special-cats

Last Hope is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of stray, abandoned, and death due cats and kittens

Dog Adoptions

NACHO is a LARGE 8 YEAR OLD ORANGE TABBY who was recently diagnosed with Diabetes. We are now able to manage his condition BY RESTRICTING HIS DIET AND MONITORING HIS BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS.

He is a FAVORITE OF THE VOLUNTEERS and has commandeered a special team to care for him.

NACHO likes to spend time in his chair purring loudly while overseeing all the adoption center activities.

He'll make a great pet! He's CALM, FRIENDLY AND COMPANIONABLE.

If you are interested in adopting NACHO, please visit him at our Cat Center and see for yourself how awesome he is!

CYRUS was found in the road with multiple leg fractures. After several surgeries and an extensive recuperation period, he is almost ready for adoption. He has taken refuge with us at LAST HOPE and is receiving all he needs to heal his scars, both physical and emotional. He is friendly, never complains and always shows his appreciation with loud purrs. He is now an active growing boy who the perfect pet for a lucky person. Cyrus is funny-he's the Jim Carey of cats! All he needs now is a permanent home.

If you are interested in adopting Cyrus, please email him @ cyrus@lasthopeanimalrescue.org.

LAST HOPE: AN EXPANDED MISSION

Over the past twenty-six years Last Hope has been committed to helping the stray, abandoned, and death due pound animals on Long Island. Thousands of dogs and cats have found loving homes through our organization.

Two years ago it became increasingly clear that we needed to raise additional funds to cover the extraordinary costs associated with the numbers of cats and dogs that had special needs who were entering our programs. Many of the municipal shelters, be it Babylon, Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Islip, or Brookhaven, were calling and asking Last Hope to consider dogs and cats that had no chance of being adopted unless Last Hope intervened and provided the medical attention that they so needed. On many an occasion, the shelter brought the animal to us on a Sat. or Sun. or in the evening, so that we could start the process of seeking specialized vet care.

It was July of 2006 that five of us in Last Hope formed the committee that would become the backbone of the special needs auctions. Our inspiration was Sophia, a beagle, whom I was fostering at the time. Sophia, unfortunately, died in Sept. of 2006, but her legacy lived on in our auctions.

All of the original committee members either had adopted, fostered, or were fostering special needs cats and dogs. We hoped that by our example we would encourage others to consider a special needs animal when they were ready to adopt. We have held eight fundraising events highlighting our needy animals and raised over $23,000 for their care. This money has enabled us to help over 18 dogs and 15 cats with special needs in the last two years.

Hope, Kelly, Annie, Butch, Gracie, Henry, Rocky, Humphrey, Snoopy, Harriett, Domino, Ruby, (dogs) and Gin, Fizz, Frankie D., Vanna, Jeff, Lola, Milo, Amber, Torta, (cats) are just some of the special animals that we have highlighted in our auctions. Most have been adopted into loving homes, some are still waiting patiently for their turn.

We will continue to do all that is necessary to give a "leg up" to those dogs and cats that life has given special challenges.

Maureen Griffin
Auction Coordinator

SOPHIA, Our Inspiration

The Integrity of Ugly

Everyone in the apartment complex that I that lived in knew who Ugly was.

Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.
His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped-type, except for the clumps of missing fur. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction.
"That's one UGLY cat!"

All of the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around his feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up, he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly tried to befriend the neighbor‘s dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly hurt. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tired to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was lying, it was apparent that Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering, and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear.

I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat there and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply.
To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked and beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.

Author Unknown