It’s that time again for a monthly segment of our long-term residents. A long-term resident is someone who has been here at least thirty days or longer, and we try to narrow it down to some who have been here even longer. Last month we featured Vega and Goldie, and we have some good news. Both Vega and Goldie have found their forever home! We are so happy for them! Now it is time to introduce our January long-termers: Andrea and Mac! Update: Andrea was adopted Wednesday night, but we are including her anyway as it was her turn!
This is Andrea, and she is a two-year-old Siamese mix. She has been here for a total of seventy days. She originally came to us in late October as a stray from Belton. She was very scared and nervous, causing staff to give her a couple days of extra de-stressing so she can fully understand where she is. Once she calmed down, we began to see the real Andrea; a sweet, shy, lovable cat!
We learned that she is very sweet and social when she wants to be. She likes to initiate the first contact, as she can be very independent. Our Felinality assessors dubbed her a Secret Admirer, so we would say she fits that bill. She can get over-stimulated, and she may give a warning nip or swat to let you know she is done. We always recommend watching for tail flicks and her walking away as a sign she is getting over-stimulated. She also enjoys talking with you, so get ready to chat with her.
She spent a brief amount of time in foster, so we could see exactly what kind of behavior she has. What we learned is that she LOVES treats, and enjoys either playing with you or by herself. She prefers short petting sessions, but may surprise with you with a long one. While she is independent, she enjoys being around people like a social butterfly! Andrea needs a calm, quiet home with no children under ten, due to her nippy behavior. She is warming up to the idea of being a lap cat, but that is a work in progress currently!
Andrea’s finicky behavior has probably caused her adoption to be delayed a little. She needs a person who understands she needs time and patience so she can adjust to a new environment. She will not be your cuddly lap cat at first; she would prefer to be your companion and then gradually work her way up. Once you get to know her, you will understand how Andrea has quickly become a staff and volunteer favorite! We’ll let her speak for herself!
“Hello….My name is Andrea, and I’m a “secret admirer.” That’s what they call my personality type. It means I’m on the reserved side….taking my time to get to know new people and adjust to new surroundings. It’s hard to believe a beautiful, baby blue-eyed Siamese like me came to Wayside as a stray, isn’t it? But as a result, I’ve had to deal with a few trust issues. According to my foster person and the folks here at Wayside, though, I’ve come a long way and continue to progress very well. I’ve become quite the playful girl….running and pouncing on my favorite mouse toy, and chasing my tail just for fun. I’m also a big talker. If you’ll talk back, we can have quite a conversation. I’m not a finicky eater at all, and boy do I love treats! Although I’m not a huge fan of petting yet, as long as you’re giving me treats, I’ll cooperate. Without the treats, though…. Let’s just say I’ll give you a little swat to let you know when I’ve reached my limit, which sometimes doesn’t take very long. I really liked being around my foster person. I followed her from room to room and would lie down near wherever she was working. Sometimes I’d snooze in her lap while she watched TV….all relaxed-like without any petting. I also liked to jump up on the bed or couch whenever she was there. She would just let me lie there and be quite content without trying to pet me. She really understood me. I can still be pretty skittish when it comes to strangers — maybe even running and hiding. Because of my fearfulness, the folks here say I’ll do best in a calm, quiet home with no children or teens. Oh and one more thing: my initial testing for FIV was positive. If you’re a cat savvy person you’ll know that’s not a big deal. It just means I should have regular vet care and be fed a good diet — and of course, be kept inside. The staff here at Wayside say I have the potential to become an affectionate and loyal family member; and my foster person will attest that I have steadily moved in that direction. I’ll just need a forever home with plenty of love, patience and understanding. Oh, and treats! Hmmm…do you think that could be your home? If so, let’s get together and chat about it. And don’t forget to check out my video. Looking forward to meeting you….”
Learn more about Andrea here. She also has a video, which you can view here.
This is Mac and he is a one-year-old Shepard mix. Mac has been here for a whopping one-hundred and eighty-three days! Mac came in as a transfer from another local shelter in early July of 2017. Based on his first behavior exam, we knew he loved meeting people and is very affectionate. He has a rough style of play, so only certain dogs would be a good fit for him. What helps is he is food, praise, and toy motivated, so he is a very eager boy!
After a few weeks, Mac got comfortable with shelter life, and he started getting a little mouthy and jumpy. He was quickly re-evaluated and put into our Peace Academy, a program for super energetic dogs. We have regular staff and volunteers who work specifically with our PA dogs, and basically it teaches them patience and basic obedience, and being able to harness their energy. Mac has made some great improvements!
We learned that Mac will need regular exercise, playtime, and mental stimulation. Because of his high energy, it is recommended he go home without children under the age of ten, and a hard limit of children under five. We do not want him to accidentally hurt anyone. An experienced handler that has dealt with this behavior before is probably the best home life for Mac. Strongly recommend no apartments as they can be restricting on his play and exercise time. Since his time in PA, he las learned “sit,” and “look,” so he is improving and making great strides!
Mac’s excitable nature and big size has probably been the reason he is still at Wayside Waifs. He has made great improvement while staying here, and many PA volunteers enjoy working with him! He does have a harness for walks, but he is an easy walker and harnesses up easy enough. With more training and consistent handling, Mac can be the best dog he can be. Are you up for the challenge? We will let Mac tell you a little bit about himself.
“Hi, I’m Mac! I’m a handsome, shepherd mix who’s looking for a place to call my own. I was brought to Wayside when my last rescue ran out of space for me. It’s okay though! I’m making lots of friends while I wait for my family to find me. I can’t wait to get home and be with my people! I’m a sweet and affectionate guy who loves people. I’d love to meet the whole family, including children and other furry friends, when you come say hi! I’m very social and love to play or go on walks for exercise. I also love to learn new things and keep my brain sharp! I’ll learn the ropes in no time especially when you motivate me with yummy treats, fun toys, or praise! I’m an awesome dude who will make the best companion. I hope you’ll come by soon so I can show you! Hope to see you soon!”
Learn more about Mac here. He also has a video, which you can view here.
You can visit all of our adoptable waifs during our adoption hours!
- Monday: CLOSED
- Tuesday: CLOSED
- Wednesday: 12pm-8pm
- Thursday: 12pm-8pm
- Friday: 12pm-8pm
- Saturday: 10am-6pm
- Sunday: 1pm-6pm
Written by Teryn J.