Hotter than Haides

Pics today are of my Toonces and the other of Toonces, Barney and dog Thunder, all doing what they do best. Its going to be a scorcher today here... they are calling for 100 degree temps, with heat index much higher... We Rochesterians aren't used to this, except we are used to extreme humidity, and extreme cold, so really, this is just another pain in our ever changing weather patterns. This morning, I counted... I made close to 15 stops. Now, when I see a cat roaming in the hood at the unGodly hour of
5 am., I know they are most likely thirsty and hungry. So, I hop out quickly, shake my bag, and plop down a dish of water and food off to the side, where no one can mess with it too easily once folks begin to stir out of bed. I must have done that at six locations this morning, on top of my regular stops. At two of my stops, which are the only locations where the homeowner allows me to feed on their property, both men were out this morning saying hello. Wilbert, the Jamaican, who always tries to scare me behind his fence, and I always yell at him to stop scaring me. We have a fun relationship, he is a really cool dude who lives extremely simply, due to being extremely poor. He does own his house, land, and his little truck, but he doesn't have much else. Then there is Paul, who comes out to greet me with "goodmorning young lady". He is very respectful, and can do a mean wax job. He has waxed my car now twice, and both times, its superb. He cleans inside and out. He used to do the police cars when he worked for the city. He has his own formula, which patenting it is his dream. All my other locations are at abandoned houses. But this morning, my two sweethearts, Teddy and Spike. I tell them every morning that I will soon be rescuing them. I just need to get my own stuff under control at home, and save a bit of money, as they will cost me a few pennies getting them healthy, and neutered. I had trouble this morning with downloading the pictures I took yesterday of the two dogs that were on the loose, and of Spike, so I apologize. Please stay tuned to tomorrow's post where I hope to have them posted. The kitten situation, the owner of the house, despite my notes to him not to feed them because it makes it harder to trap them when their bellies are full, continues to put down food. I am grateful they are not starving but they need to be rescued, and also Mama cat has not had her litter, yet.

CRAZY!

What a nutty morning. First off, pics attached are of Teddy, who is on my list to rescue. You might recall I tried to rescue him as I was able to hold him, but when I went to put him in my carrier, he flipped and stayed away from me for quite a while. He is back trusting me, but I have no where to bring him for now. The other pic is of a cat I've been feeding on my porch forever now. She won't

let me get near her, but she is there every single morning waiting for me to bring out her little dish of wet food. She is spoilt! Although there were signs of a raccoon on my porch this morning. Got into my seed and stale bread for the birds. Little devil. Porch kitty is pretty, but very shy. Do not know where she came from, but she just won't go away. I am glad I leave my door open for her though in the winter time. She sleeps there on a cushioned blanketed chair I make for her in zero degree temps. This morning started out almost as normal, although I mixed up my route a bit because I wanted to get a picture of Spike so had to wait for it to get light out, so made it close to my last stop. I got the picture but need to download it so will have to wait. I love Spike. He is first on my list to get off the street, just need a home for him! As I was leaving my third spot, on Central, I spotted two small white dogs on the corner, with collars and tags. Thought they had just been let out for their business and were right near their house. As I got to Seventh, where Spike is, I saw them on the corner of that street. So mind you, they travelled all the way down Bay from Second to Seventh street. I took a picture of them as they sat on the corner, and as I started to get out of the car, they started to take off. One followed the other. They headed toward Goodman. I called 911, cop met me later down past Goodman as I followed them, but stated there was nothing he could do. And Animal Control didn't start for two hours. Well, isn't that something. What a town we live in, eh? UGGH. Pitiful, really. Sweet little things, but had no regard for the traffic, etc. I was already running late, so I had to leave. I will post their picture tomorrow morning for you, and I just pray they get found safe and returned. At my spot where Red waits each morning, a car had been following me and pulled up beside me where a white woman and black man started talking to me. They were both as high as kites. Just before, after I gave up on the dogs, I checked in with a hooker on the corner asking her if anyone had been looking for the dogs, and these freaks thought I was trying to buy some drugs. Dont' worry, I am very careful. Talked to them in my car. She tried to tell me she knew me, and I thought back that maybe I could have gone to school with someone like this, and they took a very different path than me. So sad, to be that high, and driving around trying to score at 6 in the morning. I told her I was just feeding the homeless cats and she looked at me like I was from Mars. Go figure. Spotted Poppi this morning. Thats the good news.

If You Can't Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen

So I stay away from the kitchen. Its warm out there. I sit here in my nice air conditioned space, and don't take a second of it for granted. Our nation is burning right now - I actually drove to work this morning and said a prayer for rain! Even though most days I dread rain because its so hard on the kitties out there. They suffer enough with the moist humidity. Everyone was around this morning, I tried to trap at Hayward, but they just won't fall for it. Both reds are there, but not the very sick kitty that I posted her picture the other day. Red is fine, but the other larger red kitty has a severe ear wound. No one will fall for the nice tuna inside the trap. I leave it for almost an hour too. Not sure why they are not falling for it! I did notice that Poppi has been missing from Third. I continue to pet Spike every morning, telling him I will be saving him soon. I just have to have everything timed right. He will require money, and I need the extra space to house him until I can get him fixed and adopted. He needs to be tested first also. He is such a nice boy. Its hard to get his picture because he is at my first stop each morning, and its still dark then. I am now out for a complete hour with all my rounds that I do each morning. You would consider me crazy with how many stops I make now - and I keep telling myself, its just for the summer. But I place so many bowls around now. Especially in this heat. Pray for rain!

The Heat is on... again...

We started the year with continuation of the below freezing temperatures, and the cats barely survived. Then we went into extreme heat for the very early spring, along with very wet conditions. We are now in a drought, with temps forcasted in the 90's this week. Thanks to a great friend of mine, I now have an air conditioning unit in my window, as my central air bit the dust last spring. And let me tell you it was a brutal summer last summer. But most of the kitties have survived, with several rescued, and several of those adopted. So all in all its been a good year so far! I am just so grateful I am able to provide water for these cats. I place water bowls all over the area, even in areas where I don't feed! There are cats all over, and when they see me place a bowl down, they run over as soon as I leave and I know they are grateful. The two kittens remain out there, left on their own. I stopped trapping them for now because I need a second person to sneak up on them while I distract them and catch them with the net. I have no one to help me right now. I have been trying to trap past two mornings on Hayward for the very sick fluffy kitty with severe wounds on his eyes. Also the large red there. He has severe wounds on his ears. I also cannot get soon to be mommy cat on Second as she doesn't come too close, and there are too many others I would trap before her. I couldn't be that lucky a second time! So, if any of you are bored some Saturday morning at 5 am., come with me to get the kittens! :) The picture is of Barney and Boris, both my rescues, loving the fresh air on my porch. Boris is suffering from FIV, and kidney failure, but is doing great. I love my grey kitties. I have three! (Smokey not pictured). UPDATE on dog abuse - apparently Animal Control was there Friday. Phew. Thank God. I don't know anymore than that!

Friday - Whadda Day...

I first started to post today around 9:30 am. Its now 6:30 pm., and here I am. Not a word typed. I've had a CRAZY day off with my niece and her little children running around. Crazy. And now, I can't even remember my morning, besides shopping, cleaning and cooking. But I did get up as usual, at 4:20 am. and fed my indoor babies, and out the door at 5:00 am. to feed my outdoor babies. At my first spot is a kitty I've named Spike. He is a pretty boy, and I've been feeding him since there was a vacant house on this property. He has been through many winters, and never let me get anywhere near him. Today, I can successfully say, I applied a flea treatment to him. He is now trusting me to let me pick him up, not hold, I am too nervous about that, but pick him up a few inches from the ground. I want to rescue him so bad. I just need to get him to really trust me so there is no fight. There are five other kitties there, and they are all friends. Its been very hard on Spike. He is a tough kitty. I have watched him through sickness, he looked like he had a bad upper respiratory infection, but looks better now. Do they get better on their own from that? I keep a close eye on him. Spend a few extra minutes with him in the morning. The rest of my spots, tried again to trap the kittens, this time hiding behind a trash can with the net, but too smart they are. They have bad eye infections. Will keep trying. Same with pregnant Mama on Second Street. She just won't let me get her. I can't put a trap or the other eight or so will go in it. And she won't get near me with the net in hand. What to do. What to do. No news on the dogs that are being abused. I can't do anything without an address to report it. I will continue though to find out. Stay tuned, and have a great weekend!

Never Ending Kitten Saga

This morning, with fish net and carrier in hand, I attempted again to first 'catch' the pregnant mommy on Second (see pic). She has been getting a little closer to me, they all were, because they were all starving due to what I tried to shoo away yesterday morning - (see pic). They are pigs, and won't be intimidated by me whatsoever. So the poor cats go for the day without food after I leave. Anyways, I almost had her netted, but she was too quick, and is now fearful of me once again. I will not give up, although she is ready to pop. I then brought net and carrier to the remaining two kittens on Pennsylvania. Only saw one little red baby, not the other, and its one eye is half closed. It needs to be saved. I will not give up. Mind you I just have so much time to spend doing all this. There is no update on the dog situation I mentioned in yesterday's blog. There is nothing I can do without the address, and they won't give it to me. I will say its a sin to allow anything to be abused, no matter what the cost. I even had the nerve to go up to two Town police officers when I went for my dog walk after work yesterday and asked them about it, and they were kind enough to give me phone numbers of the net offices surrounding the area, but without the information, I can do nothing. I am action oriented, so why bother to tell me in the first place if we can't do anything about it. Its just upsetting.

Offsite Today!

I have an offsite meeting today so this won't be a long post, the computer I have at home is slower than molasses and it really turns me off waiting and waiting and waiting for it to make one move. So, to be brief, I have pictures that I will post tomorrow, no luck with the remaining two kittens - saw them, but no luck. The pregnant kitty on Second is very pregnant and I had a brilliant thought before I left there. As long as I have the fish net, I will use it tomorrow on her, as she will let me get somewhat close, but there are so many others around that it would be impossible, nearly, to trap just her with a cage. I will try for her and the kittens AGAIN tomorrow. Never give up, never give up, never give up. I have a question to pose to anyone who will answer. If you had a friend who's co=worker told you that she has an elderly mother that lives next door to people who are training their pit bulls for fighting, and you would have to testify as to what you've seen (per animal control), but are afraid for retaliation, what would you do. Would you ignore it? This puppy and adult are kept in cages in the back yard without food or water. Would you ignore this due to fear? What is the law? What would you do??? What can I do??? I need advice on this one.