Christine's Critter Cafe Rescue and Hospice

Hello Readers!  Oh, I know!  Miss Lotus has been rather tardy with her updates to In the Muse, but I do have a good one for you today!  You know, as a sophisticated feline, it is so easy for me to sit back and just wonder in dismay—and sometimes humor—what is goin’ on with the two-leggeds.  Am I right?  Well, I want to introduce you to one of many exceptions to the rule!  Her name is Miss Christine Bishop!  Have you heard of her?  If you are a four-legged or even a winged or scaled one, you may have!!  She has so lovingly created a rescue and hospice for all her relations called Christine’s Critter Cafe Rescue and Hospice (CCCRH) in Fruitport, Michigan.  She began her rescue approximately 13 years ago after she was alerted about an abandoned pet rat left to its own devices in an aquarium.  That, coupled with Christine’s “deep love for animals and empathy for all life,” inspired her to organize a legal non-profit rescue center.

Miss Christine with Bindy

Today, Miss Christine rescues many of our relations, including cats, dogs, rats, guinea pigs, reptiles, birds, and bunnies.  Bunnies comprise the majority of her rescuees.  Now those are just the domestic critters whom she saves!  Miss Christine also rescues wild animals and nurtures them until they are well enough to be released into the wild!  Essentially, virtually no critter is turned away from her loving care. 

Miss Christine, a licensed vet technician, runs the rescue with the help of approximately ten part time volunteers (the number of volunteers varies throughout the year), who together work about 75 hours per week.  She and her volunteers rescue hundreds of animals per year; this year, they have rescued approximately 300 animals.  Miss Christine uses both foster parents and the rescue facility, which is Miss Christine’s home, to house the animals until they are ready for adoption. 

Miss Christine is very careful when adopting the animals out to new critter parents.  She uses a Life Contract that can be found on her website.  She told me that “The Life Contract asks species specific questions so we know that the pet’s needs can be met for housing, diet, vetting, and special needs; hence, the person is educated on the animal they are adopting.  The potential adopter must have vet references as well as three personal, non-family references—and all pets currently in the home must be fixed and fully vetted.”

In spite of all the precautions Miss Christine makes, there are times when an adoption fails.  Luckily, Miss Christine does follow-up checks to ensure that the animal is being cared for and is safe.  There is at least one little dachshund who is grateful for that!  “I went to do a home-check on the dachshund and found her outside on a chain in the hot sun with no food and water,” said Miss Christine.  “There was an adult I had seen before and three others at a table smoking!  [Miss Christine does not adopt to smokers, and all who adopt must sign the contract to promise that they do not and will not smoke.]  I asked to speak to the woman who had signed the contract.  She was not there and did not live there anymore!  The woman who was there claimed that the dog was hers and that she had the original signor of the contract do so for her!  I called the police and waited until they arrived.  After I showed them the contract, I took the dog and left!”  Woohoo!  Miss Christine does her best to make sure all animals have a loving home, even after they leave her care.  The little dachshund is now in a new, loving home.  Miss Christine is a Critter Warrior…uh huh, you go girl! 

So how does Miss Christine do it?  Thanks to volunteers, she has help with the hands-on aspect of her rescue efforts, but fundraising for vet bills, food, medicine, and so forth is another issue.  Miss Christine does receive donations from “car shows, adopt-a-thons, yard sales, bake sales, care washings, can drives, and raffles,” but her main support comes from long-term supporters who send donations on a monthly or bimonthly basis. These are usually, but not always, people who have adopted from her and just want to help support her cause.

Now, if you adopt an animal from the rescue, adoption fees include a spay or neuter, all vaccines, microchip, nail trim, flea and parasite medicine, and grooming (if needed).  The fees are dogs, $175; cats, $75; bunnies, $70 (male) or $90 (female); guineas, $20; rats, $30; chinchillas, $100 without the cage, or $115-150 with a cage; and degus, $35.

Now, here is how I know that Miss Christine is one cool Critter Hero:  I looked deep into her eyes and hypnotized her by using my most penetrating feline gaze—you know what I mean—and then asked, “Now what do you really want to do through Christine’s Critter Café Rescue and Hospice?  I mean really?”

She looked right back and said without hesitation, “I WANT TO STOP ALL EUTHANSIA AND FIX AND SAVE EVERY SINGLE PET, EVERYTIME!!!”

Uh huh, you go girl!

Yours Truly,

Miss Lotus

You may access Christine's Website here.

All Photos, copyright 2012, Christine Bishop, all rights reserved.

Sources:

Vormittag, Janet. (January 26, 2012). "Critter Care Founder Known for her Care of Small Animals."  Muskegon Chronicle.

West, Adrienne (2012). An Interview with Christine Bishop.