Saturday April 13 — 12pm – 5pm
Sunday April 14 — 12pm – 5pm

Come and meet the dedicated rescue groups who work tirelessly to find loving new homes for their rescued dogs and cats. Meet some of the deserving animals that are available. Discover what to expect when adopting a rescue animal. Understand the challenges such as adapting the new pet to your home, integrating it with current pets. Learn ways to bond with your new friend and help it acclimatize. FREE!

PawsWay is located at 245 Queens Quay West, at Harbourfront: Directions

By Meredith Rappaport

Toby, with his big paws, big eyes, big purr and big personality, is in desperate need of a special someone with a very big heart. He doesn’t ask for much, just the promise of the stability and safety that his life has thus far sadly lacked. Today, Toby needs a compassionate hero to step in and offer him the life that he deserves. Do you have a beam of sunshine? A warm lap? Do you have love to give to a gentle tuxedo boy who wants nothing more than a family to call his own? Who generously offers as much adoration as he receives, and then some? Do YOU have a very big heart? Might YOU be Toby’s special someone? Could YOU be Toby’s hero?

Toby is a handsome tuxedo boy with big black paws, big expressive eyes, and a big friendly purr. His big outgoing personality wins over everyone he meets and he is a big fan of cuddling, too. And if he could talk, Toby would have a big story to tell you. His ragged, frostbitten ears and deep, wise gaze offer a glimpse into the hardships of Toby’s life before rescue, but this resilient cat’s capacity to forgive is simply astounding. Despite his tumultuous past, since his rescue, Toby has proven that he still trusts the people in his world to do right by him. He is an optimistic guy who appreciates the simple joys of watching the exciting view through a screened window, basking in a beam of sunshine, and snuggling into a warm lap for attention and pets. Affectionate Toby just loves to be loved.

Asked to describe Toby, without hesitation his temporary foster mom gushes, “He is the sweetest cat you’ll ever meet!” She adds: Relaxed. Charmer. Loves to cuddle. Indeed, everyone who meets this cat is positively smitten with him. Toby’s nine years of life have been rough and outwardly, he looks every bit a street-smart alley cat. But don’t be fooled by Toby’s appearance; this whiskered sweetheart is as friendly as they come. Early in life, Toby was abandoned and left to fend for himself in downtown Toronto. Over the years, he was spotted by animal rescue volunteers wandering through several monitored cat colonies enduring the harsh realities of outdoor cat life — driving rain, brutal cold, aching hunger; and still he forgives. Then, in the summer of 2011, Toby was forced to confront death more closely than any young cat should when he was picked up at Front and Bathurst and left at Toronto Animal Services (TAS). At TAS, Toby was moments from being euthanized (he had already been anesthetized in preparation) when a sharp-eyed veterinary technician noticed that he was ear-tipped — a universal sign in the animal rescue community that a cat is neutered and lives in a monitored cat colony. The procedure was halted immediately and after receiving basic veterinary care, Toby was returned to a cat colony that he was known to frequent. Finally, in the fall of 2012, Toby was discovered among feral cats by an Annex Cat Rescue volunteer who recognized right away that this handsome tuxedo cat was not feral at all. In fact, she realized, Toby was in need of care, so she scooped him up and rushed him to a veterinarian. That fateful day was the end of Toby’s old life as an outdoor stray cat, and the beginning of Toby’s new life as an indoor foster cat with Annex Cat Rescue.

Unfortunately, being forced to survive outdoors for years after being abandoned has inevitably affected Toby’s health. A medical test revealed that he has feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Having FIV also means that Toby is more sensitive than most cats to viruses and respiratory infections, which can cause a bit of wheezy-breathing. A quality diet and a low-stress environment will reduce the effects of FIV and will greatly improve Toby’s quality of life, although he’s certainly not a complainer!

Despite his lingering health issues, Toby is a content cat who enjoys indoor living. That being said, recently, Toby has been experiencing regular stomach upset (vomiting and loose stool) every week to ten days and lasting a day or two each time. Toby’s temporary foster mom reports that during these times, Toby tends to lose his appetite and becomes more reclusive, and she admits that this can be a little scary. But, she adds, these periods of illness disappear as suddenly as they appear and afterward, Toby always returns to his happy-go-lucky social self. The veterinarian is still running tests to determine what causes these recurring periods of stomach upset. Meanwhile, Annex Cat Rescue covers the cost of all of Toby’s vet visits, which will continue regularly into the foreseeable future. His temporary foster mom accompanies him to appointments and everyone who cares for him is working toward getting Toby feeling his best.

If you are interested in fostering Toby or welcoming him into your family, please contact Annex Cat Rescue about becoming a foster parent: volunteer@annexcatrescue.ca

If you are interested in giving Toby a forever home, please email: adoption@annexcatrescue.ca

Cosette is one very sweet and loving kitty. This shy, once-abandoned girl will easily warm your heart every day, sitting by your side and often purring as you go about your business. She is quite content, likes to head-butt, enjoys making small toys disappear, and sometimes re-discovers her tail. Cosette has hyperthyroidism, which is currently controlled with a restricted food diet that she loves and that is available at any local veterinarian. She also needs a regular blood test at the vet clinic to ensure her levels remain stable. Don’t let this deter you; Cosette is an amazing, easy-going beauty who can be shy at first but who opens up once she knows you are in for love. She has lots of love to give in return.

(facebook event link)

Sunday, 16 December, 2012, 7:00pm
Bassline Music, 865 Bloor Street West

Everyone’s Human is an NPO that celebrates & empowers people to embrace the human condition fully. In this particular liberating variety show, we’re exploring the animal within!

Featuring -
Taylor Abrahamse (Host/Humorhuman/Musician)
www.youtube.com/tayloreh

Rita Di Ghent – Canadian Jazz/Sprawl Treasure
http://ca.myspace.com/ritadighent

Alicia Raimundo – Mental Health Superhero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blSkkwcy4uo

Pierre Sacha Desjardins – Wildlife Expert

Adopt-a-HuffPet: Lucy the Wobbly Kitty Needs Your Love
by M. Michelle Nadon

Wonderful, wobbly Lucy! The first thing you will notice about me when you meet me is that I wobble. That’s because I’m a wobbly cat (I have what vets calls cerebellar hypoplasia). I am also FeLV+.

I am affectionate and like to share your company. I will sit beside you on the couch, and purr when petted and give little love-nips. I can’t wait to find a loving home and a big-hearted human who understands that my wobble is just a part of my cuteness. Could you be the one?

Contact: Annex Cat Rescue Toronto, ON 416-410-3835 adoption@annexcatrescue.ca

Please come visit our table & purchase quality handcrafted gifts for your furry friends! Your purchases will benefit ACR cats in need of a forever home. Our volunteers will be happy to help you find a purrrfect gift for your cat or that someone special.

Please come by our table on any of the following dates:

December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23 – 2012

FREE ADMISSION!!

SHOW TIME: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

LOCATION:The Tranzac is located at 292 Brunswick Avenue, just south of Bloor Street, between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue. Click here for map.

3 Blocks from Spadina Subway (Bloor Danforth & University lines)
or 3 Blocks from Bathurst Subway station.
1 Block from Large Municipal Parking Lot (entrance on Lippincott)

Every year during the holiday season, The Artisans’ Gift Fair hosts a fine collection of affordable one-of-a-kind gift products. Vendors gather at the Tranzac, located in the Annex at Bloor and Brunswick, displaying quality handcrafted gifts that range from funky contemporary to a sophisticated classic style.

The first thing you will notice about me when you meet me is that I wobble. That’s because I’m a wobbly cat (I have what the vet calls ‘cerebellar hypoplasia’). I am also FeLV⁺. But please don’t let my conditions deter you from getting to know me; they don’t stop me from being healthy and happy. I might wobble when I walk, but it doesn’t hold me back! I am not the fastest runner, but I get where I am going, and I catch those dangly toys every time. My latest toy is the bathroom mat. My foster mum jiggles the mat and I am there to be sure the mat learns that I am a mighty predator. Sometimes I even sit in the bathroom and wait for my foster mum so we can remind the bath mat who is boss. I am a good climber too. I have even learned to conquer the new, tall couch in my foster home – it took some practice but I can now get up there! And when it is time to come down, I will sit on the edge and psych myself up before I leap courageously from the edge. My nails are one of my best assets – I use them to keep my grip and to get around. I am affectionate and like to share your company. I will sit beside you on the couch, and purr when petted and give little love-nips. I also make a delightful morning alarm clock, welcoming you into the day. I can’t wait to find a calm and loving home and a big-hearted human who understands that my wobble is just a part of my cuteness. Could you be the one?

Lucy’s Profile

How to Adopt

The Annex Cat Rescue has entered a competition for a grant from the Aviva Community Fund — but we need your help to make this happen! We weren’t selected in the first round to go to the semi-finals, but there are two more rounds of voting where we can move on if we get enough votes and support from our lovely fans!  You get 15 more opportunities to vote this round, one vote each day.  The second round of voting starts on Monday October 22st and ends on November 5th.

All you need to do to support us is:

• Go to http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf14121 OR Google AVIVA + annex cat rescue
• At the top of that page either register (all you need is an email address) or sign in
• Once that’s done you can vote.
• Please bookmark the link and vote DAILY!

It’s fun to watch the votes add up, so join in!

Thank you for your support!

Mason was discovered as a stray by an ACR volunteer. In fact, he found the volunteer himself by walking right in to her home. He started out a little shy but makes friends easily and loves having company. He is a great cuddler and lap cat – he loves to nuzzle under your chin and will even asked to be picked up! He also has near endless energy for fun and games. He is most amused by toys that make noise or move and loves it when you join in. He is trusting and sweet and would do best in a home with another cat, especially his foster buddy Sky. In addition to his beautiful green eyes, he has an interesting physical feature – a white spot at the tip of his tail. Mason is an easy cat to fall in love with and he will love you unconditionally in return.

Adopt Mason Today!

The Wanderer (Robbie). I am a domesticated kitty, but I indulge a taste for adventure. My wanderlust leads to trouble at times – this past Spring I ended up living on the streets with a colony. I still long for the great outdoors, and will sit by the door awaiting an opportunity for escape. My captors recommend I go to an apartment home, or a home without small children, so I won’t get my opportunity to get out. I guess that’s okay if I have warm shelter and a full belly and good friends to talk to. Despite my past forays into the wild, I am friendly and tame, and have excellent litterbox skills. I like being with people, especially when they scratch my head and chin. I like a good talk, but I am not one of those chatterboxes that goes on and on. I am very handsome with beautiful charcoal grey and white colouring and soft short fur. For my next adventure, I’d like to find my forever home.

Adopt Robbie Today!