Rant Rant Rant

Thanks for all the wonderful comments yesterday.  Warms my heart knowing that others care.  Now, we just need to spread the word about this blog.  Please share far and wide. My view is this:  I am certainly not a talented writer, but at least I am getting the word out about what is going on in the streets that most people don't know about.  The plight of these homeless animals.  The conditions that they live in.  How many cats out there need homes.  If just one person out of all the 'friends' you have on e-mail, facebook, twitter, whatever accounts you have, if just one person sees this thats been looking for a cat to either foster or adopt, that has extra money to donate toward helping me to help a cat in need, it will make a difference.

I am on facebook and have 376 'friends'.  I think at one time it was 'shared' - it was about either my blog or a cat that needed to find a home fast - maybe 16 times.  And those are mostly the same people that do. Whats going on with the other 350 'friends'?  I know not everyone sees my posts, but c'mon.  Not even my family shares my stuff.  Whats up with that?  I'll tell you whats up with that.  They don't read this!  What a difference you could make in the life of an animal in need.

On to other matters.  Diane let Cedric back to the spot she trapped him at last night.  I did not see him this morning, but left food nevertheless.  I pray he knows where to go to get it.   Usually, when they are let out for being caged, they run as far and fast as they can.  It was sad not seeing my little Ruthie.

Pete, the very long black kitty I picked up with the severe head wound Monday morning had already been neutered when he was brought into the clinic on Tuesday - which I didn't know - they obviously did a REALLY good snip job, but they gave him anesthesia and stitched up the wound on his head.  He is the most lovey kitty ever.  Really.  His tail measures over 15 inches!  And guess what?  Someone wants to adopt/foster him!  He will go to hopefully his forever home on Friday!  Hooray!  See?  As I always say, the power of Social Media!

PETE!!!

S T R E T C H !!!

Picture taken in backyard of friend Maree's house:  VERY COOL.

The girl who commented yesterday, Toni, who adopted both Webster and Tigger from me, both from the streets, sent me updated pictures of them yesterday.  I think these are all pictures of Tigger, who was rescued in the beginning of this past brutal winter.  Garson Ave, Baldwin Ave, he was wandering all over looking for a home.  So grateful to get him off the street.

Have a good day, and please, spread the word.

"Once I was a lonely cat, Just looking for a home.

I had no place to go. No one to call my own.

I wandered up and down the streets, in rain, in heat and snow.

Ate whatever I could find. I was always on the go.

 My skin would itch, my feet were sore, my body ached with pain.

And no one stopped to give a pat or to gently say my name.

I never saw a loving glance. I was always on the run.

For people thought that hurting me was really lots of fun.

And then one day I heard a voice ~ so gentle, kind and sweet,

And arms so soft reached down to me and took me off my feet.

"No one again will hurt you was whispered in my ear."

"You'll have a home to call your own where you will know no fear."

"You will be dry, you will be warm, and you'll have enough to eat."

"And rest assured that when you sleep, your dreams will all be sweet."

I was afraid I must admit, I've lived so long in fear.

I can't remember when I let a human come so near.

And as she tended to my wounds and bathed and brushed my fur,

She told me about fosters, And what they meant to her.

She said, "We are a circle, A line that never ends."

"And in the center, there is you protected by new friends."

"And all around you are the ones that check the pounds,

And those that share their home after you've been found."

"And all the other folk are searching near and far.

"To find the perfect home for you, where you can be a star."

She said, "There is a family, that's waiting patiently.

And pretty soon we'll find them, just you wait and see."

"And then they'll join our circle they'll help to make it grow, 

so there'll be room for more like you, who have no place to go."

I waited very patiently. The days they came and went.

Today's the day I thought, my family will be sent.

Then just when I began to think it wasn't meant to be,

there were people standing there just gazing down at me.

I knew them in a heartbeat. I could tell they felt it too.

They said, "We have been waiting for a special cat like you."

Now every night I say a prayer to all the gods that be.

"Thank you for the life I live and all you've given me.

But most of all protect the cats (and dogs) in the pound and on the street.

And send a rescue person to lift them off their feet."

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears....

I received a call yesterday from the clinic telling me that for sure Ruthie, who was trapped by Diane for me on Saturday, was pregnant, that they had her under anesthesia, and they could see she had a very large baby, just one, inside her, alive.  They asked my permission to see if they could revive it.   I told them of course, please try to save the baby if its that far along.  They said the baby looked like it was already weeks old, still inside mom.  Minutes before, they called to tell me that she had puss coming out of her .....  vulva, and they needed to know if they could administer meds and ask if I wanted a blood test for any disease, FIV and Leuk because she was so sick.  A third call was to tell me that the tests were negative for both, but to also ask me about the baby. The fourth call was to tell me that after 20 minutes of trying to resuscitate, the baby died.  The baby had been in the sac with very toxic fluids from the mom who was in obvious distress with infection.

After this, my heart was broken, and I went back to work, knowing that I would be picking up all four - well, Diane would pick up Cedric and Ruthie, that evening, I would pick  up Sweet Pete and Sadie.  Diane had trapped the other two, and was keeping them in her garage until this day, and would soon let them back out after healing.  Both feral kitties.

I got home and for the first time since last year, I made myself a drink, on a weekday night.  I had given up that habit since last year when I got on a healthy kick.  I thought, all is well, the the two cats are back with me and situated, and I can sit and relax after a stressful day and sip this drink before dinner.  Right after the drink, and during dinner, I got a message from Diane, who was picking up Ruthie and Cedric, that Ruthie wasn't breathing and they were 'working on her'.   I put down my fork, put on some clothes (I am practically in my PJs when I get home) and immediately went to the clinic to greet a distressed Diane.  After a few minutes we were called into the room to be told by Dr. Bender that Ruthie was basically on life support, they couldn't confirm what went wrong - either the anesthesia, blood clot, or some other situation, but she probably wouldn't make it without the breathing tube.  After confirmation, I asked the doctor to remove it.  Both Diane and I went back to be with Ruthie in her final moments.  I petted her and whispered in her ear that she would be in heaven with all her brothers and sisters.  She took her final breaths, and was pronounced.

I have to say this.  If it hadn't been for Diane helping me trap, Ruthie would have suffered and died on the streets.  She couldn't have delivered this baby, so large inside her.  If it hadn't been for Diane, I wouldn't have known the seriousness of what was happening to Ruthie, with all the other cats that need to be spayed and neutered, I wouldn't have had the wherewithal to know she needed to be trapped first.  I am so thankful that I did ask Diane to use her drop trap there, and catch Ruthie.  She saved her from terrible suffering on the streets.  Diane would do anything to save a life, and she helped Ruthie in her final days, so much.  Thank you Diane for your kindness and compassion.. 

I wish the world could know this story, and see the importance of spay and neutering.  It would save the lives of so many cats and end their suffering in childbirth on the streets.  Its just so important.  This clinic visit for four cats, including medicine and euthanasia also cost me a fortune.  IF any of you want to help in some way, please call the clinic and donate to my account.  You will have contributed to saving the lives of so many cats by doing this.  Thank you to those who have in the past.  I am truly grateful.

Ruthie fought a hard battle out there.  Help me to help them.

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak

and pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then you must do what must be done,

For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand

Don't let grief then stay your hand,

For on this day, more than the rest,

Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,

What is to come can hold no fears

You'd not want me to suffer, so.

When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,

Only, stay with me til the end

And hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree

it is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I must be saved.

Don't grieve that it must be you

Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,

Don't let your heart hold any tears.

"The soul would have no rainbow

had the eyes no tears."

Sexy Sadie

Four cats going into the clinic this morning.  All unconfirmed sexes.  But all must be spayed and neutered.  I ran into Brenda on Second Street this morning, she asked me if I had spare cat food.  She is the daughter of Sherelle on 5th and Central, the woman that I had to pay to take the puppies from her due to neglect.  She is also the woman that has had multiple cats over the span of the years I've been feeding in the lot next door.  I have rescued I think, at least 10 cats and kittens from here.  Brenda is the mother of Chris, who has some mental issues, but a sweet guy nonetheless.  They all live in near poverty, but have always been decent to me, so I try to do what I can for them.  I told Brenda I would vet the cat she has that JUST HAD BABIES.  Actually, she said only one survived.  I told her that we need to get this cat spayed so that it can't have any more babies.  I tried to explain the statistics of shelters and kittens, but she didn't seem to understand.  Nevertheless, I will drop some food and litter off to her (she asked for litter also) with a note for her to call me about getting this cat done next week.

This poor cat I have in the bathroom, I've named IT Sweet Pete (I have no clue what sex it is, very hard to tell with this one!), with legs and a tail that go on forever, has a very bad wound on his head.  Very deep. I think IT also has a very bad upper respiratory issue.  I can't imagine the pain IT is in, but they say that cats can mask their pain, and he (or she) is doing a very good job at that.  He wants to be held, he will sit on your lap forever.  And he will eat forever.  He was very very hungry yesterday, and this morning.  I told him he had to go to the doctor, and could eat when he got back.

Sadie from Seventh

The other cat I trapped this morning is from 7th Street.  Named it Sadie.  Sadie from Seventh.  I tried to get what I suspect is the pregnant kitten that was born last spring.  I still call it a kitten.  But instead I got a long medium haired black kitty that I've never seen.  It just couldn't resist the tuna inside.  Very hard to get a picture of it this morning.  :(

There are so many more spots to do.  Niagara, there are two I just saw this morning not eartipped, and one is suspected pregnant.  There are at least five kitties to be done on Ferndale and Webster.  There are at least three on Parsells.  There are at least three on Garson.  I could go on and on, but you can see the need for TNR.  And you can see the need I have for help with vetting these animals.  Please consider donating to the clinic, under my name.  I need all the help I can get.

Thanks so much for reading, and have a great day!

"This is my simple religion.  There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

Preaching to the Choir

What a weekend.  Lots of stuff.  First, my friend Diane was able to trap Roofy (now named Ruthie because she is a girl) from 3rd and Central.   She also got a little tabby guy at the same time.  Ruthie was believe to be very pregnant - its so hard to see them in the darkness like I do.  But she may not be as pregnant as I thought, and she may not even be pregnant.  We will know for sure when they are brought in Tuesday to the clinic, two of the four spots I have booked for TNR.  Poor Ruthie was injured, somehow, and I am not sure if its because when she was trapped, there was a lapse in her cage being covered by a blanket.  The blanket is an immediate calm for these caged animals, and if not covered, they can go crazy trying to get out, so she has this wound on her nose, which will be looked at tomorrow.  Diane kept these babies for a new nights until their appointment tomorrow.  She will then keep them a few more days and then we will release them back to their spot, which for the past two days has been unoccupied.  No food has been eaten. 

Diane has a very huge heart.  She was a foster for many many many pregnant moms and kittens, and still is. She started out doing this for Another Chance Pet Rescue, and now does it for Keller's Kats.  She is also 'mum' to the cat she trapped and her kittens from Garson, the ones I was alerted to by the kind woman who saw my story in the newspaper and gave me a call for help.  Diane is just like me, hating to return these cats to the streets after trapping.  I had to convince her this weekend that first of all, Ruthie must go back to the streets because she is not sociable right now.  I would say she is in between feral and semi feral.  I explained that we can't find homes for all these adult cats, and reminded her that she has a lot of adult cats and kittens that are under her care that will be hard to place when ready.  I also mentioned that Ruthie needs to be seen for her nose, and spayed, even if pregnant.  There are far too many kittens right now.  Where will they all go when they are ready after being weaned from their mothers?  I also explained to her that there are several other cats right now that are READY for adoption, but still on the streets because we can't find homes for them.  Its not fair for them if Ruthie is held under her care.  She must go back, and eventually, like so many others, she may learn to trust me, and THAT is how they become adoptable after living on the streets for so long.  Trust.


Now onto the next dilemma - I pulled up to 2nd and Pennsylvania, where I rescued Mr. Fluffypants last, and this very tall and lanky black kitty is there on and off, very friendly.  This morning, he (or she) was there with a very smelly deep wound on his head, and I just had to get him as my third spot for the clinic tomorrow, he must be seen.  He is a love, and is very adoptable.  Please everyone, share this - lets try to find him a home.  He is beautiful, and loving , and sweet.  I hate the thought of putting him back on the street.  I still don't know its sex.  Here he is, caught mid-licks!  :)

Next, Princess has gone to her foster home.  Thanks to Carol and Mike, who adopted Abby and Greta (formerly Candy) from me last year.  She is a true princess, her name suits her.   It was hard to let her go, she was like a little baby, always wanting to be held, and craving attention.

I don't usually post on my days off, so in case you missed it, I posted on Friday also.  

Have a great day!

"A hundred years from now, it will not matter the sort of house I lived in, what my bank account was, or the car I drove.  But the world may be different because I was important in the life of animals and the creatures on this earth."

Life

Me on left, Mom in middle, cousin on right.

Just a quick note on some thoughts here today.  I have the day off and can't tell you how great it is! 

I had to take my mother to a medical procedure yesterday morning - I had to be the driver - my mother's computer isn't working, otherwise she would kill me for telling y'all that.  Anyways, I think about my mother aging, as many of my friends are going through right now with their parents.  My mother is still vibrant and healthy, although some parents aren't as fortunate.  I am grateful for each and every day of my life.  I think they say that when you get to a certain age, you begin to look at your life, and realize that is not as long as you used to think it was.  Someone said, I have less days ahead of me than I did behind me.  We do our soul searching.  Its hard to watch our parents age.  My father died so young, but my mother was always my rock, my calming influence, always there to get me out of any trouble I got myself into, and always stood by me.  I can't imagine my life without her in it.  We have our share of issues, believe me, but when that day comes, I hope I am gone first.  I think the pain will be unbearable.  I've seen people either close, or have touched my life through others die in their teens, their 20s, 30s, actually every age there is.  I am lucky to be here and have to remember that as time passes, and birthdays come and go.  I take life one day at a time.  I deal with what comes my way and confront it head on.  When I lay my head on the pillow at night, I don't want to have any regrets.

OK, I think that is all I wanted to say, for now!  :)

All is well out there this morning, but its cold.  Say a prayer that my friend Diane can trap a few pregnant kitties this weekend, as I have two extra spots at the clinic for Tuesday and we need to stop this cycle.  I will be out there Tuesday morning to get whoever I can.   I was thinking about the spots I feed at where no food was left.  And how the cats waiting for me are so hungry.  I felt hungry myself as I drove around (which is rare!), and knew what pain they must feel.  I am so grateful I am able to feed these hungry animals.  I was also thinking that I haven't had a morning off since I went to Hilton Head a year ago.  Not one day's break.  365+.  Wow. 

Have a good day everyone! 

“You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.”  

Snowflakes!

(Remember to click on the pictures to view them larger)

Yes, when I left the house at 4:15 am. this morning, April 23rd, it was 32 degrees and snowing. 

PRINCESS!

Her colors are stunning!

First off, the little Princess is still in my bathroom, safe and sound.  She is the most sweetest kitty I've met.  She just wants to be picked up like a child would with its arms outstretched up to you, and held.  Her guardian angel wrote me yesterday to say she would foster her - the same angel who adopted Abby and Candy (now Greta).  She was brought in for testing and is FeLV free.  Her surgery scar looks good, I brushed her with the Furminator - she is shedding like mad, and I've removed the carrier from the bathroom so that she is out in the open now, of course with piles of blankets for her to cuddle up in.   I visit her as often as I can.  Who doesn't want a cuddle from a soft furry purring little kitty.  She will go to her new home Friday.  I will miss her, but it frees up this space... - just in case!

I am off tomorrow, thank God.  I love three day weekends. It frees up an entire day for me when I am able to do the mundane chores that I usually do on a Saturday, and gives me an entire free day.  I do have so much scheduled tomorrow though, its not even funny. (where did that saying come from?)

I brought my camera out with me and used it until the dang thing went dead - needed recharging.  I HATE the camera I have, but I have no other, so I have to make the best of it.  It takes the worst pictures, and can only take them using the flash.  Otherwise, they are blurry.  Maybe its the settings that I just don't know how to tweek.

Question:  Does anyone know how to fix traps?  I have a brand new one - from last year - and the arm on the side has come off.  The piece that actually holds the door open.  I would love to have this fixed.  It was an expensive trap.  Its also roomier for the kitties that have to spend the night in them.  The two I have now are older and smaller.  But again, they are all I have so I am grateful!

My shelters:

This little boy is at my first stop on Parsells.  I've been feeding him for years, and for months now, he has allowed me to pet him.  In fact, he longs for me to pet him.  He runs to me when I pull up each day.  He would love to find a someone to love him permanently.

Here is a kitten about a year old, I have yet to fix him/her or its sibling.  Its been allowing me to get closer and closer.  In fact, when I looked at it this morning, it looked pregnant.  Everyone looks pregnant to me these days.   But I think this one is.  I fixed its sibling last year, a little calico - maybe at eight months old, and it bit me through the cage.  I've never seen it since I had to let it back out the next morning.  This is why its TNR can be heartbreaking.  The R part.

on 2nd look, this little one does look pregnant

Baldwin - Ginger.   Sweet sweet boy.  He would love a home too.

Ginger and his pals.

A new little guy on Baldwin I spotted this morning.  Under the bench.  Had to put food there for him.  I think he was scared to go where the big boys were eating above.

A new Little Red on Webster and Ferndale.  He allows getting only so close then runs.  Right behind him are four more scaredy cats.  I can count them because of his eyes.  That includes Sylvester to the left.  All unneutered/unspayed.

Buttons on Short.  I love this baby.  I wish I could find a home for him.  He pals around with Mr. Whiskers. They have adjusted to their new shelter just a field away from their old one.  Milly was there this morning.  I know she misses Morgan, who I found deceased inside the shelter one morning this past winter..

The new shelter Kristin and I moved from Sixth to Short.

Central and Fifth.  A white kitty with black spots - actually have seen a variety of cats here, but not a conglomeration of them.  Sporadic sightings here lately.  These boards are the kind of boards I need.

Central and Fifth:  Where my poor Chico was found, barely alive, inside the styrofoam container.

That's it for me for now.  Please spread the word about all these kitties out there that need homes.  Jelly and Elvis too.  Must get some good updated pictures of them!

Have a great day!

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. "

SPAY and NEUTER!!!

I will start first by telling you about the two TNR's (trap, neuter (spay) and return (to the streets) I did yesterday morning on Parsells.  One was Sour, the boy (confirmed) who was not too happy, hence the name Sour, and is certainly feral.  He spent the night on my porch, and again, he wasn't happy about it.  Sweet (Sweet and Sour, get it?) spent the night in my bathroom, and I have renamed her Princess.  I wanted to see how friendly she was, so I instructed the clinic to place her into a carrier while she was still asleep, a carrier which was brought back up to the clinic later in the day.  When I peeked in at her when she got home, she was still lying down, and when she did try to get up, very wobbly, still medicated from the drugs.

I also noted from the paperwork sent home that Princess was in early stage of pregnancy when she was brought in.  Poor little girl.  I left her alone, and kept checking in on her ever 20 minutes or so.  I finally opened the door to the carrier (always leery when you don't know the cat), and she just looked at me.  I placed a few morsels of food down in front of her and she hungrily, and very woosily (I know, thats not a word, but I like it), ate the food, and wanted more.  I knew that cats in this state can easily overeat and then vomit the food up, so I let her eat just a little, and placed the dish outside the carrier a bit to get her to come out, which she did, and I lovingly started to pet her.  She didn't blink.  She just ate.  Later, I went back in and she came out for wet food, and I picked her up, and its been love at first sight ever since.  ON HER PART.  I can't take in another cat, but let me tell you, she is one affectionate kitty!  She is sweet, gentle, petite, young female, and oh so beautiful!  She loves to sit on your lap, purr away and headbutt your face.  I lied, I am totally in love with this little girl that was on the streets for God knows how long, and by fate, or a stroke of luck, went into my trap that morning.  She is truly deserving of a loving home.  Please consider foster or adoption!  Here are a few pics.  She is camera shy (or she just doesn't like the flash in her eyes!).

PRINCESS!

As much as I hate letting these cats back onto the street, there is really no other choice right now for cats like Sour - a true feral.  But we can do something about cats like Princess, and there are so many out there.  Please consider fostering her.  If you don't fall in love with her yourself, we will get her adopted, eventually!  Some take longer than others, but 99.999% of the time they find the home that is right for them.

Regarding the bowls I was asking for yesterday, I would like nice sturdy paper bowls - like salad sized bowls - maybe 8 or 9 inches circumference.  (thats a wild guess).  Thank you!

There is a very pregnant female on Third and Central that hopefully will be trapped this weekend. I pray she does not give birth before this, and I pray she goes into the trap.  She is bulging at the seams. Sweetheart Diane has offered to help me with her drop trap.  She will then go in for spay on Tuesday at the clinic.  Diane is a foster for a rescue group and already has four new mothers in her care.  She has a ton of babies.  I don't like it either.  But we just can't save them all.  Remember, for every kitten born, five are euthanized in a shelter (I am sure this is wrong - the number is much higher).  OR dying or being killed by coyote, raccoons or other such creatures on the street and in the country right after birth.  We must get this problem under control!  I have FOUR slots at the clinic for Tuesday, so I will be setting two traps (thats all I have) Tuesday morning.  

If anyone can help with the cost of anything, it would be so appreciated.  It costs $50 per cat at the clinic. Their number is 585-288-0600.  This is new to me asking for help, but I am determined to try to gain control of a situation that seems hopeless.

From the American Humane Association:

What you can do to combat pet overpopulation:

1. Always spay and neuter your pets.
2. Always adopt your pets from a legitimate shelter or nonprofit rescue group. 
3. Consider all the responsibilities and consequences of pet ownership before deciding to get a pet and always make a lifetime commitment to your pet.
4. Educate your children, friends, family members and co-workers about pet overpopulation, adoption and the importance of spaying and neutering.

You can help stop generations of suffering. Have your female pet spayed and your male pet neutered. Don't allow them to breed and add to the pet overpopulation problem.

Thanks very much for listening, and reading.  Have a great day!

"Animals have these advantages over man:  they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills." 

~ Voltaire, letter to Count Schomberg, 31 August 1769

TNR Tuesday

Well, meet Sweet and Sour.

I decided to try my hand today at the Parsells location where Peepers was rescued recently from (and is currently expecting babies any day now at a foster's home!)  I knew there were many new faces at this location, where I've begun to put food down under a tree there next to the road, because they are hungry!  (No, I do NOT need to add a new spot! - and besides, there is no where for me to build a shelter for them!).  I set the trap with some nice smelling tuna, and drove off to do my first and second spots just up the road.  When I came back, Voila!  Sour was in the trap!  After much hissing, I secured him in the back, set the second trap, and drove off to do No. 3 & 4 spots.  I went back quickly, as I don't like to leave the traps unattended, you just never know, and Voila!  There was Sweet.

Poor little girl had quite the 'accident' in the trap, on the newspaper.   So when I got home, I opened the end just a little bit to remove the soiled paper, and out it came, scraping my hand along the way.  GROSS.  I still can't get rid of the smell.  Poor thing.

I have named them Sweet and Sour because of their temperament.  I think Sweet is sweet, and probably would make a wonderful companion for someone.  Sour is sort of feral, or else just plain grumpy.  Nevertheless, I will have to return both to their location tomorrow morning after they rest on my porch from their surgeries today.  Stay tuned to find out their sex for sure, and if they/ she was pregnant. Both lovely cats, but Sweet is GORGEOUS.  The colors on her are unbelievable.  Such a pretty calico girl.  It will break my heart to return them tomorrow.

Sour Puss

SWEET

So it was a mild morning today, after we had severe weather last evening with the wind and rain.  I didn't hear thunder and lightening but it wouldn't have surprised me.  At one point the rain came down so hard I thought my roof (new) would collapse!  I had a lot of wet towels this morning to replace with dry ones.

One thing - I rarely make requests - only for foster and adoption!  But I could use 4 2'x4' pieces of wood if anyone can get them.  I need them for a few of my shelters that are falling apart.  I also need paper bowls. And of course I always need food, and money for the spay/neuters.   I DO NOT NEED towels, blankets or shelters at the moment.

Tomorrow, I will give brief descriptions of the locations I feed at, and who is out there needing our help.  I do know there is a very pregnant girl on Central and Third.  I pray she gets trapped this weekend, and we can get her in on Tuesday at the clinic.  I also pray she doesn't have her babies beforehand.  There is also a sweet boy on Parsells, who looks just like my George - and Sawyer who was recently adopted.  He is an intact male, and a sweetie boy.  I need to find him a home.  I hate the thought of putting him back out there also. He hangs with Petey and Pauley and the black kitty.

Thats all I got! Make it a great day!

"Dream as you will live forever, live as you will die today."

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Whispering Winds

I have some really bad windows in my bedroom - I've turned my attic into a master bedroom, it expands from one end of the house to the other, with skylight in the middle, windows at each end.  "My guy" James came over to do some odd things around the house and fixed a window I couldn't get a screen back on to since last fall, and the turn thingy to open these windows (side by side - what is that called - casement?) is stripped, so you can't open them too easily.  He 'fixed' it so that the screen is back in the window and is now open slightly, but the wind we had overnight and are being ambushed by this morning blew that sucker wide open overnight - the wind was whipping in and the curtains ablowin'.  I was too cold to get up and try to fix it - but it kept me awake for a good hour/hour and half, and by the time I finally got back to sleep, I had to get up.  3:15 a.m.  Get up girl.  Time to get moving.  If there aren't days that I absolutely do not want to get up and get going, its when I have restless sleeps like the one I had last night.  But up and at em I do.  Every day, no matter what.

I drove past the place where I rescued Peepers first thing. and there were kitties eating the very wet dry food I placed there yesterday, next to the tree by the road.  I usually stop here on my way home.  They were eating the few morsels in the bowl that were left until the wind would whip it away into foreverland.  So I stopped, got out, nearly had the door of the Jeep ripped off by the wind, and placed more food and water down, hoping the wind wouldn't scatter it before the cats were able to eat their only meal of the day, I am sure.  This is one of the locations I will place a trap tomorrow morning.

All the babies were waiting for me this morning, at most places, I startled a lot of them from a somber sleep because they couldn't hear me coming towards their shelters due to the wind and rain that was tagging along. The black kitty on Garson, the one that doesn't look too good, wasn't there this morning.  I've been trying to pill him, thinking it will help with the wound on his head, but he doesn't seem interested in eating the wet food.  Doesn't seem interested in any of the food I place that the other four kitties will gobble up as soon as i leave.  He followed me back to the road on Saturday morning.  I think he is just interested in me taking him and finding him a home.  Its heartbreaking. 

I will place a trap on Niagara tomorrow  morning also, even though I haven't seen all the kitties that I first saw a few weeks ago when I started to feed there.  I think I counted eight back then.  I've had four fixed - three pregnant females and a male.  So many more to do.  Roofy, on Central and Third, looks pretty pregnant.  I remember rescuing a pregnant cat there, was it last year? Wendy from Another Chance Pet Rescue, when the group was active, took her in and she had her babies within days of that rescue.  Roofy looks pretty big.  I am hoping to get some help if I can get a couple more appointments at the clinic this week.  I can't let any babies be born outside under my watch.  At least I have to give it my very best shot.  I can't think of the suffering these mothers have to endure during childbirth under a bush, or a porch.  Its too much to bear, so I must do my best. 

Lets not forget Elvis and Jelly, who need adopting - and the other kitties on the streets that need a home.  Please consider foster and adoption. 

Have a great day!

"Enjoy the little things in life... 

for one day you'll look back and realize 

they were the big things."