Rescue Stories
Always a Helping Hand and a Warm Heart
Claire's Critters has taken in a wide variety of animals over the years. Here are a few stories of various animals that have been saved at Claire's Critters.
Please note that some stories contain images and descriptions of injuries and trauma and may be slightly graphic.
The "Good Boy"
This handsome Husky was simply named "The Good Boy" when he was found wandering at Claire's Critters property. While he was a little low on table manners, he was overall a sweet dog. Claire could tell this Good Boy likely had a home and she knew the shelter would likely be the first place the owner would look. He enjoyed a tasty meal before being taken to the Maricopa county shelter to be reunited with his owner.
Scraggles the House Mouse
Scraggles was a house mouse who was living in the garage up to several weeks old. Claire found him in a humane mouse trap and he was to the point where he was dying. He was covered in ticks, a large cyst had erupted on his side, his fingers were necrotic on his left hand, and both of his eyes were swollen shut with conjunctivis. It took several days of care, but Scraggles had every tick removed, his cyst drained and removed, and his eyes cleaned. He lived off chicken food (he didn't much care for mouse food), bird feed, and plenty of fruits and veggies (with the occasional baked good treat) in his custom built two-story mansion. Scraggles lived to the ripe old age of 2 and a half years which is incredibly uncommon for house mice which usually live up to 6 months in the wild.
He had a hole in his ear and only 3 fingers on one hand.
Scraggles saying hi.
Scraggles toward the end of his life, he is very old here and under his exercise wheel which he used reguarly.
He had a hole in his ear and only 3 fingers on one hand.
Rue the Leghorn Hen
Rue was found in the street and badly injured, likely from other flockmates. She was brought into Claire's Critters to be medically treated. She had a large wound on her back that needed to be cleaned and treated. The first day was rough for Rue as she needed to have her wound completely debrided, cleaned, and treated. However, over the next few weeks, she healed up perfectly and is a happy and healthy chicken. She is getting used to the outdoors and slowly preparing to go outside with the others very soon.
Rue fully recovered
The wound had to be cleaned due to the dirt in it.
Rue is growing big and strong and is slowly learning how to live outside for the first time.
Rue fully recovered
Lily the Doberman
A young, female doberman was found dehydrated and running down the a country road in 110 degree heat. Claire was able to lure her over with some tasty leftovers and got her into the car. After giving her plenty of food and water, Claire named her Lily as she started to recover. Lily was brought to a shelter where she went through intensive care because being relocated into a foster home. Unfortunately, Lily was discovered to be a breeder and her ears were trimmed with what looked like regular kitchen scissors. She had a "handle" on her collar when she was found, to control her. It's not clear how Lily escaped, but she got another chance at life with a comfortable new foster home before being permanently adopted.
She experienced kindness for the first time in her life at Claire's Critters.
She has such a gentleness and didn't bother any other animal at the property.
Lily is feeling a little better after a good meal.
She experienced kindness for the first time in her life at Claire's Critters.
Lucky the Pigeon
Lucky was an all black pigeon with red feet that was found alone on the back patio at 2 weeks old. Claire took her in and fed her homemade bird food through a syringe until she grew big and strong. Lucky liked to ride on Claire's shoulder and took pride in the many eggs she laid. Unfortunately, at one year old, an accident with another foster animal took Lucky's life too soon and she has passed away. She was a very special bird and will be greatly missed by all.
Here she was as a full grown adult.
She was very quiet and wouldn't eat for two days after she was found on the porch.
Lucky liked to sit in the wok and no one ever figured out why. Sometimes she even ended up in the kitchen cabinets!
Here she was as a full grown adult.
Sandy and Skittles the Squirrels
Sandy is a round-tailed ground squirrel who was found almost drowned in a bucket when she was a baby. She was housed in Scraggle's old two story mansion until she recovered. The day after she was found, Skittles the white-stripe antelope squirrel was found in the mouth of a dog and was not responding. Both squirrels were housed together and monitored for health, compatibility, and happiness. Both squirrels ended up bonding and showed no interest in leaving or escaping. Claire got them a four story cage as they grew older where they continue to live happily on bird food, fruits, veggies, and the occasional cereal treat.
Here she was in the old two story cage.
Sandy loves grapes and likes to chomp on them at the top of her cage.
This is where they like to nap at night. Skittles is on the left and Sandy is on the right.
Here she was in the old two story cage.
Obsidian the Black Cat
Obsidian (or Obi) was a beautiful, 6 month old black cat that roamed the property as a feral. One day Obi was found laying in a ditch and not able to move. Claire brought him in and determined there was injury to his spine, likely from another animal. Claire fed him for three days with homemade food in a syringe and kept him in a comfortable pen which was cleaned regularly. Unfortunately, Obi succumbed to his injuries and passed away in Claire's arms during a feeding. His body was brought back to nature and put on the top of a hill under a lone cactus on the property which is viewable from the house.
She could not move her legs and did not fight being put in a kennel.
Obi is enjoying a plate of tuna. His legs are 100% unusable at this point but his arms still work.
Obi at his final resting place at the cactus at the top of the hill behind the property.
She could not move her legs and did not fight being put in a kennel.