Blast from 2011

April 27, 2011

(CLICK ON THE PIC TO MAKE LARGER) I had the camera out this morning. Took pics of my usual suspects - all beauties, all waiting for vetting, and eventual adoption! I just need the funds! Yesterday we received torrential rains (again), it just seems never-ending here in Rochester this spring. So this morning I changed a lot of soggy towels. Nothing out of the usual happened this morning - the days are getting longer, it's lighter out earlier, which means I am hitting the road around 5:15 a.m. now, but it should be 5:00 a.m. - the darkness is my friend! :) I forgot to mention, this past weekend, Saturday morning, it was absolutely pouring out. But off I went! (smiley face - ha!). Anyways, there was a man at one of my spots on the road next to his truck that had a large container with him, he shouted to me that he needed a gas can. Well, trusting Janine, and cautious Janine (and crazy Janine!), told him I would get him gas but it wouldn't be for a while until I finished up my route. He handed me $10 - I was shocked. I knew this was a genuine need. It was pouring and pouring out. I did the rest of my spots, drove home, got my gas can, filled it up with 2 gallons ($7.47), returned half an hour later - still pouring - and I have never seen someone as grateful as this man was. He thanked me over and over, I handed him his change - he told me to keep it, I said "No, just be kind to the animals!", he assured me he would, and leaned toward me, kissed my face and told me he loved me! I think I renewed his hope that there truly are decent people in the world! And all that in the dark, at 6 am.!

I am leaving for Colorado tomorrow morning, for a mini-vacation and will have no access to computers. My sweet Heather will be feeding our outdoor babies, and I thank her once again for her fearlessness. 

I leave my blog for the remainder of the week with this quote:

"I am the voice of the voiceless;

Through me the dumb shall speak,

Till the deaf world's ears be made to hear

the wrongs of the wordless weak.

And I am my brother's keeper,

And I will fight his fight;

And speak the word for beast and bird

Till the world shall set things right."

Lovely! XO

Kenmore

Quiet morning.  I finished up just before the rain began around 5ish.  Everyone was hungry!  As I was pouring out the food on Central, around 3:45am., I could hear hey mama! hey mama! and I saw a young man walking toward me with a vacuum cleaner in his hand and he asked me if I wanted to buy it.  So many odd people.  I told him a) I don't need a vacuum, b)  I don't have any money, and c) if I did want it I would have to pay for it in cat food.  He looked down at what I was doing and said you are feeding cats?  I told him yes, they are very hungry, and he said God bless you and walked away, and that was it. 

Otherwise, sharing this post with you from four years ago....

Posted on March 31, 2016

Malaana and Peppercorn!

Can you stand this cuteness?  Above is Peppercorn, the only surviving kitten that my niece Amy's cat had.  PC is being fostered by Keller's Kats, who had a foster on hand to bottle feed the little guy.  He is chowing down regular food now, and is ready to come back to his 'auntie' Janine this Saturday.  THEN WE NEED TO FIND HIM A HOME!  :)  He is pictured with a little puppy who was also taken in by this rescue group.  Her name is Malaana and she is two weeks old.  She is a Husky, and she was born with a cleft palate and all four legs deformed.  She is being tube fed.  She was rescued through the Mia Foundation.  Isn't it wonderful that we have people on this earth that care for animals such as this?  Makes my heart burst.

And if your cuteness overload is already full on, get a load of this!

George is quite interested!

Hello Charlie (Chaplin!)

Can you stand how cute these legs are???

So the story:  I have mentioned how a man in Arizona had found my number (?) and reached out to ask for help. His mother lived in the city, and he had moved her out to the burbs, but she didn't want to leave the ferals she was feeding, and also knew there was a cat in the basement, so she was going back to feed each day, but the son didn't want her to continue.  Regardless, they suspected all the cats to be pregnant.  Habitat for Cats was contacted first and TNR'd quite a few outside, but a friend of mine also heard about this and wanted to try to trap the kitty in the house.  She went over and found five baby kittens!  She took (wild) mom and all her babies to her house and they've all been in a crate since, babies nursing.  Two weren't getting the same attention at the nipples as the others, so my friend asked for help, and I said 'bring em over!'

Now I am not good with newborns.  Not even kittens period.  I love them, don't get me wrong, but the GUILT I feel at not being with them.  Because they must be enclosed, they are too little, to run with the general population (my other cats).  And I feel like they are bored.  So I feel constant guilt.  Other than that, I love the adorableness of kittens.  Who doesn't???

They've been getting the bottle since I've had them yesterday, but it was suggested I try a slurry of wet food and KMR, to get them eating solids, so that I will do!  They might be big enough, and from what I understand, their three other sibs are eating momma's wet food too!

So, now we have the task of eventually getting these - all five - kittens homes.  So now we have Hermie, Esmeralda, Momma Kitty (yet to be named - and I must get a picture!), and her five kittens that all need homes.  Pictures to come, I promise!

Spread the good word.

Have a great day!

“Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, 

“Nay, sorrow is the greater.”

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.” 

― Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Skinny Minnie

Another quiet morning out there.  There were a few creepy people lurking around, but I was armed and ready (taser and mace).  Let anyone get too close to me in the mornings anymore and BLAM!  I'll let them have it.  Although as I've mentioned a million times...  I've had only one scare in all...  well, two.... in all these years I've been doing this.  I needed a wake-up call.

The kitties were there though, all hungry and waiting for their day's meal.  There is a sweet little one on Garson that I suspect was or is pregnant because of the size of the nipples below.  And this cat is YOUNG.  Can't be more than ...  7 months?   I would love to rescue her, but what if she has babies hidden somewhere.  She is friendly too.  And hungry!

BTW, I am good with boards.  Thank you, Kathy, for your last drop off!  I will let you know when I need more, but hopefully, that evil bastard that was taking the boards has somehow disappeared.  If you know what I mean.  Evil.  That's all that man was/is.

Weather is breaking, which is good for the cats.  With this quarantine thing, I am able to get out and do some purging of my garage - so much stuff!  I have too much stuff!  And rats chewed my beautiful cushions for my Adirondack chairs.  Rats!  Yes, rats in the burbs!  And the ants in my house, kitchen sink, bathroom sink, they are driving me insane!

Back to cats...

MINNIE

Do you all remember Minnie?  She was found at an apartment complex in Clifton Springs one very cold morning in February.    She is with her new family now and they love her dearly.  Here is what they have to say - with a new pic!

Minnie getting kissed by big brother Chester!

"Minnie is doing great. She is such a wonderful addition to our family and I can't believe how well Chester has adjusted. It was rough for the first couple weeks but they have established their little routines and Chester totally gets that he doesn't need to feel threatened by her. They play several times a day together, but spend time apart, too. They sometimes choose to sleep near one another under the dining room table or in our bed. Minnie is curious about everything. She knows she isn't allowed in the basement yet (that's where Chester's litter box is and there are just a couple places where I don't want her to explore yet like my hubby's workshop) but as soon as she hears that door open she is there in a flash. She has also escaped outside a few times now...she is such a sneak and waits by the door when she knows we're coming and going. Some nicer days we open the windows and she sits right by them. I can tell she loves the outdoors and will be trying to get out all summer, so we are going to have to come up with more strategies since she's so fast and smart. She likes being near us and tolerates a lot of love considering there are five of us now all home...lol. She is really gentle and doesn't bite or scratch...only occasionally when playing and it's not vicious. She is getting big! And long! She has long legs, and a long slinky body and is just such a cutie pie with her big ears and pointy little mouse nose. We love her."

Love happy endings!

Have a great day!

Oldie

Posted on May 1, 2017

Nearly everyone and anyone who lives outside of Rochester and has driven in to 'the city' for a variety of reasons -  whether attending a concert, or church, or going shopping at a cool store, or going to work, or the public market - has seen a cat dart in or out from behind a house or building.  Nearly everyone and anyone will see it, and then continue on and try to get it out of their minds, if they have a conscience or a shred of compassion for an animal.  When I started to see them, I couldn't turn my eye.  Even the dead ones on the street.  I couldn't pass an animal lying in the street knowing it will get hit over and over again.  I get out each and every time to pick it up with a towel and say a small prayer as I place it to the side, under a bush or tree, knowing its soul has already left its body and its just the carcass left.

And that my friends is how I got started in the first place.  I now go to 17 locations in a 3 or 4 square mile radius and feed over a hundred cats a day.  I started doing this when I bought my house about 25 years ago just outside the Beechwood section of Rochester, on the border of Irondequoit and the city.  I went to the public market one early morning and saw eyes illuminating in the dark corners of buildings and houses.  I knew it was a depressed area, scary to me actually, back then, but I couldn't ignore it.  I thought about it and thought about it.  I kept going back to place a bowl of water and a plate of food.  This was mainly just on First and Bay Street in the lot next door to Wilbur's house, a black Jamaican man who befriended me.

I didn't know about TNR back then (Trap Neuter Return).  I knew I had my own cats, and that they were all spayed and neutered.  And cost me a fortune to do, but I knew that there were many many cats out in this area.  I don't know how I got started getting them spayed, but from that point, it began to explode.  I was now feeding many cats, in many areas, and winter was looming, so I began to make my first shelters out of boards leaning against a house, with towels as walls to guard against the snow getting inside to cover the food - I didn't even know about rescue groups back then.  I did the best I could.

And here we are today.  I have made a million friends doing this, all caring and compassionate people.  I've begun to get help with food, and shelters, and the other necessities for me to do this job in the dark, each and every single day.  I've rescued hundreds of cats and found them good homes with families who love them to pieces.    I've spayed and neutered hundreds more so that they don't reproduce any more unwanted and homeless offspring.  I've rescued many gravely ill cats and have had them humanely euthanized to end their suffering.

I wish I could clone myself because I can't do this forever.  But as long as I can keep doing this, I will continue to need help.  And I can't thank you enough for helping me.  There are many of you.  Donations of money, shelters, food, paper products, towels and blankets, straw, headlamps and batteries, wine (for my sanity), food (the pasta queen Maria, and Beth and her pasta sauce).

Tomorrow is TNR Tuesday, wish me luck.

I continue to hear progress and good things from my most recent adopters, and I hope I can rescue more soon.  There are so many.

Have a great day!

“The more you give

The more you get,

The more you laugh

The less you fret,

The more you do unselfishly,

The more you live abundantly,

The more of everything you share,

The more you’ll always have to spare,

The more you love,

The more you’ll find,

That life is good,

And friends are kind,

For only what we give away,

Enriches us from day to day.”

Its Monday! What a great day!!!

AAYDA and her brother Olive

Hey!  Ya gotta stay positive!  Right???  There is nothing we can do to change what is happening right now, so we have two choices.  Be miserable, or be happy.  I choose the latter.  I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  We just have to ride it through!  Cards, movies (I saw a great movie yesterday, A Bronx Tale), board games, reading, cleaning out all the crap we have in our basement (yup), phone calls, writing comic strips (Kristin), trying new recipes (although don't overeat!), drinking (although don't overdrink!), making sure your parents are good, siblings, etc.  So much to do, you just have to put your mind to it each morning and make a list of what you want to accomplish.  I know you can do it.  :)  I know I can do it.

The cats were out today, but not in full force.  I didn't see a lot of the usual suspects.  It was cold and miserable.  Very wet snow falling.  It's March 23rd!  It's not supposed to be snowing in the spring, but then again this IS Rochester.  I doubled up on the cat food as I am cutting back on doing this every day.  I just can't.  I can't afford 55 pounds a day of cat food.  So at each location, I give them extra amounts and pray it lasts them two days.  Someone just ordered me a bag of food from Amazon and she said that it wouldn't be delivered until between April 4th and April 24th.  What's up with that?  I never did receive an order I placed last week from Chewy.  It's a little concerning when you can't even get deliveries.

RORY and LILY

I saw no one on the streets this morning.  But the creatures were out.  As I drove to my 4th Street location, a skunk waddled out just under my car as I was driving past it and quietly screamed when I thought I ran it over.  After passing and looking in the rearview mirror, I didn't see a body on the road.  I did, however, smell something.  Hopefully, it escaped between the tires and made it safely to the other side, but sprayed out of fear. 

MISTY

That's today's report!

Have a great day!  Don't forget Misty, Lily and Rory!

"Tenacity is strength in adversity."

TGIF

Happy Friday!  I am SO thankful for this day.  Its been a really rough week.  Who would ever think to complain about having to work from home?  Well, I am totally out of my normal routine, and it's not a piece of cake either.  I am REALLY working every minute of those eight hours.  At least I could get up at my workplace and grab a cup of coffee, or go say 'hey' to a colleague.  I've got no one.  And it's just not fun being on the phone as it is to actually LOOK at someone.  And they say this could last for weeks?  Ugh. 

My Brat DAISY

OK, Cats.  Lets get back to cats.  So Misty is still in a room at Foster Max's house.  She is very lovey, but he hasn't let her come face to face with his Dalmation dog Ollie.  Not sure why -- my stance on that is to just let them have at it.  Get it over with.  Rip that band-aid off.  Another issue:  The gentleman that adopted Lily and Rory - he wants to return them.  They have not come out of their shell.  They've been moved from room to room since they arrived there two months ago, and still hide when this guy enters the room.  He wanted a companion that would be there for him when he was around.  He wanted an independent cat to roam this vast summer lodge of his - actually a gorgeous place.  So, I am contemplating switching Misty for Rory and Lily.  Foster Sue has been kind enough to offer to take them back.  And then she will continue her awesome work on resocializing them after they've been so scared for two months now. 

LILY and RORY

I still have that salt and pepper cat I want to remove from Central Park and Fourth Street.  He's a really good boy, but the problem is, he is not neutered, and the clinic is now closed indefinitely.  And the cost at a regular vet is three times the rate that the clinic would charge.  Its just not feasible right now financially for me to pay this.  Donations of cash have slowed right down.  I do, however, appreciate those that send food to Mileage Master to be split amongst myself and another rescue person.  And the occasional drop offs at my house.  Thank you so much, its very much appreciated.

So, thank you to those of you who still support me and my quest to save them all. 

Have a great day!

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure.  I make mistakes, I am out of control, and, at times, hard to handle.  But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."

Challenges

It's a strange and eerie world we are living in right now.  This Covid-19 virus has people crazy.  Everything is shut down, including the one animal clinic that we have in Rochester that the cats have relied on for so many years to get them spayed and neutered.  The only doctor we have at this clinic is self-quarantined due to possible exposure to this virus.

All I can do is go out and feed them.  If I do find kittens at some point, they will be rescued and treated as I would have in the past, but momma will continue to produce babies until she can get spayed.  Daddies will continue to keep getting the females pregnant until we can get them in for neuter.  

Luckily, my travels so far this year have not encountered any babies.  I have, however, seen a lot of 'hookups' with the males and females roaming the streets.  We know, in a few months, there will be babies born somewhere, either under a porch, or in a dilapidated garage, or even on someone's open porch in the city.  

The weather is still cold enough that most of the newborn babies will not survive.  They will die a painful death.  That is why the importance of spay and neutering is so real.  And right now, we can't even do that.  

Once this Corona epidemic dies down, let's pray that things return to normal. We must keep fighting the good fight in spaying and neutering these cats.    The suffering is great, and I won't always be there to feed them.  As much as I wish I could, I just can't.  

Stay well.

Have a nice day.

"Being challenged in life is inevitable,

being defeated is optional."