Giving Tuesday

NOTE:  I am posting some pictures of rescues from this year that have been adopted.  This is just a smattering of cats I've rescued this year...  Remember, I've rescued over 80, just 40 or so pictures here..  I could spend all day...

There is so much for me to be thankful for.  First and foremost are my donors.  Second, are the food donations I receive from friends and those I don't even know ..  Third are my fosters, and lastly my adopters!  Without 1, 2, 3, and 4, I could not do what I am doing.  And doing so for over 30 years.  Burnout?  Oh God yes.  I haven't had a day off since knee surgery.  Then I had to pay someone to do my route and I am very very grateful.  This was ...  three years ago?  Imagine having to get up every single morning of your life, in the dark, and go out to the car, sometimes in frigid weather, sometimes in rain and snow storms, and drive a few miles to feed the cats.  Every. Single. Day.  

I have 24 colonies, six of which Esther volunteers to do, and we do this every other day.  On the days in between, I still go out to two spots, one on Parsells Avenue, where the cats there has no shelter because of the despicable human beings that live there and won't allow a shelter anywhere, and the other on Fourth Street and Central Avenue, where there is a colony of cats that I feed under a church van that hasn't been used in years.  I have shelters hidden behind the fence on the vacant lot next door, but this is where I feed them daily.  Here, there is an evil person who comes along EVERY SINGLE DAY and removes the water and food.  There is no reason for this, it's just pure evil.  To take the water away from the cats on 90-degree days is utterly cruel.

My main goal when I started this long ago, was to rescue the adult cats I saw on the side of the streets, eating garbage and just trying to survive.  Most were strays, and those that people left behind as they continued their journey of moving from house to house with Section 8 assistance.  But in the past years, there has been an influx of kittens.  And my name is now, unwantedly, on a list that is given out by veterinarians, and other rescues no less, of being of assistance.  I get calls and emails asking for help to rehome, to help the kittens in the backyard, to help the injured, to help with everyone else's problems.  I sometimes pass on these requests to Kristin who doesn't have the heart to ignore them, whereas I am totally overwhelmed by the rescued animals I am already dealing with.

I have treated two kittens this year that have cost me a total of $3,000.  One was at the rip-off Green Acres in Buffalo because we had no other emergency locations to take cats to in Rochester.  The reason for that is because of staff shortages and greedy corporations.

From the streets, I have rescued close to 80 cats this year, with the help of fosters first, and then getting them adopted.  My vet bills are insane.  I am paying $1,000 + per MONTH at Rochester Community Animal Clinic.  Their prices have risen and I lose money with adoption fees because most times, the animals need to be seen for one reason or another and those visits are on average $200+  The food to feed these cats:

This is twice a week.  Over $300 to order food for me and food for Esther.

You ask, how long can this go on?  My friends and mom tell me all the time to give it up, but how can I do that?  Cats literally RUN to my truck.  They know the sound and they know my voice.  They cannot eat on their own.  Contrary to what others believe, they can't live on mice, garbage, etc. 

 

I am doing my best, but I need help doing it.  Please consider donating to my rescue today, tomorrow on Giving Tuesday, or when you have a spare dollar.  I accept food donations also and am happy to send my address so that it can be delivered, or personally delivered by you.

One last note, thank you to my paid volunteers who go out with me time after time, and those who had to take a break.  If I could pay more I would do it.  Since I broke my ankle (while feeding cats!) four years ago, my balance isn't great, so cannot trek the vacant lots anymore.

Please give from the heart what you can tomorrow, Giving Tuesday.

Many thanks,

Have a great day!

PS, My website needs updating!

The City - Once Again

Hello!  It's been a whirlwind summer.  I have once again rescued well over 50 cats from the streets, I am sure it is more. but we have not tallied it up due to the fact that Google Drive erased half my information because I keep very good records of each cat with any information on them as possible.  Most were kittens, but we rescued some adult cats which it was obvious they had been dumped at some point and just didn’t belong on the street.

I am having a serious problem right now with one of my shelters.  It's on Seventh Street, tucked into a small corner in the back of a vacant lot.  There are about 8 small, wooden shelters underneath boards and a large brand new brown tarp.  It has been there for over 10 years and has housed and sheltered many cats during our wicked wintery weather months.  Today, it houses an over 10-year-old tabby that calls this home and a beautiful grey cat that will actually be rescued next week as I’ve been offered to have him fostered by a kind couple.  It's home to many cats, we just don’t see them when we are there to feed every other day for less than five minutes. 

The reason that the city has been made aware of this is because a crazy woman leased this lot to use as a garden.  She never did, and for the summer, she burned wood and brought the craziest pieces of furniture to use there.  She had a pulpit, church benches, and other crazy stuff.  She planted plastic flowers all over the place too.  Neighbors eventually complained, and the city came by and told her to take a hike and remove all her crazy stuff.  That’s when they spotted my shelter in the corner in the back, where there was a flier with my information on it.  I received a call from Chris Fitzgerald who I believe originally tried to help me.  I wrote him an email with many facts, and he shared that with his boss, and several other top city people, and he still came back to me telling me that wanted the shelters gone.  Here is my initial letter to Chris:

Good morning, Chris, I am sorry we didn't connect yesterday. Hopefully, you received the message I left you at 5:03 last evening  :)

I am afraid I am guilty of not contacting Diane Powell and David Langley, who both have reached out to me.  It's been a long time since the City has challenged the future of one of my shelters and I am not great at negotiation.

I have many reasons why the shelter on the vacant lot on 7th Street should not be moved:

1.  First and foremost, this lot would not be an issue if the woman who 'leased' the lot for a garden from the City this past spring hadn't damaged the property and had neighbors complain about her and the crazy setup she had.  My shelter is tucked into the back corner and has been for over 10 years now and is barely noticeable.  I have never had a complaint about it in all this time.  It has been home to many cats over the years and has saved countless lives from the harsh winter storms we have.   When this woman started her ‘garden’, she trashed the lot and did not use it as a garden. 

2.  There are many cats that call this home.  They have been there for over seven years.  As you know, there are just some cats that you can't rescue because they never warm up to you, so I've left them but still care for them.  There is, however, one cat that runs to us as we pull up there that is the next on our list to rescue, he is so sweet.  We just need to free up the few fosters I have so that we can take him.  All cats there have been neutered and vaccinated and do not cause any harm to anyone.

3.  As far as pest control, I feed these cats every other day due to the cost.  I leave them food and return to pick up any remaining food that same day.  These cats are great at catching mice and rodents because they leave me little ‘presents’ sometimes. Cats will eat anything when they are hungry.  Sadly enough.

3.  The shelters there are all handmade wooden shelters.  We call them 'the apartments' as they could house many cats if needed.  You can't see them as there is wood around it to keep the snow out, and a board and tarp over them.  We are planning on replacing the tarp with a brand-new one that will blend in and will not be noticed.

4.  As you might recall, I met with city officials several years ago, and with Karen St. Aubin's help two years ago, I understood I had an 'unwritten agreement’ that if I placed my rescue information in the shelters, they would not be removed.

5.  The city has also acknowledged my work of TNR and rescuing by honoring me with a proclamation for a Janine Wagner Day in November back in 2014.

I have attached the articles that have been written about me, my website, and my blog I started to write about what I do since 2012.  I’ve even attached a picture of the lot after this woman was supposed to start a garden.

http://www.janinethebeanrescue.org/about/

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/picture-gallery/news/2015/03/11/lp-janine-wagner-cats/70163822/

http://thebean10.blogspot.com/

https://13wham.com/news/top-stories/womans-mission-to-help-stray-cats-thwarted-by-city-hall

In closing, I hope and pray the city allows this shelter to stay.  I cannot relocate these cats, and there is not a vacant lot nearby to move to.

 

I then wrote a letter to Diane Powell, head of the vacant lots, etc.  Here is that letter:

 

Dear Ms. Powell,

I apologize for the delay in reaching out to you. I was hoping this situation with my cat shelter in the vacant lot on Seventh Street would have been resolved with my last email, which I believe Chris Fitzgerald copied you on. Between my full time job, and trying to help save the animal world in Rochester (we rescues get dozens of calls for help from the public with cats and kittens on a weekly basis), I find myself pulling my hair out when I have time to breathe, rather than dealing with yet another situation that is wrong with this city.

I attach pictures that show the improvement of the lot – we mowed the long grass and cut down and removed a dead tree limb – both creating an eyesore on this once beautiful piece of land before the crazy woman received a garden permit and ruined the lot by burning wood and bringing insane objects onto the lawn.  She is the only reason this land has come to light – because of her disrespect for the permit she was issued.  I also had a garden permit on Pennsylvania Avenue between Third and Fourth Street where I had planted beautiful grasses, annual flowers, and vegetables.  In addition to the shelter, we have also added a new tarp that further hides the shelter from prying eyes.

I hope that city officials, and I mean no disrespect to you, are worrying about the mayhem in our city rather than removing the only shelter that these cats have from harm and inclement weather, especially with our long brutal winter looming ahead.  There is so much sadness that all homeless animals are facing, especially with our only emergency service closing at the end of November.  Please give these animals a break.

I look forward to hearing back from you at your convenience.

 

So there you have it.  I have been getting messages from Chris asking me if I want help to move the shelters.  There is no other vacant lot on that street, and what is the actual reason they want it moved?  I think he mentioned in his last voicemail that someone wanted to use the lot as a garden lease.  I don’t believe it.

The other problem is, that I don’t have the fight I had back in 2016 when they removed a shelter from Short Street. We met at the mayor’s office and did a few news stories and videos.  Since then I really have had no problem.  And that was thanks to Karin St. Aubin who was in the position that Diane Powell is now in, where we had an unwritten agreement that if I left my fliers in the shelters, I should be safe.

If anyone has a true suggestion or can write on my behalf, or do anything, please help me.

Here are the kittens we are getting soon, and here are those we have already in foster (and don't forget, these are the precious babies we find on the streets most times - SHAME ON THE CITY OF ROCHESTER to try to hurt people in rescue!!!!!!:

AND those still on the street:

You can click on each photo to see close up.  Please consider foster and adoption, and please stick up for these city cats to the City of Rochester, and to Chris.Fitzgerald.  Thank you.

PS, we are in desperate need of dry and wet food for adult cats and kittens!

Have a great day!

Hello!

 Pictures are scattered below - you can click on each one and see it up close.

Well hi there.  It’s been a very long time, and between my last post and now, we have rescued many, many cats.  I am upset that I kept a document in Google Drive as my spreadsheet on all my rescues since 2019, and its missing from my files.  Its very upsetting because it has all my information – kittens rescued, from where, names, sex, vet appointments, name of fosters, adopters, etc.  It was quite extensive and I am upset that its missing.  I used to average 80 cats a year off the streets, and I thought that with me slowing down and not doing any trapping myself personally, the numbers would dwindle extensively, but there were actually 60 cats rescued last year, and so far this year, there are about 40. 

These kittens (teenagers) are starving beside Goodman Street and run to me every time I pull up.  Near corner of Ferndale.  Very sweet and hungry.

I have since changed jobs, am as happy as I ever have been, and hopefully, this will be my last job!  Although many of you might think RESCUE is my job, nope, I need a real job to pay the bills, and donations would never touch my personal expenses.  Speaking of donations, my donation bank is dwindling fast due to my spending $300 per week on cat food.  I am getting nervous for the first time since starting this, as expenses have gone way up.  Sick kittens we take into rescue, and food purchased for the homeless cats I feed.  The average price for a bag of food is $15.98 from Chewy.  Esther has taken over a few more of my spots, so she is doing SEVEN locations of mine, and I am doing FOURTEEN!  So I need to order food for her to do my spots and for myself.  It really adds up.  I wish I had more donations of cat food if not cash.   I still have some ASS picking up the plates on the corner of 4^th Street and Central Park where a family of mostly black, fixed cats wait for me every day.  I do go to two locations by myself each morning when I don’t have help every other day.

Speaking of help, one of my paid volunteers is quitting and that leaves me in a real bind.  I have two people that are somewhat interested in helping so I need to BEG them to help.  I just cannot continue without help.  My ankle is too weak to walk on vacant lots which is uneven ground.  I am hoping these two could work out.  

My other needs are Iams kitten food, chicken or turkey pate, adult dry cat food, large cans of shredded cat food (dollar stores sell these), paper plates and bowls, and tarps.  No bright colors, just dark colors like brown and dark green or camouflage. 

 Sheryl with a cat that needs a home on Melville:

At present I am fostering EIGHT  kittens – three are from Garson/Chamberlain - two boys and one girl.  The fourth is Mr. Bojangles.  The remaining four are from Handy Street (and I am sure Kristin had something to do with it!) 😊  Seven are being fostered by Tamera but she has gone on vacation and now I have these kittens.  Kittens are very cute, but not my favorite.  They are so much work, and my porch is a bit small for all these kittens!  But nevertheless, they are safe and loved.  And three are already adopted!  We also have three sweet adult cats that she is caring for as well, who need a home desperately.  They are very beautiful and sweet.  They can be found on https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/ny/rochester/janinethebean-rescue-inc-ny1339/

 These are four kittens that Tamera is fostering - NOT adopted yet:  We have Inky Blinky Pinky and Clyde:

Kristen has four kittens – one with a broken leg from a different litter, and the other litter, mom still with them, were just born about seven weeks ago.  I don’t know where these kittens came from.

 

We get so many calls from people needing help with kittens.  Or they need to rehome a cat.  I want to strangle them.  Our rescues are full to capacity!  Don’t ask us to do the work, do it yourself, with our advice!  We will help in some capacity!~

PLEASE do your part.  Support your rescues (especially mine as I am the smallest in Rochester).  THANK YOU!!!  I’ve Missed you!!!

My George:

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

TGIT!

 I am back.  Even before I nearly sliced off the tip of my right index finger at Easter cutting potatoes for au gratin, I've been too busy to write, nor was I inclined to write a post.  I can't type now because of the growth of this new skin.  I couldn't even unlock my phone, my print had changed!  Sometimes, this 'mission' of saving and feeding cats gets to me.  I'm getting older.  I still love early mornings hearing the birds singing and watching the sun rise; the feeling I get when I am done and driving home is good too.  You know you've helped feed some pretty hungry cats with no one else to feed them.  Yet, despite the sadness starting out in the morning, I still do it.  I feel like I am a warrior fighting the good fight.  Especially when you have two spots where someone picks up the plates and water dish daily.  I just don't get the point of it.  Its just evil.

I have rescued a lot of cats lately, and found them homes!  This little one -- someone called me on Sunday and said they found a kitten after the mother ran away from it (the woman's dog went after the mother), and she said, 'I tried to call local rescues, but no one would answer my calls.'  I told her I would take it if she could find a way to bring it over.  So here comes this kitten, not even three weeks old.  I immediately started the bottle feeding.  Ugh.  And yes, a mother cat is still out there, most likely nursing its siblings.  A rescue told me they would try for the mom and kittens and have never gotten back to me.  In the meantime 'Ralphie' has had 'diarrhea' the past two days. After I have to 'stimulate' Ralphie to pee, out comes this loose stuff - totally gross, to say the least!  I didn't think young kittens could do that, especially being on the bottle! So he was brought to Pittsford Animal Hospital, and $200+ later, I hope he'll get better.  He's as cute as a button but should have been with the mom.  Here is Ralphie:

I picked up a dead cat this morning at my Ferndale shelter.  It was a cat I've never seen before, a dilute tortie.  Rigor had set in.  It had half its body hanging out of the shelter, half in.  The girl that helped me this morning has never seen a dead cat, so it was traumatic for her.  I felt so bad for her.  And the cat, but I see dead cats all the time and it doesn't phase me much anymore.  It all goes back to spaying and neutering.  And let me tell you, I don't care what stage a cat is in pregnancy, it's criminal to bring more cats into this world.  I had a very pregnant cat I rescued, Lucy, and she was full term, but we got her in quickly, and she is one happy little thing now.  I need to get her from where she is right now into a closer foster because she is beautiful.  The elder woman who has her has a flip phone and it doesn't get very good pics.  I've GOT to post her.  She is a silver-speckled cat if you've ever seen that.

We also have rescued Velvet (adopted this weekend), Smokey, still waiting for a home; Bear, who is in his new home; the four little black kittens from Weicher Street: Fluffy, Frederika, (OMG I can't remember the other two names!) ____ _____ have all gone to their new homes.

We rescued Callie from Short Street after we discovered she had babies in the shelter that night.  Thanks very much to all involved.  Especially Roc the Dogs, Lori and Carol Ann.  BIG thanks to them.

I am very appreciative of everyone that donated toward my Facebook birthday fundraiser/  I am still waiting on the money. Still, in the meantime, it will go towards feeding these cats.  Remember, I go out 4 days a week (every other day).  I use FIVE 16-lb bags of dry food and 30 cans of wet food.  Dry food is up to 15.98 per bag, and a case of wet food is $20 something.  Do the math.  I spend at least $300 per week on food.  I don't know how long this will last.

And let's not forget Pearl, still waiting for her forever home!

Have a great day!