Hump Day! Hooray!

Smudgy Miranda

Meet Smudgy Miranda.  Look at this little grey smudge on her nose.  I received a call from the vet's office yesterday telling me that she was micro chipped!  They called the company for information on the owner, but she was not registered.  They told me that I should not return her to the streets, because she was a sweet sweet kitty.  They even told me that if I could not find a home for her, they would help me.  Wow.  So, here I have this sweet, yet dirty little girl in my bathroom waiting for a home.  She was given all her shots, dewormed, leukemia tested, Advantage flea med, and she is now good to go.  I do not know how she will do with other cats or dogs, but as we all know, it will either happen quickly, or take time, but they eventually all get along.  Someone just has to give her time and patience.  I would say she is young, perhaps between 1-2 years old. 

Smudgy came from a not so nice street near Parsells Avenue.  She was out each morning waiting for me to place food by the side of the road, whether it was raining or not, she was always there at 4:15 am.  I do not believe anyone is looking for her.  There are no signs up around there, and she is thin, and dirty.  I have seen people adopt from RAS (Rochester Animal Services) only to let the cat out again.  Its happening on Hayward, the red kitty I trapped last year, only to have the clinic call to tell me the cat was already neutered, micro chipped, and belonged to the woman across the street.  When I spoke to her about me trapping the cat, and that it should be indoors, she couldn't have cared less.  That cat is now on Garson hungrily awaiting me each morning.

Speaking of Hayward, the pervert who allowed me to feed on the side of his rental property has what I left of my shelter there - some wood, and a pallet, including the bowls of food I left for the cats there, to the side of the road for trash pick up today.  I can't tell you how creepy this guy is.  If I could only have taped some of our conversations, you would have applauded me for my acting skills - what I won't do to help these animals.  Well, I know what I wouldn't do, but you really have to bite the bullet sometimes and put up with things you wouldn't normally put up with. 

I had to let Frank, the other kitty I trapped and had neutered yesterday, back onto the street this morning.  I had to let him back at Ferndale and Webster, where Crazy Mary or Marilee lives just down the road.  Its the worst feeling in the world to have to return a cat to the streets.  Frank was not feral, just scared.  He hesitated a bit when he walked out of the trap, and then trotted off.  I haven't seen Marilee in two days, but she is still throwing away the food after I leave it for the cats.  I can't tell you - how is it that there are two mentally ill women that don't live too far apart, and they don't want me to feed these animals.  I just don't get it - how their minds work.

Frisco/Purrty/ ZEN?

UPDATE ON FRISCO/PURRTY:  "Day 2 and Frisco is doing great. My daughter called me when she got home from school yesterday to tell me how when she came in he was laying all stretched out and relaxed on the couch. She sat with him petting him and he liked it. She said later he went to my room and slept on my bed with 3 other cats so appears he is adjusting to the others well.

He has been playing with toys this morning and likes having the run of the place so I say it was a great fit for him ;)  He is a gem I gotta say. He is very relaxed and laid back.  Already made himself at home a bit like Webster coming into the mix.  My husband told me yesterday my oldest cat of the bunch Miss Boo Boo my high maintenance tuxedo who has liked no other cat so far and spits in their faces when meeting them.  Walked up him and went nose to nose no spitting or hissing so that was amazing.

So far everyone has gone nose to nose with no problems. Webster gets a little vocal which is funny as he is so not a fighter.  I think I want to name him Zen as he is very Zen like and I told my hubby once at 10 you go Zen with one more..haha"

I need to count how many cats I've rescued and adopted out so far this year.  Kristin gave me a number, but I had had a glass of wine or two when she told me so I've forgotten already.  I don't retain numbers well when I have a little wine.  :)  I believe it is over 20, and maybe just under 30, or could it be more.  Pretty impressive if I do say so myself, for a girl that does not belong to a rescue group who have the luxury of being able to show their kitties at pet places like Petco/Petsmart, etc.  I owe much of my success to this blog, because without it, I wouldn't have met most of you, and had you for adopters/fosters.  Thank you for helping me to help them!

Make it a GREAT day!

"When you were born, you cried
and the world rejoiced.  Live your life
so that when you die, the world cries
and you rejoice."   

TNR Tuesday

Welp.  I didn't do too bad golfing yesterday, and didn't need to yell "fore' at any time.  For not picking up the golf clubs in two years, I hit some pretty impressive shots.  But totally all over the place most of the time.  If I played regularly, I wouldn't be too bad.  I do know how to hit em.  The course at this local country club was absolutely stunning, but soggy wet.  We have a new president of the health system we work for, and his son goes to Duke University, and is on the men's golf team there.  He is pretty amazing.  He sat at one hole on the course and was charging $40 to hit a shot for you.  And it counted.  We think each of the teams that were playing scramble for the day took him up on his over.  I think there may have been twenty or so teams.  I do believe he will be in the pro circuit very soon, and I even got to shake his hand, after I hit in front of him and he said that was one of the best hits he had seen at this hole all day.  I would like to think he wasn't lying.  :)

Here are the two babies I trapped this morning.  I am sick over this white one, she is so beautiful, and adoptable, and it makes me sick to return her to her spot - which is not one of my regular spots, I cannot keep feeding there, there are no abandoned houses, or lots on this street that is parallel to Parsells Avenue.  The other one, the black one, is from Ferndale and Webster.  I prayed that Crazy Mary wouldn't take the unattended trap.  Of course I don't leave my traps for long, but I do have to continue feeding at all the other spots I have.  That is the hard part of me trapping each week, I am doing it alone.  I would love to have someone step up and foster this medium haired beauty before tomorrow morning after she is spayed. 

One of my readers has a family member who is mentally ill, and yesterday had suggested leaving something to distract Crazy Mary - like a box of donuts.  After thinking about this, I don't think something like this would work.  She considers me to be the devil, she considers me evil, and vile, and I don't think she would touch a single thing I left for her - she would think I was trying to poison her, but she is quick to remove the food from these shelters.  I have been by her house a street away, and she does not leave food for the nearly 20 cats I have seen in this neighborhood, which she considers her cats.  I will continue to do what I can at this spot, although it weighs heavily on my mind each day when I have to go there, that I may have conflict to begin my route.

Please remember my fundraiser.  July 18th, Rush Creekside Inn.  Its going to be a blast, and its only a month away.  I am nervous and excited.  We are still looking for a small band to play between 4-6 pm, which will be the time we do the raffle items, so they would have to be flexible.  We are still looking for baskets for raffling off, and/or gift certificates.  Any and all help would be appreciated!  The proceeds will enable me to continue to go into the Beechwood section of Rochester and feed and shelter and spay the nearly 50+ cats I see each morning, not to mention the ones I don't see that come out when I leave.  I've been doing this for way too long and have spent way too much money out of my own pocket.  I beg of you to help me make a difference.

Thank you for reading, and have a great day!

"The world is before you, and you need not take it or leave it as it was when you came in."

Fore!

My Flowers

It takes just one individual to make me wonder why I do what I do every single day of my life.  Is it all worth it.  I was feeling very discouraged before I began my daily journey this morning.  I have had more run ins with this lunatic Mary that lives on the street over from the corner of Ferndale and Webster, the woman that comes along after I leave there in the morning and throws the food away that I place under a little wooden shelter I have made there.  Every single day.  The cats get to eat for about half an hour until this certified paranoid schizophrenic woman comes along.  She also considers all these cats hers, including most likely Frisco, who nearly died from the chicken bone lodged in the roof of his mouth.  She believes its cruelty to get these cats fixed too.  She is delusional, talks gibberish during the conversations you try to have with her.  And she is very angry.  Unlike Lisa on Parsells, Mary - or Marilee, I am not sure which, is a very angry psychotic but I don't believe she would do any harm to me physically.  I am not quite sure how to handle this situation, but its very discouraging because I know there are many many cats on this corner, and most need spaying and neutering.

We've had so much rain lately - this morning you could wring yourself like a sponge.  So much for the hair.  I am golfing today with a group from work - a tournament sponsored by an association with the hospital.  It will be nice to be away from the office, but the work will be double when I return tomorrow.

The great news is that Frisco/Purrty was adopted yesterday.  The same family that took in Webster (from Webster/Ferndale) who was rescued on a freezing cold fall morning, and Tigger, from Garson, who desperately needed to get off the street that following spring last year.  I am so grateful to Toni.  She decided she needed a red cat in her mix.  I can't wait to get the update from her. 

There are other cats I've been wanting to rescue, but two of them have disappeared.  I am so sad about this.  Both are George and Sawyer look-a-likes.  I pray they are both safe and taken care of.

Well, that's it for me today. As I said, I am very discouraged by this situation with this crazy person.  She is hindering my mission to get these cats fixed. Not to mention she is throwing away food that these starving cats need.  They go another 23 hours each day without food until I come back in the morning and they can quickly gobble some food into their bellies.  Its just so discouraging to me.

Have a good day all.

"If there is light in the soul, There will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, There will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world."

Random Ruminating

Random Picture of me and my Mom a couple years back out golfing

I received the picture below from the family that took in Blackie, from Stout Street, when he desperately needed to be removed from this street, where I had been feeding him at a boarded up house and garage for nearly three years.  The house was being renovated by some not so nice people, and I had to get him out of there.  I rescued George at the same time, who is still with me.  Blackie was a scratcher, and I had never totally trusted him, but he knew me, he trusted me, and I gave him food and shelter under the porch there throughout all the weather we've had in the last three years.  Sandra sent me this picture today, showing me how much they love and care for this leukemia positive cat.  She has told me that since she has had him, he is held on her lap, and loved and cared for like they raised him from a kitten practically.  I can't tell you how much joy this brings me, and this picture, the effort that went into this little hut, brought me to tears.

Blackie's New Playhouse

 I just wish more people were like Sandra and Jim.  There are so many precious babies out on the streets that are just dying, literally, for a home.   Sandra is hoping to make my fundraiser this year!

Frisco

I must get Frisco adopted or fostered so that I can get a sweet little boy that waits for me on Central and Fifth each day now, trusting me more and more, who is now limping.  I cannot bring another cat into my house until I find a place for Frisco.  It breaks my heart to leave these innocent animals that need help.  This cat on Central is a mess, and needs to be vetted.  He is dirty, and his fur is ratty, but he looks at me with totally innocent eyes, and I just know I need to rescue him.  Please spread the word about fostering and adopting. 

Speaking of being displaced, Kristin and I will move the shelters from Hayward this weekend.  Thanks Creepy Guy.  You disgust me, you pervert.   I also will be trying to figure out where to relocate my 4th and Pennsylvania shelters where 8 cats live.  The person there is fixing up the house, and the two shelters that were under the porch were removed, and a board was removed from the window of the house.  I just know something is happening there.  HOW do you relocate EIGHT cats.  There is a vacant city lot next door, or at least I think its city owned lot.  I've tried to place shelter there, but they were always tampered with.  The last time, the shelters were thrown into the garage belonging to the boarded house there.  Sunday Sheryl and I had to retrieve them.  Its always something.  Of course the solution would be for the City to allow me to place shelters on these vacant lots.  Make them attractive enough, and elusive enough that they won't be eyesores to passersby. 

I have the day off tomorrow from work.  I am THRILLED.  I hope I can forget my troubles for today, and make it a good day.  I pray that all the animals stay safe out there, and that people who come across them treat them kindly.

 Make it a good day.  I need to remember the following:

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy."

Trap Neuter RELEASE Day

I released the two BOYS I had neutered yesterday at the clinic.  They spent the night in the traps on my porch.  You can always tell which ones you trap are feral, and which ones aren't.  Mel, the red from Melville Street, was crying and crying.   Non-feral.  The poor thing.  Fanny, from Ferndale was silent the whole time.  Feral.  God I wish I could rescue them all, but I can't.  I am also running out of funding for my TNR, so every little bit helps if anyone wants to make a donation to the clinic under my name.  585-288-0600. 

I am offering my next two spots to my friend who is helping with my fundraiser.  She lives in the country in Honeoye Falls/Lima area where there are many, many kitties wandering around.  She is going to start getting some of the spayed and neutered, and I must help her as she doesn't have funds either to take care of this situation.  So, I will try to get more spots at the clinic for the many I am trying to get fixed also.  I wish I had more help in this quest.  Its overwhelming to have to feed and trap at the same time, but I will continue to do it as long as I have the money for it.

Today I will be at the Convention Center where there is an event that was created by my office for the Lipson Cancer Center.  Amy Robach from Good Morning America will be speaking at it.  I work the registration.  It will be something different (although I will be standing for a good few hours in my 3-4 inch heels - I am very vain) :), although my work will still be waiting for me at the office, and I am trying to get it done so that I can have a guilt free vacation day on Friday!

This is how it started many many years ago on Hayward

I want to thank every one that has offered help in moving the shelters from SCUMBAG's property on Hayward.  Walt, you are so kind.  Kristin will be helping me move them this weekend.  She offered first and I thank her for that.  I removed a few towels (for the cats comfort) this morning, and tomorrow will remove the tarp.  Slowly but surely, will get the stuff out of there.   This is one unhappy man, I know this from the conversations I've had with him.  But to take it out on me and the cats is definitely not a good move.  I think karma, if you believe in such things, eventually catches up to you.  If you aren't kind in life, life won't be kind to you.  Its just that simple.

In Germany they came first for the Communists,  and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.  Then they came for the Jews,  and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.  Then they came for the trade unionists,  and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Catholics,  and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up. 

Have a great day everyone.

Let the Bashing Begin

So let me share a little bit on what lengths I have to go through to be allowed to feed homeless starving animals that also need shelter from our weather in the city, from weather we had like this past winter for example. This POS, who did allow me to place shelters for many years now against the side of his rental property in the city, has written the following dialogue.  I hope you don't read into my responses other than anything but trying to be as kind as possible without puking from disgust.  I obviously tried to deflect from his vile comments, while still maintaining my dignity, I think.

>>> I asked  you  to scale  down  the  cat  shacks;  1 -   4  ft   area    ..............&   you  owe  me  a  message   for  rent......lol

>>

>>> Hey Mike!!!  I did scale down from when you asked me last.  AND I did send you a message the next day asking if it was acceptable what I did. 

>>>

>>> You know I appreciate SO much what you are allowing me to do.  There are so many kitties at that spot that depend on those shelters from the storms, the horrible winter weather we have, and they need a place where their food will stay dry during those storms.  I don't know how much I can scale back. 

>>>

>>> And PS, if you really want me to give you a little $ each month, I would be happy to.  I will also weed around there if you would like.  TELL me what you would like me to do.  I am SO grateful to you.  :) !  :)

>> got  no  e mails;    they   don't really  use  it;   they  live  inside  &  underneath my garage..............I suggested  a   leg  rub  or  back  massage.......I ache   a  lot  from  work

>> Tell ya what.  I got a gift certificate to Massage Envy in Webster.  I have next Friday off, I can book a massage for us both? And yes, they do use those shelters, it kept them alive over the winter.  And the board lean to protects the food every single day from the weather.  Let me know if you want to get a massage with me on Friday, my treat! 

anothr  appt  to   go to;   it  becomes   more  work; wanted  something informal in the comfort of  my home..........how  much money  per month ?

> Well, lets see Mike, I spend $10,000 + to feed and sterilize nearly

> 100 cats each year in that second of the city, I make a lowly

> secretarial wage that I am just barely able to pay my bills.  You tell

> me how much you would like me to pay you each month, and I will see if

> I can come up with it.  :)

you're  the  one  that  offered;   I gave  you  a  chance  to  put  a number on it;   now  you're  turning it  back  on me  with   the propaganda;  Lets  make  it  simple.   Get  the stuff out  of  there  within a  week   or  I'll be  putting  it  on the  curb  next  wed.   PLease  no further  discussion

MY FINAL WORD: Wow Mike. I don't know when you decided that you didn't like me (or why), or care for the fact that these animals have depended on me and that shelter on that street for so long, but that’s a very mean thing to do, to them.

Do you really want to live the last half of your life knowing you were cruel to a person who is only trying to help animals and didn’t do anything to you except try to be your friend?  And to take it out on the cats? 

I will do as you ask.  I am a peaceful person.  

This is one example of what I have to go through to help animals - with people that are not all there.  Why can't the city help, and provide safe places for me in the vacant lots for me to feed in?  We are doing a service to this community!  By spaying and neutering, these cats won't multiply and will eventually die out, naturally.  Read this - it tells you HOW TNR works for the community!  http://www.alleycat.org/casefortnr

MEL from Melville Street

FANNY from Ferndale

Its TNR Tuesday, and I trapped two cats this morning.  One on Ferndale/Webster, the other on Merrill Street.  What a CRRRRAZZZZY morning it was too.  First, I placed a trap on Parsells where I have rescued many a sweet kitty, and TNR'd four now, I believe.  I placed it under the tree where I've been feeding, just outside of what I thought was LISA's 'old' house (she USED to live in the back apartment of this house, or so I thought).  I drove off to feed at my next spot, and drove back only to find Lisa standing over the trap.  I got out, said Hi Lisa!  She was standing there holding a hammer.  She asked what the trap was for, I said to trap the kitties.  She said What For?  I said to Spay and Neuter them.  She said What For?  Then she started with her gobbledygook conversation - Lisa has some mental issues, she is certifiable.  She is as sweet as can be at times, but also mostly incoherent, and she has been known to torture animals.  I don't think she thinks in her mind she is torturing them, she is just crazy.  Anyways, no sense in talking to her, or arguing with her, so I took the trap and drove off to place it at Ferndale (which is where Crazy Marilee lives around the corner from).  I went back to place food down where Lisa lives because these cats are hungry, and I was going to place them further down the street, but here comes Lisa again.  No hammer this time.  She asked me if I could take her to Wegmans to get something to drink.  I told her I was on my route, but if she allowed me to place the food down for the cats, and she doesn't touch them, I would bring her back something.

Anyways, this is all the time I have for today.  There is so much to report out there.  I will need to move the shelters on Hayward to a spot where I think I can relocate the kitties to, if they will learn to go there.  I am  hoping to get some help to move these very heavy shelters on to the back of my Jeep, if they will fit, and place them in this different spot.  Its such a hardship for these animals, because I feed at least five that are visible there.   Here we go again.

Have a nice day.

"For better or worse, our future will be determined in large part by our dreams and by the struggle to make them real."

A Raccoon, A Rat, and A Rabbi Walk Into A Bar

Sorry, I tried all weekend to think of a good joke here, but just couldn't.  The only thing I did not see this weekend was a rabbi.  I did, however, see my share of raccoons and rats.  I had to remove a very large rat from my walking path at 7th Street, he was dead, and right in the way.  Gross.  I had a very large bug stuck in my hair this morning.  Gross.  As I have said, what I do is totally gross sometimes, mainly in the spring and summer months, when every creepy crawler is out there.  Waiting for me.  Ready to jump out at me at a moments notice.

All night long it rained, and poured, then rained, and rumbles of thunder and bright streaks of lightening filled the sky.  I got up at my usual 3 am. and prayed that it would stop for me when I had to leave the house at 4:15.  Wouldn't you know it, it did.

Some good news from the weekend is I heard from Barney's new mom and she reports:  Barney is being very good, using the litter box and coming upstairs and being friendly.  Thank GOD for this.  I was so nervous and upset about this situation, that he would be returned.

Wubbles is doing good from what I hear also.  I picked Frisco up from my sister's on Saturday, and he has been spending his time lazing about in the front bedroom.  He is very lonely.  I've put up a wooden open slatted gate in the doorway for him to sniff at the other cats from the other side, but can't leave him like that because cats have a tendency to jump pretty far up, and over it, so I must watch him at all times.  And I don't have a lot of time to watch him, so for a few minutes here and there, he can see the other kitties and get used to them.  I am praying someone comes along soon and adopts, or offers to foster him.  He is a nice boy.  He walked up to me three Sundays ago with a chicken bone lodged in the roof of his mouth, no way to swallow.  He surely would have died.  I am still waiting to see his gratitude though.  He has not warmed up to me the way he did with my sister, but it will come in time.  I think he is leery of me, even though I consider myself the cat whisperer.  :)

I've been feeding this beautiful cat above on my way home each morning now.  If you click on the picture, you can see her a little bit better.  Its hard to get a picture of her.  She get just so close and gets scared, but the whole time I am there she is crying.  She is absolutely beautiful.  I have two spots at the clinic tomorrow, she might be one of them.  I HATE putting her back on the street though.  This really does suck, what I have to do, but it must be done.  I have to just keep putting one foot forward, and forget about my emotions.

Hi George: 

George is the cat in the house that you always seem to trip over.  He is always just RIGHT THERE. 

Don't forget my fundraiser on July 18th.  It should be a lot of fun.  And its for a good cause, if I do say so myself!  Food, music, fun...  LOTS of good raffle items.  Still looking for that second band, but if we don't find it, we will have to resort to my singing.  Just kidding.  Piped in music will be the next choice.  Kristin has revised the flier and I will have a copy to share with you tomorrow.

Have a great day everyone. 

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”