CAPE's Assisted Living Program provides foster care for chronically ill dogs who have low chances of adoption
Often we meet animals in shelters who are not good candidates for adoption. These animals usually have chronic health conditions or temperament issues that require that they be closely monitored for safety.
Over the years, CAPE has been able to save the lives of dozens of animals who were brought into our ALP which is designed to provide animals who are not candidates for adoption with permanent foster care in the home of a loving CAPE foster volunteer. Volunteers who sign up for this program make a commitment to care for the animal for the remainder of the animal’s life, and CAPE covers all expenses.
The huge success of this program has been due to the kindness and commitment of our wonderful volunteer team, who we are deeply grateful for.
If you are interested in becoming a foster volunteer for an animal with special needs, please click here to fill out the Foster Application.
By sponsoring an animal, your donation will go directly towards covering the costs of their care. Read about some of the animals in our Assisted Living Program, pick one or more to sponsor, and you will receive a special thank you!
Meet the Animals in assisted living!
Buddy: It is a story we hear often these days - that a beloved animal has lost their person and family and friends are not in a position to take the animal in. Buddy, who is local to the Grass Valley, CA area, is a handsome 19 year old cat whose person recently passed away. CAPE started following Buddy's story about a week ago when several local animal advocates began networking to find him a foster or adopter. Knowing that his age and possible medical conditions would make it nearly impossible for him to be adopted, the focus was on finding a foster home. A wonderful volunteer, Lara, stepped up to foster Buddy and CAPE brought him into our Assisted Living Program. Buddy will receive a complete check up and all the love and care he needs in his remaining years. Many thanks to everyone who helped Buddy find a safe place to call home.
Phoebe
Most things in life are the result of combined effort. ~ Jack Chipman Phoebe's rescue was not unique in the rescue world, it was no exception to the result of combined effort. Numerous caring and compassionate people contributed to Phoebe's journey. (The map below shows Phoebe's journey from the Bradshaw Shelter in Sacramento, CA to her assisted living foster home in Santa Cruz, CA.)
13 year old Phoebe was in dire need of costly vet care. She was seen by one of our wonderful vets within days of arriving at her foster home. Blood work, X-rays, medications, and extensive dental work were preformed over a two day period with scheduled follow up visits.
Phoebe's blood work was encouraging for her age and circumstances. Sadly, most of her teeth had already painfully rotted. Nine teeth were pulled during her dental and Phoebe was left with only three teeth. Her foster mom says she is a "super frightened little girl who exhibits a lot of signs of not being treated well." Thanks to Nancy, Phoebe's amazing foster mom, Phoebe will be cared for and loved for the rest of her precious life.
Simba is a beautiful, blind husky boy who lost his home through no fault of his own. After many hours of networking we found the perfect assisted living foster home for Simba. We are in the process of having Simba's eyes examined by a specialist to determine the best course of care for him. We will keep you posted.
Thank you to everyone who shared Simba’s story to help him find a safe place to land. After an overnight ride to Oregon, he was safely delivered to Allyson, who has worked with CAPE over many years. Her latest update said that Simba's amazing personality is beginning to shine. Special thanks to Suzanne Wouk for advocating with all her heart to save Simba.
Gypsy
This darling girl was rescued from a hoarding situation. With no socialization before being rescued, it was determined that Gypsy is semi-feral. Thanks to her foster mom's patience, Gypsy has adapted well to her foster home. She now greets her foster mom at the door with a happy dance and will allow some petting, but she is still fearful of being picked up.
Gypsy's foster mom realized that going through an adoption process would be way too traumatic for her since meeting strangers is not an option. She reached out to CAPE, and we accepted Gypsy into our Assisted Living Program where she will be taken care of for the rest of her life.
JULY 2023 • HOPE IS CURRENTLY IN OUR ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAM AND WILL RECEIVE ALL THE VET CARE SHE NEEDS. CAPE received an email that said - Hope Needs Your Help. We read the email, took a look at the attached photos, and immediately started the process of bringing her to a CAPE foster home in Grass Valley. It was obvious that Hope had been severely neglected! Hope was abandoned in front of a small shelter in Newman, CA, about 40 miles south of Sacramento. She was left in 100° heat with no water, an old bone, and a dirty blanket. Thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Newman shelter, Hope was given a chance to live. Hope has a heart murmur, horrible skin issues, and mammary gland tumors. She is also in need of dental care. It is our hope that veterinary care will help resolve or reduce some of these issues. Despite all her medical issues, Hope has the will to live a good life. On Sunday July 23rd at around 11:30 a.m., Hope arrived at her foster home. She has trouble walking due to the mammary tumors and stairs are not yet an option for her. After a bite to eat and cool bath Hope was able to setting down for a nap.
Sponsor Enzo!
Enzo, a 13-year-old chihuahua, was surrendered to our wonderful rescue partner, Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. This four-pound sweetie, nervous and confused in the shelter environment, had MAJOR dental issues and would require extensive dentistry. He was not neutered and was cryptorchid (only one testicle descended) and would need specialized surgery for his neuter. When the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter reached out to CAPE to see if we could help Enzo, we knew he would be a perfect fit for our Assisted Living Program!
After assessing Enzo, he was placed with one of our wonderful, long-term fosters. Last Friday Enzo, AKA Wee Elf, had surgery. He had 11 rotten teeth removed and the surgeon was successful in removing the undescended testicle. Enzo is home and resting comfortably. His foster mom reports that "all is well... no tumors or other problems".
We are thankful to be able to provide Enzo with a safe, loving home for the remainder of his life. With consistent vet care, time, and lots of love, we are hopeful that Enzo will thrive and enjoy his golden years. We are looking forward to more photos and updates - so stay tuned!
From Enzo's foster guardian: "Enzo Lorenzo Francisco Fernandez, aka the wee ELFF, is doing so very well. After coming to his new home at a meager 3.9 pounds, he is now a hefty 5.5 pounds of love and affection, and he gives the very best Chihuahua hugs. The vet diagnosed his painful flinching as a pinched nerve in his neck between c-7 and t-1. So he is now on a regimen of an anti-inflammatory/pain med every day, and it is doing the trick. He is such a funny little guy. He is still wary of eating out of a bowl, and he still wants nothing to do with being on a leash. He often barks at the TV at night after dinner. He also loves to bark at his own reflection in the fire screen.
We were adopted by a tomcat (neutered) who used to live at the neighbor's after being abandoned when his people left him behind when they moved away. The neighbors are quite happy that he is now with us, as they already have three dogs and four cats, and they know that he has a good home with us as an only cat. I call him Mr. Kitty, and he and Enzo are wonderful friends. I never cease to laugh when Mr. Kitty stalks Enzo and then swats at the ELFF's paintbrush tail. Enzo loves to chase Mr. Kitty, too. They are so cute together."
Sponsor Julius!
Julius
Julius is a lovable little dog who was found as a stray in the small town of Newman, CA. The shelter staff reached out to CAPE as his medical needs were thought to be extensive. The shelter vet report suggested the possibility of a heart tumor which would have made Julius a candidate for CAPE's Hospice Care Program. A wonderful shelter volunteer offered to transport Julius to Santa Cruz where he was placed in one of our incredible foster homes. After several vet visits and numerous tests, we are happy to share that so far it looks like there is no indication of a heart tumor. More diagnostics are in the works to make sure Julius gets all the care he needs.
Sponsor Bucky!
The story of each CAPE rescue is unique and often unusual. Bucky’s story, however, is uniquely unique and unusually unusual. He is a playful, sweet and gentle boy whom his Assisted Living foster mom describes as “an almost perfect dog.” Why is that?
In 2018, CAPE rescued Bucky, a young Lhasa Apso from a local shelter. A vet exam found a urinary tract infection as the cause for his lack of bladder control. When several rounds of antibiotics didn’t cure it, x-rays and an ultrasound were done. Bladder stones, requiring surgery, were found. The problem remained. Alas, another set of x-rays and an ultrasound found a very old, partially crystalized foxtail in his urethra! It had caused damage which required several repairs and surgery.
Bucky will live a full life in one of CAPE's amazing homes where he will always be loved and cared for. We thank you for all the Bucky’s you’ve given homes, good health, happiness and zoomies to.
Sponsor Roxie!
Little 12 year old Roxie’s life took an unexpected turn when her guardian was no longer able to care for her. CAPE was contacted by someone who pledged to cover all Roxie’s costs for the rest of her life if CAPEwould find a home for her.
As Roxie has special needs, CAPE found the perfect Assisted Living home for her where now she spends glorious days curled up in the blissful comfort of her new guardian’s lap.
Roxie's blindness doesn't hinder her from exploring her new setting and snuggling up in the sun.
Sponsor Rico!
Rico is 17. He was rescued from an overcrowded shelter after being confiscated by animal control from a neglect case. He came to CAPE five years ago with severe glaucoma and an untreated leg injury after being hit by a car. His eyes were removed after we realized that the glaucoma was getting worse and he was in pain. His leg healed and he is living pain free. CAPE came to the rescue and placed Rico in a loving Assisted Living home where he now lives happily--with all expenses paid by CAPE--loved by people who are striving to make up for the world of pain and neglect that was once the only world Rico knew.