BLEEKER Domestic Short Hair Grand Rapids, MI

Sandi DeHaan spent much of 2015 saving strays from the Southside streets of Grand Rapids: from the very same home where she rescued Crash Cats Manchester and Caliope, she also convinced Sid’s Kid Schmohz he deserved a much better life than the one he had. She knew there were more kitties in need, so she kept putting food out on the porch, and in September she was once again rewarded for her efforts when she followed a meow that was coming from underneath. She watched as a black and white boy popped out when the coast was clear and she was in her car, then scramble off when she drew near. So she gradually started offering him food on a spoon, through the holes present in the cement behind which he hid. Finally, this wary wanderer decided it was time to step on solid ground while Sandi was there; she set up a live trap, caught him and took him to CSNIP for vaccines and neutering in October. Since her charge was none too happy, and she was able to provide for him in an environment he found suitable, she released him. Over the month of December he decided to make his way down a few blocks and chow down at one of her feral feeding stations, allowing her to pet him and give him some hands-on attention. It was now apparent that the two of them had formed a friendship, so she decided to take the plunge: she picked him up , popped him into a carrier and took him on home to see how he would fare indoors. Although almost painfully shy at times, he warmed up in every sense of the word, finding solace and comfort in the cozy cubby provided to him. Sandi’s gentle reassuring touches led him slowly but surely out of his shell, and he began once again enjoying the human kindness that had been missing in his life for so long.

Initially the game plan was for Sandi to house Bleeker (born in the fall of 2014) for a bit more time, but another rescue she had taken in (the opinionated Cicero) had failed his admissions test into our program, so she was short on extra space. On January 11th, 2016 Bleeker became an official Sid’s Kid; much to Sandi’s dismay, her timid boy tested positive for Feline Leukemia, the 3rd black and white boy from completely different locations to enter our program this year already. Although it is too soon to tell just how brave he will be in his new swanky surroundings, I have a feeling it is going to take some time– and a gentle hand (which we have no shortage of) - to truly make him feel at ease and at home. No worries though, as we have the most compassionate, caring volunteers around, and each and every one of them will make sure that he knows just how happy we are to have him here with us. Plus Sandi will be there on a regular basis to calm his fears, offer a reassuring stroke of comfort and lull him into a blissful sleep with a voice he knows so well:) Bleeker buddy, you may not know it yet, but you have it made!