Cat of the Week: Gavin

Julia D Cat of the Week

Gavin is such a sweet and relaxed boy! He hasn’t had an easy life so far, but is very grateful to be able to receive a second chance. He will greet you with a smile once you enter the room and loves a good chin rub! Gavin is reserved but would love to curl up on your lap for an enjoyable cuddle session! He also has an adorable playful side to him and loves to play with kitty toys!

We’re reducing the adoption fees for adult cats to $20 for the month of August so now would be a great time to add Gavin to your family! If you’re interested in Gavin, please complete an application HERE or email adoptions@adopthope.org.

Volunteers of the Month: Adoption Center Office Workers

Julia D Volunteer of the Month

There is a lot more to do at Last Hope than deal directly with animals. There is a surprising amount of paperwork that goes along with running a rescue and our office volunteers help to make sure we keep up with it. We have volunteers who work during the week and they scan in adoption contracts, medical records from vet visits, intake forms, etc. After the document is scanned into the computer, they file it in the animal’s file. They also handle all the incoming mail, answer the phone, pass on phone messages, and greet walk-in visitors. We also have volunteers who work in the office on Saturdays and they primarily handle walk-in visitors and answer the phone.

We couldn’t help the animals without the assistance of these great office volunteers. The work they do is essential to our organization and we thank them for their time and talents!

Linda Pisney is the office volunteer coordinator and she trains all the office volunteers as well as work in the office during the week. She has been with Last Hope for about two years and also works as a dog lead volunteer. She says, “I love the people involved with Last Hope! All of us striving to help these animals that need us. I love it when they find their forever home.”

Sherri Eichmeyer works in the Adoption Center office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She adopted a dog from Last Hope about six years ago so she was familiar with the rescue when we moved into the Adoption Center and she began volunteering at that time. “It’s great being around like-minded people, and I enjoy meeting the other volunteers. It’s really heartwarming to see all the love and care they give all the animals. I especially enjoy having play time with the dogs!”

Aggie Doyle started volunteering in January 2017 and works in the office on Fridays. In addition to the usual tasks she also compiles the donations for the week so that thank you letters can be sent. She says, “I love the atmosphere of being at Last Hope. I adopted my puppy mill mama, Victoria, in February 2015 from Last Hope and I knew I would like to be a part. I actively cross-post all across the United States and am active in trying to get laws changed in Iowa. I absolutely love what Last Hope Animal Rescue is doing for dogs and cats. All of these people care!”

Karen Fangmann is relatively new to Last Hope – she began volunteering in July. Besides working in the office on Saturdays, she also helps take care of the cats at the Center. “Everyone that I have met has been so nice and I can tell there is a lot of dedication to not only Last Hope but also to the animals in their care. I was there for the first time on July 4th weekend – what a crazy time to start as there were a lot of projects and events going on at that time. It was so very cool to see everyone’s dedication and working together for all of these weekend events. I like what Last Hope represents. It is the ‘last hope’ and so much more for these special pets.”

Laurie Bakkum and Laura DeRuiter also work in the office on Saturdays and their help is invaluable.

You can see it truly takes a village to do what we do. There are many behind-the-scenes jobs that need to be done in order for us to save the animals and if we didn’t have volunteers like these, we wouldn’t be able to do the important work that we do with the animals. Thank you, office volunteers, for all that you do!

Happy Tail: Molly

Julia D Happy Tails

Kristie and Patrick adopted Molly (formerly Daisy) from Last Hope and it’s been a perfect match! Kristie was looking for a dog that could go through therapy dog training and her sister-in-law (Carol, who is on the Last Hope Board of Directors) pointed her toward Molly. Kristie works for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in Iowa City and was hoping to find a dog who could potentially go through training to be a therapy dog that she could bring to the program. Enter Molly!

Because Kristie had a specific goal in mind, she tested Molly on a variety of things including tolerance for touching/petting/grabbing, how she behaved around other dogs, if she liked attention from a variety of people, and how she responded to unexpected noises/actions. Last Hope also encouraged Kristie to take Molly to an obedience class to see how they would interact in a learning environment. She also took Molly home for a couple weeks, after completing the application process, to see how well they bonded. Last Hope wants to find the perfect forever home for our animals so we were open and encouraging to this level of investigation to make sure Molly was the right dog for Kristie’s wants.

There was a short adjustment period once Molly came home with Kristie, which is expected. Molly was somewhat reactive to dogs while on a leash so Kristie and her husband worked on socializing her with other dogs. She was also quite a jumper and counter surfer but through training, she has made a dramatic turn-around. Now, when food is dropped on the floor, Molly waits to be told it’s okay to eat it before she makes a move.

Now that Molly is a family member, Kristie and Patrick think she is amazing! As you can see by the picture, she’s a Super Dog. She goes pretty much everywhere with them and also goes to Kristie’s office a couple times a week and to the shelter once a week. She is a staff favorite and when they’ve had a particularly rough experience, they declare that they need “Molly time.” Dee, a shelter staff member, says about Molly, “When Molly comes to our facility, faces of staff and clients alike light up.  She brings joy to everyone she interacts with, and so often assists us in helping someone feel as though there is hope when things are not going as planned.  We love Molly and are thankful that she has become a part of our work family.” Molly is still working on becoming a registered therapy dog (she’s still a little young and rambunctious).

Molly loves to be petted, belly rubs are a must, and she can run like the wind. Her favorite time to cuddle is first thing in the morning which Kristie says makes it difficult to get up and get to work! Chasing tennis balls is her absolute favorite thing to do and her new thing is to chase the ball into the water. They take her camping where there is a lake and she can’t wait for them to throw the ball into the water for her to chase. She has also taken to boating and feeling the wind on her face!

We LOVE hearing all the happy tails but one like this really warms our hearts. Kristie and Patrick examined their own needs and wants and took the time to find a dog that could fulfill them. Sometimes people get frustrated because adopting an animal is not as fast as going into a pet store and buying one. It’s a process because we care about the animals and want to find the perfect forever home for each animal. That takes a certain amount of time and forethought.

We wholeheartedly thank Kristie and Patrick for taking the time and introspection it takes to successfully add a new family member into the mix. What a great happy tail and what a great forever home for Molly! She has a purpose and a family who loves her – what more could a dog ask for?

Dog of the Week: Heaven

Julia D Dog of the Week

Hi there! I am Heaven! And yep, you will think I am Heaven when you meet me! All the volunteers think I am sweet as can be!  I love playing with everyone! Well… except they tell me I can’t play with a cat.  I am smart and looking for my forever home. I had heart worm when I came to Iowa but after a few long months my treatment is complete and I can’t wait to get out for some exercise and play. I am a well behaved girl who is potty trained, crate trained, and knows basic commands. I may be okay with a submissive dog if properly introduced.

If you’re interested in Heaven, please complete an application HERE or email adoptions@adopthope.org.

Cat of the Week: Cecilia

Julia D Cat of the Week

Hello. My name is Cecilia and you will be ♫ begging me please to come home ♫, once you meet me. I am a very mellow cat and don’t let anything get to me. I absolutely love being petted, it’s my most favorite thing in the world. My foster parents love to pet me too cause I’m so soft. Once you start, I will purr super loud and won’t want you to stop. I get along great with my foster brother, who is a dog. He likes to lick my ears and I’m just chill about it. I also get along great with other cats. Thank you for taking the time to read this to get to know me. I’m going to go back to cuddling with one of my fosters till my forever home finds me.

If you’re interested in Cecilia, please complete an application HERE or email adoptions@adopthope.org.

Dog of the Week: Roxie

Julia D Dog of the Week

Hey Roxie here!  I am just 10 months old and am looking for a fun, active family to call my own! I love to play and the volunteers say I am the ‘class clown’! (I don’t know what that means but I love to play with my human friends!) I am okay with cats and love to play with other dogs! I would love to have a fenced yard and another dog to play with in my new home.  I am pretty big and could be a little jumpy for small kids. If you are looking for a fun, goofy furfriend, I’m your girl! I am wishing for a family that can help me learn lots of new things too!

If you’re interested in Roxie, please complete an application HERE or email adoptions@adopthope.org.

Dog of the Week: Ceasar

Julia D Dog of the Week

Just look at that smile! All hail, Ceasar! This beautiful brindle boy is an American Bulldog mix; he has one blue eye and one brown eye and is a solid 80+ pounds of love.  Ceasar is a very smart young dog and knows “sit,” “shake,” and “down.” Ceasar does great with people and does not seem to mind cats.  He does well with kids but would do best as the only dog in the home.

If you’re interested in this beautiful boy, please complete an application HERE or email adoptions@adopthope.org.

Cat of the Week: Benson

Julia D Cat of the Week

My name is Benson! I’ve been told I’m handsome, stunning, and regal but I don’t let it get to my head too much.. I’m a larger cat than most. I have a long coat that is gray stripped with white, extra long whiskers, and big bright green eyes. I currently live in a foster home with two dog siblings, they have learn that cats rule! One of the dogs is smaller then I am and the other is a medium-sized dog. We all get alone well and give each other space for the most part but on sunny days you might catch us all laying together. My foster mom has also decided to foster three kittens and even though in the past I have liked to be the only cat , I’ve been open to this new arrangement.

I like spending most of my days looking out the window and watching the birds and squirrels. I also enjoy being high up and watching everyone from below. I enjoy the quick brush out and the occasional pet. You may even hold and snuggle me for a bit but like I said I’m a big cat so not for too long I’m afraid that your arms might give out. My foster mom says I’m a “chill cat.” But occasionally I’ll come seeking for attention, rub against my humans leg or talk to her. I would prefer a home with a nice window to look out and a human that will give me a few days to adjust because even though I do pretty good with change a new home can be scary.

If you’re interested in the handsome Benson, please complete an application HERE or email adoptions@adopthope.org.

Dog of the Week: Gracie

Julia D Dog of the Week

Gracie is a beautiful 2-3 yr old Lab/Retriever mix who came to Last Hope as an owner surrender.  She has a lot of puppy in her and enjoys running and playing.   She is crate trained and house broken.  She tolerates cats and only chases after them if they run.  She can be protective of her food and toys so Gracie would love to be the only dog. Gracie would do great with training since she is food motivated—she already knows sit and shake.     Gracie is a very sweet dog who loves everybody!   She loves attention and craves affection!   Because of her size and activity level, it’s recommended she goes to a home with children over the age of 8 and a home with a fence to keep her safe and a yard to run in.   If you are ready for a young, energetic and friendly Lab, Gracie is your girl!

If you’re interested in Gracie, please complete an application HERE or email adoptions@adopthope.org.