Suzie, a 9-year-old Boxer, has made quite the mark on the world of felines.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Suzie enjoying the outdoors
Her mom Kelly, started this journey by adamantly claiming she was strictly a dog-lover. She and Suzie would spend happy days frolicking in the sun and sand.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Boxer pup Suzie; sun and sand
They loved hiking in the woods and contemplating life on the shoreline, gazing at the vast lakes and waterways of this beautiful earth.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Suzie reflecting on life
About 5 years ago, she decided boxer Suzie needed a companion and went to the local shelter to foster. She wanted to be certain the two siblings would get along before committing to anything.
But when she got to the shelter, surprisingly, they had no dogs available! What they did have was a cage full of 5, 1-month-old kittens that needed a foster. Tugging on Kelly’s heartstrings, she said she’d take the fluffy litter home but if Suzie didn’t approve, she’d have to return the neonates.
Boy, was she in for a shock when her boxer pup met the wee kittens!
Suzie not only accepted the tiny kittens, she jumped into her surrogate role with all 4 paws!
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ (L) Meeting her first kittens and (R) welcoming new arrivals
Since then, their home has become a revolving door of foster kittens, all welcomed by the loving boxer.
Thankfully they have an Instagram page for all of us to rejoice in the many, many photos of their daily adventures.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Too much cute
Over the years, Kelly still stuck by her dog-lover-only claim.
“Those kittens went back and I took more and more, the entire time thinking that I would NEVER EVER foster fail and adopt a kitten because I am a dog person through and through.”
Then Kushi came along.
Photo Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Kushi
When she picked him up from the shelter, one of his eyes was enlarged and “pretty gruesome”, she recalls. The shelter told her to keep an eye (no pun intended) on it because it might explode!!!
Even freaked out by this, she knew that with Suzie’s bond with cats, they may be able to help this special needs kitten. Suzie quickly became attached to Kushi…as did Kelly.
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Standing firm though, Kelly refused to adopt a cat full time. Kushi returned to the shelter to be neutered and await his fur-ever family. He remained there for MONTHS when Kelly decided she couldn’t just stand by.
She reached out and helped get him the eye treatments he needed. Kushi had surgery on both eyes; one was removed completely and the other underdeveloped eye was corrected to a healthy functioning level.
At that point, she was still determined that she wasn’t going to keep him though. He got the help that he needed and was finally ready for adoption the second time around.
And that was when Kelly finally admitted to herself that she and Suzie couldn’t live without him.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Foster dad Kushi
Kushi joined them purrmanently. He quickly bonded with the fosters they had in the house so to their relief, they were still able to foster needy cats and kittens.
Suzie and Kushi loved teaching the kittens the ways of both canines and felines.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Suzie always nearby
After a few fosters moved on, Kelly noticed that Kushi was deeply bonding with the other cats. He became very sad when they left the home. Surprising herself more than anyone, Kelly decided that Kushi needed a kitten of his very own.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ (L) Suzie and Kushi waiting for their new sister, (R) Kushi and Sunny; 2 cats, 2 eyes
Along came Sunny… who was completely blind.
She was a great match. And although she hated when Kushi tried to groom her, she’s was perfect for the family.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Sunny settling in nicely
Suzie, Kushi, and Sunny are all extremely easy going and adaptable and they all take such comfort in one another.
They welcome whoever or whatever is in the house with open arms.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Foster Mom Sunny
Seriously, when I bring a strange dog into the house, Sunny and Kushi are the first ones to come running to greet them. They have no sense of fear or stranger danger LOL. We have fostered dogs, cats, puppies and kittens and they are so good with them all.
Kelly never could have imagined her life as a “dog-person” would have turned out this “ameowzing”.
Photo Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi
Most recently we have fostered 3 boxer mix puppies that were surrendered to the local shelter, a stray mama cat and her 6 kittens (which she gave birth to in my office), and now a young kitten who looks just like Kushi who had both eyes removed.
Photo Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Foster fun
It’s so fun having all these animals around. It is a TON of work but it’s worth it. Sometimes I think I will take just a small break but then (like after a day) I realize how much we miss taking care of other animals and see one that needs our help and we are back at it.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Kushi and Sunny bleps
At this point I couldn’t even tell you how many animals we have fostered. Many many kittens. Lots of mama cats. Some puppies and a few grown dogs. Some I even helped and fostered while I was living overseas. I have former fosters living in like 7 different states and 1 in France.
There is nothing better than being able to continue following them on Instagram and seeing them happily in their forever homes!
Photo Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Say What??!!
We can certainly agree with that! Be sure to follow Suzie, Kushi and Sunny with their fosters as the adorable trio make a real difference for each and every soul that crosses their paths.
Photos Courtesy of Kelly, Suzie, Kushi and Sunny @suzie_and_kushi ~ Living the good life as a family
REMEMBER: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP; FOSTERING SAVES LIVES & SPAY AND NEUTER!
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Precious angel’s ?? bless all those little babies…I pray they all find new homes????
The PURRfect feelgood rescue story for my public group & for my pages, thanks FUR posting, @ColeTheBlackCat !!! ????????????
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1016113091869798/permalink/1140946039386502/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARACTqGgyErEgGVjqNdO7kNLsxHWuHXw-lVDOyLWRSZR09ikscBMOuD5ac3sM4h0jx5x26d_2j8000eJvcBGyVHBJA1VOMHo77TweWfNxEiMJVlAJSPCgcl5Y7H0CHTesFFF9vmtf79S_XFsEte60V8-o5x8IR99hAuu1AoPa7gDsYM50hqhfw&__tn__=-UC-R
What an awesome family to be such an amazing foster home to so many.
What unbelievable pictures!!!! They are truly amazing. What a wonderful dog. This is truly a wonderful story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about the fostering of dozens of babies etc. Keep up the good work Kelly and woofy dog Suzie. Love it x