Blackie Chan

Today is a guest post from my friend Yesenia.   Yesenia adopted a kitten I rescued many years ago, named Buddy. 

Buddy Then

Buddy/Winston Now

She makes lots of fun toys for her kitties, one being their clubhouse: (click on pic to see up close!)

The Clubhouse

Its amazing how much love we have in our hearts for certain cats or dogs...  its the way they look at you, follow you, nuzzle you.  I can feel the love Yesenia has for her cats, its there.   Its deep.  I hope you enjoy her journey with her latest cat, Blackie Chan.

😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻

This is Blackie Chan the luckiest black cat you’ll ever meet; he wandered into my backyard and then wandered into my heart.

The year of trust building, 2015.

Blackie took shelter in my neighbor’s garage another. He was captured, fixed and released him back into his familiar surroundings. Blackie Chan also known as Daddy Toes, because he of his poly dactyl condition, he has seven 7 toes in each of his front paws & 6 toes on his back paws (see image below).  

Check out these front Paw (yup, 7 toes)

  

And so began a feeding routine 4am breakfast and 4:30pm dinner. Blackie Chan waited for me rain or shine through a summer and a winter. I’d dig out a snow path for him when the snow got deep.   My husband and I built him a dry / warm shelter, but it was clear that he preferred the garage.  The neighbor, a fellow cat lover approved of his preferred living arrangements, so she allowed it.    

An afternoon feeding… Happy cat!

A year into our feeding ritual and a very rough 2015 winter, Blackie was a champion - he made it through the heavy snow falls. On the very cold days, I’d microwave his food for a few seconds to keep it warm (his trust was true). In the Spring of 2016, mid-March - Blackie Chan was gone, there was no sign of him for 11 days, I was devastated and heartbroken.  That did not stop me, I’d call out and continued to put food out; day in and day out, I’d drive around the neighborhood calling out; asking neighbors, I even posted his picture on the neighborhood website.  I feared the worst, that I’d never see him again. I kept my faith and continued the routine just in case.

Eleven day exactly, and he wanders back, but he was not the same. Blackie Chan was hurt, he was extremely thin, limping and possibly dehydrated. He did not know me or trust me. I don’t know what happen to him (I guess I will never know), but I don’t care…I was just so happy to see him. He wasn’t ready to encounter people.  My good friend Jeanine Wagner gave me some antibiotics and I crushed them into his food twice a day. It helped heal the sores and from getting infected.  I began to feed him lots of cheap fatty food to get his weight and strengthen up, lots of clean water and treats to build his trust (I had to be patient).  Slowly Blackie Chan came around. So, I began a plan to bring him into the house… I didn’t know much about him, his age or other potential issues (if any that he’d he bring). Not to mention I have 2 other cats to consider… this could create chaos.  When I regained his trust I brought him into my enclosed porch. I knew he could not survive another long heavy winter on his own.  When the veterinarian said “he’ll always limp and his climbing is limited”, I knew what I needed to do, I committed to giving him the best retirement home. We took a risk and we took care of the easy stuff like the fleas, ear mites and bug bites. I was afraid I’d scare him off -- so I was patient. 

For a few months and for everyone’s safety, Blackie ate and slept in the porch as we slowly introduced him into our home (and the other cats), Magic an extremely territorial female and Winston his rescued little bro.; some days they play and other days there is lots of hissing.  Either way, I thank God for bringing me Blackie Chan. Today, his bowl sits on paver/bricks so he could reach his food (an ergonomic fix for his handicap because he’s unable to bend his back leg).  Blackie Chan is strong with limited climbing, but this doesn’t keep him from getting on the bed where he find warm cuddles (he’s quiet and follows me around the house).  Blackie Chan is the luckiest black cat and  we’re so happy he wandered in to our hearts.  

Winston (little bro)  & Blackie Chan       

Blackie Chan & Magic (on rare occasion they coexist)

             

                 

 My beautiful Blackie Chan Christmas 2016.

Bless the animal lovers; those who can see that animals are more than pets… they are family! 

Thanks very much Yesenia!

And for anyone else that would like to share a story, please do!

@$#%$#%@$#

Destiny - I forgot to include pictures from yesterday's post of Destiny/Dezzie.  Such a beautiful momma cat.

The wonderful girl Amanda, who foster-failed Marti, who she renamed Simon, has reported that he is missing.  She was away this weekend, and came home to find him gone.  I cannot tell you the pain I feel when something like this happens.  Please say a prayer for Marti's safe return - they live in Caledonia.  In the meantime, she is fostering Chewy, who is recovering from life on the streets.

MARTI/SIMON

Milo went to his new home this past Saturday.  What a wonderful home it is.  And what a wonderful adoptive mom he has.  I couldn't be happier.  He is getting over an upper respiratory infection - lots of sneezing and coughing.  Yes, they get colds just like us! 

MILO

The snow was falling this morning as I headed out at 3:45 am.  Rochester is supposed to get up to six inches today.  I will be bringing the shovel tomorrow.  All the cats were waiting for me.

There is some @!$%!$# on Niagara Street taking the lids of of my emergency shelters that are in an open field, where I have placed two of the nice shelters my friend Debbie's husband Jim made for me, the ones that were put to the road just up the street at Rochester Clutch and Brake (the old business),  The insides are snow filled.  It is a deliberate act, and I want to catch the @$#%@$#^.  I left a note for them to call me, and said if you don't, you are a coward.  I felt like letting them know what I truly thought of them , but thought that might not be the best idea.   I have to worry about each of my 20 spots daily.  Before I pull up to each spot, I worry I will find my stuff gone, or by the side of the road.  It will always be this way with ignorance surrounding these shelters. 

Any body want to do a stake out?

Have a nice day.

"Wealth... and poverty:  

The one is the parent 

of luxury and indolence, 

and the other of 

meanness and vicious-ness, 

and both of discontent."

Dezzie

So if you will all recall, this past summer I rescued a mother cat who had a litter just a day prior, and two died prior and during transport to my house.  The other three died overnight in the cage I had them in in my living room.  It was heartbreaking for me as I had never experienced that.  I named Mom Destiny.  Or my niece named her.  Within a day, someone called me and asked me to take in four other week or two week old kittens that needed bottle feeding, but this person just couldn’t do it.  The second this girl walked in with them in the carrier, crying, Destiny heard these cries and went crazy.  We decided to place the kittens with her, her body still engorged with milk, and they latched on to her like she was their mother, and she in turn like they were her own babies.  It was destiny!  She nursed them until they were old enough, and then, one by one, were all adopted.  So was Destiny.  To a sweet wonderful person named Anne.  Anne named Destiny Dezzie.  Pretty name for a pretty cat. 

Thanks to all of you that keep in touch with me.  It is so appreciated, and a real pick me up to my day.  Its good to know my kitties are doing well, even on the rare occasions that these kitties I’ve come to love when rescued get adopted and have problems.  Anne just informed me that Dezzie had to have her leg amputated.  Here is what she had to say:

Dezzie is great! she's a total chatter box, still plays well/a lot with Sira and has become comfortable coming in the bedroom, jumping on the bed and sleeping in it (with or without me).  However, a couple months ago, basically my first week out of work,  I noticed that she had begun to limp.  After a couple weeks I took her to the vet and X-Rays determined that at some point, she had a really bad break in her hind leg which had resulted in a complete loss of cartilage in her knee joint.  My two options were to give pain meds all day until she could no longer jump, which would likely have been less than a year, or have her leg amputated which was going to be the definitive result in a matter of time.  So I elected to have her leg amputated.  I didn't see any sense in drugging her up all day until she was in further pain in no time.  $1,400 later, shes doing great! had no issues with surgery/recovery.  She continues to hall ass all over the apartment.  It was a tough decision for sure but I'm glad I happened to be out of work so I could care for her while she was recovering.

I hadn’t read her note right away, and when I did, I asked if there was something I might have missed while she was under my care, and how bad I felt because of the expense.  Here was her response:

No worries, she's worth every penny.  Her leg had been broken sometime in the past and did not heal properly, which allowed for the fast deterioration of cartridge.  When I picked her up from surgery, the vet said that when they shaved her leg, prior to amputation, they noticed scarring of puncture wounds and scratches so they concluded that she must have been bitten by another animal at some point.  So with that information they said it was a break and or an infection that caused the bones to come together in a way that just wore the cartilage away.  She had started limping off and on for a couple week then it became consistent, which is why I took her to the vet for x rays.  She's totally fine and it hasn't seemed to effect her mannerism so that's good....I swear, I thought she wasn't gonna come near me after going through that but it was actually the opposite, thankfully! 

Its amazing how these animals can recover from trauma like that.  Thank you Anne, for everything.

On another note, and a gross one at that, I have this morbid fascination for dead rats I guess.  This is what I saw in the road this morning, right next to the spot where the bread and sweets were left on the road on Short Street.  I TOLD YOU CITY OF ROCHESTER!  It ain't the cats fault!  😐

Poor Baby - I have compassion even for these nasty critters!

Have a great day!

Back to 'Normal'

TGIF.  

Thank you to all who donated to the Feed a Cat for Christmas campaign through December.   Your donations saved me from having to go to Walmart to buy my cat food for quite a few weeks, and that was very helpful.   I am so grateful.   I am also grateful to those that came running to donate shelters when I put the plea out during that terrible cold snap we had a couple of weeks ago.  And the hand warmers, and the foot warmers...............  Not only did you help the cats, but you helped me.  Thank you so much.

Second Street Mailbox
(look close and you can see bowls underneath)

I was notified the night before last about a double shooting yesterday on Second Street and Central Park, which happened around 3:30 pm.  Oh no!  The mailbox kitties!  I searched the news and found a video of a police man talking to the media, and right behind him was the mailbox.  And there were my little bowls that I filled that very morning.  Two men either shot at each other, or someone shot both of them, and took off.  I don’t believe there was any fatalities, which is good, but the first thing I thought about after seeing the video was the cats.  Just across the street, thanks to the property owner, I have several shelters in the grassy lot.  There are at least 8 cats that ‘live’ here.  I’ve probably rescued maybe five cats from this corner over the past two years, the last one being Chewy, just a few weeks ago.  I knew the police would have noticed these shelters, and known they were mine.  I am, after all, known by most of the cops that patrol the area. 

Its interesting that in ALL the years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never had a REAL problem.  I’ve met a lot of shady characters, but I've always been able to handle myself, and they have shown me respect over the years and just left me alone.  I tell my own cats that gather around me in the morning, as I am tying my boots, ‘I’ll be back guys!  Don’t you worry!’  Sometimes, I think they think – ‘Mama, don’t leave!  What if you never come back?  What will happen to us???’  And then there is my poor mother, who never says it, but I know she thinks about me every morning when she wakes, whether I am alive or dead.  Well, maybe not that, but something like it.  Don't worry Mama!  I'll be back!

Have a good day.

"Happy are those

who take life day

by day, complain

very little, and are

thankful for the

little things in life."

JAN 4th!!! DAWN K!!! Feed a Cat for Christmas!!! and beyond...................

DAWN!  Thanks to you some hungry kitties in the city of Rochester were fed.  I don't know Dawn personally, but I do know she has a generous, giving heart and compassion for Rochester's finest.  Thank you for helping me feed a cat for Christmas!  This campaign started late, which is why its going into January.  I have a back up. 😄

I think about all the other kitties that are NOT on my route, and wonder if someone is caring for them as I am for these.  I've been placing more shelters out there, one each morning at one location or other.  Now that I have a surplus of them, I want to spread the love, and make more cats comfortable.  It was brutal out there this morning.  Very cold.  It was actually 26 degrees, but the wind made it much colder.  Rain turned to snow overnight, and we had a dusting.

My needs?  I could use LARGE, DARK BATH towels. I like to place these on the boards that the cats stand on inside their shelter, so their little pads are warm and dry while they eat.  As long as they are not getting wet, its better than the cold floor on which they stand.  Some do get wet, which is why I need more towels, because I replace, them, bring home the wet ones and put them through the wash.  Just another small comfort for these unfortunate animals.  I could also use the 2-gallon ZipLock bags.  I use these to pour the dry food from into their bowls.  Can't be dragging larger bags of cat food around!  As it is, I am carrying two gallons of food, two gallons of water, and a large yogurt container of wet food to each location - 20 or so different stops.  And trudging through vacant lots and behind vacant houses.

Once again, I called 911 this morning to report the door of a vacant house on Short Street being wide open, and the light on inside.  My main objective in calling was to ask them that whoever investigated, please be sure there are no cats inside.  There have been too many instances where cats have been locked inside a house or apartment, with no food or water, or way to escape.  Not good.  I hope they take heed.  911?  They've got my number.  I call way too often.  :)

That's all I have for today folks.  Nothing too exciting here.  I am certainly looking forward to spring.  55 more days til SPRING!

JAN 3rd!!! STEVE C!!! Feed a Cat for Christmas!!! and beyond!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much Steve!  Steve, the great shelter maker.  The great husband of Julie!  Thank you so much for your kind donation to help feed Rochester's finest.  The cats.  :)   Thank you for helping me to Feed a Cat or two for Christmas!  and beyond!  😺

This morning started off for me at 2 am.  OK, the usual.  But as I wound my way downstairs, I could hear the rain plummeting from the heavens.  I thought, ugggh.  This isn't going to be fun.  But by the time I found myself stepping outside at 3:45 am., the skies were clear, and the stars were bright.  I thought, oh good!  But wait, the ground is soaked, and so will my left foot be by the time I finish.

By 5 am., it started to pour.  I still had four shelters to get to.  Out came the rain slicker Sunday Sheryl gave to me.  It doesn't completely keep me dry, but it'll do.  I usually have to tie something around my waist to keep it from flying, but I didn't have a tie this morning and boy was it windy.  So on top of walking through vacant lots trying to dodge the poop paths (the cats love to do their thing in the paths I've created by walking through the snow to their shelters), bending down to pour the food and water, I had to keep the slicker from blowing up in my face.  Miserable.  I would rather it snow than rain.  I HATE rain.

But all was good.

So speaking of rats.  On Short Street, where, by the way, Big Red #2, Sam and Mr. Whiskers #2 ran to me again this morning, there is a box by the side of the road.  After observation, I thought 'NO WONDER THERE ARE RATS!".  This pile of bread, candy and peanut brittle have been sitting there for a week now.  The guy across the street, Jimmy, a nice man, runs a 'store' from his house.  I believe he gets day old food from bakeries, or something, and sells it to the poor for profit.  No judgment, but wonder why he would dump that stuff across the street, and not in the trash at least.  THAT'S WHY WE HAVE RATS!  GARBAGE!

I received offers to adopt from two people, so now we have Elsa spoken for, Milo and Charlie!  Thanks to Kimberly of Kimberly and Beck, 95.1 Radio for giving a shout out for Charlie.  She spoke about him, and me (from what I heard from a friend) yesterday on her radio show.  The previous night, we were texting each other about her desire for Charlie personally.  But after hearing he's not great with my other cats, she didn't want to test it, as she has an older cat, Flea, that she wouldn't want to scare.  I don't blame her.  I did receive a few offers of adoption for him from that radio show.  Cool.  Thanks Kimmie!  :)  The girl that DOES want to adopt doesn't have any other pets.  And he is a lover boy with his human.  Can't wait.  I need to move these guys along to homes.

CHEWY!

Chewy, who is with her foster mom, had to go to vet this morning.  She has an upper respiratory.  Adopters don't realize the cost of a cat before they get them.  Chewy's first vet bill, where she was TNR'd in the summer, was $60.  Her next one, when I rescued her back off the street a few weeks ago on the 9th, was $90.  Here she received rabies, distemper, combo test, worm med, flea med and a check up.  Today's bill was $51.  The wonderful vet Amanda took her to waived the office visit fee.  That's a total of $200.  That's not typical, but it is at least $100 per cat each time.  And that is what comes out of my own pocket.  Just to save these guys from death on the streets.  I cannot continue to do it without donations.

My costs have risen this year at the clinic that I go to.  Adult cats are now $80+ where it used to be $60+.   Still much cheaper than a regular vet visit.

That's all I have for now.  Have a great day!

“Cherish wisdom as a means of traveling from youth to old age, for it is more lasting than any other possession.”

JAN 2nd!!! DEBBIE S!!! Feed A Cat For Christmas! (and beyond..............)!!

DEBBIE!  Thank you so much for your kind donation to help feed kitties through the holiday, and the cold winter months.  Every dollar donated helps me.  Without a single donation, which is the way it was a few years back, I would spend approximately $150 per week on cat food.  That's $7800 per year.   These 'fundraisers/campaigns' help, but I still spend an exorbitant amount of money on food alone, not to even mention the vetting costs for these animals.  For each cat or kitten I take in, I spend between $100-$200 on each one.  And if they are sick, then I spend much more. After this Feed a Cat for Christmas campaign, donations will be far and few between.  Thus, I am constantly broke.  I get paid, I pay my bills, and that's it.  No vacations for me, no savings - just what I have deducted in my paycheck towards retirement, which at this point will be never.  Security will have to come get me and my walker and boot me out.  I'm not saying this because I feel sorry for myself, because I don't.  I take life one day at a time, and that helps with my outlook immensely.  Today, I woke up.  I am grateful.  Today, I will go to my job where I will get paid for today.  I am grateful.  Today, I can see!  I am grateful.  Today, I can walk!  I am grateful.  Today, I was able to feed over 100 hungry cats.  For that, I am grateful.  As long as I have those few things each day, I am grateful.  

Sorry Debbie, back to you!  :)  I met Debbie through Julie L., who are both good friends.  Julie 'turned me on' to Debbie.  :)  Debbie is a kind soul, and a lucky one at that as she is spending winter in Florida!  :)  Thank you Debbie for all you do.  Especially the wonderful gift basket with gift card you donated to my fundraiser in November. Wish you could have been there!  

What a weekend!  So, a family came over and met Elsa.  They fell in love, I guess, and later let me know they wanted to adopt her, but not until March.  They are travelers, and won't be back until then.   So, Elsa will be a house guest until then.  Its hard to do this, so I won't make a habit of it, because I have cats of my own that now need to adjust to her, but I wouldn't keep her in a bedroom, so she is sort of integrating right now with the rest.  She is much happier this way.

ELSA!

Charlie also had a woman come over to meet him, but I've not heard back from her, which is a surprise, as I thought they hit it off.  Charlie does not like my cats, so he remains in a closed off bedroom, which I am sad about.  He is very lonely.   We must get him adopted.  Fast.

CHARLIE!

Milo - the woman I had high hopes for adopting him decided to go to Scottsville Animal Hospital to adopt.  Oh well.  He is integrated in the house as well, but again, its not fair to my older senior cats.  They are having issues, so I must get him adopted fast also.

MILO!!

I am getting good reports on Chewy, the emaciated calico I picked up off the street a few weeks ago.  She got a clean bill of health, but is now trying to gain some precious weight, and is also integrating with her foster family.  They are doing a great job.  They have a dog and other cats and Chewy doesn't mind a bit.  They will be getting some good pictures for me soon.  Again, I cannot rescue another until they are gone.

I had a visit with Stevie and Izzy at their new home this weekend.  They are now Mary and Tyger.  God, I didn't realize I missed them.

Stevie/MARY

Izzy/TYGER

And get a load of Maize and Toebe!  This is them in their new home.  Do you think they are happy and content?

MAIZE and TOEBE

Unfortunately, I don't get a lot of pics of Willow and Ziggy.  

That's it for now.  It was a good morning in the fact that its mild, and the snow is melting.  Now I just have to deal with a soggy boot because of a small puncture in the heel.  :)

Have a great day!

"Dream as if you'll

live forever.

Live as if you'll

die tomorrow."

JAN 1st!!! TERRIE P.!!!!

TERRIE!!!  Thank you Terrie for helping me to Feed a Cat for Christmas!  Terrie is practically my neighbor, and also a former foster.  Terrie fostered a kitty that I was desperately needing to get off the street, and she offered to keep him.  At first, kitty was not friendly to her other kitties, but eventually he came around, and so did an adopter!  I cannot remember this kittie's name.  Hopefully Terrie can help me out on this!   This is one adopter that does not keep in touch with me.  Unfortunately.  So I never receive updates.  I am so grateful to Terrie for being there when I, and especially the kitty, needed her.  Thank you Terrie, for your friendship!  And for helping to Feed a Cat for Christmas!  J

This morning it was a balmy 24 degrees.  I actually didn’t need a hat, but still needed my toe warmers!  Thanks to those that sent donations for hand and toe warmers.  I have enough to keep the city of Rochester’s toes and hands warm this winter!  Ha!  Just kidding, but I do have enough, thank you.  I wandered out in the dark at 3:45 am. and saw lots of kitties.  All waiting for their breakfast.

Big Red

SAM

Baby Buttons (left) and Mr. Whiskers

I was happy to turn the corner onto Short Street this morning and spotted two kitties running from the back of the snowy lot to the road after spotting my truck.  It was Sam, and the missing Mr. Whiskers.  After getting out and walking back with two happy kitties trotting in front of me, I spotted Red!  Thank God, there was old Big Red.  He’d been missing for over a week.  Big Red now lets me rub his underbelly, scratch his chin, and basically will just stand there and let me give him lots of loving, until I finish up there and walk away.  I TNR'd Big Red a few years back.  It was heartbreaking to h ave to let him back on the streets.  This is where fostering comes in, the importance of it.  He is an old guy that deserves a home someday soon.  He is a transplant from 4^th and Pennsylvania.  He’s been all over, and for many years now.

As I turned the corner onto Second from Bay, there was a young white girl standing there.  I looked in the mirror as I drove to Central to the ‘mailbox’ kitties, and saw headlights behind me, heading my way.  I suspected the girl was a hooker, but this confirmed it.  I stood there and watched as the car went by, and there she was in the passenger seat, with an older black guy driving.  I thought to myself, this is someone’s big sister, someone’s little sister, someone’s DAUGHTER.  Doesn’t she realize the danger of what she is doing?  Will this girl perform some sort of act, and get like what, five bucks?  How does that make her feel inside?  What impact will that have on her if she lives long enough to regret it.  Pretty sad.  I almost stopped at the corner to roll my window down and give her a lecture, one I’ve given many times before to the girls around this area over the years, but thought twice.  I wish I had, or she wouldn’t have been picked up by this guy so quickly.

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got.  Wish me luck for the people coming over to meet Elsa, Charlie and Milo tomorrow.  Fingers and toes crossed!

Have a great day!

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." 

DEC 31st!!! John L.!!! Feed a Cat for Christmas!

JOHN!!!

John thank you so much for your gift.  I don’t know John personally, and I imagine he knows of me through the newspaper article from years back, but I know he has a huge heart for animals.  Thank you so much John, you have filled many bellies with your gift.  Thank you for helping me to Feed a Cat for Christmas, and beyond!  J

It was a rather dull morning out there, but boy was it cold.  12 degrees and windy.

I’ve been reading about pet animals being left out in the cold.  What in God’s name is in these owners minds?  Nothing!  They must be completely stupid, uneducated, or just cruel.  One of those, for sure.  It makes me sick.  If you see something, say something.  Don’t turn a blind eye to a situation that you may be unsure of, but was enough to make you question in your own mind.  You could be saving a life. 

I remember reporting a dog on 6^th Street a few years back.  It was a horrible weekend, heavy snow and freezing temps, 5:00 am. and this dog was on a short chain attached to a house with NO shelter whatsoever.  I immediately called police and asked for a follow-up.  Never did see the dog again.  I wound up BUYING two puppies from a POS woman on Central Park years ago – the dogs were on hot pavement on a 90 degree day, and no food or water in the bowls there.  It wasn’t the first time, but after the second, I told her I would report her if she didn’t give me the dogs.  Susie Q Animal Rescue offered the money to give to her, and in exchange, those two puppies, Pebbles and Bam Bam, were fostered and new homes were found for them.  Then there was the pitbull on Pennsylvania Avenue.  My heart broke every morning seeing it in the back yard, where no one could see it but me when I made my rounds to feed the cats on the vacant lot next door.  It had a plastic dog house, but with a soaked rug inside, mud on the outside, the bowl  a mile away from there, and it just looked pitiful.  I called a dog rescue place and they came by and tried to educate the people, bring the dog a new dog house, and within days, the dog was gone.  I heard that it was given to a relative in another town.  Another dog situation was on Chamberlain Street, in between Grand and Garson.  The dog had no shelter in the wire enclosure in the yard.  And it was being bred.  Thank God for my cop friend who went over and made sure the dog was OK, and the scumbags were told to do something about the enclosure.

The summer before last, here is what went down with Tebo.  Do you all remember this poor dog? The following post was written in September of 2015

One Less

One less cat on Parsells today.  But unfortunately, it wasn't a rescue, it was a death.  Sometime between the time I left a feeding spot, and when I returned on my way home an hour and half later, one of my babies was hit.  Its face smashed into the road.  What kind of monster can hit ANYTHING and leave it like that.   Someone with no conscience.

Here are bits and pieces of what I wrote on Facebook on how I spent this weekend:

Saturday
So, I go to Miss B's house on Trust Street this morning, to wish her well with her party for the children in her neighborhood who don't have much, and there is a pit bull across the street emaciated, with a large tumor, or hernia, hanging from in between is back legs. I say to the man - is that your dog? 'yes' I say it needs to be looked at by a vet. He says 'don't start no trouble- I have no money for a vet - don't start no trouble.' Miss B starts to get upset, crying. I soothe her, telling her I won't start anything today, but when I left, I'm thinking I will call about the dog tomorrow. I can't ruin her party today. Then I thought, I will go back later to 'see how her party is going, but will give the man a choice: I will tell him "if I pay for the dog to be seen, will you let me do that - the other choice is to call animal control." The dog has been neglected far too long. He may love the dog, but I can't turn a blind eye. The man is very poor. Doesn't drive. Hispanic. Health issues. Daughter died last year. I feel sorry for him, but the dog has no choice, no option. 

Sunday:
OK, update on DOG. He (TEBO?) is an elderly pit bull (very sweet). Friendly, emaciated, dirty (nothing to lay on, I got towels out of my car and placed on the dirt under the tree). I had 'Angel' get him a bowl of water, which he gulped every drop, and I gave him cat food I had in my car. I offered him the choice to take to vet and pay, he agreed. I also asked if he would give the dog up, he said 'NO'. I love the dog. He brings it in at night. Problem: The dog has a very large prostate. That is the 'tumor' I mentioned earlier. I THINK its prostate (its HUGE). I told him we would pick up the dog at 1:15 pm. Monday for walk in clinic on Bay Street. I have a funny feeling their walk in clinic isn't until Wednesday. I hate to ask, but can anyone get him into their vet on Monday if clinic isn't open (it wasn't last Monday), and pay for this poor dog? I know a lot of you offered, maybe if we all chipped in - called in - wherever we can find a place, even Emergency Vet. What do you all think? (PS, SO MAD I didn't bring my camera with me - going there tomorrow again, and will get pics).

Sunday LATER
So this is Tebo. I went over this morning and brought him a cushy rug to lay down on, and food. I got him a fresh pot of water, and bowl of food. As you can see, from the size of the tumor on his groin area, he has a hard time sitting. I told the owner that friends were trying to get him into a vet tomorrow, and to expect a call in the morning. I then said to this man, choked up with emotions, that due to the dogs age, that lump may be cancer, and it would not be an easy fix, and could end up in euthanasia. I told him the dog was in pain, and suffering, and we wouldn't want to have him suffer any longer. The man hesitantly seemed to understand. So that's where we are at. I would appreciate it a call in the morning letting me know if someone were able to get an appt. at their vet, and we will transport him. All others that offered to donate, I hope you are still able to. I will provide a number for donations. Thank you for your compassion.

UPDATE"
The appointment has been made for 10:20 at Fairport Animal Hospital -388-1070 - Please consider donating.

Tebo

Tebo eventually passed away, with his body left by the side of the road for trash pickup, unbeknownst to me.

SAY SOMETHING!  It doesn’t take much to say something, call somebody.  Heck, I even called 911 once when I saw a raccoon up in the rafters of a garage, not realizing at the time that the raccoon was known for getting into spots, and would eventually find his way down!  I felt a little silly with that one, but hey……………….  IF I see a cat in these temperatures, in the city, that cat does not belong to anyone, and its either stray, or its neglected.  I will do my best to save it.  I hope you will too.

Have a nice day.

DEC 30th!!! ROSEMARIE E.!!! Feed a Cat for Christmas!

ROSEMARIE!!!

Rosemarie just lost her16 year old kitty to cancer a few weeks ago.  Her cat was a rescue who followed her home nine years ago and adopted Rosemarie as her new mom!  :) Rosemarie is hoping to find another lost soul that needs love and attention, and hopes to find one through me, in the springtime.  I look forward to meeting you Rosemarie, and finding you another angel to love.  Thank you for helping me to feed a cat for Christmas!

It was a very cold morning out there!  It was 17 degrees - which is warm in comparison to the way its been this past month + - but the wind was blowing.  It felt like it was in the single digits.

I saw so many kitties out there.  I pulled over twice outside of my normal stops to place a bowl of food and water down for a stray kitty I saw on the side of the road.

My route still takes me two hours, even on a 'good' day - one where I don't have to shovel.  It did snow a trace overnight.

Regarding the comments from yesterday's post, thank you Anne, for your offer.  I could use physical help.  I could use a landscaper, home builder and realtor all rolled into one at this location on Niagara.  The realtor to buy the property so I don't have to worry about the new owner coming by and removing all the shelters (home to 5+ cats), the home builder to help me arrange the shelter ideally to keep the elements out from inside it, and the landscaper, to remove debris and level the ground so that the shelters under the tarps and boards are even.

The comment about the food being poisoned.  Its always possible, but I doubt it is in these instances.  I know Lisa too well.

Thank you Joel for offering to help with dry ice in the rat holes this spring.  I sure can use help here also.

Thank you for reading this boring post.  Thank God it was so quiet out there today that I don't have anything to write about!

Lets get Charlie, Chewy and Milo adopted!  (must get updated pictures!)

Have a great day!

DEC 29th!!! MARY ELLEN F.!!! Feed a Cat for Christmas!

MARY ELLEN F.!!!  Mary Ellen has done so many nice things for me.  Thank you Mary Ellen, for always thinking of me, and helping to feed all these kitties!  Without people like you, I couldn't do this!

Every picture tells a story...  don't it?  (Rod Stewart!)

Be sure to click on the pics to see up close.

I've been feeding this more mostly grey/muted tortie FOR EVER.  This is on Pennsylvania Avenue, and she just won't go back to the shelters in the very back of this lot.  I do need to do something about this location.  There are large rat holes under the shelters.  I heard about dry ice, and would love to try this.  And would love the help.  Anybody want to research this for me?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/09/16/urban-war-rats-cities-turn-to-dry-ice/90409978/

I would need help in obtaining it, and planting it in the holes underneath, and placing a large board on top, and then replacing the shelters on top of that.  Unfortunately, I never placed the board down before placing the shelters, which is always a good idea.  Thank God there are four other cats that ARE using these shelters, despite the rats.

This is the shelter on Niagara/Central.  This is the WORST set up I've ever had to deal with.  I curse the bastard that removed my stuff last summer.  CURSE.  But this is home to at least five cats that I know of.  When its stormy, snow gets inside this, despite a very large tarp, and at least FIVE GREAT shelters underneath.  The opening is facing south, and because of the building, it creates sort of a vacuum effect, where the snow is going everywhere.  I must do something about this or I will SCREAM.  I can't fix it now with the mounds of snow and ice on top of it.

These are the kittens - now a year old - that live here at Central and Second.  I have not yet gotten them fixed.  One out of the two, I call Swirly, is extremely sweet with me, because he LOVES LOVES LOVES wet food.  He is beautiful too.  His brother is a bit feisty.  I call him Swatty.   He's gotten me with his claws before.  Blood everywhere.  just kidding.  Swirly not only has a swirly pattern, but also swirls around my feet.  I could kick him and he still wouldn't move from my feet.  I nearly trip trying to get back to the food dishes, while he greets me from the sidewalk.

If you look close enough, you can see two sets of eyes illuminating from flashlight, in the dark.  This is on Central near Fifth.  These two are feral cats.  I can see their dark, furry little bodies scurrying from the shelters set up here when I arrive, after walking to it 100 feet from the road.  I just rescued Charlie from here last week, and Chewy just a block away the same week.

This is inside the shelter at Central and Fifth.  Here you can see four little ones chowing down on the food.  This is rat city also, but not as bad as the other.   There are no houses close by to complain.

This is a pile of tires at Syd and Johnny's on Bay Street.  There are some great little nesting spots inside this mound and just before I took this picture there was a cat hiding here until I left.  He slipped away during this shot. 

This is inside the Short Street shelter.  You are looking at Sam.  I have not seen Big Red #2 or Mr. Whiskers in a very long time.  Since the cold snap hit.  And then of course, the snow storm.  Quite upsetting.

These are ice disks.  I have to empty out at least 20 bowls of ice each day and replace with hot water.  Water is their lifeblood.  Some of the kitties go straight to the water to drink before they eat.  They are thirsty.  JUST AS birds are.  I hope everyone is able to go out, buy a birdbath, and then go get a birdbath heater.  They really need this in the wintertime. 

I found a plate of this at three locations this morning.  Baldwin and Grand, Parsells #3, and Parsells #2.  Its a plate of something, along with something that looks like hot dogs, or sausage.  You can tell its meant with good intentions, but what cat is going to eat this slop.  And its disturbing that who ever is doing it knows these locations.  And I have a pretty good idea of who it is.  Crazy Lisa.  It certainly is not Crazy Mary Leigh.  She would not do this.  But Lisa would.  But I wish she would stop.

That's about it.  It was 20 degrees out there this morning.  Spring is in the air.

"In the end, we only regret the chances

we didn't take."