drifter! the rescue who started it all

Drifter was a stray found wandering the dump at the Alexis Reserve. He was in rough shape. Drifter was found scavenging for garbage scraps, and defending himself against the elements of wildlife and the weather at the young age of six months.

A local rescue was able to take him in and offer him medical help and find a loving foster home (myself and my family). Drifter was a fighter! After a veterinary visit, it was discovered that Drifter was quite ill. He had HAWS syndrome and worms. To help Drifter live his best life, he was put on daily medication for life, to help his pancreas function properly as well as monthly B12 shots.

Drifter fought daily to regain his strength and character! With the love and support of his foster family, and veterinary bills paid by the rescue, Drifter soon became a very healthy, happy, charismatic cat and was put up for adoption.

Despite becoming a brand face, climbing the social media ladder with his famous bow tie photos and videos, and attending every adoption event, Drifter never received an adoption request. People loved to follow him on social media, and meet him at events, but the financial cost that came with him appeared to be too overwhelming for most.

It wasn't until Day 387 in foster care that Drifter received his first and last adoption request!. It was a perfect match! Drifter himself chose his adoptive mom (Cathy). I knew right away that he found his forever home with her!

Drifter went on to live his best life with Cathy for the next year and a half. Cathy was kind enough to allow us, his foster family, to still be a part of his life and visit.

On May 28/2024, I received a call from Cathy saying Drifter was not doing well. I rushed to the vet to be with them both. Drifter was indeed not himself. He was lifeless. When the vet left the room, Drifter somehow mustered all the strength he had and climbed into my lap, looked at me for a few seconds and rested. As if to say, thank you.

The vet confirmed Drifter had internal bleeding, seizures, and his body was failing him. Despite all medical efforts taken, there was just no saving Drifter. Together, Cathy and I made the loving decision to have Drifter cross the Rainbow Bridge peacefully.

It didn't take long for both Cathy and myself to decide that we wanted to honour Drifter in some way. Thus the Rainbow Bridge Run was born, which led to the formation of the Rainbow Bridge Animal Angel Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to helping chronically ill animals live their BEST lives!

                                           Lisa Pollard , Co-founder