A Dollar Here, A Dollar There

I was thinking about this.  If everyone that follows this blog gave just one dollar - I'd have FIVE DOLLARS!  HA HA.  Seriously, I know of five people that read this because they've told me.  But I think more than five people read it, so let's say if everyone that follows my rescue page on Facebook gave a dollar a week, I could 'support my habit.'  The habit is feeding and caring for all those cats in the Beechwood section of Rochester on a daily basis.  

Today, I would need 195 friends to donate a dollar - that includes $160 to pay for the two cats I trapped this morning, and another $35 to pay for the food I fed to over 100 cats.  That's $35 per day to feed all those cats.  (40 pounds of dry food - $20 - and $15 of wet food).

I’ve been doing this for 20 years now, not to the grand scale of 19 locations that I go to each day, but its been many years that I have been feeding at that many locations.  If I added it all up, the cost of what I do……………….  And lets just use the number 10 (years)………………….

$35 (per day) x 365 = $12,775

365 x 10 (years) = 3,650 x $35 = $127,750

HOLY F.  I mean holy moly.  That’s mindblowing.  I had to calculate that twice to make sure I was doing it right.  I CANNOT believe I’ve spent that much money over 10 years on feeding homeless cats.   That’s just FEEDING! 

That’s not to mention all the cats I’ve had TNR’d ($80- per cat), and all the rescues I’ve made ($80 adoption fee for adults, and $120 for kittens).  Most often, those rescues include a first office exam, and combo test to see if they are FelV positive.  That fee is not included in the adoption fee.  So that also comes out of my pocket.  Then there are the cats still in foster (Buffy, Parsley, Hermie, Jule, Sky and Joey), the cats that have cost over $1000 to treat for this and that (Buffy, Connor).

There is something wrong with this picture.  We have too many cats on the streets, too many cats suffering and looking to us to help them.  I am a one woman soldier JUST IN THIS ONE QUADRANT OF TOWN.  Is this a city problem?  Should the City be paying for this?  Should they be helping to TNR, to reduce the number of cats that need our help?  YES!!!

Do I want a day off from doing this?  YES!  

Do I need a fundraiser?  YES!  I need more than one to make up for the $12K that comes out of my paychecks just to FEED these cats.  Do I have time to put one together?  No.  We all have jobs, I am no exception, but I also devote 1.5 hours a day at 3 am. to go out and feed and care and shelter these cats.  My weekends are almost full time devoted to showing kittens (which I am not thrilled that there are this many kittens – 22 so far for me this year, last year it was 60).

Ideally, I would love for someone to say – JANINE!  I’LL DO IT!  I will handle it all!  I will get book the venue (you just pay for it!), order the entertainment, gather gift cards, and baskets and items for giveaway, plan the food and drink menu, decorate the venue, have someone sit at registration table…  You just show up! J  And once its over, I will collect the baskets left because people left before the raffle, take them home to store until they can pick up their baskets, I will stay and clean up the venue  to make sure its left the way it was presented to us that morning.  What am I forgetting – there seems like more in between that has to be done.   

Today, I trapped two cats that are NOT females but were supposed to be.  I am trying to get the females that are having kittens out there to spay.  But I got these two sweethearts instead. 

FERNDALE & WEBSTER Kitty

PARSELLS #3 Kitty

Can I use donations today?  I sure could!  If anyone can contribute, even $1, my life would be .1% better for it.  I can breathe a little easier when the bills are due twice a month.  That number to call is 585.288.0600.

Thank you for listening. 

Have a nice day.

"Do all the good you can,

by all the means you can,

in all the ways you can,

in all the places you can,

at all the times you can,

to all the people you can,

as long as ever you can."

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly!

It was quite the weekend!  Mostly good stuff, some not so good. 

Two kittens were rescued off Joseph Avenue in the city, and guess who has them.  Yours truly.  But guess what else.  They are almost already spoken for.

The Bad, there are still three more out there, along with mom.

Buddy was met by one half of a couple on Saturday.  The other half is coming to meet him today.  The first half loved him.  He surely is a cutie.  He loves to play.  Although still growling at the big boys when he passes by, but I am SURE he will get over that in time.  This couple has a one year old male kitty at home.  Back off Buddy! 

KC was delivered to her new home on Friday.  She was pretty frightened, although nothing to be frightened of.  Her new mommy is quite the girl.  Its like we were meant to find each other.  She is so much like me!  Although Jordan, KC's new big sister, did not take to her very well, but little by little, we will get there.  KC spent the weekend on Sodus Bay!~  Her mom has a summer place there, and from the looks of it, she enjoyed every minute of it.

Saturday morning, with Sunday Sheryl riding shotgun, we drove down Melville heading home and saw a spot in the road up ahead.  We passed Melville #1 where I am sneakily placing plates and water for the cats that have been displaced because of the nasty redneck property manager for the empty house (going on............  five years now?) and a few houses from that was a kitten in the road, eating from an empty plate (garbage)  We spotted two very grey kittens.  At LEAST 8 weeks of age.  Panic set in, and as I got out, the kittens took off to the bushes of a house, and as I placed a plate down and made the kissy sound, out comes the mom, skin and bone, and sweet.  Hungry, and allowed me to pet her and feel her belly, to confirm she was the mom. 

Now I don't know what to do.  I am always asking for help when these situations arise.  I wish I had someone that could set a trap there, get the kittens - and mom would be easily picked up and placed in carrier.  But WHAT TO DO after that is what I am also needing help with.  I can't do one without the other.  I don't think I could put mom back out there without her babies, and her babies are too young to put back out even though they are close to feral.  HELP!

Updates!

Julie being held by her Dad

I love updates!

Thanks Kristin, for adopting our little Posey (Remember Rosey, Toesie, Posey?)  click on pic to see up close!

"Just over one year ago we adopted Posey AKA Bailey .... he’s not happy unless we’re holding him, he’s cuddled with his sister or he’s eating!"

So I got into this business long ago - feeding and rescuing stray cats - adult cats that is.  Occasionally I would get a kitten.  Two or so years ago I started seeing more, and last year was a bonanza - 60+ kittens I rescued and found homes for.  This year, its like.....   19, and that includes Tuesday's rescue, Buddy.

CONNOR

An update on Connor.  He continues to be fostered by Joanne, and continues to get healthier – even though it’s a very slow process.   He is my little million dollar cat.  His vet bill last week was another $300.  They determined this time that he has ringworm and is being treated for that ($47 additional for the meds.  Joanne has been so patient and kind.

It’s the adult cats that I rescue that are the most precious to me.  To take a scared animal off the street, and to see it begin to thrive, there is nothing like it.  To see the gratitude in its eyes when it looks at you, instead of fear, that’s what its all about for me.   I have rescued HUNDREDS upon HUNDREDS throughout the past 20 years.  Not all were easy – some were very sick and had to be humanely euthanized – some took longer than others to become adopted - some were not adoptable due to one reason or another (and they usually wound up with me!) – and some are still waiting for adoption!  But there are so many testaments by adopters of adult cats that would fill a book about how iffy it was at first, how difficult it was for the cat to acclimate to learn to trust a human.  And then came the bonding, the trust, and the love.  When that cats looks you directly in your eyes and says ‘it is you I deem worthy to love and protect and wait on me hand and foot.”  Those are the moments! 

There are so many of them out on the streets still that are waiting for homes.  I have at least five in mind right now.  Its very hard to leave them each morning.  I took a picture of one at my second to last stop on Parsells this morning.  I believe this cat (I didn’t feel anything ‘back there’! – so don’t know if boy or girl!) is related to Moxy and Mitzy – its poly dactyl!.  If you recall, I rescued those two brother and sister last year.  They were both adopted out to good homes.  This little one just sat at the curb watching me leave.  Heartbreak.

Parsells Kitty this a.m.

My friend and foster Melissa is going to update my blog to have a tab of the cats that needs homes/foster – I cannot rescue without a plan, except if a cat is injured.  And my resources are dwindling.  Kristin and I are muddling around that we may not have a Meow and Chow fundraiser this year – we procrastinate (I do) thinking we have all the time in the world to choose a venue, and then its too late for availability when we want it.  We are thinking of other ways to raise money to help me continue to feed these cats every day.  Food is very costly.  Another trip to WalMart today will cost me $100 on average.  That’s weekly.  So that’s $100 per week.  And that’s just dry food.  The wet is just as bad when you are going through over a case (36 cans) PER DAY.  That’s way over $10K per year.  I am thankful for the occasional drop offs and deliveries.  Really, I am.  So I depend on the kindness of others. 

So thank you to all that have helped me in the past – there are so many ways people have helped, and I just can’t thank you enough.

I have another day off tomorrow – and hopefully will deliver KC to her new home.  I will miss that little girl.  Speaking of trust – her, and her siblings, have changed drastically since I had trapped them several weeks ago.  KC now lets me pick her up without running away from me.  Junebug is at the clinic now being spayed, and is loved to pieces, along with Patches and JPs new parents.

BUDDY (My Latest Rescue) This A.M.

Thanks all, and keep the updates coming!

Have a great day!

Hump Day!

I’ll tell ya what.  I hate the rain.  I do I do I do.  And the humidity.  Good Lord.  For those without A/C, its got to be hard.  I would rather have it snow, believe it or not.  The rain messes with my hair, gets my feet and clothes wet, and I just plain can’t stand it.  Not only for me, but the cat food I place under a few trees around town – its soaked by now.  I also pull over nearly every morning for a cat that I see dart out from somewhere, in between my regular stops.  I place a paper bowl down for food, and one for water.  I shake it so they can hear it might be food for them, as they are running away.  You never know if it’s the only meal they will eat that day. 

Tuesday morning, as I went about returning the cats I trapped on Monday, I had a kitten run to me on Garson.  This is the same place where Beyonce gets fed.  The little stop I make before the big Garson Avenue colony I care for each day.  The spot just before where I rescued Patches, Junebug, JP and KC.  This kitten, I guess I am calling him little Buddy, just ran right up and hungrily gobbled the food I had placed under the board there so it wouldn’t get wet.  Poor little thing.  I have no idea where he came from, but he is very cute, and not any older than 4 months old.  Have to get him to a vet to get him checked, but otherwise he does look OK!

BUDDY

It was hard to return the cats I trapped on Monday back to the streets.  The sweet grey and white boy actually tried to go back in the trap after I lifted the door for him to exit it.  My heart broke.  There are so many sweet adult cats out there that just want to be loved.

I sit here now and think about the call I received last night from Paul, begging for some help for his roof.  He has holes in his roof and even though people WANT to help him, he has not received a new roof.  He has applied for several, year after year.  He asked me for legal help to get the city to provide him a grant to get a roof.  This man retired from the sheriff’s office years ago – apparently detailed the police cars -  and is considered a senior citizen.  This is a man who allowed me, for many years, to place a shelter in his back yard, and feed and house cats.  He is a very kind man with a dilapidated house and garage, and he has had roof issues for many years.  His house is considered a double, even though there is no second apartment, nor was there ever.  For some reason, the city will not provide a grant to anyone who owns a house considered a double.  I don’t know why, but I do know he needs help and I can’t help him.  I don’t know where to turn.  I would like to start a gofundme page, but I don’t even know how to start or what to say.  If anyone can help, please let me know.

Here are some picture of two kittens I adopted out this past weekend, Jamie and Jack, in their new forever homes!  

Jamie

Jack

 Have a great day!

"Choose being kind over being right, and you'll be right every time."

Ike!

First, the good stuff.  If you remember, Ike and Mike - kittens from a year ago?  Well, here is Ike! 

Ike, then and now.  His mom sent me his updated picture, and wanted to thank me again for bringing Ike into her life.  Yay!

IKE - Then

Ike Now

Today was TNR day for me.  I set four traps in hopes of getting four cats - mainly females, mothers of two litters I rescued this year.  I set the first one on Garson, AGAIN, and then moved down the street to Garson and Baldwin, where I've been putting down a plate of food for at least five cats sitting around every morning.  I set a trap there.  Then I scooted over to Parsells #3 and set a trap there, AGAIN.    Then off to Ferndale and Webster, trap set.  Boom bam blam.

Then raced to the Back Nine (west of Goodman to Niagara Street) to do that one dreaded spot, where the woman screams at me, but she wasn't awake this morning to scream, so I hurried to do that, did a few more, and then RACED back to the traps to check on them.  Boom.  Gotcha blackie on Ferndale and Webster (but its not the mom of the litter that had the severe eye wounds that Keller's Kats helped me out with by taking them after I rescued them from the hut I have on the property here).  Then to Baldwin and Garson, and Boom.  Gotcha sweet little grey and white baby, who continued to cry in the trap the entire time out.  Off to check on Garson, nothing, and then Parsells, nothing, and went back to the Back Nine to finish up my spots there, and then back again to the Front Nine (west of Culver up through Parsells, Melville, Garson, Webster area) to feed there, and then finally check back on the remaining two traps.  Sure enough, there was a kitty in the Garson trap.  Could it be the mom of Junebug, Patches, JP and KC?

I sure could use some help with the cost of spaying and neutering.  Its $80 per cat which means $240 out of my own pocket.  Which is pretty much empty!  If you care to donate any amount, I would appreciate your kindness more than you can imagine.  The clinic I use is Rochester Community Animal Clinic on Bay Street, and the phone number is 585-288-0600. 

Junebug, Jack, JP and Jamie all went to their new homes this weekend.  I can't wait to tell you about it, but I am off to work, and its going to be a busy day (as if it isn't already!)!  But all is good! 

One addition here:  Again, I was contacted by someone needing my help with cats.  Here is the conversation - you can scroll through it from the top to bottom.  If anyone can help, please let me know.   I would appreciate it.

I need help getting some stray cats off the streets. I just notice one today with 3 young ones she just had recently. I leave food out at night so that I know at least they get a good meal nightly but I really would like to get them into a home or shelter so they can have a normal life. Please contact me if you can help. John 585-415-8374 or message me back. Thanks SUN 7:25PM You accepted Jonn's request. Hi john. Where is this? Thanks for responding. I live at 38 Avenue D. Right near St.Paul Street. I just noticed this week a cat with 3 newborn kittens no more than 1 month old across the street from me in the mornings. I don’t see them everyday thou. I feel bad for those little ones knowing they don’t have a home as well. It horrible seeing all those feral cats. I really would like you help someday if I can get your help in getting these cats off the streets I can't do it alone jonn. I would need your help with trapping them. I have too much on my plate. Give me details so I can post to friends to see if they can help as well. I will talk to you soon. 7:50AM Well the ones I’m concerned about are the 3 month old kittens that I recently became aware of. They usually are seen by me in the morning around 5:30am, thou I recently saw them at 11:30pm at night. They are at a house across the street from me at 33 or 37 Avenue D. The older 3 that I’ve been feeding are around 6 months old at least. They sit at my porch waiting till I come at night at 11pm for me to feed them. All of these cats I’m hoping to find a good home for them. I hate seeing them outside and with winter a few months away I’ll hate to see them freezing outside. I can be reached at (585) 415-8374. John is my name Hi John, so, it sounds like the problem you have is bigger than I can handle. I don’t have the capability to do what I do on a daily basis, and help trap. There are other groups that can help you. Possibilities are: Habitat for Cats, and some individuals as well. I feed over 100 cats at 19 established locations near the public market every morning of my life in the dark, and trap when I can to get cats spayed and neutered – of those 100+ cats. I can’t possibly handle any more than what I am doing, by myself. Here is what I can offer. I can post this on my Facebook page, and I ask that you also post your plea on Frank Vaccarro’s page. He helps out many by posting far and wide to those that may be able to help. I can also lend you traps after showing you how they work, and you can at least get the ball rolling. Also, please call Rochester Community Animal clinic and ask for some surgery dates, where you can bring in a cat or two that you have trapped, and get them fixed. The cats you have sound feral, babies need to be rescued by latest 8 weeks or they become feral. There are many groups that are willing to provide you some shelter for them that will keep them safe and warm this winter as well. Everyone is inundated with cats. There are just so many, and it takes individuals like you to help, and I thank you so much for wanting to! Chat Conversation End

Type a message...

Have a great day!

Spay Spay Spay Away!

Its been a very long week!

It was a normal morning out there, until I got to that one spot.  Then I heard that loudmouth woman shouting from a window in the upstairs of the house.  "Bitch you don't listen do ya!  I told you to stop feeding those cats!" and then I tuned her out.  She could have threatened my life but I didn't  hear her.  I just focused on placing a food bowl and water bowl under the PUBLIC TREE on the PUBLIC GROUND between the sidewalk and the road, and hightailing it out of there.  That bowl I placed needs to feed 5 cats for a day.  It won't.  I am having someone go over this morning and place more.

This person is uneducated, in more ways than one, that this lot she is telling me I have no right to be on is partial private and partial city owned.  I am on city owned property.

Agriculture & Markets Law, section 353 effectively makes feeding bans illegal anywhere in New York State. Even though feeding is legal, other laws cannot be violated in order to do the feeding.

For example, trespassing on someone else’s property to feed cats is still a trespassing offense.

But the answer to the often asked question, “Is it legal to feed the cats on a public sidewalk?” is “Yes!” provided the feeding does not create a health hazard or nuisance.

I've been educating myself on the laws of feeding feral cats.  Here is a good article, and you can skim through it as you see fit.  I see my self here in a few cases!

https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-feral-cat-legal-issues:

https://www.nysba.org/A41338AnimalLaw/


Rochester needs one of these logo's, and a plan to go with it.

PS, I have four slots this Monday to TNR four cats.   I sure could use some help with finances, as these cost me $80 per cat.  This is out of my pocket, when really it should be paid for by the city.  I am doing them a favor.  Please consider any amount - call Rochester Community Animal Clinic at  585-288-0600 to make a donation in honor of the future kittens born in Rochester.  Thank you.

Have a great day!

Gotham City

And I'm Catwoman.  But a GOOD Catwoman.  Rochester is Gotham.  But a BAD city.  Right now that is, for the homeless and feral population of cats.

Trouble may be brewing again from a phone call I received yesterday, which went into my voice mail.  I did not call the caller back, but it relates to the shelter I have ....  somewhere, and the rotten woman that lives next door there and screams at me that her nephews can't even come out to play with the vicious cats that live there.   She must have called the city.  These cats are the 5 sweet and ELDERLY cats that I've been feeding for nearly 10 years now - that are all spayed and neutered - two reds, three calicos - and who run from me if I have someone with me when I get out of the car.  This is the woman that lives in the house next to the lot that is half private property, and half city property.  I looked it up to verify.  My shelter is on city side.  It is so obscure in the back of this lot, hidden by long grass and weeds (the city mowers mow right up to it), that I've not had a problem feeding in years until the day I happen to put some bowls by the tree next to the road (completely legal to feed between sidewalk and road) and they saw me, after coming from the shelter in the back.  Then the 4 am. screaming began, as if I was a mile away and couldn't hear her.  She says she is scared and wants me to get rid of them.  Sure, that's easy lady.  I would love to take them all with me and never look at your screaming face again.  But ya can't take them.  If I could take them, I would have to also take the 100 other cats that run to me each day also.  Easy.  No problem. 

And now the city wants to remove my shelters.  The only homes these cats have, and have known for their little short lives.  The only protection they have from the rainstorms and blizzards we get frequently here in Rochester.

This is really the only thing I can write today, but I do want to draft a letter to this city official.  Anyone care to start it for me?

It should be about the shelters and how they provide the security for cats to come so that I can trap and neuter/spay them.  Without them, this city will be overrun with cats without getting them spayed and neutered.  And it has to start with the shelters where they trust the food will be there.

I have to run, but would love some feedback.

Thanks and have a great day!

"Love and hate

are such

strong words, 

they also 

cause so much 

pain."

Red Cats!

So, some good news is that Jamie is being adopted, and Jack has a meet and greet tonight!    The family that wants Jamie went to meet him yesterday and fell in love.  He will go to his new home this Sunday.  Lets keep our fingers crossed for Jack!

Jack

Jamie

Tonight, my friend will stop over after work to meet JP.  Her BF, who is a business owner, recently adopted a little older kitty, a girl, for his office.  She is very content there, but lonely.  We may introduce the two of them this Saturday to see if it will work out.  JP was the last of the litter that I trapped on Garson three weeks ago.  They have all come a long way, with Junebug and Patches already adopted (Junebug just about), but JP is more shier than the rest of them.  KC is too, but JP - because he is not as 'pretty' as the others, might be harder to adopt out, so my friend is willing to take him over KC, for just this reason.  (But he's still cute!)  Thank you JACK - and your BF too! 

The cat I had trapped yesterday didn't have to spend the entire night on my porch last evening.  We let him back to his colony (although I've never seen him there - Garson Avenue - before).  I made sure he wasn't too groggy from the anesthesia given during his surgery, gave him some food, which he wouldn't eat, and told him I would let him out.  I love being able to get a finger inside the cage where he can't immediately bite me to give him a little touch, a human touch, which might be the only one he will ever know, before he is let back out.  He ran like the devil when the trap door opened.

So some interesting stuff happened yesterday.  I've mentioned how I've been setting a trap for a little fluffy red kitten on Parsells that was seen two Saturdays ago.  I set a trap every day, but got nothing but a larger cat, and a baby skunk.  I finally gave up after not seeing the kitten.  I then set an adult trap there on Tuesday morning, and caught a raccoon.  I was hoping to trap the mother of this kitten, at least.  This is the location where I rescued 'hurricane' Harvey and 'hurricane' Huey, who were nursed by Kristin due to severe eye issues, and their need for more attention than I could give them.  Around that time, I did several TNR's of several red cats there, and thought I had them all.  I thought i had trapped all the kittens too.  Come to find out months ago, a man who works at the business there saw my flier I keep at the shelter on City property and wrote me telling me that he had rescued a small red kitten around that time, and took her home, nursed her eye issues as well, and named her Miss Macaroni and Cheese.  She is Harvey and Huey's sister.  Then come to find out, this couple (his girlfriend) had been following my blog and saw that I had Lolly and Pop available for adoption, and wanted to adopt them!  Long story short, Lolly and Pop are now Donny and Marie, and living the good life with Miss Mac'n'cheese.

PARSELLS CATS

Yesterday I received a note from a couple, who come to find out, live RIGHT BEHIND THE VACANT LOT  there on Parsells!  Get a load of this!

"Hi, thank you for helping the cats. We are at ## Melville St. and are
feeding about 12 cats daily. We also have a new mom with 4 kittens.
coming from the Parsells Ave. Vacant house. Tom 585-###-####"

So I wrote back:

Hello!  I received your note, and thank YOU so much for your care and concern for these cats.  They are actually ‘community cats’ (see link below), and I feed and care for them as well.  I have a little hut structure in the vacant lot behind you!  I have RESCUED a number of cats from this property over the past couple of years – both cats and kittens – and have had them vetted, spayed/neutered, and found them good homes.  I also set traps for the new ones I see for TNR (trap, neuter, return).  I take them to the clinic on Bay Street for spaying, rabies and distemper shots, and if they are not adoptable, I have to return them to the location.  I saw a baby fluffy red kitten there a week before this past Saturday, and set a trap every day in hopes to get it.  But no luck.  You say there is a number of them?  Can you guess how old?  Are they walking/running around?  Can you tell me what color the mother is? 

I will continue to set a trap for them as long as I can and have clinic spots available to me.  These cats are there through no fault of their own.  They are the result of people letting their kittens grow into adults without spay and neuter, and have no where to go when they display spraying behavior from not being fixed or have fleas, and get kicked out of the house.

I just thought of something!  No wonder the cats are not going into the trap I set.  You have food out for them!  J  Is there any way you can remove the food on Monday and Wednesday afternoons?  I try to set a trap there on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and if they are hungry, they will go into the trap.  If there is food available, they will not.

Also, on Monday, the 23^rd, I will be setting a trap there as well, so if you could remove your food on Sunday afternoon, the 22^nd.  I am sure, that with collaboration, we can reduce the number of cats there!  Thank you so much for your compassion!

https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/closer-look-community-cats

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/trap-neuter-return-for-community-cats-the-basics/

And they wrote back:

"Janine,

Hello back,

I spoke with Chuck @ (#############) he tells me that he is building a shelter on his site. He told me the City lot shelter was in jeopardy and would be safer on his side of the fence. We also have a sheltered feed and water station set up. It's being used by a number of local cats, skunks, possums and the occasional raccoon. We currently pull food and water in the PM due to the potential for raccoon problems.

The new kitten batch includes 2 orange, 1 orange and white, and a Tortoiseshell  they are  about 4/5weeks old, mom is also a Tortoiseshell. They are not weaned yet but, just starting to play hide and pounce. Please note however, they still tip over a lot.

As of this morning a new Tortoiseshell kitten showed up and has tried to adopt me. It is just barely old enough to be on its own but, did eat some dry food and have a drink. We do not know where its mother might be. It is currently safe in our kitten friendly back yard but, can't become a permanent resident unless fixed.

We have been here over thirty years and are VERY aware of the pet dumping and lack of care being provided by poor pet owners. We have rescued and placed many "critters" during our time here. We also are currently owned by 4 of the rescues.

Edie and I will continue to maintain a water and feeding station for your returns. We would like a week or two more before we trap the clowder. They are a source of great amusement for us during their new exploration period.  (NOTE:  I will need to educate these folks that the longer kittens are out there, the more feral they become, and not adoptable).

You can consider taking the 1 Melville St. site off your to do list. Let us know what we need to do take over the site.

Thank you for your efforts!"

I am not quite sure what they meant in that last sentence, but I will ask.  Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL! to have one of my colonies cared for by someone else!  WOO HOO!  I won't get my hopes up.  There is so much emotion involved with all the cats I feed.  They LOVE me!  At least three of those red adult cats now sidle up to me and love my scratches and pats. 

I will keep you all posted, but I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to know that there are many GOOD people out there in these neighborhoods!  People that CARE!  Thank you Chuck and Danielle, and thank you Tom and Edie! 

Have a great day!