Tinker

We have a new Sanctuary arrival – and everybody is in love!

Tinker is curious - KN

All around the world there are pockets of dedicated people who give their time to making life better for animals who have no home.  We are in regular contact with other shelters around BC, and we have worked with others in Alberta and in the USA.  Tinker takes the prize for coming the longest distance to find his home with us – and we’re so glad he did!

He loves to burrow in his blankets  -  LP

Tinker has come to us from China!   Sanctuary Manager Lisa Parker says, “So ...... sometimes when you are rescuing animals from not-so-great-lives you make decisions that defy logical reasoning. And you go with your gut. This is the face of one of those decisions”

You can't see me....  KN

Tinker was hit by a car, as a kitten, and has no mobility in his back legs.  We understand that the people that rescued him and helped him out also save cats from the meat trucks and slaughterhouses. But there are no RAPS style sanctuaries where Tinker came from - he was going to be kept in a small cage for the rest of his life and would have had very little quality of life. Lisa figured we could do better than that.

You know what they say about curiosity and cats....?    KN

She agreed that we would take him if they could get him to us.  Somebody has a pull with one of the airlines, because Tinker made the long journey and arrived safely with us. He is currently living in the office, where cranky Kitty says “I’ll leave you alone, if you leave me alone!”, and lovable Graycie is willing to be friendly.

Miss Kitty   (PH)      &      Graycie    (KN)

Unlike our beloved Terry, who passed last year of kidney disease, Tinker has no use of his back legs. Terry had some mobility and was able to use his stiff rear end to balance. Tinker can only drag himself around the floor, so it was important to have a space that we could keep clean, and clear of most other cats. He has no bladder control, but rather than being incontinent, Tinker has to have his bladder expressed several times a day by the med staff. Lisa feels that there is some response in his legs and will introduce some gentle physio, hoping to encourage movement. A wheelchair was found, but proved to be too large; however, an afternoon of in-and-out of the wheelchair exercise gave us hope that if we can find the right size for him, he may regain some mobility.

Who can resist that face?  -  MW

From having been the room of the Cranky Old Ladies, the office has now become The Place for Cuddles. Graycie (who Lisa has promised to blog about) is happy to accept cuddles from anyone at any time – and for as long as they like!  And now she has her own cuddle buddy constantly at hand.

The tail compensates for the legs...   PH

Kitty, the remaining Cranky Lady, rolls her eyes and stays out of the way. Tinker has no language issues (like Neko in Old Aids, who prefers conversation in Japanese – watch for another blog...); he understands the language of love, and has made himself totally at home with us at RAPS Sanctuary.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Phaedra Hardman, Karen Nicholson, Lisa Peters, Michele Wright