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| Great Falls Tribune Article reprint: April 26, 2008 Pet-Pawsee finds 'furever' homes for strays By RICHARD ECKE Tribune Staff Writer In Montana's frontier days, citizens formed posses to round up cattle rustlers and other shady characters. Now there's a posse in Great Falls that rounds up cats and dogs that need new homes. The animals then are taken to 10 foster locations until a permanent home can be arranged. Leslie Raynes, who founded Pet Paw-see in Great Falls late last summer, likes to call a dog's or cat's new home a "furever" home. "It's a 10- to 20-year commitment," Raynes said. Area residents will have a chance to see what animals the group has available during an adopt-a-thon from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at Petco in the Great Falls Marketplace. One satisfied adoptive owner is Jeri Siller of Great Falls, who had been looking for a replacement for her 14-year-old tabby cat that died in 2004. A month ago, Siller walked into Petco during a Pet Paw-see Adopt-a-thon. Lo and behold, one of the cats available for adoption was a male tabby. "I held him and everything," Siller said. "He's just so sweet." Siller filled out an application, was approved, and Raynes delivered the cat a few days later. Siller named the tabby Smoky, "a little lover boy" who gets along great with Siller's adult Doberman pinscher, Tasha, Siller said. Another happy customer for Pet Paw-see. Raynes, a receptionist and piano teacher, had pets while growing up in Great Falls. "I had two Siamese cats growing up," she said. She never lost her interest in animals, and as an adult has done her best to save as many as she can from euthanasia. "I've always done animal rescue on my own," Raynes said. Her keen interest has been cats, which she said are most likely to need a home. For years, Raynes spent her own time and money rescuing cats. In August, a friend suggested holding a rummage sale to raise money for the rescue effort. The sale was a hit, and Raynes founded Pet Paw-see to expand her efforts beyond one person. The new group also widened its scope beyond cats by including dogs. Volunteer members maintain the Web site — www.petpaw-see.com — write letters, arrange events and take in foster animals. However, Raynes said the group could use more volunteers and foster homes. Among Raynes' admirers is a relatively new member of the group, Ann Christensen of Great Falls. "She's just a saint," Christensen said of Raynes. "She has a heart for animals. I can't say enough good about Leslie." Christensen also admires the other foster volunteers who routinely pay for their foster animals' food and medicine out of their own pockets. "It's an amazing organization," said Christensen, who prepares publicity for the group. One big boost for Pet Paw-see came when Petco agreed to let the group hold periodic adopt-a-thons inside the store, such as the event Sunday. "Petco has been a huge supporter," Raynes said. Pet Paw-see also has arranged fundraisers for the group, such as allowing people to get photographs taken with their pets and Santa Claus around Christmastime. Raynes said Great Falls veterinarians also have been "awesome" helping the group. Pet Paw-see, which boasts more than 40 members, rounds up pets from a variety of sources, including the Great Falls Animal Shelter, homes after an owner has died, lost and found animals and from people who decide they don't want a pet any longer. Raynes said she can understand when a family gives up a pet if a child has allergies, or if the family moves and cannot take an animal with them. She is less enthused about people who give the group an animal when they could take it with them. However, she will accept an animal regardless of the owner's motivations. Once the Pet Paw-see takes in a cat or dog, the animal is taken to a veterinarian to see if the pet has medical problems. The animal then gets medical care, needed shots, and may be spayed or neutered. The group's policy is that any animal must be spayed or neutered before adoption. An unsterilized pet must be fixed at a vet of the new owner's choice before the animal gets picked up. Adoption fees are $70 for a fixed animal and $40 for an animal that must be spayed or neutered. Pet Paw-see is working to obtain federal charity status so future donations to the group can be tax- deductible. Pet Paw-see is the largest general animal rescue group in Great Falls, but another one has just emerged in the city, Diamonds in the Rough Animal Rescue. Raynes said she doesn't object to the new group. "I wish there were a lack of animals in need of help," Raynes said. In addition to the two general rescue groups, there are various groups set up to help specific pet breeds in Montana and the region. Fostering animals is a good way to house pets while they wait for new homes, but doing so marks an emotional tug-of-war for foster owners, Raynes said. Raynes, who always has foster cats around her house, said it's easy for foster families to get attached. "A piece of their heart goes with each animal that leaves," she said. However, she noted that finding good homes for pets is the mission of the group. "You have to let them go." |