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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Beloved kitty at Riverview needs new home
Toby the tabby a fixture at health facility
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image
Toby first came to Riverview with a patient three years ago, and became a fixture.
Riverview Health Centre is losing a longtime resident.
Toby is a six-year-old orange tabby cat who has called the palliative and rehabilitative care hospital home for the past three years but now needs a new place to live.
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"He's a really friendly, affectionate guy," D.J. Beattie, a housekeeper at Riverview, said. "Patients and staff have enjoyed having him around."
Beattie said Toby moved into Riverview three years ago with his former owner. When she died, a floor supervisor saw value in Toby and his interactions with other patients and he remained. The new patient who moved into his former owner's room agreed to let Toby stay in the same room.
Toby lived in a room at the end of a third-floor hall in one of the wings. Beattie said during the daytime he would normally keep to his room, sunning himself on a chair by the window, but he often prowled the unit at night.
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority spokeswoman Kathryn McBurney said Toby has been exhibiting stressful behaviour recently -- hiding in his room and avoiding patients and staff.
"We thought Toby would be better off with a devoted owner," McBurney said.
But some employees who contacted the Free Press said they got the feeling Toby was no longer wanted at Riverview.
A former supervisor provided Toby with food, cat toys and kitty litter and even cleaned the litter box but a staffing change left Toby with fewer friends.
"There were questions about staff with allergies not being able to work there and who was going to clean after him," one employee said.
McBurney said there were no staffing issues with the cat and the facility is actively looking for someone willing to take Toby in.
"We're giving staff and family of patients first chance," McBurney said.
Beattie said there don't appear to be any takers for the friendly cat, adding calls were made to local no-kill shelters but none would take him.
Beattie said he'd love to take Toby home but he already has two cats and a dog.
"Toby really likes to be petted," Beattie said. "You can play-fight with him and he'll never scratch you."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 27, 2012 A7
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