MEET SOPHIA & SUNNY

Here is beautiful Sophia (the larger & older cat) and her adorable friend, Sunny (the smaller & younger cat).

Both are happy patients of Santa Monica Santa Monica Pet Medical Center in Santa Monica.

Our thanks to Laney Evans for these beautiful photos!

MEET HAYDEN

Thanks to everyone at Santa Monica Santa Monica Pet Medical Center for taking such good care of our angel Hayden.

Hayden loves everyone at PMC!

MEET OCHO & SEDONA

Here are a couple of Santa Monica Santa Monica Pet Medical Center's favorite

feline friends, Ocho & Sedona.

Our thanks to Kiley Stephens for this wonderful photo!

EAGOR PLAYS SANTA!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From Erica Paige , Eagor ( playing the part of Santa) & Ursula

REGGIE & SASCHA BERMAN CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN!

Chance's Journey 

Chance is the disabled kitten that we took in from Pet Med and we are very happy that we were able to find a wonderful rehab/sanctuary where she will live cage free with lots of love and professional care.

Friday night a small group including Amy, Melissa, Sarah and Samantha helped pack up Chance and her traveling bags.  Ashley lent us her Jeep-made cat stroller.  I brought a soft-sided carrier from home, which Chance instantly liked being in.  Melissa drove us to LAX and watched from a close distance as we made it through security.  I had concerns about having to pull Chance from her carrier, and even when I made dramatic gestures about the likelihood of her peeing on the airport floor, I had to display her to the world. 

And you know what?  She was fine.  No peeing, no shaking, no meowing.  That's the beauty of Chance -- she is where she is, and she's in the moment.  Always.

The only thing that seemed to throw off her game was being in the stroller, outside her carrier.  She howled a bit, but once I figured out to put her in the carrier, then put the carrier in the stroller, she was fine.  Once we got on the plane, I stowed her under the seat in front of me for take-off.  I stuck my hand in and rubbed her head the whole time.  She didn't make a sound, or shake in the slightest.  Never once.  After take-off I wrapped her in my Delta blanket and put her on my lap.  I knew I was bending potential rules, but I also knew she couldn't leap off my lap and run up the aisle.  The stewardess did ask me to put her away, as it's against FAA rules to take your pet out and one of the other stewardesses was allergic to cats.  I put her under the seat and we both fell fast asleep.

At JFK we made a stop at the restroom to change her pee-pee pad.  We luckily escaped a mile-high stinky disaster.  Our drive from the city up into the country took about 4 hours.  I put Chance and her unzipped carrier on the front passenger seat.  She slept the whole way, purring happily and delighting in head scratches.  We had to stop for caffeine and a quick snooze at one point, and put her on my chest.  More purring and snuggles.  We drove through areas with signs for services I had never heard of before, like "Deer Cutting".  At long last we made it to the little hamlet of Delhi (pronounced Dell-high, I was quickly schooled).  Up the hills into gorgeous farmland just outside the Catskills.  We finally made it to Angel's Gate.

We were greeted by Susan Marino's crew.  Immediately, they fawned over Chance's beauty and distinct look.  Then Susan appeared, followed by her cavalry of dogs, including a German shepherd mix with walking difficulties named Ali.  Susan introduced herself to Chance, then ordered her crew to make Chance at home in the room with other special-needs cats.  She gave me a tour of the property, which spans 100 acres.  The main campus of Angel's Gate has been in Long Island, but they've faced litigation from complaining neighbors and are now transitioning animals and humans to Delhi.  There's only one horse at Delhi now, but soon there will be more.  She has a calf, a turkey and a squirrel.  She has small pre-built houses for AIDS and Leukemia cats.  Another house is devoted solely to Abyssian rescue.  The snow is coming, so Susan has been rushing to get heat into each of these enclosures.

In the main house and backyard are approximately 75 dogs.  Chance lives in a bedroom in the main house, just a door away from Susan's own bedroom.  Chance has 10 roommates - two siblings with cerebral hyperplasia, a Calico with legs like Chance, a blind older fellow who looks like our late Mr. Big, a scared-out-of-his-mind big orange dude and a handful of others.  Chance was cowering in her carrier when I first visited, but by later in the evening she was out and sleeping among the others.

I had a lovely dinner in town with Susan and two of her employees.  I would put Susan in her mid-50s.  She has raised five grown children, and worked as a pediatric nurse for 30 years.  Dawn is turning 40 this year and travels the country, attending animal care, humane education and hospice seminars.  Lisa is 21 - she is now a certified vet tech and will move from Long Island up to Delhi.  She started as a volunteer at 14 and considers Susan a second mother.  All three women are smart, funny and dedicated as hell to caring for these animals.  They did seem disappointed in me, that I only have two cats at my house.  Susan had ordered me to stay at her home/Angel's Gate.  We watched a movie together -- I held two of her paralyzed pups on my lap.  Most of the animals at Angel's Gate have a disability, but the vibe is incredibly upbeat.  Susan doesn't believe the animals are limited, nor do they.  It feels like daycare.

Chance slept with me that night.  Susan put a diaper on her (it didn't stay) and we laid out numerous pee-pee pads.  It was a treat to snuggle up with Chance -- and as I fell asleep I thought, "maybe I could take her home and we could do this".  But in the middle of the night she woke up, full of nocturnal energy, biting my toes.  I feared she could tumble off the bed, or pee on the sheets.  When I next woke up she peed near my head.   But she had slid under the covers and fallen asleep with her head on my leg -- I knew in that moment that she belonged at Angel's Gate, where she could snuggle with other kitties all day and night long.

My big fear was that Chance would go from being our singular "special" cat to one in a sea of special animals.  But something bigger, deeper is going on at that sanctuary.  And Chance is in the moment -- she will stand out wherever she is.  I visited her one last time in her new room.  She was being cautious -- and I was assaulted by other cats.  We looked at each other, and I knew it was time to leave.  I had cried the night before because I had become overwhelmed by all the animals and love.  I cried at breakfast because these people care so much.  I didn't cry as I said goodbye to Chance and drove away -- I knew she was home.

Thank you all for your support and love.  To me, to Chance, and to all the animals. 

Our thanks to Jeannie & Melissa for sharing this touching story!

MEET BELLA

Here's little Bella getting ready for her next big soccer match!

Our thanks to Bob Sinskey for this great picture!

MEET DAISY

Here's "Daisy" in all her shining golden splendor.

Our thanks to Susan Fabrican for this wonderful photo!

MEET RILEY

Here’s "Riley".  He loves to play soccer with his “human” brother, Wes!!

Our thanks to Sheila for this great photo!

MEET LUCY & FRANKIE

Lucy the pug, and Frankie the pugston – turning one year old in March.

They love meeting new people, and especially love playing with other pets.

Clients of Santa Monica Santa Monica Pet Medical Center in Santa Monica.

 Our thanks to Mitch Viner for these great photos!

MEET LUKE

Here's "Luke" who looks like he's just finished a fine meal - he's even cleaning the silverware so there will be no dirty dishes left!

Our thanks to Monica Small for this fantastic picture!

MEET MAX & MORGAN

Our thanks to Mark Sargent for these great pictures!

MEET TRUDY & SUZY

Thanks to Dr. Braunstein's encouragement, it looks like "Trudy" has found a new home with her pal, "Suzy".  They play hard, and have lots of fun together.  Trudy is very happy and friendly with people and most dogs after a proper introduction.

Our thanks to Rob Evan for these great pictures!

MEET HECTOR

Hector, a 10 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, screams for joy upon hearing he's due to see Dr. Hernandez of Santa Monica Santa Monica Pet Medical Center in Santa Monica! :)

Our thanks to Becky Chadwick for this hilarious picture!

MEET DOREY, SIMON and BABY ELEANOR

Here are "Dorey", "Simon" and "Baby Eleanor"

who are happy patients of Santa Monica Santa Monica Pet Medical Center. 

They want to thank all the Staff for their wonderful care.

They love PMC!

 Our thanks to Stephanie Horzepa for this great picture!

MEET COSETTE

"Cosette" is an official staff member of Santa Monica Pet Medical Center.

She helps out the doctors, veterinary technicians and administrative staff whenever they need her, and she also meets & greets visitors!

Our thanks to Kirstin Pirkl for this great photo!

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