Its funny, I am unemployed but seem to have NO time to do this blog, or anything else related to the computer.  I have a tiny cell phone but I can't type a post.  I can only type one finger at a time, so if anyone ever feels slighted with my one sentence texts or response, don't.  I just can't type like the 'youngsters' can.   HA.   Now I know what they mean when retired people say they are so busy, its because we take care of all the stuff we couldn't do when employed!

I am making this brief.  I am off to check on a situation on Goodman near Goodman Plaza.  I was driving yesterday and a call came through my phone and I didn't recognize the number and I don't usually pick up a call for the very reason of someone asking for help which I just can't do anymore.  I have too much on my plate as it is.  You will see through the following pictures.  But I answered the call, and sure enough, someone telling me about some kittens in a shed.  Thanks to my friend Kristin, we are on our way today to check out the situation.  Here is the pic this guy sent me:

This is a beautiful kitty I've seen on Fourth Street quite a few times.  It let me touch its nose.  Bad neighborhood.  This is right where the gun was found lying in the street a few weeks ago.

There is a woman named Lisa on Grand Avenue that has a ton of kittens and cats outside her house - she lovingly feeds them - but does not know how to properly care for them, i.e., spay/neuter.  I told her I would help her.  I need help here people.  I can't do this alone.  She brought me into her house and showed me this in her closet.  Mama, and her SIX newborns.

These two kittens were lying in the grass at this woman Lisa's house, and I thought they were dead, so they were easily scoopable.  I walked them several blocks back to my car by scruffing them, but they were sort of lifeless and didn't struggle.  It was 90 degres out.  I am naming them Bobby and Billy, both males.  I love those names.  :)  Thank you to Michelle who has offered to foster them.  I treated them for parasites and fleas before she took them to her house yesterday.  She lives just down the street so its very convenient.

I rescued this guy yesterday, Monday morning.  I've named him Honey.  He is from Parsells Avenue.  He has been neutered, given shots and is ready for a home.  Thank you Janessa for fostering!  Fosters are lifesavers!

A friend from Facebook called me about the following kitten.  Julie was advertised as a freebie on Craigslist somewhere around Bay Street, which my friend Rick has a business.  He went and got the sweet little girl and is fostering.  Julie will be available for adoption as soon as vetted.

Like I said, this is all too much for me.  I would love some help.  I am off to save the world.

Have a great day!

Monday Morning Blues

This morning was quiet.  I headed out about 4:30 am. and dawn began just around 5:15 am.  I saw so many cats.  I pulled over left and right.  I am using up so much food.  When will this ever end.

So I got an update on a kitten from the last batch we had and look at these adorable pictures of Pearl.  Her new name is actually Minnie, and she has joined another kitten we adopted out last year.

I love happy endings~!

I have a chance to rescue the red kitty that follows me to the car each day and cries.  I have a TNR slot open for me, but I am trying to find a foster.  Anyone?

Have a great day!

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."

Tears in my Coffee

I think that might be a country song, or is it Tears in my Beer.  Whatever.  It was a very sad day for me yesterday, and today is not much different.  

I've got two kittens in my possession, Violet and Ozzie, that are sick.  They have been lethargic and lifeless pretty much the entire weekend.  Violet started first, and then Ozzie.  They were both rescued by my foster Max who rescued their other two siblings and mother after reading about a neighbor needing help on an app called Nextdoor.  He asked if I could take them into my rescue if he got them.  So they were born indoors, but soon socialized and the other sibs were adopted out but I took them into my care because Max was going away and Violet was almost adopted. After observing them together however, I decided I wanted them to be adopted together so we've been waiting for that special family to come along to adopt them together.

George and Violet

Ozzie

Violet

These kittens have now cost me over $1000.  And that is just for a day's hospitalization - of course testing, meds, fluids, etc.!  I am now leaving shortly to bring Ozzie in to the vet to leave for the day to see if they can revive him the way they did with Violet - with fluids, steroids, etc., - as she now seems a little perkier this morning.  Money shouldn't be a factor in saving a life of an animal, but it DOES!  Not saying I won't continue to try, but I will also go on the recommendation of the vet.

The second thing that happened today was a call from the clinic saying they could not do surgeries on all four kittens dropped off by two adopters because they were under 3 pounds.  Not only did I feel bad for the clinic wasting those spots, but I was embarrassed to have to call the adopters to tell them to go back to get the kittens and we would reschedule.  To top that off, one of the kittens, Finch, turns out to be a girl where we thought he was a boy.

When I first got into rescue over 20 years ago - well, I wouldn't call it rescue - I was just feeding cats.  Then I started to rescue and TNR (trap neuter return) and then I became a 501c3.  It was very rewarding for me back then.  I rescued an average of 80 cats a year  (ALL ADULTS!) (last year it was over 110 (that included kittens)) throughout the past 15 years at least and either found them homes, had to euthanize due to illness, or found them barn situations.  I got them off the city streets.  I felt so good about it.

Now, I am tired and can't keep up anymore.  There were over 30 kittens in my rescue this year, and a handful of those died due to one thing or another. Its heartbreaking to watch a kitten suffer like that - kittens immune systems are so compromised.  Unfortunately, almost half of the kittens born outdoors die from disease.  And, if a cat born outdoors survives kittenhood, his average lifespan is less than two years of living on his own.

This beautiful boy above greets me each time I arrive at Fourth and Pennsylvania.  He follows me back to the car crying.  Anyone interested in foster or adoption?  He is very very sweet.

UPDATE
I just picked up Ozzie from the vet where they gave him more fluids.  His temp was at 103.6 when he got there this morning.  Violet's had soared to 106 yesterday.  She was on the brink.  today, she is a little better.  When Ozzie got out of the carrier he was as good as new.  Go figure.  They are both being watched, nothing I can do!  

Kittens.  Never again.

Sorry to be all over the place today, but this is just getting to me.

Have a nice day.

"Grow through what you go through."

Kittens Kittens Kittens

And nothin' but.  Not true.  There are now two reds that come up to me and cry looking for food.  One is the identical of another on Melville.  This new one is on Fourth Street, in between Central and Pennsylvania, and its a beauty.  Long haired.  the other is at the stop just before on Fourth, tucked away under the bushes on the corner.  He is a short haired beauty.  I will try to get some pics soon.  Another is the sweet polydactyl black cat on Fourth with a wound on its back end/tail.  All three sweet kitties that need a home.

But lots of kitten deliveries this weekend.  Not just deliveries, but pick ups from the fosters as well.  I have a leased car, so I am really putting the mileage on it.  Hopefully it will slow down now, no more kittens!

Thanks to June for travelling with me this morning.  It was a full moon out at 4 am. and it couldn't have been prettier or more peaceful.  But lots of hungry cats.  I can only do this every other day now, so some cats go hungry.  Some of the other shelters there is food left from Saturday.  As I have said, its too much time and effort and money for me these days.  Just too much!  I need to be cloned!

Here is a picture of Peter in his new home, with his new canine companion.  Peter is of the famed Flopsy Mopsy and Cotton Tail clan.  Gracie gave birth to them the very morning I rescued her from Grand Avenue.  These kittens would either be dead by now or feral if not rescued that morning.

Have a great day!

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.”

Money!

So they say...
is the root of all evil today.... PINK FLOYD.  Love that

Life has been a bit crazy for me since being laid off from my job.  I have way too much on my mind.  Not to mention moving around, scheduling surgeries, bringing to vets for ailments, for 30+ kittens.  Its just too much for me.  I am very thankful for my fosters, for my friend Jenn (and new adopter to Paisley!) who is doing the paperwork and scheduling for me for meet and greets and surgeries, and for the few volunteers to come at 4 am. to help me out four days a week to feed over 100 cats.  I go out myself when no one steps up. 

The hardest part I think for me is refilling all the food for the next outing.  I fill up 11 - yes ELEVEN - 2 gallon bags of dry cat food, and six large yogurt like containers what holds six cans each - each time.  In between, I rinse out those containers from that morning's feed.  And I have to rinse out all those cans.  And then haul to garage, and then fill up the huge water jugs and get those out to the truck.  I know I sound whiny, but the fact of the matter is, its hard work, and its hard on my body.  I am thankful for the one day off in between. 

I have officially run out of dry food so just placed an order to Chewy for $236.  That's a lot of money.  And its going to last maybe three runs?  When is it all going to end, because it has to someday.  I wish I had a clone, or someone had the - pardon my French - balls to do what I do and could step up to the plate.

We've had a lot of kittens go to new homes, and I promise to share some of those pictures with you on next post.  They are totally adorable, but I am happy its not ME that is adopting these adorable, yet a lot of work creatures!

Have a great day!

"Not all storms come to disrupt your life, 

some come to clear your path."

Wednesday

I braved it alone again this morning.  Someone was supposed to be helping me, but he fell asleep and slept through his alarm.  Oh well.  I toughed it out. There are so many cats out there waiting and watching for me.  Nothing unusual happened except on Short Street, every other post on this vacant lot was decorated with a shiny red star.  Really weird considering how there are barely any humans living on this very short street, let alone kids.  Just run down houses either vacant, or rentals. 

Thanks to June for going with me on Monday.   As we were finishing up on Fourth Street, there was a car ahead that stopped before the stop sign and wasn't moving.  This black man got out of the car and began walking toward me in the truck.  He called out 'can I use your phone?' and went on to explain that he had just found a handgun laying in the street and he wanted to call police.  So, I dialed 911 for him and handed him the phone.  He explained the situation, told the operator that he had the gun wrapped up on his front seat and that he would be sitting on the side of the street waiting.  He was smart.  And careful.  I told him I saw him get out of his car and pick something up before I pulled up behind him and if he needed a witness, to call me.  I handed him my card.  He thanked me, I drove off and finished up just at the end of Fourth Street and Bay.  I drove back to Fourth and Central to see if cops had arrived, and yes, they surely did.  All four cars!  He gave me the thumbs up as I drove past him and I never heard from him so assumed all went well.  Scary though.  If it hadn't been him driving, it would have been me that found it.  It was light out at this time.

Never a dull moment.

Lets not forget Bailey who needs a home.  Spread the word!  Sweet girl.

Have a great day!

Max

To the rescue!  Thanks Max for coming out with me this morning.  Max is a night owl.  He studies at the U of R and the lab he works in is open only from 12:30 pm. to midnight on certain days.  So he doesn't mind staying up late so he can sleep all morning on the days he can go into the lab.  He is a brain, studying sperm whales, or something or other.  Went to Harvard.  He bought a house here in Rochester when he migrated from Boston to attend college.  Max is also my foster dad.  I cannot  remember how he heard about me.  Max?  He currently has a mother and five kittens that he was kind enough to help a neighbor with, that is now in my rescue.  I just shake my head yes when my fosters say, can I take in under your rescue?  What can I say.  I can't say no to an animal in need.  So thats that.  Anybody want a kitten?

Hopefully picture of Momma Kitty coming soon!

It was rather quiet and boring for Max and his first time out wandering around in the dark feeding cats.  We did see a hooker though, but Max said it wasn't his first time seeing one - he lives near Lyell Avenue!

I am running out of food again.  I just spent $240 on 16 small bags from Chewy.  That's ridiculous.  If anyone is so inclined, if you would kindly order nothing more than the 25 lb. bags, that would be best.  The 30+ pounds are SO HEAVY for me to drag/carry/sling over my shoulder.  Thank you!  And I sure can use those larger sized cans of wet food.  They are so much more convenient.

Welp, thanks for reading, and have a great day!