A New Home for Andre
 Click here to donate now to our campaign in the national Fund the Shelters Challenge and help us save more kitties like Andre Andre, a stray cat in Reading, had eluded countless rescue attempts for many years. But when
it comes to helping cats that have been abandoned and are struggling to live outdoors, the
PAWS volunteer team has never been one to give up easily.
Andre was safely trapped in January 2016 and immediately taken to the vet. He tested positive
for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus), a common disease among cats that live outside, and all
four of his canine teeth were broken. It was clear he would not have survived much longer on
his own. PAWS funded the much-needed extraction of Andre’s four canines, in addition to
getting him vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped.
 Andre was taken in by a patient PAWS foster parent. At first, he was extremely timid and
scared, making his foster mom think he was feral. After six months of loving care, Andre let
himself be petted for the first time!
Unfortunately, medical problems were far from over for Andre. A few years later, he developed a
urinary blockage and needed an expensive emergency surgery to save his life.
Once he regained his health, efforts to find Andre’s forever home continued. Though he had
become quite affectionate with his foster mom, he wasn’t fond of strangers. When potential
adopters visited, he hid, hissing at them to back away if they were lucky enough to find him.
Andre never swatted or bit anyone, but his behavior was enough to scare most people away, if
his health issues hadn’t already done so.
 Whoever was going to give Andre a chance had to be someone special. After three years of
searching for Andre’s perfect home, PAWS met Ruth. She was looking for a cat that was “more
difficult to adopt,” and she wasn’t daunted by all that Andre had been through. Though she only
caught a glimpse of Andre when she came to meet him, she was captivated by him. Andre had
finally found his forever home! From elusiveness and fear, a sweet and loving cat emerged,
thanks to the love, compassion, and generosity of the community, and to PAWS volunteers.
Click here to donate via CrowdRise |