Blast from 2011

April 27, 2011

(CLICK ON THE PIC TO MAKE LARGER) I had the camera out this morning. Took pics of my usual suspects - all beauties, all waiting for vetting, and eventual adoption! I just need the funds! Yesterday we received torrential rains (again), it just seems never-ending here in Rochester this spring. So this morning I changed a lot of soggy towels. Nothing out of the usual happened this morning - the days are getting longer, it's lighter out earlier, which means I am hitting the road around 5:15 a.m. now, but it should be 5:00 a.m. - the darkness is my friend! :) I forgot to mention, this past weekend, Saturday morning, it was absolutely pouring out. But off I went! (smiley face - ha!). Anyways, there was a man at one of my spots on the road next to his truck that had a large container with him, he shouted to me that he needed a gas can. Well, trusting Janine, and cautious Janine (and crazy Janine!), told him I would get him gas but it wouldn't be for a while until I finished up my route. He handed me $10 - I was shocked. I knew this was a genuine need. It was pouring and pouring out. I did the rest of my spots, drove home, got my gas can, filled it up with 2 gallons ($7.47), returned half an hour later - still pouring - and I have never seen someone as grateful as this man was. He thanked me over and over, I handed him his change - he told me to keep it, I said "No, just be kind to the animals!", he assured me he would, and leaned toward me, kissed my face and told me he loved me! I think I renewed his hope that there truly are decent people in the world! And all that in the dark, at 6 am.!

I am leaving for Colorado tomorrow morning, for a mini-vacation and will have no access to computers. My sweet Heather will be feeding our outdoor babies, and I thank her once again for her fearlessness. 

I leave my blog for the remainder of the week with this quote:

"I am the voice of the voiceless;

Through me the dumb shall speak,

Till the deaf world's ears be made to hear

the wrongs of the wordless weak.

And I am my brother's keeper,

And I will fight his fight;

And speak the word for beast and bird

Till the world shall set things right."

Lovely! XO

Kenmore

Quiet morning.  I finished up just before the rain began around 5ish.  Everyone was hungry!  As I was pouring out the food on Central, around 3:45am., I could hear hey mama! hey mama! and I saw a young man walking toward me with a vacuum cleaner in his hand and he asked me if I wanted to buy it.  So many odd people.  I told him a) I don't need a vacuum, b)  I don't have any money, and c) if I did want it I would have to pay for it in cat food.  He looked down at what I was doing and said you are feeding cats?  I told him yes, they are very hungry, and he said God bless you and walked away, and that was it. 

Otherwise, sharing this post with you from four years ago....

Posted on March 31, 2016

Malaana and Peppercorn!

Can you stand this cuteness?  Above is Peppercorn, the only surviving kitten that my niece Amy's cat had.  PC is being fostered by Keller's Kats, who had a foster on hand to bottle feed the little guy.  He is chowing down regular food now, and is ready to come back to his 'auntie' Janine this Saturday.  THEN WE NEED TO FIND HIM A HOME!  :)  He is pictured with a little puppy who was also taken in by this rescue group.  Her name is Malaana and she is two weeks old.  She is a Husky, and she was born with a cleft palate and all four legs deformed.  She is being tube fed.  She was rescued through the Mia Foundation.  Isn't it wonderful that we have people on this earth that care for animals such as this?  Makes my heart burst.

And if your cuteness overload is already full on, get a load of this!

George is quite interested!

Hello Charlie (Chaplin!)

Can you stand how cute these legs are???

So the story:  I have mentioned how a man in Arizona had found my number (?) and reached out to ask for help. His mother lived in the city, and he had moved her out to the burbs, but she didn't want to leave the ferals she was feeding, and also knew there was a cat in the basement, so she was going back to feed each day, but the son didn't want her to continue.  Regardless, they suspected all the cats to be pregnant.  Habitat for Cats was contacted first and TNR'd quite a few outside, but a friend of mine also heard about this and wanted to try to trap the kitty in the house.  She went over and found five baby kittens!  She took (wild) mom and all her babies to her house and they've all been in a crate since, babies nursing.  Two weren't getting the same attention at the nipples as the others, so my friend asked for help, and I said 'bring em over!'

Now I am not good with newborns.  Not even kittens period.  I love them, don't get me wrong, but the GUILT I feel at not being with them.  Because they must be enclosed, they are too little, to run with the general population (my other cats).  And I feel like they are bored.  So I feel constant guilt.  Other than that, I love the adorableness of kittens.  Who doesn't???

They've been getting the bottle since I've had them yesterday, but it was suggested I try a slurry of wet food and KMR, to get them eating solids, so that I will do!  They might be big enough, and from what I understand, their three other sibs are eating momma's wet food too!

So, now we have the task of eventually getting these - all five - kittens homes.  So now we have Hermie, Esmeralda, Momma Kitty (yet to be named - and I must get a picture!), and her five kittens that all need homes.  Pictures to come, I promise!

Spread the good word.

Have a great day!

“Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, 

“Nay, sorrow is the greater.”

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.” 

― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Skinny Minnie

Another quiet morning out there.  There were a few creepy people lurking around, but I was armed and ready (taser and mace).  Let anyone get too close to me in the mornings anymore and BLAM!  I'll let them have it.  Although as I've mentioned a million times...  I've had only one scare in all...  well, two.... in all these years I've been doing this.  I needed a wake-up call.

The kitties were there though, all hungry and waiting for their day's meal.  There is a sweet little one on Garson that I suspect was or is pregnant because of the size of the nipples below.  And this cat is YOUNG.  Can't be more than ...  7 months?   I would love to rescue her, but what if she has babies hidden somewhere.  She is friendly too.  And hungry!

BTW, I am good with boards.  Thank you, Kathy, for your last drop off!  I will let you know when I need more, but hopefully, that evil bastard that was taking the boards has somehow disappeared.  If you know what I mean.  Evil.  That's all that man was/is.

Weather is breaking, which is good for the cats.  With this quarantine thing, I am able to get out and do some purging of my garage - so much stuff!  I have too much stuff!  And rats chewed my beautiful cushions for my Adirondack chairs.  Rats!  Yes, rats in the burbs!  And the ants in my house, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, they are driving me insane!

Back to cats...

MINNIE

Do you all remember Minnie?  She was found at an apartment complex in Clifton Springs one very cold morning in February.    She is with her new family now and they love her dearly.  Here is what they have to say - with a new pic!

Minnie getting kissed by big brother Chester!

"Minnie is doing great. She is such a wonderful addition to our family and I can't believe how well Chester has adjusted. It was rough for the first couple weeks but they have established their little routines and Chester totally gets that he doesn't need to feel threatened by her. They play several times a day together, but spend time apart, too. They sometimes choose to sleep near one another under the dining room table or in our bed. Minnie is curious about everything. She knows she isn't allowed in the basement yet (that's where Chester's litter box is and there are just a couple places where I don't want her to explore yet like my hubby's workshop) but as soon as she hears that door open she is there in a flash. She has also escaped outside a few times now...she is such a sneak and waits by the door when she knows we're coming and going. Some nicer days we open the windows and she sits right by them. I can tell she loves the outdoors and will be trying to get out all summer, so we are going to have to come up with more strategies since she's so fast and smart. She likes being near us and tolerates a lot of love considering there are five of us now all home...lol. She is really gentle and doesn't bite or scratch...only occasionally when playing and it's not vicious. She is getting big! And long! She has long legs, and a long slinky body and is just such a cutie pie with her big ears and pointy little mouse nose. We love her."

Love happy endings!

Have a great day!

Oldie

Posted on May 1, 2017

Nearly everyone and anyone who lives outside of Rochester and has driven in to 'the city' for a variety of reasons -  whether attending a concert, or church, or going shopping at a cool store, or going to work, or the public market - has seen a cat dart in or out from behind a house or building.  Nearly everyone and anyone will see it, and then continue on and try to get it out of their minds, if they have a conscience or a shred of compassion for an animal.  When I started to see them, I couldn't turn my eye.  Even the dead ones on the street.  I couldn't pass an animal lying in the street knowing it will get hit over and over again.  I get out each and every time to pick it up with a towel and say a small prayer as I place it to the side, under a bush or tree, knowing its soul has already left its body and its just the carcass left.

And that my friends is how I got started in the first place.  I now go to 17 locations in a 3 or 4 square mile radius and feed over a hundred cats a day.  I started doing this when I bought my house about 25 years ago just outside the Beechwood section of Rochester, on the border of Irondequoit and the city.  I went to the public market one early morning and saw eyes illuminating in the dark corners of buildings and houses.  I knew it was a depressed area, scary to me actually, back then, but I couldn't ignore it.  I thought about it and thought about it.  I kept going back to place a bowl of water and a plate of food.  This was mainly just on First and Bay Street in the lot next door to Wilbur's house, a black Jamaican man who befriended me.

I didn't know about TNR back then (Trap Neuter Return).  I knew I had my own cats, and that they were all spayed and neutered.  And cost me a fortune to do, but I knew that there were many many cats out in this area.  I don't know how I got started getting them spayed, but from that point, it began to explode.  I was now feeding many cats, in many areas, and winter was looming, so I began to make my first shelters out of boards leaning against a house, with towels as walls to guard against the snow getting inside to cover the food - I didn't even know about rescue groups back then.  I did the best I could.

And here we are today.  I have made a million friends doing this, all caring and compassionate people.  I've begun to get help with food, and shelters, and the other necessities for me to do this job in the dark, each and every single day.  I've rescued hundreds of cats and found them good homes with families who love them to pieces.    I've spayed and neutered hundreds more so that they don't reproduce any more unwanted and homeless offspring.  I've rescued many gravely ill cats and have had them humanely euthanized to end their suffering.

I wish I could clone myself because I can't do this forever.  But as long as I can keep doing this, I will continue to need help.  And I can't thank you enough for helping me.  There are many of you.  Donations of money, shelters, food, paper products, towels and blankets, straw, headlamps and batteries, wine (for my sanity), food (the pasta queen Maria, and Beth and her pasta sauce).

Tomorrow is TNR Tuesday, wish me luck.

I continue to hear progress and good things from my most recent adopters, and I hope I can rescue more soon.  There are so many.

Have a great day!

“The more you give

The more you get,

The more you laugh

The less you fret,

The more you do unselfishly,

The more you live abundantly,

The more of everything you share,

The more you’ll always have to spare,

The more you love,

The more you’ll find,

That life is good,

And friends are kind,

For only what we give away,

Enriches us from day to day.”

Its Monday! What a great day!!!

AAYDA and her brother Olive

Hey!  Ya gotta stay positive!  Right???  There is nothing we can do to change what is happening right now, so we have two choices.  Be miserable, or be happy.  I choose the latter.  I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  We just have to ride it through!  Cards, movies (I saw a great movie yesterday, A Bronx Tale), board games, reading, cleaning out all the crap we have in our basement (yup), phone calls, writing comic strips (Kristin), trying new recipes (although don't overeat!), drinking (although don't overdrink!), making sure your parents are good, siblings, etc.  So much to do, you just have to put your mind to it each morning and make a list of what you want to accomplish.  I know you can do it.  :)  I know I can do it.

The cats were out today, but not in full force.  I didn't see a lot of the usual suspects.  It was cold and miserable.  Very wet snow falling.  It's March 23rd!  It's not supposed to be snowing in the spring, but then again this IS Rochester.  I doubled up on the cat food as I am cutting back on doing this every day.  I just can't.  I can't afford 55 pounds a day of cat food.  So at each location, I give them extra amounts and pray it lasts them two days.  Someone just ordered me a bag of food from Amazon and she said that it wouldn't be delivered until between April 4th and April 24th.  What's up with that?  I never did receive an order I placed last week from Chewy.  It's a little concerning when you can't even get deliveries.

RORY and LILY

I saw no one on the streets this morning.  But the creatures were out.  As I drove to my 4th Street location, a skunk waddled out just under my car as I was driving past it and quietly screamed when I thought I ran it over.  After passing and looking in the rearview mirror, I didn't see a body on the road.  I did, however, smell something.  Hopefully, it escaped between the tires and made it safely to the other side, but sprayed out of fear. 

MISTY

That's today's report!

Have a great day!  Don't forget Misty, Lily and Rory!

"Tenacity is strength in adversity."

TGIF

Happy Friday!  I am SO thankful for this day.  Its been a really rough week.  Who would ever think to complain about having to work from home?  Well, I am totally out of my normal routine, and it's not a piece of cake either.  I am REALLY working every minute of those eight hours.  At least I could get up at my workplace and grab a cup of coffee, or go say 'hey' to a colleague.  I've got no one.  And it's just not fun being on the phone as it is to actually LOOK at someone.  And they say this could last for weeks?  Ugh. 

My Brat DAISY

OK, Cats.  Lets get back to cats.  So Misty is still in a room at Foster Max's house.  She is very lovey, but he hasn't let her come face to face with his Dalmation dog Ollie.  Not sure why -- my stance on that is to just let them have at it.  Get it over with.  Rip that band-aid off.  Another issue:  The gentleman that adopted Lily and Rory - he wants to return them.  They have not come out of their shell.  They've been moved from room to room since they arrived there two months ago, and still hide when this guy enters the room.  He wanted a companion that would be there for him when he was around.  He wanted an independent cat to roam this vast summer lodge of his - actually a gorgeous place.  So, I am contemplating switching Misty for Rory and Lily.  Foster Sue has been kind enough to offer to take them back.  And then she will continue her awesome work on resocializing them after they've been so scared for two months now. 

LILY and RORY

I still have that salt and pepper cat I want to remove from Central Park and Fourth Street.  He's a really good boy, but the problem is, he is not neutered, and the clinic is now closed indefinitely.  And the cost at a regular vet is three times the rate that the clinic would charge.  Its just not feasible right now financially for me to pay this.  Donations of cash have slowed right down.  I do, however, appreciate those that send food to Mileage Master to be split amongst myself and another rescue person.  And the occasional drop offs at my house.  Thank you so much, its very much appreciated.

So, thank you to those of you who still support me and my quest to save them all. 

Have a great day!

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure.  I make mistakes, I am out of control, and, at times, hard to handle.  But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

Challenges

It's a strange and eerie world we are living in right now.  This Covid-19 virus has people crazy.  Everything is shut down, including the one animal clinic that we have in Rochester that the cats have relied on for so many years to get them spayed and neutered.  The only doctor we have at this clinic is self-quarantined due to possible exposure to this virus.

All I can do is go out and feed them.  If I do find kittens at some point, they will be rescued and treated as I would have in the past, but momma will continue to produce babies until she can get spayed.  Daddies will continue to keep getting the females pregnant until we can get them in for neuter.  

Luckily, my travels so far this year have not encountered any babies.  I have, however, seen a lot of 'hookups' with the males and females roaming the streets.  We know, in a few months, there will be babies born somewhere, either under a porch, or in a dilapidated garage, or even on someone's open porch in the city.  

The weather is still cold enough that most of the newborn babies will not survive.  They will die a painful death.  That is why the importance of spay and neutering is so real.  And right now, we can't even do that.  

Once this Corona epidemic dies down, let's pray that things return to normal. We must keep fighting the good fight in spaying and neutering these cats.    The suffering is great, and I won't always be there to feed them.  As much as I wish I could, I just can't.  

Stay well.

Have a nice day.

"Being challenged in life is inevitable,

being defeated is optional."

March 11, 2011

Today, I am reposting my post from March 11, 2011.  I hope you enjoy reading a blast from the past.  I think I will continue to share past posts!  What fun it is to reread what I wrote back then!



March 11. 2011

NELSON

Such heartbreak all around our world. The earthquake in Japan, tsunamis, deadly weather - you would think God is shaking us up - picking up our earth and rattling us - we treat our earth and each other so bad sometimes, I wouldn't doubt if that is what He is doing. This morning was quiet, no signs of the two possums I ran into yesterday on Second Street, they were huddled in the dog igloo I have there, where I rescued the two kittens last fall. No sign of Red, and haven't seen him in quite a while now, last time with a limp. I worry so... There are so many sweet kitties out there waiting for homes...

I spoke to my mother yesterday who just adopted two adult cats I got off the street for her, Nelson and Gracie. You would think that adult cats that have been living on the streets for so long would be hardened to humans, but it has been my experience, 100% of the cats I've rescued (over 40 now?) have all turned out to be the most wonderful, sweet, grateful, well-behaved pets to their adopters. My mother can't believe how these two have turned out in the past few weeks she has had them. Nelson (now named Benny) follows her from room to room and lays on her bed at night. Gracie loves to be on her lap most of the time. These cats are just so grateful for our companionship and giving them a second chance at life. Won't you please consider one of these precious babies for your home?

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

My shelter on Ferndale Crescent was torn apart Friday when I arrived.    From the looks of it, it looked like Crazy Lisa's handiwork.  She would go to a few of my public vacant lot shelters and place thick cardboard down over the palet and boards that were under the tarp.  The same happened with this one.  They moved the totes underneath and placed cardboard.  So weird.  Hasn't been touched since.  The cats do use these shelters.  These ones are feral.  They see or hear me and go running.

Things have been very quiet these days in the hood.  The usual suspects of cats are there, but people-wise, they change up every couple of years.  Gone are the old hookers, now you have new younger ones.  Some white, some black.  There is even a male out there soliciting his wares.  Quiet drug deals are made in cars and the regulars still stop at the house on Second to buy their booze and cigarettes at all hours through the night after tapping on the outside window.  Cash is exchanged through a hole in the screen (I would imagine). 

Cat after cat gets pregnant, has babies, babies either die, or I see them when they are months old, because their momma has hidden them somewhere, and they only come out when humans aren’t around.  I’ve only encountered one pregnancy so far this year, and that is with Misty.  No more babies for Misty.

Misty was brought to Foster Max’s house on Sunday, and she is still not a very happy camper.  She is a very sweet cat, but it’s all new to her so far.  I’m hoping she acclimates to his resident kitty and dog, which will make her more adoptable.  There are still others I want to remove from the street, but I can’t do it without fosters.  So please consider it. 

I also am not writing on this blog on a daily basis anymore.  I am finding myself struggling for words these days.  I’ve been writing almost daily since 2010.  That’s a lot to talk about.  So please continue to check-in because you never know…

Have a great day.

"Stop looking for happiness in the

same place you lost it."

Play Misty for Me

Misty

Misty

Yesterday morning I snagged this lucky little girl.  She's the crier that runs to me each day from the vacant porch of a house on Central and Seventh that is one scary looking place.  When people lived in this multi-unit, it was so trash-filled, it was really a scary-looking place in the daylight.   It's vacant now, but a sad reminder of what used to be there.  "Misty" can’t be any more than a year old, but she has been on the streets for a while now, and I am almost positive, she is pregnant.  Little did I know she was as sweet as she is.  She is at the clinic today hopefully on the list to be spayed, and tested, and given all the necessary shots and vaccines so that she can live a healthier life in a loving environment, off the streets.   She is certainly one of the very few lucky cats that get a chance to be rescued.  The others, the ones that SHOULD be off the street, continue to run to me crying for a meal, to fill their hungry bellies.  If anyone has issues with aborting kittens, there are so many reasons why its necessary, but a fellow rescuer put it best this morning on Facebook:

"This is a post about my perspective and many won't like it. Every cat person I know says don't speak of it. Well, I've been working on these city streets for over three years. I have seen wounds, broken limbs, dying kittens, dead cats, starvation missing eyes, etc. Terrible suffering. This is a time of year when people who TNR stress. We try to prevent overpopulation which is equal to suffering by spaying pregnant cats. There will still be no shortage of kittens even with our best efforts. I have had many contact me wanting pregnant cats. I am not afraid to voice my opinion I'm out there 7 days a week and we are not fixing this problem by consciously breeding cats. Have you ever seen two males viciously fighting during mating season? Have you seen a junior female raped? It ain't no picnic for these cats. There's no candy and flowers. That's what's happening. Please understand I love kittens too but there is an epidemic in our city. There will be so many in a month, rescues will be full. The shelters will be full. And guess what the old, the not so pretty, the scared will be euthanized or not be adopted, they may be left on the street. People will be turned away at the shelters as they will have no cage space. This is when they say ok and toss them to the street. And guess what more cats, more sickness, more suffering. When does this cycle end? You watch this will be the worst kitten season. I see more cats than ever I am all over this city. Please do not contact me wanting a pregnant cat, contact me wanting a cat who is starving and purrs in my trap. Please do not act like you are saving a life when cats are being shot on the street. Please love the imperfect beautiful cats that are here and deserve our help. This beautiful cat was pregnant covered in flea scabs and emaciated, I fully vetted her. She won't sit nursing for eight weeks only for her babies to be ripped away. She will go to a fully screened home because she matters to me. Isn't she lovely."

Misty will be going to a foster home with Max, and Max’s dog Ollie, and his kitten he adopted from me last year, Apollo.   It might take some adjustment for the dog and cat, so wish us luck.  I hope some lucky person comes along and wants to adopt her soon.  She likes to lick you.  She is a very sweet little kitty.

Have a great day!

Monday Blues

I have a cold.  First one in at LEAST five years.  Thanks to my co-worker who was hacking away over my shoulder last week.  Thanks.

Taken Saturday morning... Pennsylvania Avenue

It was a fairly mild morning out there.  Still a dreaded drive once leaving home at 3:05.  I am tired.  I am tired of driving for two hours, stopping, jumping out, seeing the sad and desperate street cats, jumping back in and driving to the next.  It's really sad for me.  I want to rescue them all.  I actually am fresh out of cats right now.  Usually, by this time of year, I've rescued quite a few.  That's not to say I haven't rescued any so far this year, I have, but right now I have no supply, and yes, there is demand.

Tomorrow morning I've decided to rescue the crier on Seventh and Central.  I think she is going to turn out to be a sweetheart.  I have asked my foster Max if he can take her in and socialize her, along with Apollo the cat and Ollie, the dog.  There is a red fluffy cat on Melville that needs a full-body shave, he is so matted.  I must find a foster for him.  The day I do, I would grab him, and probably take him to a regular vet, not the clinic, because he is a former TNR, and would just need to be tested, revaccinated and shaved to get rid of the mats that surely must hurt him, pulling on his skin so tight.

Some great news.  Joey a/k/a Josephine was adopted this weekend.  It was quite unexpected actually.  A former adopter, who adopted Destiny a few years ago, took a chance on Joey and brought her directly home with her on Saturday.  Joey has been with Foster Mom Sue the longest.  We were starting to have our doubts due to the fact that Joey is very timid and shy, and not a lap cat.  Yet.  But Anne decided to take a chance and give her time to come out of her shell. 

If you will recall, Destiny gave birth to several kittens – she was found on an abandoned porch inside an old suitcase, and some of her babies made it and some didn’t.  A kind person brought them all over and she nursed her remaining babies in my bathroom until adoption.  After the babies were adopted, she took in little one or two-week-old Taco who was also found alone and abandoned by a kind person.  She mothered him until Taco could make it on his own.

So... great news, and wish me luck for tomorrow!

Have a great day!