Today is a day that is very close to our hearts here at the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter. It’s International Homeless Animals Day and since 1896, it has been our mission to help homeless animals find their new forever home.

Tootsie's road to recovery

Tootsie's turmoil turnaround

One of the many animals we have rehomed is Tootsie. Tootsie was found as a stray wandering the streets of Newcastle on a cold, rainy, autumn day. She was 10 ½ years old and in a state of severe neglect. Her coat was painfully matted, she was desperately underweight, and her mouth in such terrible condition her teeth were literally falling out.

Tootsie’s fostering
She was so small she was easily able to escape the kennels so was taken on foster by a woman who was determined to help her back to health and prepare her for her journey to a better life. Whilst on foster, however, Tootsie settled into her temporary family’s lives as if she had been there all along and decided she quite liked this new life and was there to stay.

Tootsie’s lovely life
Tootsie has since thrived and has gone from having so little muscle and energy she needed to carried on walks, to taking the world by storm, sprinting around the beach and loving her holidays to the Scottish Borders and the Lake District. Tootsie is now a pampered pooch whose days of despair are far behind her, loving her life as queen of the household, being spoilt rotten and loved beyond measure, safe and secure, knowing she will never have to face such hardship again!

Zelda's Journey

Another homeless animal who’s life we have transformed is the lovely Zelda, In October 2021, Zelda was taken in as a foster after spending seven months in the shelter. At 15 years old, she was dealing with depression in her pen as well as gastrointestinal issues. As well as this, Zelda unfortunately came to us with a nasty skin issue that ended up getting infected as you can see in the pictures. With love and care and proper medical care, Zelda eventually overcame these awful skin issues.

Zelda’s foster home
During her recovery, Zelda was fortunately taken on foster! Zelda was initially set up in a spare room, where she hid behind an armchair for the first few days. However, she gradually began to gain confidence and came out of her shell, revealing an incredible transformation in her personality. Zelda quickly bonded with the other animals in the household, including two other cats and a dog. Despite efforts to give her space during feeding times, she insisted on eating alongside the other animals in the kitchen. She formed a special bond with the eldest male cat, who was still 12 years younger than her, and they often cuddled together.

Zelda’s first adoption
After about a month of fostering, a kind woman applied to rehome Zelda. Although things seemed fine initially, Zelda did not adjust well to her new home, where she had issues with the other two cats and spent much of her time hiding under a bed. After a month, the woman decided to return Zelda to the shelter. By this time, another foster cat named Juliet had already been brought home to Zelda’s first foster home, and with a household rule of “one foster at a time,” it seemed impossible to take Zelda back. However, seeing Zelda so depressed in the shelter again was heartbreaking. It was December, and she looked miserable in her cold, dark pen. Eventually, the foster home relented, and Zelda was brought back, making a total of five animals in the house.

Returning to the foster home
Contrary to expectations, Zelda did not hide away upon returning. She confidently walked around the house as if she had never left. This marked the moment when it became clear that Zelda saw this as her true home and her foster family as her own. After Juliet was rehomed, the decision was made in February to officially adopt Zelda, giving her a forever home.

Fighting illness
Zelda had some health challenges, including gastrointestinal issues that required a hypoallergenic, dry food-only diet, and skin problems that led to overgrooming and the need for various treatments, including wearing a jumper and cone. Fortunately, a steroid injection was found that helped manage her itchiness. In July 2022, Zelda became seriously ill with a respiratory infection, requiring two nights of hospitalization. At 16 years old, there were concerns about her survival, but she made a strong recovery and was back to her old self within a week.

Zelda’s legacy
Sadly, Zelda passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in January of this year. She is deeply missed every day, but there is immense gratitude for being able to give her the best final two years of her life. Zelda’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of giving older animals a chance. While adopting young animals is rewarding, there is a unique sense of fulfillment in providing a loving home for a senior pet during their golden years. Zelda was 17 when she passed, and those two years were invaluable. It’s heartbreaking to see animals much younger than Zelda being overlooked in shelters because of their age. They, too, deserve to experience true love in their later years.