found alone on the streets as a tiny little kitten, probably just a few weeks old. She is a sweet, playful, and

obviously adorable little girl who has quickly found her way into the hearts of everyone at Artemis and LSVH. All she needs now is a home of her own.

Gus

Neffi

Amelia

Your gifts to The Artemis Project provide food, medical care, and shelter for

Artemis animals. We hope we can count on your continued support.

Visit our online donation page or mail in your donation. Either way you give,

every dollar provides our animals a chance to live to the fullest. Thank you.

Visit: http://bit.ly/ArtemisDonation

Donations are 100% tax-deductible. We are grateful for your support. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail this page along with your check to:

The Artemis Project

318 West 77th Street, #1B

New York, NY 10024

Enclosed is my gift of: □$25 □$50 □$100 □$250 □$500 □$1000 □Other_______

Please email info@artemisprojectnyc.org if you are interested in our adoptable animals!

Find us on the web at artemis.petfinder.com

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The Artemis Project

318 West 77th Street, #1B

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