TGIF!

I know there are huge world problems.  Everyone has problems.  People, and animals, die each day.  Death affects everyone.  Its the hardest thing to lose someone or something you love.  Oh man, where am I going with this??  I didn't mean to get so deep.  I just wanted to mention that my coolant system is not working in my new Catmobile.  But for me, its everything right now.  I have some kind of pulled muscle in my groin (TMI) and have been hardly able to walk for nearly a month now (going to primary doctor today), constant extreme pain when I move, and to have to do this cat feeding route every morning, the enormous amount of pain caused by walking, and bending down, and to compile that with no A/C is just the pits.  Really bad this morning.  I came home soaked from sweat.   TMI

Thanks to Walt Simoni, I was put in contact with a man that mows lawns for an owner/landlord for many houses in the city.  One in particular is my second spot on Parsells, where I have had SO much trouble.  There are still at least five to seven cats there, with no shelter, but they won't leave this spot and depend on me each day to feed them.  As luck would have it, I spoke to this man after he left me a nice message, and he is going to rally for me to place shelters there again, maybe in the back of the property, because he knows the man well and thinks he can convince him to allow it.  WOW.  Kindness.  How lucky could I get.  I've been trying to lure those cats to the property behind on Melville Street - there is a vacant lot almost directly behind - but not quite, where I do have shelters set up, but after trying all year, they just won't come.  Stay tuned on this development, and cross your fingers and toes!

I still have trouble spots at Melville #1, and Parsells #1.  I don't know what I will do for those precious cats and shelters when the time comes, and its coming soon.

PEANUT!

Speaking of Parsells #1, the kitten I rescued on Monday, Peanut, is doing well, and is being handled by his foster already!  Its a slow process of trust, but he is allowing her to pet him!  I figure he is between 10-12 weeks of age.  He will be a long haired beauty soon.  Still working on cleaning him up!

Tomorrow is vacation day for me - the start of a long weekend before BACK TO SCHOOL.  The dreaded day for kids around the country, and for many friends and family who are teachers.  HA!  Sorry.  Get back to work!  :)  Its also the day I deliver Sky and Chase to their new home.  She is a sweet girl and her boyfriend adopting them together.  I am hopeful she will keep me posted on their growth and development, and she will officially be their mom when they are spayed and neutered in September!

Mr. Bingsley will also have a second visit today at his foster's house in Lyons.  The first visit didn't go so well as he hid.  We think he was spooked by her dogs barking.

Once he is adopted, we can rescue one of the two sweet babies left on that corner.

OH WAIT!  Guess what else I am doing this weekend!  Bottle feeding the two new babies!  Thanks to Sue for her tireless, and dedicated round the clock feedings for their first week of life.  They are growing into healthy babies!  Sue sure needs this break! 

Have a great day!

Spay and neuter!

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

Baaaaa! (or something like that!)

So on Saturday, I met my co-worker Crystal at a farm in Webster that has horses, ducks, a pot bellied pig, chickens, and goats.  Why you ask?  Well, because one day two weeks ago I was sitting at my desk thinking about yoga, and then I was thinking of goats.  I put the two of them together and said to Crystal - goat yoga!  I should do a fundraiser!  Crystal is into yoga, and I should be, but am not, but we kind of ran with the idea.  I put it out there on social media looking for a certified yoga instructor, and finally confirmed one that was willing to help me out with this.  This awesome girl that owns the farm - Never Say Never Farms - I met when I had an urgent need to rescue an animal in dire need in the city recently.  Her farm is '

 ...a small, (and very conveniently located!) family owned horse farm offering children’s lessons, fun programs, and parties on a more personal, "not-so-commercial" scale. Our caring, fun, nurturing instructors and event staff will make you feel right at home. We're a unique stables with a personal touch!
Here is the link to her website:  http://www.neversayneverstables.com/

She offered up her land, and the goats to us for this fundraiser!

So, on September 30, 2018, at 10 am. sharp, we will host a goat yoga session.  Sound like fun?  It should be!  Now, don't get your hopes up about the goats.  They are not the most cooperative, like you see in a few videos of this being done (they will want to eat the grass and leaves around you rather than climb on your back - they are not trained for this), but they will surely put a smile on your face, and 45 mins. later, you should be feeling pretty great too.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/goat-yoga-the-latest-craze/

There might even be a horse or two that you can do yoga on, as Janice, my friend mentioned!

We will be promoting this soon, and I hope you can join us.

With that being said,  check this adorable footage out:

https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1034334149459423232

UPDATE on yesterday's catch.  Peanut is doing well.  We found a home for him, temporary, but a home for him so that he can become socialized and not have to go back to the street.  I figured he is only about 10-12 weeks old, but a little spitfire.  He is already calming down, says his foster mom Michelle.  Thanks Michelle for stepping up to the plate for Peanut.  (and others too!)

Kittens Baby Black and Baby Grey are doing so well.  Momma Sue is really loving them, and putting in two hours every day of her life for them feeding them round the clock.  They should be big and strong soon!  Click on the link below to see Baby Grey eating!

https://www.facebook.com/sue.cherry.77/videos/2230212490354799/

Have a great day!

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” 

Hello!

Did you miss me?  sure ya did!

Its been a totally whirlwind past five days, but in general, nothing has really changed!   I am still hobbling out there feeding cats, and still trapping when I can.  Speaking of, I was offered a spot for TNR this morning at the clinic, and set the trap on Parsells, and when I came back to check on it 15 minutes later, I snagged a kitten!  Where did this little one come from?  This is just the WORST street.  As I’ve said before, I could set a trap on each corner up and down this street and every day trap a new cat.  I panicked on this one this morning though because its just a baby.  Feral, but still a baby.  There was no way I would be able to release it to the street.  But I couldn’t keep it.  And I know this sounds bad, but I contemplated Lollypop.  I know there is the chance it would be euthanized there, but at 4 am., I have no other choices, at that moment.  This time I was smart enough to post its pic and mention this dilemma, and I started getting a few responses from people that would step up to the plate.  I love you people.  J  thanks to a girl named Michelle, she will take kitten – keep in a cage on her porch, and work with it.  She currently is unemployed and has the time to try to socialize it.  She has experience doing this.  I am having combo tested as well.  If anyone would like to help with the cost of this - $105 for services, I would be most appreciative.  This is a very expensive endeavor for this one household salary girl.  But it must be done!  We must stop the madness out there, the suffering!  Please call 585-288-0600 and ask to make a contribution toward my account with Rochester Community Animal Services, or press the donate button my this blog, or my website.  Thank you!  I’m calling ‘him’ Peanut for now!

Another sad situation:   I spotted a mother cat with newborns in the shelter on Ferndale and Webster on Friday morning.  Heartbreak.  The soft mewing from the kittens were sounds of newborns nursing, so I couldn’t disturb this, and it was the same mother kitty that had a litter here earlier this summer, and Keller’s Kats took those kittens in – all with eye issues.  I tried trapping mom all summer, she just wouldn’t fall for the trap.  And now here she was with another litter – at least I think it’s the same mom.    Regardless, I had all sorts of people reach out to tell me what I should do, but they also have to realize that unless the see the configuration of it all, they cannot know how hard it would really would be to get the mom AND the kittens.   Each morning she was there – I wanted her to nurse the kittens for a bit more – and then we could make some plan, I could get some help.  Two days ago I had to chase a skunk out of this tiny area, and then yesterday had to chase a raccoon out.  This scared mom and off she ran.  This morning, kittens were gone.  Heartbreak. 

Joey, the kitten rescued with her sister Sky, was adopted this weekend.  I say ‘adopted’ because nothing is final until after surgery.  I am sure to tell each adopter this to make sure they know it.  Its very important to me that they know this but I also want the kitten and adopter to begin the bonding process – plus little Joey has a big brother named Frankie.  Frankie and Joey. Isn’t that CUTE!  His new mom Deborah post lots of updates, which is GREAT!  I don’t always get that with new adopters.  Some just don’t want to be in touch anymore with me.  WHY?????  WAAAAAAA!

A family also came over to meet the kittens, and fell in love with Bo, and Daisy!!!  So there is another match.

AND, finally for the weekend, a girl and her boyfriend came over to visit with the kitten she met earlier (I had ALL the kittens on my porch this weekend…  UGGH!) and fell in love with Sky!  I am so glad to know that these kittens will have a pal to pal around with.  They are too young to be by themselves.  Older cats are one thing, but kittens must have a playmate – they learn from each other and keep each other company. 

Sue's compassionate son... 
learning the ropes

Finally, last but NOT least, I had a frantic request for help with someone to bottle feed to babies found where the mother was hit by car – dead, and the other newborn was also killed.  Little Grey and Little Blackie are now with Sue, my fabulous foster, who is feeding these little ones round the clock, every two hours.  God Bless SUE.  More to come on this – I would have to say they are a week old.  Their umbilical cords just fell off!

Oh, and NOT finally!  Kristin came upon some kittens and a mom who were trapped by an 85 year old woman last week, and kittens needed to find a home fast.  Meet ‘Moo Moo’.  Her siblings are with other fosters, and Mom is still with Kris for now.

MOO MOO and Abby! 
(Abby's mom is fostering the kittens this week)

And this is why I have no life!  J

Have a great day!

“for there is nothing heavier than compassion. Not even one's own pain weighs so heavy as the pain one feels with someone, for someone, a pain intensified by the imagination and prolonged by a hundred echoes.” 

Spay and Neuter!

Yesterday's TNR's turned out to be four females and one male.  Two of the females were POST PARTUM.   That means they had babies, and could be recent.  The Melville Mama had babies, but we don't know where they are.  They are big enough now, but haven't been seen in a few days, according to the woman that lives near where I trapped mama.  She was sitting outside on her porch yesterday morning and asked, in the dark (yes, startled me) if I caught one of the kittens.  Both cats stayed on my porch last night - and both darted quickly out of the traps when I let them out this morning.

I hate it.  But there are four females that will not produce, with their offspring, thousands more babies.

Yesterday's total? $400.  I sure could use help with the cost of this.  I do believe this is a city responsibility, and I should be reimbursed for what I've done for the past 15 years that I have been involved in TNR.  Boy, I would be a rich woman.  But if you do care to help me, it would be appreciated.  Food alone is $150 per week.  This is expensive, trying to save the world.  :(

This kitty is one of the last ones on the corner of Baldwin and Garson.  Jelly Bean, Mr. Bingsley and Titan were all rescued in a period of a week at this location.  This red fluffball kitty is sweet, and could use a home also.  Foster or adopt!

So far, I have two of the 8 kittens pending adoption.  Chase, and Joey.  I had two people that did not come to their allotted meet and greet Saturday and Monday, but that's OK.  These kittens are beautiful, and I am sure will be adopted.  We have lots of applications, but also a lot of people who are looking for a specific color. 

Cute story of the day:

THE POWER OF FRIENDS………….

For those of you that read my Blog know that today (yesterday) was TNR day. I mentioned that I was helping a friend that had barn kitties. She was able to catch two today, Oreo and Inky, who went in the trap together!

Well, when they arrived back home, the male Inky, after a brief stay was released.Unfortunately Oreo, the female, remains under evaluation.The word got out that Oreo was being held hostage so Blackie, her best friend came on the deck and would not leave her side. He positioned himself next to the trap. This seemed to calm Oreo down and she finally ate and drank some water. She is now on an enclosed porch and will be released in the morning.

Blackie still remains in the same spot !!! A sweet story that I wanted to share…..

Have a GREAT day!

"When a man has pity on all living creatures then only is he noble. "

TNR Monday!

Today was TNR Monday.  I had five spots to fill, and fill I did!

I HATE TNR.  The part I HATE is returning a cat to the streets.  But there aren't enough homes or people willing to take them in and care for them.  Some are feral, but some are not.  Sad, but true.

Here are some of the kitties trapped this morning:

First is Melville Mama - she has had kittens that are still out there.  Neighbor told me this morning she had not seen the kittens in days.  Kristin tried to trap them for me a few weeks ago, but no luck.  But this mama will not have babies again.   Sad part?  She is very friendly.  She has to go back to street.

Next is a kitty I've never seen on Parsells #1.  A tortie.  No babies for you missy.

Next I set a trap on Baldwin and Garson - got a prior TNR in the trap.  Cute little black and white.

Next pic, my mom has a colony of black cats in her back yard, I told her to set a trap, and BLAM.  She got the mother load she thinks.  You will recall I rescued five babies this past spring.  All have been adopted and we just couldn't get the mom.

Next, we have some barn kitties I've been helping out with.  Here we have Oreo and Inky, who went into the trap together!

And finally, we have Rocky.  The raccoon.  Hanging out in one of my shelters.  I just couldn't get him to move on.

So, all in all I would say it was a good day for helping to curb the overpopulation of cats - two for sure female in the bunch, I will post tomorrow the sexes of the others!

This weekend our fab photographer came by and photographed four of the kittens I have in my possession.  Aren't they adorable!

And my fab foster Sue had some folks stop by and meet her group, Chase, Sky, Joey (adoption pending) and Gabby!

I think we have an adopter for Chase!

Last week, we had someone go meet Parsley and Hermie.   As much as he liked them, he thought his kitty would be too domineering for these shy boys, so is going to meet Mr. Bingsley this week.

Connor is still available also!  Lets not forget Connor!

Have a great day!

TGIF!

Greetings!  Happy Friday!  Boy, am I glad, as most of the working world is on a Friday. 

It was not so fun going out at 3:45 this morning.  The rain from Spain was calmly sprinkling the earth, and my hair.  Its been a rough end to the summer (NOT that summer is over or anything!) - we've had SO much rain, so much humidity, so much heat!  (although I never complain about the heat, never). 

To backtrack, I've had a lot of physical issues the past five years or so, my joints, arthritis, etc.  Its not been fun.  Unless you have it, chronic pain is very difficult to live with.  I get a multitude of cortisone injections regularly, and it helps, but once it wears off, and your appointment is in the distance, its very very hard to not only do the 'normal' stuff in life, but compound that with the hour and a half of getting in and out of a car each morning, and walking through fields, and bending down to pour food and water.  The doctor said that its worse when the barometric pressure rises and falls like it has been - and it sure has been. I hobbled to the doctor yesterday, and he could have put needles in my eye to make me feel better, I wouldn't have cared.  Instead, he put needle in my hip and left knee.  Next week, I get one in a shoulder, and each thumb.  I'm a walking basket case - and I'm only 30 years old!  :)

So good news:

Teddy, the fifth kitten from the Parsells bunch, is doing MUCH better.  He is still a bit fearful, but once held, will stay in your arms forever, and even purr and then fall asleep.  He was out there a good two weeks after the rest of his sibs were trapped.  Here he is this morning.

TEDDY!

And finally, TA DAAAAAA!!!!!  Another rescue!  I rescued his handsome - from what I am told - he's a flame point - this morning after a friend - actually her dad adopted Charlie! a year or two ago - saw him in a picture I posted, and she said she would take him if I could get him!  And boy was he easy this morning, just before the rains came.  I swooped him up, and she is on her way to get him now!  He is unneutered, so am making an appointment for him now. 

ASHER
(of course, this name will change soon!)

He was hard to capture in a good picture - but he does have blue eyes! 

Isn't that AWESOME!  :)

Have a FABULOUS day!

"To live is to suffer, 

to survive is to find

some meaning in the 

suffering."

Help

Please share:  This is a GoFundMe I posted on Facebook for a kind-to-animals, elderly and very poor man in 'the hood' that lives in a dilapidated house with a dilapidated garage.  Every time it rains, he has to place buckets around his house to keep the floor dry.  He does not qualify for a grant from the city because his tiny house is listed as a double, which for the life of me, I don't know how or why.  I started this fundraiser trying to help Paul, but its not going very far.  All I can do is try.  Please click on the link below.

https://www.gofundme.com/help-paul-with-roof-repairs 

It rained buckets yesterday, at least three inches.  I can't imagine how it affected Paul's roof.  He tries not to call me because he knows I am doing what I can.  

It was wet out there this morning.  Yuck.  I hate the rain.  And first thing this morning, I got a message from a former adopter of Birdie and Poppy - adopted two years ago - that she needs to return one of them.   One is now attacking 'viciously' the other. The adopter has been to vet, tried meds and other ideas they have her. Adopter says this is no life for either one of them, keeping them separated in small apartment. Attacker is very affectionate with adopter but very mean to sister. Has checked with friends, no one will take her. What to do. Its either me, or Lollypop. I cannot take in any more cats!

I'm at my wits end.  This makes four cats this year that people have said they want to return.  

I just don't know what to do.

Poppy As a Kitten

Streets to Treats!

Click on pics to view up close!

First off:  Buddy Update - he is doing well!  I miss that little brat!  He was in my house for the majority of time since he was rescued, and I nearly fell in love!  But off to a good home he went, where he has a new big brother Louie.  They didn't take to each other at first, but are slowly gaining ground with each other.  :)

Buddy and Louie - their own chairs!

BUDDY!

Buddy Brother Louie - can you tell who is real?

All was quiet this weekend in the hood.  No major drama.  Just the @#$%@ messing with my stuff because they don’t want a cat being fed on their BOARDED UP VACANT LAND.  The only place these cats KNOW!  You come around and buy the place, and expect them to move on.  Well, it doesn’t happen that way, JERK!  (sorry, had to get that off my chest).

This weekend was a total blur.  I had Friday off, and yesterday was a day at the boss's house for a work retreat.  Cloudy, but at least she had a pool filled with water.  I LOVE water.  I love BEING in water.  During the winter, I have DREAMS of being in the water.  And baths just don't cut it.

I do, however, remember that I rescued THREE CATS THIS WEEKEND!  First was Mr. Bingsley, the TNR I did last Tuesday.  I had named him Baldy because I couldn't think of any other name, and he was going back to the streets.  A girl had reached out to me, who was referred to me by Mylene, thank you very much Mylene, and said she would take the black and white kitty on Parsells who I had photographed a few times.  A very sweet kitty.  Well, that very morning, when I went to rescue him, he was not there for the first time in a long time, and he has not been seen since.  This has happened before to me.  I feel sometimes like someone is reading this blog and they go and swoop up the cats that I want to rescue!  Weird.  I pray he is OK.  But in the meantime, I asked her if she would consider this other guy, and she said yes!  YES TO THE DRESS!  I mean the cat.   J Sorry, a little morning humor.  Since she picked him up (to foster), she has sent me nothing but good news.  He is doing beautifully.

On Saturday, I got a call from Tom and Edie, the couple that live behind the vacant lot where I have a shelter on Parsells, saying they trapped a kitten.  ‘Teddy’ is the 5th kitten of the litter on Melville/Parsells. Thanks to them, they trapped the hopefully last kitten.  This one was a mess.  I've been watching him for weeks there, and just could not trap him.  Severe upper respiratory infection, eye gunk, nose gunk, scabs on his paws, fleas, worms, just a mess.  He was brought to Emergency on Sunday morning, to the tune of $160, and sent home with Clavamox, and treated for the worms and fleas.  I could have done the worms and flea stuff, but he was so emaciated, I didn’t know how much to give him, and didn’t know if he needed more, like fluids, etc.   What are ya gonna do.

Next, I had posted a picture, maybe on Thursday, of a cat I had TNR’d a week prior, at the same spot Mr. Bingsley was at, and someone saw him and said, I will take him, get him.  So, yesterday morning, BAM!  Got him, and off he went to her house.  Toni, my dear friend, has adopted several others in the past – that’s all we need to help get some of these poor sweet cats off the street – just call or write me and say -  I WILL TAKE HIM!  GET HIM!  That’s all it takes!  I will do the dirty work!

In the middle of these three rescues, Kristin calls and says I have another kitten that I need to find foster for!  I said I would take her, and sure enough, Sue, the foster for Sky, Joey and Chase, stepped up and said she would take her.  She named her Gabby after the young girl that called Kristin to say this kitten was on her doorstep.  A beautiful calico.  I went to visit all four kittens, and have to say, they are ADORABLE!

Gabby

Meanwhile, Melissa is busy working with Daisy, Luke and Bo, getting them socialized.  Its more Daisy that is a little hisser, but she did fall asleep in Melissa’s arms the other day.  So she doesn’t need all that work on socialization.  J

Stay tuned – we should have some idea on a fundraiser for JanineTheBean Rescue this year.   Thanks to my crew – Kristin, Andrea and Crystal, who are meeting on Wednesday to hammer out some plans.

Thanks for listening, and have a GREAT day!