January 2026 summary
- Kim Reynolds
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
Here’s what happened in January!
We have a couple of new bird faces, Mugi (conure) and Wasabi (Quaker parrot). They are a bonded pair of birds, and their owners had to make the difficult decision to give them up because of a change in life circumstances. They were loved and properly cared for, but sometimes life just takes a turn that can’t be anticipated.
AnimO has a club we’re calling the PIPS. They are the Perfectly Imperfect Posse, a collection of cats and dogs that are disabled, neurologically different, and medically complex. They are Twiggy the blind kitten, Jellybean the Shiba with with neurological problems that affect her balance and carpal hyperextension, Lupin the deaf Husky with cerebellar hypoplasia (his motor functions aren’t fully developed so he has trouble with balance and coordination), and Skoshie black Lab with severe shaking puppy syndrome and seizures.
The PIPS got two new members this month. They are Bizcochuela Esperanza Frijolita La Sancha de Martínez the Chihuahua and Bob the Pomeranian (aka Bits & Bob). Bits eats 8 tiny meals a day (she started at 4 grams per meal!), carefully weighed, rehydrated, and spaced throughout the day and night to help keep her blood sugar stable and reduce seizure risk. Bob’s front leg is currently non-functional and held tight against his body due to the way it healed from an injury that probably occurred shortly after he was born. For now, we will be observing him closely while he grows and gains weight. Once he’s bigger and strong enough, we’ll consult with a vet again to determine whether amputation is the safest and kindest option for his long-term comfort.
In other special needs dogs updates, Milly the Shiba was born without the use of her back legs and was one of the PIPS for a long time, but not anymore! She’s been with an amazing veterinarian on the other side of the country for almost the last year, staying in his home between major surgeries. Now that all of her surgeries are complete, she can walk!
Two new volunteers living on site are Edith from Estonia and Harry from the UK. They’ll be with us for three months, and right from the beginning it felt like they’re meant to be here. Edith has taken on cleaning and organizing in the house, and Harry has been spending long days doing outdoor projects like fixing fences and preparing land for new enclosures. The progress both inside and outside has been incredible!
Thank you to everyone on the Patreon, as well as everyone else that sent or brought packages of supplies. Every single donation is appreciated!
If you know someone who wants to support AnimO, or if you want to help more, there are lots of ways!
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