Sheltering Hands, Inc.

The Sheltering Hands Thrift Shoppe has opened its doors 😎, and our first month was a huge success! 🤩🤩🤩 We are so grateful to all the guests, patrons, and friends that have made it out to show their support. Just like the animals who are lost without our help, we have only made it this far by the generosity and determination of our community. To maintain the momentum, we are still seeking donations to keep our shelves stocked at the Thrift Shoppe! Check out the list below and see if you have anything you would like to contribute to our efforts - its a great way to give, free up some space, and, ultimately, provide additional resources for our feline friend!

DONATIONS are accepted during business hours at both our locations:

Main Clinic (Ocala)
10397 HWY 27
Ocala, FL 34482
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm

Thrift Shoppe
312 Teague Trail
Lady Lake, FL 32159
Tues-Sat 10am-4pm

Give4Marion is here again, presenting another amazing opportunity to raise awareness and funds for many awesome organizations locally. Sheltering Hands will be seeking donors to help make this charitable drive the best it can be. Throughout the 33-hour fundraising event, our organization will have a unique opportunity to connect with supporters, introduce newcomers to our cause, and ultimately expand our reach into the community. Please stay tuned to our Social Media channels for all the festivities. If you’ve been thinking about making a contribution, this will be a perfect time for your dollar to go even farther through Matching & Power Hours. If you are unable to donate but you want to show your support, please help get the word out by sharing our updates and website throughout the event! Thank you for your support!

The Sheltering Hands Thrift Shoppe is now open for business!!! Come visit our location at 312 Teague Trail in Lady Lake, FL (32159). We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am until 4pm. We are continuously seeking donations for our store, and items can be delivered during business hours at both the Thrift Shoppe and our Main Clinic. Please come enjoy our space, find some awesome treasure, and help us in our mission to protect our feline friend's!

😍😍😍UPDATE: Mumma Ra has made it home! Rescued from the wild by a compassionate community member, this little kitty 🐈 and her siblings were meant for more than life on the streets. Thank you to all the Caregivers who made her 😎 bright future a possibility!

Greetings! I'm one of 5 kittens that Sheltering Hands took in through their spay/neuter program. We spent the first couple months of our lives with a kind person who found us outside. With a super kind heart, he decided we needed to be inside kitties, so he kept us in an art studio until he reached out to Sheltering Hands, and we moved there. We are all wonderful, loving, spunky, and high-energy kittens with lots of love to give and tons of personality. Were enjoying life in the best kitten way possible. If you're interested in one or more of us, please fill out an application. Any one of us would love to complete your family!

Looking for a great way to support the fight for feline wellbeing? Shop the Sheltering Hands Thrift Shoppe for amazing deals that all go to support our efforts in the cat communities! Located at 312 Teague Trail - Lady Lake, FL 32159 We're open everyday Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm! Donations are always welcome and accepted during business hours. Come say hello and see what's made it way to our shelves!

WEEKLY SPECIALS

This week get even more for your dollar when you shop our purses, wallets, and pocketbooks. Get 50% OFF these items (priced $15 or under)!

Stock-up on some recreational activities and cinematic adventures - All Board Games, Puzzles, and DVDs are BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE this week!

The Sheltering Hands Thrift Shoppe has opened its doors 😎, and our first month was a huge success! 🤩🤩🤩 We are so grateful to all the guests, patrons, and friends that have made it out to show their support. Just like the animals who are lost without our help, we have only made it this far by the generosity and determination of our community. To maintain the momentum, we are still seeking donations to keep our shelves stocked at the Thrift Shoppe! Check out the list below and see if you have anything you would like to contribute to our efforts - its a great way to give, free up some space, and, ultimately, provide additional resources for our feline friend!

DONATIONS are accepted during business hours at both our locations:

Main Clinic (Ocala)
10397 HWY 27
Ocala, FL 34482
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm

Thrift Shoppe
312 Teague Trail
Lady Lake, FL 32159
Tues-Sat 10am-4pm

It's the last day of our sale at the Sheltering Hands Thrift Store!!! Come shop today and get 50% OFF all Clothing & Jewelry! We're located at 312 Teague Trail - Lady Lake, FL 32159 (look for our new sign to help guide the way). Thank you for your love and support!

🤓🤓🤓 Look what arrived today at the Sheltering Hands Thrift Store!!! Every step of this journey has felt monumental, and finally getting our main sign up for the world to see is no different. We hope this helps everyone find their way here better. We look forward to seeing you here soon! We are located at 312 Teague Trail - Lady Lake, FL 32159 😍😍😍

Thank you to Butler Industries for the installation and prompt, professional service!

CURIOUS KITTY LOOKING TO ENJOY YOUR COMPANY - COME MEET ME AT PETSMART IN LADY LAKE!!! 🤩

Thank to Stella for raising this little girl into the playful, happy superstar she is today. It is only with love and comfort that these kittens can grow to share space together so well with humans. Thank you to all her Caregivers that's helped her to connect with people! 🥰

🐈 Hi, I'm Violet! I am very curious and love to explore my surroundings. I love to purr and play. I love to play with all kinds of kitty toys. I would do well with children. I haven't met any dogs but since I am curious, I may be ok with one.

To schedule a meet/greet with this pawsome kitty, we recommend that you complete a Pre-Adoption Application which is available here: https://www.shelteringhands.org/adoptionapplication.

For additional information, email our Adoptions Team at [email protected]. Once applications are approved the Adoptions Team will coordinate the best way for you to get your new furry family member and bring them home. Learn more about Sheltering Hands visit our website at https://www.shelteringhands.org

ROADSIDE RESCUE READY FOR HER FOREVER HOME - COME MEET HER AT PETSMART 🤩🐈🤩

Hi there! I’m Ducky, I’m the kind of cat who might need a little time to warm up to new friends. I’m a bit shy at first, but don’t let that fool you—I have a playful affectionate side that loves to come out once I’m comfortable. Once I know you, just pick me up and listen to my sweet purr of appreciation for the attention. I’m pretty independent, and I enjoy doing my own thing, I can easily entertain myself if you are busy. When you have the time I'm happy to show you my snuggly side. The wait will be worth iHi there! I’m Ducky, I’m the kind of cat who might need a little time to warm up to new friends. I’m a bit shy at first, but don’t let that fool you—I have a playful affectionate side that loves to come out once I’m comfortable. Once I know you, just pick me up and listen to my sweet purr of appreciation for the attention. I’m pretty independent, and I enjoy doing my own thing, I can easily entertain myself if you are busy. When you have the time I'm happy to show you my snuggly side. The wait will be worth i !

To schedule a meet/greet with this pawsome kitty, we recommend that you complete a Pre-Adoption Application which is available here: https://www.shelteringhands.org/adoptionapplication

For additional information, email our Adoptions Team at [email protected]. Once applications are approved the Adoptions Team will coordinate the best way for you to get your new furry family member and bring them home. Learn more about Sheltering Hands visit our website at https://www.shelteringhands.org

LEGENDARY COMPANION KITTY LOOKING FOR A LIFETIME FRIEND

Hello, I'm Ron Weasley. I was lost and alone until a kind soul found me and brought me to Sheltering Hands. There, I was showered with love and care, and they quickly discovered that I'm the sweetest, most affectionate red tabby anyone could ever meet! My heart overflows with love and admiration for people. I'm always ready to share my warmth and kindness. If you're searching for a loyal companion who will fill your life with joy, look no further - I'm your perfect match!

To schedule a meet/greet with this awesome kitty, we recommend that you complete a Pre-Adoption Application which is available here: https://www.shelteringhands.org/adoptionapplication.

For additional information, email our Adoptions Team at [email protected]. Once applications are approved the Adoptions Team will coordinate the best way for you to get your new furry family member and bring them home. Learn more about Sheltering Hands visit our website at https://www.shelteringhands.org.

AVAILABLE TO ADOPT A PETSMART IN LADY LAKE - SWEET, GENTLE SOUL LOOKING FOR A COMPANION AFTER LOSING HIS DAD

Hi I'm Willow, My dad got very sick and I was living in our house with my sister Mocha. Someone was coming to leave us food and water between visits but we really missed human company. Both my sister and I are very sweet and tolerant. Sheltering Hands was able to do our exam without a peep out of us. I am a bit shy until I know you., but I am a very passive kitty that only wants a lap to climb up on and a person to pet me and love on me. It's a simple goal in my life but I've not been able to achieve it yet!

Thank you to all the Caregivers who have helped Willow find peace, comfort, and safety during her journey. We hope someone will come along and be her new forever friend!

🐈 UPDATE: SIERRA HAS FOUND HER FOREVER HOME!!! Thank you Linda for all the love you gave her and her siblings as their foster mom! 😍😍😍

Hi, I'm a very sweet and affectionate little girl but my brothers have taught me how to be a so called tom girl.Only because my three brothers have taught me to not be a sissy girl. Don't get me wrong I love to snuggle and I purr all the time when I am around Hoomans. That's when I become a total mush, But please don't tell my brothers. My name means strength and while I am a little thing I am strong, I would have to be because one of my favorite things to do is chew on hooman toes! For hours of fun and amusement you won't go wrong to fill out an application to adopt me!

We're celebrating ONE MONTH since our Thrift Store has opened in Lady Lake, and we're ringing in the occasion with some awesome deals! THIS WEEK ONLY: Clothing & Jewelry items will be 50% of their ticketed price. Now is a great time to come visit while also scoring some sweet finds for a fraction of the price. Come see us from 10am-4pm at 312 Teague Trail - Lady Lake, FL 32159.

Thank you so much for the support you've shown us in this new venture. It is going to have an immense impact on just how many of our feline friends we can help consistently!

UPDATE: FROM BOTTLE BABY TO NEW BEST FRIEND - WILBUR GOT ADOPTED!!!

Hi there! I’m Wilbur, and I was hand raised (a bottle baby) since I was just 2 days old, so I’m extra loving and friendly. I’m playful and interactive, and I have a blast playing with other cats. My favorite thing is to purr up a storm and run to greet you whenever you walk in the room. If you’re looking for a furry friend who’s full of affection and energy, I’m your guy!

Thank you to all the Caregivers who helped raise this tiny little soul into the affectionate companion he's become. We are so excited for his future!!!

UPDATE: PUMPERNICKEL GOT ADOPTED!!!

Hi, I'm Pumpernickel! I'm your typical kitty boy. I love to run and play and man, I can play rough. I think I'll be a football player when I grow up, I really love to tackle. I do have my sweet side too. Lots of purrs. I do well with children. I haven't met a dog but I may do well, depending on the dog.

Thank you Stella for fostering this little guy until the timing was right for his bright future! Thank you to all the caregivers along his path that helped to ensure his safety and success!

Peepers was adopted by one of our foster couples after they brought her to us. Though she had a difficult entrance into this world, she was given the most love and care that could possibly be offered. Here is her story, and everything she taught her Caregivers. Thank you House Meow for giving your all to her!

🖋️ By: Bronson Mosley, in honor of our girl Peepers, forever in our hearts.

Cats in most part are a mystery, often leaving many unanswered questions about their health and character. At times they may defy medical logic, switch personalities, and even appear out of thin air after you’ve overturned every stone searching for them. Yes, these feline phenomenons are far from predictable, yet we can draw conclusions about ourselves from what they teach us.

Such is the case of Peepers, the blind dwarf. She was an orange tabby striped with a white belly. Her coat was usually rugged and disheveled; akin to the cliche outcome of an individual who got dressed in the dark. When we first were introduced to her, she was living in the Wild West of a Silver Springs backyard porch. She appeared to be about four months old, and an unchecked eye infection had developed into a much more serious condition. We took her into our care right away.

As fosters, our goal is to create a safe and loving environment for our cats where socializing can be successful. At first, Peepers was timid and cautious. Living in an unsafe environment without the ability to see would cause any being to be skeptical. Though she lacked her eyesight, there was also the enigmatic nature of cats that presented the challenge of making her feel safe. She would move about the room with a sense of trepidation, using her acute hearings to map the area. She scurried from place to place, never hiding but always with an air or urgency. While her ailments would always require she stayed alert there did come a day when she finally chose to connect with us.

I will never forget the day Peepers jumped onto my lap. Rachel and I were winding down for the day in the living room where our herd often joined us in the evenings. My attention was swiftly taken away from the television and directed towards the sharp claws sank so desperately into my pant leg. Up over my knee came Peepers, clinging to dear life with every climbing claw stroke. Once she made it to the plateau of my lap, she simply laid down in the signature loaf known only to cats. To say we both were thrilled to witness this would be an understatement, and this moment had even a deeper meaning for me.

There was a time in my life when I, like Peepers, was weary of the world. I had lost my faith in people and their facilities. I was unsure of the intentions of my peers, and it was impossible to trust anything beyond moment to moment. When I looked down to see her on my knee that day, I saw my own journey playing out again. It reminded me of the importance of believing in each others and the good we can all be. It repainted the picture of healing that occurred when accepting love into one’s heart. And, for the first time in my walk as a Caregiver, it was when a wayward, shaken animal chose me to be its source of safety.

Like any optimistic onlooker of a cat cuddling up in one’s personal space, I took the moment to give her the softest of rubs. Surprisingly, she didn’t bolt. Quite the opposite. I drew my hand away from her, and within moments the silence was broken by a tiny chirp. She moved her head back and forth to the sound of our voices, chirping as if to say “where did you go?”. Delight. Confirmation. She was letting us know that she wanted us in her life, and we answered that call.

Sheltering Hands took Peepers into their system, making sure she would receive all the medical care required. As one of their active fosters, we knew early on that Peepers would be joining our house as a resident cat. She was comfortable here. She began to navigate our space with natural instinct, and anytime we were winding down on the couch at night, she would find her way there. Life went on like this for some time, our bond with Peepers remaining the same. But, that’s not all that was lacking change. In the years time we had Peepers, she never grew in stature. She was an apparently healthy cat with the unfortunate circumstances of strange genetics. Like many of the mysteries attached to felines, the cause of her dwarfism would be hard to determine and the consequences even harder to predict.

Sadly, there came a day when we would hear Peepers chirp for the last time. She fell fast to an unexpected illness, leaving her fading soul in our arms as we sat at the emergency clinic. It was a painful passing that showed no signs of its coming. Sitting there moments before she crossed the rainbow bridge, the memories we shared echoed loudly through my thoughts. And, in the turmoil of it all, Peepers taught me one final lesson.

All that we can do is give these animals our love. To the best of our ability, we can provide them with food, shelter, and kindness. We can remain watchful over their wellbeing, offering our collective medical knowledge to help peer into their often mysterious conditions. We can place them on the highest pedestals hoping one day they never fall. But, tomorrow is so uncertain. More so for feline kind than even our own lot. Where would Peepers have ended up had we not crossed paths? What chance of surviving - not thriving, just making it out alive- did any cat have without the help of its caregivers? Would they have ever felt happiness, calmness, or peace? So, we have today to love them. To do our part, stay the path, and push through the heartaches that come from the unknown. We may never have all the answers to why they leave our world so abruptly, but we can be certain that we changed their lives for the better.

Greetings! I'm one of 5 kittens that Sheltering Hands took in through their spay/neuter program. We spent the first couple months of our lives with a kind person who found us outside. With a super kind heart, he decided we needed to be inside kitties, so he kept us in an art studio until he reached out to Sheltering Hands, and we moved there. We are all wonderful, loving, spunky, and high-energy kittens with lots of love to give and tons of personality. Were enjoying life in the best kitten way possible. If you're interested in one or more of us, please fill out an application. Any one of us would love to complete your family! BUT PICK ME!

GUESS WHAT? THEY DID PICK W***Y KIT!!! This loving little baby boy has found his way to a bright future! Thank you to all the diligent Caregivers and compassionate community members who helped me make it from the streets to the sweets!

This is a difficult post to write. Today, we lost two beloved cats in our care. Larkin and Liberty.

Liberty was born 7/4 and just a day old when he was found outside screaming with no mom around. The finder brought him Sheltering Hands. His foster had many sleepless nights feeding and taking care of his every need. Liberty brought such joy and fun. Despite all of the great care, he passed away this afternoon.

Little Larkin was a quiet kitty, but always wanted to be in our presence. Larkin would come and sit nearby, looking gently on at the world with his human close by for safety. Though Larkin was soft in spirit, he spoke so loudly by just being this curious, kind energy amidst all the bustling activity of his litter mates. We always remember Larkin for what he represented, in a world of squeaky wheel situations and larger than life characters, there are those that make the most noise by saying nothing.

Larkin became a favorite at Petsmart especially with the volunteers. When Larkin showed signs of not feeling well, he brought back to Coco’s House for medical care and observation. Larkin passed away during in the early hours of the morning.

To Liberty and Larkin’s fosters, we can’t thank you enough for giving them a chance at life they would have not had without being willing to risk a piece of your heart every time you say yes to fostering.

To our Coco’s House staff, you amaze us with your capacity to genuinely love so many cats at once and to give them the best care.

To our volunteers, you give love, pets and play till they find their human.

To all of the Sheltering Hands community, thank you for holding us in your hearts while we grieve.