Late this fall, still struggling with the loss of my Mom at the end of September, I had been coping by throwing myself into volunteerism. I had, especially, been obsessing over my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes this year. That was a project my Mom enjoyed also, something we could do together each year. So, when the time came to take the shoeboxes to the collection center, it was very difficult for me. She had been alive when this year's boxes were begun, and it was the first of many 'last times' I would face. So, I waited until the very last day the boxes could be brought in, and planned to do it early in the day.
I have kept putting off writing about little Sammy Speedbump, because it is such an emotional story for me. But, time's a-wasting! He is our little Christmas miracle kitten this year!
Late this fall, still struggling with the loss of my Mom at the end of September, I had been coping by throwing myself into volunteerism. I had, especially, been obsessing over my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes this year. That was a project my Mom enjoyed also, something we could do together each year. So, when the time came to take the shoeboxes to the collection center, it was very difficult for me. She had been alive when this year's boxes were begun, and it was the first of many 'last times' I would face. So, I waited until the very last day the boxes could be brought in, and planned to do it early in the day.
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My friend Sherry asked about Hal the other day. She said, "Whatever became of the dog you sent North on the transport?" Hal was one of the few dogs I have helped directly and may be my 'crowning achievement' in animal rescue. I first saw Hal at a very rural South Carolina shelter, and just could not get him out of my mind. I took photos of him and thought, "If I had a foster for him, we could save that dog!" Hal had been found in a wildlife area and brought to the shelter. He was heartworm positive and unneutered, and very gun-shy. Hal had also started to 'spin' in his kennel at the shelter that was his home for three months. Luckily, the shelter staff made sure this very active dog, a German Shorthaired Pointer mix, got regular exercise and group play with other dogs. But Hal was not safe there, as the shelter was small and had no local rescue partners, other than the shelter staff. I named him 'Hal' because his face was half black and half white, so his full name is "Mr. Half and Half." When a friend-of-a-rescue-friend offered to foster Hal, I jumped at the opportunity. We drove to South Carolina together to pick him up, and back home with a very excited and eager Hal (mostly) in the back seat. At his foster home, Hal would not come indoors. He was afraid to cross the threshold, and terrified of the slippery floors. We laid non-stick rugs to make him a walkway, and he managed with those for a while, and he made friends with his foster brothers, two large black lab mixes and an elderly poodle. His foster family included a young couple and their seven year-old daughter. There was limited outdoor space for him, and he was "crappy on a leash," but he was SAFE. My role as Hal's 'social worker' was to coordinate his foster home, boarding on weekends when his Mom was out of town working and to manage his medical care. We went to the dog park regularly, and Hal obviously enjoyed that freedom. But, because he was unneutered still (waiting for his heartworm treatment) he displayed some, well, undesirable behaviors. Suffice it to say that his nickname was "Hal the Hyperactive Humper!" The walk of shame from the dog park gate to the car became very familiar to us. On a vet visit to plan his treatment I begged, "Could we PLEASE have him neutered before he has his heartworm treatment....please?" His vet agreed, but only if Dr. Audrey Mizrahi would do the surgery. She is known to be the quickest and best neuter artiste in our area! Little by little, our goals for Hal were achieved.....first his shots, then his neuter, and finally his heartworm treatment. Even though he was pre-medicated with Doxycycline, Hal had problems with the side effects of the treatment. He had difficulty being still enough to prevent the mini-thromboses that go along with that treatment. When I picked him up from his second heartworm treatment, Hal was so 'bouncy,' that the clinic staff laughed when they said, "Keep him as quiet as you can!" He had to take Benadryl to calm down and baby aspirin to thin his blood enough to make him comfortable. During the months of his treatment, Hal and his foster Mom spent many hours on the couch watching movies, wrapped in afghans. Finally he was well, and still very 'bouncy.' Even after a whole weekend at his favorite Dog Club of Wilmington, where play is the plan, he was unstoppable. Running from the play area to the reception area of the Club, Hal ran right through the very sturdy gate, demolishing it. They should've put that on his 'tab!' So, we began Basic Obedience....and with much practice Hal learned his skills: There were lots, including Sit, Stay, 'Leave it!' and of course his least favorite, "Come!" We knew he had achieved that skill when he would come when called every time at the dog park, even when he thought it was time to go home! He learned some home skills at his foster home (THANK YOU, Jo!). I was surprised when we traveled together to a meet-and-greet of a new family and stayed overnight in a motel. Hal transferred a command from his foster home, "Dogs OUT of the kitchen!" to the motel kitchenette where I was making his dinner. He sat behind an imaginary line across the open doorway and waited patiently. Clearly Hal was a smart and very trainable dog, but I didn't feel comfortable with him off-leash, ever, because of his impulsive nature. He was still a 'teenager!' I knew Hal would need a truly exceptional home, so I begged a rescue friend to give Hal a courtesy post on their Petfinder page. Commonwealth Humane in Virginia obliged (THANKS, Chris!) Because of the wonderful photos of Hal, courtesy of Snyderneff Dog Art (THANKS Cheryl!), Hal immediately began getting fan mail and applications. He got a LOT of marginal to very bad applications: from families with very small children, folks who planned to have their dog in a kennel all day, and even one from a person whose dog had run through an invisible fence and been run over. I began to despair! Then, I got an email from Susan, whose family owns a Christmas tree farm in New Jersey, and I had to sit down to absorb what I read. This was a family that might be just right for Hal! And, when we talked on the phone, it really began to come clear. This WAS Hal's family: They'd had a GSP dog in the past, and loved the breed. He would be treated as a member of the family. They'd waited until their youngest child was five before looking for another GSP, the family's business was dog-friendly, and (best of all) Susan liked to go out for early morning runs, and Hal could go along with her. My friends said, "You can't believe what they tell you.....you HAVE to do a home visit." But, when I read an article in the local paper about how the entire community, including the large extended family, had pulled together to help save the tree farm during a family illness, I just knew. The time from the decision to send Hal to New Jersey and his travel day, December 17th, passed in a blur of preparation: getting Hal his last vet checkup, writing the 'instruction manual' with his likes, dislikes and obedience commands and finally packing his 'things' to travel. He would be riding north in a big 'doggie Winnebago' with a bunch of dogs---with our friends at My Buddy's Coming Home transport service. After a last 'play day' at Dog Club of Wilmington, I picked Hal up and we drove to Benson, NC to meet the transport as it motored up I-95. We were there early, so Hal and I had time to have 'walkies' and snacks, and chat about how his life would be different. Instead of the one little girl in his foster home, with the too-small yard and warm coastal weather, there would be THREE children, LOTS of outdoor space and SNOW! When the motor home arrived, a young man came to take Hal by the leash. I said, "I'm not sure he'll go with you...." but he did, bouncing up into the Winnebago and then running back down the steps for one more goodbye before he was content to be tucked into his kennel for the all-night ride. The next day I heard Hal had traveled well and arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed. (Just an expression, he has a little nub of a tail!) I got several happy and positive messages about him, and began to believe that this was indeed Hal's forever home. After a few weeks I quit worrying that he would be too rambunctious for his new family. I got on with the business of rescue and worried about other animals! Then, the next summer, and every summer since, I received a wonderful gift---an online photo album of Hal's Vacation in Maine. Now, Hal's everyday life in New Jersey is already pretty amazingly wonderful, but every summer he and his family spend time at a lakefront cabin in Maine. There he goes canoeing, swimming and attempts (unsuccessfully) to catch ducks. Hal goes on long hikes OFF LEASH, sometimes wearing a doggie backpack, followed by naps on the lawn. To me, those photos are the best gift ever. They are the proof that there is a good life possible for shelter animals, and that we can hope for a just-right family for every one of them. Hugs to Hal and his family! No Kill is LOVE! Rainy days are fun for more than reading and sleeping. Try a new game with your resident 'crazy cats!' Here are a few of our favorites:
Giftwrap Gone Wild! Type of game: Freeform 'performance art' Social play level: Individual, with opportunity for turn-taking and 'spectating.' Materials needed: Crinkly material--plastic bag with handles torn open, tissue paper, wax paper, wrapping paper (used or new); Small toys or household items (ping pong sized or larger), floor space, camera (optional) Needs human interaction and/or supervision?: Yes, observe for safety. In the photo Mandy Lou demonstrates this game. Humans place the crinkly material on the floor, and drop a small item onto the paper. Immediately the cat jumps on and begins to 'wrap' the item using front, sometimes also back legs. Note: Cats do not understand gift-giving, so this game continues as "Unwrap the Gift!" Replace paper or plastic as needed. Enjoy the photo ops! Hint: This game generates photos for Christmas or birthday cards galore! Hide and Go Fetch-- Type of game: Loosely rule-oriented Social play level: Individual to small group. (In groups, the game is more competetive.) Materials needed: Small toys to toss, preferably with ribbon streamers; catnip mice. Furniture or boxes to hide behind, Clicker (optional) Needs human interaction and/or supervision?: Yes, somebody has to throw the toy! Mindy invented this game as an enhancement to her 'fetch' routine. She is a self-taught 'fetcher,' and can bring back a toy mouse several times in a row after 'going out for a long one.' One day, instead of sitting in the middle of the floor waiting for me to throw her toy, she ran and crouched down behind a large pottery vase. I threw the mouse past her hiding space so she could see it, and she dashed out to retrieve it. This is now her favorite Kitty Game! Note: If your cat doesn't bring the toy back to you, try 'clicker training.' Shape fetching behavior with clicks-and-treats when your cat randomly picks up the toy, then when she takes a step in your direction, then two steps. Continue in a slow and steady progression until your cat brings the toy and drops it in front of you. Kitchen Soccer Scrimmage-- Type of game: Free play Social play level: Individual to group. (In groups, the alpha cat may be the MVP!) Materials needed: Small toys that jingle, crinkle or rattle when tossed around, a hard-surfaced floor. Squeak-and-play toy, video camers (optional) Needs human interaction and/or supervision?: Cats can self-initiate this game, but they enjoy a cat or human scrimmage partner. And, once all the toys are under the stove, someone has to use a broomstick to get them out! Another of Mindy's favorite games, using seashells, bell-balls, large almonds in the shell (they rattle!), and balls of crinkled paper. The tile floor allows toys to really resonate, and cats running on the slippery surface take on a cartoon appearance. Call 'Time Out' during meal preparation, but enjoy the game during kitchen clean-up time. Hint: A piece of broomstick or dowel cut to fit under the stove will prevent lost toys. : ) Video of your cat at play is a natural for social media! HAVE FUN, FELINES! If a blog is an online diary, here is the entry from yesterday, which I will call "A Not-Typical Day in the Life of an Animal Rescuer!"
Foster kitten woke me up at 6:00, but gave me a few minutes more to sleep when provided a food offering. Got kennels ready for the two cats ready and waiting transport to Fix A Friend Spay Neuter Clinic. One cat had been abandoned by his previous family...they drove away while the little girl cried and called out, "I want my KITTY!" Roaming loose in the neighborhood he was attacked by a large owl and had puncture wounds that would require antibiotics following his clinic visit. The other cat was a serial mama-cat in a feral colony, who apparently failed to present any live kittens because she ate them. Oh my! On the way to clinic, stopped off at a hoarder household in my 'caseload.' There my vigorous door-knocking went unanswered, but I was acknowledged if not invited in when I stepped into the trailer home. With some difficulty I closed the 'sale' on a choice---"Which girl kitty will I take with me today?" Scooped up a teenage Siamese kitty and tiptoed out, gently pushing a nursing mama cat away from the door. (Made a note to add the little family to the list of cats in the home...) With the three cats on board, drove to clinic for a late arrival. Consulted with clinic staff and provided intake paperwork already mostly filled out. Named two of the cats, that didn't already have names. Realized that "Mister," the owl-bitten cat, had a name that has been recently used. Memo to self: Add 'Mister' to the list of names to retire, along with Garfield, Oreo, Midnight and Boris (for the Russian Blue kitties). (The middle of the day was spent taking care of senior parents, household tasks and getting out to the polls.) Received phone call from clinic to let me know the feral mama cat was quite old and in poor dental and general health. Made calls to her colony caregiver and coordinator to ask their opinion about how to proceed, while clinic staff kept her under anesthesia and tested her for FeLV. Agreed with direct caregivers that the cat should be euthanized, especially considering the lengthy confinement she would likely need....this kitty had not adjusted well and was very stressed by life in a kennel. Took a moment to commune mentally with the cat and wish her well as she crossed over. Drove to clinic to pick up the two cats and remains of the third. Reminded myself that we have a difficult task and are doing the best we can for the most animals possible. *sigh* Drove home, stopping to drop off 'Mister' at his foster home. Shared directions for recovery and requested follow-up calls from the foster parent. Brought Simonette, the little Siamese kitty, to my home for an overnight visit...Settled her into her kennel. Realized in the busy-ness of the day, I had neglected to ask the Tuesday cat condo cleaner at 'my' pet store if she was able to do her usual job while also bottlefeeding two kittens. (The answer was understandably, "No.") Made a plan to clean the kennels after dinnertime. Memo to self, recruit substitute condo cleaner volunteers.... Ready for the day to be over, I received a phone call that one of the cats I help care for in a local pet store had a swollen, red eye. Got a take-out dinner to go and drove across town to borrow eye medications to tide us over until a vet appointment the next day. Sitting in the parking lot of the pet store I noticed several people standing around looking at a small 'something' on a grassy median between two paved lanes. One of them picked up the 'thing' in cupped hands and then put it down again. I started walking towards them, thinking 'This must be a baby bird!' And, it was...The people left before I could get their attention, so I didn't find out the bird's story. The little starling or grackle sat quietly, occasionally blinking. I said, "How much more, Lord?" quietly and picked up the bird as I carried him/her to my car and emptied a small cardboard box for him. I had a piece of fleece material among the clean bedding in my car, so that made a nest. Thank goodness for the 'rescue network.' I made one call, to a former foster parent who also volunteered with Skywatch Bird Rescue. She gave me the phone number to call, and miraculously my call was answered. A friendly voice said, "We're just about to close the hospital room....how soon can you be here?" In just a few minutes, I was standing outside the rescue's fence, and with one page of paperwork, the little bird was safely in his rescue home. "That's why I needed to go to Petco tonight," I realized....and drove away to go clean six cat condos. Thanks to all who helped today, the spay neuter clinic staff, cat foster parents and caregivers, pet store staffers and all our rescue group friends! Special thanks to sister Bobbi and home care CNA Nicole for freeing me up almost ten hours in the morning and evening so this day's tasks could be accomplished! The moral of this story is, "There are no 'typical' days in animal rescue. We take each day as it comes!" Postscript: I did achieve the personal goal of a shower on this day, though actually it was early the next morning. Before bed I considered the small miracles of the day, especially that I was perfectly placed to help the baby bird. A minute or two earlier or later and I would not have noticed the small bird alone on the grass. Our other motto, "Everything is going according to plan!" Amen! According to the website Zazzle.com, February 11th is Umbrella Day. I’m not sure exactly how it’s celebrated in the UK, but at my house any rainy day is Umbrella Day! Yesterday I came in the front door carrying groceries, with a wet umbrella, which I dropped on the living room floor. By the time I’d put the groceries away and came to get the umbrella, there were three cats sitting under and around it. So, I left it there, and today I told the cats, “I am going to get a brand new ‘cave’ just for you.” Happy Umbrella Day, kitties!
Postscript: The umbrella 'cave' is still on the living room floor, and we have been making changes to it day by day. Some crinkly packing paper is underneath it, and a toy is clipped onto the short fabric strap used to keep the umbrella closed. Some leftover colored tissue paper is hanging from a couple of the pointy rib-ends of the umbrella. Besides enjoying the sensory opportunities the cats seem to use it to play games with each other. One cat will sneak up behind the umbrella to 'tag' an unsuspecting friend. We are easily amused, eh kitties? (The Toys section of this blog has more feline amusements! I'd love to include your favorites, if they are free or very inexpensive....send them along!) I'll let you decide after reading the linked article (above) whether the 'thousands' saved are dollars or puppies....or both. When little Chase Mutley and his 8 siblings and step-sibs were all diagnosed with parvo at about 8 weeks old, I can remember the expressions on the clinic staffers' faces. They looked like someone had already died. I hadn't had any experience with parvo, so I didn't know to be scared.
The other foster parent who had five puppies, and I with four went into 'overdrive' taking care of the pups. We couldn't afford to hospitalize them, and didn't know if that would improve the outcome. With the vet's advice, we began treating symptoms.....fluids twice a day for everyone, and Tamiflu to try to reduce the viral load the little guys were fighting. For five of the puppies (one whole litter) the method worked, and those lucky guys are living large---really large!--in their forever homes. Four puppies, the other litter that were possibly more susceptible to the virus, could not be saved by our methods.... I'm sharing this new treatment protocol to help puppies that might now be treated successfully, with a big 'paws up' to pet parents and rescuers who will give this a try. Yes, thousands of dollars can be saved....by this reckoning the treatment can be completed for 10% of what it would cost to hospitalize. But MILLIONS of puppies could be saved. Please make sure your veterinarian knows about this study....the puppies thank you! Continuing with the subject of tube socks (see previous post, from JULY!) here is another great use for these inexpensive tubular textiles: kitty warmers! I first saw tube socks filled with rice used to warm animals at a spay/neuter clinic in Kernersville, NC. Every animal coming out of surgery was snuggled up to its own little warmer. These were heated in an autoclave kept for that purpose and wrapped in surgical towels that were washed after each use. Here is a website with directions for making rice socks for human use, and rescue folks should feel free to do just that.....warm up a rice sock and drape it around your neck to help you relax after a stressful day! http://ajtroxell.com/ultimate-relaxation-the-rice-sock/ Our current 'special needs foster kitty,' Miss Lady, who's staying in a big ol' kennel in the garage is using a rice sock that I warm several times a day. Her little bedroom is staying comfy warm until the ice storm is only a memory and she is ready to return to her home. We have had a couple of scary-cold spells in the past month. (OK, northern friends, please don't mock our weather....) We've had wind chills into the low single digits! I experimented with pocket hand warmers for the feral cat shelters on those nights--a couple of warmers per shelter. The hand warmers are available from discount stores for about .79 a pair. Removed from their packaging and shaken briskly, a chemical reaction takes place that warms the little packet for 10 hours (according to the package information). I need to test this, but the feral cats seemed to use their shelters as usual and were none the worse for wear after the cold snap. Another example of a pet bed warmer is pictured below: a microwaveable Frisbee-shaped warmer. The photo shows one that costs about $25, with other similar warmers priced up to $40. The higher initial price may be balanced by the long life of this warmer, which can be reused many, many times. The warmer is made of heavy plastic with a gel insert that retains heat for up to 10 hours. On a visit to Cape Fear Spay Neuter Clinic yesterday I saw the clinic staff carrying these warmers around to keep the chill at bay. There was definitely an ice storm brewing, and the animals and staff both enjoyed a little extra warmth. I have been neglecting our dog friends, since I have been working with cats lately. Gotta make it up to the canines......here is one classic homemade toy and two I "invented."
First, from the website centhound, http://centhound.com/sock-toy Their photo shows a dog making his own toy putting an empty water bottle into an athletic sock. Someone else will have to tie a knot in the sock! That's all it takes, along with supervision during playtime, especially for the 'heavy biters' among our dog friends....you know who you are! Next, for dogs that like to chew, and especially for teething puppies, a frozen toy! Tie a knot in a washcloth or hand towel that has been soaked in water and squeezed mostly dry. Place the damp knotted cloth in the freezer for several hours. Give to your pup or dog and watch them enjoy it. (Really watch them....you DON'T want them to eat the towel!) Finally, a toy for dogs that like to tear up cardboard--I call this one a "Doggie Fortune Cookie." Take a paper towel roll--just the cardboard tube in the center--and smash one end of the tube flat. Fold and roll the end until the tube is closed, then bend the end of the tube to seal it shut. Place a dog treat or two inside the tube and repeat the closing technique on the other end of the tube. Shake the 'Fortune Cookie' before giving it to your dog, and let him open it to get the treat. If you use two different diameter tubes this toy will last longer. ENJOY, and share your favorite frugal dog toy, please! I just talked with Anna, a representative at the Novartis technical support desk. I asked her why Program tabs for dogs and cats are back-ordered everywhere. She let me know that the one manufacturing plant that had been making three of Novartis’ popular products—Program, Interceptor and Sentinel—had been offline since December of 2010. When the plant started up production again, they had to make a choice of which of the products to make. Neither Program, which is a flea growth retardant, or Interceptor, a heartworm treatment, were chosen for manufacture. The most popular product, Sentinel (a combination of Interceptor plus Program, for dogs) is now back in production. For users of Sentinel, it has been reintroduced at the Interceptor price point---about half of its former price.
This is good news for dogs and dog owners, but leaves cat owners without our old favorite flea treatment. In the past using Capstar (still available) with Program (no longer available) was the ‘total package’ of immediate and long-lasting flea protection. There is no information about when Program tabs for either cats or dogs will be reintroduced. For feral cat friends, though, a different format of Program might be especially helpful: Program injectable provides SIX MONTH PROTECTION FROM FLEAS. This would be a great product to use at a spay/neuter clinic serving feral cats, or for home use where fleas have been an ongoing problem. There is also a suspension (liquid), but in the past that has not been a useful product due to the large amount needed for dosing and the thick slimy consistency. Unless the formulation has changed, I would not recommend Program suspension. I’m looking forward to getting more information about Program injectable, though! Rescue friends and pet parents, if you have news from your war on fleas, please share it in a comment. THANKS! My friend Chris from Cat Adoption Team used to say, “Kittens will break your heart,” and I thought she meant when they died unexpectedly. This week I know better. They break your heart with everything they do. The cute, the playful, the winsome and the mischievous things they do. I also find they break my heart with the ways their relationships with foster parents show. Here is today’s story:
So you know, I am like a social worker for the kittens and cats. I arrange for them to come to our adoption center, to be cared for by a team of volunteers and the store staff, until they are adopted. So, today we a kitten delivered to our adoption center at the pet store by a senior lady who’d had him since he was one week old. The kitten’s name is ‘Homer,’ and he was actually picked up and rescued by a DOG who carried the kitten to his home. I can just imagine the scene in that dog’s home.... oh my. ANYway, Harriet was called on to bottle feed Homer and raise him to an adoptable age, which she did. He is a beautiful, sweet and playful silvery gray tabby kitten. After I had put Homer into the cat condo with two other kittens of similar size and age, Harriet handed me a paper bag. I opened it, and there were several toys she said were ‘Homer’s favorites,’ a small bag of dry food and a can of gourmet cat food. I put the dry food and the toys into the kennel for Homer and his new friends, and I told Harriet the kittens would have some canned food in the evening. She and I filled out his medical history paperwork, and she said goodbye to him and to me and left the store. Thank goodness I hadn’t turned the bag around until after she left. On the back of the bag, in big block letters, she had printed Homer’s name. That detail in her care of him, as it showed the obvious relationship between them, sent me into a fit of tears. Harriet so obviously cared for Homer and loved him completely in the two months they were together. . Tonight he is spending his first and only night away from home, with his new kitten friends. Tomorrow he will be adopted into a new home. He will join a young businessman who has a cat just about a year old that would like a playmate. I will put his toys and a can of food back into the bag for Homer’s Dad to take home with them.. |