House of the Discarded

I borrowed the title from another blog, but it is quite apropos for my house this morning.  Meet Banjo, who was rescued by me yesterday morning after I found him wrapped up by a thick heavy long chain around a pole that was in front of one of my spots.  He must have been there for hours.  I called 911 immediately, but they once again assured me that no one would be able to get there until after 8 am. when animal services opened up.  But they also told me they would try to send a police officer by, in my hopes that he could do something better than that.  Sure enough, as soon as I moved on to my next spot, after leaving a dish of water for the dog, I saw a flashing light and went back to greet the cop that had arrived.  He was nice, but again told me there was nothing he could do, but promised that animal services would be on the scene as soon as they were able this morning.  Well, after leaving food for him, and going back to finish my rounds, I thought to myself, that dog might go to animal services on Verona Street, and if no one claims him, he will surely be put to sleep.  I thought, he has a better chance at Lollipop, so I am going to swing back by and grab him, take him home and see what happens.  My first thought after thinking about it was that this dog was abandoned there.  From the looks of him, he is a young male, very thin, you can feel his hip bones and ribs very easily.  He was clearly an outside dog only.  Very dirty boy.  He was brushed and loved when he arrived back to my house.  His collar and chain were thrown in the trash.  May he never be chained again.

It was a tough day though, with my dog Thunder, who doesn't like other dogs.  They were separated the entire day, which was no small feat.  Banjo in the basement, and Thunder being reminded all day that he is still our boy.  My friend Sue, who runs Susie Q Pet Rescue in Livonia reached out to me last night after I posted on Facebook that afternoon, who might have a foster for Banjo.  Sure enough, its panned out and he is going to a new home this morning.

I could go on and on with this story, but have to get to the next so that I can begin my work day.  I rescued Stanley and Sadie from Parsells yesterday, and I drove them straightaway to a barn out in Canandaigua.  I met the lovely owner and she had plenty of critters, and was thrilled to get them both.  They will be acclimated in cages this week and then I pray they become accustomed to their new home.  I had to keep telling myself that its better for them than on the city streets, as I often doubt myself and whats best for the cats.  I share pictures of some of the critters that Mary Ann has on her farm, the kitties new playmates! 

And on one final note, I rescued two more kitties to take to Lollipop this morning for adoption.  They are two sweet sweet girls that I have been feeding for years on the streets - Talkie from Garson, and Sparkles from Pennsylvania.  I told them, after I got them settled in their carriers, that they will never have to spend another day on the streets fighting for their lives again.  They were quite calm after that.

So as you can see, I was quite busy this morning.  I really do need a break!

A Girl's Gotta Do What A Girl's Gotta Do

Let me begin by telling you about Third Street.  I pulled up this morning and noticed my stuff had been dissheveled on the porch where I feed Grady and Bully, and several other cats that don't come up until I leave.  I had left a message yesterday to call me before they trashed my stuff (which they didn't) - there was an orange netting around the house with abestos removal sign, the first signal that the house will be torn down.  I knew I had to find some alternative situation, and fast.

Last week, I received an e-mail from a girl who works at Lollypop Farm, our local Humane Society.  She had approached me several months ago to be part of their barn cat program.  Where I would be able to get some kitties that I couldnt' adopt out myself into barns that are Lollipop approved (people call them asking if they have kitties that aren't adoptable that might want to go to barn situations).  Anyway, she became a follower of my blog, and made me an offer that I've had to really think about.  I will let you do the reading - the following are excerpts of what our e-mails contained:

"We've developed the barn cat program a little more here at Lollypop, but after reading your blog I'm not convinced that this is the solution for those cats. I tend to feel like instead of being a mouser outdoors and fighting the cold, they deserve and would probably greatly enjoy a cushy life! How would you feel about bringing some of them in to Lollypop as strays? They would go on a five day stray hold, and in the winter we often have plenty of space. Even if you just brought in one or two at a time, there are never any guarentees but at least they would have a fantastic shot at a great home. Something a lot of people don't understand about Lollypop is that once the animals go up for adoption they don't have a time limit. They will stay up there until they are adopted. We've had cats living in offices here for up to a year, just waiting for the best home! Anyway, something to think about....   You certainly articulate well the plight of these creatures, and motivate me as a reader to want to branch out for a solution... obviously what we're doing currently as an animal rescue community isn't an end all solution!  We will get there! Thanks for being an advocate, and please take care!"

Well, of course at first I was thrilled, but I had a lot of questions!  And here are some of her replies to those...

"Let me just run through some basics on how we decide if a cat is NOT adoptable.  If a cat has a medical condition that we can't fix here, they are generally euthanized. Examples of this would be diabetes, chronic upper respiratory infection or diarrhea (chronic meaning that the problem has lasted over six months and it is hopeless-- usually they go into foster care after this instead of euthanasia).  Most of the time, Lollypop is great about providing extensive veterinary care in these situations. We have animals who have had amputations, leg pins, lungworm, etc. who have been here for months upon months, and they are given all the time they need to get better for adoption.  Another reason animals would go up for adoption would be behavioral issues. If cats are aggressive, or if during their time here they spray all over or go to the bathroom outside the box. This, again, isn't immediate means for euthanasia, rather the cat would probably be admitted into the barn cat program (especially since they have outdoor experience)."

Toward the end of our conversations, she assured me that she would be keeping an eye on the cats I bring in, and would call me if any were deemed unadoptable (I wouldn't be bringing in any that aren't besides), and I could pay a fee to take them back. 



Grady Finally Rescued 2/22/13




Bully Finally Rescued 2/22/13

 Now, keep in mind, Grady and Bully are very nice cats.  I've been trying for a long long time to find them a home, and with my home already being overcrowded, and with the only 'home' they've known for years being torn down, I scooped them up this morning, and they will be going to Lollipop.  For those that don't agree with this, it was not a light decision, once again, for me, but I have confidence that they are going to be adopted out into loving homes very soon.  I believe they won't be euthanized.  They are wonderful cats.  All I knew this morning was that they will face a traumatic situation once the work begins on this house, and I have no where to place their food anymore.  The plastic tote shelters were removed and placed on the adjoining lot.  The boards and bowls were also moved this morning.  I had to do something.  I pray I've made the right decision.  I am going to miss them terribly.

The Truth and Nothing But The Truth!

I know some of you don't read my blog regularly because it contains a lot of sadness most times, and I know this because you've told me!  And I feel bad for that, I try not to make it look as bleak as it really is, but I can't hide the truth really.  What you see is what you get.  What I see is what I get.  I know there are better days ahead, especially when the weather takes a turn for the better, but for now, its really miserable out there, and this morning was right up there with the worst, due to the high wind, blowing snow, and very cold temperature. 

My thanks to all of you for your comments about yesterday's ordeal at the Emergency Vet clinic.  Keep in mind, this is the second time they've done this to me.  I don't know if it was the fact that I mention that I do rescue/feed/shelter the homeless cats in the Beechwood section of the city, and they figure I can take care of the cat, or what, but they've turned me away twice now.  Each of those times I am crying when I bring the cat in because I know the cat will be euthanized, at some point, and that does break my heart.  So here is this crazy woman coming in looking like I do at 6 am. with a cat in a carrier, what else must they think?  Let me mention again, they do do good for people who have no where else to go with their very sick or injured pets when thier own vet place  is closed, but again, you will pay for it.  For years for some people.

My heart broke again when I pulled up to the abandoned house on Third, where I've been feeding  for years, and where I've rescued and found homes for so so many....  including Mikey and Gracie, who my mother has taken in.  The house was surrounded by an orange plastic/rubber fence with a sign saying something about asbestos.  That was a sure sign that the house is going to be torn down.  This is where Grady and Bully hang, and two black and another grey hang also.  I have two plastic tote shelters, a large lean-to with straw under it, and straw under the porch with boards covering that.  I sat there in disbelief, meanwhile looking all around realizing there wasn't another abandoned house nearby to move anything to.  I don't know what I will do, but in the meantime, I left a note on the back of a paper plate and stuck it in some crates that the workers left on the porch asking for them to call me on my cell before they remove anything.  I pray they do.  This is what I deal with constantly.  And its the cats that suffer.

There is a REALLY nice stray cat that is in my neighborhood, pure black, big boy, not fixed (I am planning to get him done soon) - LEO was abandoned, I believe, by the only renters in the neighborhood, down the street, last summer.  Scum.  Anyway, I have been letting Leo in to spend the night almost every night due to the extreme cold temps for over a month now.  I will post a picture for any of you that love big black cats!  And REALLY friendly, I can't stress enough.  A true lap cat.  Wants to be held.  Anybody?

"You cannot always have happiness, but you can always give happiness."

Good Samaritan ??

I have had a very bad morning.  When I went to feed at my Pennsylvania and Fourth spot, where Sparkles comes running to me, and where an orange cat was seen looking very sickly recently, with one eye either closed or missing, and where Limpy #2 hangs often, as I exposed the inside of the shelter, Limpy #2 came out looking for food, and breathing very labored.  He couldn't take a breath without sneezing, and coughing and very congested.  Also, this cat is a skeleton.  I suspect, after observing him for months now, that he is in his last stage of leukemia.  But as always with every cat that I am concerned about, I am always in a hurry, and think to myself, 'they'll be fine, I will just keep an eye on them'.  Well, this morning, it was almost as if he said to me ' please, take me - help me'. 

I picked him up and without a struggle, he stayed in my arms until I could get him home to a carrier, which I had forgotten to put back in the car since I rescued Daisy Saturday morning.  I knew Limpy was very sick, and I brought him to the Emergency Vet Services on White Spruce Boulevard, where for the second time in a row, turned me away.  They told me they don't take strays.  Now remember, when I get to the point with animals that I am ready to end their suffering, I myself am a mess. To pull the plug - to end someone or something's life is a very difficult thing to do.  I don't make these decisions lightly.  I have too many cats at my own house at this moment, and where am I going with this very very sick cat at 6 in the morning.  I finally called my vet when they opened, and they asked if I could drop him off, as I had to be at work, and the doctor had very limited time this morning.  I gave him a better name too, I named him Ginger.  He deserved that.  I know the girls there will comfort him in his last moments.

They know I would not make a decision like this without knowing it is the best.  I still can't believe that the Emergency Vet did this again.  I know they've done some good for people, like my friend Julie's cat Sushi, who had a gazillions dollar surgery recently, and saved her life, but for people trying to do the right thing to help an animal, to be turned away is cruelty in my opinion.  I was told to put it back on the street.  And if they do decide to help an animal they rape you financially.  We live in a sick world. 

Morality - Is it Right or Wrong?

At this point in my life I have formed pretty solid opinions on what I feel is good, bad, right and wrong – but in these frigid temperatures, after we received several inches of snow yesterday, after my route in the morning, and with winds whipping the snow, covering the food I had left, and instantly freezing the water I placed, this morning left me with a conflicting opinion on whats right for the homeless cats out there. At a few of my spots, I could hear cats crying from a distance, at one the kitten was crying as it was waiting for me to change the snowy icy towel to a warm soft dry one, and place food and water down, and at a few others I could hear the cries of cats in the distance, the more feral ones that are not using the shelters I’ve provided as its so territorial out there. Even some of the less feral kitties aren’t using the shelters, I don’t think some of them are smart enough. I know they are literally freezing to death out there. I will never forget the red kitty I picked up on Third that was just under the porch of the boarded up house where I’ve placed bales of straw each year, it was as stiff as a board, frozen solid. I’ve rescued many cats where the tips of their ears are rigid, which most of the time would mean frostbite. I thought to myself, all these cats that I’ve TNR’d over the many years I’ve done this. How hard its been for me to release them, but I had no where else to bring them. Except for the shelter, where they would surely be killed. But my problem is again, is it better to release them and allow them to suffer in the brutal conditions that they have to live in, or to end their sad lives in a more humane way. If someone can explain to me the difference there, I would love to hear it. I am the one out there each cold morning every winter, listening to their cries, seeing their footprints in the foot high snow as they’ve tried to make their way to find food and shelter. You tell me whats better.

On another good note, meet Howard. Howard came from Second Street, and every morning, Howard would greet me, and after my feedings, would run back to my car with me. It was heartbreaking to leave him Saturday morning, and he came willingly. He is about 8-9 mos. old and is sweet. I must find him a home.

Another good note. Last week I posted a picture on my e-mail to everyone about an 8 year old dog, a Rottie, that was seized from an elderly woman’s home that needed a new home. Cassidy was adopted Saturday by my good friend Nancy, who just recently lost her dog Riley. I can’t tell you now good it feels to be able to connect people with animals, and all through the internet! As much as I curse the computer, the amount of good it does is amazing. I will get a picture of Cassidy to share.

The next two pictures are of Grady from Third who needs a home. I took them this morning.

 This is of a new big boy hanging around Central.  He needs a home too!

"Remember,. people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions.  You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg."

Beauty - in the Eye of the Beholder?

Yesterday I sent out an e-mail with the picture of the kitty on Tuesday's post, the kitty that Laura picked up from Chamberlain on Sunday when she helped shovel my feeding spots in the city.  The e-mail was asking if anyone could adopt or at least foster this beauty.  I had an quite a few responses for Carmela (as she is being called for now) after I sent that out.  Carmela is certainly a beautiful cat.  She's not your typical 'run of the mill' grey, tuxedo or tabby cat like the kitties I've posted about that need homes out there.  She is fluffy, white, and beautiful.  I remember a kitty named Laura that was stunningly gorgeous that I rescued a year ago, pregnant, and I got an overwhelming number of responses for her.  Why is it that these beautiful cats find homes more easily than the more plain ones? 

Don’t people know that all of these cats deserve a home, no more or no less than the pretty ones?   The same is true in our society as humans.  We tend to be less kind to those that aren’t as pretty, or as young, or as educated or as well off financially as we are.  Humans don’t’ deserve that, nor do the animals!  I tend to go for the ugly and disabled cats first.  They usually wind up being the most grateful and loving of them all.

God bless these people though, the ones that do adopt or foster.  We just need more of them! 

This morning was uneventful on my route.  I have seen the red kitty on Pennsylvania twice now since the morning I saw it looking very sickly.  That morning it got close enough to me - it was starving - to allow me to see it up close, but the two times since he has run and won't allow me to look at him.  Its dark out there still so its hard to see him.  There were FIVE cats at my first stop on Parsells.  I've seen FIVE at my Sixth Street shelter. it seems their numbers are doubling!  In between Hayward and Baldwin I spotted a cat this morning.  I got out, as usual, and placed a bowl of food and water down for it - thinking its a stray or feral and very hungry - and it came jaunting over to me, allowing me to pet him, and it had a collar on him.  I then felt his behind, and sure enough, its an unneutered male!  What is wrong with these people!!!  You can collar a cat and call it yours, but you don't take responsiblity for it!

I heard through a few grapevines recently that there is going to be a low-cost clinic opening up in this neighborhood sometime this year, and obviously was thrilled by this news, if it happens, but if an when it does, word needs to get out to each and every homeowner about this clinic, and the responsiblity they have to ensure their cats are spayed and neutered to prevent the sorrow I see daily with sick and injured cats, and newborn kittens trying to survive.

I have the day off from work tomorrow and boy do I need it!   I will keep you posted, and thanks for reading!

"I will explain to you as much of life as I can, but you must remember that there is a part of life for which you are the explanation."

Vacation Day

Hello Dear Readers. 

I am taking a holiday today from my blog, though not from my daily feedings.  It was a mild morning though for all the kitties out there.  They are fed and safe for today!  :)

"The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, aware."