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Boonie Tails

By Grace Keilbach

Mr. “Feral” Kitty

It all started on a run to I Heart Saipan, a souvenir shop downtown, for some Korean corn dogs (think mozzarella stick in corn dog form without the hotdog). While walking from the parking lot, Aria spotted one of the most pitiful cats we’ve ever seen. With a tail more comparable to a large rat’s, this extremely emaciated and mangey boy was equally wary of us and intrigued. He quickly approached us to investigate potential food options, deeming our dog kibble unacceptable. Despite his disinterest in our food or pets, he continued to follow us hobbling around the parking lot meowing. This poor, sick kitty knew he needed help, he just wasn’t quite sure how to ask.

The next day we returned with delicious, wet cat food, a crate, and bite gloves unsure of how smoothly things were going to go. We placed the cat food in the crate near him, opened the door, and before I could even press record, he had already walked in. Instantly regretting his decision to trust us and causing us to question our decision to bring him home, we now had a very loud and angry kitty. We weren’t sure what we were going to do or how to help a cat we weren’t able to touch so we called the only person on the island who could help; Wayne the cat man!

Wayne is the founder and sole operator of Saipan Kitten and Cat rescue, the only cat rescue on island. We texted him about our situation and he said, “bring him over, I will help”. Unable to get him out of the crate, Wayne assessed him, put together a treatment plan, and graciously donated all of the medication and supplies needed for Mr. Feral Kitty. We packed up our still hissing cat and headed home to start his treatment plan but nothing could have prepared us for what happened later that night.

Despite having a litter box in the crate at all times, Mr. Feral Kitty (M.F.K.), has preferred to not use it, creating a very messy situation that we needed to clean. Aria and I love cats but have minimal experience working with them and are very afraid of cat bites and scratches (for good reason). We were nervous to get him out of the crate and into a clean one but knew it needed to be done. With bite gloves, the lid of a plastic tub used as a shield, and a random, long, red piece of plastic to touch him in place of our hands, we got to work trying to get him out. Holding out breaths, we opened the door and stuck a bit glove in there, which he proceeded to attack, then a long red piece of plastic to keep our hands a safe distance, and eventually a hand. M.F.K. was not happy but began to warm up to each object, soon taking his first steps out of the crate. Aria and I sat there frozen as he approached us, waiting for him to scratch but instead of lashing out, he began to quietly meow and nestle against Aria’s leg. The meows turned to purrs and before we knew it, he was walking back and fourth between us demanding pets and loving every minute of it.

We are so grateful that Mr. “Feral” Kitty was brave enough to ask us for help and we can’t wait to see his transformation, none of which would be possible without Wayne. With extremely limited funding and resources, Wayne runs the rescue out of his own home and has dedicated his life to helping Boonie cats. While volunteering and helping clean litter boxes and pick up meds for Mr. Feral Kitty, Wayne mentioned to us that he hasn’t received a single donation since last year. We think that needs to change. With little to no help, Wayne has already accomplished so much, imagine what he can do with the global support of the Boonie Babies community.

To support Wayne’s rescue efforts directly, please check out his Amazon wishlist, Wayne's Wishes, to see what items are needed! (Click the yellow “Wayne’s Wishes” to view the wishlist). On that note, you guys have out done yourselves with our wishlist, so many items are on the way! To everyone who sent us something, thank you so much for helping us save the Boonies! Although we have a lot of incoming goodies, dog food tends to get eaten pretty quickly around here so if you are interested and able, check out what other items we continue to need more of by clicking HERE.

Mort’s Mission

As you may already know, Mort came to Boonie Babies severely neglected and dangerously malnourished but somehow still smiling. He is a small mixed‑breed dog, often labeled locally as a “Maltese,” idolized, bred and sold, and then often found in the same condition as countless Boonie dogs across the island—hungry, uncared for, and discarded. What set Mort apart was visibility. A short intake video showing his condition, his submissive smiles, and his incredible resilience went viral. Millions of people fell in love with him and began asking the same question: “Can you fly him off island?”

The Ethical Dilemma..

Flying a dog off Saipan is expensive, difficult, and exhausting. The cost alone can reach $2,500 or more for a single dog, not including months of paperwork, medical clearance, quarantine requirements, and coordination. As a rescue, this creates a real ethical conflict. Saipan has tens of thousands of stray dogs in need. The mainland already has overcrowded shelters and rescues. The same money used to fly one dog could fund spay/neuter surgeries, medical care, and preventative work that helps many dogs here. These are questions we wrestle with constantly. Why send one dog out when so many remain? Why add to the burden elsewhere? And why prioritize a single life because it happened to go viral? There is no easy or clean answer.

Why This Fundraiser Exists

The reality is that people care deeply about Mort, they want to help him, they want him safe, and they want to be part of his future, as do we. This fundraiser is our attempt to bridge emotion with responsibility. If Mort is flown off island, it will not be at the expense of other dogs here. Our goal is to raise far beyond Mort’s individual transport costs, so that his story directly supports:

• Other neglected and malnourished dogs on Saipan

• Spay and neuter efforts to reduce suffering at the source for community members in need of cost assistance, including Wayne’s Rescue

• Medical care for dogs and cats who will never go viral

• Sustainable rescue work that stays rooted here

Mort does not get help instead of other dogs. Mort gets help because his visibility can help many more.

What Your Support Means

Your donation helps:

• Cover Mort’s medical care and potential off‑island transport

• Fund spay/neuter and lifesaving care for Boonie dogs and cats on Saipan

• Turn viral attention into long‑term impact, not a one‑off rescue

Whether Mort ultimately flies or not, the funds raised here will stay focused on reducing suffering where it’s most overwhelming, right here on the island. We don’t pretend this decision is simple. Rescue rarely is. What we do know is this: Mort already exists. His suffering already happened. And the love people feel for him is real. This fundraiser is our way of honoring that love without losing sight of the thousands of dogs who will never be seen.

Click HERE to donate to or help share Mort’s Mission with others. #SmileLikeMort

To all of our Boonie Tails subscribers, thank you for reading and helping us save the Boonies! Whether you donate, share our story, and/or follow along, we are grateful for any and all of your support.

Click the link in this ad to passively donate to Boonie Babies! We receive money for every person that opens the link. Every click counts!

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Boonie of the Week

For Boonie of the week, this week you are just stuck with Mr. Feral Kitty and Mort as we have not received any submissions. Although we enjoy sharing about our own animals, we love hearing from you! So, have a rescued animal? Submit their story to us via email at [email protected] to see them featured as Boonie of the Week! We love sharing happy endings and seeing rescues of all breeds and species living the life they deserve. Just don’t forget to include some pictures of your pet!

Boonie Tails is free to read. But if you liked this post, support Boonie Babies and this newsletter by pledging a monthly or annual donation. Thank you for reading and we’ll see you next week!