Rescued kittens ready to adopt
Hoby, Kujo and Simba need homes
BY BETTY ARCHER ALLEN Gulf Breeze News betty@gulfbreezenews.com

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Jack Kirk being subdued by kittens rescued from Pensacola Beach.

Hoby, Kujo, Leggs and Simba need a home. They are seven weeks old and were rescued from the marina behind the Elk Lodge by Ann and Jack Kirk of Pensacola Beach. The Escambia County Animal Control had inadvertently taken their moms away and then were unable to identify the particular mothers because they had picked up so many cats.

Ann and Jack originally rescued 10 cats but have found homes for 4 of these. Their household contains the four seven week olds plus two more cats. They have an adult male they named Morris whom they think is the father of Hoby, Kujo, Leggs and Simba. They rescued Morris from Animal Control and released him back to the marina but he got caught again so they rescued him the second time and now he has a permanent home with the Kirks. They found the last kitten lying on the pier almost dead from dehydration. He has been dubbed Frank because he is blued eyed like Sinatra. Frank is only 4 weeks old and still has to be nursed thus he can't be adopted quite yet. They gave all the kittens' temporary names so they could keep up with which

Kirk

one had been fed but their new master or mistress can rename them.

The Kirks found Hoby, Kujo, Leggs and Simba and siblings hidden in a hole so deep that they had to use cooking tongs to rescue them. The Kirk's have made and circulated leaflets advertising these kittens for adoption. One of their leaflets features Ann and says, "Save the Kittens; the crazy cat Lady is spoiling them to death; give them a real home before it's too late." Another leaflet features Jack and reads, "Attack Kittens, the ultimate protection. Attack kittens subdue deranged intruder. Get yours now!" The kittens are very healthy and playful. In the morning they wake up, line up to be fed, eat and then reline up to have their faces washed with a wet cloth.

Ann is from Bonifay and married Jack Kirk, a Naval Academy graduate, who flew for the Marines. The Kirk's bought their house on Pensacola Beach back in 1981 but didn't move here until after Jack's retirement in 1996. Jack was Chief Test Pilot for the F18 Test Program at the Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Ann and Jack have been married for 26 years and over this time have fed many stray animals. This time the Kirks played their own role of "Rescue Me" by saving these starving feral cats.

The Kirks are very grateful to Veterinarian, Dr. Limarie Rodriguez, who has voluntarily taken care of the kittens. Dr. Rodriguez says, "It has been a busy year for feral cats and we at the Gulf Breeze Animal Hospital are happy to do our part for the community. The cats are healthy and have been treated for fleas and worms and are ready for a new home." To adopt these Kittens please call 850-932-3542.