Hey Wanna Have Some Fun?

The hookers of Bay Street are back.  I saw four this morning.  Two looked so young.  I am always tempted to pull over, ask them why they are doing it - selling themselves to strangers (not that I've never done it before - pulled over to talk to them that is...), tell them there is a better way to live.  But I keep driving.  It won't make a difference what I say.  That's their life.  Who knows their story.  There are so many messed up people in this world.  You can't change them all.  You can only be an example to others.  If they see it, then so be it.  If they don't, they don't.

It was a quiet morning.  Marbles was there, faithfully as ever.  I've got to get him next.  But I must get him into foster because of the three DARLING little kittens I've already got under my wing.  Arnie, the runt, is still so so tiny!  Little Peppercorn and Charlie (Chaplin) are thriving.  Arnie is too, but in a much smaller way.  A friend is taking them for the weekend, to give me a break.  And boy do I need a break.  Get my house in order, relax from the every hour visits to see them, play with them, feed them.  Arnie is still drinking from the bottle, but eating a bit more regular food on his own.  Then we have Poppy, Birdie, and Sparky being fostered by my other friend, who are still with their mom, who will be spayed either this Tuesday or next Tuesday, and then let back out to the street where she came from. She is still pretty feral.  So sad.

Latest pics of the kids - LETS FIND THEM HOMES!!!:

Charlie, Peppercorn, Arnie  (l to r)

To answer yesterday's comment, Habitat for Cats, the rescue group, were the ones that TNR'd most of the kitties inside the gates of the Susan B. Anthony apartments.  I TNR'd most of the ones across the street.  HFC was given permission to come in and do that.  Just that.  I haven't seen the rotten excuse for a human being since the last confrontation - Tuesday.  I have been going a lot earlier so that the cats have a chance to gobble up some food before he comes out to throw it away.  POS.  People like him shouldn't be allowed to roam the earth.  I hope you all know, mankind is precious to me, but not people that will allow harm or despair come to an animal.  No way.

PS, the other comment - these cats ARE confined.  They cannot climb that fence.  If they could, surely, if hungry, they would cross the road to the other side where there is shelter and food.

Have a good day.

"Every day is a new chance to change your life."

Bad Ju Ju

They say bad things happen in threes.  For those of you who believe in superstitions, it really does happen.  We had a third death in my family, in three days.  Not only did Chris pass on Monday, but so did my grandmother's 98 year old sister, my fiery red-headed great Aunt Mary.  Her daughter, my sweet second Cousin Jill, her grandson, 18 months old, died yesterday.  Just two days after her mom.  I can't tell you how sad of a week its been, for so many people.  Please remember this today:  you never know what someone else you encounter is going through, so please be kind.  Smile at a stranger today.  It could make their day.

Aunt Mary

Thank you to - I think its Sunday Sheryl - who did some research and shared the following on yesterday's comments:

Agriculture and Markets Law § 353
Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals
§ 353. Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance.
A person who overdrives, overloads, tortures or cruelly beats or unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates or kills any animal, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to himself or to another, or deprives any animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or neglects or refuses to furnish it such sustenance or drink, or causes, procures or permits any animal to be overdriven, overloaded, tortured, cruelly beaten, or unjustifiably injured, maimed, mutilated or killed, or to be deprived of necessary food or drink, or who willfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Taken this morning - Niagara Cats

This sheds a bit more hope on the issue I am having with the cats on Niagara Street - who live in the fenced in apartment complex there surrounding Niagara, Central Park, and First Streets.  These cats cannot climb the fence for food, so food must be left inside the fence for them.  They have all been spayed and neutered.  I believe all of them.  There is a huge black man who has a girlfriend that lives there that has taken it upon himself to police this matter, and throw the food away after I leave.  My next step is to call The NET office - Neighborhood Empowerment Team - which deals with issues in their section of town - at some point.  Its hard for me to control my emotions - especially knowing that this IS private property, so I know right NOW I am not legally allowed to feed there.  But as I've said a million times before, I will NOT allow an animal to suffer - to go hungry.  I've had to call the NET office before regarding Hayward Avenue and the creep that used to trash my stuff at the house next door to where the landlord guy who turned out to be a creep himself.  The pervert.  That's old stuff. 

A kind woman who reads this blog took it upon herself to reach out to the property manager of the apartments, and the NET Office.  Here is what she had to say:

"I read the blog this morning concerning your issues with the "gentleman" on Niagara St.  I contacted the Northeast Service Center and asked to speak with an investigator.   I got the voice mail of a Lieutenant Fridley (it's a woman).   Left a message, she called me back.  She said if you personally called her directly that she would do whatever she could to help you.  Her direct number is 428-1104.  She's apparently the officer over all the investigators at that service center.   She/they should be able to provide more help for you and she definitely sounded like it was something she'd be willing to do.  She asked me if I knew the address of the property where you were having an issue and I said no - so she's going to need that if you decide to call her.

I took the liberty of calling the property manager at the apartment complex on Niagara and First.  I spoke with the woman (who sounded fairly old) for several minutes.   She said they were absolutely NOT going to permit anyone to feed animals on their property.   this property manager said that last year they had to start trapping because there were skunks and racoons on the property and everyone was complaining.   They did catch a couple of cats but they were released.  They have a pest control company that they use and they were the ones who did the trapping.  She claimed the maintenance person/pest control people told her these animals were on the property because of the cat food being left out.  She said a number of tenants are afraid of cats, dogs, racoons, etc., including the man who approached you (he's claimed that skunks are spraying on his car) - well, not actually him but his wife who works nights and he has to meet her in the parking lot when she gets home as she's "afraid" of the animals roaming around.  I find that a bit of a stretch but that's what they must be telling this property manager and she can't prove otherwise.  She also said that every morning the maintenance person they have makes the rounds on the property and that may be where the plates you put out are going.  She also said you shouldn't even be leaving them outside the fence as that's still attracting other animals.  I didn't argue with her as I wanted to get as much info as possible.  She didn't seem angry about anything, she said she understood why you were doing it, blah, blah, blah, but it couldn't happen on their property."  

So, I am hoping I have some some law on my side.  I must figure out this situation.  Its getting out of control with this man, who I wish would disappear.   That's putting it kindly.

Have a nice day.

"Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth, for being correct, for being you.  Never apologize for being correct, or for being years ahead of your time.  If you're right and you know it, speak your mind.  Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth."

TGIW

First, thank you to those of you that expressed your sympathies to me in your comments, and emails. Your words were very touching.  This will be a very difficult adjustment for the children involved.  Please keep them, and all the other people in the world that have to suffer this kind of tragedy due to drugs, in your prayers.

I had to let little Rocky go back to the wild on Central and Fifth streets, the grey tabby male I trapped yesterday morning, had him neutered at clinic, and spent the night on my porch.  He was just a little boy, under a year.  Scared and confused, but he ate. I covered him up good with lots of blankets because its cold out there, and he was good to go this morning.  I hate to let them go out into the dangerous streets, but I have no other choice.

For those of you that are just tuning in, I leave my house each and every morning to feed over 70 cats - that's the number I can see and count for all 19 stops I make.  At each stop, I have some sort of shelter provided for these cats.  These shelters are life saving for them in our brutal winters. They are made out of Styrofoam, or wood, etc. and straw is what insulates them and provides them warmth inside the huts.

I go through nearly 40 pounds of dry food a day to feed them, and over a case of wet food to give them a little treat, its what they love the best.  This is their only happiness - when I pour the food down.  At some locations, it is thrown away by very mean spirited people who hate cats and think they will just go away if they take the food away, or its eaten by the raccoon, opossums and rats that come by after I leave.  The rats are ravenous eaters.   They can devour the food in an instant.  I wish the cats would scare them away, but some are so big, I am sure the cats are scared away by them!

The round trip takes about an hour and a half each day, I get home, refill all my bags and containers for the next day, write my blog, then try to forget the heartache I've just left - in the Beechwood section of Rochester, and then get myself ready for an eight hour a day job.  For which I am thankful for.  It helps to pay for the cat food I have to buy on a weekly basis which costs me about $150. 

I also have two appointments per week at the local spay/neuter clinic that costs me $50 per cat.  I try to do this from spring until late fall.  Its extremely costly to do, but its so important.  Did you know that one cat can produce 1-8 kittens per litter, and 2-3 litters per year.  During her productive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens.  A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years.

I have a donate button to the right and if anyone is inclined to help, it would be appreciated!  :)  I have a wonderful law firm working on getting me tax exempt status - they are doing it pro bono - and I am so grateful.  It will allow me to get lower rates on the trapping and spay/neuter I do on a weekly basis, and I won't have to pay taxes on the cat food I buy.  It will also allow those that care to donate to write it off.  I can send a receipt now!  :)  So please consider helping - they are your cats too you know.  I am just the caretaker.

PS, my friend Kristin said I've rescued 12 cats already since January.   The total for last year was over 70!  Most were adopted to wonderful families. 

Have a great day!

"Life is 10% what happens to you and

90% how you react to it."

Tough Morning

“when you’re sitting on a plane 40, 000 feet up in the air, looking out the window, dreaming of your future and how bright it appears to be, or maybe just watching the drops of rain being pushed into different designs from the force of air at 400 mph, well, life feels good. it feels safe, your seat belt is on and your feet are up. then the oxygen masks fall, the plane jumps, snaps and jolts. people start to scream, babies burst out crying, people start praying all in time to the overhead announcement that we’re gonna crash. right then, as your life flashes before your eyes, you hear yourself say, “god, if you get me outta this one, i’ll stop using forever.” right then the nose of the plane pulls up and the captain says, “wow, that was a close one, folks. we’re ok, we’ll be landing in thirty minutes and we’re all safe and sound, sorry for the scare…” that’s how getting hooked on junk is, and when the kick is over you can’t believe you ever got on that plane in the first place. the question is, will you ever fly again?” 
― Nikki Sixx, The Heroin Diaries:

If you read yesterday's post, here is an update.  Life support was removed yesterday just before 6:12 p.m., the time that Chris was pronounced dead.  He leaves behind his mom, his daughter, 18, from a previous marriage, and these three little girls - and of course their mom, my niece, Amy.  Its a terrible heartbreaking tragedy all the way around.  My heart just breaks for the survivors here - the girls will be told today when they get out of school that their daddy is gone.   Coincidently, my father died on the same day many years ago - April 11th.  I was just 9.  He was just 39.  My sister and I were told the next day also.  He died of Hodgkins lymphoma, not heroin.  Nevertheless, he has been missed by me every single day of my life since.

Ava, Ella, Hannah

To make matters worse, as I was feeding the cats on Niagara, the ones that cannot climb the fence to eat, and are not smart enough to cross the street where I have a shelter set up, the big fat POS man who obviously has no life, came walking toward me.  He came silently out of the gate, and got his little pad of paper out, and started to write the license plate number down.  Then - whether he really did or not - called the police.  On top of this, I had two traps set, as today is TNR day.  I yelled out to him - and he ignored me as he was 'talking' - that I would be back, that I had to check on my traps.  Who had time for this bull____.  I went back to the first set trap on Pennsylvania and Second, where I've been feeding a sweet, but scared beautiful red tabby, young.  Nothing.  At this point, I just couldn't continue. I had already set my trap up on Baldwin earlier in hopes of getting a cat that comes around, a black cat, who needs to be neutered, but is a biter.  Kind of like Blackie was years ago, on Stout Street.  There was another nice gray tiger in the trap that had already been neutered, so I opened the door for him as he casually strolled out.  The black kitty, I grabbed by the scruff as I had the carrier door standing open, and placed him in the wrong way.   They get their paws on the sides of the carrier and hold on for dear life.  He got away.

Rocky from Central - trapped this morning

I went to the second set trap on Central and Fifth, where there is a family I am feeding now, all feral, pretty much, and there in the trap was a young tabby, under a year, sweet looking, but I am sure feral.  So I  have one for today that will go to the clinic, for $50, and be spayed or neutered.  I guess its better than none.  This little one is little.  Definitely less than a year.  Just a little tyke.  Its HORRIBLE to have to return to the street tomorrow morning.  Horrible.  By the way, I never did go back to Niagara to confront the situation, but I did go back and place another dish of food.  It was gone again when I left for work, and I poured more down on the sidewalk.  Ha. Take that you fat JERK.  Again, this is animal neglect/cruelty at its legal finest.

With all the stress this day has brought so far, its best I guess.  There will be more to come.  At work and with the family situation.  Sometimes, you wonder how much you can handle.  Sometimes, I just want to go back to bed and never get up again.  Too much sadness and worry about everything.  Job, bills, the future, death.  Its just too much sometimes.

Have a nice day.

"Death must be so beautiful.  To lie in the soft earth, with the generous grasses waving above one's head, and listen to the silence.  To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow.  To forget time, to forgive life, to be at peace."

Life

There has been a tragedy in my family this weekend, so we are all trying to keep it together, keep plugging along at this thing called life - because this is, after all, the land of the living - we must move on, if not for our own sake, then for the sake of the others.  There are cats to be fed, a house to keep up, children to be raised, hopefully a job each day to go to so that the bills can be paid, people who still need people.  For those of you that harbor resentment, anger, frustration, none of that matters in the big scheme of things.  People are dying or near death every day.  You won't appreciate that until you are experiencing it first hand.  But remember, its just around the corner for each of us.  Hopefully for each of us, it won't happen until its supposed to.

I know most of you are wondering what happened.  The father of my niece's (yes, the one who's cat had all those dead baby kittens - and I have the surviving one - Peppercorn) children took an overdose of heroin when he was babysitting the three children Saturday night.  He is now on life support.  We had no clue he even used.  Such a nice guy, really.  And boy did he love those children. Obviously, heroin is an epidemic, and completely controls you once addicted.  We are praying for a positive outcome, but its highly doubtful, and will be a very sad tragedy for these three little girls. And of course, you can imagine what his mom is going through right now.  Thank you for keeping this family in your prayers.

Peppercorn

The rest of the weekend was not much out of the ordinary, except Hermie went to his new home, to join his dad Eddie, and his brother Parsley, who really needed a companion because his dad works a lot.  It was a smooth transition from the carrier he was brought over in, into the little playpen like structure I set up in Eddie's bedroom.  Eddie's place is the perfect environment.  Its quiet, and super clean.  No clutter.  I love it.  I couldn't be happier with this set up!

Hermie

Esmeralda has been named Coco Bean - a perfect name for her.  (and it even has my name - bean - in it!)  I was sent a pic of Cammy, and a little update by his new Mom.

Cammy

Cammy (yup, still Cammy tho his nicknames are meatball, big guy, and cam man) is doing great!

He's taken over my husband's side of the bed (see pic) and officially believes he owns this place! He has really warmed up to all of us- great with my kids too.

His cough is all gone- turns out he has asthma but is controlled with a shot every 6 months or as needed. He has been completely fine since his first dose so it seems to be working well.

He is running around like crazy playing with Blue and all of my daughter's hair bows (much better then cat toys in his opinion). He is becoming quite the active guy!

So, all is well!

My heart swelled at the photo, I am just so thrilled at these successful placements.  Now we need to get Marbles, and so many others!  Marbles still continues to run to my truck each morning in the dark, knowing the sound of it, and doing a pirouette until I pick her up.  She is a true sweetie.  We must get her at least fostered.  Anyone?

Thanks for reading, and have a SAFE day all.

"No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up, and never give up."

Thank God.

Just a quick one today.

Finally, there was Mr. Whiskers #2.  I have not seen him for two days now since I released him back to Short Street after he had his abscess treated on Tuesday.  I could see his paw looked red and raw, but hopefully its good.  I did not see him limp, so maybe it really is on the mend.  He was steering clear of me, that is for sure. He, along with Baby Buttons, the fluffy red, Molly-the black and white kitty, the muted calico, and the friendlier one who is unneutered that has been hanging around were there, as they all usually are each morning waiting for food.  The bowls are totally empty there when I arrive each day.  I think there are so many rats there that they eat up all the food.

Marbles was there to greet me this morning.  There are so many cats waiting for homes.  Right now, Marbles is my next target.  But there is also a very fluffy red beautiful baby on Melville that has been coming up to me more and more.

MARBLES

Esmeralda, the kitty I rescued back in March from Parsells, went to her new home yesterday.  They will rename her, but here she is with her new pop.  I couldn't be any happier.

ESMERALDA

Tomorrow, we bring Hermie, the kitty I rescued from Webster Avenue last year, who had been fostered by Melissa for several months now, to his new home to join Parsley.  This will be a tough transition, because Hermie was afraid to the extreme, he had some tough times trying to survive on the streets, carried a baseball sized hernia for a long time that was zapping his strength, and has come to trust Melissa and his feline sibs, and the only place he has ever felt secure in.  We are hoping that in time, he will learn to trust his new human Eddie, and love his new brother Parsley.  Please keep him in your thoughts.  :)

Hermie on the right

PARSLEY

Its snowing out today.  Really.  C'mon.  Its April 8th.  Can we get a break here.

"One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day."

TGIT!

To update from Tuesday.  

Esmeralda will go to her new home today!  I am so excited!  I hope she lives a good long life with her new family.  Thanks Costellos for a successful third fostering!  

Marbles was waiting for me this morning, and yesterday morning. He sure needs a warm home right now.  

Marbles

Mr. Whiskers #2 was let back to his spot on Short Street after I got home from work.  He was treated for an abscess on his paw, given antibiotic, and was good to go, according to vets.  He was in a cramped carrier, and I just couldn't see him in there overnight.  He was miserable.  Both cats trapped yesterday were males, both pretty - I'd say between feral and semi.   Today is day two that he wasn't there.  I am so worried now.

I had a few individuals inquire about the beautiful Himalayan/ragdoll/whatever – the pretty kitty – about if a rescue could take in the cat.  Keep in mind, I don’t’ have a lot of time to research/investigate/make calls/write notes etc., even if I did know specifically who I was writing to – it’s a matter of 24 hours on Tuesdays when I TNR (trap, neuter, return).  In those 24 hours, I have a nine hour day at work, hopefully seven hours in bed, an hour and a half feeding homeless cats in the hood, and hour (if I get up on time at 2:45 am.) to dress and groom, have coffee, wake up before heading out the door at 4.  I won’t bore you with the other two hours I have before I have to go to bed in order to get up at 2:45, but you catch my drift.  My life is pretty boring.  Thanks God for wine.  

In an ideal world, all rescues, and people interested in keeping a cat that will be returned to the street the next morning, would read my blog, and offer to take them, within the short window I have them, but it doesn’t happen.  God bless you to those that hope and pray they don’t go back to the streets!  Both kitties trapped on Tuesday were pretty feral.  Neither would ever let me see them.  Well, Little Red would peek around a corner but if I shined my light on him, he would hide.  His brother and sister, all whom were born last spring, allow me to pet them.  But not Lil Red.  And the other pretty one, he runs far until I am gone.  I could have sworn he was a she, and pregnant.  But no, it was a he.  BTW, he was not around this morning either.

Sometimes, these TNR’s will come around and slowly trust me, and many have.  Many many TNR’s have been adopted.  Ask most of the adopters, the ones that have their ear clipped. They were TNRs, and now they are loving companions.

Unfortunately its usually the pretty kitties that people inquire about.  What about the other not so pretty kitties?  They are all beautiful in my eyes.  And I’ve seen some really ugly cats.  I’ve even got one (sorry Brady) that no one wanted to adopt.  So I had to keep him.  All are worthy, all are beautiful in my eyes.  But of course, there are those that I have rescued that were absolutely gorgeous, who am I kidding.  Especially the really fluffy ones.    Here are a few stunners I’ve rescued: 

OOPS!  How did my luscious lemon cake get in there?

Hey!!  How did this get in there?

I could post pics all day of beautiful kitties I've rescued, and believe me, they were hard to give away.  Maybe tomorrow, some pics of not so pretty kitties!  :)

Have a nice day!

"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection."