Another One Bites the Dust!

Rain rain rain.  I had a good harvest of tomatoes this year because of it, but I don't like it when its raining when I do my rounds in the morning.  Not only a bad hair day for me, but at some of my locations, the bowls of food are under a tree, and if it pours, the food gets wet.  I saw so many cats out there this morning.  In the darkness, you can see the eyes illuminating from the flashlight.  You can count how many are out there.  Not just the ones that come right up to me, but the ones hiding further away.

So over the weekend I met a woman who has been in the rescue business for a long time, mostly working with Habitat for Cats. She had reached out to me after seeing the kitten I have on AdoptaPet website and found Nugget. Her son was looking for a companion for his nine year old cat.  They came over to meet Nugget - love at first sight of course - and I wound up telling her what I do, and about the kitten that I had seen but could not catch yesterday morning.  She offered to try to trap it Wednesday morning.  In the meantime, Kristin read the blog and offered to go there with her husband and try for the baby.  They saw, but no luck.  Patti drove in all the way from Livonia Wednesday morning, had geri rigged her own drop trap, which she is offering to anyone who wants it, set the trap in the parking lot of the business, and got the kitten!  Meet Baby Red #2!  Harvey's much bigger brother.  I believe Harvey was a runt born to his mom.   Thank you Patti!  I could not have done it without you.  The little one is a smart one, he caught on that these great big bad humans were try to catch him and was bound and determined not to let them!

Harvey and Huey REUNITED!  Kristin has 'custody' of them both and has brought both to her vet in Churchville.  Their eyes are being treated (total of six vet visits between them both - I had them in four times, Kristin twice!) and we are praying they can see with sparkling eyes someday soon.

Kristin and I just named him Huey.  Short for Houston.  Harvey and Huey, sittin' in a tree... K I S S I N G, first comes love, then comes marriage, then NO MORE BABIES in the baby carriage!  :)

My babies Daisy and Paisley are being spayed today, as is Gracie, and Gizmo!  Daisy and Paisley will be adopted on Friday, if all goes well.  SO EXCITED!  I've never had a pair of kittens that purr constantly, and just love to be held and snuggled.  I hope the potential adopter knows how lucky she is getting.

GREELEY

Greeley is the sweetest, most kindest gentle soul.  Whoever adopts her is going to be lucky as well.

Babies say 'good night'!

Updated photo of Ernie, who was adopted out about three weeks ago.  We both love his new mom!  Ernie is well fed, well loved.  Here he is with his new brother!

Tomorrow I have the day off, thank GOD.  I will be delivering Chip to his new home, along with Daisy and Paisley to theirs.  In a few weeks, off goes Harley, the first of Gracie's kids.  I have to say, its been a really tough kitten season.  There are so many unaltered cats on the streets of Rochester.  I keep saying it:  If I had the help, and traps were set five days a week, and free/low-cost vet appointments were set in place to spay/neuter at least two cats each day, the population would be dramatically reduced within months.  We need to figure out this problem Rochester.

In the meantime, enjoy your day!

"Use your voice for

kindness, your ears for

compassion, your hands

for charity, your mind

for truth, and your

Heart for Love."

TNR Tuesday

No TNR pics today, but two little cuties were trapped on Nichols Street and will be going in for spay/neuter.  Say a prayer for them when they are returned to the streets.  There just aren't enough people willing, or able, to take in all these poor homeless creatures.

I had the honor of having a friend Cathy ride along with me.  Cathy is used to these neighborhoods being a home health nurse years ago, and making visits on the elderly.  It was nice to have her company.  Thank you Cathy.

I pulled up to the Parsells #3 location, where all the red cats seem to be, and guess what I saw.  Another beautiful baby tiny kitten, the same size as Harvey.  My heart sank.  I went around to the other side of the fence, and found it inside a shelter I have placed there, and inside it was.  What did I do?  I panicked.  I could see its eyes were crusted over.  It knew there was something out there, but could not find the opening of the shelter.  My fear kicked in.  Getting bit.  I know its teeth are tiny, but I just have this fear I can’t get over.  It got out, and ran.  I was beyond heartbroken and upset.  I decided to come back after my rounds.  It wasn’t there.  How sad is that.  Little Harvey’s eyes are still not getting better.  Vet trip #4.

Tonight I may go hear James Sheppard speak.  James Sheppard is running for Mayor of Rochester.  He is currently the Monroe County Legislator for the 23^rd District and former Police Chief of Rochester.  I have high hopes that maybe. if elected, this mayor might do some good for the homeless and abused animals in our community.  He is speaking at the Browncroft Baptist Church at 420 North Winton Road tonight from 5:30-7.  I hope some of you can join?

I was tagged on Facebook, quite a few times yesterday, from well-meaning people, about a cat on a street that I pass by each morning, that was either abused, or sick, or injured.  I could not read the posts, nor look at the picture, because that is just the way it is for me.  I’ve seen enough sadness every day of my life to last a lifetime, and with the Hurricane and all its victims, and the tolls it taking on humans and animals alike, sometimes I have to just NOT LOOK.  For those of you familiar with this, remember I just did this with a cat on my route that I watched for weeks suffering, and was finally able to trap it with the help of others.  This morning I drove up and down Webster Avenue looking for this poor creature, but saw nothing.  I will say this, if you tag me, be prepared to go out and help also.  Offer any help you can.  I saw that this post had a lot of comments, but wasn’t sure if the exact location was given or if anyone offered to help trap it.  I have traps.  If anyone ever needs to use one, please let me know.  I will do anything THAT I AM ABLE TO AT THE TIME to help ease the suffering of an animal.   And unfortunately, we don’t have an animal control unit that will go out and find an injured animal.   So I just said a small prayer that this animal is no longer suffering, and with its God.

That’s really it for now.

PS, Lulu is back on the market!  Lets get Greeley, Gracie, and Sammy adopted also!  

GREELEY - IS she not beautiful, or what!

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lots of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

— Robert F. Kennedy

Monday Blahs

Saturday Cooking...  Peach Pie and Tomatillo Salsa Verde

So Friday, after posting, I received a note from the property owner on Parsells who, Lord knows how, found me on Facebook.  After a bit of back and forth, he agreed to allow me to continue to feed on his property.  There are so many cats there.  I will continue to trap as best as I can.  This morning, I saw another TINY baby.  Harvey, aka Krissy aka Kris is doing a little better, and went to the vet for the third time because of his eyes.  Kristin and her husband Darrin are fostering him for a little bit until she goes back to school  She’s a teacher.   I didn’t get a look at this new kitten’s face, so I don’t know what shape its in.  I just know it’s a tiny kitten.  I am sick over it.

Saturday all the kittens that Gracie from Garson had – all six – came over with Sunday Sheryl before doing my rounds at 4:30 am. and spent the day and night on the porch, with their momma Gracie.  I had several people stop by to meet and greet, and all five out of six have found new homes!  There are two pairs of each that will go together, the lonely one is Ellis, who will join a big brother.  Sammy is the only one left.  I also had someone come over to meet Daisy and Paisley, and as of today, she would like to adopt them both!  And I have someone very much in ‘like’ with Nugget, and they will be stopping over this week to meet up with him.  So who do we have left?

Gracie

Greeley

Sammy

Harvey

Sunday morning, more sadness for me.  I rounded the corner coming from feeding on Baldwin, to go to my Garson spot, and I saw lights in a house on the corner where a woman named Phyllis lives.  I knew she had been sick, was diagnosed with cancer, and was in and out of hospital.  She originally reached out to me years ago after reading about me from the newspaper article.  I visited with Phyllis over the years, she loved cats.  She needed help trapping a pregnant cat, and a girl named Diane helped her out with that.  I brought her a few shelters for her porch, and occasionally made a casserole for her, as she was a shut-in.  And a lonely one at that.  Not much family.  Kind kind kind woman.  I stopped, as I saw a car backing in the driveway – I was wondering what was up.  I got out, waved, introduced myself as a man and woman got out of the car, and they said they were from Harris.  I knew immediately – Harris Funeral Home.  Yes, Phyllis passed at 3 am. – just a few hours before I stopped.  I immediately burst into tears, remembering how I SHOULD have gone up to hospital to see her, or sent her a kind note, but I didn’t.  Her nephew was in the doorway and came out, knowing who I was as Phyllis had mentioned me.  We hugged, cried, and it was just a very sad moment for me.  I drove off somberly and parked to do my next spot just up the road.  Finished up in back of this empty lot, and there stood this black dude by the street in front of my truck.  I asked whats up, and he went on to say that I needed to stop feeding there.  He didn’t like it.  We had a loud heated conversation, I was very upset about Phyllis and this ASS had the nerve to confront me at that moment.  I told him he was ignorant because he didn’t care about the fact that I was trapping and neutering cats there, rescuing them.  He just didn’t like that I was doing it.   I didn’t see him today, hopefully he will simmer down – I think he might have just gotten home from a night of drinking or something.  He smelled like booze.  That was all I needed.  It bothered me so bad.  It was all I could do not to turn around, knock in his door, and knock his teeth in.  Although everyone knows I am not a violent person.  But in my mind I am.  

Sorry for the not-so-upbeat post today.  Just so much adversity and sadness in my mornings these days.

Baby Taco with his new dads!

Have a great day!

 “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

Really?

Isaiah 40:11

Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

This is supposedly church property.  A church.  What God are you praying to people??? It can't be my God, who is a kind and compassionate God.  This just kills me.  How cruel can you be?

CLICK ON PICS TO VIEW CLOSE-UP

I in turn left a note stating:  "I am trapping here.  I am trying to reduce the overpopulation of cats on this property.  Please leave my stuff alone."

Below picture is of what is left of the shelters that housed eight cats until this new property owner of Rochester Clutch and Brake on Niagara Street took over.  Apparently he is renovating and flipping the property.  Every week I find the blue bin thrown to the street, along with whatever food is left when he arrives.  You should see the lot, full of trash and glass, tall grass...  but THIS bothers him.

This beautiful blue point Siamese (?) I've been feeding for over a year here on Parsells.  I TNR'd him close to a year ago, I believe.  He's becoming more and more friendly, sidling up to my knees when I am standing there pouring the food for him, and his five or so other companions waiting for their breakfast.  This is where little Nugget was just rescued from.  And of course little Mitzy and Moxy, and DOZENS, literally, of others throughout the years.

Here is our little TINKER.  The Stinker.  No, he really just smells like a baby...  sweet and soft.  I am still worried about him, but after another vet appointment yesterday, and another $70 (total $400 in two days in vet bills), he was prescribed to continue on the Tobramycin but added another drug, I keep forgetting the name - it has an X in it - I give him the Tobra every 6 hours, and 10 minutes after that, apply the X medicine.  I have to sit and hold a warm cloth to his eyes and try to get them to open.  He is sneezing something awful.

That's it for the week.  Its been a rough summer.  But I will soldier on.

Have a great day!

Proverbs 12:10

A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

44

I have a spreadsheet on the kittens I've had under my rescue since April of this year. 44!  Can you believe it?  44!     Did I mention how I never want to see another kitten again?

Thank you to everyone that contributed toward the care of the baby kitten I rescued from hell yesterday.  The poor little guy went to the vet, along with Gracie, and her six kittens.  To the tune of $350.  On my way home, I stopped at Petco for MORE kitten food.  KaCHING.  Another $60.  There is certainly a lot of money spent on these kittens.  The adoption fee is so minimal.  No wonder I'm in DEBT, even though I've adopted out nearly all of the 44 kittens.

I scoped out the spot this morning that I rescued Kris from, but I didn't see other kittens HIS AGE.  I did, however, see a red kitten that looks like it was born a month earlier though.  Just sad.  I also saw the kittens on Garson this morning.  It will just continue to get worse, unless I get some help with trapping (but have to have the appointments first).  And that doesn’t seem likely as I’ve been asking for help for years now.  At each one of my locations, there are cats that need to be spayed and neutered.  Each one.  And I just can’t do it all by myself.  Although I have to remember, I can do one at a time.   It’s all I can do.  I am helping just one each time.  

 "Kris" (is a boy, I originally thought a girl and named HER Krissy!) was prescribed Tobramycin eye drops.  This morning, his eyes were looking worse than yesterday.  I have been trying warm compresses.  I used the drops this morning.  Within a matter of minutes, his eyes have pretty much shut this morning.  Calling another vet to get him in.  You can't mess around when it comes to eyes.  I've done right and wrong in the past, and I don't want to repeat wrong.

So a girl reached out with interest in adopting two of my little ones, Daisy and Paisley.  She told me the story of how she lost a baby kitten recently to distemper.  She’s a sweet girl, but obviously very leery about distemper.  She never wants it to happen again.  She is questioning if her house is safe to bring in a little one, and wants to make sure the kittens are double dosed with distemper shots.  Any advice out there on distemper, which I know nothing about?

Also to note, Gracie and her kittens also went to the vet yesterday and their sexes were finally determine!

Yawnie is a ………..  BOY!

River is a …………… BOY!

LuLu is a ………….GIRL! (guessed that right!)

Ellis is a ………. GIRL!

Sammy is a …………BOY!

Harley is a …………BOY!

Boy boy girl girl boy boy.  That sounds kind of neat!  J 

They were all dewormed, defleaed and I am now just waiting on their surgery dates and they are GOOD to GO!  J

Gracie is the SWEETEST!  And so is our Greeley, just the sweetest prettiest girl as well.

Gracie 

Greeley

Lets get them all adopted!

PS, the cop that took the machete the other morning from me, he stopped as I was coming out of that exact spot, and rolled down his window and yelled 'no more machetes!'.  We had a laugh.  I told him that was not the first machete I have ever found.  I mentioned the drugs, knives, and other machete I've come across.  I said 'yes, this is an exciting thing I do!'.  :)  We had a laugh. 

Have a great day!

"Stop looking for happiness

in the same place you lost it."

Good Lord... Another Baby....

I swear, I don't go out looking to rescue cats.  Its just that I can't walk away from something I know is not right.  And a tiny kitten, with its back to me, eating the food I just left, outside next to a dumpster, is just not right.  I approached quietly, and it didn't even know I was sneaking up to grab it.  It just turned around, saw pink boots, and turned back to eat the wet food I had just placed for the gazillion red cats at Parsells near Webster Avenue.  I just grabbed it with my thumb and first finger, the thing is so tiny and light.

The people that use that building, whoever they are, keep picking up the bowls and getting rid of them.  I need to speak to them and tell them that their problem is not going to go away, and neither am I, until the situation can get under control.  They don't know who they are dealing with.  I will go to any length to help the plight of these animals.

This little guy needs vetting, its eyes are all wet...  I am sure it nothing, and he will grow and thrive to be a beautiful boy someday.  In the meantime, I just know I need help.  Today, Gracie and her babies are being dropped off at my house.  All six kittens and Gracie are going to the vet.  Gracie will be tested for leukemia, and kittens will be treated for fleas and worm medicine.  I am ashamed this wasn't done sooner than the six weeks they've been alive.  I've had too much on my plate to ask the foster.

My vet bills have been astronomical.  People don't understand, $60 for an adult cat, and $120 for a kitten is NOTHING compared to what I am actually spending per cat.  Think about all the kitten food, let alone the wellness checks, if they have sniffles, all the combo tests that have been done.  I have spent so much out of my own pocket.  I could sure use donations.  I am the little guy.  The bigger rescues get so much more help.

OK, I am done whining.  Carpe Diem!

PS, two cats I TNR'd yesterday morning:  Red was a boy, neutered!  Other was a girl, pregnant!  No more babies!

Have a great day!

"These mountains

that you are

carrying, you were 

only supposed to

climb."

TNR Tuesday!

I set two traps out this morning.  I hate doing it.  I really do.  Its a day I dread.  Not only is it going to cost me $120, but its also emotionally draining.  These poor animals are confused - yes, you immediately place a blanket over the trap once they are trapped, it calms them, but they are still upset.  AND hungry.  They have not had a meal since the day before.  They were hungry when they went into that trap.  Now they have to sit for HOURS - in the truck, and in the clinic.  Hungry and confused!  This little pretty girl had some protruding nipples, and no ear-tip, so I grabbed her and placed her in the carrier on Garson.

Garson

This cat below is one of many red cats at the end of Parsells, near Webster.  The building that they hang at is not cat friendly.  I never see anyone there.  It used to be DeGeorge Ceilings, but that business apparently does not exist anymore, but the sign is still up.  They have taken away my bowls and a board under a bush that covered the bowls when it rained.  There are kittens here.  I can't wait to confront the person.  I think, in the dark, I've seen a sign about a church.  Church my _____.  How can a God loving human be so mean to these helpless beings?

Parsells

Kittens needing adoption!

Paisley (mid-lick!)

Nugget!

Daisy!

Daisy!

"The more you give

The more you get,

The more you laugh,

The less you fret,

The more you do unselfishly,

The more you live abundantly,

The more of everything you share,

The more you’ll always have to spare,

The more you love,

The more you’ll find,

That life is good,

And friends are kind,

For only what we give away,

Enriches us from day to day.”

Now THATS a Knife!

BE SURE TO CLICK ON PICS TO SEE UP CLOSE

Sweet shy girl on Central and Second

So this morning I was at one of my locations, and when I went to pull the board down (like a door to the shelter), and pour the food, I saw a very big knife leaning against the shelter.  A machete to be exact.  Sort of creeped me out.  It was very quiet, and dark, and I could only hear the crickets chirping and the kitties rustling around anxiously waiting for me to place the yummy wet food they love so much.  After I finished up, I packed up my stuff, and grabbed the knife by the blade, not touching the handle in case fingerprints were on there that the police might be interested in, and set off to find one of the many cops I saw driving around.

Sweet white cat on Melville

I found one sitting at a red light, pulled up, we rolled down our windows, I said 'I found a machete, wondering if I can give it to you.'  He said, what?  I told him I found it at one of my cat shelters.  He asked if I could show him, so he followed me back to the location, and I we walked to the back of the lot.  I explained how I found it, and then we went back to the Jeep and he removed it from my front seat.  Not sure what he will do with it, but that was my excitement for the day.

DAISY!

Another neat cop story...  So Saturday morning - 5:30 a.m, Sunday Sheryl and I were at the Syd and Johnny's Auto Garage feeding station.  I was waiting in the Jeep after finishing up placing food, and Sheryl was checking on the shelters.  I saw a police car go by.  I thought he was after the car up a head of him.  I watched him as he turned around - I thought he was going after a car that had passed him!  Instead, he pulled up next to me!  He got out, I got out, he said he was checking to make sure we weren't 'going to the restroom' (those were NOT his words).  I looked appalled, but then said, no, I'm feeding cats - but I HAVE chased away several others in the past from using this spot.'   I went on to tell him what I was doing, and he stated that he was friends with Johnny, and that this is the service station he uses for cars, and I then told him that yes, Johnny was a friend and he allowed me to place shelters here for the cats, and that I went to school with his wife!  He then told me about his cat Jack.   What a great story he told, and his point was that Jack used to be a bully, until the officer got Jack a kitten companion, and Jack turned into mush.  He then got a call about a car crashing into a building down the street and the suspect was running, so he said he had to go.  I gave him my business card, and he reached into his pocket and I thought he was going to give me his card, but instead, he gave me a $20!  Well, if that didn't touch my heart.  I nearly broke out into tears - its so rare to receive kindness out there with what I do every day - and I gave him a big hug and he went on his way!

DAISY!

Daisy, sweet daisy...  

Yesterday - Sunday, I saw all sorts of things, including these brand new kittens on Parsells.

Today I noticed that the food I placed yesterday was not really touched.  I have come to the conclusion that not only do the cats not like Nine Lives dry cat food, but neither do the raccoons.  Odd how they won't eat it, as hungry as they are.

Nine Lives...  kitties do NOT like it.

NUGGET!

Chippie was adopted this weekend by the same woman that adopted Happy/Stanley.  She named Chippie Stewie.  Robbie was adopted this weekend.   The adopter adopted Nimbus two weeks ago.  The adopter's name is also Janine!  AND, she works at the same law firm I used to work at a LONG time ago.  :)

Kitten on Central and Fifth

I went to visit the six new kittens, and boy are they getting big!  And Mama Gracie is the SWEETEST thing ever.  They will be seen by a vet this week for combo testing, fleas and deworming.  Ka CHING!  $$$  Here we go again.

So far, we have those six, plus Gracie, plus Greeley, plus Daisy and Paisley, plus Nugget, plus Chip. ALL are totally ADORABLE.

Have a great day!