Monday, December 28, 2020

112!!!

What a crazy week.  The holidays.  I wasn't looking forward to them this year, and I can certainly say I am glad they are over.  Thank God for the friends and family I have and the love they showed.  Thank you to all!  

I was hoping to rescue just one more kitty from the streets by year end, but I don't think that will happen.  I rescued the three kittens from Ferndale in past two weeks, but the first one rescued, Dale, passed away last week.  He died in Foster Mom Sue's arms the morning of the vet appointment I had made for all three due to sniffles they all had.  Turns out suspected calicivirus for the two, and Dale must have had it compounded with other ailments as well.  We never know what these street kittens pick up from the mother and father, and the cats at the colony as well.  We just take our chances with any cat, be it adult or baby, to better their lives, no matter how short their lives turn out to be.  I brought little Dale in a paper bag to the vet along with his two siblings, Ernie and Fernie, and boy was that sad handing over his little body to the caring tech that came out to get them.  Prayers said, medicine given, watchful eye by Sue, and they are doing well as we speak.  Sue said she didn't think she could handle another.  Pic of Dale below:


Thanks to all who helped me this year.  I couldn't have done it without you.  You know who you are.  I am so grateful.  So are the 112 cats and kittens I, or friends managed to pull from the streets or from dire situations.  I know I seem crazy to some people, but hey, we all have a passion, and I am one passionate woman, no one can argue with that.  ha ha.

Its nasty out, its winter out, and I am doing my best to keep these cats from freezing to death by not only feeding them every other day, but making sure their shelters are intact from the freezing air and strong winds we get each winter.  Speaking of intact, I am trying to spay and neuter the cats on Ferndale so that we don't have any more babies being born to the mom there that keeps producing litters like Fern, Dale and Ernie.  I could use some help here.  Someone to man the trap on a Monday or Tuesday morning so that I can bring cat in on standby at the clinic.

I can also use more boards, and shelters.  

Thanks all for still reading this silly blog I write.

Have a great day!

"There are all these moments you think you won't survive.  And then you survive."


Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Hump Day ... right.

 Hello its me...  I've thought about you for a long long time...  maybe I think too much but something's wrong...  Ya think?  Yea!  I have a real job now.  And its keeping me hopping!  :)  And I am thankful.

But in the meantime, back to cat world.  Sooooooooooo much has happened since I wrote last week.  I rescued the kitty from Grand and Stout, 'Buddy' is a happy camper with his new 96 year-old dad.  But Dad is worried about Buddy lately, thinking that any cat he gets now is sick and dying.  Buddy stopped eating like he was normally, so his Dad got worried, and called me, and now is worried he is dying like the last kitty he adopted from me, Katie.  I remind him gently that we don't know what the history of these kitties from the street are, we just know they are vetted, given a clean bill of health, as best as they can with the few tests that are affordable, and we know they were handled by humans at some point, which is why it makes them adoptable once rescued.  But Buddy is eating a bit, so we are slowly watching that.

After trapping for kittens on Ferndale Crescent, and getting Ernie originally, we managed to get two more kittens since.  We now have brother Dale, and sister Fern!  They are GORGEOUS.  And we got them in the nick of time, before they could turn feral.  All three I was able to reach in the trap and pet them, and get them out and hold them, before they went to Foster Sue's house.  Thank you Foster Sue, once again!  She just loves kittens, and babies, ya think?

I have a chance to get some adult cats off the streets thanks to a girl that reached out to me that runs the Purrs and Paws cafe in Eastview Mall.  There are still some questions to be answered, but if I could get the spots at the clinic to get them tested, spayed and neutered, they could be good to go for show and tell at the cafe.  I will continue to further look into this.

Peanut and Jinx, who are being fostered at my cousin's house, are set to be adopted!  They will be delivered to their new home on Saturday, and Jinx will be vetted on Tuesday.  Jinx wound up at the emergency vet two weeks ago this Saturday with ''' vistibula''' ??  Its like vertigo.  He couldn't stand and his head was rolling around so I immediately took him to emergency.  After 10 days of drops in his "very infected ear", he looks good to go.  They are both still very shy so his new family is going to have to have a lot of patience, and time to give, before they earn their trust.  



Speaking of that, Archie and Veronica, two of the five Foster Sheryl has, were 'adopted' for two days, and returned.  Sad that the family let them out too early from their confined space because they didn't have enough time to learn to trust their new people.  The husband wound up grabbing one, and getting in a tangle with him, so I was called and asked that they be returned.  So they are back on the market!  And I will make sure that whoever adopts any of the five realize that they are from the streets, they are going to be frightened, but GUARANTEED they will be the sweetest kitties to their new owners eventually, it just takes time and patience!

The mornings are getting cold out.  It was 19 degrees this am.  Cuts through you like a knife each time you get out of the vehicle.  But its ok.  I am young and pretty enough... ha... did I say that? ... that it doesn't matter, I can take it!  hee hee

I think that's all I have.  Hoping to post something again much sooner than the last time.  

Have a great day!






Monday, December 7, 2020

I'm Back!

 

This blog is whittling down.  I’ve been writing since 2010.  All good things must come to an end, unfortunately.  I will still continue to post, but its not an everyday thing, as you might have noticed since this Covid crap started.  I haven’t stopped feeding and rescuing the cats in the Beechwood section,  but finding the time to sit and write – well, the passion for that has left the building. 

But today I have a few moments to share some highlights from the past week.  So “Buddy”, the sweet little kitty that I was going to rescue from Grand and Stout last week, I did rescue.  He was whisked off to live with his new 96-yr. old dad, Frank.  Frank named him Buddy immediately upon seeing him and within a day of hanging out in a spare room to acclimate, Buddy was wandering the house, and jumping up on Frank’s lap, happy as can be.  Such great stories out there just waiting for their happy endings.  Here's Buddy!

I have mentioned the baby kittens on Ferndale Crescent before.  The city had come and cleaned up the lot, and took all the shelters I had placed there for the seven or so cat that ‘lived’ there.  Well, there were also newborns that I didn’t want to touch because they needed to be weaned first from their mom.  I thought the city picked them up in the shelter and trashed them like they had with the other shelters there.  Sure enough, there they were again once I replaced the shelters.  Now, six weeks later, my friend Elisabeth wanted to try to trap them last week so she set about doing that, and got one this past week.  Thank you to Elisabeth, and thanks to Sue for fostering this little boy.  Sweeter than honey!  We are trying to get more because this little boy is very lonely without his siblings and mother.   Meet Fern!  (Boy name)







I went to visit the fluffy red Melville boy who is now in the custody of a nice woman Sharon, to try to coax him out of hiding for the past two weeks.  Sure enough, I spotted him and got down on the floor to give him pats.  I think he recognized my voice as I’ve been feeding him for over two years now.  He is starting to come around.  I was so worried!

There are still so many adult cats out there that just need a home.   I will try to get some pictures.  Please consider foster and adoption.

Have a great day!

"If it comes, let it.  

If it goes, let it."

Monday, November 23, 2020

Pussies Galore!

Happy Monday!  Its been a long weekend.  I delivered little Misty to her new home, and as always, its very hard to place a kitten into the arms of a person you know nothing about.   You have to have blind trust with adoptions.  You try to get to know them, friend them on Facebook, talk on phone briefly, but its just a hard thing to do.  Like handing your baby to a stranger.

I rescued Melville Red on Friday.  I scruffed him firmly and placed him in carrier.  He was not a happy boy, he cried incessantly, had his ears back and low growling by the time I arrived back home with him an hour later.  Thanks to Sharon, his adopter, she swung by just before his appointment at the vet to have him checked out and given his shots, deflea and dewormer.  Combo tested as well, flying colors.  Its always a great feeling to get a cat off the street, but there are so many more.


And speaking of so many more, Danielle and Chuck, the couple that help with the one colony on Parsells, and Chuck’s employer, DeGeorge Ceilings who allows him to have a shelter in the back of the parking lot, they rescued two kittens yesterday morning, and kept them in a crate overnight.  Danielle brought one to his appointment this morning at the clinic.  I am so grateful to both of them.  GOOD people.   We were only expecting one kitten, but I told them if they could get another as a companion, that would be good, and they did.  One beautiful red and one beautiful gray!  Thanks once again for fostering Cousin Patty!  We will need to get these two kittens socialized so if anyone has time…



Plus we have Brooklyn left with Foster Mom Sue, and the five at Saturday Sheryl’s house.  We need to get them all adopted.



Thats baby Brooklyn above.  Archie below

Eastwood below


Scarlet below


Simon below


Veronica below!

No big stuff happening on the streets.  It’s quiet out there.  Occasionally Homeless Will will ride up on his bike and tell me a joke, ask if I have a dollar, and tell me he loves me as he rides away penniless.  (I never carry money – and he knows it – but always tries).

There are baby baby kittens on Ferndale Crescent that I just can’t get.  All black.  The mother has had several litters.  As I said, this profession is exhausting and I just can’t do it alone anymore.  Somethings gotta give.

Sweet picture time.  Remember the kitten that was found in the dumpster off Hudson Avenue last year – with its legs ziptied – by a homeless couple?  Well, here she is after a year in her adoptive home.  The doctor that treated her fell instantly in love, and little Aayda “Bean” loves her big brother too!



Special thanks to June, Elisabeth and Sheryl for helping me immensely in so many ways.

Have a great day!



Monday, November 16, 2020

Life!

 

Oh Blog, I have missed you.  My new job and life are keeping me so busy, I just haven't had time for you!  Forgive me.

I want to start out by offering my condolences to a couple who have helped me immensely over the years helping to develop the website, the Facebook rescue page, building solid wood shelters, helping with fundraisers, posting pictures of available cats on two websites, etc. – Andrea her husband Lou.  Andrea lost her mom last week and I grieve for them.  I don’t think I will handle it well when I lose my mother.   She is my rock.

I am planning on rescuing the fluffy Melville boy this Friday.  Wish me luck.  A woman offered to take him into her fold, and I am so grateful.  The last time I tried this he pushed his way out of the carrier and took off for a week before he trusted me again.  I have an appointment for his shots and all the other good stuff as he was a former TNR of mine.  He now headbutts my head when I bend down to pour the food, so I know he is ready for a home.

And thanks to my friends Chuck and Danielle who help to feed a colony on Parsells (and thanks to Chuck’s employer DeGeorge Ceilings for allowing the shelters!), we will be rescuing a sweet little … maybe three month old… red tabby that Chuck is able to hold.  Kitten is part of a litter, but the others are a bit skittish.  Thank you two.  Your help is truly valuable.

Brooklyn is still looking for her forever home.  :(  All her sibs have been adopted.  Thanks again Sue for your awesome fostering.


Thanks to Sheryl for fostering these five kittens that are not even on a website yet.  We’ve got to get them adopted, but also to get them socialized.  They have been in a cage for a month now, and I really feel bad for them.  They are too skittish to be let loose in the room she has the cage in because of all the hiding spaces she has.  If someone is able to take them in and are good with socializing, I would really appreciate it.  If others have the time to go visit them and hold them, etc, that would be awesome as well.  Their names are South, West, East and North.  Oh, and Gates.  How original.

 





The fifth kitten I am STILL waiting on a picture of...  👽

Thanks and have a great day!



Friday, November 6, 2020

SASSY!

Today's post is a copy/paste from Facebook written by my friend, Beth Adams Pitoniak's husband Scott Pitoniak.  I've followed Beth for years through her morning radio show on WHAM, and continue to follow her on Facebook.  She quite often posted pictures of her beloved cat Sassy, whose name I copied a time or two for a new rescue.  Sassy recently passed, and her husband, a sports columnist, wrote something about Sassy that touched my heart, so for those of you that don't have Facebook, I share this article he wrote in the Rochester Business Journal recently.  So sweet.  Cats really do touch our hearts.

"Our pets do indeed leave paw prints on our souls. Please click on the link below and read and share my column about how our dearly departed cat Sassy taught me so much about life. If only we could be more like our pets, the world would be a better place. Peace and love everybody.



https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Frbj.net%2F2020%2F11%2F03%2Fhow-a-finicky-cat-named-sassy-taught-a-sportswriter-about-life%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2yHxxH6_-TMmHfTWbdXDt4330Int8AmWxl3GsBSEPulpqvChvyqX4zpLM&h=AT2TYoGXt_Qj4fOs1XeqX1F9Y2KpDiUK4OV8BmMGqBhjxojFu5Cry7Mx1rarMcjQ5RuyWhk8xk_KR2i-rxLmYze7WJj1G2W2Sbo4BwEU6yaNrVJB-3QOK_RFScO4WPzOhk5u4-BF-dq72WiUfg&__tn__=-UK-y-R&c[0]=AT2eowFQ47QKYu_YD5PgctRZapQlrj5CVG1QJkexddSJc2EHbz5oXzstnO-XsJp0jLwHCTm01Gcq0GiaPiWiJ5azig7wvIe2oQ2KrqCr2tISeuTFbefCC0kOWtWAe14m21NmmEf1QNTE_vs9DdWFvAYioL0CBX_9CVjlSNe8iHVHDYECy3I

Right about now — just three words into this column — I would have been interrupted by my cat, Sassy. She already would have leapt up onto my desk and started meowing orders for me to stop typing, so I could tend to more important matters — such as stroking her furry head, plopping food or treats into her bowl, or letting her outside for one of her mysterious neighborhood adventures. And I would have had no choice but to comply because Sassy was one relentless, headstrong feline. She never took no for an answer.

But as I write these words there are no interruptions, no derailments of thought. Just silence, as a lonely, teary-eyed writer tries to fill an empty screen and a hole in his heart.

See, Sassy, left this earthly realm Friday night, and the void is beyond enormous. What I wouldn’t give to have her here right now driving me to loving distraction.

My kids are adults in their 30s, who flew the nest long ago. My beloved bride works crazy, in-the-middle-of-the-night hours, so I see her less frequently than I would like. And I string words, sentences and paragraphs together mostly from home, in solitude. But thanks to the irascible, never-a-dull-moment Sassy, I rarely felt lonely. She wouldn’t let me.

We adopted her — or should I say she adopted us — on a rainy, overcast February day nearly a dozen years ago from a wonderful organization known as GRASP — Greece Residents Assisting Stray Pets. She was a “rescue cat,” and, as I long ago realized, we didn’t rescue her; she rescued us. Our timing — and hers — proved impeccable. A few months earlier, I had been “down-sized” after nearly 40 years in the daily newspaper business. Less than a week after that crushing blow, our precious cat, Oscar, died. Christmas that year wasn’t very merry.

A listener to the popular morning radio show my wife co-hosted knew how much Beth loved animals, and knew how much she was hurting from the loss of Oscar, with whom she had formed an eternal bond. She called Beth about fostering a cat from GRASP to provide a salve for our grief. That cat would be the indomitable Sassy. She was roughly 2 years old and already had been shuffled around to several foster homes.

When Beth mentioned the possibility of fostering a cat, I chuckled. Fostering implied something temporary, but I knew this wasn’t going to be temporary given Beth’s passion for our furry friends. On our drive home with our “foster,” Beth and Sassy sat in the backseat and lovingly conversed. I could sense another unbreakable bond forming. Upon arriving at our townhouse, we let Sassy out of her carrier and this whiskered wonder spent the next 20 minutes bounding about, exploring every nook and cranny. After a thorough inspection of our premises, she settled on Beth’s lap and fell asleep. We had aced the test. Sassy had agreed to adopt us. Our lives would never be the same.

For the next 11 years and eight months, she would exasperate and entertain. She definitely was high maintenance. We jokingly referred to her as a PITA — a pain in the you know what. Despite that well-earned moniker, we couldn’t help but love her. She had us wrapped around her little paws.

Like most cats, Sassy, was a remarkable athlete. Although our 12-pound superhero might not have been able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, she easily ascended tall countertops and occasionally climbed atop the refrigerator, an ideal perch to observe her human parents in action. Given her propensity for jumping and fetching tossed balls, we surmised she had been a dog in a previous life. I have vivid memories of her sprinting like a bat out of hell across our backyard to the breezeway door. She would have made one heck of a running back, though her lack of discipline and refusal to take orders probably would have resulted in her carrying the ball into the wrong end zone or up into the stands.

Sassy loved the outdoors, and occasionally caused angst by disappearing for hours at a time. Thankfully, she always returned home from her hunting expeditions, often with dead mouse in mouth. In a primal nod to her Serengeti big cat ancestors, our huntress was merely bringing us gifts — gifts I would be responsible for burying. Beth and I sometimes wondered if Sassy would have been happier as a mouser in a barn. Fortunately, we discovered she was happiest where she was. With us.

Some of our fondest moments occurred when the peripatetic Sassy was still. I loved walking into the living room and seeing her ensconced on Beth’s lap while my bride read a book. A cat and a book. An unbeatable combination. Sweet, too, were those moments when I was watching a ballgame or a movie in my recliner, and Sassy settled onto my chest. I’ve always been full of hot air, and she clearly appreciated all those British Thermal Units I generated. Each morning, before confronting the stresses of impending deadlines, I rubbed her chin for a minute or two while telling her how much I loved her. Such a soothing way to begin each day.

Sassy taught me much about unconditional love and living in the moment — something I and most humans are terrible at. Too often, we obsess about what’s next, rather than savoring what’s now. During those precious occasions when I stared into her piercing green eyes and listened to her purr loudly, I felt serenity and calm. It was as if she was pulling all the negative stuff away from me, allowing me to experience true tranquility.

She had been in declining health for some time, but was a trooper till the very end; a profile in perseverance. In a time of pandemic, polarization and isolation, she was my rock, my furry muse and mentor.

For the first time in a long time, I am completing a column from start to finish without distraction. And that makes my soul sad. What I wouldn’t give to have that lovable, finicky feline bugging the heck out of me right now."

Best-selling author and nationally honored journalist Scott Pitoniak is the Rochester Business Journal sports columnist. His latest book, “Remembrances of Swings Past: A Lifetime of Baseball Stories,”  is available in paperback and digitally at amazon.com.

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Election Day!

 Although the cats could give two rats about that.  

Another bone chilling morning out there, although not as bad this morning as it has been.  I am glad I've had some help securing shelters, tarps, bricks, ets.  The only thing I could use now are boards - the kind you can set up against the open portion of the little 'apartments' that are housed under the tarps, on top of the pallets.  I am set with bricks (thanks Paula and John, and June and Gary) to hold the tarps down in these brutal winds we get.  Thanks for the tarps as well.  Thanks to those that have sent food, it is so appreciated, as I go through 70 lbs per feeding.  Not to mention the wet.  Love those big cans (June and Gary- they get a case at the Dollar Store occasionally). 




I delivered Monroe to his new home on Saturday.  OMG, seriously a great cat.  The new mom has a dog, and Monroe could have not cared in the least.  He is renamed Mo, and has a great home.  I couldn't be happier.  Thanks to cousin Patty for fostering. We need more fosters so that we can get more adult cats off the street.  There are many out there, and they go like hotcakes.  People want these older sweeties.


I delivered Bano to his new home and he is acclimating well with his new sister Miku, although I need to get an update.  Miku is a bit younger than kitten Bano, and a little more frisky and wild as well.



I delivered Hudson as well.  He is doing beautifully, and adjusting to his new big sister Gibson!



I delivered Mini and Marvin as well (yes, it was a busy Saturday).  Mini has had some 'bathroom issues' and had to be seen at the vet yesterday, as well as Marvin having the sniffles ($$).  Ugh.  I should have stuck to my thoughts earlier on to not have kittens go to new homes until AFTER their surgeries.  Its just too hard on my pocket, and the adopters having to take the kittens themselves to the vet I use.  I need to stick to my guns with this next set of kittens that Sheryl is fostering - East, West, North, South and Gates.  Pictures coming soon.

NO MORE KITTENS!!

That's all I have today.  Get out there and vote!


Friday, October 30, 2020

TGIF!!

 What a week!  Very busy and productive.  My first week back to work and I love it.

Today I will deliver.....  drumroll..... Monroe from Melville!  Monty's twin brother!  Yes, he has been adopted by a great girl who is going to spoil him.  He literally is one of the best cats I've ever rescued.  Besides his brother.  ONE of them.  There are so many ... ha ha ha.


Its getting cold out there.  The bastard that steals my boards on Niagara struck again.  He took a large door I had placed there to cover the food from the rain.  I said to June this morning, these cats have nothing, they suffer so much out there, and here you have some evil human making their suffering even worse.  The food gets soggy from the rain, not to mention the cats having to stand in pouring rain just to eat.  I hope this man gets what's coming to him.  And it will be coming buddy.  Karma.

Thanks to everyone who supported me one way or another this week.  I am ever so grateful.  

Have a great day!




Monday, October 26, 2020

Monday

Another Crazy Weekend.  And today I start my new job.  Its going to be a week.  And then some.  

Many thanks to Elisabeth (1x), Sheryl (1x) and June (2x) for faithfully tagging along with me in the mornings.  I am trying to whittle down to doing this only three times a week.  That will leave most of the cats hungry for two days.  Its just too much.  I've been doing this far too long.  I need a break.  And its getting more and more expensive and labor intensive with the city clearing four BIG colonies.  


I delivered Hudson, one of the NYC kitties to his new home.  He joins a big brother, and has two new awesome parents.  And such a beautiful home!  They are going to give lots of love to him.  I can't wait for an update!

Misty is in the process of being adopted, as well as Bano.  I am excited for them and their new lives ahead.  We also have Marvin and Mini being delivered this coming weekend.  They are ready to fly the coop.  Many thanks to Foster Sue for taking such good care of everyone, and the hardship of the rugs!  You know what I mean Sue!  :)

Its getting cold out there, and I am trying to secure the shelters to be safe and warm for all the homeless cats.  This is their only protection from the storms.  I could use more bricks right now.  


Let's get this gorgeous boy adopted.  He is the perfect cat in every way.  Monroe from Melville!

Thats all I have for today.

Have a great day!

"When you can't control what's happening, 

challenge yourself to control the way you respond. 

                         That's where your power is."

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Relief

Just an update.  Many thanks to Walt and Karon Simoni, I was able to get in touch with City of Rochester Director of Operations Karen St. Aubin who assured me the destruction of the shelters at the 10 vacant city lot properties will not be destroyed, even though four of them have been already been destroyed.

It was pretty messy out there this morning.  Lots of mud and puddles.  Still raining when I finished up.  Thanks to Sheryl for the two totes she made into shelters for me at last minute, I was able to place at Ferndale where many cats were displaced on Friday.  I still need camo tarps as the rain soaked the food that I had under a board there.  

A bit of good news, I received update on Titos and Percy from their new mom who is in love:




They love to play together.  Best friends.  :)

Have a great day!

"Kindness is choosing love over hate, light over darkness, compassion over judgment."


Monday, October 19, 2020

Gimme Shelter

 Saturday morning I discovered another colony that had been swept clean by the city crew, displacing at least another six cats.  That included a nursing mother that gave birth sometime the past two weeks, and I believe the babies were in one of the shelters.  The big trucks with the big claws or whatever they are haphazardly just picked up the shelters and threw them in their dump truck or whatever they used.  I was disgusted and sad.  I immediately placed a call (it was 5:30 am.) to a woman that works for the city, as advised by some friends that have connections - and this was a woman that I had meet with in the Mayor's office a few years ago when I met with officials there - and was told that as long as I had my fliers with contact information then I could use those city properties.  

I will place another call this morning because I can't lose anymore shelters.  I am fresh out and Sheryl is doing her best to build a few rickety ones for me.  If anyone can make a few for me I would appreciate it.  They also took all boards, plates, camouflage tarps and pallets.  I am disgusted by this.  I could really use help here.  Thats FOUR colonies these city workers have destroyed.  Displacing many cats just before winter.  I need to rebuild and would love the help.

I delivered Butternut and Acorn this weekend to their new home.  Looking forward to an update today.


Have a great day.




Monday, October 12, 2020

Baylee

 This post is dedicated to Baylee. Except I want to add that the bastards wiped out another shelter and displaced another 5 or so cats that depended on them for shelter during storms.  Not to mention a place to sleep at night.  It makes me sick.  I would love someone to draft a letter for me to the mayor.  Don't think that didn't stop me from replacing two of the three now.  I need more pre-made shelters now though.  Don't have enough.  These were beautiful wood shelters that people have made me over the years.  Sad.


Speaking of sad, I had Baylee scheduled for euth on Monday, today, as he was not acting right on Friday.  Very quiet.  Saturday morning he was not at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me as I came down.  He ALWAYS is there for his morning wet food meal.  I fed the few others I have, and did a quick look around before Sheryl arrived and we went out and did out thing at 5 am.  After, she came into the house with me to look for him, and I found him in the little hut in the spare bedroom just laying there.  He was still breathing, but not moving.  I decided to let him be.  I didn't want to traumatize him by bringing him into emergency for euth, I thought, this is perfect.  Sort of like hospice.  I covered him with a blanket, gave him a little water by syringe, and let him be.  


I went to check on him every hour, and by 1 am., I went down to see him and he was gone.  I already miss my baby boy.  The sounds he made because he could only breathe through his nose because of a defect in his throat.  I am very glad I spotted him on Bay Street many years ago and stopped to feed him and each day he would get a little closer to me, so I was able to scoop him up.  He was so sick back then.  

Thanks Lynne for sending me this beautiful poem.

“My dear human,
I see that you are crying, for it was my time to leave. Don't cry, please. I need to explain some things to you. You're sad because I left, but I'm so glad I met you. How many cats like me die daily without meeting someone special like you?
I know my departure saddens you, but I had to go when I did. I want to tell you not to blame yourself for anything. Without you I would have known nothing of the love and beauty I carry with me today.
You must know that we animals live intensely in the present and we are very wise; we enjoy every little thing every day, and forget the bad in our past quickly. Our lives really begin when we know love, that same love that you, my angel without wings, gave me.
Know that if you find an animal that is seriously injured, and that it only has a little bit of time in this world, you provide a huge service by accompanying it in its final transition. None of us likes to be alone, even when we realize it's time to leave. Maybe for you it's not so important that one of you is next to us caressing us and holding our paw, helping us to go in peace; but it is for us.
No more crying, please. I'll be happy. I have the name you gave me, the warmth of your house that, in our time together, became mine. I take the sound of your voice talking to me, even though I didn't always understand what you were saying to me. I carry in my heart every caress you ever gave me.
Everything you did was very valuable to me and I thank you endlessly. I don't know how to tell you, because I don't speak your language, but hopefully you saw the gratitude in my eyes.
I'm going to ask for some favors from you.
Wash your face and start smiling.
Remember how well we lived together in our time together, and the antics I made to cheer you up.
Relive all the good we shared in our time together.
And do not say you will not adopt another because you have suffered a lot from my departure.
Please don't do this!
There are many like me waiting for someone like you.
Give them what you gave me, they need it just like I needed your gifts of love and caring.
Don't keep the love you have to give, for fear of suffering; share it with those who have never known real love.
Follow my advice; cherish the good with each of us, recognizing that you are an angel to us animals, and that without people like you, our lives would be so much harder than they sometimes are.
Follow your noble task, as now it's up to me to be your angel. I will accompany you in your path and help you help others like me.
I will talk to the other animals that are here with me, I will tell them everything you have done for me, and I will point and say proudly; "That's my family".
Tonight, when you look at the sky and see a blinking star, I want you to know that it's me winking at you; letting you know that I arrived just fine, and telling you "Thank you for the love you gave me".
I say goodbye now, but not a final “Goodbye", more of a “See you later ".
There is a special place in heaven for people like you, where we go, and where life rewards us by letting us meet again.
I'll be waiting for you!”
<authored by Stan Skatvedt>

Friday, October 9, 2020

It Just Ain't Easy

 The Lovely Mayor Warren and her Henchmen are at it.  They have now destroyed two of my larger shelters.  They completely wiped out any trace of having these beautiful shelters - took everything, lock stock and barrel.  There was nothing wrong with these large empty lots - they were free from debris, I made sure of it.  They displaced an average of five cats at each of these locations.  I remember meeting with the Mayor's people at City Hall, along with various other 'luminaries' (she had 'something come up' when she was supposed to be meeting with me).  We left that meeting with an unspoken agreement that I would post my information at each location and they would leave alone.  

If anyone knows me, I said the hell with that and built a temporary shelter again and see if they take that.  And if they do, I will do it again.  These cats need a place to get out of during storms and cold.  I'm just not sure how these city workers can sleep at night.  No compassion whatsover, although I have seen a few times where you could see someone had some.  


I just made an appointment for Monday for my old guy Baylee.  Its time.  Its going to be very sad.  He is my special boy that I rescued from Bay Street many years ago.  He has to be at least 10 years old.  His skeletal body can't take it anymore.  I just watched him fall to the floor after trying to get down from a chair.  And he is not eating like he was.  Voraciously.  I think we all know when its that time.  It won't be easy.

Thats it!

Have a great day!

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Winnie The Pooh

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Fluffy

 


Sad start to the morning.    At least three years ago I rescued this beauty off the street.  At the same time, the man on Second Street who used to allow me to feed and place shelters behind his house had called me telling me his beloved cat had died, and he would like another.  I didn't have a home for Fluffy so I delivered her to him and it was love at first sight.  About a year ago, this man had invited a homeless friend to move in temporarily into his home.  The friend wouldn't leave.  This man stayed with his girlfriend most times but would go back occasionally to check on Fluffy.  This man also has been trying to get this homeless friend evicted to no avail.  He won't budge.  A few days ago this man called to tell me Fluffy wasn't eating or drinking, for days.  I made a vet appointment and went to get her two mornings ago, Tuesday.  She looked terrible.  I walked into this dank dark small house and she walked right up to me crying.  I placed her in the carrier and drove her to the vet appointment.  $500 later, with tests and ultrasound, she was diagnosed with severe jaundice (her eyes, belly, ears - all were so yellow).  She surely had something going on with her liver.  Her belly was huge. She was matted terribly, and she was covered in fleas.  Rather than putting her to sleep right then, we decided to give meds a try, and appetite stimulant, and my cousin had offered to foster her to see if she would get better.  By yesterday evening, she still hadn't eaten or drunk anything and was urinating on the bed.  I decided to make another appointment for her.

I picked her up for her 9 am. appointment.  She was just laying on the floor, not moving.  My cousin said she hadn't moved all night, and kept checking on her to see if she was still breathing.

I know I made the right decision for her, she was suffering so much.  She lay on the exam table and just stared off into space.  She began to cry loudly for a few minutes, and then stopped.  The doctor came in very late and called her a different name. I was a little offended.  But he was gentle, and I said my goodbye.

This was purely a case of neglect.  I know this man didn't mean to neglect her - he checked on her occasionally - he loves cats but its most likely a case of ignorance as well - but the homeless man did nothing to help her.  I am sure he paid no attention to her declining health, nor even acknowledged her. 

We must all work together to protect animals from abuse and cruelty.

ADDENDUM: The FBI has reclassified animal abuse as a felony. This began in 2016, and it means that the worst cat abuse cases will be prosecuted the same as murder, burglary, and arson. This is a great step forward in the fight against cat abuse and, by extension, domestic violence. See this link for more information: ppnnow.com/fbi-makes-animal-abuse-a-f

Have a great day.


 

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Hump Day

What a wild trip its been!  I've been working temporary assignments through the Webster School District and find that I don't have much time during the week to do this blog.  I took the above picture at one of the schools.  Nearly stepped on it.  I shooed it away.  Didn't want it to be killed.  Spiders lives matter too!  I miss you blog!  Its good to be working a bit though, so that is a plus.  On top of that, I am in the midst of accepting a new full time position.   Not thrilled to be going back to work after having all summer off.   Where living is easy...  But I am grateful nevertheless.

Thanks to Lori Whipple, the kittens on Fourth Street and Central have been rescued.  They are little spitfires - hissing and such, but they will come around.  Their father, the black and white kitty that is very sweet but very food aggressive had an appointment for neuter last Tuesday, but thanks again to Lori, she didn't think he deserved to be out on the street any longer, so she decided to find a shelter for him and thanks to PAN - Pet Adoption Network, they were able to bring him in for adoption. He is such a good boy.


I delivered Titos and Percy to their new home, and what a great home it is.  The toys!  The food!  The fun!  They are having a blast at last report.  Waiting for their surgery dates now.

George and Tiny are doing much better and went to their new home last week. 

Here is a picture of the two newbies, Butternut and Acorn.  Thanks to Saturday Sheryl for fostering them.  They already have a family who wants to adopt them! 


I am also waiting for pictures of the NYC kittens!  They are adorable.  I had to bring Mini into the vet last week as he is so tiny and having tummy issues.  Actually all of them are and poor Foster Sue has to clean up their mess.  We are hoping with the deworming medicine this will clear up quickly!

Here are pictures of them.  Thanks so much Foster Sue!








This new format for this blog is a pain.  Its taken me over an hour to download these pictures, and I still  have so much more to report here in Cat World.  Maybe tomorrow.

Have a great day!

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
― Kahlil Gibran