Several years ago, while looking for a new pet online, Tracy Coyle of Snohomish spotted a cat in need through PetFinder.
Despite some nerve damage to one of his legs, Dallas (she renamed him Charlie) became part of Coyle’s family.
“It was love at first sight,” Tracy said.
But when Coyle and her 7-and-a-half-year-old son Preston saw their most recent adopted cat Mindy pass on (Charlie had died years prior), Tracy was hesitant to take on another cat.
“It was such a blow,” she said. “I didn’t think I could take on another cat right away.”
Instead, Coyle decided to sponsor cats — and not just one, but five — from where she first met her Charlie: at Peninsula Friends of Animals.
PFOA is a donor-supported, cage-less, no-kill animal welfare organization located between Sequim and Port Angeles offers adoption, spay/neuter, foster home and emergency pet food bank programs.
The organization also has a number of cats with special needs, said executive director Dannette Grady — cats that will not be adopted considering how much medical care and treatments they require.
“They get care for the rest of their lives,” Grady said.
Her hands full with raising Preston as a single mom, Coyle opted for sponsoring cats over another adoption.
Last week, she and Preston — who was diagnosed with severe ADHD — visited Safe Haven, PFOA’s cat shelter off US Highway 101 between Shore and Barr roads.
“It’s a challenge in itself to be raising a special needs child,” she said. “I see it as a gift and PFOA is a gift to the cats.”
Three of the cats Tracy and Preston Coyle are here, while two others are at Barker House, a facilty east of Sequim PFOA uses to house some special needs cats. The cats — Bobbi Jo, July, Luci Alice, Marcus and Merry — suffer from various conditions from Manx syndrome to thyroid issues, chronic kidney failure and severe arthritis.
Grady said PFOA could use more sponsors for special needs cats.
“I love the fact that PFOA is a non-cage shelter; all the cats have somewhere to go,” Coyle said. “If I lived on this side (of the Puget Sound) I’d be a foster (volunteer).”
For more about Peninsula Friends of Animals, see safehavenpfoa.org or email to email is pfoa@olypen.com.
The organization is also seeking volunteers to help with outside landscaping, Grady said — particularly mowing and weed-whacking. To help out contact the volunteer coordinator at 360-452-0414, x3.
Grief help at PFOA
Peninsula Friends of Animals is starting a “Grieving My Pet” series for those who seek compassionate support after losing a pet. The series will be held the second Wednesday of the month starting Sept. 12, from 2-4 p.m. at 257509 US Highway 101.
Call 360-582-9074 for more information.
Concert benefits PFOA
The Olympic Cellars Winery’s Summer Concert Series on Saturday, Aug. 4, features Nick Drummond, with a portion of funds raised going to Peninsula Friends of the Animals. The concert starts at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.); tickets are $13 at brownpapertickets.com or $15 at the door).
