Volunteer of the Month: Barb Dunakey

Julia D Volunteer of the Month

Barb began her journey into cat rescue in 2009. She didn’t know anything about trapping and rescuing cats but she jumped right in when she learned about cats being killed in a feral colony. She says, “Learning how to set traps was challenging and getting cats out of the traps once caught was even more so, as I didn’t know how to open the trap to get them out… but I learned very quickly, and rescuing feral kittens and doing TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) started my love of rescuing!”

She began fostering for Last Hope in January of 2017 (pictured are four of her current fosters). Barb is now the cat lead in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area and they have foster homes taking care of about 60 cats and 7 rabbits. She tries to be very supportive of the foster homes because many of them are new to rescue. Barb makes an effort to accompany the fosters to vet visits and has a “pharmacy” in her home for cats that need medication. She also administers shots for vaccinations when kittens or some adult cats come into the rescue. Because most of her fosters have full-time jobs, Barb also helps out with transports down to IHA in Cedar Rapids.

Barb also helps by entering data into our computer program that tracks our animals, writing biographies for the cats, photographs the cats, processes applications, performs home visits (sometimes as far away as Iowa City), and attends every adoption event in the Waterloo area. She’s one busy person!

“I love to help market Last Hope in this area, too!  On the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, you can hear me on 93.5TheMix radio station on their ‘Wet Nose Wednesday’ segments, which are broadcast 3 times a day.  I also make a poster about my subject of the day and it is placed on the 93.5TheMix FB page.”

About volunteering for Last Hope Barb says, “I LOVE volunteering for Last Hope!  Of the 3 rescues I have volunteered for in 10 years, they are without a doubt the most organized, professional, hardworking and dedicated volunteers I have been associated with!  Many of them really inspire me – especially those who are younger and have kids and jobs – yet they take time out of their busy lives to foster and clean the Adoption Center and socialize the cats and dogs residing there!”

We were able to expand into the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area with Barb’s help and dedication. Thank you for being such an important part of Last Hope and our mission to help homeless animals!

Dog of the Week: Addison

Julia D Dog of the Week

Addison is an 8-year-old female boxer/ pitbull mix. She is housebroken and is good on a leash. She is good with children and everyone she meets. She needs to be the only princess in the home. We are unsure about cats. She loves to be spoiled. She would love to find a forever home where she can snuggle up with someone on the couch. She also loves to go on car rides and go on walks around the neighborhood.

Addison’s adoption fee is $250 which includes spay surgery, being up to date on vaccinations and preventives, a microchip with lifetime registration, and a free obedience class.

If Addison looks like the girl for you, please complete an adoption application HERE.

 

 

 

Cat of the Week: Diego

Julia D Cat of the Week

Diego is super sweet and purrs all the time!  His paws are always kneading and he loves to be petted.  So far, he is a little squirmy when being picked up but he does like to snuggle!  He has a very sweet voice and likes to talk to you, too. His personality indicates he’ll probably be great in a family atmosphere, and if properly introduced may be fine with friendly dogs, too.  He is a champ at using this litter box, too.

Diego is about a year old and his adoption fee is $125 which includes neuter surgery, being up to date on vaccinations, and a microchip with lifetime registration.

If Diego sounds like the guy for you, please complete an application HERE.

 

 

Dog of the Week: Bob

Julia D Dog of the Week

Meet Bob! This sweet little boy had a rough start to life but he’s moved on and is ready to find the perfect forever home! He loves people, other dogs, and even cats. He would be great in just about any type of home. He can keep up with an active family or chill with a more laid back mom and dad. Bob is about one year old.

Bob’s adoption fee is $300 which includes neuter surgery, being up to date on vaccinations and preventives, a microchip with lifetime registration, and a free obedience class.

If you think Bob is the bee’s knees, please complete an application HERE.

 

 

 

Happy Tail: Murphy (FKA Gilly)

Julia D Happy Tails

About three years ago, Janet had lost a dog about nine months prior and was ready to add a new furry member to her family. She talked to several people who had adopted from Last Hope and decided to take a look at the adoptable dogs on our website.

She found Gilly after a while and completed an adoption application. Janet was contacted by Gilly’s foster mom after her application was approved and they arranged a meet and greet at Janet’s house shortly thereafter.

Janet says Gilly was very shy and wary of humans at that meeting. She wanted to spend a little more time with him so a weekend stay at Janet’s house was arranged. He barely ate during that weekend but they went on long walks and Janet was able to convince him to sleep in her bed with her. He won her heart!

A few weeks later he came to live permanently at Janet’s house. She says it took a while to win his heart and trust but now he is a true mama’s boy!

She decided the name Murphy really fit him so he went from Gilly to Murphy. They attended obedience and agility classes together. They hike and take long walks, he loves to go anywhere in the car, and there is not a squeaky toy that he doesn’t love.

Janet says she can’t imagine her life without Murphy in it. He still remains wary of men and strangers but loves other dogs. She says, “There is not a mean bone in his body. I am a lucky gal!”

Murphy was a rescue from Texas and who knows what happened in his past to make him scared of some people. But Janet has invested the time and love to win over this guy’s heart and it was worth it. Some adopted dogs are able to fit into new home situations more easily than others. The key is to have patience and give the dog time to adjust to the new surroundings. Sometimes they’ve gone through a lot of change and just need time to settle into a new routine and a new life.

Thank you, Janet, for giving Murphy the time he needed to adjust to his new life! We’re so happy things have worked out so well and are grateful for the wonderful home you’ve given him.

Cat of the Week: Thomas

Julia D Cat of the Week

Thomas is a sweet boy who isn’t afraid to tell you what he wants. He’s a talker and will sing to you until he gets his treats or that meal he’s been asking for. He loves a good scratch behind the ear! He would do best in a home where someone is around a lot to keep him company and he has other furry friends. Thomas is about nine years old and would love a forever home!

Thomas’ adoption fee is $85 which includes neuter surgery, being up to date on vaccinations, and a microchip with lifetime registration.

If you think Thomas would fit into your family, please complete an adoption application HERE.

Dogs of the Week: Jim and Leroy

Julia D Dog of the Week

We have two dogs we want to feature this week. They are not related and they don’t need to be adopted together. We just love both of them and wanted to showcase them both.

Come and meet Jim!  He is a one and half-year-old Chihuahua mix.  He loves life!  He is good with cats, kids, men, and especially other dogs.  He loves playing with other dogs, large and small!  He is kennel trained and slept through the night day one!  He’s working on sit and come but we are just in the beginning stages. He stays in his kennel during the day while everyone is at work with no issues.  He chews only his toys and like a puppy is curious about other household objects, but leaves them alone when told.  He loves it best when he can be wherever his human is at.

 

Introducing Leroy! He is a one-year-old hound mix that was abandoned at a vet clinic in Missouri after a serious injury. Dropped off by his family that never returned to pick him up, left to heal at the clinic that took on the cost and recovery and wanted to see Leroy have a happy ending, they called a local group to help get him into rescue. That group called Last Hope and Leroy’s journey north to a new life began! Being a hound mix, Leroy is a very smart and busy boy. He will need an active family that can keep up with his puppy energy and cuddle with him when it’s time to nap. Leroy is crate trained, loves toys, and potty trained. He does good with other dogs but still likes to play rough like a puppy so if there is another dog, they will need to be tolerant and playful. Cats and smaller pets are not a fit for Leroy as he thinks they are toys to play with and not a family member. He seems to like kids but we recommend kids over 8 as he will probably knock little ones over with all his excitement.

Jim’s adoption fee is $250 and Leroy’s adoption fee is $300. Those include neuter surgery, being up to date on vaccinations and preventives, microchips with lifetime registration, and a free obedience class.

If you’re interested in Jim or Leroy, please complete an application HERE.

 

Cat of the Week: Bohden

Julia D Cat of the Week

This sweet little man came out of a pretty crappy situation. But he hasn’t let that affect him. He’s a happy boy and loves to play and get lots of attention. He would do great with other cats in the home and has been around small dogs as well.

Bohden’s adoption fee is $85 which includes neuter surgery, being up to date on vaccinations, and a microchip with lifetime registration.

If you’re interested in this cute guy, please complete an application HERE.

Cat of the Week: Charlee

Julia D Cat of the Week

Charlee is a formerly feral cat who was caught with her baby. She was such a good mama and now she’s looking for her own forever home.

She now trusts and loves her foster mom – and went for a while to a new foster home with older kids, and she also let them love on her and she loved the attention!  She moved back to her former foster home, and she now loves to lay on a lap, she loves to rub your legs, and she lets you pick her up – purring ALL THE TIME!  …  OH, YEAH… & she gives KISSES now, too!!  She will jump on the couch and lay beside you and want some quality snuggle time – and she LOVES to have her belly rubbed, too!

Charlee’s adoption fee is $85 which includes spay surgery, being up to date on vaccinations, and a microchip with lifetime registration.

If you’d like to give Charlee a loving home, please complete an adoption application HERE.

 

 

 

Dogs of the Week: Snow White and Prince Charming

Julia D Dog of the Week

We could never dream of splitting Snow White from her Prince Charming, and we know you wouldn’t either! This charmingly odd couple is a delightful duo in search of one home together. They are a bonded pair, youthful and fun, who enjoy exploring the world together and have yet to meet a stranger they didn’t make fast friends with! Snow White and Prince Charming joined Last Hope with their litter of 7 puppies (named after the 7 dwarves of course!). The puppies have since been adopted and mom and dad are looking for a happily ever after of their own now. Both are great with dogs, kids and likely cats, too. Mom is approximately the size of a small lab, dad is around 50 pounds and seems to resemble a clumber spaniel (although we joke that he looks to be half bowling ball, too!).

The adoption fee for this bonded pair is $450 which includes spay/neuter surgery, being up to date on vaccinations and preventives, microchips with lifetime registration, and a free obedience class.

If this pair would fit into your home, please complete an adoption application HERE.