Meet Save-A-Pet Illinois!

You Guys! Today, we’re going to meet Save-A-Pet Illinois, a no-kill rescue in Grayslake, IL that’s working hard to save lots of animals! Please welcome Dr. Mittens, a 10-year old FIV+ orange mancat who is here to tell us all about Save-A-Pet Illinois. Dr. Mittens himself has a harrowing story of frostbite and rescue.
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Crepes: Welcome, Mittens!
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Mittens: It’s actually Dr. Mittens.
Dr. Mittens, single and searching
Dr. Mittens, single and searching
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Crepes: My apologies. Welcome, Dr. Mittens!
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Dr. Mittens: Oh boy, hmmm hello everyone! I have to say I’m a bit uncomfortable being in the spotlight. I feel like I’m blushing all the way to the tip of my whiskers. Meow, meow…okay a deep purr in and purr out, I’m ready!
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Crepes: You can do it, Dr. M. Tell me a bit about Save-A-Pet IL.
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Dr. M: This may be a bit official, but Save-A-Pet is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and one of the largest no-kill cat and dog rescues in Lake County that operates a full-time adoption center. They provide a safe haven for abused, neglected, injured, or lost pets or animals that have escaped euthanasia. They will never put a limit on the amount of care they will provide for us and they never give up on us. Save-A-Pet offers all of us, rescued dogs and cats, the greatest opportunity for a second chance.
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Crepes: It sounds like you really like this place.
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Dr. M: They have a wonderful and compassionate staff that takes care of us every single day of the year and many volunteers that help out in different ways. They really helped lift my spirit!….shhh, between you and me, I know angels exist because they are right here.
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Crepes: Angels are important. MomFOD tells me I am one, in fact.  Tell me, what are your facilities like?
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Dr. M: It’s a big building, with a whole section for the dogs and separate rooms for the cats. There is a kitten room, the main cat room (all adult cats) and then a special room where all of us, FIV positive cats, live. The last two feline leukemia cats recently found a home so their room is empty.
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CrepesFor those who don’t know, Feline Leukemia can be spread through contact, so they must live in a house with other like kitties or by themselves. So very pleased to hear you find a place for Feline Leukemia patients.
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Dr. M.: How cool is that? There are large bay windows with bushes and trees right outside. The bird feeders attract activity all year around and there is always something going on. That’s a special programming just for us. This keeps us entertained…and we also get to see everyone that comes in looking for their new family member.
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Crepes: This sounds like quite the facility!
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Dr. M: They also have some quarantine rooms, that’s where all of us start our stay. We get all our shots, get tested for feline leukemia and the FIV virus, micro-chipped and have to provide a little “brownie” to make sure we don’t have any intestinal parasite.
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Crepes: Ah yes, a “brownie.” How very clinical of you, Doctor.
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Dr. M: Their staff then schedule our spay/neuter surgery with one of the vets they work with. It goes without saying that any one of us that needs a special surgery or treatment gets an appointment with a specialist vet. We get only the best!
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Crepes: That sounds like an excellent program. Do you have a large foster program?
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Dr. M: The foster program is quite active, especially during “kitten season.” There are various fostering opportunities, something for everyone. Some people foster year round while others may do it based on their availability. Feline foster needs cover everything from bottle-fed kittens, pregnant or nursing moms, kittens not old enough to get fixed, adult cats recuperating from surgery or a special treatment, cats not faring well or in need of some extra socialization, and of course cats that may have a medical condition, such as diabetes or cancer. Training is provided if we need special care, like insulin shots or fluids. I’m telling you they are on top of everything.

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Crepes:  What is your special needs adoption program like? Your website says you offer aid with ongoing medications and needs. Can you expound on that?
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Dr. M: Some cats are available for adoption with incentives so, for example, someone welcoming a diabetic cat into their family would be able to get supplies specifically for that medical condition and Save-A-Pet would still be coordinating the care for his diabetes with their own vet. Each case is different so it is best to check with them. I’m not too much involved in all that process stuff.
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Crepes:  If people want to help Save A Pet IL, what’s the best thing that they could do? What do you need the most?
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Dr. M: Well of course, that green paper stuff always helps, especially with vet bills, but we also always welcome additional volunteers, foster homes and supplies….and of course adopters that wouldn’t mind a special needs cat…maybe even yours truly? I’ll be waiting for you!
"Pick me pick me pick me" - Dr. Mittens
“Pick me pick me pick me” – Dr. Mittens

Crepes: Let’s hope the wait isn’t too long. Thanks, Dr. Mittens for meeting with me. If you’d like to learn more about Save-A-Pet Illinois, visit their website at http://saveapetil.org/   Special Needs pets have a little heart in their profile!

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Dr. Mittens’ Story
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On one of the coldest days in January, a teenage boy heard some loud yowling outside and braved the cold to check it out. There, in the middle of the driveway, was an orange tabby cat, spread out and unable to move. Somehow he had still found just enough strength to meow one more time. The young man quickly got his father. They scooped him up, wrapped him in blankets and immediately took him to a local vet. The cat’s temperature was so low that it didn’t even register on the thermometer. His frostbite wounds were horrible, even the skin of one of his paw pads had peeled off. 24/7 emergency care was provided by the dedicated veterinarians until he was stable enough to come to Save-A-Pet. This sweet and affectionate cat would have died if it hadn’t been for the quick action by his rescuers and for the immediate veterinary care he received. Dr. Mittens, as he has been named, has recovered wonderfully and is now ready for adoption. This handsome FIV positive cat loves attention and is the happiest when he can be in someone’s lap.  To learn more about Dr. Mittens and to apply for adoption, visit his page!
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Thank you to Dominique of Save-A-Pet Illinois for providing access to Mittens and his biography and photos!

13 Comments

  • Dr. Mittens is a dreamboat! If I lived closer and did not have a mancat who will not accept other adult mancats I would love to have such a prince. I hope he finds a forever home soon, but am happy he has such a great place to be in the meantime. Save-A-Pet is pawesome!

  • Dr. Mittens – you are wonderful! I am so happy that you are now safe at Save-A-Pet! While Save-A-Pet sounds like a wonderful place, I hope you get that last name and find the forever home you deserve asap! Big thanks to that special boy and his family for doing something and rushing you to the vet and to Save-A-Pet for taking you in and giving you and your other kitty and doggy friends a great place to live until you find your homes. ((( Hugs)))

  • dood…we troo lee hope ya finds yur for evers home wear ya can set up yur own practiss…N de best of fishes ta all de kittehs N pupz at yur shelter…..yur shelter sounds WAY awesum…..high paws N headbonks…ouch….two de staff & all de volunteers ♥

    • thhanks…no headbonks, i m llookin’ cos i cee all people coming in. hopefolly some cool folks will gimme me a last name soon!

  • Dr. Mittens we hope you find a place to call home very soon – you’re most deserving after that horrible and scary experience – thank heavens the boy and man saved you so you could be safe and happy again. I’m sending you hugs for luck……….

    Sammy

  • What a great story and Save A Pet IL sounds like a great program. Dr. Mittens is very handsome. Hope he finds his furver home, soon!

  • You are quite handsome Dr Mittens, thank you for sharing your story Luv, Pixie

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