Christmas Kitty “George Bailey” Secures his Wonderful Life…
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Dec. 14, 2020) – In the 1946 American classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, a downhearted George Bailey fears his life is meaningless until a guardian angel named Clarence reminds him how many lives he has touched and changed for the good. A tiny, once feral, kitten at Helen Woodward Animal Center has been similarly touching lives, motivating adoptions workers to rename him George Bailey. Today, the Center is excited to report that George “got his wings,” taking to the sky in a private flight to Seattle. There, he landed in the arms of two angelic adopters who are ready to show him a wonderful life of his very own.
George Bailey arrived at Helen Woodward Animal Center in late November. Traveling by transport vehicle, the tiny kitten had been rescued from a feral colony in the back alley of a large property. Originally pulled as part of a T&R (Trap, Neuter & Release) program, George was different than the other feral cats. He was shy and nervous but responded sweetly to pets on his chin and body. He seemed desperate for a life of warmth, comfort and love. With his bitty body thin and malnourished, members of a partner rescue organization sensitively coaxed him into a kennel providing him food and care, and helping him gain enough strength to make the trip out to the Center.
“We see beautiful orphan pets every day but there was something about George that just tugged at our hearts,” explained Adoptions Service Manager Dora Dahlke. “He was so tiny and so alone. It was hard to figure out how he even made it and we all wanted to show him that his life made a difference.”
Enter two angelic Center donors who have saved the lives of countless orphan pets over the years. Dick and Jan Hunter are longtime supporters of Helen Woodward Animal Center and the mission is close to their heart. Funding a variety of Center programs, the Hunters also specifically made a significant contribution towards the Feline Center in the Center’s Adoptions Building which opened last year.
“They love animals with all of their hearts,” said Helen Woodward Animal Center VP of Development Renee Resko. “They share our belief that orphan animals have so many gifts to offer us and that their lives are so valuable. They give generously annually and in the past they have also adopted a dog named Java and a cat named Frankie from us.”
After hearing about George, the Hunters decided to adopt him too, but currently relocated to Seattle, Washington, the kitten needed wings to fly there. Instead, the Hunters connected George with a flight by private plane for the once hopeless and homeless kitten. This morning, the Helen Woodward adoptions staff gave George a loving goodbye and rejoiced in the news that he would arrive safely into the arms of his new forever family by 4:30 p.m.
“We are so thrilled for his happy ending,” stated Resko. “We know the Hunters will provide him a truly wonderful life.”
For more information on available orphan pets at Helen Woodward Animal Center, please contact the Adoptions Department at: 858-756-4117 ext. 1, or visit www.animalcenter.org.