Fuzzy Stella Update

Hello Fuzzy Friends-

I know you have all been very interested in knowing how Fuzzy Tripod, now...Fuzzy Stella is doing! All I can say is GREAT!

Kim Grant (who is one of the grooviest girls I've met in a long time and is now my new friend whether she likes it or not) is going to officially adopt Fuzzy Stella! Yeah!

Here are words from her to me in an email I received yesterday that totally made my day!

Stella is good. She got her booster shot, Dr L looked her over and gave her a clean bill of health. Long story short, we ended up leaving the stitches in, they are the disolvable kind so no big deal. She doing great. Loves to cuddle and loves to stand up to the other cats. It’s so hysterical to see 20lb Gus intimidated by this three legged 5lb kitten. Oliver still doesn’t know what to make of her, but he’s just going to have to get over it; she isn’t going anywhere.

Stella must not have had many toys at her previous home because she just LOVES them, can’t get enough. Seriously will play by herself for 30 min flipping the same mouse over and over. When I wake up in the morning there is usually a little row of toy offerings lined up by the side of the bed. Just TOO cute.

Well, since I’ve officially decided to keep her, I plan on sending you the adoption fee this week. I am so thankful that we met and that you gave me the opportunity to foster Stella. Yesterday she was sitting on my lap, fast asleep, with her tiny kitten face pointed my way and I was thinking what an amazing twist of events brought her to me. One little variation, one decision altered, and I would never have known her. So thank you very much.

-kim

Of course, I'm thrilled to no end with the outcome of this rescue!!!
: ) Carol

Here are pix of Stella in her new home and her new house mates!

Intellectual Stella!

Bath Time!

Kim's cats, Gus, Oliver & Lucy

Support Critter Cottage

Hello Feral Friends-

The Critter Cottage is part pet supply store and part adoption center. Since opening in July, Vicky's Pet Connection has found homes for 40 cats and dogs through this new venue. It's located in Ada, MI. As you all know, they hosted our First Annual Kent County TRAP-IN earlier this month.

The Critter Cottage is a joint effort of Mel's Feed Store and Vicky's Pet Connection. For more information about The Critter Cottage, follow this link: http://www.vickyspetconnection.com/crittercottage.html

Why am I talking about The Critter Cottage, you ask? Well, I am making a plea to all of you local blog readers out there to patronize this local business and help them keep their doors open.

Most of you know, but for those of you who don't, Vicky's Pet Connection pays for all the Kent County stray/feral spays and neuters for Gina and I. Without them, we would be unable to do TNR on the mass level that we do. Last month, I was able to fix over 50 cats. The month prior, the number was 102. Most every one of these surgeries were paid for by VPC.

Even though VPC is seeing awesome adoption rates through The Critter Cottage, it's the retail end of it that will keep it afloat. When you are making a decision to shop for pet related items, I would urge you to consider The Critter Cottage among your choices. Products at The Critter Cottage are American made (for those of you who are into this important movement). And what you must consider when purchasing goods from a local retailer, the money made there STAYS in the community.

Best of all, shopping at The Critter Cottage SAVES LIVES! It's doors being open translate into adoptions. Animals are being seen and folks are opening their hearts and homes to them. Every time a cat, dog, kitten or puppy are adopted through Vicky's Pet Connection, they are enabled to go and take another animal out of The Kent County Animal Shelter.

By shopping at The Critter Cottage, you are supporting Vicky's Pet Connection. And supporting VPC supports very important TNR in Kent County.

Their prices are reasonable too. They stock a large quantity of quality pet food and supplies. They also have lower cost pet foods for people who are feeding feral colonies. If you are feeding a group of stray and feral cats and need a deal on inexpensive/nutritious food, go and see them.

Other animals are not exempt! The Critter Cottage stocks supplies for other pets as well as wildlife. If you are feeding birds, check out their nice array of wild bird seeds.

Besides all that, The Critter Cottage stocks wonderful gifts for the pets in your life. The holidays are coming. Step outside of the BIG BOX stores and visit The Critter Cottage for your gift-giving needs this year. Tell the recipient of your gift about The Critter Cottage and encourage them to help save lives by shopping at this quaint pet supply store. And then while you are there, go and visit some of the adoptable cats. When you make your purchase...KNOW THIS....you are saving THEIR VERY LIVES!

Thanks for helping to support VPC who supports my Rescue work!

: ) C

Back to Hell - Cedar Springs, I mean!

Last week, I knew I had to got to Cedar Springs. But lately every time I have gone into the park, I have had so much anxiety that by the time I drive into the place, I'm a wreck.

So, last week I took Gina with me. She was a Godsend! I needed her to look at the place though her eyes. I needed her to tell me what she would do. I tend to try to do too much and I'm not patient and I want it all taken care of RIGHT NOW! And I'm not real good at recognizing my own human limitations.

We scooped up several cats including some kittens and took them to be fixed. I found a lovely man named Dale who has been caring for the cats and allowing them sanctuary in his heated shed which is stocked with enough soft food and cozy beds and clean litter boxes to make the owned cats of that park jealous. He had a mama and three kittens, but only wanted to keep two, so Gina is taking the third which is a flame point Siamese who was neutered yesterday!

I talked a woman into letting me fix her Siamese cat who she was going to breed with some guy's cats in GR. I explained that I could get the $100 surgery done on her for free if she handed me the cat TODAY! She did! Victory!

I was yelled at by an idiot who told me to leave his house. This is the guy who didn't let me fix his pregnant cat two months ago. He wanted one of her kittens. Well now he has one. But mama died shortly after giving birth and left the kittens orphaned. Fools have given the cats away and I am unable to track them. Hopefully his wife can get him to allow me to fix the kitten in a few weeks.

We discovered a very friendly mama and kittens being sheltered under the back porch of Jamie who will continue to feed and shelter them till they are old enough to be fixed.

I even scooped up a friendly long haired black tabby who was GET THIS....already spayed AND front declawed. She can't have come from that park. Nobody fixes their cats in that park, let alone declaws them. So I ran ads in the Press and Advance to find her owner. So far, only one call but he wasn't a match. I will not be returning her to the park as she is not only defenseless but also has a flea allergy. So despite the fact that I don't want to do any more adoptions, I'll be finding this girl a home!

It was a great day! Gina suggested I go back to the park once a month to collect owned cats and do some trapping. I get calls all the time from people in the park who want their cats fixed. My name is out there. I further put it out by posting a sign in the office and left a pile of business cards to hammer away the point....LET ME FIX YOUR CAT FOR FREE! I'm getting lots of calls already!

With Gina's guidance, I was able to get back to business in Cedar Springs. With the Lunesta leaving my system, I will be getting my moxie back and soon, I'll be my old self again!

: ) Carol

PS Thank you very much Pam Olson for the very generous donation to benefit us at the TRAP-IN which she was unable to attend. That was a nice check to receive in the mail. And it's very nice to be supported by Pam who founded C-SNIP. Having the respect and support of other animal welfare groups in the community is very important to us. Thanks so much Pam for all you have done in your own quest to get the cat and dog overpopulation under control!

I'm not going crazy!

You may be able to tell from the tone of my blogging lately that I have not been myself. I have felt really "out of my head" of late and unable to cope with the daily goings on of Cat Rescue. Some days I have felt so desperate upon waking that I had to work really hard to pull myself out of bed. Finally after days of thinking that I was losing my mind FOR SURE, I realized that is inability to deal with what all was coming at me might have something to do with the prescription sleep aid I was taking.

About two months ago, I started taking Lunesta to help me sleep through the night. I am my father's daughter. Paris Manos was a first class worrier and I have inherited this worthless skill and have honed it to absolute perfection. Thanks a lot DAD! I have most trouble in the middle of the night. When I'm awakened for whatever reason, my mind spins on an issue that I had not even been thinking of in the wake of day. I will fixate on some little detail (always some cat related situation) and my mind will just crank overtime till I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. My heart races and I'm unable to get back to sleep. Dealing with this my entire life, I was urged to try some drugs. Better living through chemistry right? WRONG!

While I was sleeping like a baby and even if waking in the middle of the night, was able to go back to sleep immediately without spinning on some ridiculous detail of the day prior, I was feeling depressed and having dread upon waking in the morning. Some days I would lay in bed for hours being scared to death to face the day. I was crying a lot and feeling like I couldn't handle my life. The Cat Rescue work was overwhelming me and I was thinking of leaving it all-together.

I guess it was a good thing that this all happened because it prompted me to start to do things differently so that I can get my own personal life back and find some balance between friends, things I like to do AND cat work. This near mental breakdown got me to give up Thursday night trapping/accepting of cats and has allowed me to enjoy an extra night each week with friends for dinner and Survivor.

But even after giving up Thursday night Rescue work, I was still feeling overwhelmed. That is when I discovered that it might be the Lunesta that was doing something to retard my ability to handle life situations that I'm more than capable of handling. Gina Marvin noticed my mania right away. She has taken some time off to get personal matters in order and new cat calls have bounced to me. While she's working on her own personal stuff, I'm having a complete nervous breakdown and calling her hysterical all the time. She left me a voicemail one days saying "What the hell is going on with you?" I knew then, it wasn't PMS or anything ordinary causing my coping trouble.

I went off the Lunesta, slept like crap but felt much better the next day. Still a little jumpy and anxious, but not as bad as before. For the past 10 days, I've been off the Lunesta and each day is better and better. Sleep is disturbed and I am not feeling well rested, but at least I'm not a complete frayed nerve in the morning.

So, for all of you who have wondered as Gina "What the hell is wrong with her", you can rest assured that I'm doing better. I'm not completely 100% back on my game, but I'm getting there.

I do realize that doing the adoption side of this work is really taking a toll on me. I think there is a reason why Rescues specialize and do either TNR or Adoption. Doing both is very hard. I want desperately to get out of doing adoptions. I need someone to take it over for me. I have walked three adopters in the past week because I haven't had the time to deal with them. Two others, I basically scared away because in my desire to give them all the information at once (because I'm running like a mad woman), I overwhelmed them and they walked too. So basically, I'm ineffective at doing mass TNR AND adoptions. If you are interested in helping me, I'd love to hear what you have to offer. I really need to do one thing or the other. I think TNR is most important! I'd still like to take kittens in when I find them in Cedar Springs at some others here and there, but I need to have someone take over the showing of the cats and the decision making and checking out of the perspective adoptive parents. Anyone game? It's not hard so long as you aren't working to get 20-40 cats fixed each week.

: ) Carol

Fuzzy Tripod Update!

Hello Friends of Fuzzy!

A very wonderful person stepped into the life of Fuzzy Tripod. Her name is Kimberly Grant and she has taken Fuzzy to live at her house on a "fostering" basis. But I think things are working out well there because she's now calling the kitty, Fuzzy Stella and her other cats are beginning to accept her.

So, Kim....by renaming the kitty, I have decided that SHE IS YOURS!

On Friday, Kim will take her in for a recheck of her surgery site and a booster for her distemper vaccine.

Funds have kept rolling in. The latest donations came from Becky & Richard Gainey and Heidi Andre who brought them to me while I sat in a trap for National Feral Cat Day. I also received funds from Megan Slattery who is the daughter of my darling Darla Alexander who has turned many wonderful people onto my blog and has helped me raise lots of money for my Rescue work.

Tiffany Traxler who I just adore gave a very generous donation via mail too. I am blown away by the kindness of you people. Thank you so much for reinforcing my belief that I'm doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing at this particular moment of my life.

The Fuzzy Goal has been reached. I even have a little extra. I will put that money toward helping other cats from Cedar Springs!

Thanks so much for all your support!
: ) Carol

TRAP-IN Pix Posted

Finally...got my internet back running. Thank you Stu!
Got the TRAP-IN pix posted to the original post.
Scroll down a bit to see them!

: ) Carol

Spay/Neuter Clinics in GR! Volunteers Needed

Hello Feral Friends-

My vet, Dr. Bruce Langlois will be running two Spay/Neuter Clinics in the upcoming months. If you are interested in volunteering, contact him soon!

: ) C

Remote Area Medical will be holding 2 Spay/Neuter Clincs this fall for Low Income Families. The first will be in Grand Rapids on Nov 10, and the second will be in Ionia on Dec 8th. I need at least 20 volunteers for each clinic. Duties will range from Registration, Anesthesia, Animal Prep, Surgical Assistants, Recovery, Instrument Washing and Discharge. If you are available and have an interest, please email me at brucelangloisdvm@yahoo.com.

Millions of healthy adoptable animals have to be euthanasized each year because of the lack of homes. Spay and neutering is the only answer to help reduce this problem.

Bruce P. Langlois DVM

Hospital Director
Animal Hospital of Lowell
11610 East Fulton Street
Lowell, MI 49331
616-897-8484
www.lowellvet.com

Veterinary Director
Remote Area Medical
www.ramusa.org

TRAP-IN Report

Hello Feral Friends-

It was truly a great day! I made it to Critter Cottage at 9:30 to meet Vicky to set up the canopy. Sue Carl and Pat Schoen from C-SNIP were there early and were a big help getting the thing up.

Pat and Dale Baxter and two grand daughters showed up to help too. By a little after 10am I was in the trap, placed close to the street.

Was first surprised by my dear friend from my Express days, Martha Munch and her sister Peg who was in from Ohio. Martha made a sign and posted it nearby my trap that really helped the passersby figure out what the heck I was doing in a 6.5 ft. long dog trap!

Lots of friends showed up including Kim, Joel and their children Anastasia and Joshua. I think the kids were confused as to why I was in a cage like Sheena their dog sometimes has to go into.
Unsettling children....a fun bonus!

Many folks Gina and I have done TNR for showed up and showed really amazing support. Lisa Dinowski and Heidi Andree did a little fund raising at their work and among family members and brought in some really big donations! Others gave generously as well.

One gal named Margo who has not yet, but WILL soon be using my TNR services wrote a check too! She said that she heard about the TRAP-IN on West Michigan Tight Wads. I think that must have been Pat Baxter who posted the event. Whoever it was, thanks for doing it because the advertisement reached someone who really needs our help. So we will be able to help her feral family now!

Some man driving with his children turned his car around and came out to make a donation when his children begged him to help out our cause! And a couple looking for directions to M-21 were shamelessly forced to cough up a buck or wouldn't be told how to get there! I had nothing to do with this....though had I not been kibbitzing with someone else at the time, I surely would have done the exact same thing!

Sue Carl brought me lunch from McDonald's and Jeanine Buckner from Reuben's Room brought me hot chocolate and a danish. Thanks ladies for sustaining me while I was unable to hunt for my own food. Thanks also to Stu who showed up with a cigarette and assisted me in trap smoking when I was really jonesing!

I was allowed out to use the litter box as necessary which was a good thing cuz when Becky Gainey and her sweetheart of a husband, Richard showed up I nearly peed my pants. I kinda had a funny feeling they would show up, but once I was in the trap, I kinda forgot about any of my prior day's expectations and I just was living in the moment. At THAT moment I was elated! Becky worked at the animal shelter in Baton Rouge with me after Katrina did her little number on New Orleans and beyond. These two drove 4 hours each way to see me in a trap and support my rescue. Each is half crazy. Together they are totally crazy! They came to our rummage sale last summer too. They said doing things like this makes them feel sane! Whatever, it was great for me to see them!

Gina showed up just after 2pm and replaced me in the trap. I took off for a bit with Becky and Richard, went back to my place and introduced them to my adoptive kitties and let them be mauled by Monkey.

G looked really cute in the trap. She wore cat ears. Several folks commented that we should wear bathing suits next year! I'm thankful that National Feral Cat Day is in the fall and that won't be a realistic expectation! Though, Gina could pull it off and we would really rake it in!!

Donations came in the form of food from Family Friends, a new Animal Hospital in the Grand Rapids area. They gave us 4 ginormus bags of Iams food to give to our feral caregivers who have trouble financing the food bill for their kitties. Many other people showed up with pre-purchased food or bought a bag at Critter Cottage and loaded it into the back of my van. We got about 15 bags of food, several cans of soft food and lots of great towels, blankets, and toys.

The day brought us $786 in cash and check donations! And Fuzzy Tripod's Surgery Fund was boosted by another $150 in addition to that. Thank you Heidi Andre and Becky & Richard Gainey. Not bad for a collective 7 hours in a trap! That's well over $100 per hour. I know of some jobs that make that kind of money, but I'm not willing to do them, so this was GREAT!

A special thank you to Vicky's Pet Connection for allowing us to hang out at Critter Cottage and make a spectacle of ourselves! As you all must know by now....it's Vicky and Nancy that fund our feral spays and neuters. Without them, we wouldn't be able to do the rescue work that we do. Gina and I are very thankful for their generosity and willingness to part with really large sums of money to help us do what we love. Thanks so much!!! Vicky is good with the media so she contacted both radio and television so we had some good publicity on 105.7 and if Fox, channel 17. The baseball game went into overtime however and as of 1am, the news never aired that night, so I guess I won't have my 15 seconds of fame till later!

It was a really fun day for me! Having everyone come to see us and support our rescues was a shot in the arm. It was good for the soul. It' s nice to know the work you do is appreciated. Some days in this rescue business are really tough! As you all know who have read my recent blog entries, I'm struggling BIG-TIME lately and this was just what I needed. Thank you all so much for your love and support!

: ) C

Me and G outside the Critter Cottage!

Canopy tent covered two tables featuring TNR information

and examples of feeding station, shelter and trap.

TNR information table.

My mini-van in background awaiting food donations.

Me relaxing in the trap!

Gina looking adorable in her kitty ears!

Let us out NOW!!!

My crazy friend Richard Gainey drove all the way from Ohio
to dress up as a dog to draw more attention to me in the trap!

See Me In A Trap - - TODAY!!!!!

Hello Feral Friends-

In honor of National Feral Cat Day, Carol's Ferals and Focus on Ferals will be holding a TRAP-IN at the Critter Cottage (VPC's Pet Supply and Adoption Center) in Ada. Come by and support us and learn what can be done to help stray and feral cats everywhere! Here's the giz!

1st Annual Kent County TRAP-IN

Saturday, October 13th
10am - 5pm

at Critter Cottage
7205 Thornapple River Drive
in Ada

Event will raise awareness of the plight
of feral and stray cats.

Learn how to help cats in your neighborhood.
We have the solutions to feeding,
sheltering and population control!!

Sponsored by Critter Cottage and Vicky's Pet Connection.

Proceeds to benefit
Carol's Ferals and Focus on Ferals.
Two Grand Rapids based cat rescue groups
who specialize in TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

----------------------

Cat Food Drive!
Bring dry or canned cat food to help sustain some
of the 100 feral cat colonies that we help in Kent County.
Food will also be available for purchase at
Critter Cottage.

----------------------

Get us out of the trap!
Carol Manos and Gina Marvin will sit in a live trap
until they can raise $2,000.
Funds raised will help them assist
the stray and feral cats of Kent County
by providing TNR services and feral cat advocacy.
Don't miss the spectacle!!

Help publicize the TRAP-IN

Hello Feral Friends-

I suck at publicity! It's just not my bag. I can make fliers and PDFs but I don't have time to post them anywhere. Please help publicize the TRAP-IN this Saturday by printing off this flier and putting it somewhere....anywhere!

If you know how to get word to the local media, please contact them and tell them about how a couple of cat crazy women are going to sit in a live trap all day long to raise awareness and educate people how to help stray and feral cats in their neighborhoods.

Vicky has Steve and Serena talking about it on 105.7, but beyond that, we have no publicity. So if you are IN with someone or have a clue as to how to do this, please do it.

Vicky suggests calling the "tip lines" for the media. This is yet another thing I'm clueless about. I don't watch the news, read the paper or listen to any radio. Yeah...if it doesn't have to do with a cat in need, it's likely that I don't know about it! Please help!

Thanks
Carol

PS Here's the pdf of the flier to download: /Documents/1sttrap-in2.pdf

Heidi Andree and Her Amazing Shelters

Despite my many blog rantings lately about fools and idiots, I DO meet lots of wonderful people while doing TNR. Another amazing person is Heidi Andree. She contacted me about a month ago when she just knew there was more that she could do about the feral cat situation in her neighborhood.

Heidi has brought me several cats for TNR. It was Heidi who brought me a very PG girl on a Friday who ended up having her kittens before I could get her spayed. Crystal (is now nursing her three kittens and the two orphans that Elida Medley found. Oh by the way.....Gina is trying to TNR the mother of those two kittens. Turns out that the kittens that Elida picked up and started feeding were not abandoned at all. Mama was in the process of moving them. The neighborhood kids got the adults all worked up and the kittens were taken leaving the mama cat to be absolutely beside herself in worry. Once the people who were feeding mama learned about Gina's services they contacted her. They said her kittens were taken. Gina called me and I called Elida and sure enough....the kittens I have belong to the cat Gina is trying to catch! There's one more for the "Don't immediately grab the kittens and haul them off cuz Mama is probably nearby" annuls!

Back to Heidi though. She is an amazing woman! She has trapped cats at all hours of the day and night and sets them up at Brooknelle for me so I don't have to come out after I have called it a night! She even comes in a picks up her own cats for release! Thanks for that Heidi.

In addition to this, she donates money and supplies often. Her last food donation saved me a trip to the store and for that all the kitties are very grateful (me too).

Heidi purchased some white styrofoam coolers from me to shelter the cats she has had fixed. Of course, being the very polished, detailed person that she is, she decorated them so they would fit in with her backyard landscape. Check them out!




Currently Heidi's darling boy Mr. Perfect is having problems with his heart. Heidi is one of those cat owners who won't hesitate to do anything for her babies, so he's even seeing a heart specialist. To illustrate her commitment her strays/ferals alone, when Cookie showed up a week after being fixed with a piece of string coming out of her backside, Heidi and her husband brought her to me prepared to do whatever necessary to save the cat....even if it required a very expensive surgery. Luckily for Cookie (and the Andre's bank account) , she passed the string in a nice pile of poop the following day!

Please keep her sweet Mr. Perfect in your good thoughts and prayers.

Thanks!
Carol

PS Sorry my writing is so "ALL OVER THE BOARD". I'm having trouble staying focused lately!

Fuzzy Tripod Update!

Hello Fuzzy Friends!
Well, I mean...Fuzzy Lovin' Friends!

I picked up Fuzzy on Monday! I let her have one night alone in the bathroom before thrusting her into the kitten room!

She's doing great! Her surgery site looks really good and she gets around well on her three legs...bless her heart. She likes the comfy cubby that is her very fluffily appointed cat carrier.

Ms. Tripod is tolerant of some cats but tries to keep the kittens in their place with a little growl and occasional swat. She's still good with swatting even if it only leaves her two legs to stand on.

She has amazing spirit and I'm very proud of her. She's been through a lot but is not letting anything get her down!

Last night I sat down for a half hour in the kitten room and she came and sat on my lap. So....she's a lap cat!

She is available for adoption in case you are interested.

Thank you Kristi Olson for your very generous donation to the Fuzzy Tripod Fund!

FUZZY MEDICAL FUND GOAL is now: $175

Fuzzy relaxing in her cushy carrier.
This a a great shot of her frankincision!

Fuzzy gets a kiss from Moonflower!

And doesn't seem to mind it too much either!

Finally out of the hands of misguided fools,
Fuzzy has a chance at a good life!

REMINDER: 1st Annual Kent County Trap In - This Saturday!

Hello Feral Friends-

In honor of National Feral Cat Day, Carol's Ferals and Focus on Ferals will be holding a TRAP-IN at the Critter Cottage (VPC's Pet Supply and Adoption Center) in Ada. Come by and support us and learn what can be done to help stray and feral cats everywhere! Here's the giz!

1st Annual Kent County TRAP-IN

Saturday, October 13th
10am - 5pm

at Critter Cottage
7205 Thornapple River Drive
in Ada

Event will raise awareness of the plight
of feral and stray cats.

Learn how to help cats in your neighborhood.
We have the solutions to feeding,
sheltering and population control!!

Sponsored by Critter Cottage and Vicky's Pet Connection.

Proceeds to benefit
Carol's Ferals and Focus on Ferals.
Two Grand Rapids based cat rescue groups
who specialize in TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

----------------------

Cat Food Drive!
Bring dry or canned cat food to help sustain some
of the 100 feral cat colonies that we help in Kent County.
Food will also be available for purchase at
Critter Cottage.

----------------------

Get us out of the trap!
Carol Manos and Gina Marvin will sit in a live trap
until they can raise $2,000.
Funds raised will help them assist
the stray and feral cats of Kent County
by providing TNR services and feral cat advocacy.
Don't miss the spectacle!!

If you would like to help publicize this event, print off and post the following PDF. /Documents/1sttrap-in2.pdf

That which does not kill us makes us stronger........ or makes us quit!

Ok, folks....here it is. This rescue work is about to kill me. If I don't lose my mind, it will be a sheer miracle of God.

I had a heart to heart with Amy Townsend who is a vet tech at C-SNIP and The Animal Emergency Clinic. She and I tossed around ideas that might help me keep it together mentally so I don't have to give up my rescue work. She gave up cat rescue after doing it hardcore for 4 years and now just dabbles.

It's not the TNR that drives me crazy. It's the adoptions. I don't like doing adoptions. I mean....I love rescuing kittens and finding them homes. That's a wonderful feeling. But when TNR is the focus, the adoptions take a back seat and coordinating visits from perspective adopters is very difficult. If I don't act fast enough, the people find other kittens. And mine sit in my kitten room.

I have been extremely lucky to have found homes for many kittens. With Stephanie Meaney doing my bottle babies and really young ones, and Pat Baxter taking care of Moms and kittens and older kits, I've really been able to do adoptions very efficiently. But then there's the TNR part of the equation.

There is a reason that most rescues do only one thing. It's either sanctuary and adoption or TNR. With the exception of course of Vicky's Pet Connection who does adoption and sponsors most all of the spay/neuter in Kent County along with C-SNIP.

It's no wonder I'm going crazy. I have no desire to have a adoption center. But I am happy to use my resources to continue to find homes for healthy adoptable kittens and the occasional adult cat. But I have to find another way to do it.

So, if you know anyone out there who would like to foster and adopt out kittens and the occasional adult kitty that I find needs rescuing and can't be let back outside, then I would like to talk to them. It would require time, attention to detail (with regard to cat health), an internet connection, and a spare bedroom or two. Financially, the cats would be my obligation.

Seriously. I would like to have my home just for my own cats. I would like my home to be MY sanctuary. Not that I mind sharing my home with other cats. My own cats don't mind. But I need a place where I can get away from cats that aren't mine. My focus on cats is taking over my life and if I don't GET A LIFE soon, I fear that I might just go bananas!

HELP!
C

Nothing to do????

Nothing to do?
Want to be productive?
Want to help stop the needless euthanization
of healthy adoptable animals?

Get on craigslist.com or freecycle.com and send this link to anyone posting "FREE KITTENS".

http://carolsferals.com/freekittens.aspx

Activism begins at your computer.

There will soon be a printable PDF of this page on the website too.
You can obtain it by going to carolsferals.com and clicking on the
NO MORE FREE KITTENS box.

So you can print off a few copies for your car and distribute when you see the dreaded "FREE KITTENS" signs on the road!

Thanks for caring!
Carol

In Memory of Karma and Roobee

I knew it was going to happen one day. I would get a call from an adoptive family who was breaking the sad news....one of my kitties had passed. I have had two such calls during the past two weeks.

In loving memory of Karma and Roobee. Rest peacefully sweet angels. Your time here on this planet was brief but you were loved greatly. I'm thankful that God showed me the way to get you to loving homes so that you could experience the beautiful kindness of humans that you were so lacking but finally found.

Originally named Eva, Karma, had the pleasure of being loved
by Rita and Al Valkuinas.
She is survived by her brother, Ethan who is now known as Bucky.
Shortly before Karma passed, she enjoyed nuzzling in Al's beard.
She was very fortunate to have found great comfort during her last days.

Roobee was rescued three times. Once by a guy named Rusty.
Once by me, and finally by Sarah Derrico.
At first Sarah came for, William and Xerox.
But she fell in love with Roobee and returned for her two weeks later.
Roobee will be missed. Thank you Sarah for loving her.

I'm going to GET A LIFE!

Hello Feral Friends-

It's been a long time coming. Recent events have prompted me to look at things differently. I have to start to take some time for myself that is not CAT RESCUE related or I will surely lose my mind.

Friends have voiced concern urging me to slow it down a bit or risk losing IT completely. The problem with me, is that I have a hard time saying NO. I don't understand my own physical and mental limitations. And when I know there is a cat in need, I go running.

But there ARE limits to what I can do. And I have to sustain myself so that I CAN continue to do my Rescue work.

Some of the recent events that have spurred my decision to "GET A LIFE" include pissing off a woman who called me to take her cat who she had to "get rid" of because it had fleas and she didn't know how she would be able to manage with her baby on the way and the dog they were planning on getting. I told her that she had "no business" getting a dog (who will require going outside to potty) if she can't manage a cat's flea problem. CLICK! I might have gotten further with her had I not lost my mind on the phrase "get rid of". I hate those words! Instead of helping and making rational suggestions, I lost it and was ineffective in possibly helping the cat.

Yesterday (Saturday) I started my day by answering a call on my home answering machine from a man who I've done TNR for in the past. Kenneth is a very kind man who feeds his neighborhood cats. I ended up taking one cat named Spud (who was FIV positive) and get him into Big Sid's. But now he was calling cuz he wanted me to find homes for two other Toms in his hood. I explained myself...blah, blah, blah....need to fix them and put them back outside....blah, blah, blah.

Then....he did it....he suggested that he call Mary to take the cats. Then just like you would see in a scene in a movie....the camera zooms into a close up of the blood in my veins boiling like water ready to make tea! I had forgotten that last Spring while I was trying to help Kenneth with a pregnant girl cat, he didn't accept my suggestion to spay the cat and rather gave the cat to the infamous cat hoarder, Mary Farris. I urged Mary to fix the cat and she didn't (of course) and the rest is history!!! I told Kenneth about Mary's failed Rescue and that the cat that he gave Mary was dead now...and so were her kittens! I probably didn't handle that as well as I should have. It was the truth, but I might have spared his feelings a bit. But I wasn't in any mental space to do that. I was in complete and utter overload!

I decided not to take any other cat calls and stuck myself on the couch for the rest of the day giving myself some mental time off! Mary Eteo (my savior) did Brooknelle duty yesterday so I didn't have to leave my house. It was the first day in 4 months that I didn't have to go to Brooknelle. It was very nice.

Last week, my best friend from college called me to tell me that she was sad that we never talk anymore. She said, "Mouse, you never have time to talk to me when I call. That hurts me". At first I was a little ticked off at her. I sometimes feel like people just can't wrap their minds around the work that I do. But it's no different than parenting children. It's labor intensive and the kids come first. That's the same with me. Though most people with children don't have their phones ringing off the hook with people asking them to take in more children. But that's neither here nor there. What I'm saying is: If you raise a family and are busy with your kids, you are respected and everyone understands that you suddenly fall off the face of the earth. And it's OK, cuz you are doing something noble...raising a family. But with the exception of YOU who regularly read this blog and fully support what I do, many people think what I do is nuts and worry about my financial future and just plain DON'T GET IT!

After I gave it some thought though, I became UNTICKED OFF at my friend and worked out a solution to help myself regain my life so that I can be more effective in my Rescue work and not completely lose my identity as Carol Manos....girl who had a life before CAT RESCUE.

It came to a head when my neighbor Jonelle called me Thursday afternoon to invite me over for burgers on the grill, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy (and likely Margaritas if I sweet talked her hubby into mixing a batch for me). I had to decline. I had post surgery cats to pick up and by 7pm, people would be coming at me from all angles bringing me cats to be fixed. I stomped my feet like a 5 year old who was denied that piece of candy that he wanted. I nearly started sobbing.

Then it came to me!!! I need to take Thursday nights off. People can still trap as many cats in 4 nights than they can in 5. If I took Thursday nights off, I could spend time with my friends Jonelle & John or Kim & Joel (who are also big Survivor fans like me). I could enjoy one sure fire FUN night of the week. If I didn't have cats to take in on Thursday, then I wouldn't have to pick up cats on Friday. Since my dear Mary Eteo takes care of Brooknelle for me now on Friday and Saturday, that would mean that I could have the weekend without having to go to tend cats till Sunday night. This means that I could possibly take a weekend off and go to visit friends in Detroit, or get away to the casino in Mt. Pleasant sometime.

I felt a sense of elation that I haven't had in a long time. I felt instantly refreshed!

Then I got a call from Gina telling me that Bruce would be gone for three surgery days this coming week. I almost started crying. I pace myself on the days that Bruce can do surgery. When he is gone and can't fix cats for me, I'm forced to take a day off. I love when he leaves cuz I don't feel guilty about taking the day off!! It's out of my hands...out of my control. I am not failing cats. I have no choice. This is what it takes to slow me down. I need to be incapacitated in some way beyond my control to take a frickin' break.

So with my own decision not to work Thursday nights and this little three day break this coming week, I feel really good again! I feel like I may be able to talk to someone on the phone and not take their head off.

I hope this helps me be more effective in my Rescue work. I hope it give me some balance in my life so I can continue to help cats. After the last couple of weeks, I was getting to the end of my rope and leaving cat Rescue wasn't out of the realm of possibilities.

Thank you all who counseled me during my time of need. Thank you to those who gave me some tough love and good advice.

Don't even think of calling me on Thursday nights!!

: ) Carol

Attention TRAPPERS! Trapping Dates For This Week!!!

Attention all trappers!!

This week, there will only be two nights of trapping.
Dr. Langois is going to be at a continuing education conference in Reno! Lucky duck! So the only nights to bring cats this week are:

Sunday, October 7th and
Monday, October 8th.

Also, please note: From now on, trapped cats can only be dropped off:
Sunday thru Wednesday nights.

I'm not going to be accepting cats on Thursday evenings any longer.

Thanks!
C

Fuzzy Tripod's Funding Update

Thank you Darla Alexander for donating via Paypal to help defray the medical costs for Fuzzy!

I talked to Dr. Langlois yesterday. She is up and walking fine. It's like she doesn't even miss her leg! Miraculous!!!

She will come home with me tomorrow!
I can't wait to introduce her to the kitty room!

Photos and more details to come!

FUZZY MEDICAL FUND GOAL: $275

Fuzzy

Hello Feral Friends-

Once again, I am making an appeal for funds. This time...it's personal!

Last fall I started into Cedar Springs Mobile Estates determined to make a difference to the cats of that park! That fall, VPC paid to fix over 90 cats. My financial part of the project was to Feline Leukemia test every cat and vaccinate them against the disease that eventually took the lives of Omar and Nathaniel (two of the three cats trapped in the Spring of 2006 when I went into the park for the first time). Wow, how that day changed my life!

In the first round, 4 cats of 12 tested positive for FELV and I had them (with permission from their owners) humanely euthanized. A woman named Pam whose cat was put to sleep inquired if I had another cat to replace her Mystic. I had just rounded up a kitten in the park and didn't have a place for her. I had Fuzzy fixed and gave her to Pam. At that time I tried to rehome as many strays as I could WITHIN the park. I figured it was a quick and easy way to home a cat.

As with most things...good intentions don't always pay off...and this is the result.

Last Saturday while I was unable to do any cat work, I was called by Larry who has a huge heart and tries his best to help all creatures. The details were sketchy as to what happened to this cat, but what I got out of the conversation was something like this: Someone was giving the cat a flea bath and thought it would be a good idea to bind its legs with a hair tie. The cat got one leg free and escaped the trailer. It was gone for thee days then returned with the hair tie imbedded in it's right rear leg. Do you know any good vets around here?

At 3pm on a Saturday, I didn't know of anyone who would be open and I knew that the people wouldn't bring the cat to Grand Rapids, so I said I couldn't help.

The next day I got the full story. The cat in question was none other than Fuzzy who I placed with Pam after her cat was euthanized in the first wave of my FELV eradication mission last fall.

I was at the park on Wednesday to pickup a cat who needed to be fixed (cuz I still run cats for spay/neuter from there all the time). I looked up Pam. I found her. She explained what happened. It was her daughter's boyfriend who had the bright idea to bind the cat's legs and he feels horrible about it. Good I said! Now, what's up with Fuzzy?

She had been trying to do home medicating and cleaned the wound and was trying her best to care for Fuzzy but not doing too much good. Fuzzy had taken residence up under the box springs of her bed. I left her a carrier and asked her to get Fuzzy into it and I'd be back.

I ran around the park dropping off feeding stations and collecting cats then returned to Pam's trailer. She was sitting on her steps with Fuzzy in the carrier. I promised her I'd to right by Fuzzy. She knows me and trusted me, so I took Fuzzy back to Grand Rapids.

I set Fuzzy up in Bruce's isolation room for the night. I wrote a lengthy note and attached it to her carrier. In the morning, Bruce called me and told me that Fuzzy would need to have her leg amputated. He asked what I wanted to do. My first initial response in my head was to say "euthanize the cat". I have always said, that I wouldn't do extraordinary measures. I have to keep my head about me. I'm in this to get cats fixed. I want to make big changes in the population. I am about NUMBERS! Not to say that I don't care about individual cats....but my focus is TNR as a whole. Yeah....right...I know what you are saying!

But I talked to Gina who always helps me sort things out (because she's calm and rational...two things that I am not...I'm hurried and crazy). After giving it some thought, I figured I could try to raise funds for the surgery and then find Fuzzy a nice safe home without small children or dogs and let her have the chance at a good life. After all, it was ME who put her in the hands of the foolish.

So I called Bruce back and gave the go ahead to do the surgery.

Last night I stopped in to see Fuzzy when I was picking up my other post surgery cats. She was very animated and stood up to greet me in her rehab cage in the ICU ward.

She's got amazing spirit and spunk for a little girl who just lost her right hind leg.

Fuzzy is now going to be called: Fuzzy Tripod!

If you would like to contribute funds to help me cover the cost of her surgery, I would greatly appreciate it. You can make donations to dollmouse@aol.com via Paypal at paypal.com. $300 will help out a lot.

Here are photos of Fuzzy Tripod.

Fuzzy as a kitten (Fall 2006) in my garage

the day before her spay surgery!

Fuzzy Tripod today, rehabbing in a cage in
Dr. Langlios ICU after leg amputation.




Fuzzy Tripod one day after surgery.
Standing up and eating heartily!

1st Annual Kent County TRAP-IN

Hello Feral Friends-

In honor of National Feral Cat Day, Carol's Ferals and Focus on Ferals will be holding a TRAP-IN at the Critter Cottage (VPC's Pet Supply and Adoption Center) in Ada. Come by and support us and learn what can be done to help stray and feral cats everywhere! Here's the giz!

1st Annual Kent County TRAP-IN

Saturday, October 13th
10am - 5pm

at Critter Cottage
7205 Thornapple River Drive
in Ada

Event will raise awareness of the plight
of feral and stray cats.

Learn how to help cats in your neighborhood.
We have the solutions to feeding,
sheltering and population control!!

Sponsored by Critter Cottage and Vicky's Pet Connection.

Proceeds to benefit
Carol's Ferals and Focus on Ferals.
Two Grand Rapids based cat rescue groups
who specialize in TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).

----------------------

Cat Food Drive!
Bring dry or canned cat food to help sustain some
of the 100 feral cat colonies that we help in Kent County.
Food will also be available for purchase at
Critter Cottage.

----------------------

Get us out of the trap!
Carol Manos and Gina Marvin will sit in a live trap
until they can raise $2,000.
Funds raised will help them assist
the stray and feral cats of Kent County
by providing TNR services and feral cat advocacy.
Don't miss the spectacle!!

If you would like to help publicize this event, email Carol at dollmouse@aol.com and request a PDF of the flier to print and post!

Murroni Needs A Barn Home

Hello, this is Murroni.

He's a black tabby adult male who was rescued from a "critter control" live trap bound for the animal shelter. There he would have been immediately euthanized because he is feral (wild). Lucky for him, the Grand Rapids eatery where he was trapped was nearby another business and a kind soul took it upon herself to call me before he was taken away. I do TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and fix stray and feral cats in the Grand Rapids area. I transfered him into one of my own traps and had him neutered the next day. Currently Murroni is staying at my rehab facility. But what he needs is a barn home where he can live his life in relative safety with daily food and shelter available to him.

Like most feral cats, Murroni would try to find his way back "home" if just "dumped" off somewhere. For this reason, whoever takes him as their barn cat needs to understand that there will be a 2-3 week caged confinement period where he will need daily food, water, and a clean litter box provided. Once "re-homed" in his new place of residence, the cage can be opened and Murroni will be much more likely to stay in his new digs.

The cage, bowls, litter boxes and first week's supplies will be provided. I will take care of set up and give his new barn home owner all the information necessary to provide him with a good life.

In return for your comfy barn to live in, Murroni will do his part by keeping the mouse population under control, if not obliterate them all together!!!

If you are interested in adopting Murroni as a barn cat, please contact me at: dollmouse@aol.com.

How you can help feral and stray cats in your neighborhood

October 16^th is National Feral Cat Day!

In honor of feral and stray cats everywhere

today's blog entry is devoted to them!!

The essential needs of outdoor living cats are:

Food:

Your feral cats need fresh food and water daily. A very inexpensive and practical feeding station can be made by cutting holes in the opposite short ends of a plastic tote. The holes on both ends ensure an entry AND an escape route should two cats who aren't friends come to eat at the same time.

Provide dry food and water in tip proof bowls if possible. When temperatures outside start dipping into freezing, you can obtain a heated dog water dish at any pet store.

Shelter:

Your neighborhood cats will appreciate a comfy place to bed down and escape from the elements year round, but particularly as the cold weather sets in. Now is the perfect time to construct your feral cat shelter! They can be elaborate or simple as a straw filled dog house. Straw makes the best bedding as it keeps moisture from the cat. Fluff the straw every week or so and change when it becomes overly wet. Blankets & towels trap moisture and are not suitable for good body heat containment. Never use electric blankets or heating pads outdoors.

An easy inexpensive shelter can be made by obtaining a heavy-duty Styrofoam cooler, cutting a mouse hole in the short end and stuffing it with straw.

Spay/Neuter:

Last but certainly not least, you need to get those free-roaming kitties fixed or next spring, you will have thee times the number you have right now!!! Carol's Ferals provides TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) services. We can help and advise you!

For detailed instructions on LIVE trapping cats, visit www.carolsferals.com and click the “How To Trap A Cat” button.

C-SNIP offers low cost spay/neuter services and are reducing their fees for trapped cats in the month of October. NOTE: Trapped cats may be brought into C-SNIP without an appointment Monday – Thursday between 8:00 – 8:30 am. Contact C-SNIP for pricing and further details. (616) 455-8220.

Styrofoam coolers can be obtained by contacting Carol's Ferals. For TNR services or live trap loans, contact Carol's Ferals.

Of course, if the cat is friendly and you can take him/her into your home and make it a pet or find it a home with a friend/relative/co-worker, that's the best course of action. Please note: if you already have cats, it is prudent for you to restrict the new cat from coming into contact with your own cats until it has been tested for parasites, Feline Leukemia and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus).

FYI: Pregnant cats can and must be fixed before another unwanted litter is created. Kittens need only be 2 lbs or two months old to be spayed/neutered.

With your help, we can greatly improve the lives of feral and stray cats. Please take an active role in getting them fed, sheltered and fixed!


******Soon, this same information will appear on carolsferals.com.

In Memory of Binx

I'm sure that you remember my blogging about Nicole. I met her first by helping her TNR some cats that she found on campus at GVSU. Her concern for these cats was amazing. Once she found out that GVSU in Allendale does Trap/Euthanize as a means of feline population control, she made sure that Gina and I found barn homes for her cats vs allowing them back on campus to be re-trapped and killed later. Nicole brought a mom cat and kittens to Gina and helped with the expenses involved in getting them adopted. She has donated generously to my rescue and has even fostered Susan and her kittens for me. Susan has been adopted by Pat Baxter's mother-in-law and all of her kittens have found forever homes! Nicole gave them all a great start in life!

Last week I received another very generous donation for my rescue work. This time, Nicole made the donation in memory of her beloved cat Binx who she rescued from the stray life when he was about a year old. Recently Binx started losing weight and was diagnosed with diabetes, which is dangerous but controllable in most cats. But unfortunately Binx went into kidney failure and Nicole and her mother made the painful decision to have him humanely euthanized.

Nicole, we all feel for you.
Carol

In memory of your dear Binx:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....



Nicole, also for you and for anyone who has had to make that very tough decision:

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for this, the last battle, can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand.
Don't let the grief then stay your hand.
For this day more than all the rest,
your love and friendship stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so;
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
and stay with me, if you can, to the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time, you will see,
it is a kindness you do for me.
Although my tail its last was waved,
from pain and suffering I've been saved.

Don't grieve that it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years,
don't let your heart hold any tears.

Smile...
for we walked together for a little while.