High Tension

This is the name of a very intense movie I once saw that literally had me on the edge of my seat.  I like scary creepy dark-side-of-life kind of movies.  I know...  I am strange...  Maybe thats why I am fearless when I go out into the neighborhoods that I do each day, in the dark, during good weather and severe storms!


The other reason I mention tension is that there was a lot less of it this week regarding TNR, for me at least, as there has been in the past.   Communication has gotten somewhat better.  Thats big for me, because as much help as I am receiving, these are still the precious babies I have to go out and feed every single day.  These are the babies that have come to trust me.


Four cats were trapped this morning.  This is great news:  One from Second, three from Central - one is believed to have just had a litter, so she will need to be released tonight back to her babies after she is spayed.   The people helping me are nearly complete strangers who don't know me nor I them but have come together for one purpose.  To end the cycle of breeding for these cats.  I can't imagine how bad it would be within six months from now if I had not rescued and adopted out numerous cats to good loving homes, rescued 13 pregnant cats, TNR'd 24 so far in two weeks, many more TNRs in the past, and all in this one tiny corner of our city.  I will still be feeding a ton of cats each day, but there won't be that many more.  We will still never be able to stop the breeding, the kittens being born out there, but we have reduced it somewhat.


Here are this morning's babies that have been 'rescued' from this breeding cycle:

Last but not least, I can't forget to thank the anonymous donor that contributed to Lollipop.  Without their gift, this magnificent work would not be possible to do so swiftly.  And hats off to Another Chance Pet Rescue for all their help.  

"Who will tell whether one happy moment of love, or the joy of breathing
or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth
all the suffering and effort which life implies."

Weekend Observations

I posted Saturday morning, just in case anyone was interested.  Thank you Nancy for your thoughtful comment about my boy Thunder.  There is a special bond we all have with our animals, each and every one of them, and it will be a very sad day when the day comes, and it will, but not for now.   He still loves to run, jump, play, go after 'miss piggy' when I throw one of this toys across the room, he is so big that he sounds like actual thunder during a storm!  Especially when he is running around upstairs above me.

I am sure you all remember little (Prince) Harry.  I rescued Harry from Short Street when I saw the little guy hungry and limping.  He was very skinny, and had a limp and didn't grab him the first day, but thank God he was at this spot the next, and I scooped him up.  He was immediately friendly, and hungry as I brought him home and made a little nest for him in my tiny bathroom.  I had recently become friends with the head of Four Legged Friends, a wonderful rescue group, and they offered to take Harry into their foster system if I could care for him after his neutering and x-rays of his fracture.  I did, he became instant buddies with the others in the house.  He was ready to go to a new home when after another check up and x-ray, it was discovered that his hip was completed detached and will undergo surgery next Monday for femoral head removal, whatever that is.  Four Legged Friends is hoping to raise $800 for Harry's surgery, so what I am asking is that if anyone can spare $10 or $20 or whatever they can afford to my "Chip In", I will donate this to his surgery.  Please note that what you see I've raised, I've spent the in my Chip In over a month ago, and I appreciate those that donated so much, words cannot properly convey.  I can't begin anew until the goal is reached (really $80).  You can also go directly to their website to donate at  http://www.4-leggedfriends.net/.  This wonderful rescue group needs it.  I have asked the head of the group to please let me know any more details she can on the surgery.  Thank you ahead of time for your thoughtful donations.  If it weren't for this group, Harry wouldn't be with us if it depended on my financial resources. 

As I mentioned in Saturday's post, about the homeless man sleeping on a porch that I feed at, I said I was going to bring a sandwich to him and leave on Sunday, Mothers Day, if he were there.  Well, I made two bologna sandwiches before I left the house, placed in a bag with a bottle of water, and sure enough, the man was there.  After trying to say hello to him, and seeing he was obviously sleeping under the blanket I had left for him days earlier, I set the bag down beside him and left.  But just before I left, I studied this man for a brief second, and noticed he had grey hair.  I felt so bad for him, wondering what his life was like, what he would do and where he would go after the morning wore on.  He was there again this morning, completely covered under the blanket, and when I said hello, he spoke back, but wouldn't remove the blanket covering his head.  I asked him if he was ok, and he replied yes.  I told him I was just feeding the kitties, he replied back OK.   I can't imagine the emotions that one must feel to be in this situation.  I will be bringing him another sandwich tomorrow, with a bottle of water.  I wish I could do more.

At each of my spots, I see now in the daylight that some are neutered and ear-tipped, and some are not.  The women from Another Chance Pet Rescue will resume trapping tomorrow morning, and I am hoping we will collaborate at some point as I see there are still more to be neutered.  Some I have never seen again since this began, and I am very sad about that.    I had to leave two locations without food this morning, and it breaks my heart to do this as I know both spots have raccoons that most likely eat the food there after I lay it down, and the cats go the rest of the day hungry.  I had to chase another raccoon at my first stop WAY up a tree, but I know he came down immediately after and ate the food of four hungry cats, that I could see.   Now they go two days without food or water.  But, I keep telling myself, all for a good cause.

"I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow,

but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing"

Ignorance is Bliss

I will get to that point in a minute.  First, my dog, around 10 now, who is mostly Golden Retriever with some collie mixed in, 100+ lbs, a good boy (except with other dogs! - the brat!) has had a lump on his chest for as long as we have had him (four years? - a rescue) that has grown larger.  Months ago he had blood in his urine.  After many tests and cultures, he was treated with meds and the blood went away but then he started to have 'accidents' in the house.  Off to the vet yesterday where an ultrasound found a mass in his bladder.  Most likely cancer, and according to the doc, it would be too much to put my puppy through, and very costly.  In a perfect world, I would try.  I love my boy so much, and as long as he is not suffering now, he is fine.  But have to do something about his 'messes'.  So, off I went to Wegmans for doggie diapers, but none to be found.  Hoping to find at a Petco or something.  This will be the only solution I have right now.  Pray I find them! 

Scooter also went into the vet due to lethargy, and was given antibiotics and fluids and seems to be a bit peppy.  My kitty Sugar has a severe URI that is not treatable with the Doxy pills I've been given her, so off she goes now this morning for a look at.  God, its killing me financially, but I love my babies and wouldn't have it any other way.

I went to feed at the house that the man kicked me from his dilapidated porch that supposedly he will be renovating.  The usual were there, Talkie, Big Red and the other kitty that I never named.  I noticed across the street a young girl with what looked to be some type of work uniform, smoking and watching me, and apparently waiting for her cab to take her to work, as it pulled up.  I called over hello and she didn't answer me.  I went closer to her to ask if she lived there, if she knew the owner across from her, and if she liked cats!  She was very quiet, never said hello, and just shook her head yes or no.  This young girl was never even taught proper etiquette to speak to people properly.  Its just so sad the ignorance in these neighborhoods.  She looked like she was 12, but had to be of age to have a job.  This was around 5:35 this morning don't forget.

One last highlight, I pulled up to the porch on Central and Third, wondering if the man was going to be there sleeping again, with my blanket.  He was.  This time he didn't wake, but I could tell he was alive due to hearing him breath, and seeing his chest move up and down under my blanket.  I thought to myself that I wish I had brought him something to eat.  I thought if he is sleeping on this porch, he has nothing to eat.  I think I will bring a couple of sandwiches tomorrow with me, just in case, in honor of Mother's Day.  A day where most females are mothers in one way or another, even without bearing children.   Happy Mothers Day to you!

Fabulous Friday!

A quick update and a wish for a great weekend to all.  The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and its Friday.  Who could ask for more.  Unfortunately, I could.  Before I tell more, my poor boy
Thunder is going to the vet today.  He has had an issue with blood in his urine for quite a while now, he has a huge lump on his chest that has gotten bigger over the years, he is 10 years old and has been having accidents around the house for quite a while now.  He will be having an ultrasound and urine cultures taken - again - today.  On top of that, my boy Scooter the kitty has been lifeless for a week now.  I was hoping he would snap out of it too, but he hasn't.  He is going to be dropped off with Thunder before I have to go to a work retreat offsite all day today.  Thanks for helping me with that Mommy!  On top of that, I have three cats with severe upper respiratory issues - Smoky, Barney and Sugar - that just doesn't seem to be going away with the meds I've been giving twice a day.  So, its been a stressful time in my life on top of the TNR'g. 

As for that, we got seven cats yesterday.  Out of those were five boys, two girls.  One girl pregnant.  So it was a good catch!  It was so nice to go on my rounds this morning and see a few ear tipped kitties.  I am just so thankful so many babies WON'T be born.

At one of my stops, as I walked up onto the porch, I saw a body laying, covered with a sheet.  I thought, OMG, is this person even alive?  I poured the food, and called out HELLO.  HE woke, startled and I told him I was just feeding the kitties, and I don't know where this came from but I immediately said, can I get you a nice warm blanket?  and he said please, and I went and got him a nice warm blanket, went back onto the porch where he was still lying, and covered him with it while telling him to please leave it there for me or if he wanted to use it again there.  I know people think I am crazy, but I am cautious, and I am also gentle enough with these kind of people that they know not to hurt me for any reason.  I am there just for the cats.  It made my heart swell. 

Have a wonderful weekend.

Sept Chats

Thats Seven Cats in French.  Thats how many were trapped this morning.  Hooray.  That makes 20 so far in the past two weeks since this project began.  I thank God for the help received today.  I thank God for the help I've received throughout this, even though its a lot of work for everyone involved, including my friends and family.

Yesterday, four more kitties were brought into Lollipop, two female, one was pregnant, and two tom cats.  Three from Garson, and one from Hayward.  I let the one boy off at Hayward last and explained what I was doing to the only adult sitting outside watching me.  Its heartbreaking to do this.  This boy just did not want to leave the comfort of his carrier.  He came out of it after a little coaxing and immediately began rubbing against me.  The girl that wasn't pregnant I kept overnight.  Again, just the sweetest animal in the world.  It was excruciatingly sad putting her back out onto Garson, where my shelter I've built has been removed.  I placed down some food and water for her, and at least four other came out of the woodwork looking for the food.  I have not seen Big Red since Monday, when the shelter was removed.  Talkie still comes a runnin.  This little girl was so sweet in my bathroom, when I picked her up, she just cuddled under my chin as I rubbed her and spoke to her softly.  Its just a crime, really it is.  And seven others will have to be let go today as well.  The pregnant kitty and the tom I am waiting for a report on as my friend kept them overnight.  There are so many adoptable animals out there.  Please consider one. 

I never mentioned.  My friend offered to take Mike (from Third) into the foster system after I had him spayed, and after a week that I kept him, he took Mike to be combo tested before entering him into foster care, and he tested positive for FIV. I will now have to take Mike back, and find him a home on his own.  He is just the sweetest boy, and would never put him down for this type of disease, that is very rare to be passed on to other cats.   I need a plan to get this guy adopted!

On another note, Prince Harry, the pretty grey fluffball, with the fractured hip, has not healed.  He may need surgery.  I am waiting to hear from the woman who has him now, from Four Legged Friends rescue group.  All in all a very busy time in my life!

Gimme Shelter

Love that song by the Rolling Stones...  Mick Jagger...  Yowsa...

This week has been so busy, and its only Tuesday.  SO much has happened in the past two days, I don't know where to begin. 

The good thing about yesterday is that I did manage to trap a cat on Central and Third that was brought to Lollipop for neutering.  A boy.  That makes 9 total that have been TNR'd through the grant with Lollipop.  Its very rewarding to know that I making a small dent in the area I feed in on a daily basis.   But its very small.

This morning, with the help of a friend, I was able to trap four more kitties.  One very pregnant.  So that will be a total of 13 kitties.  Wonderful.  There is a very pregnant kitty on Seventh that really needs attention and I hope that she will be included in the trapping that is done tomorrow, the final day this week that we have slots for at Lollipop. 

On Monday I received a call from the man that owns the property where I have had a shelter for over a year on his dilapidated gutted house on Garson.  Here is where Lillianna was rescued and gave birth the very same day, and where I have fed Talkie and Big Red and several others for a very long time now.  The man told me to come and get my stuff out of there before he threw it away.  Apparently he was fined by the city inspector for violating many codes, including one of the feeding animals on his property?  I don't get that one, but it is what it is.  I drove there on my lunch hour and had to cram everything, totes, boards, towels, bowls, etc. into my back seat.  Did that stop me from going there the next morning and placing bowls of food and water down under a tree?  No.  And I did it again this morning, and I wound up driving back that way on my way home, and the bowls were gone.  I stopped, and looked into the houses around, muttered a few things as if they were watching me, got new bowls and filled with water and food and place in an open lot across the street.  No one is going to stop me from feeding these poor animals.  I must find a solution.  These people could care less to allow an animal to starve.

Finally, because this is getting lengthy, as I drove back last night to release the male cat, I went past the house on Ferndale and Webster, where I have been dealing with a crazy person for a long long time now whom I have never met, he/she had been taking my carriers used for shelter, putting them back, trashing a door used as shelter, moving straw around, my blankets, etc. - I finally met HER.  I noticed a woman near the house as I was driving towards it to turn down the street.   I stopped.  I questioned her.  I noticed right away she was off her rocker.  But a nice woman way way deep down.    I don't know how to describe the conversation with her, it was very very odd, but her name is Marilee, a softspoken, demure woman in her 50s I would say, and she has been putting food down for the cats.  I did ask her not do it this week as we were trying to trap neuter return, which she vehemently was very opposed to.  She kept saying it was sodomy to the cats.  At one point, I asked her if she knew the definition of the word.  Meaning a sexual act, but she just wouldn't listen to me.  Its not like we were 'fighting', but she just didn't understand the importance of having cats spayed and neutered.  She was talking about the war, and all sorts of really crazy things, and finally, after ten minutes of this, I thanked her for being caring for the animals and told her I would see her around.  Told her how nice it was to finally meet her.  :)  I drove off thinking she was going to continue to place food there, even with me asking her not to.  By the way, the little kitten was back.  She had her babies somewhere.  She was rolling around on the ground, but my heart sunk.  The woman even confirmed that she had been pregnant.  I pray she gets trapped tomorrow also.  Prayers for all of them!

Sasha's Babies!

Well, it was an uneventful weekend, until this morning.When I pulled up to my second stop, where Big Red, Talky and another kitty hang, where Lillianna was rescued, who had her babies the very next morning, from Garson, I noticed railings were put on the porch of this gutted, dilapidated house where I have a good shelter placed.  I then noticed the porch had been painted, and my stuff had been moved to the other side of the driveway, just piled up.  Its obvious, there will be work done on this house.  I noticed mulch had been placed around the front of the porch.  I was heartsick.  I rebuilt a board against the fence, placed a towel and food and water underneath, surrounded it on two sides with the plastic tote 'houses', and went to my car and got a paper plate and wrote on the back and left it on the porch, with the words "thank you for not trashing my stuff.  there are cats that depend on this food and shelter.  i have done a lot of good around this neighborhood with spaying and neutering.  i work at rochester general.  can we please talk?"  left my number and now i pray he calls me.  there are no other houses around I can set up shop at.   Please say a prayer this all works out for me.  (UPDATE:  The jerk just called me, and told me to get my stuff or he will throw it out.  That the city inspector told him no animals - Now I don't know what I will do)

With daylight now greeting me in the morning when I leave my house, by the time I get to the second half of my stops, I can see the filth of these neighborhoods.  There is so much garbage strewn around.  You have to remember, if these people dont care about their properties and own neighborhoods, they dont care about the animals.  Its such a shame.  I remember when I was young, volunteering to clean up parts of a highway.  I would do the same in these neighborhoods (If I could make the time), but these people don't care!  So why would I?  I try to clean up the spots I feed at, but it doesn't matter.  They don't care. 

At Ferndale and Webster, I saw the once pregnant kitten.  The little young fluffball must have had her kittens.  She was so elusive, I just could not get her with the time I had in the mornings, trying on my own.  I pray I was seeing things in the dark, and that now in the daylight, she was just 'fluffy', and not pregnant.  I've been wrong before.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another marathon trapping cats for Lollipop.  Its supposed to rain for the entire week.  I pray things go smoother this week.  I pray we get more kitties that need to be fixed and vaccinated.  God knows there are many more out there that do.    And finally, do you remember 'Sasha', the pretty kitty that I rescued that was pregnant and I got a ton of responses of people stepping up to take her?  Well, here are her beautiful babies.  And they will be up for adoption soon!  Can you believe it?  Makes me proud!