From Okinawa to Marion: A Life-Saving Trip for Andy

As you likely know, Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary is based in the small town of Marion, Wis., but since our founding, we've touched the hearts and lives of both people and animals living all across the U.S. Recently, that reach extended half a world away, when the wife of an Air Force soldier stationed in Okinawa, Japan contacted us on behalf of a cat that had stolen her heart. This is Andy's story.

Shortly after she arrived in Okinawa in 2008, Amanda Nemeth became active in a volunteer organization called Okinawa American Animal Rescue Society (OAARS). This group is devoted to helping the animals so often abandoned by American military families who find it difficult to bring pets with them to their next base assignment. They do not have a shelter but rely on foster homes to accomplish their life-saving mission. But OAARS was running out of options for one particular cat, and they were determined to do whatever it took to save him.

After doing some research, Amanda came upon Happily Ever After's website and told us of Andy's plight:

"Andy was found abandoned in August 2008 by a local rescuer in front of a supermarket in Okinawa, Japan. He was taken to the vet where besides being very dirty he had the regular stray results: ear mites. A test for FIV and FeLV resulted in positive for FIV and negative for FeLV.

He was estimated at that time to be around 2 years old, and he was soon placed in a foster home with another FIV cat. He resided with his 1st foster family for only 3 months, as they soon could no longer care for both cats. Afterward, he was put in his 2nd foster family's house, were he lived for a little less than 3 months. The new family thought it was best for him go due to their 4 children being mean and tormenting him. His 3rd foster family had him for 4 months and he was doing great until her husband came back from TAD (Temporary Assigned Duty) and wanted no cats in his house.

With all available OAARS foster families having FIV negative cats there was no place for him but a impoverished shelter in a small kennel where he remains today. We have made great attempts to get him adopted at our events, on our website, on local websites as well as local and military newspapers. The idea of sending him to mainland Japan has come up but they are governed by the same animal rules and he would on be in the same or worse situation.

We have been in contact with stateside shelters in hopes to get this little guy out of his current situation and were very happy when a shelter had been located. We soon found out they agreed to take him in by accident. The shelter is set to close June 1st and with no one to take him he will have to be put down by the local animal control.

Andy does very well with other cats and enjoys being let out of his kennel and a good rub. He does play bite which adults understand; children don't know how to take it. He has a set of unique colors with piercing eyes and is very mild natured. He has never bitten or scratched anyone and is best described as a lap kitty. With being in the shelter, he has had less socializing but comes around quickly."

But luck was finally on Andy's side: Happily Ever After had room in their FIV room and "happily" agreed to give Andy a chance at life as an American! OAARS kindly offered to cover all the costs of sending him to us, and on Thursday, June 3 - after many airborne hours and several different flights - Andy arrived at the Outagamie County Airport and into the waiting arms of HEA president Amanda Reitz.

Though Andy has only been with us for 6 days, he's already a volunteer favorite! He's settling in exceptionally well and adores attention. We're thrilled to have this special guy among our crew, and we invite you to come meet the newest and most worldly member of our family soon!

Welcome, Andy! And thanks, OAARS, for sending him home!