Colorado Companion Animal Sanctuary - A Little Known Secret in Bailey
CCAS is not your grandma's farm animal sanctuary. In the words of the CCAS vet, Sheila RiceWatkins, DVM, it is basically an assisted living facility for cats. These kitties do not need nursing care, but they require some human assistance with their basic needs to live their best life.
Most of the cats at CCAS are incontinent or unable to use a litter box for one reason or another. Some have neurological problems due to Manx Syndrome or spinal cord injuries, others have birth defects such as missing feet, blindness and/or behavioral and emotional conditions. Their needs make them nearly impossible to place in adoptive homes - but there is always hope at CCAS!
They will spend the rest of their lives at CCAS, so it is important that the environment be as homelike as possible. However, life as traditional house cats was attempted in the first house when they all moved in. It proved to be impractical for the same reasons they are considered unadoptable. With carpet and upholstered furniture, cats that have accidents - accidentally soil usual home furnishings.
The new house was built with these kitties in mind. The floors and furnishings in the sanctuary and living area are cat proof. The cats are cage-free except when eating or sleeping, and those that are not scrappy stay downstairs in the living quarters. Those 'big boys' who have always lived and played together, stay in the loft - the sanctuary area built just for them. There's lots of space to run, and play, and climb, and roughhouse. It is perfect for these big guys. Not to worry - they get lots of human contact. Some nights Chris sleeps up there when it is quiet and still - often with a cat or four draped over him. They are a close knit group living together in the RV for over four years.
The require special furnishings and equipment that is nonporous and able to withstand the wear and tear of heavy-duty cleaning supplies. Traditional home furnishings are sparse upstairs and downstairs in the living area. Most surfaces are covered with washable pads that require near daily cleaning and replacement. Keeping the place clean and odor-free is a big job. Although most of the cats are incontinent, we still have a few that use a litter box. We have found it is preferable to express the cats than to keep the litter boxes clean!
Caring for the cats is the easy part. Other than 10-15 minutes each day of hands-on bladder and bowel management, they are just normal cats that eat, play and sleep like all others. They are prone to urinary and kidney problems, so they have special diets and supplements. Otherwise, they are just cats - that make quite a mess due to no fault of their own.
The sanctuary is located in the home of the co-founders and caregivers - LuAnn Pierce and Christian Brown. Their journey began with one little Manx Syndrome cat named Izzy that had been adopted and returned three times. LuAnn and Chris were willing to go to the shelter where she lived in Lakewood every other day for a month to learn to care for Izzy before bringing her home. After two years of successful care, they decided to help others like her and CCAS was conceived.
The couple relocated to Bailey on 10 acres to pursue this dream. While still settling into their new role as sanctuary caregivers, their home and sanctuary were destroyed by a fire 15 months after moving in. The fire happened in the early hours of December 4, 2016 and it was not until the first weekend in September 2021 when they moved into the new home - almost five years. Rebuilding during COVID when it was difficult to get materials caused some delays. But the main hold up was getting on the calendar of basically the only builder in the US who builds monolithic dome houses. These houses are fireproof, flood proof, tornado and hurricane safe. Living in one of the highest wildfire areas in the country made it worth the wait. LuAnn and Chris also made the interior kitty-proof!
Most of the cats at CCAS are incontinent or unable to use a litter box for one reason or another. Some have neurological problems due to Manx Syndrome or spinal cord injuries, others have birth defects such as missing feet, blindness and/or behavioral and emotional conditions. Their needs make them nearly impossible to place in adoptive homes - but there is always hope at CCAS!
They will spend the rest of their lives at CCAS, so it is important that the environment be as homelike as possible. However, life as traditional house cats was attempted in the first house when they all moved in. It proved to be impractical for the same reasons they are considered unadoptable. With carpet and upholstered furniture, cats that have accidents - accidentally soil usual home furnishings.
The new house was built with these kitties in mind. The floors and furnishings in the sanctuary and living area are cat proof. The cats are cage-free except when eating or sleeping, and those that are not scrappy stay downstairs in the living quarters. Those 'big boys' who have always lived and played together, stay in the loft - the sanctuary area built just for them. There's lots of space to run, and play, and climb, and roughhouse. It is perfect for these big guys. Not to worry - they get lots of human contact. Some nights Chris sleeps up there when it is quiet and still - often with a cat or four draped over him. They are a close knit group living together in the RV for over four years.
The require special furnishings and equipment that is nonporous and able to withstand the wear and tear of heavy-duty cleaning supplies. Traditional home furnishings are sparse upstairs and downstairs in the living area. Most surfaces are covered with washable pads that require near daily cleaning and replacement. Keeping the place clean and odor-free is a big job. Although most of the cats are incontinent, we still have a few that use a litter box. We have found it is preferable to express the cats than to keep the litter boxes clean!
Caring for the cats is the easy part. Other than 10-15 minutes each day of hands-on bladder and bowel management, they are just normal cats that eat, play and sleep like all others. They are prone to urinary and kidney problems, so they have special diets and supplements. Otherwise, they are just cats - that make quite a mess due to no fault of their own.
The sanctuary is located in the home of the co-founders and caregivers - LuAnn Pierce and Christian Brown. Their journey began with one little Manx Syndrome cat named Izzy that had been adopted and returned three times. LuAnn and Chris were willing to go to the shelter where she lived in Lakewood every other day for a month to learn to care for Izzy before bringing her home. After two years of successful care, they decided to help others like her and CCAS was conceived.
The couple relocated to Bailey on 10 acres to pursue this dream. While still settling into their new role as sanctuary caregivers, their home and sanctuary were destroyed by a fire 15 months after moving in. The fire happened in the early hours of December 4, 2016 and it was not until the first weekend in September 2021 when they moved into the new home - almost five years. Rebuilding during COVID when it was difficult to get materials caused some delays. But the main hold up was getting on the calendar of basically the only builder in the US who builds monolithic dome houses. These houses are fireproof, flood proof, tornado and hurricane safe. Living in one of the highest wildfire areas in the country made it worth the wait. LuAnn and Chris also made the interior kitty-proof!
Chris and Lincoln, the kitty mascot, with the dome overlooking the mountains.