Jeff

There is not much good to report.  There was a death, a burial, and a wedding… ha ha ha.  Just kidding.

I kid around when there are serious stuff going on.  Its always good to be ….  Well not so serious.  As it is, we could all have our last day today.  Sorry to sound morbid.  So there is a gentleman named Jeff who lived on Garson Ave who allowed me to place shelters in the back of the vacant lot next to his property, on the side of a dilapidated garage.  Jeff was a little unusual, but kind.  He is the one that rescued the last two kittens from a family on Miller Street that couldn’t bring them indoors even though it was zero degrees.  That was Jessie and Serena, who are going to their new home, and thanks to Tamera who fostered them.  Before that, I had asked Jeff to check around as I heard a second kitten crying – little Giblet, whose brother Georgie was rescued two weeks earlier.  Jeff rescued little Giblet and handed him over to me.  They are adopted as well.  But through the years, I hated to pick up the phone when I knew it was Jeff calling because he always had kittens he had found, being an electrician around the city, and I always knew he was going to ask me to take them in.  So I wouldn’t pick up, he would leave a message, and I would feel guilt and call him back.  Throughout the years, he would find things – little trinkets of cats, near to new scratching posts…  things he thought I would like.  I would usually place them in the trash before trying to find them another home.

Little did I know he would pass away three weeks ago today.  He had a sweet roommate Renee who found him slumped against the door in his bedroom.  He either had a massive heart attack or a massive stroke.  I still don’t know.  The other sad part is they could find no family, and no will, and the woman that lived with him will be going to a shelter at the end of this month, as she has nothing either.  And the state will take over the property.  This also means that I may lose my shelters there.

We believe there is a pregnant cat there too, mother of Georgie and Giblet, and so many others.  I have asked for help in trapping her, and praying we get her Monday, after this storm has cleared.

My helper Esther also rounded up all the dead kitties we found in the shelters this winter, and brought them to her friend’s place in the country to bury them when we had a slight thaw last week.  I am so grateful to her that I didn’t have to do that.

The wedding…  I wasn’t  kidding.  Had to go to a family wedding two weekends ago, and it was a b$%@$ because I am having serious issues with my lower back.  Still.  Three weeks three days now.  I have been to every doctor.  Nothing.  Oh well, life still goes on, I hope.

Oh there IS good news...  besides Serena and Jessie being adopted, the other two kittens that Sheryl has been fostering forever, got adopted!  I am so happy.  Now we just need to get Bello  (above) into a good home!  He is very lonely and needs love and attention.  Thanks to Cloe for fostering him

Have a great day!

February Updates

 

Its been a hard year for me so far.  I have had some health issues that have just knocked me down.  On top of that I am scrambling for help to feed over 100 cats every other day.  It used to be a daily job, but I had to whittle it down because of not only the cost, but the toll it takes to do that daily.  The agony of having to go out in the cold, start up the truck to get warmed up, drag out five heavy jugs of water, and a sack full of wet food is painful.  Thank God for Kim.  Kim volunteers by coming over to fill the bags of dry food and get them into the truck for the next trip.  She is steadfast, and I just couldn’t do it without her.  I have had little help with shoveling, so after the last snowfall, I am balancing myself to get through a small opening out into the street to start the car each morning.  My sidewalk is barely walkable, and I had to hire a snowplow to get my car out of the driveway.  Life is really tough right now, and I pray they come up with a cure for arthritis, but in the meantime, who am I to complain really.  I think about the cats that are suffering out there.

We just found our fifth dead frozen cat – this one on Garson.  We could not remove it, I’ve had three people try.  Half its body is frozen under the pallet – the other half is sticking out.  I had the last person who tried cover it with a towel.  Very sad.  I can only attribute it to the cats that have no immune system due to FIV, or were sick with something and just couldn’t fight the below zero temps we’ve had.  My twice a month helper Esther is going to take the bodies, when it thaws, and bury them in the country, on her friend’s land.  I told her my property is already a pet cemetery and there is no more room for another body!

I am in the process of trying to hire help – I am offering $20 per hour, for whatever hours they can work, but I do need a break.  It’s a max (without a major dump of snow) of 2 hours to feed, -- normally its an hour and 15 minutes to do - and its every other day, and you pick the hours you want.  I would suggest they be morning or early afternoon jobs, because it is not in the best part of Rochester, but those are the safest times.  And its easy, and quick!  So please spread the word.  If you know of anyone reliable with a car, and some compassion for these cats, it’s a no-brainer. Extra cash each week never hurt anyone, right?

I have five cats in my ‘custody’ right now.  Two older kittens, Serena and Jessie, are with Tamera my foster, two older kittens, Lilly and Poppy, are with Sheryl, and Bello, the older black cat, is with foster Cloe.  They are all adorable and really need a permanent home. 

Here is Bello:

Here is Lilly and Poppy:

And here is Serena and Jessie!

Spread the word!  They are waiting for their forever homes!

And remember...... it's less than 33 days until spring!

Have a great day!

Let it Snow

 

So lets talk about the weather.  Two weeks ago Monday, we had a snowfall of over a foot of snow.  It was heavy hard snow.  I am thankful for Esther’s help with shoveling and feeding the cats huddled inside their shelters.  The plows made a mess of things, and I wasn’t able to actually get to a few of the shelters for fear my truck would get stuck.  I went out the next day and placed plates of food here and there where I could at the spots I couldn’t get to.  Finally, plows came, sidewalks were barely passable, and the cats came out to eat a bit of food in zero degree weather.  Yep, its been a tough few weeks. 

As if its not bad enough knowing those cats are fighting literally for their lives out there, having found three frozen cats this year at my shelters, and one of the red cats at my Pennsylvania shelters has been missing since the day before that Monday…  I know people mean well --- we all like to complain about the cold and the snow.  And now we have another bout of the same thing as two weeks ago coming tomorrow and all I have heard is ‘horrible’ storm coming.  My mother is also telling me this.  I think to myself, we humans can handle this… its WINTER after all!  We can bundle up, shovel our way out, go inside where its nice and warm….  But the cats can’t.  So stop complaining and say a prayer for the cats before you complain about how miserable it is outside for you. 

I hope I didn’t offend anyone here, I am simply trying to find the good in all this, and still firmly believe that spring is just around the corner and we all have to hang on.  I guess that is my rant for the season.

Speaking of --- I need help.  Does anyone know anyone that would be willing to go out at 5 am. and help me shovel?  Willing to pay up to $60 for two hours work.   Please think about it and spread the word.   Its actually fun, and rewarding.

A former adopter also made up this sign for me and is posting at her workplace at RIT.  I’ve been trying to hire help now for months.  Please spread the word here too.  Thanks for your help and have a great day!