Paddy

Paddy, the latest rescue (or was it Peppercorn) was picked up on Saturday to spend the night with me before I brought him to his new home in Hamlin.  It was a nice drive by the way...  The Parkway, along the lake.  Paddy was just a sweetheart.  I even cuddled with him in bed in the morning.   Never have I felt so guilty taking a cat from its foster home to place him in a new home.  These people were just the sweetest, and they so loved Paddy.  But off he went to his new home on Sunday.  Last report last evening was that he was still scared and hiding under a chair all day, but I am praying there were better results this morning.  Regardless, its normal and natural, and he will come around, and he will survive this, and he will be one fat and happy cat soon.  He's been through a LOT in his short time on earth.  His new mom is just wonderful.  Great home for him to thrive in.

His foster mom wrote him the sweetest note before she had to say goodbye to him.  I wanted to share this with you. Melted my heart:

Dearest Paddy; 

As we prepare ourselves to say goodbye to you tomorrow I want you to know what you have given to us in the short time you've been here. Joy... because there is always plenty of love to give another dog or cat. You've also been a excellent teacher for Brownie & Grace. Brownie has learned to share his space & it's the cutest thing when you two look at each other. Grace now just sniffs you & there is no hissing or any noise. You look at her like oh she's just a dog. You showed her how to be tolerant.

When I hold you it's the baby burping position you love, so your face snuggles into my shoulder. When you lay on Bill it's just relax & lounge, and oh the purring. The sweetest sound ever! But when we say our goodbyes know you'll be taking a little piece of my heart with you (because to love a animal they have to have a part of you), and a prayer for a long healthy happy life in your forever home. You were the best first foster cat anyone could wish for!                   

Love,Your foster mommy & daddy

Fostering is saving an animal's life, literally.  It could be for as long as a year, or sometimes, as in this case, a week.  And its always promised that if you can no longer foster the animal, I will take it back.  I will figure out something.  

Fostering means bringing in a cat or dog — or parrot, or baby pig, or any other homeless pet — with the goal of nurturing them for a while until they can be adopted out to a permanent home with a family who’ll love them forever. Watching a cat that has been on the street, hurt or abused, enter your home is a beautiful thing. Though they may not be settled, they seem to know they are safe and loved. It is truly remarkable watching the cats transition from skittish, scared little animals to trusting, flourishing members of a family.

Don’t be put off fostering because you think it’ll be too hard when your sweetie gets adopted.
It’s never easy to say goodbye to these beautiful souls, but seeing their happy ending makes it all worthwhile  And just when that chapter comes to an end, there is another one waiting in the wings for a chance to be saved.

Have a great day!

"Will it be easy?  Nope.  Will it be worth it?  Absolutely."

TGIT - And That Ain't No Joke

Man, I am just waiting on that lottery to hit.

Sydney and Joanie!

Its Friday, and as always, whenever I plan on having a nice, relaxing weekend, it always gets full.

Saturday, Paddy will be leaving his beloved foster home, spending the night in my bathroom again, and then going to his hopefully forever and ever home.  And of course, the people that adopt cats from me seem to live a million miles away.  I've noticed that everyone who has expressed interest in adopting are from the 'other side of the river'.  The west side.  While I have no issues with that, I wonder why the eastsiders don't adopt from me.  :)

Paddy

Paddy's foster parents have been so good and loving to him.  I know they will have a hard time parting ways - Paddy was now sleeping on the man's lap.  With the little dog next to him.  It IS sad when you think about it.  But I told his foster mom that with this adoption, I am able to save another's life from the streets.  She agreed to foster again.  I am thinking this time it will be Fluffypants #2 on Baldwin and Grand. I picked him up this morning whispered "are you ready to be rescued?"  He's been around so long.  I just know, like the twin before him (I rescued another cat at another location - Fluffy Pants - from Pennsylvania and Second a couple years ago) that he will be the star of the house.  They might be skitzy at first, but Fluffypants #1's family is totally in love with him.  Last I heard.  I just know #2 will make a great pet.

But in the meantime, we must get these others adopted!  Spread the word about Peaches, Peppercorn, the kittens Riley, Squirt, Sydney and Joanie!  The kittens will all be spayed/neutered this week and ready for their new homes!

Have a great weekend everyone!

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile."

The Back Nine

Here is what I encountered as I walked out the door this morning:  Our first snowfall.  :(

Pennsylvania babies:  This is where I just rescued Paddy, and where Spencer came from prior:

OK, lets see if I can get through descriptions of my spots on the back half - from Goodman up to Niagara, which isn't far from Portland.

So after I cross over Goodman, I get to........

7.  Sid and Johnny's garage.  This is where I've just recently rescued four babies, and had their beautiful black mama spayed.  I have set a shelter on the side of this auto shot (which is fair and reasonable for auto repair!) thanks to the kind owner.  His wife and I went to junior high school together!  Sydney and Joanie, Riley and Squirt are all up for adoption.  And thanks to Rochester Animal Services, who have provided me with a few free spay/neuters, all four kittens will be done next week.

8.  Seventh Street - I now have no fear that the City will take these shelters, so I can mention this city lot!  Here is where I just rescued Peppercorn.  There is still Mama bear and a few other newbies, all of whom have been spayed and neutered (I think).  I rescued Mama bear’s kittens a few years back.  She is still around.  These shelters consist of a cargo cap – the kind you put on top of a car for transporting stuff – Kristin and her husband Darrin found it on the side of a road and crafted it to make a shelter.  It is not insulated, but has some straw in it that will need to be refreshed this Saturday when Sunday Sheryl rides with me.

9.  Short Street – I feed on a porch across from vacant lot here – there was a kitty that cried a lot a month or two back, but wouldn’t come near – a newbie – so I decided to leave a shelter and bowls here on this porch, on top of going to vacant lot where I have built up my shelters under a tree back there.  Baby Buttons, Buttons son, I’ve caught him sleeping when I cross the lot to leave food here.  Its really gratifying to see them using these shelters when the weather is like this.  I would love to reunite Baby Buttons with his mother, who is mine now.  She is an old girl, still a bit frightful, but sleeps next to me every single night. I had to rescue her a year or so ago from here because she was losing a lot of weight and I thought she was gravely ill.  Turns out she just needed some teeth pulled.  She is a love.  I am sure her baby boy, identical to her, is too.  He has come a long way with me over the years, now not nearly as fearful as he was.  Mr. Whiskers #2 is still  here, along with a pretty calico, and Milly, the black and white who was just a kitten when I first spotted her here.

10.  Central and Fifth.  Trying to build these shelters back up also.  Here we have several kitties, the most recent rescue here was baby Jules.  He was trapped at the same time as his mother, who I had spayed.  She is now very friendly, lets me pet her. There is a black and white kitty, and a grey kitty that has been here for years, along with another tabby or two. 

11.  Third and Central – placed another shelter here this morning. Thank you Elisabeth for leaving in my yard overnight!  It came in very handy for the kitties I feed here, at least three that I see every day. 

12.  Second and Central – the mailbox kitties.  I saw the kittens out again on a morning like today.  Sad.  The mailbox protects a small area underneath so that I was able to leave the bowls of water and food for the three kittens, and some adults.  I still can’t trap the calico, who could be the mother of the kittens.  I went to check on some shelters I hid in some bushes on the vacant lot across the street, and one was soaked.  The lid was somehow either blown off or removed.  I emptied out the wet straw and placed some towels in it until tomorrow morning when I can replace with dry straw.  I will then try to cover this area with plastic sheeting for protection, if this is the only shelter for these several adults and kittens. 

13.  Niagara.  I have not seen the sick little kitty in two mornings now.  I feed at least eight cats here.  Under the tree outside the gates of this low-income apartment complex that borders 1^st street, central and Niagara.  Remember I had trouble with the huge black guy a year ago?  No more.  Glad we sort of ‘made up’ after the police had to get involved.  He just didn’t like me putting food inside the gate.  Who knows what I will have to do now this winter!  These cats live in a crack between two buildings.  One is a Laundromat where I am sure it’s the heat source from here for these cats.  Across from there I have permission to keep my beautiful shelters there from the business owner, who has sold the building.  Fingers crossed the new owner allows me to keep these shelters there.

14.  Onto Second Street behind Paul’s house – rats.  Yes, rats.  Trying to figure out this situation, but in the meantime, I feed a black cat, and a white with black spots.  This is where I rescued my baby Cloe, the FIP kitten who had deep bite wounds when I rescued her.  Thanks to Sue for giving her so much love and attention in her final months on earth.

15.   Pennsylvania and Second – picture here of three kitties I feed daily.  The red kitty has half a tail.  He and the grey kitty have been here for years.  They’ve had their shelters removed and trashed so many times.  They are tough cookies.

16.  FINAL!  Pennsylvania and Fourth – Catarina has been missing for well over a week now.  I am so sad about this. Sweet little muted calico.  I was going to rescue her next.    Big Red #2 still remains here, a beautiful calico, a tabby, another red guy, and now the white with black spotted kitten are here.  I might have to rescue that kitten even though it has one of those plastic flea collars.  He is unneutered, and doesn’t belong outside.  This is a very busy street, and I feel that Catarina life might have ended because of that.  She might have gotten hit.  She was always running into the road when she saw me coming in the Catmobile.  So sad.

OK, any good news?  Its Thursday!  And despite the weather, its going to be a great day!  I hope yours is as well.

“Animals are the bridge between us and the beauty of all that is natural. They show us what’s missing in our lives, and how to love ourselves more completely and unconditionally. They connect us back to who we are, and to the purpose of why we’re here.”

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind

Well, not exactly, but we're getting there!  Little by little.

Squirt

Riley

Sydney and Joanie

Kittens above need adoption!  Getting them spayed and neutered very soon!

Moose from Melville, a boy, and Puma from Parsells, a girl, my two TNRs from yesterday morning spent the night on my porch and were released back to their hellhole 'homes' on the streets this morning.  Little Puma was under a year.  At least she won't have any babies, and Moose won't be able to produce them.

The meeting at City Hall yesterday went better than I expected.  They have formally informally agreed to allow me to feed on the vacant lots – and I need to provide a list of those to them.  I agreed to place a sign on each of my locations that states what I am doing, and my contact information.  The meeting was supposed to have involved someone from the Health Department, and when we questioned as the meeting began, they apologized and said they would reschedule the meeting, but they wanted to continue with the meeting to wrap a few things up in the vacant lot regard, as the Director, Bureau of Operations was at the meeting also.
   

She was very nice.  She was a great replacement for her boss, Norman Jones - Commissioner, Department of Environmental Services.  Not that he is bad!  She listened to us, and was able to view the situation with a softer understanding for the plight of these animals.

Another takeaway from this meeting was marketing and advertising.  I mentioned to the Director of Animal Services that I saw an ad for dogs recently on television, and it would be nice to see something like that for cats.  Something that would click with people.  Maybe show a clipped ear and why they have it.  Explain why its important to co-exist with this overpopulation of homeless, throw away cats, give a suggestion on how an individual can help, give information as to where a homeowner could call if they wanted to help out an animal, such as a pregnant cat, or kittens.  The Director mentioned that he had a small budget and that the dog ad used up most of it, to which I looked at the Communications Director and asked why and how can he beef up the budget for this.  He answered with a bunch of reasons but did suggest certain marketing materials, like adding fliers inside of water bills, RG&E bills, etc.  They could do something like that.  We also suggested having fliers to place on people’s doors in the community explaining what we are doing, the need for what we are doing, to try to make this situation a little better for them, and the cats.

I don’t think I am explaining the conversation very well - I am a little off today - but that’s kind of the outline of the meeting.   I was also offered some free spay/neuter services by the Rochester Animal Services so I will need to call them and find out how I can get these vouchers.  The outline I brought to them had that suggestion, that this should be an ongoing offer to help me.  If I had more money and slots to spay/neuter, I would do more than two a week.  We need more action out there, and I can’t do it alone.  Would LOVE some help!

All in all, it was a good day, and I was able to get up this morning, go out to the hundred cats or so that I feed, and know that some of them would be safe where they are.  Now I need to work on the other half that are not safe.  The ones I feed on vacant house porches. 

UPDATE:  Saturday Sheryl just sent me the following:  Interesting.

State of New York Department of Agriculture and Markets
Albany, NY 12235 

ARTICLE 26 

of the Agriculture and Markets Law relating to CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

§ 377-a. Spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. 1. The legislature finds that the uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats in the state results in an overabundance of puppies and kittens. More puppies and kittens are produced than responsible homes for them can be provided. This leads to many of such animals becoming stray and suffering privation and death, being impounded and destroyed at great expense to the community and constituting a public nuisance and health hazard.

It is therefore declared to be the public policy of New York state that every feasible humane means of reducing the production of unwanted puppies and kittens be encouraged. 

So what does this mean???

Have a good day.

It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.”

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind

Well, not exactly, but we're getting there!  Little by little.

Squirt

Riley

Sydney and Joanie

Kittens above need adoption!  Getting them spayed and neutered very soon!

Moose from Melville, a boy, and Puma from Parsells, a girl, my two TNRs from yesterday morning spent the night on my porch and were released back to their hellhole 'homes' on the streets this morning.  Little Puma was under a year.  At least she won't have any babies, and Moose won't be able to produce them.

The meeting at City Hall yesterday went better than I expected.  They have formally informally agreed to allow me to feed on the vacant lots – and I need to provide a list of those to them.  I agreed to place a sign on each of my locations that states what I am doing, and my contact information.  The meeting was supposed to have involved someone from the Health Department, and when we questioned as the meeting began, they apologized and said they would reschedule the meeting, but they wanted to continue with the meeting to wrap a few things up in the vacant lot regard, as the Director, Bureau of Operations was at the meeting also.
   

She was very nice.  She was a great replacement for her boss, Norman Jones - Commissioner, Department of Environmental Services.  Not that he is bad!  She listened to us, and was able to view the situation with a softer understanding for the plight of these animals.

Another takeaway from this meeting was marketing and advertising.  I mentioned to the Director of Animal Services that I saw an ad for dogs recently on television, and it would be nice to see something like that for cats.  Something that would click with people.  Maybe show a clipped ear and why they have it.  Explain why its important to co-exist with this overpopulation of homeless, throw away cats, give a suggestion on how an individual can help, give information as to where a homeowner could call if they wanted to help out an animal, such as a pregnant cat, or kittens.  The Director mentioned that he had a small budget and that the dog ad used up most of it, to which I looked at the Communications Director and asked why and how can he beef up the budget for this.  He answered with a bunch of reasons but did suggest certain marketing materials, like adding fliers inside of water bills, RG&E bills, etc.  They could do something like that.  We also suggested having fliers to place on people’s doors in the community explaining what we are doing, the need for what we are doing, to try to make this situation a little better for them, and the cats.

I don’t think I am explaining the conversation very well - I am a little off today - but that’s kind of the outline of the meeting.   I was also offered some free spay/neuter services by the Rochester Animal Services so I will need to call them and find out how I can get these vouchers.  The outline I brought to them had that suggestion, that this should be an ongoing offer to help me.  If I had more money and slots to spay/neuter, I would do more than two a week.  We need more action out there, and I can’t do it alone.  Would LOVE some help!

All in all, it was a good day, and I was able to get up this morning, go out to the hundred cats or so that I feed, and know that some of them would be safe where they are.  Now I need to work on the other half that are not safe.  The ones I feed on vacant house porches. 

UPDATE:  Saturday Sheryl just sent me the following:  Interesting.

State of New York Department of Agriculture and Markets
Albany, NY 12235 

ARTICLE 26 

of the Agriculture and Markets Law relating to CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

§ 377-a. Spaying and neutering of dogs and cats. 1. The legislature finds that the uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats in the state results in an overabundance of puppies and kittens. More puppies and kittens are produced than responsible homes for them can be provided. This leads to many of such animals becoming stray and suffering privation and death, being impounded and destroyed at great expense to the community and constituting a public nuisance and health hazard.

It is therefore declared to be the public policy of New York state that every feasible humane means of reducing the production of unwanted puppies and kittens be encouraged. 

So what does this mean???

Have a good day.

It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.”

TNR Tuesday

Regarding the gate for sale on yesterday's post - yes, kitten proof - obviously not for kittens right out of the womb!  But yes slats are tight.  Have used it for many.  ESPECIALLY for kittens so that they can get used to the bigger guys on the other side.    I cannot tell you how invaluable its been to have a gate like this.  Not only do you not feel as guilty when you leave them, but they can hear, see and smell all that is happening outside of the gate.  Its the guilt that gets me.  And the under stimulation (is that a word?) that the cat/kittens are getting with the door shut. 

Today is TNR Tuesday, and I got two.  I set a trap on Melville, where there are just so many kitties, and then set one two spots up on Parsells.  Went about to do the other four on the front nine, went back to check on both traps, and BOOM BAM BLAM!  Got two sweeties - well, I don't think they are sweeties at this point - feral is what they are, but sweeties nevertheless I guess!  Sweet little black one on Parsells, and white and grey tab on Melville.  I suspect they might both be males.  These two guys will set me back another $120.  Please consider sponsoring a spay today.  The clinic will take a donation under my name at 585.288.0600.  Thanking you in advance.  PS, please let me know you did, they are not good about that!

MOOSE from Melville

PUMA from Parsells

I want to tell you a little about my spots today.   The places I drive to each and every day of my life at 4 am. in the morning.  I am going through 40 pounds of dry food a day, and at least 50 cans of cat food (that of which most has been emptied out the day before into large yogurt containers).  I have shelters set up at most locations, but not all.  And some spots - there are 15 cats at one location - don't have enough shelter for all the cats.  And winter is just around the corner.

I cannot disclose locations anymore for fear of shelters being removed and destroyed.

1. At this location, where there is a neighbor on one side that destroyed my shelters and told me to stay away, that I was drawing more cats there, and raccoons, there are about four or five kitties, mostly lurking in the shadows until I leave.  One is a pure grey, sweet little thing.  I have rescued…… 8-10 cats here in the past two years.  It all began when the man that used to rent here moved and left, from what I hear, his four cats to fend for themselves.  The house has been vacant since.  I have also TNR’d at least 8 cats here on top of those numbers.  There is an older kitten I am trying to trap here also.

2. This next spot is pretty new, behind a dumpster behind a store on Parsells.  There is a big red cat, and a black and white kitty that are now dependent on this location, for the food, water, and newly tucked in shelter I created for them.  Wish I hadn’t seen them early in the springtime – did I really need another location to feed at?  Uggh.

3. Just around the bend, on Parsells, is a porch of a vacant house that belonged to the grandmother of the family next door. They don’t mind, I have several shelters with a tarp over, and there are many kitties that feed here.  I could trap on a weekly basis and get someone new.

4. Just down from there, same street, is where there are 15 displaced cats.  I used to feed and shelter across the street for many many years until the gay couple moved out and the property managers trashed all my stuff. Now, I don’t know what to do.  There is a vacant lot down the street, and across, but I don’t know if I entice them to move that far – and what would the neighbors say about that?  Right now, the neighbor to the right does not like me feeding there, the cats are spaying in her garden and her son and I nearly had that fistfight a few months back.  All quiet on the home front so far, but the four measly shelters on this porch will not protect all these cats.  This is where there is still an unspayed/neutered kitten.  And several other unspayed/unneutered kitties.  I could set a trap here too and get a cat, and it is so hard to choose each week where to set a trap.

SIDE NOTE:  IF I had more spots available for spay/neuter, and IF I had more money, I would be able to trap more, but with just myself trying to do this large location of the city, its very difficult.  I could really use the help, both physically, and financially, and obviously, I need more availability from clinics/RAS.

5. Onto the next location, still on the Front Nine, where behind this vacant lot is a larger shelter – here there are at least 10 cats that I can count.  Most have been spayed/neutered.  Although I have seen some younger kitties that I know need to be fixed.  I need to set a trap here too.  This is next door to the man that has allowed me to do this – even though I don’t think he owns the vacant lot.  He has a cat named Max, and the man’s name is Jeff.  I need to remain on his good side.

6. The last stop on the Front Nine is where there are about 8-10 cats.  This is where I rescued Barack, I think was the last one.  Or was it Baxter?  This is where I had to re-release Bugsy recently, thinking I could tame him and get him adopted.  He went crazy in my bathroom, so had to put him back.  I am waiting for a school teacher to contact me about delivering some nice wooden huts he and his students made for me in shop class.  This is property owned by a church and they have allowed me to keep shelters here.  The neighbor to the right, and the neighbor across the street like what I am doing.  There is a new family moved in behind since July, and they made it clear to me a few weeks ago that they don’t like cats and wish I would not feed there.  Right.

7. Now we cross over Webster Avenue and I feed at a vacant house around there.  I’ve not seen Crazy Maryleigh in close to a year now?  Remember all that?  CRAZY.  Its been nice, but also there are some beautiful, pitiful cats that wait for me each morning.  Beautiful.   I fixed a few recently that now allow me to get close, but there are always new ones lurking.  I have rescued many here, most notably the cat with the bone stuck in the roof of his mouth, who is doing quite well in a wonderful home in the country. 

At all of the above locations, I have rescued hundreds of cats and found them homes over the years.  Many, the ones I had to return to the streets, I’ve never seen again.  Joy and heartbreak – it goes hand in hand in this mission I am on to save all of them, one at a time.

I’ve run out of time. I promise to finish up the Back Nine tomorrow!  Wish me luck today at City Hall!

Have a great day!  (the following quote is very true.)

Manic Monday

It was cold and chilly this morning.  There was a light drizzle. The rains over the weekend were not pleasant either.  I had to hurry to each spot and pour the food and water.

Lets start with the good news.  BAXTER was adopted on Friday.  Hooray!  He is still a bit spooked in his new surroundings, but he will come out of it. He has a good new mom who will devote her time and attention to only him.  Because that's all there is.  Just the two of them.  Hooray!  Thanks to his foster family for getting him ready!  :)

Now we need to find homes for Peaches, Peppercorn, Riley and Squirt, and Sydney and Joanie.  I am hoping to get the kittens spayed and neutered in the next week or so.

Check out this new feature on my blog!  For Sale!!
FOR SALE: This is a GREAT tool for introduction of a new cat with your existing dogs or cats. My friend's husband, a master carpenter, made a couple of these for me years ago and they have been INVALUABLE with the introduction of newly rescued cats acclimating to other cats, sounds, and gives them more attention rather than being closed off in a room. I told him he should sell them, and said I would put it out there. $20. Fits all doorways, and has attached doohickeys that fit on side to ensure a tight fit. Please let me know your interest! 

Gate

Doohickey for Gate

The following are pictures of three of the five kittens that are/were living on Central and Second Streets.  I feed them under this old mailbox.  I had the one long haired beautiful tabby TNR’d – she has maine coon features with the whispy haired ears and all – just a beauty.  In fact she is now rolling over on the sidewalk for me.  But won’t get too close.  I say are/were living, because I don’t see the other two.  Saturday morning, an elderly black man stopped – on his way to the bootleggers house just across the road – and told me that the house just down the road on the other side is where the kittens ‘belong’ to.  He said they have a ton of them.  So, there lies another problem.

Someone asked me about Spencer. Spencer is doing OK.  He continues on the Prednisolone, daily for four weeks, and then cut it to every three days after the four weeks.  He is thin, but the yellowing of his mouth, nose and eyes is not too bad.  MUCH better than it was.  He seems to be constantly hungry, but is also very finicky.  Chicken.  He must have the expensive chicken dishes.  I left him having fun this morning playing with some toys.  So for now, he is good!

Tomorrow is the meeting at City Hall, and I hope to make some progress, especially with several articles pointed out to me lately addressing what other places are doing with their cat/rat  problems.  I am hoping that there will be a health department official there, as that is what was suggested at our last meeting.  Do you know how many DEAD rats I see?  The Short Street rat problem was an isolated problem exacerbated by the house filth and from the trash next door to that.  My shelters should never have been REMOVED.  Its humans that are causing the rat problem, not the cats.

I did have SOME fun this weekend.  See below.  Thanks Jacqueline and Mary.  I loved the Dark and Spooky drinks I made too!  PS, I WON!  (guess which is my pumpkin!)

Kitty below on Niagara I discovered Sunday morning.  Very sick, like something stuck in its mouth.  I got its picture, and was hoping to help it out this morning, but no sign of it.  Poor thing.

Sick Cat on Niagara

Peppercorn was brought to his foster home.  He is just the sweetest, best cat.  A true lover.  Just loves to be held like a baby and loves his belly scratched too.  His new foster mom is WONDERFUL!  Thank you Kim!  Lets get this boy adopted!

Peppercorn!

We also have some real cuties - Kittens Joanie, Sydney, Riley and Squirt - that will be ready for adoption as soon as I can find low cost spay and neuter for them, which I am working on.  They are READY.

Riley

Squirt

The Girls - Sydney and Joanie

Make it a great day!  Don't forget to smile - everyone you meet is struggling with something.

Noah's Ark

Its miserable out there.  So much rain, so much wet.  I realized I had a hole in my rubber wellies when I got out of the car at Short Street, and in the darkness, stepped right into a very deep puddle.  My foot was soaked.  Must have been a nail or something that poked a hole through the boot.

The last thing I wanted to do was go out into the pouring rain this morning, especially after I had my hair straightened two days ago, professionally.  But I rugged up.  Bundled my hair in a pony tail, put an old lady plastic bonnet over that, and then my sweatshirt hood over that.  I came home and stripped off every last soaking piece of clothing I had on, and my hair was still damp.

I do it though because of the animals.  They are hungry, and no matter the weather, they depend on me to come and give them something to eat.  Poor babies.  I try to make their meager shelters as comfortable for them as possible.  Must get more shelter. 

I leave you with this story, the Rabbinic Judaism version of Noah's Ark.

The Building of Noah's Ark (painting by a French master of 1675).

Talmudic tractates Sanhedrin, Avodah Zarah and Zevahim relate that, while Noah was building the ark, he attempted to warn his neighbors of the coming deluge, but was ignored or mocked. In order to protect Noah and his family, God placed lions and other ferocious animals to guard them from the wicked who tried to stop them from entering the ark. According to one Midrash, it was God, or the angels, who gathered the animals to the ark, together with their food. As there had been no need to distinguish between clean and unclean animals before this time, the clean animals made themselves known by kneeling before Noah as they entered the ark. A differing opinion said that the ark itself distinguished clean animals from unclean, admitting seven pairs each of the former and one pair each of the latter.

According to Sanhedrin 108B, Noah was engaged both day and night in feeding and caring for the animals, and did not sleep for the entire year aboard the ark.^[30] The animals were the best of their species, and so behaved with utmost goodness. They abstained from procreation, so that the number of creatures that disembarked was exactly equal to the number that embarked. The raven created problems, refusing to leave the ark when Noah sent it forth and accusing the patriarch of wishing to destroy its race, but as the commentators pointed out, God wished to save the raven, for its descendants were destined to feed the prophet Elijah.

According to one tradition, refuse was stored on the lowest of the ark's three decks, humans and clean beasts on the second, and the unclean animals and birds on the top; a differing interpretation described the refuse as being stored on the utmost deck, from where it was shoveled into the sea through a trapdoor. Precious stones, said to be as bright as the noon sun, provided light, and God ensured that food remained fresh.^[31][32][33] Some more unorthodox interpretations of the ark narrative also surfaced: the 12th-century Jewish commentator Abraham ibn Ezra interpreted the ark as being a vessel that remained underwater for 40 days, after which it floated to the surface.

Interesting, eh?

OH!  Baxter is going to his hopefully forever home today!  Fingers crossed!  :)  Now we have Paddy, Peaches and Peppercorn, the adults, and Riley, Squirt, Sydney and Joanie, the kittens, to find homes for!  Spread the word!

Happy Friday!

Another Rescue!

So this morning, I had to let the little kitten back out on the street.  Just as I suspected, its a girl.  She was spayed, given her shots, and was scared to death.  I had to really coax her to get out of the trap on Parsells this morning.  BROKE my heart.

Meet Peppercorn.  AKA Sugar.  I like Peppercorn better, so now, thee is Peppercorn!  He was brought into clinic yesterday, neutered, tested negative for all, and is good to go.  As a matter of fact, this sweet little boy - between 1-2 years of age, is a total LOVER!  I've been feeding him in the early morning hours on this vacant lot on Seventh for close to two months now.  His one ear must have been ripped in a fight - so it made it look like he had been ear-tipped and neutered.  So now he has matching ears!  :)  I am so grateful that someone has offered to foster this kid.  Off he goes to Caledonia this weekend, fingers crossed!

PEPPERCORN

I also am hopeful that someone is interested in Baxter.  We need to relieve his foster family as I think they might want a break.  They do, however, report that Baxter is wonderful with the kids, the other cats, and the pug dog they have, so he is really quite a catch!

I also received a call last evening in someone who is interested in meeting Sydney and Joannie! Hurray!  Fingers crossed.  Friday, my day off, she can meet the little girls and hopefully fall in total love.  Paddy's foster is falling madly in love with him, everyday telling me how he is coming out of his shell with her.  He has yet to meet his canine foster family, so fingers crossed.  Peaches foster mom has already said maybe she'll keep him but I told her NO!  You cannot be a foster failure.  We WILL find him a home!  Our other gal who is fostering the two recently rescued kittens from Bay Street, Riley and Squirt, is finding that the two are still a bit skittish, but she is the resident cat whisperer, and until she goes on vacation in early November, I have full confidence they will be much more tame, and ready for adoption.  Can't wait to get the little buggers then.  :)

This little one below has been running across the road each day - Pennsylvania Avenue - he is just a kitten, maybe 7 months old?  With a plastic flea collar.  He is also unneutered.  Lets see how long it is before he becomes actually homeless due to being unneutered, and spraying in the house soon - and his ignorant family who let him out unneutered, when the low income clinic is just down the street.  Sorry, but there is no excuse.   They may love cats, but they have to realize, or talk to people, don't they?  This is why there are so many displaced cats out there that I feed every day!  I think its criminal to own a cat and not have it fixed!

This little girl I've been feeding for many years now on Pennsylvania.  She appears to have a mouth issue.  Drooling a bit.  I am keeping an eye on her.  Would love to get her off the street and into a safe home.  She is a tiny little petite muted calico that I've now named Catarina.

CATARINA

I think that's all I have for right now.  I must get to work.  Appointment at City Hall this Tuesday.  Lets see how that goes!  Fingers crossed for good outcome!

Have a great day!

"There is no royal road to anything.  One thing at a time, all things in succession.  That which grows fast, withers as rapidly.  That which grows slowly, endures."

TNR Tuesday

Well, today was trapping day.  The day I dread, but the day I know I am doing the most good for the pitiful overpopulation of cats in this city.  Two cats out of thousands.  It doesn't seem much really but in the big picture, especially the kitten this morning, and the kitten last week, they won't give birth in two months from now under a porch.  Last week's kitten was a girl, and I suspect this nearly identical one, its sibling, is a girl too.  The other guy - his ear looks like its already tipped, but it could be ripped.  From a fight long ago.  Plus, feeling 'back there', he feels like he still has his you know whats.  He is a very friendly guy, and I may make the decision to make him rescue #....  ???? 40 so far this year?  Not sure.  Have to recount.  There have been quite a few lately.

Please consider sponsoring a spay or neuter.  I/they could really use the help.  The more I spend of my own money, the less I can help these kitties out there that need help.  The clinic's number is 585-288-0600 and just tell them you would like to make a donation to my account.  Thank you ever so much.

SUGAR from Seventh

PAISLEY from Parsells

I was notified last evening of someone interested in adopting Baxter!  Yay!  Great news!  That would leave Peaches, Cookie, Baylee, and the two sets of kittens that need homes.  C'mon guys, spread the word!  So many more to save out there!

I picked up another dead kitty off the street this morning, on Parsells.  Its terribly sad.  I will get out to feed at one location there, and watch a car speed nearly 100 miles an hour down that street.  Its scary actually.  I just want to shine my light in their face as they go past like they have those laser beams that blind planes.  I know that sounds a bit violent, but I hate people that don't think of the animals crossing roads, especially after having to remove the dead one off the street this morning.

Penny

Pepper

For some great news, if you remember Penny and Pepper, the two red kittens I rescued, and found good homes for them in Webster.  Well, here they are!  Happy still, years later.  Thank you to my adopters!

When Penny and Pepper were kittens!

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

Rainy Days...and Mondays...

BE SURE TO CLICK ON PICS TO ENLARGE PHOTOS

Friday Morning:

TGIF

I've been fascinated with the moon the past few mornings.  I tried to take these pics with my cell phone, and of course, they never turn out as well as the naked eye.  And I tried to chase the moon as I was out at 4 am.  The trees were usually in the way.  At one point, the moon was HUGE, and I tried to get a shot of it before it went down, and I wound up getting the dude that was walking past at the time.  I am sure he thought I was nuts.  You can see the moon, its the furthest right round white ball in the picture.  :)

A few notes of observation from this morning at my feeding locations.

1                feeding a sweet little grey kitty that I don’t if it belongs to the house next door.

2               I’ve set up shelter behind this store on Parsells, big red and black and white kitties have been partaking in the food I’ve left there all summer long

3               I brought a whisk broom to sweep up the tiny shards of glass that were there two days ago.  You have no idea how many cats I see limping out there.

4               There is a beautiful fluffy white cat with a few markings here and there  and there was also a black and white kitty that came up on the porch - starving - while I was serving the food and I felt her belly, her milk ducts were full.  UGGGH.  :(

(RAN OUT OF TIME TO FINISH THIS POST ON FRIDAY - but will continue my notes another day)

Monday Morning:

I decided to keep Paddy's name - thanks to all of you for the suggestions - they were great!  Its on his paperwork, and it would be funny to change his name midway.  I thought of another name that I will use in the future - Peppercorn.  :)  Love that name.

PADDY

Paddy was brought to a foster home on Sunday.  What a lovely couple they are.  And their two cute dogs - one a big lug - Gracie - a black lab, and the other a Chihuahua.  Cuter than cute.  Of course Paddy wont have the pleasure of meeting them for a while until he settles in to his new surroundings.  Better than my bathroom, that's for sure.  He is such a good boy, he will make a good companion for just the right person.  Right now he is still in hiding, according to his foster mom this morning.  I pray he comes around soon.  He's been through a LOT.  Now to get Baxter and Peaches adopted first.  Then our little brat babies Sydney and Joannie, and then Riley and Squirt.  Cutest kittens ever.  :)

It was raining and miserable out there today.  My hair is a mess.  I did my rounds in record speed.  Just over an hour.  I timed my spot at Baldwin and Grand - 4.5 minutes.  That spot is a pain because I am now medicating Bugsy - he sounds very very congested.  But I think these pills that a friend provided me with are doing the trick.  I have not seen the unneutered black cat - Blackie #2 in a very long while now, maybe two weeks.  And Fluffypants #2 was not there this morning, which makes me worry.  He is there like clockwork.

Saturday Sheryl pointed out this little footprint.  What do YOU think it belongs to?  Speaking of, I found a opossum curled up on my chair on my porch this morning when I got home from feeding.  Cutest little bugger, but he had to go.  He was slow moving, and wouldn't budge at one point.  So I got out a cat toy, the wand type, and tried to pry him out the door by lightly tapping on his butt.  He was stubborn, but out he went, finally.

I am trying to get my shelters built up for the upcoming days.  Straw, shelters, tarps, pallets, heavy rocks or pavers - we are expecting high winds tomorrow or the next day so must make sure these tarps stay in place with the pavers.  Thanks to those of you that dropped some off to me.  Saturday Sheryl helped me this past Saturday, we did the Front Nine.  Next weekend, the Back Nine.  We had to open the shelters, and put fresh straw in, etc.  Found a lot of dead little animals, and Sheryl saw some creepy spiders.  Other than that, its good to freshen them up. 

I took a picture of my city garden.  It is overgrown at the moment, but still looks beautiful, even at 5 am.

I am still waiting for the city to call me back with another date and time to meet, along with the health department.  I will reach out to them again today.  We need to make changes, and I won't stop until we do.

Have a nice day.

"Yesterday is not ours to recover, 

but tomorrow is ours to win or lose."