Brittney is our Clinic Manager and she recently adopted Maynard (formerly known as Hazelnut) last month. She first met this 10-year-old cat on his third day at the shelter. He was shy at first but started to warm up quickly to people (especially if they were offering pets, food, or treats!) One of the reasons that Brittney was really interested in Maynard is because she has a soft spot for older orange cats with ear tips and health concerns. Maynard also has FIV, or feline immunodeficiency virus. Just because he has this disease doesn’t mean that he can’t live a long healthy life. Cats with FIV can thrive for many years as long as they’re indoors, eating a healthy diet, and getting plenty of vet care. Maynard didn’t want to stay in his den, he wanted to be out with the people to receive pets. He was healing well from his dental appointments and surgery to remove a pellet from his neck. Brittney says that animals have a way of finding you, even if you need some time and convincing. But when they know you’re the perfect owner, they’re ready. Brittney says that she first was hesitant to get attached because she had recently sent Ralph, her ear-tipped, FIV cat over the rainbow bridge due to cancer. She promised herself that if Maynard was still here at the Reno Shelter a month later, than she would adopt him. He has adjusted well, especially for an older gentleman that has seen a few things in his day. His favorite places to nap are on his three human sisters’ beds and he travels between their rooms all night to make sure he gets to sleep with each of them. He’s shy when it comes to loud noises and movements, but loves playing with his little mouse toys and catnip treats all throughout the day. Who says an old man can’t play? “Maynard deserves rest and all the comforts in life. If you are ever in the market for a new furry family member, consider the older pets. Most of them come potty trained, full of love, and naps. So, think about that the next time you want to adopt because the old critters just want a safe place to rest their bones,” she said. Meet Rusty: Brittney had also adopted Rusty in August 2022. He was the only red Doberman out of a litter of seven puppies. Brittney was immediately interested in him because her husband was raised with Dobermans, and she had promised she’d get a family puppy once their daughter turned five. Rusty was no exception to the puppy destruction rule and had a penchant for eating toys, shoes, blankets, and everything. He loves walks, fetch, tug of war, chasing his tail, and destroying squeaky toys! Because of his high energy and curiosity, Rusty was promptly enrolled in one-on-one at home puppy training. Puppy training helped to navigate his energy, set boundaries, and make the potty training process easier. Now, Rusty is almost a year old and is the goofiest, smartest and cuddliest pup Brittney has ever known. “I love to tell people how fostering allowed us to learn his personality and helped us decide he was the right fit for us,” she said. “If you are in the market for a new furry family member, just take the leap – it may just change your life.”
