AS WE BEGIN another new year, I would like to take a moment to honor a very special woman in our community. Janis Newman, a rescuer for MEOW Cat Rescue, the no-kill shelter in Houghton, works around the clock saving animals. She is a silent hero who does so much and does not ask for recognition.
Knowing that she has saved a life is reward enough. She has rescued thousands of cats and kittens in just about every nook and cranny of our little corner of the world. She’s out there day and night, doing the really hard work – the actual rescues. If you’ve adopted a cat or kitten from MEOW, there’s a very good chance that Janis has played a role in the rescue.
Just before Christmas, Janis’ husband put together this video of just one of her special rescued kittens, Xander. It all began in June 2012. This tiny, frail boy had a severe URI (upper respiratory infection) and eye infection. Janis lovingly tended to him day and night – for weeks. He was so congested, couldn’t smell and didn’t want to eat the much needed nourishment that his little body needed. He required medication and IV fluids several times a day.
Slowly, he began to improve. His beautiful eyes began to sparkle and shine. His breathing became less labored, his appetite returned and he had such a zest for life! Love can work wondrous things! Finally, after blossoming into a beautiful and healthy boy, Xander was adopted into a loving home. A million thank yous to Janis and all rescuers like her!
"Each of us can look back upon someone who made a great difference in our lives, someone whose wisdom or simple acts of caring made an impression upon us. In all likelihood, it was someone who sought no recognition for their deed, other than the joy of knowing that, by their hand, another's life had been made better." ~ Stephen M. Wolf
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Marilyn Hendrickson is a transplant from Montana who has lived in the Kirkland area since 1985. She volunteers weekly at the MEOW Cat Rescue shelter in Houghton and enjoys cooking, reading, wine-tasting and spending time with friends and family.
