Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Treading on Tuesday...

Mr.Fluffypants

Many thanks to Kings, and Joel today for going with Kings, to try to trap for me today.  No luck at Baldwin and Grand, where there is a beautiful black and white kitty that hangs out that reminds me of Mr. Fluffypants, who I rescued and adopted out many years ago.  Mr. F. is fluffy and gorgeous black and white kitty, just like this one was when I first spotted him early last year.  But this one has lost a lot of his fur, and I don’t know why.  And I don’t believe he is neutered either.  So was trying to get him.  Poor boy, is suffering from something.

My immediate goals are two:  to trap the momma of the newborn babies on Webster (there are four), and to pick up and place in a carrier the pregnant grey girl on Central (she ran to the guys this morning across the street to eat under the tree).  Once Momma is trapped, we fix her, and get her newborn babies that Foster Sue has offered to bottle feed.  Or does anyone have other advice on this one.  We just don’t want Momma to move her babies.

I don't remember if I've shared these pictures of Ariel's babies on this blog?!

Here they are:  Peep and Kit Kat are spoken for.









I received this picture of Chase and Sky.  LOOK how they've grown!  Thanks Mom Jessica for sharing!





I love it.  Have a great day everyone!

"Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right."


Monday, April 29, 2019

Happy Mondaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!



It was a difficult weekend for me getting around. I've been living with hip pain since last June, and its really bad when you can't get comfortable sitting, standing, walking or lying down.  But in four weeks, hopefully it will all be over.  Surgery!  Double Yikes!

I've lost my helpers that I was VERY lucky to have after I fell and broke my ankle in February.  So it’s just Kings, me and Saturday Sheryl.  Me – being the driver for them both.  I am up and out there at 3:30 am. each morning to do the driving to all 20+ locations. I say ‘+’ because if I see a cat as I am driving, I have to pull over and place a dish of food and water.  At the regular locations, I am usually yelling at Kings for one thing or another.  But I have to give him thanks and praise for doing this for me 6 days a week, with his bad back and all.   And of course Sheryl, who doesn’t even read this blog, for helping me  for 5+ years every Saturday, minus a few.   It’s good to get out and see the regular kitties that run to the truck at almost each stop, knowing they will be fed.  I call for them, they know it’s me… 

There is one absence each morning now when I pull up to Short Street.  That is Big Red, who suffered greatly over the winter months.  We tried to trap him, but he alluded the trap, having been trapped many years ago by me on Pennsylvania Avenue as a TNR.  Now its just Mr. Whiskers, who has been here for over 6 years now..  along with the short legged red cat and the black and white bell collar girl.  There is also a grey cat I spot now and then.

Kristin and her husband Darrin are planting a cherry tree on their property, where they will bury Big Red, and name the tree after him.  How thoughtful and touching.   I don’t think I could bury another body on my property, there is no more room.  Each one of these cats (and a dog) I’ve buried were all very special to me.  They all had their own story.  I miss them all so much.

I visited Ariels’ babies this weekend.  They are ADORABLE.  A couple came to meet them over the weekend and fell in love with Kit Kat and Peeps.  So, just waiting to see if the adoption goes through.  They are going into their fifth week this week.  I agree that kittens can be adopted out at 8 weeks of age, but must be 2lbs before spaying or neutering.  Today, they are way too young to be taken from momma.   My policy is also to not adopt out until they are spayed/neutered, but I have made exceptions.  But those exceptions are ALWAYS at the appointments set for them.

Petunias Babies!  (click on pics to see up close!)



They were photographed this weekend by Jenn, my former foster, teacher, chaplain and mother extraordinaire.  I am waiting on special collars for them, that will help identify who is who with colors, and will then give them names.  I am embarrassed, I still don’t know sexes.  It is very hard for me to get around to more than two places on a weekend.  I have a walker.  I hurt.  Momma Sue foster has about 12 steps DOWN to the basement, and then 12 steps back up.  Youch!  My hip hurts just thinking about going down and up again!  And my sister has the same amount!  But, thanks to Jenn, she has agreed to take them over from my sister, who is also a great foster, but she has a ton going on in her life as we all do, so she is grateful for the break.  And Jenn has only two steps! J  So, by this weekend, we will have names and sex attached to these beauties!

ANNIE BANANIE

JASPER

SABRINA

PARSLEY

HERMIE

JULE
LARRY
JUNEBUG

JOEY


Annie, Larry, Sabrina, Jule, Parsley, Hermie, Jasper, Joey and Junebug.  The forgotten ones.  We must step up and find them permanent homes.  Annie and Jasper are supposed to be going to a man’s home in Ohio in mid-May.  I don’t think their new adopter is too fussy about who he gets.  He just wants two so they are not lonely without him when he is working.   I am SO torn as to who should go, personality wise.  Both Annie and Jasper are very shy, and would never get the socialization they deserve.  Maybe Annie and Larry – Larry would teach her to come out, show her how to trust her new human.  Maybe Jasper could be adopted out to another person.  Sabrina should have a single cat home.   Jule would be a very good cat also in a single cat home.  Parsley and Hermie are hiders, but will trust their human after a bit as they do with foster mom Carol.  My heart breaks for them.  I just don’t know what to do.

There is an all grey female cat on Central Park, friendly, but i suspect is pregnant.  I was hoping someone would offer to foster.


Kittens are still in the hut on Webster.  They are only about 4-5 days old, eyes still shut, mom still running out of hut when we pull up and call for her.  Another situation that I have on my mind.

That’s all I have for today.   Make it a good one!

"It's not happiness that brings us gratitude.  It's gratitude that brings us happiness."

Friday, April 26, 2019

Big Red


Well, I have some very sad news.  Big Red has crossed the rainbow bridge, where he joins his fellow friends from Pennsylvania and Short Streets, the area he grew up in.



Big Red TNR
We rescued him two weeks ago after a long hard winter where my helpers spotted him occasionally looking bad. His mouth had major drool, his fur was dark and dirty looking – it was obvious he was suffering.  I was so elated to finally rescue him and get him some help!  This was a cat that I had TNR’d over six or so years ago on Pennsylvania Avenue where I had shelters, and a public garden, set up for many years.  Big Red was always there.  When I had to move due to the city inspectors telling me I had to due to rats, I moved down the street, and hoped that all the kitties I fed would follow me.  I would call them every morning half a block away, and finally succeeded in getting them all used to their new feeding spot.  Except Big Red.  He went missing, and soon thereafter I spotted him on Short Street, which is where he lived the remainder of time, until two weeks ago.  During his time on Short Street, Big Red and I grew closer.  He would finally start to sidle up to me and let me pet and lift him.  Foster mom Carol wanted me to rescue him and house him in her place, but I kept thinking he was a tough guy, and there were others that I needed to rescue before him.  Then my hip went toward the mid to late summer last year, and I had to have others trek back to the lot to feed him, Mr. Whiskers, and a few others that hung out there.  I lost touch with him, but he always knew the sound I had always made, this time doing it from the truck, with the window rolled down.  The kissy sound. 



My friend and fellow partner in my rescue, Kristin, and her husband, had offered that if we caught Big Red, she would take him and get him some help.  He was treated for a severe wound where he needed stitches, and he was found to have lesions in his mouth, and some very very bad rotted teeth.  He has been with Kristin for two weeks now, and after escaping from the large crate he was in he hid  under the bed.  Kristin noticed he wasn’t eating any more, and decided to get him to the vet, which was not an easy feat.  While under anesthesia, the vet found many things that were obviously causing great pain for him.  Animals can't talk, and clinical signs may be few or very subtle. To top that off, Big Red turned feral again, and after some consideration, I made the most compassionate choice – to euthanize.

I wasn’t going to publish this because of negative criticism in the past about decisions like this, but I knew this was the best for him.  It would not be an easy road ahead for him, nor his caregivers.  There’s a misguided notion that euthanasia of a sick and feral cat is somehow immoral.  It’s not immoral — it’s just a sad and necessary fact sometimes.  There is no such thing as the, “right time” for euthanasia. You can certainly find the best time, but that doesn't make it easier.  You need to separate your heart from your head to make a choice upon medical grounds.

Believe me, I ALWAYS feel a sense of guilt over these kind of decisions.  I don't know anyone that can walk away from the vet's office without nagging doubts, without wondering what the pet felt or thought in that final moment, without asking whether we should have waited longer or tried harder. 

We are believers in cause and effect. When something goes wrong, we want to know why. How did it happen? What went wrong? Could it have been prevented -- and if so, how? Who is responsible? What could/should have been done differently? Rarely can we admit that there are no answers to these questions. Rarely can we say, "no one was at fault; it simply happened." Rarely can we accept that nothing could have been changed or done differently.

People who don't care will never experience the pangs of guilt. Only caring, responsible rescuers and pet owners go through this agony. 

The world has enough people who don't care what mistakes they make.   We don't have enough people that DO care about these cats,  -- who choose to move on to make a difference in yet another rescued animal's life. I can't let guilt keep me locked in a lifetime of misery.  I choose to forgive, to love, and to move forward, and rescue more animals that need care. 

We are all very sad about this, and Kristin had the brunt of it in saying goodbye to him last night.  She and her husband will bury Big Red on their land, next to a new tree they are planting.   I will miss you buddy, you were my special boy.  But I will see you again someday soon.  Xo



Thursday, April 25, 2019

Food Cupboard! & TNR Thursday!

Thank you to Joel and Kings for feeding this morning.  Not only did they feed, but they trapped another beauty.  This time at my Parsells #2 spot.  Looks like a girl to me.  She will be brought to clinic for a hopeful spay and then will be released back to where she came from.  That's the part I hate.

Parsells #2 TNR  :(

I am happy to share this post which will hopefully benefit not only myself, but another wonderful woman who rescues and TNR's mostly on the west side of town.  I just met her personally two weeks ago on my porch when she came to pick up some food I donated to her, and to share a glass of wine.  Nice girl, big heart.  Thanks to Carol Peath of Mileage Master on Browncroft Boulevard for pulling this together, and thanks to Andrea Fyfe, for creating this beautiful poster!


Be sure to click on pics to see bigger photos!



On another note, we have here another success story with cat adoption through my rescue.  We have here Beanie and Brody.  Anyone remember them?  they are kittens that were born on the streets, and are now happy running and frolicking through a warm and comfy home with parents that love them!


BRODY Then...


BRODY Now...
BEANIE Then....

BEANIE Now...
Have a great day!

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

TNR Tuesday!

Parsells TNR 4/23/19

Another kitty on the street that can't produce or INDUCE!  Thanks to Joel and Kings, this kitty was trapped at Parsells #1 spot.  As I rode along with Kings, I had noticed several new kitties - in the dark - but knew there would be some unfixed kitties here.  So, quietly they set the trap, went back to check on it several times, and at the end of the route, came back, and VOILA! 

Speaking of 4-5 am. being such a peaceful time of the morning - birds chirping in the stillness and quiet - Joel pointed toward the moon and said 'see that orange spot next to it? - that's Jupiter"  Yes, the things you see at this time of day...  beauty in an ugly surrounding.

New Kittens

New Kittens

I am trying to organize myself with all these kittens.  I am taking on four new ones born April 8th along with their mom, and thanks to Jennifer - former foster and adopter - she will taken them on.  Jenn is also going to my sister's house this weekend to get some new fabulous shots of Petunia and her SIX babies! 

That's it for today!

"You can't go back and
change the beginning, but you can
start where you are and
change the ending."

Monday, April 22, 2019

Jacqui's Post/Tribute!

I have requested to my readers to write me something, not about me, but about a special story on their pet, or whatever, and thanks to Jacqui, she wrote in!

Story by Jacqui


I’ve known (and loved) Janine Wagner for a few years now, and admire her to the moon and back for her dedication to her street kitties.  I was one of the people absolutely horrified by the news that she broke her ankle and had to have surgery, as I realized how tough that would be on her much-loved, daily routine of visiting at least 19 feeding centers in the city.
I signed up to be a surrogate feeder for a few weeks – an activity a little outside of my comfort zone, to be honest.  I joined various outstanding people on their shifts and grew to absolutely love what I was doing.  I now have a partner with whom I feed on a semi-regular basis, and together we have so much fun…!
I found myself in tears last week when I thought that our feeding forays were nearing their natural conclusion, and now I’m looking forward to the next time I can go and see our buddies again…!!!

Thank you, Janine and Kings, for all you do xoxo

💓

OMGOSH, I love that girl.  Thank you Jacqui for ALL YOU DO for the animals! 

I am welcoming anyone that would like to post anything!  I can't always write like this - OMG, its been over nine years that I have been doing this blog nearly every single day!


What a weekend.  First, thanks to Sheryl (Saturday) and Kings (everyday) and Kate (Monday – 4 spots) for going out and doing the hard work of feeding over 100 cats in the Public Market area of the city.  We have to rebuild two spots and I sure could use some expertise help.  The basic shelter for a colony of cats consists of pallets, with plastic totes (dark in color), Styrofoam huts (spray painted dark), or wooden huts – ideally two on each side facing each other, with holes cut out and straw filled inside.  There would be a board on top of the pallet so kitties can stand properly, and a board covering the top, big enough to lay on top of the totes.  Then a tarp goes over that held down by heavy rocks and/or bricks.  You then have a board large enough to cover the entrance where the food goes on the board that sits on top of the pallet.  This is the ideal shelter.  The Melville spot needs to be rebuilt to this.  It has all the fixins, but its just not right.  Its been torn to pieces at least three times now in the past month.  I want my babies to sleep in comfort at night, until their breakfast arrives early mornings.  I wish I could walk to it and help rebuild it, but its so hard to walk with the walker any distance.

I rode with Sheryl Saturday morning.  I drove, she did the dirty work.  My hip was killing me throughout but it felt good to see my spots, and it felt good to roll my window down and make the kissy noise and see my regulars come running!  I’ve done the same thing for Kings past two days.  Its hard driving and getting out at the same time.  So at least I am seeing my spots.  The sounds you hear beginning at around 4 – the birds are all chirping against the darkness of the morning.  Its an absolutely beautiful sound to hear.

ARIEL!

ARIEL and HENRY!

Petunia and her kittens are all good, still have to get more pictures of the kittens my sister is fostering.  PLUS need to figure out their sexes, and then match the cute names I’ve come up with.  I am adding Rae to the list (like a Ray of Sunshine!)  Ariel and her kittens are doing good too.  Getting as cute as buttons!  I’ve got to get over there and meet Ariel, and see her babies now that their eyes are open.  Come rain or shine, I will get down and then up those basement stairs!!!   Speaking of that, I visited with Foster Mom Gaye on Saturday to meet Jasper.  A bit frightened of me the newbie, but he is in love with Gaye now and runs to her when she enters the room.  I hope he gets adopted soon so that he can run and play throughout the entire house, although she makes it good for him, he has access to the entire upstairs.   I always wonder if he is lonely, and needs a partner to get him out of his shell a bit more.

EMMA!

Emma was adopted Saturday, and I believe is now being returned because of her crying all night and keeping her adopter and tenants below awake for the past two nights.  Not sure what is up there.  But Emma is back on the market.

That’s it in a nutshell for now.

Have a great day!

"The strongest of all warriors are these two - time and patience."

Friday, April 19, 2019

Kittens Galore!

Happy Easter Everybody!  



Well, the 1st Street kittens have opened their eyes!  My sister sent me three pictures before her dumb iPhone said it couldn't send any more than that.  Wonder if that is true, or was my sister just in a hurry and wouldn't take any more pics.

Mom PETUNIA




There are three more kittens to have their pics taken...!

Adorable.  I had to go to the doctor's the other day way down Ridgeway Avenue to Greece, and heading back, I was noticing the street signs around the area where I went to school, near Sacred Heart Cathedral, and the street names were flowery and were adorable for kittens!  Here is what I came up with - there are SO many! 


Bluebell
Hyacinth
Peony
Tulip
Violet
Lily
Poppy
Clover
Rose
Fern
Daisy
Iris
Rosemary
Dixie
Jasmine

Heather

But they are all girl names!  I have to figure out which ones are boys out of the six!  And then I have to come up with boy names that are similar to this theme.  Mom's name is Petunia!

Speaking of names, Kristin, Foster Mom to Big Red, thought that may he deserves a better name that that.  I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion on that.  Now that he will never be an outdoor cat again, should he have another name?  Should he have a more grand name?  You decide!



And then there are Ariel's babies...  So sweet and pretty. We've decided on names for them also!   We have one boy and three girls...  here we go:  Henry, Jelly Bean (Bean for short), Peep and Kit Kat (Kit for short) 






Now I just have to put a name to the picture, and distinguish them by their markings, so I can add that to my spreadsheet of kitties in my rescue!


"Your living is determined
not so much by what life
brings to you as by the
attitude you bring to life;
not so much by what
happens to you as by
the way your mind
looks at what happens."