January 8th! Valerie B!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to Valerie B!!!Valerie, thank you so much for your help in helping me to feed all these feral and orphaned cats in the Beechwood section of the city of Rochester (and for always helping with clipping Wally the Cat's nails so faithfully for our 88 year old friend Mr. O'Boyle!). There are SO many, and its costs SO much money to feed them.  I appreciate you being a part of the Feed a Cat for Christmas campaign, as I appreciate every person who donated.  Thank you thank you thank you!

It was another dull morning out there.  23 degrees, no snow, although expecting much rain today and overnight.  That will not be fun tomorrow, cleaning up wet towels, mud.  Next week, snow is predicted, and I am ready for it!  Kidding.  I never look that far ahead.  I live in the moment, here and now.  Always have, always will.  I do know I need to remember meds for the kitty I feed behind Paul's on Second Street.  She is an old tabby, she is there most mornings, and its so quiet sometimes you can hear her breathe.  And that usually means she has an upper respiratory infection if you can hear her breathe.  So I will start to treat her again, like I did last year, with a dose of clavamox each day in her wet food.

Parsley ran to me again this morning.  He is such a love.  I need to rescue him and find him a place fast!

Skinny - Fatty

Speaking of Parsley on Parsells, Sunday Sheryl sent me this photo above yesterday.  A before and after - she must have searched around and found these pics - he was skinny then, but fat now.  And he has had something going on with his nose.  I sometimes wonder if they are full of worms, these poor animals.  A month back, I bought some over the counter deworming liquid and put a bit in each of the wet food for each cat.  I ran out in the first half of my route there are just so many cats.  And who knows if each got it.  I need to get more so that I can do the second half, but this over the counter stuff doesn't work as well anyway.  I would need the drontal - the good stuff - to really rid the critters that invade most of these animals that are left to find food on the streets for survival.

I am hoping to find a home for my most recent rescue Murphy.  Interest was expressed.  He is a great cat (and beautiful!).  I am so thankful I got him when I did.  I must get a better, updated picture here from his foster mom.

As stated, I am reposting a post from years past:

December 30, 2012

'''Cheers to a New Year and Another Chance for Us to Get it Right.''

Well, its almost the end of another year.  I was thinking to myself what a good year it was for kitties in the Beechwood section of Rochester.  Even though I can't see it, I know for sure there are less on the streets because of me.  I am REALLY proud to say that.  I've stopped a lot of unwanted pregnancies too with Trap, Neuter Return.  I've also adopted out at least 50 cats this year.  I am so proud of that.  What one person can do is absolutely amazing, isn't it? 

Of course there are angels out there who have helped me help the cats with shelter building, and food donations.  Just last night, during the storm that dumped at least another six inches on us, Bob pulled up with his pretty wife and dropped off SIX plastic tote shelters!  And just yesterday Maree has made me another two!  Boy are these ever needed, along with boards.  If you could see the snow that piles up on each of my spots out there, you would see how much these totes, along with boards, are necessary for any degree of comfort for these cats.  Its terribly sad what I see, but I keep moving, and I know that I am at least filling an empty belly for them each morning. 

I took a nice long drive out to Honeoye Falls this morning, the sun shining, the sky as blue as the sea.  It was not a quiet ride though.  I had Hercules SCREAMING at the top of his lungs the entire ride.  He hates being in a car, hates it.  I drove him to his new home, which is on 10 beautiful acres.  I am so thrilled I was able to meet up with this girl, who turns out is a real sweetheart.  I felt an instant connection with her.  She has the cutest little girl Chow dog named Lacy.  Black and fluffy, just like Hercules (now named Cee lo).  I am hoping they become best friends.  I attach a picture of Cee lo cuddling on his new mom's lap.  More pictures to follow soon!   

Finally, to add cherry on top, here is a beautiful piece of poetry about welcoming the new year. 

"Perhaps a bit wiser,

a bit kinder, too,

a little bit braver,

a heart that's more true,

a touch of believing

I've not known before,

in joys I'm receiving

a little bit more.

A little more anxious

to reach out my hand,

despite hurt or problems
to still understand,

accepting the heartache

that life often brings,

a little more beauty

in life's simple things.

A prayer when I'm weary

as onward I trod,

a little more trusting,

believing in God,

'tis this I would wish for

within moments dear,

not a lot - just a little

this wondrous new year."