Streets to Sheets!

I went to visit Mama Goldi and her seven babies yesterday (Sunday).  They are so beautiful!  Tiny!  Amazing!  We are thinking of names that are nursery rhyme themed.  I'm thinking we need to determine sex of each kitten before that, but who knows.  It may be a little while before we can do that!  They are SO teeny!

Each morning since Friday has been pretty much the same.  Quiet, and with a lot of cats running around.  Kittens, cats and pregnant cats.  Its pretty grim out there right now. And with no trapping being done, its pathetic.  I plan on setting a trap tomorrow on Fourth Street and winging it - praying a clinic will take whatever I can get.  There is a baby red kitten, a muted Tortie that I believe is pregnant, and a black kitty with a chunk missing from its neck! (this was written yesterday)

On Stout, there are three kittens that are getting closer and closer as we feed.  I need to get these three off the street, ASAP.  This morning, the people living in this house there had all the burnt remnants from the fire two weeks ago before I discovered these kittens.  These people have removed the bowls from under the trees, therefore hate cats and want to see them suffer.  I just need to figure out a plan for these kittens once I get them. They are flea ridden.  Making the plan is the hardest of all. 

I have a new kitten I was asked to take in.  Meet Halona.  The folks that found her named her - its actually growing on me!

She is adorable.  She started out being rushed to the emergency vet.  She just cost me $140 and she hasn't even been vetted yet.  She had severe upper respiratory ailment.

HALONA

Some folks look for a discount if you suggest they take two kittens.  Two kittens recently were adopted out for $100 each, when in reality, their vet visit was $340 for two.  They also received free microchips.  I lose money all the time.  Which is why I can't always give a break.  I am broke.  Usually.  I need to pay the bills at the clinic and it comes strictly from the donations I get, which are far and few between.

Wilbur (WILMA!) in the middle

HE IS A SHE!  Wilbur, is now Wilma!  These beauties, and I mean BEAUTIES, are still up for grabs. Have had no applications for them yet!  Can you imagine that!  And they are so precious!

FOURTH STREET MAMA

This morning, I set a trap to catch a cat on Fourth Street.  I got the Tortie mom.  She was none too happy.  On top of that, we set up two shelters with a board over them at two locations - Stout Street, and Fourth Street.  There is heavy rain expected tomorrow, and I wanted to make sure the food was somewhat covered so that these poor cats with NOTHING can have a dry bite to eat.

Finally, here is a picture of a rescue done earlier this year from Central Park between Fifth and Sixth Streets.  This gal was hanging around every morning waiting for her gruel under a tree. Finally, we got her.   And here she is adopted, loving life in her new home. 

STORMI

Have a great day!

TGIF!

Don't we just love Fridays?  Even if you are retired, or don't travel to your place of business during the week (work from home), or are a teacher and have the summers off, you still recognize that its Friday, and tomorrow, Saturday, you don't have to go to dreaded work.  Even if you love your job, you still have the opportunity to stay home and think about it, rather than go in to the workplace.  When I was out for this past month, one day blended into the next.  I was not having fun on the weekends, nor any day of the week for that matter.  All I knew was that it was another day of pain.  I am so glad that I am NEARLY pain free.

My friend and supporter, Eileen Wrona, who owns the boutique Enchanted Rose Garden in Penfield, stopped over last night to bring me proceeds from the collection jar she keeps on her counter at the shop.  $90 dollars.  That's a lot of coins!  She also sat for quite a while and we chatted, and she then filmed the three kittens Willie, Wilbur and Astrid, and posted them on Facebook.  While I was not thrilled that she captured the litter box, and the floor filled with toys and such, she captured the sweetness of these kittens.

Justice Freedom Liberty

My friend and foster mom also stopped and dropped off the three kittens she has been fostering.  She has had enough!  ha ha.  Seriously, they are being spayed/neutered next week and she is going away this weekend, so its great timing, and I can get to know these rascals.  One still hisses at me, and when you pick him up and lock eyes, he really gets nervous.  I know he will mellow out on time.  One, Justice, the really fluffy grey, is a little sickly, or just super cuddly is being treated with Metrodadizonal, or something like that.  For his little tummy trouble.

Astrid, Wilson and Willie

Speaking of sickly, my little Wilson is acting strange.  Eileen thought he was just cuddly, but he is usually the one to run from me.  I watched him this morning as I brought out their food at 3 am., and he hopped off the chair slowly, and was limping.  Could it be calcivirus?  Must keep an eye on him and get him to a vet today, if possible.

Ya know, speaking of that, people don't realize how much money goes into kittens, and adults for that matter, and they get the cat for nearly free when they are adopted.  Kristin took Goldi in for an ultrasound at her vet to see how many babies she had, and I need to ask her how much that was.  I am sure it was at least $100.  She will eventually be adopted out for a mere $80.  Junebug?  I've spent over $1000 on her to figure out her little back end trouble, and she will be adopted out for a mere $120, if ever.  Connor?  He was our million dollar boy (almost!) and he actually was given to his new mom for free.  I have thousands of examples (I exaggerate a bit), but the cost and care of these kittens is exorbitant.  I get all kittens and cats combo tested, and that is another $25 that I have to eat, it comes out of my pocket.  Its not even included in the adoption fee.  No one makes money in this business.  Not me for sure.

Joey and Junebug

Thanks to those of you that recently sent me donations after my plea, or responded to the GoFundMe that Kristin started.  Every cent counts, and I am super grateful. 

As a side note, on Junebug, I am beginning to think that whatever was causing her to 'run' all over the house, and leave little drops 'behind' (pardon the puns!), she might be cured, or outgrowing.  So far so good, knock on wood.  She has cost me a lot of money, and was pre-paid for by someone two months ago, who has patiently waited for her to get better.   I recently received an estimate to have a biopsy on her colon at Cornell.  $3,000+  Man o' man that is something I just could not afford.

That's it!

Have a great day.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” 

State of Affairs

Kristin was kind enough to start a Gofundme to help me with all my medical bills and costs associated with feeding, vetting and rescuing animals.   We are still trying to figure out how to have a fundraiser this year.  I wish I had a personal assistant to help me put that together, as it does take a small village to get things started.  But in the meantime, I thank you Kristin for starting this.  Feel free to click on the link below.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/janine-the-bean-rescue-inc?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

So to begin with.  I am feeding at least three pregnant cats that I know of.  I am feeding at least 7 kittens that I know of.  I am feeding at three new locations without shelters - just placing food down - that have an average from 3 to 8 to 7 cats that I can see.  I am also seeing a cat with a huge chuck of flesh torn out of its neck each morning.  That’s a total of 18 extra cats each morning.  I have a total of ZERO spots to get them treated, fixed, spayed.  Every day morning, after I arrive back home, I just have to forget.  I record it here in the blog, and then I have to forget. In the back of my mind I am planning, but until I can do something, I have to forget and pray that they are all going to be OK.  

Oh how they could be living the cushy life like my cats, lounging around, sitting at their empty food bowl knowing it will be filled if they keep staring at me, throwing up as they walk past me, knowing I will clean it up.  They could be living this life if only we had enough people in Rochester to open their homes and hearts and give these cats a room.  My adoption rate is very high – I have only 3 cats I have not been able to adopt out, partially because of their own fear, but I do get adopters.  Some take a bit longer than others – of course kittens go quick, but adult cats are wanted too, thank God.   I wish we had more fosters!

Yesterday, I received a picture from Kristin, who is fostering our big fat pregnant Goldilocks (Goldie for short) who, by the way, is going to make an EXTREMELY loving cat once she is adopted.  Our little missy is getting HUGE.  What do YOU think?  J

This weekend I will have a total of six kittens on my porch!  Three are pre-adopted (surgery is Tuesday) – Freedom, Liberty and Justice – and three are ready for meet and greets!  Astrid, Wilbur and Willie!  The cutest kittens…  They have made great strides the past few weeks, now not running from me in fear if I approach them slowly, and now totally playing.  Can you imagine kittens not playing?  They didn’t know how at first.  And now they love the strings – Willie jumps a foot in the air now to catch the string.  Its quite fun.  I do hope the kittens get along as they will all be joined tonight.  Thanks to Foster Mom Melissa for fostering F, L and J.  She did a good job.

Cairo

SARA (pronounced ZARA)

ANDREW 

Foster Mom Sue still has Roxy and Foxy, Sara and Cairo, and the four little ones, Lichi, Gummy Bear, Andrew and Thomas.  All adorable.  Sara and Cairo are not spoken for, and neither is Andrew.  All the others are awaiting their new homes once they are spayed and neutered. 

That’s all I have for today.  More tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Foster - Save a Life!

Yesterday I posted something on Facebook that was bothering me, and I received a lot of different opinions on the matter.  I commented on how sad it was to get so many people reaching out to me that they needed to rehome their cats.  For whatever reason.  What I failed to mention, after some people alluded that I might be a bit heartless and insensitive, was that I do respond to these people, and I do offer them alternatives, but am upfront that I cannot rehome their cats, that rescues are over their heads with cats, and that the most compassionate thing for them would be to surrender their cats to a shelter, and to never just leave them.  My heart BREAKS for those cats!  I have a gazillion cats on the streets just WAITING for their turn to be rescued.  Abandoned cats, forgotten cats, wonderful cats!  

I should also have posted the past five requests I have received so that people could make their own judgments!  Each had a different story, but it all came down to this:  They have a cat or two that they’ve had for a long time, and due to this or that, needed to leave them.  On my application form, I need to amend with the question ‘do you have a contingency plan for kitty in case something happens to you’.  Of course, I always mention to new adopters that I will take the cat back if something does not work out.    In fact, that is on the contract that I have them sign, that they must return kitty to me.  That has only happened to me twice now, and that was Parsley and Hermie.

So yes, I get these pleas, and some do sound desperate.  Some of these reasons are legitimate. And a lot of them, as you learn in the course of doing animal rescue work, aren’t.  I still maintain that way too many pets end up at shelters because of dumb or avoidable reasons (like choosing to move to a place that doesn’t allow pets, or wanting a “younger, cuter” one instead… These things happen all the time). What I am saying, though, is that we shouldn’t automatically assume someone who needs to rehome their pet doesn’t love them or is a horrible person.  I would hope they’ve exhausted all their options.  And there are options.  Family, friends, boarding cats, etc. 

I wish I had an overabundance of people that would offer to foster a cat or two.  Then I could get the desperate cats off the street that I need to, and have room for these other sweet angels who’s owner is leaving them behind.  They don’t deserve that, and it just plain makes me sad. Some cats go into a deep depression when their family gives them up – some grieve themselves to death.  I have only THREE people to help me foster right now.  I would love to know how many the bigger rescues have. 

Also, all rescues should take responsibility, if they don’t already, and let the new family know that they can contact you if it doesn’t work out. Consider it a peace-of-mind guarantee that your pet won’t end up on the streets or in a shelter.

The bottom line is, there are always options.  

Have a good day.

"Saving one pet won't change the world, 

but for that one pet, 

the world will change forever."

Taking a Chance

One morning on a freezing cold day in December, 2018, Sunday Sheryl and I pulled up to Third and Central, one of my 20 locations, to do our normal feeding.  Sheryl said to me "look at that cat" and I did and saw that it looked close to death.  Very emaciated, and very sick looking.  My first reaction was to take it to emergency (it was 5 am.) to have it looked at and eventually maybe put to sleep out of its misery he looked so bad.  Sheryl, who who already had so many kitties herself of her own to care for, said 'let me take him and see what I can do.'  That morning, I called around and found ARK was open that day and we booked him an appointment.  After several medications, and a LOT of TLC by Sheryl, CHANCE was saved.  Not one of my finest moments...  I have my limitations.  I just can't save them all and some are so serious, and suffering, I have had to make this terrible decision many times.  So many variables that people don't understand.  But nevertheless, I for one am glad Sheryl helped out in this situation and there is someone else who is very glad, and that is Chance's mom! She wrote me recently and wanted to share his recent adventures since being rescued.  Chance is now named Tobin Chance.

Chance just after being rescued
Skin and bone.

Hi Aunt Janine! It’s me Tobin Chance! I just wanted to catch up to let you know I am doing good in my new home. It’s been about 4 ½ months and I am finally starting to settle in. My mom keeps telling me she is starting to see cracks in my cat armor. When I first got here, I spent all of my time in my room and I hid under the bed a lot. Then I left my room and would hide in the basement. I was always crunched up in a ball and squinting my eyes (mom calls it the “stink face”). Now lay on my side stretched out and sleep like I am relaxed. Mom says it is nice to see my beautiful bright green eyes now. I like to spend time in the back living room (mostly because the dogs don’t come in there much), but I have 2 big windows, 3 snuggly beds and my brother Teddy likes to hang out in there with me. In the afternoon on sunny days, they open the front door and I like to sit in the sunbeam. In the evenings I like to sit on the landing and look out on my new family in the living room, then I will go up and lay on mom and dad’s big bed. Things are going better at the litter box, and I am using it every day now. (My mom says I am about to jinx it!) I am still on steroids, and hoping to come off them soon. The vet says she thinks I might have something called IBD which is causing my troubles. My mom says she’s not sure of that, but whatever it is, we will get through it. She thinks it might be due to everything that has happened to me (including those yucky worms which are finally gone) and it is just taking my body a long time to heal because I was really sick for a long time. You might remember I only weighed 6 pounds. Now I weigh 11.5!

I am still not a super fan of being held but my mom picks me up every day so I get used to it. At first I used to squiggle a lot and when she put me down she would say my dismount was terrible – I kicked my feet everywhere! I even scratched her good a couple times by accident. Now she picks me up, I settle down and I even purr. I didn’t like to be petted when I first came, but now I like to have my face and back scratched! It makes me purr and knead my bed. I am eating good, I get canned food and dry food every day, and I sure like that crunchy food.. and snacks! I love them! She keeps my food in the laundry room so when I hear that door open I come running in the kitchen (if she is just doing laundry she gets the stink face until she gives me a snack). I am not sure about living with 3 dogs sometimes. The smallest, Jake, does not pay me any mind. Cookie, the oldest, wants to lick me in the face because she likes me so much. But I just don’t know about that Violet. She’s loud – she likes to bark a lot (at anything) and will try to poke me with her nose (then she gets in trouble). They still make me nervous sometimes, but my mom watches out for me. Some days I am feeling brave and will sit with all the dogs around me – when they are quiet, they are not so scary.

Chance and Teddy

Sometimes my mom is able to work from home and I really like that! If she works at the kitchen table, she will pull a chair up to the window and I will get up there with Teddy and look out. It’s nice to have someone home during the day for me to visit. She calls me the “Cat Ninja” because I am so quiet. Before she knows I am there, I am climbing up her chair to say hi. She never hears me sneak up on her and when I talk I have a tiny, quiet voice. I have lots of toys and I like to play! That really helped me to work on being so timid – I would get playing with my toys and forget all about being shy, so she makes sure I play every day! I even like running around with Teddy! When I first met him I ran and hid, now we are getting to be friends. Mom was surprised when I stole a snack from Teddy the other day – I never would have done that before. I have lots of scratchy boards and a big post, but I don’t like to use them. I prefer to pick at the area rugs, but mom doesn’t like that (she wags her finger at me and says “young man, stop that!”) She found a left over carpet square and put that in my living room. She’s sure smart because I like that one and don’t scratch the good ones anymore.

Mom says it is fun having a “youngster” in the house again (I am the youngest at 5, Teddy is 15!). She thinks it’s amazing I can jump from the floor to the bed and laughs when I run down the stairs really fast in the morning to go get my breakfast. I sure like my new home. My mom tells me she hopes I like it here because I am going to be here for a long time.

Thanks for helping me and all the other cats like me.

Tobin Chance

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

"Keep rescuing animals.  

You may lose your mind, but you will surely find your soul."

(Adult) FOSTERS Desperately Needed

Thanks for all the comments from my first post back last week!  Its nice to feel appreciated.  :)

Available for Adoption:

Astrid, Wilbur, Willie

It was a crazy busy weekend.  We were given half a day on Wednesday, and full day on Friday, with the holiday of 4th of July off in between, as a bonus.  What a great start to going back full time, a 2.5 day week!  

Each morning, going out on my route - I drive, and Kings gets out to feed.  He has a bad back, so I feel terrible about that.  After all, he is NOT getting any younger.  I sometimes envision, or try, when might be my last day out there.  Will it end because of a tragedy?  Or just pure OLD age.  And what will happen to those cats that depend on me?

I saw a lot of heartache the past five days.  The fire on Denver Street produced a new feeding spot, as I spotted a two fluffy little kittens at the house who’s garage burned down.   Of course, I only drove past out of curiosity after seeing the fire, and all the smoke, and roads blocked off the morning before.  After spotting the kittens I saw, who I believe is, their mom, who is definitely under a year old.  Kings was actually able to touch her this morning, and feel her belly.  We are not sure if she is pregnant again.  The kittens and mom are absolutely beautiful.  Very very fluffy, and the one kitten is pure white.  They are a bit more skitzy.  As I turned the corner to go to my Garson Avenue spot, I spotted more cats.  Placed food down for them.  I saw at least five, and most were Calico, and no ear tips.  Ever since that morning, I am doing the same thing now.  Feeding at those two new locations.

Then there is Stout Street.  I spotted a tiny white kitten here also, and placing food down under a tree, at least six cats ran up and one being Goldilocks, who is very pregnant, and was rescued on the spot.  The trash that lives in this house removed the bowls two mornings in a row, so I am placing under a bush across the street on a park-like plot of land.  Yesterday a kitten ran up to eat.  This morning, a beautiful fluffy one with a deformed ear (looks like the ear grew close to the top of its head, rather than even like the other on its side!).  Friendly one that is.    

By the way, Goldilocks (GOLDIE) has not had her babies yet.  She is huge.  Kristin came by yesterday and scooped her up to foster at her home.  I don't know nothin' bout birthin' babies!  

And then there is Fourth Street.  There is a red kitten, and a muted Tortie mother whom I believe is pregnant.  And there is a black cat with a huge raw wound on its neck.  And the clinic is closed until Wednesday of this week, and I can’t get any appointments for TNR (trap neuter return). 

I NEED FOSTERS!  We need to get these cats off the streets and into safety, where they can be vetted and cared for.  The ones I am referring to above are DESPERATE. I’m DESPERATE.  It doesn’t take much people.  Just provide a room with a window, take pictures of them occasionally, let their true colors come out after their fright, and I will get them adopted, some sooner than others, but it will happen.  Please consider!

That’s all for today.  Tomorrow, we have a special post by Jennifer, who adopted Chance. What a special story that one.

Have a great day!

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”

Back In The Saddle!

WARNING:  THIS POST IS GOING TO BE VERY WISHY WASHY.  TOO MUCH TO TELL (and I don't know where to start!)

I am back, with a brand new hip!  Its been a long time Dear Diary, and I just could not get on a computer to write you.  Thanks to Joel for lending me his dad's laptop, but I was not much into getting on it as it was a very painful month.

I received so many note of encouragement, flowers, and visits - even some cards and flowers from the Street Kitties I feed!  How sweet!  :)  You know who you are...  ha ha.

Here is my past month, in pictures.  I could never possibly begin to tell you day to day, but I can tell you that I've rescued 20 cats just in the month of JUNE.  Thats TWO adults, and EIGHTEEN kittens.  Of course I had help.  I had fosters such as Sue, Melissa, and Kristin.  Without them it would be impossible for me to do rescue!  For the most part I watched those kittens grow into bigger kittens through pictures.  It was hard for me not to get my hands on them when they were babies.  I couldn't drive, nor walk for that matter!

I am back to work this week, and its taken its toll already!  Now my ankle hurts.  My ankle that I broke in February.  Swollen, and I can feel the pins and screws at times.  Gross.

Kings has been a trooper going out each morning while I drive.  Joel helps out occasionally also!  My faithful Laura, who was helping while I recouped from my ankle break was doing Fridays, took a break, then offered to help out on Sundays, then she fell and broke her foot! 

Last weekend I had my faithful Sheryl, and Kim has joined her quite a bit, and then we had Elisabeth help to move a shelter that someone complained about on private property.  VACANT land, the shelter in the bushes, but yet these people are AFRAID of cats, so they complained to the owner of the property, a not-for-profit called The Community Place, on Parsells Avenue in Rochester.  They certainly do not understand the purpose of this shelter there, nor can I explain because it hits me too close and I get very defensive and cannot remain calm and collective trying to defend the cats in these situations. The shelters were moved, but not far.  This place needs to learn compassion for animals.  Here I have their neighbors on Parsells that allow me to place shelters on their property because they see the need for what I am doing, by spaying and neutering cats - and you need to have a shelter for them, and feed them in order to gain their trust.  This street alone I have rescued well over 100 cats throughout the years and found them homes, and double that in TNR (trap neuter return).

This morning - I rescued another cat.  This one is very pregnant.  Nipples huge.  I don't know what that means, did she recently have a litter?  I spotted her after I was driving slowly looking for cats on Stout Street as I had seen a few a few days before.  I spotted something white and tiny in the dark.  After getting the flashlight and shining it on this object, I realized it was a white kitten.  I had Kings put food down under the tree, and six cats came running.  I saw a very pregnant cat and Kings nabbed her.  I have no idea what I am going to do with her.  Normally she would be spayed, but these kittens will be born any minute.  I can't keep her, but she is very friendly and for now, a pleasant little figure in my bathroom window.

GOLDILOCKS

So here are some pictures, and I promise to write about things as I remember throughout the coming posts.  Its been a rough journey and one that will continue to be a bit bumpy as I continue to recover.

Andrew - newly rescued

ASTRID - newly rescued

ASTRID

BUCKIE now named Marty

THOMAS and FOXY

JUSTICE FREEDOM & LIBERTY
(rescues from Parsells Avenue)

GUMMY BEAR (and the REAL Lichi!)
Rescues from Melville #1

Justice (rescue from Parsells #2)

Add caption

LICHI and GUMMY BEAR
 (rescues from Melville #1

Willie! 
(rescues from Miss B's house)

Wilson, Willie and Astrid!

PARSELLS #3 Kitties!

PENNSYLVANIA AVE. 
Shelters were taken

PETUNIA (now named Summer!)
(adopted yesterday!)

PRINCESS (Melville #1)
Gummy Bear, Lichi, Andrew and Thomas' Mom!

ROSEY & VIOLET's new parents!

THOMAS and ROXY

SARA and new baby (she had three stillborns)
(rescued from trailer park)

Short legged kitty on Short Street!

"Uncle" Charlie
(rescued from trailer park)

Charlie after bath

"Uncle" Charlie and the kittens!

Gummy Bear, Lichi, Andrew and Thomas
 BEFORE RESCUE (born in this shelter on Melville)

WILSON!

Thats all I got folks!  Off to work!  But there is SO much more!

Have a great day!