Sept Chats

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

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

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

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

Gimme Shelter

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sasha's Babies!

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

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

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

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

If Everyone is Thinking Alike, Then Someone Isn't Thinking...

When I returned home from work last evening, after a pickup from Lollipop by my friend Kristin's Mommy Sue, I found three sweet male cats on my porch.  All were quiet, one had already been neutered, so he was vaccinated and ear-tipped.  After observing them for a couple of hours, and trying to feed them some delicious tuna, I decided they were too miserable in their very cramped quarters, one had messed it up quite bad and needed to get out of its own filth, and I returned them to where they came from on the street.  Every time it breaks my heart that these kitties can't go to a good home, and I have to release them, but I was so relieved to see them all waiting for me this morning.  And they were hungry.

We had a very big thunder and lightening storm last night, some really really big boomers, and when I woke to this, I immediately thought of them.  But thank God I have a tiny shelter for them, even though I'll bet none of them use it except to eat and take a sip of water.  Everyone else on my route was out and about.  No sign of pregnant kitty on Second.  Sad.  She needs to be rescued from having kittens outside. 

Here is a picture of Whitey, who I rescued a while ago on Grand Avenue.  He was a very dirty white boy but look how he has cleaned up.  He is now ready for a loving new home! 

I am very relieved to have a break from trapping and releasing.  Its been a very stressful week, and I just need to chill for a few days. 

The kittens featured on yesterday's post show Taffy's kittens who will be up for adoption at Pet Pride as of 5/15/12. 7731 Victor-Mendon Rd. 742-1630 - here is their website - such a great place, check it out!
http://www.petprideny.org/PPNY/Home.html

My thanks again to all those that have helped me out in the past, whether it be donations of food or money, help with trapping, help with transport, or just encouraging words.  I could not do this continually without one or the other along the way.  Have a great weekend everyone.

Communication is Key

Today was the second day of the TNR clinic through Lollipop.  Three kitties were trapped from behind Wally's house on Grand.  I wound up setting traps on Second again in hopes that we could get the very pregnant girl I spotted yesterday morning.  As its so light out now, I am finally able to see these babies in the light, and this girl is quite pregnant.  After returning back there four times, there still were no cats in the trap.  I found out later that there was food left in the bowls from when I fed yesterday, which may have played a role in the kitties not falling for the tuna, but there is more to that.  My normal raccoons at that spot must have gone south for the day, because usually they eat what I place down within the hour - so there is never remaining food in the morning.  Also, you can over trap an area.  Cats are smart creatures, and I've tried at this location before, and they see a cat struggling the morning before and are very leary.  So, unfortunately, we were only able to bring three cats in today, which is a shame.  We could have gone to other areas, indeed, if only...  I say 'if only' because communication is critical to ensure the harmony of the people involved in this undertaking, and the harmony of the whole operation.  When you have lack of communication, you miss out on ideas and opportunities and suggestions for areas of improvement that could have been had.    Thats all I will say on this subject.  Except that I am once again too grateful for words to those who are involved in helping me. 

Yesterday morning, on my route, I spotted a dog running down Central Park.  A pretty brown with black, very thin.  I called for him, he stopped and watched me while I placed a bowl of food down for him, trying to gain his trust.  I did my usual, and called 911, knowing I wouldn't get any where with them, as there is lack of animal control officers, on top of it being only 6 am. and they don't start their shifts until 7 am.  I had to leave to get ready for work, so I said a little prayer that this dog would find its way back home.  Well, as I was finishing my route this morning, I spotted the dog a mile away from there, on Ferndale and Webster.  I placed food down again, and he ran off.  I dialed 911 once again and reported it.  Its so sad.  Have the owners even bothered to look for this dog?  It seems so skittish that most likely it doesn't have a home.  It was probably beaten or something and ran away.  24 hours later and that dog is still running loose and scared.  I hate people that abuse animals, and don't go out of their way to help one, and I am frustrated with the authorities in this city who can't do anything about this.

On a happier note, here is a couple of pictures of Taffy's babies.  Taffy is one of the first of the pregnant cats I rescued the past two months.  Linda has been caring for them.  Thank you Linda!  Aren't they darling!

Primping and Preening

I came to the realization that I have a lot on my plate this week.  Now I dress up for work.  Just about every day I come in with my heels, stockings, a crisp blouse and skirt, hopefully looking fresh and smelling sweet.  In the mornings, before I go out for the feedings of the cats at 5:15 am., I have my teeth brushed, and my make up done. 

For the first time I can remember, I came into work after forgetting to apply my mascara.  Thats not like me.  I am done to a tee every single day during the week.  I was pretty tired this morning, no doubt.  We trapped the first five cats of hopefully many more in the colonies I put food and shelter down at in the inner city 365 days a year.  It was a major undertaking - even with only five cats.  After Heather took them to Lollipop for spaying and neutering (we got two boys, three girls, one of the girls had already been spayed, but no ear tip, so that was done to her so that we can identify her in the future).  When the cats were ready for pick up, at the eleventh hour after scrambling to find some one to pick them up by 4 pm., my good friend Kristin and her husband stepped up to the plate and drove all the way from Churchville to pick them up, in carriers now, and all five traps that they came in with.  They dropped them off on  my porch, and last night, with the help of Julie, we released them, sadly, back into their respective spots.  I saw one this morning, actually the one who was having a 'good time' the day before she was caught.  She got close to me, I think she is adoptable and I would love to find a home for her.  Very beautiful calico.

I also saw a very pregnant cat on Second so I am praying she is one that gets trapped tomorrow morning, on our Day Two of our Lollipop marathon.  I found out 'Friends of Human Society" funded a $5000 grant, and Lollipop included me and my brood in on it.  So that is wonderful.  I pray this is for the best for me in the coming future, and for the cats of course!  I need a break.  Now, I must go and put on my mascara.

Tuesday

Today was Day 1 of the Lollipop Trap Neuter Return marathon - they were allowing me to trap five cats today, five cats this Thursday, 10 cats next Tuesday and 10 cats next Thursday.  Let me just say, the morning did not go very smoothly, it was very disorganized, but we did manage to get the five cats.  Two from Central, two from Second, and one from Grand.  In fact the one from Grand looks like Laura's twin.  Suffice it to say, if I still have help on Thursday (as I said, it was a bad morning emotionally for a few of us), it will be more organized.  We will have a better plan, and hopefully we will have communication prior to the early hour of the morning.   I wish we had more volunteers to help with transporting to and from Lollipop, and keeping the cats overnight after they are spayed, and then more help releasing in the morning.  It wasn't fair that one girl had to do all this on her own.   If any one can help out by picking up five cats in carriers from Lollipop either today, or  Thursday around 4:30 pm., and taking with them the five traps they came in, and holding the cats overnight in same van, it would be awesome.  Thats what we need.  But I know most of us work.  I just thank God for what help I have.  We all have one common goal, and that is to get as many cats neutered and spayed as possible, to make this a better world for them.  Its not about us, its about them.  Thats the bottom line, and I have to remember that, and I hope others remember that too when tensions run high.  I would never want to hurt someone intentionally, or make someone unhappy.  I am so grateful that anyone would even want to help me, so I pray this all works out for the best.