A Prayer for All the Street Kitties

A friend of mine, Norma, who runs the Pet Pride of WNY - http://petprideny.org/PPNY/Home.html sent me this poem and said she thought of me when she read it.  She warned me it was a three Kleenex read, so I am glad I did not read it at work.  Its touching, and oh so real.  I hope you all read it through and let me know that you did!  I need to know what I post is not going unread!  Thanks Norma, you've been such an inspiration to me!

A PRAYER FOR ALL THE STREET KITTIES
From kittenhood you lived your life upon unforgiving streets.
Tough existence for a cat, though you never asked for peace
And now all I can offer you is the needless final peace.

Think of a world where every litter’s planned.
Where every cat is wanted in every town and land
Why are so many homeless? It’s hard to understand
Why every shelter cats and strays.
Praying for adoption within their seven days.
Accusing us of negligence in each compelling feline gaze.
If I took you to a shelter you wouldn’t stand a chance
When even cuddly kitties don’t get a second glance;
And you just growl and hiss and spit while they all purr and prance.
I hope God understands why I cannot offer more
Than a filling bowl of cat food placed outside my door
And a blanket in the garage so you can rest your weary paws.
You are a wild spirit but you could live inside with me.
You need my protection, and you still could be happy.

To neuter and to nurture, that is my responsibility.
And now you’re old the time has come to bring you final rest.
That you let me pick you up at last, I feel that I am blessed
Though I know it’s just because you’re too weak to resist.
I pray that God has mercy on me and will understand,
That for his wild creature I’ve done the best I can not
to just love you from a distance, my wild street kitty friend.

For all the other kitties that live upon the street,
I pray someone will neuter/spay them and give them food to eat, a home
And a helping hand right at the end to ease them into sleep so they will not be alone.

Monday Mania!!

We had our first significant snowfall last night.  I thank God that the temperatures are not as low as they could/should be for this time of year.  So far I have actually managed to go out on my route with out my shovel.  Believe me, I have shoveled paths for my babies in years past.  The snow gets so high you can't even see their little heads as they hop through the snow.  But I made sure each of them had a towel to stand on over the snow to eat and drink before I left them.  And I made sure the sheltered spots had a dry towel inside. 

This is a quick post as I have to head to Newark to work today, after having my breaks serviced on Friday for $325!  What a RIP!.  But I needed it.  I guess what I do each day really wears and tears more than the average.  They were mading a high pitched squeaky sound and when diagnosed, was told they were metal to metal.  No choice.  Oh well. 

Pictured here is a kitten that was next to my car yesterday crying her little head off.  She is very thin, and I will be posting an ad for her on Craigslist and the newspaper today.  My very kind neighbors have taken her in after I begged - I am so bad - and I am sure her husband could kill me - but we need to find her home.  She is definitely a stray that has lost her way.

I also drove Wally to visit Miss B's new place.  He enjoyed getting out, and I learned he is just like me, we don't like to stay in one spot too long, so we chatted for about 10 minutes and were out of there!  He asked if we could drive over to his son's across the city, which I" didn't mind.  It was nice to see him out and happy.  As we drove through the inner city, he reflected and pointed out certain places, where he used to live, landmarks - two whorehouses...  we laughed.  Wally has lived a full life, and is content for now with his lot.  He dreams of traveling to Jamaica, and every once in a while, with a dollar and a dream, he tries to make that a reality with a lottery ticket.   Of course he promises me part of his winnings so I "can take care of Buster and all the other homeless kitties".  Thanks Wally, I hope so too.

Two Horses

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.
But if you get a closer look you will notice something quite interesting...


One of the horses is blind.


His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in.


This alone is pretty amazing.


But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from a smaller horse in the field.


Attached to the horse's halter is a small, copper-colored bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.


As you stand and watch these two friends you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray.


When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, he will stop occasionally to look back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.


Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect. Or because we have problems or challenges.


He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.


Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.


And at other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.

Isn't that a beautiful story.  If I tear up from a story, it makes my day because I have experienced something from the heart.  Thats not to say that what I see each morning doesn't touch my heart, but its because of what I see is why I need inspiration like this.  I must believe that there is SOMEthing good that is going to come my way, or change for the better for these animals.   So, share away if you have a special short story yourself!  Pictured is Scooter and Cosmo, my two bratty babies, doing what they do best with each other, every single day.  Have a GREAT day!

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms

Ain't that the truth.  Although do we NOT feel guilt if we've done something stupid or wrong in the eyes of our animals, like they KNOW what we did, they just don't say anything?  Its almost like people who have passed in my life, like my father - can he see what I am doing 24/7???  Good Lord, I hope not!  :)  I do hope he is watching OVER me, but not WATCHING me!  :)

It snowed a bit over night, nothing to bother me with, but I did lay a towel down on the ground and set the bowls on it so the kitties little feet would have something dry to stand on at my first spot.  There are about four cats there still, that I know of, that come around.  Then to the back of Wally's, there is a fluffy kitty there thats very friendly, that I know has slept in the little covered litter box I have set up there with a plastic tablecloth and board set - very cozy - has straw inside.  Then onto the next stop where RED usually hangs, but hasn't lately, but there is Talky cat there, who runs to me every morning.  I have found kitties in the shelters I have set up there on the abandoned house's porch.  I thought to myself that I must place a note this spring to the guy that owns the house thanking him for not trashing my stuff, where there have been occasions where I know someone has been along, but they have not disturbed my stuff.  Then onto the next stop where both Big Red and Red were, along with the two collared black and white kitties, and another young tabby.  Then to the next stop, then on and on until the 13th and last stop.  I am running out of food faster.  Nothing out of the ordinary though, so I am back within the hour.

I have another story I want to share with you tomorrow.  I do take the time to read a good inspirational story.  It brightens my day just a bit.  I hope you tune in tomorrow, have a great day!

Food For Thought

Something different today - friend shared with me this story...  its an uplifting sort of story which I believe we can all use, I for sure can...  but before I share it, some news from this morning.  At my spot on Third, there was pretty little angel in the snow kitty, other kitty that gets in my car, and the black and white one with the collar.  No sign of the Bully Boy, but I was ever so grateful to see the other three.  I got out of the car and said, where have you been???  They didn't answer, but they did have a look of mischief all over their face, so I knew they were up to no good.  HA!! 

Potato Chips


A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him some chips. He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted!


They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever..


When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"


He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"


He replied "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!

Have lunch with God.......bring chips.

I'll Get You My Pretty!

Thats what I had playing in my head this morning on my rounds - the Wicked Witch of the West saying from the movie the Wizard of Oz.  It was windy and cool out, with debris flying through the air.  I also imagined her saying this when I pulled up to Third Street, where normally there are three cats waiting for me, one has actually climbed into my car before, the other one rolls on the ground at my feet, has even made snow angels in the snow rolling around, and the other is the bully.  Oh, don't let me forget, there is another that has been hanging around, a very nice black and white with a collar on, but sleeping in the tote shelters on the porch of this dilapidated porch.  When I pulled up this morning, day two of nothing.  Not one cat.  And they have been there religiously for a year now.  Has someone REALLY been poisoning these cats?  Is it the man who sees me each morning from across and down the street - who barely speaks English but I have said hello to many times to let him know I am of no threat to him.  Is it the neighbors, who I have never met, but who once threw all their leaves they had raked up on this porch, and who have thrown other items up in the past...    I pulled the board away that shelters the wind from under the porch, where each year I place a new bale of straw down, and I did see soft nests made in the straw where they have kept shelter and warmth so far.  And as I walked up on the porch not knowing what I would find, nothing looked unusual, but I did see another huge heap of food on a plate - this was a lot of white rice and some other sloppy slop piled up.  I wanted to scream, thinking that someone has hurt these poor animals.  And Poppi is missing, and as I drove away from that spot, I said to myself, you were too late to save her. 

Its hard out there.  I still wonder sometimes why I do what I do and how I do what I do.  Really, its hard.  I guess the actual rescues I make give me the strength I need.  Its the ones I can't that overwhelm me.  Have a good day.

Monday Scoop

Little time this morning again due to working out in Newark and it being nearly a one hour drive, so quickly, the happenings around town over the weekend.  Saturday morning I rescued this little guy, I call him Skinny Minny, just simply skin and bones.  I have never dealt with a cat this emaciated before.  I am SO thankful he is a friendly little guy, but not so little back there (he is unneutered).  :)  And I am so thankful for Nancy, who took in  the fifth cat from the streets for me.  She is going to be trying get them adopted out, so will keep you posted when I get some pictures of all the babies we've rescued!  Thanks to the person who wrote in about Flikr for downloading and sharing my pics, I am still trying to figure that out! 

Weather it cooperating again, mild temperatures, although supposed to rain, and perhaps get a bolt of lightening and a clap of thunder today!  Speaking of Thunder, here is a picture of my boy.  Thunder has had a lump on his belly for a long time now, and I've just noticed it getting larger.  He urinated a bit of blood the other day also, so I am keeping an eye out on that.  My poor boy. 

I also have not seen Poppi in over a week now.  Another strange happening is that the spot right past Poppi's, a sweet orange cat that rolls on the ground at my feet and another that runs to my car, and where Mr. Bully hang, no one was seen there this morning.  Someone puts slop on a plate occasionally  - chicken, macaroni and cheese, bones of something - on the porch of this abandoned house, and I am thinking the worse - that they are poisoning the cats.  I will pray for their return tomorrow!

I wish you all a great day, will share more tomorrow.  XO!