Rami arrived at the ARL after being trapped inside an abandoned vehicle for more than two weeks. He was dehydrated and absolutely terrified. Thankfully he survived, but he clearly had emotional scars.
We placed him in a very quiet area of the shelter, and he tucked himself into a covered bed and tried to make himself invisible. When we reached out to touch him, he would hiss and swat. We knew it would take time and special attention to help him learn to trust people again.
We placed him in our behavior modification program, and our volunteers and staff began spending time with him, focusing on quiet, positive interactions and always allowing Rami to make his own decisions about what he was comfortable with. We started by sitting outside his kennel and talking softly to him. At first, he would not even look at us, but little by little as the weeks went by, he began to open up, showing interest not only in people but in food and toys! Eventually, he started coming to the front of his kennel when we visited, meowing, giving head boops and allowing small pets.
When he was ready, we placed him in a foster home that specializes in cat behavior. As his foster family gained his trust, his affectionate side came out more and more. He began to love curling up in their laps, paws kneading with contentment.
Five months after Rami arrived at our doors, he is a different cat. Your support gave him the time, space and love he needed to heal. He is now available for adoption and has the opportunity to find a new family who will cherish him forever. We’re excited for what his future holds.
Your generous support gives hope and second chances to pets like Rami every single day. There are so many ways you can help animals in our community. To learn more, please reach out to Lora Rogers at (515) 473-9119 or legacy@arl-iowa.org.