Best of intentions

I just want to blog, but Candice has other intentions. Locked up in my room with Dani and Dorie (while they adjust to being at my parents' now) has me feeling bad for her ... but not bad enough that I'm going to deal with her kneading her long nails into my shoulder (I let her nails get long since I feel bad she has no teeth) ... or not going to blog!

Now that I've lost my job and have nothing but time, I want to write, blog, unpack (ok, I don't want to do that, but I need to), be with my pets, write some more, plan a vacation, work on my mom's blog, check on the sheep, run for a little, get an application together so I can adopt Bear out, etc. I've got the best of intentions, now I just need to work on following through and actually getting to all those things. Ah!

A quiet goodbye...

On my private journal. Feel free to email me if you want access.

Go Green!

As a person terribly interested in how we can preserve this planet that we all live on, I found this article very interesting (though not all that surprising) and just another sign of hope for the future now that a large part of the population is catching on. Check it out for yourself: Green Products Dominate Global Pet Expo on Zootoo.

Some of the things sounded a little out there, of course. For instance, this one product is supposed to "protect animals from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes with electromagnetic frequencies ... the tiny tags have a magnetized, non-toxic strip that wards off pests for up to four months". Any kind of electromagnetic frequency being given off doesn't sound trustworthy to me since just about everything is causing cancer nowadays ... so some sort of frequency must have a long term effect along those lines or something. Hey, if it is harmless and does work - awesome! But I'm going to remain a cynic with that one.

On a personal note, I'm actually considering making my own pet food ... dog food to start since my aunts have a good recipes they've already been using for quite awhile now and maybe cat food too if I'm feeling extra ambitious. It'll involve some major research to see which recipes are both yummy & safe, thus the need for some ambition. :) With all the pet food recalls, it's not a bad idea to consider making my own from here on out. I'm going to be home now that I lost my job to the economy, so I'll have the time to. Who knows, maybe some friends will want to buy some as well.

Oh, and if you're not a member yet of Zootoo, you should be. It's great for animal news and sharing info. You can find me on there too: JenW117

::sigh::

I have a feeling this blog is going to turn into more of a journal about rescuing myself than it is about rescuing animals. The blows seem to just keep coming and I'm just completely heart broken right now...

I partially blogged about my dad and that situation. I strictly posted the email I sent out because, honestly, I'm not sure I can sit down and spill my guts out about that whole ordeal and my feelings about it without A) sounding super whiny or B) breaking down and crying while I type which is just awfully messy if you know the way I cry. The news alone has been a lot to deal with and then there's been all the reading to find out about FTD and what's to come as well.

And then, this passed week, I lost my job... stupid economy! Losing my job means losing my income when I have student loans, medical bills, my credit card (thank god I'm pretty good at controlling my spending with that!!) and the payments for the car I just bought as well. If that's not bad enough, my apartment that I've been settled into for about a year and a half is provided through work, so I've lost that as well! I've been given a week to pack up and head out. I don't want to pack up, I don't want to move back in with my parents and I feel so bad taking my cats there too when they've been pretty stress-free at my apartment for so long now.

I don't get to see Ruby adopted out or see Donny needs more surgery or see if Freda gets all better or what's going to happen with the possible mass in Nickey or see my love Molly anymore or if Polly is going to get surgery. I've just really invested myself here in a way I don't even think my co-workers know and so this is all very sad for me. I used to walk around here sometimes at night just checking to see what the kitties were doing and making sure they were ok.

I'm just forced to hope this is for the best. I've been here for some great, great things like my work's 5th Anniversary and all the publicity with Tashi - it was so nice seeing other people recognize and appreciate the work done here. At least I was let go because of the economy so I can collect unemployment instead of having to quit in several months or something because of my dad (or who knows what might else go wrong at this point!).

Now, I'm going back to my parents, the farm, sheep and chickens and horses and too many guinea hens. At least I'll have lots of time to read, write ... and blog, right? Ahh ::sigh:: Who knows, maybe I'll even start rescuing again ... doing fundraisers or working with kick ass people like my friend who likes the special babies, like Joa (who has since been adopted!).

My dad, Bear, etc...

I just sent out this post to friends and am putting it here too as it's an update on my life and rescuing recently. Needless to say, as you read you'll understand I'm heartbroken. Why does everything have to be so hard? I don't rescue for this purpose, but don't I deserve good things?? And if not good, can't I just get a little bit of "fair" at least??? Anyway, this is the email I sent with some pictures thrown in as well...

Hi,

I found out just last week that the odd behaviors my dad has been exhibiting have been just as bad when he's away from us - work sent him home, in fact. It seems that it was not simply "depression" that he's been suffering from. My dad (my hero, supporter, driver when I lost my license to epilepsy and the guy who absolutely influenced my love for animals & me doing animal rescue) was re-diagnosed last week with fronto-temporal dementia. Here's some info on it:

http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_frontotemporal_dementia.asp

Needless to say, I'm very upset for my near future loss of my dad and worried about what's to come.

I'm writing to you about all of this because I have a dog that needs a home of his own and preferably soon before things get too bad around the house.

Currently, my parents' are fostering my most recent GA rescue - a big black & white boy we named Bear that everyone at the shelter down in GA loved, but he was out of time there. He was called a lab mix, but if you see him, he's got to have some sort of Mountain Dog in him too. He's got just the faintest bit of brown above his eyes, big head, muscular body and a perfectly white tipped tail. On top of that, his genes popped him out with beautiful freckling in his white patches, short hair, little eyes and big, thick skin around his face (you know, like the kind that is kind of all wrinkly and you can make funny faces with. I love it!!!)

All people can really say about him is that he's so ugly, he's freakin’ adorable!! He is great with my other dogs (1 female Golden, 1 female Doberman), did not eat my little sized, big attitude male Chihuahua foster when I brought him home and though I've had to correct his interest in my parents' cats, Bear has never actually tried to hurt any of them. He's house trained, sits to eat and though I know he's playful (likes to carry stuffed animals around like "babydolls" and wrestles with the Golden), he mostly prefers to just sleep near you. He's friendly to all and just a great dog that deserves a good home. I will write down his cons for you as well, of course:
- he pees a little when he gets nervous. I don’t know what happened to him before, but raise your voice even a fraction and he drops to the ground or pees a little and this happens for men more than women, which is another reason I want him out before things get bad with my dad like they could.
- he sheds a lot, though I’m still convinced that he’s blowing out his nasty shelter coat
- he drools. There is no excusing or reasoning that way, he drools like a St. Bernard sometimes!!!

He is fixed and up to date on vaccines of course too.

I'm sending you this email to you since we're friends, personal contacts in the animal-loving world. I haven't really come to terms fully about this diagnosis for my dad yet, so I'd like the reason for this posting to be kept as private as possible. Bear's safe in my parents' house, of course, it's just the extra burden on my whole family soon that I worry about. Bear deserves a good home and I don't want that to become a last priority, but things are out of my hands now with this.

Cross post Bear on your Petfinder site, let any friends know that might be looking to adopt, etc. People can email me at MeaMail44@aol.com

Bear needs and deserves to find a home.

Thanks so much,
Jenny W

PS- If anyone knows someone that wants to adopt a ridiculous Chihuahua, he’s my foster boy. Do not believe the vicious rumors about him, he’s “selective” with who he likes. :o) http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12645530

One More Post About Mr. Bones

It is a Dogs On Thursday day and I felt the need to write about Mr. Bones since I have posted about him before when he was heading home. Mr. Bones actually had a blog going himself about the journey to his new home from across the country. After years and years at Best Friends in Utah, Bones finally found a home of his own! He has resided there for a few months in adopted bliss, being loved and very spoiled ~ as he definitely deserved!

I am so sad to be writing this, but I just recently found out that Mr. Bones passed away a couple days ago. Apparently he was doing poorly for several days and he was finally let go today ... but not before one last phone conversation with one of his biggest fans, Joyce M of the Jersey Girls, so that she could say goodbye. Mr. Bones' ashes will be returning with the Jersey Girls to Best Friends in a few months so that he will be placed in Angels Rest to rest forever in the place where he was loved for years.

Rest in peace, special boy. You were loved by so many and we are so thankful that your mom found you to give you a forever home before you passed. You're in our thoughts, Bones.

Tabby's Place - Donny

I felt the need to blog about Donny today. He’s in need of some good thoughts, friends, and some extra special attention – via my blog right now since he needs his sleep as well.

“Donny Brook”, better known around here as Donny, is an adorable little marmalade boy that came to Tabby’s Place towards the end of the summer of 2008 (I was out after my surgery when he first arrived). He, along with his little family, came to us from a shelter in NY when he was still very little and nursing from his mom. Just when Donny was big enough to be fixed and potentially be adopted, we found out he had ringworm and into treatment he went … and remained for a very long time.

After being treated for ringworm for about 4 months (because several kitties that we got from that NY shelter had the most persistent damn darn ringworm), Donny was finally out of a cage and free to run around our lobby area. He was able to be socialized by all, loved up, have play time with his brother Ulysses and our paraplegic boy, Tashi, and was able to seen by the nice people that come to visit us here at Tabby's Place – all new things after being caged for so long due to that pesky ringworm, all things that could lead him to finding a great home of his own – and he did! A volunteer fell for that sweet face of his.

However, while out and running around, it was noticed that Donny had a funny way of walking … and running … and lying around. Then, the thought occurred to us, “Hey, maybe all that hissing and 'attitude' was not poor socialization, but a reaction to pain? Maybe there was something wrong with our boy?”

As it turns out, Donny has luxating patellas in his hind legs, meaning his knee caps have a tendency to slip in and out of place. Although some cats do fine with this condition, Donny appears to be very uncomfortable. We were told he definitely needs surgery on one knee, most likely needs surgery on his other knee and depending on how those surgeries go, Donny might also need a third surgery done on his one hip. That would be three surgeries his intended adopter could not plan for or possibly even pay for. Not to mention, just when he got out of a cage and free from ringworm, he’ll need to be on strict cage rest for at least 2 months after surgery, which means Donny might be caged for the next 6 – 9 months if he needs all 3 surgeries.


Donny already had one surgery at the end of the last week and Donny’s in a great deal of pain now. Not only is recovery rough in general, but the poor guy just wants to get at you for some love and that means he's moving and causing himself incredible pain!

Have you ever known someone that needed knee surgery done? Do you know how much you use your knee throughout the day? Now imagine having a surgery to fix your knee (possibly even involving shaving away at the bone so that the knee cap can fit properly) and no one being able to explain to you not to use it! Donny has no idea that just lying in one place with make life easier (not "pain-free", but definitely more stable). The best we can do is provide pain meds, make sure there’s a lot of padding around him and remind Donny that we love him (which, of course, includes signing his bandages).

Please send Donny some good thoughts ... and donations are always appreciated. It is generous people just like you who have taken the time to read this that allow Tabby's Place to care for kitties like Donny and the rest of the cats here.

On a totally different note: things that rock – Hocus Pocus ... but I've missed most of it, so I'm going to watch Medium instead since that rocks too

*note - check out the labels and you'll see "TP". I've said this before and I'll say it here again, I do that to try to keep my personal blog from popping up on search engines for my work place, but since this entry is about Donny and the amazing work Tabby's Place does, I referred to this great place by its proper name in this entry.

Ruby

That is my Ruby ... well, was my Ruby - yesterday I surrendered Ruby to my place of employment.

For some time now, I have attempted to integrate Ruby into my apartment. I kept her (and the other kitty I saved from this disgusting shelter, Candice) in the bathroom for almost a year, switching blankets around, trading toys with my cats (siblings, Dani & Dorie) and I was also well aware that my kitties were sniffing at those kitties under the door. Things weren't going so well though because when I let them out, my kitties would spazz - hiding, hissing, but the biggest issue was them running because Ruby would chase them and with that crooked head of hers, she'd make a mess trying to keep her balance and the noise from that only freaked my kitties out even more.

I felt bad leaving her in the bathroom though because Ruby loves company so much and there wasn't much stimulation in there either even with her toothless buddy, Candice. So, I moved Ruby and Candice into a large crate in the middle of my apartment in the hopes that with everyone face to face, but Ruby unable to chase, that things would go more smoothly. My kitties still wouldn't adjust - hissing and eyes dilating when they saw the new cats and that's when they weren't hiding!

The reality is, Dorie I have strictly because of how very spastic she is. Though I have had her since she was about 6 weeks old, I had to wrap her up and carry her everywhere just to get her to how social she is now ... and she's barely social! No one really sees her and any sudden moves or loud noises cause her to run for cover. So, when overbearing Ruby approached her to check her out, Dorie would spazz and run ... and when Dorie ran, Ruby would chase. Candice did well though - she's quiet and not like Ruby at all. So, my most recent solution was to have the HH pair in my room all day while Dani and Dorie had the rest of my apartment and then, at night, I would put Ruby in the crate and allow Candice to free roam with my cats ... but Ruby would cry most of the night for affection and company. It broke my heart...

I know Ruby could not be in a better place -that's a fact- because TP has the money to further look into her severe head tilt if necessary (though it doesn't seem to bother her), she'll eventually be loose to play with all the kitties that will tolerate her, Ruby will have lots of volunteers to talk to and she'll have a much better chance of being seen & adopted than she did locked up in my apartment ... but I still feel awful. I've had her for so many months now that I've grown very, very attached. She's such a big, soft mush ball and so personable - talking so much that she even talked to herself at times and after surrendering her, I came back to Candice curled up all by herself - no Ruby pushing herself on her to cuddle. I cried all afternoon and still haven't brought myself to go into her holding her while she adjusts to being a sanctuary kitty. If it wasn't for how much Dorie got upset, I'd have kept Ruby and there's not doubt that Ruby & Candice could be the most wonderful pair of kitties a person could adopt together (laid back, quiet Candice and super sweet, glued to the comfiest spot/your side Ruby), but me being upset is strictly selfish. Like I said, Ruby's in the better place right now, even if it's not with me and/or Candice.

On top of feeling awful, I also felt like a complete creep doing her intake. My original plan was to take two of the sanctuary's more aggressive/more outside appropriate cats and the sanctuary would take Ruby. So, I didn't plan on letting her go until the Spring when it is warmer out to put kitties out to adjust to my parents' farm. She is late on getting her vaccinations because I was waiting until the end of the month to get Dani, Dorie, Candice and Ruby on the same schedule - getting the HH pair's a bit late and Dani & Dorie's a bit early so they would all be on track together. Ruby's paperwork from the shelter is unreliable too, for example: they had her as a male cat! Though looked at by a vet and vet tech and never going into heat, it was never actually determined if she was even spayed, but I also wasn't advised to do an exploratory surgery to check. Not to mention, I got her while still involved in my rescue, but within several months I resigned - leaving Ruby & Candice in my care, but with no real way of adopting them out or seeing a rescued discounted vet.

So, I turned over Ruby yesterday because she was spending most of her time in a cage and with her not up to date on shots, along with being unsure if she's been unfixed for over a year in my care and ... talk about looking like a bad pet parent! As if I didn't feel lame enough surrendering her in general!!

For months now Ruby & Candice have been living together (Ruby loves to snuggle with Candice ... though I'm not sure how much Candice liked it). The pair mushed together was and remains in my mind to be a perfect example of their two personalities - Candice always tolerant and Ruby so extremely overbearing affectionate. When I came in to get Ruby yesterday, she was curled up on the bed with Candice. She popped her little crooked head up and did her high pitched meow at me. I was pretty good at not crying until I was on my break and a lone ... sort of.

Here's the last photo I took of Ruby & Candice in their classic snuggling up together way before surrendering Ruby...