GimmeShelter.

Z.G. Standing Bear Unusual Shelter: The Flash and Thelma Memorial Hedgehog Rescue Location: Divide, Colo. Named after the first two hedgehogs ever taken in as pets by founder and 70-year-old retired criminal investigator and criminology professor Z.G. Standing Bear, Ph.D., the Flash and Thelma Memorial Hedgehog Rescue, Inc., has served since 1999 as what is believed to be North America's only 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation fully dedicated to hedgehog rescue, rehabilitation and sheltering. Hedgehogs are less popular housepets compared to dogs and cats. What are the most misunderstood aspects of hedgehog ownership that often lead to an unwanted hedgehog arriving at your shelter? Our ...

Tim Daw Photography The Cat House on the Kings is a one-of-a-kind animal shelter. Located on 12 acres next to the Kings River in California's San Joaquin Valley, it's an utterly surreal spot on which hundreds and hundreds of cats run free. "It's cat heaven and dog Disneyland," says founder Lynea Lattanzio, who opened the sanctuary in 1992, having purchased the tract of land after a divorce, as a place to retire in peace and quiet. The cats even have their own house, as Lattanzio recently moved out of the 4,200-square-foot home she'd been living, as there were 65 cats living in her bedroom. She now lives in a small house on the property, and does her best to keep cats out of her personal ...

Frankie, the red-tailed catfish. Jonathan Strazinsky Unusual Shelter: Monster Fish Rescue, a non-profit organization that calls itself "a dog pound for fish" Location: Orwell, Ohio - but much of the work is done online Jonathan "The Fish Guy" Strazinsky can't say for sure when he founded Monster Fish Rescue. When he was a teenager, Strazinsky worked at a small-town, mom-and-pop pet store. He bought a 185-gallon aquarium himself and set it up as a display in the pet store. Eventually people started bringing in fish they didn't want and over many years, his propensity for taking in other people's unwanted fish went from being a hobby to a calling, complete with LLC status. A few years ...

Betsy Lott Shelter: Mollywood, a not-for-profit, no-kill avian sanctuary Location: Bellingham, Wash. Founded in 2002 by Betsy Lott, Mollywood operates on an eight-acre farm and serves as home to abandoned, injured and ill parrots, cockatoos, cockatiels, parakeets, macaws, amazons and conures. Lott's love for these kinds of birds grew slowly over many years. She used to run an ad hoc rescue shelter out of her house before officially forming Mollywood. Unlike many small shelter organizations, Mollywood focuses on providing lifetime care for health-impaired birds. "We are able to make the birds happy on a different level," Lott says. "For a lot of them, it really is just about being in a ...

Luna, Isis and Stellina. Calliope Rescue All over the country, shelters provide not only a safe haven for homeless animals but also offer critical veterinary care, rehabilitation and most importantly, love. In "Rescue Tales," we share with you the stories of these amazing organizations and some of the fortunate pets who have gone on to find permanent, happy homes. Calliope Rescue is a volunteer-based no-kill rescue organization based in Brookline, Mass. Named after one of the first cats they placed, the non-profit organization helps match rescue cats with perfect homes. Luna, Isis and Stellina: Orphaned Kittens Get Lucky A young, feral cat chose the right porch under which to birth ...

Psycho. Rude Ranch All over the country, shelters provide not only a safe haven for homeless animals but also offer critical veterinary care, rehabilitation and most importantly, love. In Paw Nation's newest column, Rescue Tales, we will share with you the stories of these amazing organizations and some of the fortunate pets who have gone on to find permanent, happy homes. Rude Ranch is a Harwood, Md. no-kill animal sanctuary for cats and dogs started in 1997. Its extensive grounds and shelter house special areas designed for specific animals' needs, such as its facility for abused and feral cats. The ranch recently released their own book, called the The Best Little Cat House in ...