I have seen only one ad for each candidate. Going to Chris Dudley's site was an even sleepier adventure. There's nothing on it, just a bunch of really general statements. I wonder if he's thought about what if he wins. Because, well, there's nothing on his site about concrete plans once governor. Except he'll pair up with athletic people to help get kids moving, he says. Ok, Mr. Former NBA guy, but don't force us into basketball camps. Some of us really don't think basketball is interesting at all.
By contrast, Kitzhabers' site must be full of something, because if I click on any link there, to read a position statement or plan of action, my computer freezes up. Nice.
I usually vote. I don't think it would matter this time, one way or the other. I think they are one and the same candidate.
Neither of them know what to do about the skyrocketing costs of healthcare and how to pay for it. Who does? Nobody I know of.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Kitzhaber or Dudley for Governor of Oregon?
I have seen only one ad for each candidate. Going to Chris Dudley's site was an even sleepier adventure. There's nothing on it, just a bunch of really general statements. I wonder if he's thought about what if he wins. Because, well, there's nothing on his site about concrete plans once governor. Except he'll pair up with athletic people to help get kids moving, he says. Ok, Mr. Former NBA guy, but don't force us into basketball camps. Some of us really don't think basketball is interesting at all.
By contrast, Kitzhabers' site must be full of something, because if I click on any link there, to read a position statement or plan of action, my computer freezes up. Nice.
I usually vote. I don't think it would matter this time, one way or the other. I think they are one and the same candidate.
Neither of them know what to do about the skyrocketing costs of healthcare and how to pay for it. Who does? Nobody I know of.
By contrast, Kitzhabers' site must be full of something, because if I click on any link there, to read a position statement or plan of action, my computer freezes up. Nice.
I usually vote. I don't think it would matter this time, one way or the other. I think they are one and the same candidate.
Neither of them know what to do about the skyrocketing costs of healthcare and how to pay for it. Who does? Nobody I know of.
Photos of Cats Fixed Today
When heading out to the rural trailer colony, I spotted this Siamese on the tracks. When he looked up, I could clearly see his eartip. He likely is from a nearby colony I got fixed several years back. Most of the cats are Siamese.
Fixed Siamese on the tracks!All three cats were females of the three I took to be fixed today: one lactator and two preggies. Both preggies hail from the rural trailer colony. One was very very young.
This black tux, fixed today from rural trailer colony, is not only basically a kitten herself, but was pregnant at spay.
This was the black tux female fixed last Thursday from the same colony. She also was pregnant.
This is one of two kittens I saw last night at the trailer. Their mom is the all black female fixed already, who was in heat at spay. The other kitten is all black.
The black kitten.
Lactating Siamese mix from the very old Lebanon woman's colony. They're all fixed there now I hope, except, for any surviving kittens.Update: I located her kittens by following her after I released her. I followed her across the street, and behind a house and then out back of a barn. Three, maybe four kittens, about seven weeks old, ran out to greet her. One was all gray and fuzzy. Another was short hair tabby on white. I went and got some food and water to put back there for the kittens. I didn't take them, because I have nine already in my bedroom and have no idea how I'll find them homes even.
Photos of Cats Fixed Today
When heading out to the rural trailer colony, I spotted this Siamese on the tracks. When he looked up, I could clearly see his eartip. He likely is from a nearby colony I got fixed several years back. Most of the cats are Siamese.Fixed Siamese on the tracks!All three cats were females of the three I took to be fixed today: one lactator and two preggies. Both preggies hail from the rural trailer colony. One was very very young.
This black tux, fixed today from rural trailer colony, is not only basically a kitten herself, but was pregnant at spay.This was the black tux female fixed last Thursday from the same colony. She also was pregnant.This is one of two kittens I saw last night at the trailer. Their mom is the all black female fixed already, who was in heat at spay. The other kitten is all black.The black kitten.Lactating Siamese mix from the very old Lebanon woman's colony. They're all fixed there now I hope, except, for any surviving kittens.Update: I located her kittens by following her after I released her. I followed her across the street, and behind a house and then out back of a barn. Three, maybe four kittens, about seven weeks old, ran out to greet her. One was all gray and fuzzy. Another was short hair tabby on white. I went and got some food and water to put back there for the kittens. I didn't take them, because I have nine already in my bedroom and have no idea how I'll find them homes even.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
One Day Reprieve
The very very old woman from Lebanon called me. She had another cat show up who had had kittens. Or, she said she wasn't sure, it is the cat she thought she took to a Lebanon clinic and got spayed, but now she isn't spayed and has kittens somewhere.
So, with the neighbor mans help, we quickly drop trapped her then went looking for kittens but couldn't find them.
I had already called the clinic. I had told the very old woman about the new pain med fee and she said, "Ok, I'll pay it, because otherwise I'd have to pay over $100 to have her," and she paused, "respayed in Lebanon."
I don't really think it is the same cat she took in to be fixed, who wasn't really fixed. But who knows, it might be. She's a sharp smart woman.
So I called up the vet clinic. They said they're not starting the add on pain med charge until Thursday. I was hyped up then, and headed over to the rural trailer colony and caught two more there. I thought, 'I have one night to catch some cats!'
Ooops, I forgot, I left a trap set there. I better go check it and close it up. Or I'll have a skunk in it. And that's not good.
So, with the neighbor mans help, we quickly drop trapped her then went looking for kittens but couldn't find them.
I had already called the clinic. I had told the very old woman about the new pain med fee and she said, "Ok, I'll pay it, because otherwise I'd have to pay over $100 to have her," and she paused, "respayed in Lebanon."
I don't really think it is the same cat she took in to be fixed, who wasn't really fixed. But who knows, it might be. She's a sharp smart woman.
So I called up the vet clinic. They said they're not starting the add on pain med charge until Thursday. I was hyped up then, and headed over to the rural trailer colony and caught two more there. I thought, 'I have one night to catch some cats!'
Ooops, I forgot, I left a trap set there. I better go check it and close it up. Or I'll have a skunk in it. And that's not good.
One Day Reprieve
The very very old woman from Lebanon called me. She had another cat show up who had had kittens. Or, she said she wasn't sure, it is the cat she thought she took to a Lebanon clinic and got spayed, but now she isn't spayed and has kittens somewhere.
So, with the neighbor mans help, we quickly drop trapped her then went looking for kittens but couldn't find them.
I had already called the clinic. I had told the very old woman about the new pain med fee and she said, "Ok, I'll pay it, because otherwise I'd have to pay over $100 to have her," and she paused, "respayed in Lebanon."
I don't really think it is the same cat she took in to be fixed, who wasn't really fixed. But who knows, it might be. She's a sharp smart woman.
So I called up the vet clinic. They said they're not starting the add on pain med charge until Thursday. I was hyped up then, and headed over to the rural trailer colony and caught two more there. I thought, 'I have one night to catch some cats!'
Ooops, I forgot, I left a trap set there. I better go check it and close it up. Or I'll have a skunk in it. And that's not good.
So, with the neighbor mans help, we quickly drop trapped her then went looking for kittens but couldn't find them.
I had already called the clinic. I had told the very old woman about the new pain med fee and she said, "Ok, I'll pay it, because otherwise I'd have to pay over $100 to have her," and she paused, "respayed in Lebanon."
I don't really think it is the same cat she took in to be fixed, who wasn't really fixed. But who knows, it might be. She's a sharp smart woman.
So I called up the vet clinic. They said they're not starting the add on pain med charge until Thursday. I was hyped up then, and headed over to the rural trailer colony and caught two more there. I thought, 'I have one night to catch some cats!'
Ooops, I forgot, I left a trap set there. I better go check it and close it up. Or I'll have a skunk in it. And that's not good.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Woohooo. Re-employed!
So, I'll be starting, mid month, to take cats in to Willamette Humane's spay neuter clinic. I won't be able to take as many in as I have, but at least I can take in some. Better than none! Yay!
Here's to hoping the OR Vet Board will figure a way to help the people of Oregon make solving feline overpopulation far easier. I know they could.
In other news, Lane County is getting it together. Numerous groups got Petsmart free roaming cat grants, and one group alone is getting 40 ferals at least fixed a week at Greenhill. I wish we had a shelter fixing public cats in this area. Boy do I wish that. If I lived in the Eugene area, I could get employment as a trapper with one or two different groups.
I think if I could rig up somehow, a very very small home made trailer to pull, to sleep and cook in, I could be a travelling spay neuter trapper. If I could rig something right, and find homes for the cats here, I think I'd love that lifestyle.
Here, I struggle to find a place now to get any cats fixed, without driving an hour one direction, but I can't even get in there now, due to them upping prices by $20 per cat over that rule. But I haven't totally given up.
I am totally paranoid over what happened to the other four kittens I took to Heartland with the other three, who came back here, (from the Lebanon situation). I returned two of the kittens late last week to be fixed and adopted out. I guess they were adopted.
As for those other four, I can't find out anything. I want to trust Heartland, but I have a hard time trusting them. That's because of history. A few years ago, they took in a few kittens from the BS colony, when I was overwhelmed getting over 120 cats fixed on that short dead end street. I took to Heartland, in all, about five, with fears over it, even though they were under no kill order, to be returned to me if they decided they couldn't keep them, for space or whatever reason, instead of killing them.
I had a volunteer for a brief time, who also was undergoing volunteer training at Heartland. She mentioned to me she went for training one day and most of the cats were gone. They'd killed them, due to a ringworm outbreak.
I had not received a call about Marianne and Scottie, the latest two kittens I'd taken over, to come retrieve them. I raced over there. Scottie and Marianne were in a carrier by the euthanasia room, about to be killed. They had been in foster, had come back, and they were going to kill them. They claimed under black light, one had a few hairs of green glow on one ear, indicating possibly ringworm. They did not have ringworm. I was furious but glad I had been able to save them. They both ended up in great homes. I determined then never to trust Heartland again.
But I did, with these seven kittens. I was told by the shelter director they weren't the same shelter. I believed them. Was it stupid of me? Did those four kittens die because I was too naive?
So I have been under stress thinking about it. I want it to be for no reason at all, other than the history I've experienced there. I became more stressed when they asked me to come get the three, who otherwise would be euthanized, because they had URI's. I keep asking about the other four, and have not really received an answer that calms my fears.
I very much want to believe they are a different shelter, that they would honor a no kill request resolutely. I want to be able to trust them. But my stomach is queezy and I can't stop worrying about those four kittens. I don't rescue kittens to have them killed.
UPDATE: Yay. They have reassured me the four are still in foster and just fine. I feel much better. I thought both Tabitha and Prancer had been adopted but it was only Prancer. Tabitha is still waiting. I must have missed her when looking at the kittens yesterday. Probably sleeping in one of the little kitten beds they have in the kitten rooms.
I've decided to start having a ceremony, when a cat leaves here, either if adopted (if I ever get another adoption inquiry) or goes to another group or shelter. Some sort of a let go/goodbye ceremony, to symbolically let them go, from my mind, so I don't worry about them forever. It's hard for me. I know people think it's silly, to worry about one little kitten, among the millions out there. But I do, if they've gone through my hands. I know them, know what they need, what they fear, what makes them happy. I want the best for them.
Plus, I've seen the darkside out there, and it is very very black indeed.
Here's to hoping the OR Vet Board will figure a way to help the people of Oregon make solving feline overpopulation far easier. I know they could.
In other news, Lane County is getting it together. Numerous groups got Petsmart free roaming cat grants, and one group alone is getting 40 ferals at least fixed a week at Greenhill. I wish we had a shelter fixing public cats in this area. Boy do I wish that. If I lived in the Eugene area, I could get employment as a trapper with one or two different groups.
I think if I could rig up somehow, a very very small home made trailer to pull, to sleep and cook in, I could be a travelling spay neuter trapper. If I could rig something right, and find homes for the cats here, I think I'd love that lifestyle.
Here, I struggle to find a place now to get any cats fixed, without driving an hour one direction, but I can't even get in there now, due to them upping prices by $20 per cat over that rule. But I haven't totally given up.
I am totally paranoid over what happened to the other four kittens I took to Heartland with the other three, who came back here, (from the Lebanon situation). I returned two of the kittens late last week to be fixed and adopted out. I guess they were adopted.
As for those other four, I can't find out anything. I want to trust Heartland, but I have a hard time trusting them. That's because of history. A few years ago, they took in a few kittens from the BS colony, when I was overwhelmed getting over 120 cats fixed on that short dead end street. I took to Heartland, in all, about five, with fears over it, even though they were under no kill order, to be returned to me if they decided they couldn't keep them, for space or whatever reason, instead of killing them.
I had a volunteer for a brief time, who also was undergoing volunteer training at Heartland. She mentioned to me she went for training one day and most of the cats were gone. They'd killed them, due to a ringworm outbreak.
I had not received a call about Marianne and Scottie, the latest two kittens I'd taken over, to come retrieve them. I raced over there. Scottie and Marianne were in a carrier by the euthanasia room, about to be killed. They had been in foster, had come back, and they were going to kill them. They claimed under black light, one had a few hairs of green glow on one ear, indicating possibly ringworm. They did not have ringworm. I was furious but glad I had been able to save them. They both ended up in great homes. I determined then never to trust Heartland again.
But I did, with these seven kittens. I was told by the shelter director they weren't the same shelter. I believed them. Was it stupid of me? Did those four kittens die because I was too naive?
So I have been under stress thinking about it. I want it to be for no reason at all, other than the history I've experienced there. I became more stressed when they asked me to come get the three, who otherwise would be euthanized, because they had URI's. I keep asking about the other four, and have not really received an answer that calms my fears.
I very much want to believe they are a different shelter, that they would honor a no kill request resolutely. I want to be able to trust them. But my stomach is queezy and I can't stop worrying about those four kittens. I don't rescue kittens to have them killed.
UPDATE: Yay. They have reassured me the four are still in foster and just fine. I feel much better. I thought both Tabitha and Prancer had been adopted but it was only Prancer. Tabitha is still waiting. I must have missed her when looking at the kittens yesterday. Probably sleeping in one of the little kitten beds they have in the kitten rooms.
I've decided to start having a ceremony, when a cat leaves here, either if adopted (if I ever get another adoption inquiry) or goes to another group or shelter. Some sort of a let go/goodbye ceremony, to symbolically let them go, from my mind, so I don't worry about them forever. It's hard for me. I know people think it's silly, to worry about one little kitten, among the millions out there. But I do, if they've gone through my hands. I know them, know what they need, what they fear, what makes them happy. I want the best for them.
Plus, I've seen the darkside out there, and it is very very black indeed.
Woohooo. Re-employed!
So, I'll be starting, mid month, to take cats in to Willamette Humane's spay neuter clinic. I won't be able to take as many in as I have, but at least I can take in some. Better than none! Yay!
Here's to hoping the OR Vet Board will figure a way to help the people of Oregon make solving feline overpopulation far easier. I know they could.
In other news, Lane County is getting it together. Numerous groups got Petsmart free roaming cat grants, and one group alone is getting 40 ferals at least fixed a week at Greenhill. I wish we had a shelter fixing public cats in this area. Boy do I wish that. If I lived in the Eugene area, I could get employment as a trapper with one or two different groups.
I think if I could rig up somehow, a very very small home made trailer to pull, to sleep and cook in, I could be a travelling spay neuter trapper. If I could rig something right, and find homes for the cats here, I think I'd love that lifestyle.
Here, I struggle to find a place now to get any cats fixed, without driving an hour one direction, but I can't even get in there now, due to them upping prices by $20 per cat over that rule. But I haven't totally given up.
I am totally paranoid over what happened to the other four kittens I took to Heartland with the other three, who came back here, (from the Lebanon situation). I returned two of the kittens late last week to be fixed and adopted out. I guess they were adopted.
As for those other four, I can't find out anything. I want to trust Heartland, but I have a hard time trusting them. That's because of history. A few years ago, they took in a few kittens from the BS colony, when I was overwhelmed getting over 120 cats fixed on that short dead end street. I took to Heartland, in all, about five, with fears over it, even though they were under no kill order, to be returned to me if they decided they couldn't keep them, for space or whatever reason, instead of killing them.
I had a volunteer for a brief time, who also was undergoing volunteer training at Heartland. She mentioned to me she went for training one day and most of the cats were gone. They'd killed them, due to a ringworm outbreak.
I had not received a call about Marianne and Scottie, the latest two kittens I'd taken over, to come retrieve them. I raced over there. Scottie and Marianne were in a carrier by the euthanasia room, about to be killed. They had been in foster, had come back, and they were going to kill them. They claimed under black light, one had a few hairs of green glow on one ear, indicating possibly ringworm. They did not have ringworm. I was furious but glad I had been able to save them. They both ended up in great homes. I determined then never to trust Heartland again.
But I did, with these seven kittens. I was told by the shelter director they weren't the same shelter. I believed them. Was it stupid of me? Did those four kittens die because I was too naive?
So I have been under stress thinking about it. I want it to be for no reason at all, other than the history I've experienced there. I became more stressed when they asked me to come get the three, who otherwise would be euthanized, because they had URI's. I keep asking about the other four, and have not really received an answer that calms my fears.
I very much want to believe they are a different shelter, that they would honor a no kill request resolutely. I want to be able to trust them. But my stomach is queezy and I can't stop worrying about those four kittens. I don't rescue kittens to have them killed.
UPDATE: Yay. They have reassured me the four are still in foster and just fine. I feel much better. I thought both Tabitha and Prancer had been adopted but it was only Prancer. Tabitha is still waiting. I must have missed her when looking at the kittens yesterday. Probably sleeping in one of the little kitten beds they have in the kitten rooms.
I've decided to start having a ceremony, when a cat leaves here, either if adopted (if I ever get another adoption inquiry) or goes to another group or shelter. Some sort of a let go/goodbye ceremony, to symbolically let them go, from my mind, so I don't worry about them forever. It's hard for me. I know people think it's silly, to worry about one little kitten, among the millions out there. But I do, if they've gone through my hands. I know them, know what they need, what they fear, what makes them happy. I want the best for them.
Plus, I've seen the darkside out there, and it is very very black indeed.
Here's to hoping the OR Vet Board will figure a way to help the people of Oregon make solving feline overpopulation far easier. I know they could.
In other news, Lane County is getting it together. Numerous groups got Petsmart free roaming cat grants, and one group alone is getting 40 ferals at least fixed a week at Greenhill. I wish we had a shelter fixing public cats in this area. Boy do I wish that. If I lived in the Eugene area, I could get employment as a trapper with one or two different groups.
I think if I could rig up somehow, a very very small home made trailer to pull, to sleep and cook in, I could be a travelling spay neuter trapper. If I could rig something right, and find homes for the cats here, I think I'd love that lifestyle.
Here, I struggle to find a place now to get any cats fixed, without driving an hour one direction, but I can't even get in there now, due to them upping prices by $20 per cat over that rule. But I haven't totally given up.
I am totally paranoid over what happened to the other four kittens I took to Heartland with the other three, who came back here, (from the Lebanon situation). I returned two of the kittens late last week to be fixed and adopted out. I guess they were adopted.
As for those other four, I can't find out anything. I want to trust Heartland, but I have a hard time trusting them. That's because of history. A few years ago, they took in a few kittens from the BS colony, when I was overwhelmed getting over 120 cats fixed on that short dead end street. I took to Heartland, in all, about five, with fears over it, even though they were under no kill order, to be returned to me if they decided they couldn't keep them, for space or whatever reason, instead of killing them.
I had a volunteer for a brief time, who also was undergoing volunteer training at Heartland. She mentioned to me she went for training one day and most of the cats were gone. They'd killed them, due to a ringworm outbreak.
I had not received a call about Marianne and Scottie, the latest two kittens I'd taken over, to come retrieve them. I raced over there. Scottie and Marianne were in a carrier by the euthanasia room, about to be killed. They had been in foster, had come back, and they were going to kill them. They claimed under black light, one had a few hairs of green glow on one ear, indicating possibly ringworm. They did not have ringworm. I was furious but glad I had been able to save them. They both ended up in great homes. I determined then never to trust Heartland again.
But I did, with these seven kittens. I was told by the shelter director they weren't the same shelter. I believed them. Was it stupid of me? Did those four kittens die because I was too naive?
So I have been under stress thinking about it. I want it to be for no reason at all, other than the history I've experienced there. I became more stressed when they asked me to come get the three, who otherwise would be euthanized, because they had URI's. I keep asking about the other four, and have not really received an answer that calms my fears.
I very much want to believe they are a different shelter, that they would honor a no kill request resolutely. I want to be able to trust them. But my stomach is queezy and I can't stop worrying about those four kittens. I don't rescue kittens to have them killed.
UPDATE: Yay. They have reassured me the four are still in foster and just fine. I feel much better. I thought both Tabitha and Prancer had been adopted but it was only Prancer. Tabitha is still waiting. I must have missed her when looking at the kittens yesterday. Probably sleeping in one of the little kitten beds they have in the kitten rooms.
I've decided to start having a ceremony, when a cat leaves here, either if adopted (if I ever get another adoption inquiry) or goes to another group or shelter. Some sort of a let go/goodbye ceremony, to symbolically let them go, from my mind, so I don't worry about them forever. It's hard for me. I know people think it's silly, to worry about one little kitten, among the millions out there. But I do, if they've gone through my hands. I know them, know what they need, what they fear, what makes them happy. I want the best for them.
Plus, I've seen the darkside out there, and it is very very black indeed.
Killing Me
The whole end of the line thing with helping cats is kind of like dying. I don't answer my phone. Can't. It's only people wanting help with cats who call me.
If I cannot find anywhere affordable to take cats to be fixed, I will have to change my number.
I exist in a void. I have no contacts anymore anywhere. I've never had a lot of friends, but I've always had a few. But I really dropped into a void, starting with the move to Linn County. Somehow, for some reason, even old friends in Corvallis, never come to Albany. My isolation became complete here. My only human contact became, rather quickly, only the hosts of people who neglect or abandon animals or who don't fix their pets.
I did not know how bad things really were in this county for cats. I knew it was bad, when I lived in Corvallis, but I was insulated from how bad, because I didn't live here.
When I moved here, I had a quick awakening and it has been a nightmare, to say the least. I don't think there is one block in Albany where there is not a cat issue. If there is, I haven't found that block yet. I've made a lot of gains, however.
I've wanted to run away from it. I couldn't, however, because I had no money to move. So I tackled it head on and it's been as tough as it can get, causing me such stress and sleeplessness, that my health has been affected. But I can't get away from it, in Albany, anywhere I go, so my only way to cope, living here, is to try to do something about it. I had that option.
Now I don't. Just like a crack of thunder across the sky, I got rendered helpless, to help get cats fixed here. I've been trying to come up with a solution and I have not been able to.
I'm going to go nuts. I'm going to go nuts living in a town with so many in trouble animals if I don't have a way to help them. I'm going to go nuts if I have nothing to do with my time that is meaningful.
What to do now. How to keep from going nuts and my health going sour from the stress.
If I cannot find anywhere affordable to take cats to be fixed, I will have to change my number.
I exist in a void. I have no contacts anymore anywhere. I've never had a lot of friends, but I've always had a few. But I really dropped into a void, starting with the move to Linn County. Somehow, for some reason, even old friends in Corvallis, never come to Albany. My isolation became complete here. My only human contact became, rather quickly, only the hosts of people who neglect or abandon animals or who don't fix their pets.
I did not know how bad things really were in this county for cats. I knew it was bad, when I lived in Corvallis, but I was insulated from how bad, because I didn't live here.
When I moved here, I had a quick awakening and it has been a nightmare, to say the least. I don't think there is one block in Albany where there is not a cat issue. If there is, I haven't found that block yet. I've made a lot of gains, however.
I've wanted to run away from it. I couldn't, however, because I had no money to move. So I tackled it head on and it's been as tough as it can get, causing me such stress and sleeplessness, that my health has been affected. But I can't get away from it, in Albany, anywhere I go, so my only way to cope, living here, is to try to do something about it. I had that option.
Now I don't. Just like a crack of thunder across the sky, I got rendered helpless, to help get cats fixed here. I've been trying to come up with a solution and I have not been able to.
I'm going to go nuts. I'm going to go nuts living in a town with so many in trouble animals if I don't have a way to help them. I'm going to go nuts if I have nothing to do with my time that is meaningful.
What to do now. How to keep from going nuts and my health going sour from the stress.
Killing Me
The whole end of the line thing with helping cats is kind of like dying. I don't answer my phone. Can't. It's only people wanting help with cats who call me.
If I cannot find anywhere affordable to take cats to be fixed, I will have to change my number.
I exist in a void. I have no contacts anymore anywhere. I've never had a lot of friends, but I've always had a few. But I really dropped into a void, starting with the move to Linn County. Somehow, for some reason, even old friends in Corvallis, never come to Albany. My isolation became complete here. My only human contact became, rather quickly, only the hosts of people who neglect or abandon animals or who don't fix their pets.
I did not know how bad things really were in this county for cats. I knew it was bad, when I lived in Corvallis, but I was insulated from how bad, because I didn't live here.
When I moved here, I had a quick awakening and it has been a nightmare, to say the least. I don't think there is one block in Albany where there is not a cat issue. If there is, I haven't found that block yet. I've made a lot of gains, however.
I've wanted to run away from it. I couldn't, however, because I had no money to move. So I tackled it head on and it's been as tough as it can get, causing me such stress and sleeplessness, that my health has been affected. But I can't get away from it, in Albany, anywhere I go, so my only way to cope, living here, is to try to do something about it. I had that option.
Now I don't. Just like a crack of thunder across the sky, I got rendered helpless, to help get cats fixed here. I've been trying to come up with a solution and I have not been able to.
I'm going to go nuts. I'm going to go nuts living in a town with so many in trouble animals if I don't have a way to help them. I'm going to go nuts if I have nothing to do with my time that is meaningful.
What to do now. How to keep from going nuts and my health going sour from the stress.
If I cannot find anywhere affordable to take cats to be fixed, I will have to change my number.
I exist in a void. I have no contacts anymore anywhere. I've never had a lot of friends, but I've always had a few. But I really dropped into a void, starting with the move to Linn County. Somehow, for some reason, even old friends in Corvallis, never come to Albany. My isolation became complete here. My only human contact became, rather quickly, only the hosts of people who neglect or abandon animals or who don't fix their pets.
I did not know how bad things really were in this county for cats. I knew it was bad, when I lived in Corvallis, but I was insulated from how bad, because I didn't live here.
When I moved here, I had a quick awakening and it has been a nightmare, to say the least. I don't think there is one block in Albany where there is not a cat issue. If there is, I haven't found that block yet. I've made a lot of gains, however.
I've wanted to run away from it. I couldn't, however, because I had no money to move. So I tackled it head on and it's been as tough as it can get, causing me such stress and sleeplessness, that my health has been affected. But I can't get away from it, in Albany, anywhere I go, so my only way to cope, living here, is to try to do something about it. I had that option.
Now I don't. Just like a crack of thunder across the sky, I got rendered helpless, to help get cats fixed here. I've been trying to come up with a solution and I have not been able to.
I'm going to go nuts. I'm going to go nuts living in a town with so many in trouble animals if I don't have a way to help them. I'm going to go nuts if I have nothing to do with my time that is meaningful.
What to do now. How to keep from going nuts and my health going sour from the stress.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
New Neighbor Another Cat Hater
Someone has been moving into the open rental house. A zillion pickups have been around the front of it. I went down to introduce myself. I do tell them, when they ask what I do, about helping get cats fixed and having rescued cats. The daughter, don't know if she will be living there or not, an adult, says, they don't like cats, that there was a cat at their last place they took care of because it adopted them but they left it behind.
I didn't say to them, strangers to me, now neighbors, who have dogs, "Boy, I just hate weener dogs." I never would do that. So why do people say they dislike cats to someone they just met who has just said she helps cats? I guess it's just a way to make sure you won't ever have to be on friendly terms with your neighbor. That's the only reason I can think of someone would say that, in a first encounter.
They will get their wish. I am not friendly with cat haters, especially who just left one behind.
I always try when someone new moves in. I introduce myself. There's always an outside chance I meet somebody with whom I'll strike up a friendship or have common interests. Just because I have not had luck so far with that, doesn't mean one day I won't.
You know who I miss? I miss the military recruiters. They were brash and self confident, loud, stylish and cool on their motorcycles in their black leathers, and also super friendly. I miss them. I didn't know them that well, but I could always go down and they'd be friendly and act happy to see me.
They left a couple years ago. They jumped at a transfer to the midwest because their family is back there. They did not like the climate here at all and were lonely for family/friends. I hope neither one of them gets killed in a war anywhere. They both loved war. The guy especially. He told me, "I'm going to tell you right off, this whole war thing, I love it. I was born for it." I liked his blunt honesty.
The military recruiter gave me one of the biggest compliments I've received. He told me "When I see a cat now, I'm going to think of you." He also told me, after he'd been drinking, and I'd told him how old I was, when he asked, "Noooo! You can't be that old. You're a good looking woman for over fifty. I'd be after you, but she'd have to shoot you," he was pointing with the beer can in one hand towards his wife, also in the military. She looked like she was trying to silence him with a glance.
I received another compliment when I was trapping at the request of another group down in Eugene. That mechanic who owned the shop, behind which I was trapping, was hot! I still think about him. He was a good man, too, with brains. But his wife stopped by the shop to let me know, in no uncertain terms, that Martin was unavailable. I don't go after married men anyhow, but I will remember Martin. OMG! The compliment was that his wife thought I was a threat!
Another compliment I received came from an unlikely source. I'd been trapping next to a business down south that I was sure was a chop shop. I just tried to keep a real low profile and my mouth shut. In the night, I would see someone come out, stand in front of the big closed bay, talk on a cell, then go back inside. A few moments later, a car would drive up and blink its lights, the bay door would open, the car would go in, then the bay door would close.
By day, the business claimed to be an auto body shop but I knew that was not the whole story there. I was trapping little kittens abandoned nearby.
One night, I had dozed off in my car, an old corolla that barely ran. I was startled awake. Someone was right at my window. I fumbled for my pepper spray, pocket knife anything. This was not a nice neighborhood.
I recognized the guy, from one who hung around the chop shop. Stupidly, I rolled down my window to see what he wanted. He wanted to be nice.
He said "You been doing all this and nobody pays you? To save some kittens? You're a good person. We want to do something for you. What kind of car do you want, any kind, we'll have it here for you tomorrow."
I knew what that probably meant. I fumbled for words and finally decided upon honesty. I said. "My gosh, thank you. Nobody ever makes such a nice offer. But I tell you, no matter what I do, even if I'm out in the middle of a desert and run a stop sign, I get caught. I just would not feel comfortable driving a stolen car. But thank you so much for the offer."
I meant it, too. What a compliment. I have never forgotten that.
The man also told me "Don't you worry about falling asleep. We got you covered." Do you know what that does for a girl like me, to have someone say they've got my back? A girl whose had to tough life out alone? I'll tell you what it did for me. It made me happy. It made me sit there in the dark on that dark remote street and smile for a good long time before I feel asleep.
Anyhow, I miss the military recruiter family. As for the new people, the professed cat dislikers, I'll just do what I do and forget about em. Cat haters are bores anyhow, to be honest, usually predictable and controlling.
I didn't say to them, strangers to me, now neighbors, who have dogs, "Boy, I just hate weener dogs." I never would do that. So why do people say they dislike cats to someone they just met who has just said she helps cats? I guess it's just a way to make sure you won't ever have to be on friendly terms with your neighbor. That's the only reason I can think of someone would say that, in a first encounter.
They will get their wish. I am not friendly with cat haters, especially who just left one behind.
I always try when someone new moves in. I introduce myself. There's always an outside chance I meet somebody with whom I'll strike up a friendship or have common interests. Just because I have not had luck so far with that, doesn't mean one day I won't.
You know who I miss? I miss the military recruiters. They were brash and self confident, loud, stylish and cool on their motorcycles in their black leathers, and also super friendly. I miss them. I didn't know them that well, but I could always go down and they'd be friendly and act happy to see me.
They left a couple years ago. They jumped at a transfer to the midwest because their family is back there. They did not like the climate here at all and were lonely for family/friends. I hope neither one of them gets killed in a war anywhere. They both loved war. The guy especially. He told me, "I'm going to tell you right off, this whole war thing, I love it. I was born for it." I liked his blunt honesty.
The military recruiter gave me one of the biggest compliments I've received. He told me "When I see a cat now, I'm going to think of you." He also told me, after he'd been drinking, and I'd told him how old I was, when he asked, "Noooo! You can't be that old. You're a good looking woman for over fifty. I'd be after you, but she'd have to shoot you," he was pointing with the beer can in one hand towards his wife, also in the military. She looked like she was trying to silence him with a glance.
I received another compliment when I was trapping at the request of another group down in Eugene. That mechanic who owned the shop, behind which I was trapping, was hot! I still think about him. He was a good man, too, with brains. But his wife stopped by the shop to let me know, in no uncertain terms, that Martin was unavailable. I don't go after married men anyhow, but I will remember Martin. OMG! The compliment was that his wife thought I was a threat!
Another compliment I received came from an unlikely source. I'd been trapping next to a business down south that I was sure was a chop shop. I just tried to keep a real low profile and my mouth shut. In the night, I would see someone come out, stand in front of the big closed bay, talk on a cell, then go back inside. A few moments later, a car would drive up and blink its lights, the bay door would open, the car would go in, then the bay door would close.
By day, the business claimed to be an auto body shop but I knew that was not the whole story there. I was trapping little kittens abandoned nearby.
One night, I had dozed off in my car, an old corolla that barely ran. I was startled awake. Someone was right at my window. I fumbled for my pepper spray, pocket knife anything. This was not a nice neighborhood.
I recognized the guy, from one who hung around the chop shop. Stupidly, I rolled down my window to see what he wanted. He wanted to be nice.
He said "You been doing all this and nobody pays you? To save some kittens? You're a good person. We want to do something for you. What kind of car do you want, any kind, we'll have it here for you tomorrow."
I knew what that probably meant. I fumbled for words and finally decided upon honesty. I said. "My gosh, thank you. Nobody ever makes such a nice offer. But I tell you, no matter what I do, even if I'm out in the middle of a desert and run a stop sign, I get caught. I just would not feel comfortable driving a stolen car. But thank you so much for the offer."
I meant it, too. What a compliment. I have never forgotten that.
The man also told me "Don't you worry about falling asleep. We got you covered." Do you know what that does for a girl like me, to have someone say they've got my back? A girl whose had to tough life out alone? I'll tell you what it did for me. It made me happy. It made me sit there in the dark on that dark remote street and smile for a good long time before I feel asleep.
Anyhow, I miss the military recruiter family. As for the new people, the professed cat dislikers, I'll just do what I do and forget about em. Cat haters are bores anyhow, to be honest, usually predictable and controlling.
Safehaven to Build an Even Bigger Shelter
Safehaven is building an even bigger shelter. I've always felt you could fill any shelter built. You have to stop overpopulation at its source, through spay neuter. Bigger shelters then need to fill them with animals. There is no incentive to stop the suffering. Big shelters also are in constant need of money, to maintain their overhead and staff, sucking more money from the community, money that could be used to actually solve the problem. Click post title to go to article.
I'm getting calls today, for help with spay neuter. I guess I should probably just not answer my phone for now, until I can figure out if we're going to have to stop, Poppa that is, getting cats fixed in this area, due to lack of anywhere to get the animals fixed that is affordable.
I see shelters going the wrong direction, getting bigger, taking all the money available, getting the credibility because they have been in the community for a long time with paid staff. They get the soap box and their soap box isn't spay neuter as a solution to solve the problem once and for all.
Small communities like this one have a very limited amount of donations to be had. I will say it again, although it is not needed to say to the few who read this blog: the most efficient effective way to help animals, to stop hundreds of thousands of them from ever ending up born and then in trouble, or in need of shelter care, is not to build bigger shelters or more shelters. It is to put large amounts of money into spay neuter.
Myself and other individuals and small groups have done so in this county, unpaid and unheralded. Safehaven houses a fraction of the aftermath of overpopulation. Please donate to Poppa Inc.
Well, oh well. If people want to put their money into a shelter, then that's the way it is. I suppose I should be tough and tell people to call Safehaven if they need help, because maybe it's bad, like codependency in a way, like enabling, to knock myself out as a private person trying to solve it, when the bigger money shelters do pretty much nothing about it. Maybe my stategy isn't really good at all.
One vet told me he drives by that big fancy OR Humane shelter and shakes his head when he thinks of how all the money put into that could actually have made a difference for animals if instead it had been put into spay neuter. Sheltering has become a self-perpetuating industry.
Ah well. Some things will never change and no sense getting into a tizzy because they don't. If I can't find a clinic now, to take cats to, to be fixed, that's how it is, and I'll move on. And maybe, just maybe this is a sign, that it might be my time to work on my dream of getting out of the city, to find a another living situation.
I do have dreams outside of solving feline overpopulation. Probably isn't apparent reading this blog. But I do. I want to live in a rural setting again, for one thing. I've been searching for property caretaking positions on the side, for several months, or some other job I can do, that comes with a rental in a rural setting.
I'm getting calls today, for help with spay neuter. I guess I should probably just not answer my phone for now, until I can figure out if we're going to have to stop, Poppa that is, getting cats fixed in this area, due to lack of anywhere to get the animals fixed that is affordable.
I see shelters going the wrong direction, getting bigger, taking all the money available, getting the credibility because they have been in the community for a long time with paid staff. They get the soap box and their soap box isn't spay neuter as a solution to solve the problem once and for all.
Small communities like this one have a very limited amount of donations to be had. I will say it again, although it is not needed to say to the few who read this blog: the most efficient effective way to help animals, to stop hundreds of thousands of them from ever ending up born and then in trouble, or in need of shelter care, is not to build bigger shelters or more shelters. It is to put large amounts of money into spay neuter.
Myself and other individuals and small groups have done so in this county, unpaid and unheralded. Safehaven houses a fraction of the aftermath of overpopulation. Please donate to Poppa Inc.
Well, oh well. If people want to put their money into a shelter, then that's the way it is. I suppose I should be tough and tell people to call Safehaven if they need help, because maybe it's bad, like codependency in a way, like enabling, to knock myself out as a private person trying to solve it, when the bigger money shelters do pretty much nothing about it. Maybe my stategy isn't really good at all.
One vet told me he drives by that big fancy OR Humane shelter and shakes his head when he thinks of how all the money put into that could actually have made a difference for animals if instead it had been put into spay neuter. Sheltering has become a self-perpetuating industry.
Ah well. Some things will never change and no sense getting into a tizzy because they don't. If I can't find a clinic now, to take cats to, to be fixed, that's how it is, and I'll move on. And maybe, just maybe this is a sign, that it might be my time to work on my dream of getting out of the city, to find a another living situation.
I do have dreams outside of solving feline overpopulation. Probably isn't apparent reading this blog. But I do. I want to live in a rural setting again, for one thing. I've been searching for property caretaking positions on the side, for several months, or some other job I can do, that comes with a rental in a rural setting.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Still Dead in the Water
I have been unable to come up with a clinic where I can take cats to be fixed. I have been trying to contact the Willamette spay neuter clinic at the humane society there, but have been unable to get ahold of anyone yet.
The problem I foresee is they only do ferals once a week, same problems as with FCCO clinics. I am one person and usually try to trap several colonies if it is a one day clinic, wearing me out badly, running all over the county to different colonies, the night before. They will not do cats as ferals unless they come in live traps. I have only seven live traps. Usually I extend the numbers of ferals by just transferring them to carriers.
Then there is the paperwork, piles of it, on any cat, with all sorts of questions, and more paperwork at the clinic, lines to stand in, just more hassle and I wish things could be easy on people trying to halt the problem, not so difficult.
I wish I could just use the vet I've been using but Poppa doesn't pay for pain meds, and I would have to pay the add on fee myself, which is undoable. I already pay for my own gas and for flea treatment for each cat, which is a massive expenditure on my part for these Linn cats. I am living on almost nothing, you see.
This might be the end for me, of helping round up cats to be fixed. Very very sad.
I don't even know where I will get all these kittens fixed, now occupying my bedroom. I'm in deep doodoo. Thank you so much OR vet board.
I am cranky enough over a new rule causing all this I thought "I should join the tea party."
How does government have a right to do such things, that affect people's ability to solve severe state problems? How can they just make rules that can grind progress to a halt and put people out of work, I keep thinking. Government is supposed to be there to serve the people. Government is supposed to remove big logs that fall onto the highway we travel not throw big logs onto the road, to impede the journey through life. Now, a person has to think before they do anything, of all the permits and permissions and rules and fees and hoops to jump through before they can do much of anything, from starting a business to improving their property. Government interference should be the last excuse a person would ever cite as reason they cannot do something.
Feline overpopulation is a huge problem in our state. Government should not impede in any way efforts by citizens to address the problem. In fact, if anything, they should figure out a way to effectively help and remove any logs that fall into the path of addressing feline overpopulation.
The problem I foresee is they only do ferals once a week, same problems as with FCCO clinics. I am one person and usually try to trap several colonies if it is a one day clinic, wearing me out badly, running all over the county to different colonies, the night before. They will not do cats as ferals unless they come in live traps. I have only seven live traps. Usually I extend the numbers of ferals by just transferring them to carriers.
Then there is the paperwork, piles of it, on any cat, with all sorts of questions, and more paperwork at the clinic, lines to stand in, just more hassle and I wish things could be easy on people trying to halt the problem, not so difficult.
I wish I could just use the vet I've been using but Poppa doesn't pay for pain meds, and I would have to pay the add on fee myself, which is undoable. I already pay for my own gas and for flea treatment for each cat, which is a massive expenditure on my part for these Linn cats. I am living on almost nothing, you see.
This might be the end for me, of helping round up cats to be fixed. Very very sad.
I don't even know where I will get all these kittens fixed, now occupying my bedroom. I'm in deep doodoo. Thank you so much OR vet board.
I am cranky enough over a new rule causing all this I thought "I should join the tea party."
How does government have a right to do such things, that affect people's ability to solve severe state problems? How can they just make rules that can grind progress to a halt and put people out of work, I keep thinking. Government is supposed to be there to serve the people. Government is supposed to remove big logs that fall onto the highway we travel not throw big logs onto the road, to impede the journey through life. Now, a person has to think before they do anything, of all the permits and permissions and rules and fees and hoops to jump through before they can do much of anything, from starting a business to improving their property. Government interference should be the last excuse a person would ever cite as reason they cannot do something.
Feline overpopulation is a huge problem in our state. Government should not impede in any way efforts by citizens to address the problem. In fact, if anything, they should figure out a way to effectively help and remove any logs that fall into the path of addressing feline overpopulation.
The 4th Kitten
The people over off Grand Prairie, who had a brown tabby female give birth to four kittens beneath their house, have caught the fourth kitten. I caught mom and the other three kittens at least ten days ago, I think it's been. Then left a trap set under their house two more days, but no fourth kitten. They had only seen four kittens once, so they presumed her dead. However, yesterday, they saw her again. So I took over a trap and they caught her this morning.
What will I do with yet another kitten? I don't know.
Heartland was going to take in the four from the the feral down town calico, but e-mailed yesterday to say they'd gotten in 15 cats yesterday alone, and so they couldn't do it, not til some later date. I understand. This is the season of death, unfortunately. Idiots letting their cats have kittens and by now the market is saturated.
Dead kittens aren't cute.
Two of the four orange kittens from the trailer park thrive, while the two smaller girls have diarrhea of unknown cause. I need to get one tested.
The biggest of the four is one of the girls!
Slurpy, the third kitten from the Lebanon rural colony, is still here and will soon be three pounds. If I don't get her spayed and into a home, she'll end up here forever.
I have decided to return the feral adult calico to her down town location. I can't take in another cat. Whether the neighbor will follow through on his threats to trap and kill the cats there, I don't know. I have run ads repeatedly trying to find some of those adult ferals an option to no avail. There is only so much I can do.
It is disheartening to have nowhere now to easily get cats fixed, at a moments notice. I am very depressed over the whole thing. There are two cats from the Maple street house, both females, needing fixed. They had agreed to wait on those two until the Albany grant kicks in the first. They are teen females from the feral mother fixed last week, along with the three kittens from her latest litter. There are two more orange females from the location where I took two orange females into be fixed from two days ago. One is about to have more kittens. The other didn't go because she had mastitis. She'd had kittens, they'd just given away in front of a store.
There are six more at least at the Lebanon trailer park who need to be fixed and two more at the rural Lebanon colony. I have another N. Albany situation waiting and one on Tennessee Road.
I have the rural trailer colony to finish. The fourth cat trapped there, another very young black tux, was very pregnant when she was spayed. After I returned her yesterday, I stopped by the neighbors place who had agreed to help trap up at the trailer. I told them to stop trapping because of the price increase due to the new rule. The man rolled his eyes and said "Where has commmon sense gone?" The woman, older herself, said "I had a ten pound baby without pain meds."
What to do, how to get all these cats fixed now. Now that the rule makers in Salem have created a new rule that has made the clinic I had been using up the price per cat by $20. What to do now. Maybe I should ask the rule makers to foot the bill or to start holding clinics to fix these throw away cats. How about it OR vet board, can you hold some low cost spay neuter clinics to help out?
There is scrambling going on amongst the outfits that try to help cats get fixed, over the pain med rule and subsequent increased charges by vets. Sad that rulemakers are in fact making it tougher for Oregon cats to get fixed. If rules are made, I feel, the consequences should also be addressed by those who make the rules, so there is less damage as a result, damage to the lives of cats, in this case.
The OR vet board made the rule to ease the pain in surgery of single cats, which is high minded on their part, I'm sure. But the consequences of their rule to the health and welfare of massive numbers of cats is indeed dire.
UPDATE: the fourth kitten is a boy, and already tame. Who tamed him? I am going to guess it is the neighbor man, who called me saying cats were living under his shed and he wanted them gone or else. Yeah, right, Mr. Tough guy. This kitten didn't tame by magic and your household is the only place it could have happened. Mr. Tough Guy, I luv ya!
What will I do with yet another kitten? I don't know.
Heartland was going to take in the four from the the feral down town calico, but e-mailed yesterday to say they'd gotten in 15 cats yesterday alone, and so they couldn't do it, not til some later date. I understand. This is the season of death, unfortunately. Idiots letting their cats have kittens and by now the market is saturated.
Dead kittens aren't cute.
Two of the four orange kittens from the trailer park thrive, while the two smaller girls have diarrhea of unknown cause. I need to get one tested.
The biggest of the four is one of the girls!
Slurpy, the third kitten from the Lebanon rural colony, is still here and will soon be three pounds. If I don't get her spayed and into a home, she'll end up here forever.
I have decided to return the feral adult calico to her down town location. I can't take in another cat. Whether the neighbor will follow through on his threats to trap and kill the cats there, I don't know. I have run ads repeatedly trying to find some of those adult ferals an option to no avail. There is only so much I can do.
It is disheartening to have nowhere now to easily get cats fixed, at a moments notice. I am very depressed over the whole thing. There are two cats from the Maple street house, both females, needing fixed. They had agreed to wait on those two until the Albany grant kicks in the first. They are teen females from the feral mother fixed last week, along with the three kittens from her latest litter. There are two more orange females from the location where I took two orange females into be fixed from two days ago. One is about to have more kittens. The other didn't go because she had mastitis. She'd had kittens, they'd just given away in front of a store.
There are six more at least at the Lebanon trailer park who need to be fixed and two more at the rural Lebanon colony. I have another N. Albany situation waiting and one on Tennessee Road.
I have the rural trailer colony to finish. The fourth cat trapped there, another very young black tux, was very pregnant when she was spayed. After I returned her yesterday, I stopped by the neighbors place who had agreed to help trap up at the trailer. I told them to stop trapping because of the price increase due to the new rule. The man rolled his eyes and said "Where has commmon sense gone?" The woman, older herself, said "I had a ten pound baby without pain meds."
What to do, how to get all these cats fixed now. Now that the rule makers in Salem have created a new rule that has made the clinic I had been using up the price per cat by $20. What to do now. Maybe I should ask the rule makers to foot the bill or to start holding clinics to fix these throw away cats. How about it OR vet board, can you hold some low cost spay neuter clinics to help out?
There is scrambling going on amongst the outfits that try to help cats get fixed, over the pain med rule and subsequent increased charges by vets. Sad that rulemakers are in fact making it tougher for Oregon cats to get fixed. If rules are made, I feel, the consequences should also be addressed by those who make the rules, so there is less damage as a result, damage to the lives of cats, in this case.
The OR vet board made the rule to ease the pain in surgery of single cats, which is high minded on their part, I'm sure. But the consequences of their rule to the health and welfare of massive numbers of cats is indeed dire.
UPDATE: the fourth kitten is a boy, and already tame. Who tamed him? I am going to guess it is the neighbor man, who called me saying cats were living under his shed and he wanted them gone or else. Yeah, right, Mr. Tough guy. This kitten didn't tame by magic and your household is the only place it could have happened. Mr. Tough Guy, I luv ya!
Friday, June 25, 2010
A Rabies Vaccination Reminder. Rabies up in Oregon Bats.
Click the post title to go to a story about a Forest Grove puppy euthanized after contact with a rabid brown bat. Foxes too are getting rabies at higher rates in Oregon and even a goat tested positive.
Vaccinate those cats and dogs. Sick bats end up on the ground, where cats and dogs encounter them. This is a disease that can be contained through vaccination.
Vaccinate those cats and dogs. Sick bats end up on the ground, where cats and dogs encounter them. This is a disease that can be contained through vaccination.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Dead in the Water
Tonight, without warning, the vet clinic I used told me, starting Monday, there would be a $20 charge per cat for pain medication. Prior to this, I'd been paying $2 out of my own pocket per cat for a laser pain treatment on each cat. I thought that was supposed to be really good. Now, I wonder if that was real or what. I don't know anymore, who to believe and who not to believe.
I do know I can't pay $20 per cat for pain meds. Supposedly, this is a brand new mandate from the Oregon vet board.
But Safehaven will be exempted from the fee. That riles me. It riles me because I told Safehaven about that clinic. It riles me because they're all paid there at Safehaven. It riles me because they don't work together with of the Linn groups trying to stop overpopulation. It riles me because they don't go out and try to solve the overpopulation problem and refer people needing help to little unfunded private people outfits like KATA. It riles me because they glide up in a van and don't have to sit in a parking lot all day while their shelter animals are fixed up there but I do, as a volunteer, rounding up unfixed Linn County cats to be fixed. I guess I just have a frustation over the haves and the have nots in the world of trying to help animals.
It mainly riles me because I'm tired, because I try to so hard and I really don't care they get exempted when it comes down to it. But if they are, and I'm not, I feel the old "you're not good enough" come rising from within, the out caste lonliness, the "you don't count" thing building and that's why it matters that they are exempted and I'm not.
And the clinic telling me that late, when I was picking up the ten cats fixed today, already worn out, blindsided me big time. I had no time to prepare myself for this, for the fact now I have no way to help the masses of cats out there who could have been fixed at least. I have lost my job, my mission, my identity, in a flash.
Who's going to help cats like up at that Lebanon place, 39 so far, where two roam still unfixed, if I can't, using Poppa Inc. funds. Nobody is. Or like at that Lebanon trailer park, still with three ferals and at least two kittens needing fixed. Nobody else is going to step forward. Nobody.
The vet says Safehaven is exempted because Safehaven gives their own pain meds prior. But if this is a mandate from the vet board that probably won't cut the mustard either. I would think detailed records of pain meds given, per weight and health of animal would need be supplied for the clinics records by a vet who assessed the animals ability to handle that med prior to administration at Safehaven or any other shelter exempt from the add on fee, because they give it themselves prior. So I don't what is going on, not really. I have no clue.
I guess I assumed all clinics gave something at the time of surgery and that if you paid for pain meds, it was for post surgical pain meds. The Countryside $8 post surgery meds would come in five syringes you had to administer once each day, making this not an option for ferals, that is for sure. It is certainly a reasonable price for tame cats, however, and often people would pay for that, when I asked them to, for a tame cat, but not if they had multiple tame cats. The poverty levels people live in now are astounding. I have met people living on no income, except food stamps, on many occasions.
If people have let things slide until they have ten or more cats, and they have not gotten them fixed, they're going to donate $10 at best, usually, and often that is all the money they have at the time, and given to me in small bills and change.
I asked the vet "Does the vet board know this mandate will kill cats, lots of them? Because they'll never then be fixed because of the increaed costs? Does the vet board know the reality out there, of human poverty and cat overpopulation?" He said he told her that and encouraged me to call her and tell her that myself. I will, after I read the pain med mandate for myself.
As sudden as a bullet hits, I am without a job. I have nowhere to take cats should I round them up or trap them. I have left messages for two of Poppa's board members and sent an e-mail to both, but no reply yet. I have no idea how to proceed.
I found a site by a vet on pain treatment. It is, turns out, extremely difficult to find drugs safe for cats that also treat pain and are approved for use in the US. Metacam is one approved, but only as a one time injection:
"The injectable form of Metacam is approved for cats as a one-time, subcutaneous injection for post-surgical pain. If given more than one time or if other NSAIDs are given, kidney and liver toxicity may occur in cats. Both their kidney and liver function must be monitored frequently. If your veterinarian elects to use it in cats, it should not be given more than two or three days per week. Because of the nature of NSAIDs in cats, you must weight the potential risks against the benefits and make your own decision along with your veterinarian."
UPDATE: I feel really stupid writing to the vet board, at the encouragement of the clinic that is raising prices. I don't know anything about these things, I just trust that the vets do right by the animals. I had always assumed the cats are given a long or short term pain treatment with surgery. I find out that is the case at Countryside. I always loved that place. I fell in love with it when Dr. Anderson ran it. I had the phone conversation that one day, and afterwards, I didn't take in cats there anymore.
I felt they did not want me to, although I could never really get an answer or resolution, after that conversation, on credit card processing fees, over cats with special issues, when I would try to get donations to cover costs. I could not get an answer, on whether they wanted me to bring in cats anymore or not. I figured with no direct answer, that was the answer, and they just couldn't say it out right or something.
Someone else told me the pain injection should cost only a few cents. I don't know these things. I actually am still very trusting, especially of professionals, that they will do the right thing for the animal, to the best of their ability. Because I never went to vet school and I have to trust the professionals, once an animal arrives at a clinic. They're trained, after all, have lots of education and experience. Sure, there are bad apples, always are, in any profession. I am one of those people who still wants to believe there is a lot of good in the world, and good people, although everybody has their days and makes mistakes.
If the clinic I've been using is going to raise their prices now beyond what we can afford, the bottom line is, I have to find another way. Or hang up the traps. I have loved that clinic. They are really nice people and have been very good to me and the cats I have taken in there.
I will try to find another way, of course, that's the way I am. I feel embarrassed now, for writing the vet board, however. Oh well, I'm always putting foot in mouth. I just wish there was a way to address the masses of cats out there, who need help, but don't get it, often because of money.
See all I'm good at it rounding up cats, and I am good at that. I'm good at trapping cats. I'm good at quickly solving situations and getting cats saved. I'm not good at almost everything else. I'm no good at politics or knowing what to say when, or how to resolve conflicts except to apologize. I work best at night and alone, to be honest, just me and the cats and any other wild animals out and about. So I muddle along, trying to find a way to continue. I admit my many faults, recognize other people have bad days, faults of their own, and that there are very very dangerous people out there, so I can try to stay alive a little longer.
Sure, I have issues that crop up all the time. I get upset sometimes thinking of the shelter people, the way they get paid and all, and how so much money goes just to their salaries and how that money could make a real difference instead if it was used to fix tons of cats. But that's the way it is right now.
I'm always feeling on the outside, an outcaste. That's probably because I am alone 99% of the time and face so many issues alone. It's also because of my past, the abuse I endured, alone always, with never anybody sticking up for me, or at my side. It's like being a stray, danger everywhere, out there alone, trying to have a life while keeping alive, knowing nobody has my back but me.
That's also why I go out there, because I will be the one who has their backs, to defend the defenseless. I will be the one there, when no one else is, to scoop up a kitten suffering, to snatch an abused cat from her abuser, face to face, if need be, hair puffed, back arched, in defiance of extreme odds. I know I may get killed in the process, but I won't be the one looking the other way. Too many people have lost their way, a sense of right and wrong, courage to stand against wrong. Too many people have made the choice to look away. I'm not going to be one of them.
I will say Heartland Humane in Corvallis is really helping out some of the Linn rescues who are trying to halt the overpopulation problem and I appreciate that help very much.
It's all I can do. That's it. That's just the basic way of life. My life. I like to round up cats to be fixed and boy, does it ever help people, too. I see the need for it, and wish it was easier, not always a huge scramble and fight, to find places to get them fixed and the money to do it. But that's the way it is, so I have to accept that's the way it is, unless I can find ways to make it easier. But I'm not much good at that.
I do know I can't pay $20 per cat for pain meds. Supposedly, this is a brand new mandate from the Oregon vet board.
But Safehaven will be exempted from the fee. That riles me. It riles me because I told Safehaven about that clinic. It riles me because they're all paid there at Safehaven. It riles me because they don't work together with of the Linn groups trying to stop overpopulation. It riles me because they don't go out and try to solve the overpopulation problem and refer people needing help to little unfunded private people outfits like KATA. It riles me because they glide up in a van and don't have to sit in a parking lot all day while their shelter animals are fixed up there but I do, as a volunteer, rounding up unfixed Linn County cats to be fixed. I guess I just have a frustation over the haves and the have nots in the world of trying to help animals.
It mainly riles me because I'm tired, because I try to so hard and I really don't care they get exempted when it comes down to it. But if they are, and I'm not, I feel the old "you're not good enough" come rising from within, the out caste lonliness, the "you don't count" thing building and that's why it matters that they are exempted and I'm not.
And the clinic telling me that late, when I was picking up the ten cats fixed today, already worn out, blindsided me big time. I had no time to prepare myself for this, for the fact now I have no way to help the masses of cats out there who could have been fixed at least. I have lost my job, my mission, my identity, in a flash.
Who's going to help cats like up at that Lebanon place, 39 so far, where two roam still unfixed, if I can't, using Poppa Inc. funds. Nobody is. Or like at that Lebanon trailer park, still with three ferals and at least two kittens needing fixed. Nobody else is going to step forward. Nobody.
The vet says Safehaven is exempted because Safehaven gives their own pain meds prior. But if this is a mandate from the vet board that probably won't cut the mustard either. I would think detailed records of pain meds given, per weight and health of animal would need be supplied for the clinics records by a vet who assessed the animals ability to handle that med prior to administration at Safehaven or any other shelter exempt from the add on fee, because they give it themselves prior. So I don't what is going on, not really. I have no clue.
I guess I assumed all clinics gave something at the time of surgery and that if you paid for pain meds, it was for post surgical pain meds. The Countryside $8 post surgery meds would come in five syringes you had to administer once each day, making this not an option for ferals, that is for sure. It is certainly a reasonable price for tame cats, however, and often people would pay for that, when I asked them to, for a tame cat, but not if they had multiple tame cats. The poverty levels people live in now are astounding. I have met people living on no income, except food stamps, on many occasions.
If people have let things slide until they have ten or more cats, and they have not gotten them fixed, they're going to donate $10 at best, usually, and often that is all the money they have at the time, and given to me in small bills and change.
I asked the vet "Does the vet board know this mandate will kill cats, lots of them? Because they'll never then be fixed because of the increaed costs? Does the vet board know the reality out there, of human poverty and cat overpopulation?" He said he told her that and encouraged me to call her and tell her that myself. I will, after I read the pain med mandate for myself.
As sudden as a bullet hits, I am without a job. I have nowhere to take cats should I round them up or trap them. I have left messages for two of Poppa's board members and sent an e-mail to both, but no reply yet. I have no idea how to proceed.
I found a site by a vet on pain treatment. It is, turns out, extremely difficult to find drugs safe for cats that also treat pain and are approved for use in the US. Metacam is one approved, but only as a one time injection:
"The injectable form of Metacam is approved for cats as a one-time, subcutaneous injection for post-surgical pain. If given more than one time or if other NSAIDs are given, kidney and liver toxicity may occur in cats. Both their kidney and liver function must be monitored frequently. If your veterinarian elects to use it in cats, it should not be given more than two or three days per week. Because of the nature of NSAIDs in cats, you must weight the potential risks against the benefits and make your own decision along with your veterinarian."
UPDATE: I feel really stupid writing to the vet board, at the encouragement of the clinic that is raising prices. I don't know anything about these things, I just trust that the vets do right by the animals. I had always assumed the cats are given a long or short term pain treatment with surgery. I find out that is the case at Countryside. I always loved that place. I fell in love with it when Dr. Anderson ran it. I had the phone conversation that one day, and afterwards, I didn't take in cats there anymore.
I felt they did not want me to, although I could never really get an answer or resolution, after that conversation, on credit card processing fees, over cats with special issues, when I would try to get donations to cover costs. I could not get an answer, on whether they wanted me to bring in cats anymore or not. I figured with no direct answer, that was the answer, and they just couldn't say it out right or something.
Someone else told me the pain injection should cost only a few cents. I don't know these things. I actually am still very trusting, especially of professionals, that they will do the right thing for the animal, to the best of their ability. Because I never went to vet school and I have to trust the professionals, once an animal arrives at a clinic. They're trained, after all, have lots of education and experience. Sure, there are bad apples, always are, in any profession. I am one of those people who still wants to believe there is a lot of good in the world, and good people, although everybody has their days and makes mistakes.
If the clinic I've been using is going to raise their prices now beyond what we can afford, the bottom line is, I have to find another way. Or hang up the traps. I have loved that clinic. They are really nice people and have been very good to me and the cats I have taken in there.
I will try to find another way, of course, that's the way I am. I feel embarrassed now, for writing the vet board, however. Oh well, I'm always putting foot in mouth. I just wish there was a way to address the masses of cats out there, who need help, but don't get it, often because of money.
See all I'm good at it rounding up cats, and I am good at that. I'm good at trapping cats. I'm good at quickly solving situations and getting cats saved. I'm not good at almost everything else. I'm no good at politics or knowing what to say when, or how to resolve conflicts except to apologize. I work best at night and alone, to be honest, just me and the cats and any other wild animals out and about. So I muddle along, trying to find a way to continue. I admit my many faults, recognize other people have bad days, faults of their own, and that there are very very dangerous people out there, so I can try to stay alive a little longer.
Sure, I have issues that crop up all the time. I get upset sometimes thinking of the shelter people, the way they get paid and all, and how so much money goes just to their salaries and how that money could make a real difference instead if it was used to fix tons of cats. But that's the way it is right now.
I'm always feeling on the outside, an outcaste. That's probably because I am alone 99% of the time and face so many issues alone. It's also because of my past, the abuse I endured, alone always, with never anybody sticking up for me, or at my side. It's like being a stray, danger everywhere, out there alone, trying to have a life while keeping alive, knowing nobody has my back but me.
That's also why I go out there, because I will be the one who has their backs, to defend the defenseless. I will be the one there, when no one else is, to scoop up a kitten suffering, to snatch an abused cat from her abuser, face to face, if need be, hair puffed, back arched, in defiance of extreme odds. I know I may get killed in the process, but I won't be the one looking the other way. Too many people have lost their way, a sense of right and wrong, courage to stand against wrong. Too many people have made the choice to look away. I'm not going to be one of them.
I will say Heartland Humane in Corvallis is really helping out some of the Linn rescues who are trying to halt the overpopulation problem and I appreciate that help very much.
It's all I can do. That's it. That's just the basic way of life. My life. I like to round up cats to be fixed and boy, does it ever help people, too. I see the need for it, and wish it was easier, not always a huge scramble and fight, to find places to get them fixed and the money to do it. But that's the way it is, so I have to accept that's the way it is, unless I can find ways to make it easier. But I'm not much good at that.
9 Cats Being Fixed Today, Ooops, Make that Ten!
I took up 9 Albany cats to be fixed today from two locations. From one location, I picked up five kittens and two mom cats. From the other, two orange females. But now, a neighbor who agreed to help trap the rural trailer colony, says she caught another black tux and the clinic has agreed to do that one also. So, make that ten.
The little bottle babe, less than a week old, found with two dead siblings, is still alive. They told me they think a house on Main street is the source of the mother cat. They claim there are tons of cats in and around that house and they've heard, that there is even a sheep living inside. "A sheep?" I exclaimed, in disbelief. "That's what we've heard," the woman said. She said it is crammed full of Hispanics and that some have overflowed into one apartment. I want to see this, a sheep living inside a house in the middle of Albany. Can that be true?
One of the five kittens being fixed today.
Adult fire torti, from Albany being spayed today.
Lynx Point Albany female, being spayed today.
One of two orange tabby females being fixed today. There are two more needing fixed from same household, both orange females, but one has mastitis. They just gave away her kittens. The other was in the process of giving birth this morning to yet another litter. But at least two are fixed now!
The other orange tabby female.
The little bottle babe, less than a week old, found with two dead siblings, is still alive. They told me they think a house on Main street is the source of the mother cat. They claim there are tons of cats in and around that house and they've heard, that there is even a sheep living inside. "A sheep?" I exclaimed, in disbelief. "That's what we've heard," the woman said. She said it is crammed full of Hispanics and that some have overflowed into one apartment. I want to see this, a sheep living inside a house in the middle of Albany. Can that be true?
One of the five kittens being fixed today.
Adult fire torti, from Albany being spayed today.
Lynx Point Albany female, being spayed today.
One of two orange tabby females being fixed today. There are two more needing fixed from same household, both orange females, but one has mastitis. They just gave away her kittens. The other was in the process of giving birth this morning to yet another litter. But at least two are fixed now!
The other orange tabby female.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Failure to Thrive
One of the four little orange kittens is not thriving as the other three are. She is clingy and cries a lot. She does not have diarrhea, but is having the hardest time of the four in switching from the bottle to a mix of wet food and KMR. I hope she makes it. She is just so sweet.
Slurpy is missing Prancer and Tabitha. I knew she would. But, on the other hand, she has taken over as "mom" of all the other kittens. She takes this job very seriously.
I think about six cats will be fixed tomorrow. I'm not that sure, because once again, I could not get ahold of the "main" sister, of two sisters, each with cats who need fixed. Last I saw her, a couple days ago, she had found three kittens on a porch of a neighbor who had moved out. Two were dead and one was alive. The kitten was one or two days old only, I swear. I told her it is very hard to keep them alive when they are that young.
I don't know where the mom is. The woman thinks the neighbor who moved may have the mother cat and may not have known, when she took her, that she had just had kittens. Or, they found her having kittens, and put the newborns outside, and left with the cat. Or, a stray mom had the kittens on that landing and was disturbed in the process and ran off. I don't know. Nobody over there does.
That's a lot to take on, a two day old kitten. She'd already fallen in love with him. He was a strong little bugger, that's for sure.
I stopped in at the Corvallis colony, where I got 17 cats fixed and then they took Martha, Peter and James. They said Peter is really warming up to them. He was the tamer of the two, while James was smaller and wilder and Martha was very feral. They see Martha in the late evening. They gave me some flowers from their beautiful garden. The mother and daughter were looking good. The daughter is feeling so much better, after a chronic digestive illness and they have really cleaned up the house and property. Both were in good spirits. I stopped in to give them a bag of cat food, which started the mother into a little happy dance. Made me feel good.
Slurpy is missing Prancer and Tabitha. I knew she would. But, on the other hand, she has taken over as "mom" of all the other kittens. She takes this job very seriously.
I think about six cats will be fixed tomorrow. I'm not that sure, because once again, I could not get ahold of the "main" sister, of two sisters, each with cats who need fixed. Last I saw her, a couple days ago, she had found three kittens on a porch of a neighbor who had moved out. Two were dead and one was alive. The kitten was one or two days old only, I swear. I told her it is very hard to keep them alive when they are that young.
I don't know where the mom is. The woman thinks the neighbor who moved may have the mother cat and may not have known, when she took her, that she had just had kittens. Or, they found her having kittens, and put the newborns outside, and left with the cat. Or, a stray mom had the kittens on that landing and was disturbed in the process and ran off. I don't know. Nobody over there does.
That's a lot to take on, a two day old kitten. She'd already fallen in love with him. He was a strong little bugger, that's for sure.
I stopped in at the Corvallis colony, where I got 17 cats fixed and then they took Martha, Peter and James. They said Peter is really warming up to them. He was the tamer of the two, while James was smaller and wilder and Martha was very feral. They see Martha in the late evening. They gave me some flowers from their beautiful garden. The mother and daughter were looking good. The daughter is feeling so much better, after a chronic digestive illness and they have really cleaned up the house and property. Both were in good spirits. I stopped in to give them a bag of cat food, which started the mother into a little happy dance. Made me feel good.
Berries. Berries. Berries. Kittens. Kittens. Kittens.
Slurpy, taken today. She is still here, due to that one eye.
Prancer, taken this morning before she and sister Tabitha left.
The lovable Tabitha, who is such a character.
Prancer and Tabitha, loaded in a carrier, just before they went to Heartland the first time. This is berry season in Oregon. Because of our winterlike spring, the strawberries are late arriving and better than ever. I'm going to go pick some soon, but I've been purchasing pints off roadside stands of late. I had the last of the three pints I'd bought for lunch, with an overripe banana added in. Delicious.
Kittens too are blooming everywhere. Today, I said goodbye to Tabitha and Prancer, the under the pallet girls from the Lebanon situation. They returned to Heartland and will be spayed in the next day or two, then be up for adoption. They had suddenly ballooned in weight and are over two pounds. Slurpy stayed because she still has slight conjunctivitis in one eye. She loves the younger kittens and is playing mom and loving it. She adores one of the orange and white boys from the middle litter, the feral calico's four.
I had to get them back to Heartland because I get attached too easily and start worrying over them and where they will end up.
The Albany woman did pick up her male this morning and was actually very pleased with the fact he is now neutered. Tomorrow, three of her females will be spayed.
Look at the video below again. I had the four pallet kittens, including Tabitha and Prancer, in one trap in my car when I took this, after just pulling them out from under that pallet. I also had the two wood box kittens in a trap. Look how curious Tabitha is, staring at me from the trap! The Lynx Point medium hair is Tabitha and Prancer's mom. Prancer's long hair neat freak torbi sister and sister V, the other torti, with orange on her face and a mustache, are up being fostered by Poppa Inc. president's daughter. She also has the surviving bottle babe. Poppa's president herself has one of the Wood box tortis, in the second trap in the video, plus the white calico from up in the woods, and Amber, a Poppa volunteer, has two of the orange boys, another torti, who had a bad eye, and the second wood box torti, seen in the second live trap in the video.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
End of my Rope. Phone off Hook
Those Albany people call me last night. They've caught a cat, and want it fixed. I tell them that's not the way I do things, but, they can call Countryside and see if they will do him, and I can try to get it Poppa approved. So they do.
The son takes the cat up, but Countryside will not approve him neutered through Poppa unless they hear from Poppa in Portland first to approve it. The woman calls me. I tell her, well, didn't know that, you'll have to take him home then. But if you leave him there to be fixed, you will be responsible for payment.
In the meantime, I e-mail the request to Poppa's president, figuring she's out working and won't get it. But she does, and calls the clinic and calls in the payment, going out of her way to do it.
What happens next? The woman calls me at 5:33 p.m., minutes before the clinic closes, wants me to go pick up the cat for her. Says her son won't do it. I tell her that it is her responsibiity and that she has had all day to arrange a pickup if her son won't. She is saying she will be charged $25 now, for the clinic overnighting the cat. I have no sympathy and rightfully so.
I finally get upset with her, and tell her to take some personal responsibility for her own actions, i.e. catching a cat before she had any way lined up to get the cat fixed, and not picking up the cat after it was fixed, causing hardship on the vet clinic, and the fact she is making demands on volunteers and not following through on her end. That's nuts!
I feel bad for the vet clinic. It's why I usually don't allow people, getting cats fixed on Poppa funds, to take cats to the clinic themselves. This situation was different because she had already trapped the cat, and I've got no more appointments for a couple of days and am too tired to even move from yesterday's marathon.
I feel sorry for the cat.
She wanted a cat fixed. The cat got fixed. She got a cat fixed for free and she never even asked before she trapped it. Poppa went out of their way to try to accomodate her anyhow on payment for the neuter. For gosh sakes. Get over that attitude.
The son takes the cat up, but Countryside will not approve him neutered through Poppa unless they hear from Poppa in Portland first to approve it. The woman calls me. I tell her, well, didn't know that, you'll have to take him home then. But if you leave him there to be fixed, you will be responsible for payment.
In the meantime, I e-mail the request to Poppa's president, figuring she's out working and won't get it. But she does, and calls the clinic and calls in the payment, going out of her way to do it.
What happens next? The woman calls me at 5:33 p.m., minutes before the clinic closes, wants me to go pick up the cat for her. Says her son won't do it. I tell her that it is her responsibiity and that she has had all day to arrange a pickup if her son won't. She is saying she will be charged $25 now, for the clinic overnighting the cat. I have no sympathy and rightfully so.
I finally get upset with her, and tell her to take some personal responsibility for her own actions, i.e. catching a cat before she had any way lined up to get the cat fixed, and not picking up the cat after it was fixed, causing hardship on the vet clinic, and the fact she is making demands on volunteers and not following through on her end. That's nuts!
I feel bad for the vet clinic. It's why I usually don't allow people, getting cats fixed on Poppa funds, to take cats to the clinic themselves. This situation was different because she had already trapped the cat, and I've got no more appointments for a couple of days and am too tired to even move from yesterday's marathon.
I feel sorry for the cat.
She wanted a cat fixed. The cat got fixed. She got a cat fixed for free and she never even asked before she trapped it. Poppa went out of their way to try to accomodate her anyhow on payment for the neuter. For gosh sakes. Get over that attitude.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Kittens
One of the four orangies from the Lebanon trailer park.
Break out, at the kitten cage.
Meesa, the feral calico's black and white little girl kitten.
One of Meesa's two orange tabby on white boy kittens.
Meesa's brown tabby on white girl kitten.
14 Cats Fixed Today
Alsea Crowd Teen black males, three of them, all neutered today.
Alsea crowd teen girls, two of them, spayed today.
The two Alsea girls again.
The three Alsea teen boys fixed today again.
Tela, a brown tabby Alsea girl, who just had five kittens. Four were born dead and the fifth died shortly afterwards. Two were born dead one day and a few days later, came the other three. She won't have to go through that again.
Prissy, a noisy torti, spayed today, from Alsea.
Prissy again.
Bella, Prissy's sister, was also spayed. The two tiffed half last night here in my garage.
Albany feral torbi, spayed today.
The feral torbi again.
The torbi's latest litter of three kittens, two girls and a boy, all fixed today.
Black tux young and very skinny male from the Rural trailer colony. They're so skinny no wonder the ones fixed just last week are anxious to get back into my trap.
Meesa, the doomed calico, mother of the four kittens in my bedroom, spayed today and she needs somewhere to go.Big Day for the cats of Linn and Benton County today. 14 of them got fixed. Five were boys and nine were girls.
Eight of the cats hailed from Alsea, a contact off craigslist. There are still more cats associated with this household in need of fixing. But today, three adult females and five teenagers, three males and two females, were fixed.
Four more of the cats came from an Albany household. There was a feral female plus her latest litter of three, two girls and a boy. Still left to get fixed there, two late teens from same female's previous litter.
Then, I caught only one more cat at the trailer colony. Well, I did recatch the black tux female fixed last week twice and the black female fixed last week once. I also trapped a black six week old kitten and released her. And finally, I trapped a skinny scared young black tux male, who was neutered today.
Then, there was Meesa, the calico from downtown, very feral, who should not go back there, since they have given a neighbor permission to trap those cats. I also have her four delightful kittens, two boys and two girls.
14 cats fixed!
I spent the day, to save gas, hanging out in Wilsonville. I hiked the park trail many times, for exercise. I napped. I read a book. Then I came home late, with the 14 cats and took them all back except Meesa and the little skinny trailer teen boy.
I was called by a N. Albany woman who had a male in a carrier. I don't what she was thinking, getting him into a carrier with nowhere to get him fixed. I had her call Countryside and so she will take him there tomorrow to be neutered. They have several other unfixed cats.
I hope the son makes it up there. He's taking him in a car he just bought for $200, his mom says. Needless to say, it has some issues. Good luck to him. Brave young man. No one else in the family has a car right now.
I also went over to the Pine Meadow apartments. The woman scheduled to get her cats fixed a week ago, then cancelled, had found three tiny kittens. Two were dead but she is trying to save the one, who looks only about two days old. Good for her for trying. Her cat and a neighbors unfixed female will be fixed Thursday, along with, I'm told, her sisters cat, and the five kittens, who, I'm now told, are still there. I guess the husband stood outside a store with them but did not find even one a home. At least I can help get them fixed. I hope I'm not killing the Poppa budget, taking in so many. Wish I had unlimited fixing funds, that's for sure. Sure are needed. None of these people have jobs anymore. It's really sad. I think everyone is laid off now.
I try to get everybody wanting their cats fixed helped in some way but it's tough these days. Money's tight everywhere.
I want to finish that trailer park in Lebanon, and that other colony, where I've taken 39 in so far. Two left there.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Rural Photos
These photos I took tonight, just as the sun was dying, near the Rural Trailer colony. I had no luck there, caught only one keeper. I did catch a six week old black kitten, but turned her loose. I did catch both cats fixed last Thursday again. I caught the black tux twice. That always means they feel ok with me, and sometimes it means, "Please, take me home with you."
Nonetheless, despite catching only one more there, I do have 14 cats to take to be fixed tomorrow. The vet will kill me, I just know it. I have 8 from Alsea, three adult females, from two households and five kittens, now three months old that they were unable to give away from her last litter.
I will have four tame Albany cats, too. I have the calico feral from Albany. And the one from rural trailer.
Nonetheless, despite catching only one more there, I do have 14 cats to take to be fixed tomorrow. The vet will kill me, I just know it. I have 8 from Alsea, three adult females, from two households and five kittens, now three months old that they were unable to give away from her last litter.
I will have four tame Albany cats, too. I have the calico feral from Albany. And the one from rural trailer.
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Kokoro on the left I heard from my friend in Eugene, who took in Kokoro 13 years ago, that she passed away in September. She said she rem... -
Guess who I caught this evening? Yup. Both these big guys. They can be neutered side by side! I also caught a young brown tabby tux and ...