Bowie, Sansone and a Special Cat Named Matt

We at Open Door would like to tug at your heartstrings by letting Matt introduce himself. Poor little Matt is a special case who could use all tbne love he could get.

"Hello, my name is Matt and I've had it a little rough. I had a pretty good home, they kept me fed, groomed, and even had me neutered (I'm still not convinced that was a good idea, but everyone says it was). They loved me!

Then one day, something happened and they stopped taking care of me. I lost a lot of weight, was left outside, and my long, thick hair got so matted that it was pulled out of my body. That's the shape I was in when I was brought to Open Door. The Director and the Cattery Manager felt so sorry for me that they knew something had to be done to make me feel better. They set to work grooming me, taking great care to avoid the lesions that covered my skin. Both of my sides were just two huge matted clumps of hair, which is how I got my name. After they came off, they looked like 2 toupees! It took the manager 45 minutes to groom me and she said that was a really long time.

After all this work and after falling in love with me, they got a big shock. You see I was born with FIV, a disease that lessens my adoption chances. I can still live a long and happy life with proper care and love, so it shouldn't really scare anybody. I am the sweetest boy in the whole world, I just love to be petted and cuddled."

Won't you please give a great guy a second chance at a home? Please come to the shelter and ask for more information about Matt.

Adoption Notes: Anyone interested in adopting a pet should contact the following animal groups.

The Arnold Dog and Animal Pound, 636-282-2387, at 2912 Arnold Tenbrook Road from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

People interested in pets from the Open Door Animal Sanctuary should visit the organization's website at www.odas.org or call 636-671-3643. The non-profit organization is a no-kill shelter in Jefferson County dedicated to preserving the life and health of homeless cats and dogs, providing shelter, food and veterinary care while fostering their social skills and encouraging their adoption into loving homes.

Jefferson County Animal Control, 636-797-5577, at 7105 Shelter Rd, Barnhart, MO. The center focuses on finding homes for animals found roaming without a leash in Jefferson County, investigates animal cruelty and provides pet ownership education for children. 

People who already own a dog or who have young children should plan to bring them to the adoption center. The visit will allow everyone to determine if there is a good match between the adoptable animal and the interested family.