Protectors of Animals, 144 Main Street, East Hartford, CT (2025)

04/26/2025

Soft as a cloud, sweet as honey, gentle as a cherry blossom opening in the spring . . . that’s Leon, nose to tail. At barely a year old, this small, slim kitty is indisputably adorable. His pewter-gray fur accents his darker nose. He still has that precious long-legged kitten physique, and his exquisite tail looks as if it might brush everything off whatever table he walks on.

It isn’t until you see the occasional dart of nervousness in his round golden eyes or his startle if you move too quickly that you begin to suspect that until recently, Leon’s life hasn’t always been all serenity and adoration. But as we assure him each day, he’s safe now. And so, timid Leon is learning to revel in gentle petting and soft, kind words.

Better still, Leon is learning how much fun toys are. Even if he’s a trifle shy and hesitant to get out of his safe bed, Leon loves to play with whatever toys are brought to him. Batting at wand toys and clutching stuffed ones are some of his favorite games, but nothing beats the laser light. The little red dot can make Leon forget his shyness, and it’s a delight to watch his determination to catch the light.

Leon would love a quiet home with an adult or two who can help him continue learning to feel safe. A soft bed in a sunny window, followed by evenings snuggling next to someone who will stroke him and reassure him and adore him—interspersed with plenty of play time, of course—this would be Leon’s idea of heaven on earth. If this sounds like yours as well, Leon would love to meet you.

If you would like to meet Leon or make an appointment to meet the available cats and kittens, please start by filling out the application on our website. (Link in comments). Our placement team will be in touch by email to answer your questions, tell you about adoption process, and make an appointment for you. If you are not in a position to adopt at this time, or if Leon isn’t the right match for you, you can still help by letting people know about him so that this exquisite boy can find his perfect forever home.

04/25/2025

Join us for an Adoption Event at Monaco Ford next Saturday, May 3rd from 10AM to 2PM!

Monaco Ford is partnering with us to help our wonderful dogs find their forever homes. Come meet some amazing adoptable pets ( — stay tuned for which dogs will be attending!) and maybe find your perfect match!

Location:
Monaco Ford's Truck Center Building
767 New London Turnpike
Glastonbury

They’ll also be accepting donations on site to support our rescue efforts - thank you for your kindness and support!

To see all the pets we have up for adoption and our pet’s wishlist, go to poainc.org 🐾

04/25/2025

“You’re not some simpering girl. You are the queen.”

These were the words of Lady Danbury to Queen Charlotte in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, but Her Ladyship might just as well have said them to Rosie. Because five-year-old Rosie absolutely, positively does not simper. This beautiful calico girl is the queen, and everyone who meets her know this.

When you are the queen, you can play as much as you like—and so Rosie plays and plays and plays some more. She loves to chase and dance with the wand toys, to grab a stuffed toy and kick it with all the ferocity she can muster, to race after the laser light because this time she *will* catch that red dot. As you can imagine, having a human or two who will play with her would cause her royal heart to sing with joy.

Of course, there must be periodic rest for the regal. When it is time to take a break from playing, Rosie enjoys being read to. In fact, she has been known to watch the pictures in a storybook as it is being read to her. (Her current favorite book is “Stellaluna,” but Rosie is open to other titles as long as they have good illustrations.)

When it comes to the royal meals, Rosie is a food enthusiast. Even if she has been displeased by some random act of a commoner, a few crunchy treats or a squeeze-up can quickly restore her good humor. Should you wish to remain in Rosie’s good graces, you may wish to keep a supply of treats close by (though not where she can access them on her own).

As you may have divined by now, Rosie is not a fan of the commoners a/k/a other cats. While she has not chosen to explain the reason for her preference, we suspect (that as with most of us) it may have something to do with her experiences. She was initially found as a pregnant stray and may have had to compete with other cats to simply survive. She bore five kittens in her foster home. Having sent her little ones on their way to their own forever homes, Rosie has determined that she is done associating with the lesser beings known as other cats. At present, she holds court in the front office at the shelter, an arrangement which quite pleases her: not only does she have the entire room to herself, but she has the opportunity to evaluate all who would enter. (It is possible she’s checking to see whether they are carrying treats, but this has not been confirmed.)

You see, while Rosie has no use for others of her species, she is fond of the humans she meets. Her foster family described her as “a beautiful, loving girl” who slept on the bed with them. Even now, Rosie will allow complete strangers to pet her and admire her beauty, although she does have a bit of spice about her and will let humans know when admiration time is over. After all, as any queen knows, it is important that everyone understands who commands the realm.

Alas, even a queen can possess a vulnerability. In Rosie’s case, it is her royal heart, which has a murmur. It may have been something she was born with. We don’t know. She currently requires no medication and our placement volunteers can explain exactly what this means in terms of anticipated medical care (if any).

If you would like to meet Queen Rosie or make an appointment to meet the available cats and kittens, please start by filling out the application on our website. (Link in comments). Our placement team will be in touch by email to answer your questions, tell you about adoption process, and make you an appointment. (We have it on good authority that Rosie will not require that you bow or curtsy. Then again, you never know. 😉) If you are not in a position to adopt at this time, or if Rosie isn’t the right match for you, you can still help by letting people know about her so that this exquisite girl can find her perfect forever (royal) home.

04/24/2025

Come Meet Us at Tanger’s this Saturday, 12p-3p!

Join Protectors of Animals at the Tanger Outlets for a special pet adoption outreach event! While we won't have cats or dogs onsite, our amazing volunteers will be there to share everything you need to know about:
• How to adopt from us
• How to become a foster or volunteer
• And the impact of animal rescue and how you can help change lives ❤️

Looking to adopt?
You can check out all our adoptable cats & dogs and read their bios at poainc.org 🐾

04/24/2025

COURTESY POST
Location: Portland , CT Area
Contact: Laurie Fetzko

Boots and Tw***ie are NOT with Protectors of Animals but they could sure use our help in finding a new forever home. Their current person is no longer able to care for them as they are in a memory care facility. Please consider giving them a place to call their own again. Here is a little bit about them. Please contact Laurie @ 860-983-1009 if you are interested or have questions. If they are not the kitties for you , you can help by sharing their post . Thank you!

These sweet kitties, Boots and Tw***ie, 13yrs old are brother and sister and are in need of love. For the last year they have been lonely as the owner spent lots of time in and out of hospitals. They are easy going cats who like to spend their days bird watching, when they’re are not doing this they like to find a cozy spot to nap.

Contact: Laurie Fetzko
860-983-1009

04/24/2025

Honey is two years young with the heart of a mischievous kitten. Originally trapped as part of our TNR program, Honey is full of s***k, curiosity, and charm. Whether she’s chasing her favorite toy or zooming around the house with Olympic-level speed, Honey keeps life fun and exciting.

But don't be fooled by her energetic antics—when the excitement winds down, Honey will always be close to where you are. She’s not a lap cat per se, but she is always close. Ever hear of the term FOMO? That’s Honey! She can often be found in a nearby cat tree while her foster family is eating dinner, or jumping up on the bed or couch as you walk by. Honey loves attention and will give you a soft chirp any chance she can to remind you that she’s nearby and would welcome some pets or play time. Her purr is soft but steady. She will even roll over for a belly rub occasionally!

Honey would thrive in a home that appreciates her playful spirit and can give her the stimulation (and affection!) she craves. She would do great with another young, friendly cat or a cat-savvy dog. Honey can sometimes show her affection with her mouth, never breaking skin, but we would not recommend she live with young kids at this time.

Honey is the perfect mix of sass and sweet, and she's ready to light up your life with her unique tortie-tude.

To find out more or to make an appointment to meet all of the available cats and kittens, please start by filling out the application on our website. Please make sure you mention Honey my name as she is in a foster home and special arrangements will need to be made! Our placement team will be in touch by email to answer your questions, talk to you about our process, and make you an appointment.

04/23/2025

Get ready for a fun filled night at Lyman Orchards 🐾 all to benefit POA’s cats and dogs!

Join DJ Adam Rivers, Meteorologist Ashley Baylor and MAE Designs for Extreme Music Squares!! A high-energy twist on bingo where singing, dancing, and laughter are all part of the game!

You’ll have the chance to win awesome prizes, enjoy great company, and most importantly, support the animals who need us most.

Don’t miss this unforgettable evening for a great cause! All proceeds go to Protectors of Animals to help cats and dogs in need.

🗓️ Saturday, May 10th
⏰ 6-8pm
📍 1741 Pub Bar & Grill
72 Lyman Road
Middlefield, CT

Get your tickets now 🎟️, we can’t wait to see you. https://poainc.networkforgood.com/events/86238-extreme-music-squares-lyman-orchards

04/23/2025

Happy Tails Adoption Update: 🐾💕

Jolene was found roaming and in rough shape. She had a bad ear infection, entropion of both eyelids, and a mammary mass. While we waited for her vet appointments, we could all tell that her eyes must have been especially uncomfortable, but Jolene was still the sweetest and gentlest girl. Jolene had such a calm spirit that it was easy for all of us to fall in love with her.

Jolene had successful entropion surgery and thankfully, her mammary mass was benign. She quickly got adoption interest when we posted her online, and though her first home wasn't the right fit, they had nothing but good things to say about her. They were also more than willing to give Jolene all the love and care she needed while we arranged what would come to be her furever home.

Her new parents quickly applied for Jolene once she was posted. When I reached back out to them to say she was available again, they immediately emailed me back to meet her. Only two days later, I was bringing Jolene up to their house for a home visit and her new parents were already in love with her. But they had two cats, so we just wanted to be sure Jolene would be okay with the cats. And let me tell you, I have never seen a dog care less about cats than Jolene.

Since I drove away that day, her new parents say that they are over the moon about her. They say she loves being outside and laying on the couch with them. She's been a quick learner of commands and gentle walking on the leash. They also started basic obedience classes and shes doing great. The cats nuzzle her and flip on their backs for cuddles, but Jolene just sniffs them and wags her tail.

Jolene had a rough road, but it seems she landed right where she belongs and we couldn’t be happier for them. Happy life Jolene. 💕

04/23/2025

Farrah is a beautiful young girl who found herself pregnant when she was still a baby herself. She and her 3 babies were brought to a foster home in the middle of a snow storm. Farrah learned that the room was warm and dry and her belly was no longer empty. She could relax and tend to her babies. In time Farrah also learned that human laps were a huge plus!

Now with her kittens weaned, spayed, and fully vetted, Farrah is ready for a home of her own. One year old Farrah is not only beautiful with her torbie color pattern but she’s also very playful and very affectionate. She can be nervous about new things, but will recover rather quickly once she knows she’s safe. For example, she hissed at the carpet sweeper so her foster mom just left it in the middle of the room for her to investigate on her own terms. Once she understood it wasn’t going to hurt her, she relaxed and the sweeping could continue.

If you ask Farrah what kind of home she’d like, she would say that it needs to be on the quieter side with good views of the outside. She would like to have a human or two who will play with her, help her learn that new things are safe, and rub her cheeks and tell her she is pretty. She promises to reward her humans by being an awesome lap warmer and purring softly whenever they have had a rough day.

We have just begun assessing Farrah with other cats. So far she has not appeared to be a huge fan of other felines (and is decidedly NOT a fan of dogs), but if you make an appointment to meet the cats, your adoption counselor will have the most up-to-date information.

If you are interested in finding out more about Farrah or making an appointment to meet the available cats and kittens, please start by filling out the application on our website. (Link in comments). Our placement team will be in touch by email to answer your questions, tell you about adoption process, and make you an appointment.

04/22/2025

Happy Earth Day today 🌍!!

We’re celebrating Earth Day 🌱at Mill Street Marketplace (36 Mill Street, Wethersfield) this Sunday, April 27 from 10AM - 4PM!

Come meet some of our adoptable dogs for this eco-friendly event. The line up of our adoptable dogs are:

10a-12p: Bear & Sully
12p-2p: Juliet
2p-4p- Tobi

We hope to see you there 🪴. Check out all our adoptables at poainc.org 🐾

04/22/2025

Small, soft, and seeking comfort. That is the best way to describe Marvin right now.

The small part is obvious. He is two years old and weighs less than six pounds. Looking at Marvin you would assume that this was an older kitten and not a two-year-old. In fact, we initially thought this was a female older kitten. (Sorry Marvin!)

Soft both describes Marvin’s fur, which is silky, and his personality, which is gentle. He is a tender little soul. He soaks up your attention like a little sponge, but he wouldn’t dream of demanding it.

As for needing comfort, Marvin came to us through an eviction. His person wanted to make sure that he was safe, even if they were not. He has lost everything that is familiar… everything, and everyone that he has ever known. So needing comfort absolutely makes sense.

At first Marvin was very frightened. He hunkered down in his shy cat box (a box given to all new arrivals so they can control a little bit of their environment) or cowered in the back of his condo. But Marvin soon realize that our volunteers would pet him and whisper quietly to him. And he definitely loves that. When you do that, he rolls over and over showing you his tummy…. purring nonstop and almost rolling out of his condo. (Seriously, we need to keep an arm available to catch him). And every visit has seemed to give him both comfort and confidence.

We have not yet assessed him with other cats and to the best of our knowledge he has never interacted with dogs or cats. But we can say that he is lovely with people. Right now, he is understandably fairly timid, but in the last few days he has started to show an interest in playing. As he realizes that he is safe, we expect him to show his more mischievous and playful side. We can’t wait!

But for now, Marvin is best described as small, soft, and seeking comfort. If that speaks to you and makes you want to offer that comfort, please fill out the application on our website. Our placement team will be in touch by email to tell you about our adoption process, answer any questions, and make you an appointment to meet all of the available cats and kittens. We can’t promise any particular cat, but you’ll be able to meet whoever is available.

04/21/2025

UPDATE: You all are amazing!! We have had more than 250,000 views of this post and a huge number of applications. Our all volunteer placement team is still receiving applications and responding to them. But we are certain that Ursa is going to find a home this Saturday (our kittens live in foster homes and only come in for appointments on Saturday). Because of the tremendous response to this post, all of our kitten appointments are full for this weekend.

We post adoption updates every Sunday and will be sure to let everyone know! Thank you all again! The outpouring of support for this kitten has been heartwarming!
******************************
Four month old Ursa was the only kitten not adopted Saturday. Why? It is hard to know exactly.

It isn’t because of her personality. Ursa is outgoing and goofy and full of charm. As for her looks, Ursa is adorable, with bright eyes and inky fur. She is a bouncy beauty who is funny and friendly and would love to be in a home with another kitten or young active cat to play with.

We do know that black kittens tend to be the last to get chosen. It may be that they do not stand out as much or photograph as well as their orange or tiger brothers and sisters. Or maybe some folks are still superstitious. We aren’t sure. We have never understood it and never will. Seriously, who doesn’t want an Ebony house panther of their own? Or in this case a cuddly little bear?

If you agree, you know what to do. Let’s find her the best home! And if you think that might be you, please fill out the application on our website. Our placement team will be in touch by email and will answer your questions and make you an appointment to meet the available cats and kittens.

04/20/2025

Hoppy Easter from our resident bunny and good boy - Zeppelin! He's hoping for some extra treats on this holiday 😋

Zeppe is a super smart, super sweet boy who loves fetch and exploring new trails. He's learned so many tricks in his foster home and has been a great snuggling companion.

Zeppelin needs to be the only pet in the house - so no other dogs, cats or small animals. He's got more than enough love and loyalty to give, so you won't be missing anything!

Visit our website to apply to adopt this special boy today!

04/20/2025

As we celebrate Easter of renewal and hope, we can't help but think of our long-term adoptable dogs waiting patiently for a family to call their own. They are so deserving to wake up in a cozy home, hunt for treats in a backyard, and feel the love and joy holidays bring. While they wait for their forever families, a foster home would mean the world to them.

If you've ever thought about fostering, now is the perfect time. Help make the next holiday one they get to celebrate from the comfort of a home.

Wishing everyone (two-and four-legged!) a joyful Easter filled with hope, love, and second chances.

To become a foster, fill out a dog foster application at poainc.org and the foster councilor will follow up with you to match you with a dog. 🐾

04/20/2025

This week Café cats Mookie and Pookie and kittens Charlie, Margo, Sylvie, and Nola & Olive were adopted. To nobody’s surprise, sweet Rain was also adopted. Congratulations to all. But we had one more adoption that we want to talk about. Golden passport* cat Bones was adopted yesterday!

Bones came to us from another rescue last September. He was 10 years old at that time and is 11 now. He was FIV+. And he had zero tolerance for nonsense. Sometimes nicknamed Oscar, Bones loves to grumble and complain. But that is only one side of him. Bones also likes to sit on laps of his favorite people, loves catnip, will play when it is quiet, and can be counted on to find all of the best places to nap.

A few weeks ago Bones became our office cat and was immediately happier and sweeter. He loved having a place of his own with no other cats. But Bones would still regularly escape into the kitten room to visit with our Shelter Medical Assistant- who was his favorite person.

Not too long after he became the office cat a potential adopter asked to meet Bones. He wasn’t able to go home at that moment because he was finishing up some treatment for a cough. But after meeting him, she indicated that she wanted him and was willing to wait for him.

People say that fairly frequently. Often, however, during the time that they’re waiting people change their mind. Things in their lives might make adoption more complicated. They might get cold feet. They might find another cat and adopt that cat instead.

Bones’ adopter did none of those things. She took him home yesterday. This is this volunteer’s last photo of Bones at the shelter. It was taken the night before he went home. Bones was napping by the window in his favorite cat tree. We like to think he was dreaming of home.

* The Golden Passport program is a new program at POA. It was conceived as a way to get more interest in some of our longer stay cats (and now dogs). Under this program 10 cats had their adoption fees paid. By all of us. While we still do the same application and matching process, an adopter of a Golden Passport Cat does not need to pay anything (although a voluntary donation is always appreciated). Bones was the 7th Golden Passport cat to leave the building since the program was implemented in late February!

04/19/2025

Celebrate Earth Day 🌍 at Mill Street Marketplace (36 Mill Street, Wethersfield) 🌱 Sunday, April 27 | 10 AM - 4PM!

Join us for a day of eco-friendly fun as we celebrate our beautiful planet! Protectors of Animals will be there with a booth full of love 🐾 and adoptable pets you can meet in person! (Stay tuned for the lineup of furry guests!)

You'll find:
• Live music
• Farm-fresh herbs and flowers
• Upcycled and green goods
• Delicious vegan food vendors
• Indoor & outdoor shopping
• And our POA vendor booth inside the shop, where every purchase helps the animals in our care!

Come show some love for Earth and its animals. We'd love to see you there!

04/19/2025

Looking for a gentle soul to share your days with? Bear is a 7 year-old mellow boy who's all about comfort, companionship, and short strolls.

He's currently thriving in his foster home, where he's been the sweetest companion to their senior dog. Bear enjoys a good snooze, lights up when you give him a stuffie to play with, and loves having people nearby. He'll happily follow you from room to room just to keep you company.

If you're looking for a laid-back, loving pal to relax with and share life's quieter moments, Bear might be your perfect match. Fill out an application at poainc.org. Bear is part of the goldlden passportport program 💫 and his adoption fee has been sponsored.

You can meet Bear next Sunday (4/27) for Mill Street Marketplace Earth day celebration. He’ll be at POA’s booth from 10a-12p. 🐾

04/19/2025

The Dude abides.
~ The Big Lebowski

Hey, man. Hey, ladies. Hey, whoever.

It’s me. Connor. The chillest dude this side of the Connecticut River. (Probably chiller than any dudes on the other side, too. Check that out and get back to me, will you?) Some people call me Ol’ Blue Eyes because I’ve got a set of baby blues that’ll melt your heart, but you can call me Connor. Or the Dude. Whichever. I’m easy.

You know what’s really good? Food. Any food. I’m not one of those picky little goofballs. You live on the streets, you learn to appreciate, y’know? So yeah. Wet food, dry food. Crunchy treats, squeeze-ups. Anything you’ve got, bring it out. It’s all good.

Got any catnip? I mean, like, I’ll share. You have yours, I’ll have mine. That works.

You know what else is really good? Hanging out and getting fussed over. You don’t even need Netflix, just as long as we can just chill. Read a book, watch the game, whatever. Just snuggle and pet me while we’re hanging. I’m totally down with that. Probably best on the sofa or in bed, ’cause I’m a big guy and I like to stretch out. But if you like chairs—hey, Big Connor’s an easygoing guy. (Okay if I curl up in your lap?)

Speaking of petting me, did you see my fur? Totally amazing, isn’t it? I mean, everybody’s heard of cats who are, like, half one breed and half another, but, like, who else is literally divided in half? Like, my front part is brown tabby, but my body is tan Siamese? Isn’t that cool? (They tell me the Siamese part is why I have those fantastic blue eyes. Awesome.) And people wonder why all the ladies had crushes on me back when I was on the street. But those days are behind me, paw to heart. What I want now is to have a loving human who wants to spend hours stroking my gorgeousness. That would be epic. (Don’t misunderstand—I’m totally okay if there’s more than one human in the house. Just as long as everybody’s quiet and laid-back so a well-fed guy can get a lot of zzzzzs.)

Hey, listen, the POA folks said I should tell you that I’m FIV+. I don’t know what that means, but probably it means I should get lots and lots of extra treats. (Paws crossed!) No worries—seriously, it’s no big deal. They can explain it. So, there, I told you, because I’m a cool dude who does what he’s told (pretty much).

If you think you’d like to meet me the POA folks say you’re supposed to fill out an application first and make an appointment, and they promised they’d put a link to it in the comments. I think it’d be rad if you came by to hang with me and check out my total dudeism. If that doesn’t work for you, it’s cool. Just maybe let people know about me, big blue-eyed Connor. You know—the Dude. ’Cause nothing personal against the shelter, but I’d really like to find a cool new family and a place to abide. Like I said, that would be epic.

Thanks, man.

Protectors of Animals

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