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Animal Profiles
COHS, Inc., Accepts All Creatures That Can Be Safely Cared For--These Are Some Of Their Stories:
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The Beginning...
For over 35 years, I've been rescuing all creatures, great and small--an early program was the "Save the Snail" campaign when I was 8 years old, living in Germany. I paid one penny more a pound than the men who shipped them to France (presumably for the privilege of becoming escargots). Of course, my mother objected to my keeping the rescuees in our garage--soon every surface was in motion... |
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| Since then...
Acting on the rescue instinct is a challenge, especially when one is an active duty member of the United States Air Force...many a feral cat or abandonned dog has been rescued off Air Force bases. That's another story. I am now retired, and after taking care of hundreds of souls on my limited income, maxing out the credit lines, and trying to keep ahead of the veterinary bills, I finally decided to share these wonderful creatures with you all, in the hopes that one or more of you may wish to sponsor an animal, or donate toward the care and feeding of our COHS, Inc., residents, to make room for more creatures like: |
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| Raven, Misty, and Star, a geriatric mare and her two elderly fillies, whose owner was struggling with cancer, had not had much contact with them for 15 years, and decided to send them to a glue factory. Jenny and Scout, a mother and daughter donkey-duo whose mother gave them up out of love, to give them pasture for grazing. Frosty, an albino bunny found on the road at Christmas time--she can't see too well, but is adjusting just the same. |
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| Bambina, a gorgeous blind and deaf Great Dane who navigates "her" property by radar. Petunia, a Peach-Faced lovebird who suffered a fungal infection, and now has a perpetual smile with half a beak, and soft toes, without claws. Hero, rescued from a sewer on September 11th, brother to numerous other rescued feral cats, who is now a loving addition to the clan. |
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| Quackers, a duck raised by chickens, trying to overcome an identity crisis--still isn't that comfortable in water. Gertrude and Maxine, two African Goose sisters, inseparable since Maxine had a fish hook caught in her neck. Louis, a stunning pied peacock who survived a leg break--probably related to the arrows that were being shot at him and his kin. Munchkin, a Nigerian Dwarf goat dude (the size of a Min-Pin) who had to be tube fed for several weeks because of a serious infection at birth. Jawa, a tiny Yorkie-Chi-Pekingese mix rescued from a pound in Alabama, minutes before his time was up. |
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| These are a small sample of our wonderful creatures that found sanctuary with COHS, Inc. Perhaps COHS, Inc., finally came to be because of Maya, the most amazing survivor of all (like her namesake). Years ago, she made herself known to anyone exiting a Thai food restaurant--desperate, she swallowed her pride, begging loudly for food. She was emaciated--it was hard to watch. |
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| The owner of the restaurant called her "Lucky--because we don't feed her, and she stays anyway." I asked if I could take her--they didn't care. When I tried to lift her, my hands were wet--she was lactating. Now the hunt began for her babies. After following her for a time, she led us to an industrial dumpster--and disappeared into a forklift hole. Returning with a flashlight, I could barely make out a tiny mound of dark peachfuzz. |
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| It took four days of feeding her and planning to finally extricate the little bundle--attached a pool-cleaning brush wrapped in soft terrycloth to a telescopic pole and swept out the FIVE kittens all entertwined. Later, we found out that children in the complex behind the restaurant had been playing hackeysack with her previous litters... |
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| Maya raised Monty, Gaz, Rickie-Lee, Whoopie, Shamma, like a champ. Gaz and Shamma ended up several years later with a mysterious illness that took Gaz, but Shamma recovered after a transfusion. Maya herself struggled with chronic kidney failure, bravely tolerating daily subcutaneous fluid infustions, numerous medications, food adjustments, and finally, succumbed to related complications just one week ago. We miss her so much--she was the Grand Dame of our cat colony, and an amazing inspiration for her incredible will to live. |
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| COHS, Inc., is there for all Mayas, great and small, and will provide care and shelter as resources permit. We are devoted to preservation of life, to minimize suffering, and to restore comfort and quality to a creature's remaining years with us. Please consider donating to our cause. We can use food, time, money, grants, land, vetcare and any other donations. Eventually, we will need a bigger area to accomodate our booming rescue population. Remember, your donations will be tax deductible. Please contact us if you have any questions. |
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