Candace & Her Rescue Squad
Story and Photos by Mac Becco, People & Pets Together
Candace McCown is passionate about animal rescue. Over the years, she has rescued eight cats and three dogs—all of which have become members of the family. She’s partial to Great Danes because they have a strong presence, which was especially comforting when she was recovering from breast cancer. He current rescue squad consists of three cats—Hazel, Cloud, and Blackie—and a foster dog from Save-a-Bull. Without people like Candace, our animal shelters would be even more overcrowded, leaving good pets without forever homes.
PPT: How did you find your pets?
Candace: All of my cats have been rescues except the first one that I picked out at a friend’s house. All the rest of them have been rescues. That’s what I do. They are a piece of my heart.
When I got my first house, I told my friends that I was ready for my Great Dane and that it had to be a rescue. A friend sent me an email that said there was one at a nearby shelter. When I went to see Whitney, she was skin and bones. I couldn’t have her for a month because she wasn’t fixed. So, I went to visit her every weekend until I could bring her home.
Blackie [the cat] was feral for a long time. He had been feeding outside my house for about 6 years. I had a really old garage, so I set it up for him because I knew that I couldn’t bring him in with my other cats. A friend was painting the garage and suggested that she get Blackie all his shots and find him a home.
At that time, I just had the two kittens, so I said he could come into our house. It was funny because Hazel [the cat] hated him for months, but now she’s just in love with him. She rolls herself all over him. And now he’s very cuddly. So, that’s how I got Blackie. He picked me.
PPT: How have your pets improved life?
Candace: They calm you down. They reassure you that you’re around to take care of them and have a purpose.
When I went through breast cancer, I still had Whitney, my first Great Dane. The doctors found the cancer as soon as they could, but I needed surgery to remove everything. My friends organized a fundraiser for my medical bills, but I was just overwhelmed by everything. I really wanted to give half of the help I received to somebody else. There was no rest. Somebody at the back door, front door, downstairs, on the phone.
Unlike people, you don’t have to entertain dogs when you’re not feeling well. You can just be. They are so good at snuggling when you don’t feel well. Whitney was my first doggie and passed away just months later. She lived to be 11.5 years old and that last six months was to be with me while I was sick. She stayed six months just to be with me. I got Clara Belle (another Great Dane) right away because I had to have something here with me. A Dane, or any dog, is such a presence. They’re just a piece of your heart.
(Candice has now been cancer-free for nine years!)
PPT: What’s unique about your pets?
Candace: Cloud [the cat] has long hair. When he gets scared, he fluffs up to three times the size and does a sideways stance. It just makes you laugh because he gets scared at the silliest things.
Blackie doesn’t have a voice. He doesn’t meow. He’ll try when he wants to go outside, but he just kinda coughs. And Hazel [the cat] used to snake herself up and down Clara Belle’s back leg.
They make me laugh all the time. Pets just embellish life.
PPT: How does People & Pets Together helped?
Candace: I couldn’t wait for PPT to open because I wanted to see what it was all about. I didn’t think I would be using it, but I thought it was a great idea. Then I lost my good job and my income went down dramatically.
People & Pets Together helps me feed my family. I don’t have to buy pet food and they have all the food they need. It provides peace of mind because I couldn’t keep them, if I couldn’t feed them. People and Pets Together takes the worry away. I don’t have to wonder if I should find a home for one of them. I can keep them. They are safe and happy.