Happy Holidays From Some of Carol's Cats

Monkey, Toby, Buzzby and Trixie would like to send some holiday cheer your way.
Morgan was too busy hanging out in the spa room to participate!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1114581075

Thanks Lisa Dinowski for sending me this link!
What fun! If any of you do one of these, send it to me at dollmouse@aol.com.

: ) C

Event to benefit Saugatuck TNR - Sunday, November 23rd

Very excited to announce a benefit to raise funds for Operation Saugatuck. As you know, I'm helping Steve Williford and Heidi Yates of Harbor Humane Society get the ferals of Saugatuck fixed. You may remember hearing about Butler (a tabby boy who was trapped and returned who now is the official shop cat at Santa Fe Trading Company). He won't be at the benefit, but it's all for cats like him! I will be there and hopefully if you are free, you will be too! Come and meet Steve who has tracked all the cats and trapped and transported nearly every one of them to me in GR. It should be a fun time!

PS Watch the Grand Rapids Press the next few days for an article abut Operation Saugatuck where your's truly was mentioned.

WHO: Saugatuck-Douglas friends of animals
WHAT: a benefit to raise money for homeless animals at Habor Humane Society
and homeless cats in Saugatuck
WHEN: Sunday, November 25, 2007 5-7 pm
WHERE: Timmel Art Gallery
133 Main Street in Saugatuck, MI
WHY: We want to help homeless animals

On Sunday, November 25th from 5pm-7pm, if you are dreading the trip back to
the fridge for even more turkey leftovers, spare yourself the ordeal.
Come join us and other friends of animals in the Saugatuck-Douglas
community as we start this Holiday Season with a benefit to raise money for
our homeless animals. This will take place at the Timmel Collection at 133
Main Street, just off the town square in Saugatuck.
Joel Timmel is providing liquid refreshment. Ellen Sprouls is preparing a
splendid buffet feast.
Donations (requested) made out to Harbor Humane Society (and thus 100%
tax-deductible) will go to support Harbor Humane and also the efforts of
our local TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) program with feral cats. So far we have
concentrated these local efforts in downtown Saugatuck and over thirty cats
have been caught, given checkups, neutered and released back into their
local domains. Not included in this 30+ count, another 12 kittens have been
caught, befriended, and put up for adoption. Come help support our program
in Saugatuck, and help us extend our efforts into Douglas and further into
our community. Many of our program volunteers will be on hand to talk with
you about our efforts. Have you any cats running around wild near your home
or business? We need to hear from you - come join us and other friends of
animals at this benefit. Just think, attending will save you a 41-cent
stamp (not to mention the cost of an envelope) for a year-end
tax-deductible contribution to the Harbor Humane Society, and we'll have
plenty of food, drink, and good conversation!
For more information please call 857-2268

Kay Serat aka Polka a matriarch in Saugatuck!
Photo was taken pre-spay and ear tip!

The East Side Gang -
All have been fixed and ear tipped since photo was taken!

Jack, a kitten found at a local restaurant that ordered all kittens removed!

He was adopted by dog, Benny!
Hence, Jack Benny!

What Oreo's Thankful For!

So, I'm in Florida. I'm still reeling from the distemper casualties and I get a call from Arlene who was tending my cats while I was gone. Arlene relays the story as this:

A kind couple, Alice and Tom walk the woods behind the condo every day. For months they have seen a black and white cat. They have been bringing her food but have never been able to get their hands on her. TILL NOW! So they enquired around the neighborhood and found out that I do cat Rescue, but that I was gone and Arlene could help.

Now, I'll tell some of the story: So they give the cat to Arlene. Arlene calls Vic and Vic takes the kitty who Arlene has named Oreo (for her color of course) to Brooknelle and sets her up in a cage. Or Arlene took Oreo to Vic while she was at Brooknelle, I don't know the details....I was on vacation....RIGHT!

Vic deems the cat as super sweet and friendly. I decided I have to find her a home vs releasing her, so Vic takes her in for surgery and testing and vaccinations the following day. Turns out that Oreo was already spayed. Cool.

I usually put up fliers around the area and run "found pet" ads when I find friendlies in my neighborhood, but being that I was in Florida, I didn't do it till I got home. I actually only went as far as running the ads. It was Alice who found Oreo in the woods who took it upon herself to put fliers in every mail box along the street behind my condo. This was in hopes of finding Oreo's owners. Alice and her husband were particularly vested in finding Oreo's owners because their beloved dog Mattie was taken from them some time ago when their car was hijacked on vacation. Can you imagine the desperation they felt at the moment their car was taken knowing their dog was inside. To learn more about their story, you can visit their website: whereintheworldismattie.blogspot.com

So, I came back from vacation, met sweet Oreo and decided that she indeed needed to go into my adoption program. How cool, I'd soon be bringing Cookie (Heidi Andre's girl) home from Brooknelle and I could take Oreo too. They might even be adopted together! Oreo and Cookie. How funny!

Well, a few days later I get a call from a woman named Joanne. She lives on the street behind my condos and found a flier in her mailbox. She called Alice and got my number. She sent me photos and sure enough, Oreo was her Cassie. On Tuesday she and her son came to Brooknelle to see her. They decided to give her a forever home, so now she's living inside with them. Here's the story Joanne tells! She did everything right. She did just as I would have suggested. I'm so in awe of her!

CASSIE'S HISTORY WITH US: Cassie started hanging around my house this summer, sometime in June. She has the gentlest temperment and didn't seem to mind being picked up. I thought she had to have belonged to someone because she was so sweet and loving. One time my son accidentally stepped on her paw while she was weaving in and out between his legs. She let out a scream but, to my surprise, never attempted to bite or scratch him.

I noticed she was actively nursing, although I didn't know where she kept her babies. So I made sure she had plenty of food and fresh water. If we were inside, she knew what room we were in and would meow through that room's window. If we went on a hike through the trails behind our property, she would trot right along for the whole hike, from the house to the fields and back again. When my youngest would pick her up, she draped over his arms like a limp noodle and purred all the while.

Sometime in August, Cassie trusted us enough to bring her two babies (both boys - one just like her, the other an all-black tabby) to us. They were playing on the front porch and scattered when we approached. I instructed my kids to walk slowly and quietly. We offered the kittens food, and they eventually trusted us to pet and play with them. The kittens would occasionally sleep in the shade under my boys' bedroom window; at nighttime, all three of them would cuddle together on the front porch. Cassie is an excellent hunter, and would bring her babies (and us) frequent offerings of mice and small birds. We especially enjoyed watching them play tag with one another (mama cat included) and climb up trees to see who could get up farthest.

I decided to check into getting all three of them fixed, so I called C-SNIP to schedule an appointment. I contacted the Humane Society and rented a wire crate from them. I set the crate on the porch and put a warm blanket, food and water in it. I left the door open so the cats would get used to the crate. When it came time to take the trio to C-SNIP, it was a cinch to load them up.

My neighbor opened her home to both the kittens (one went to her daughter's apartment), and Cassie came and went as she pleased, sometimes dropping by to visit her son at the neighbor's. Then, as of recently, this is where you and Alice came into the picture.

If given the opportunity, I really believe animals choose people, not the other way around. I never really tried to give Cassie a home because I felt she really didn't belong to us, but she's showed us in many ways that SHE adopted US, not the other way around.

Cassie has made herself right at home and enjoys the extra and undivided attention. My animal-loving youngest is quite excited to have her back. I've had to *repeatedly* tell him to back off and let her explore without having someone constantly trailing her around.


******Isn't this a great story? I love how it worked out. What a happy ending for Cassie. She has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! By the way.....I spotted her outside my condo a couple weeks ago. She was tormenting Morgan outside the back slider. I set a trap for her but only got a very confused opossum.

Cassie the Outdoor kitty!

New and improved, Cassie the Indoor Kitty!

Oh yes, this is much better!!!

What I'm Thankful For!

My dear feral friends,

I'm thankful for you. I'm so blessed. I have so many wonderful people around me. You help me with my Rescue work, you support me financially, you buoy me when I'm down.....YOU rescue ME!

I would like to take a moment here to say Thank You to some of you who help make what I do possible.

I am praying that I don't forget to mention anyone. And I know I will. But I'm going to go for it anyway.

First of all, my rescue is possible because of Gina Marvin. You all know how I regard Gina. She talks me through everything and helps me keep my head above water. When I'm at my wit's end, she offers me her experienced guidance and solutions. When I'm frustrated to the max and I don't think I can take anymore...G reminds me why we are doing what we do. And I go on to face another day. When I'm scared to venture into Cedar Springs, she comes with me. When I have to attack a particularly disturbing farmhouse situation like Agnes' in January or the Bamford Farm full of sick cats, it was Gina who came along for the "fun". God, I use that term so loosely. She has nursed some of my sick kittens back to health and she never says no to me. She's always there and without her, there would be no Carol's Ferals. I love you Darlin'.

Then there is Dr. Bruce Langlois. Without this amazing man willing to do anything to help me with my Rescue work, I'd be sunk. Many vets in town won't touch a feral or handle Rescue work at all. Not Bruce! He's always there for Gina and I. Not only us, but several other area Rescue groups as well. When he's not halfway across the world teaching natives how to care for their cattle to sustain their villages or teaching vets abroad how to do mass spay/neuter, he's here doing it in his own backyard. Spay/Neuter is his "thing" and he really LIVES it! Thank you Bruce for all that you do for my cats. God bless you and keep you always! Thank you also to your amazing staff who puts up with me calling, being obsessively micro-managing and half the time an emotional wreck! PS Bruce also rents me space at Brooknelle so I can rehab my cats which has made my TNR work infinitely better!

Of course you all know that Vicky's Pet Connection pays for the feral and stray spays and neuters in Kent County. I estimate that they have paid for at least 450 surgeries for ME alone this year. They also pay for those done by Gina. This year they have sponsored two spay/neuter clinics in Grand Rapids where over 200 animals were fixed for free! In my opinion, no other non-profit in West Michigan does more toward bringing about the day where THERE ARE NO MORE HOMELESS PETS! Vicky and Nancy, I salute you. Thank you for allowing me to play hero to so many kitties in need!

I have volunteers, foster parents, financial contributors, support people and other Rescue folks who I've leaned on and have never failed me!

RC and Jan Kula you contribute funds, volunteer, care for the FIP cats and keep them in kitty litter and me in fruit chews! RC sells records to raise money each month to contribute to Gina and I. He helps pay the rent at Brooknelle and he's always happy and positive. RC gives great hugs and there is nothing that he won't do for me! You are amazing!

Arlene Gryga is my neighbor. Every single evening she comes to my house and tends to my kittens. I have cats in my extra bedroom and upstairs bathroom. If it were up to me, the place would be a mess. But Arlene comes every day and fusses for a couple hours cleaning, cuddling and doing my cat towels and cat dishes (and my laundry and own dishes oftentimes). She's a bundle of energy. She never complains and is a very good and loving friend. Thank you Arlene!

Bill Gabbard is my Gabby. He's my life partner of 14 1/2 years. He's on the road working most of the time so his outreach is mostly via phone. But what I need most and get most from my Gabby is his amazing ability to "talk me off the ledge". I call him in my darkest moments and he flicks his lighter and guides me back into the light. He fabricates everything from heating/cooling for garages and Brooknelle.....to inline water purification systems so that I don't have to lug jugs of water to and from my rehab facility. I'm nothing without my Gabby!

Pat Baxter fosters my kittens! She has taken several moms and kittens and allowed them space in her house so that kittens can be well adjusted and live cage free. Pat also handles the adoptions of all the cats that she fosters taking much stress and pressure off me. She's always written the bios for her kittens and recently she has started doing the actual petfinder posting of them for me! She's a good friend and a mother figure to me. I love you! Pat's husband Dale goes along with all this and also helps me with my 501c3.

Nicole H was a student at GVSU when I met her. She was working with both Gina and I to fix cats around her on-campus apartment. She brought several cats as well as a feral mama and kittens. One day while at Brooknelle she spotted Susan and her kittens. She offered her friends sun porch as a place for them to stay till the kittens were ready to be put up for adoption. Nicole is awesome. Not only has she fostered Susan and her C-litter, she came daily when she was still going to school and spent time with the FIP cats. Nicole also has made very generous donations to my Rescue! Nicole...you ROCK!

Stu Mackenzie. Is there anything that this man won't do for me and my cats? From scoping barns (for placement of the Hell House Cats), to distributing fliers in the hell hole trailer park of Cedar Springs, to countless hours doing this and that and installing garage door openers and coming up with sanitary risers for cages at Brooknelle....he's always willing to help. Always there with cash in hand to make a donation or buy something I need for the Rescue, Stu is a good friend and he truly cares. Thank you Stu....for all that you do!

James Lefey has been a God send this year! When Bruce told Gina and I that we could move into Brooknelle, it was James that ran duct work, plumbed in the sink, insulated the doors, sealed the cracks and made it possible to run my Rescue. He never expects payment, so if there is money to be given, I have to force it on him. He's an amazing person. There is nothing that he can't do. James, thank you for always being willing to help me in my time of need!

Marcia Bloomers is the kindest, most loving person I've ever met. It was Marcia who called me one day in the Spring wanting to adopt a feral cat. I thought she was out of her mind. Then I talked to her more and realized that Cheyenne (of the Sanchez Clan) would be a perfect fit for her loving home. She wanted a cat that nobody else wanted. That was Cheyenne to a T. I tried to hold her babies hostage and not adopt them out till I got someone to take her too, but it was to no avail. I was crying the day prior to Marcia's call. I was telling Cheyenne that I was sorry, but I'd have to put her back outside. Because of Marcia's reaching out to me, I didn't have to. Thank you Marcia for giving her a chance at a happy indoor life. And thank you for all the monthly donations you make that help me pay the rent at Brooknelle. I love you!

Stephanie Meaney is kitten foster extraordinare'. She's been helping me for nearly a year now. I have never had to venture to her house. She always comes and picks up kittens and supplies for them. And she takes care of their medical expenses while they are with her and often times donates substantial sums of money to my Rescue. It was Stephanie who rescued me from the suckling kittens that had me so wigged out this Spring. She got them all healthy and loveable and for this I'm truly grateful! Stephanie has a sixth sense when it comes to my needs and just last week, while I was desperate for spray bottles (for bleach water), she turned up out of nowhere with 3 brand new bottles in her back seat. I don't know how she does it, but she does. Stephanie thank you for always being there when me and my kittens need you most! I love you!

The only reason I'm sane at all is because of Vic Cabot. I adore this girl! She first came to me as someone in need of help with TNR. I was happy to help this wonderful woman who loves cats so much! I had no idea that the tables would completely turn and it would be VIC that was helping ME! She expressed an interest in assisting me with my Rescue. It was Vic that had to run sickly distemper cats back and forth to Bruce while I was in Florida. It was Vic who scrubbed every cage and surface of Brooknelle with bleach to assure that no other cats would be exposed to the disease. It was Vic who last rode shot gun with me to Cedar Springs and made me stop to capture a free roaming basset/beagle mix (who she is trying to find a home for). It's Vic who knows just the right things to say to me when I'm feeling overwhelmed and thinking unclearly. And it was Vic who brought me Jolyn!

Jolyn Clark is amazing. She's this really cool chick that seems happiest when she's on on hands and knees scrubbing cages at Brooknelle. When I've been in a jam, she has appeared at the rehab center to accept cats. Anything I ask of her, she's more than happy to do. Her repayment for this is the pleasure of cuddling a kitten! She knows her stuff and I feel ultra comfortable having her help me out! And I'm not at ease with most people as you know cuz I'm a sick control freak! But with Jolyn, I don't give it a second thought! Thanks so much Jolyn!

A few months ago, a dear woman named Mary Eteo brought me some cats that she was trapping in her back yard. She tamed her kittens and found them homes. Once while at Brooknelle she noticed a semi-feral kitten that I was soon to return. She wouldn't think of it! She asked if she could work with the kitten and get him ready to be adopted. I said, sure...if you have the time....go for it. She turned little scaredy cat Reed into a love bug who now has a wonderful home! Mary supports my Rescue with monthly donations and brings me yummy Polish food! She volunteers now at Brooknelle two nights a week allowing me to have some days off and catch my breath. Mary is meticulous and really cares about my cats...friendly AND feral! Thank you dear woman for coming into my life!

I met Amy Townsend when I started volunteering at C-SNIP back in 2005. She trained me to make reminder calls. I knew she was groovy but had no idea how much she would come to do for me. At that time, I had no idea that I'd get into Rescue myself. She had done it for years and years so I was in awe of her. When I first started doing TNR, Amy rehabbed my cats. She has also fostered many kittens for me and found homes for them basically allowing me to dump them on her! She is always willing to help me. Last week she sent me a lead for adoption. Because of Amy, both Gina and Gia (two Cedar Springs kittens) have a home with the magnificent Maggie McFee!

I'm thankful to Crash's Landing, Reuben's Room, The Kitty Koop, HS and the people behind the names who help me help more cats! Linda Price took Bobby Nevill to her Koop, Jen Petrovich took in several FIV positive cats from me this year, Jeanine Buckner as always gives me sage wisdom and is always willing to talk to me (or meet me for brunch when I'm having a nervous breakdown) and Dr. Wendy Swift, Alicia Offringa and the team at The Humane Society of Kent County have been very helpful in taking on cats that I was unable to keep and re-home myself. HS also provides me with a good deal of donated food that I'm able to share with my feral caregivers and sustain Cedar Springs. Thank you all for helping me this year! Without you, I'd not have been able to make the difference in the lives of so many cats!

It's inevitable in this business to lose cats to illness. When I do, I am graciously invited to take their soul vessels to Noah's Garden where they cremate at a greatly reduced price. In 1994, my beloved cat, Baby passed away. She's buried there. The people who run Noah's Garden are just the most loving and compassionate people! I always have a bag of clean, bleached towels and bedding waiting for me when I get there. Thank you for all that you do to help people in their most desperate times.

This year, I've gotten onto the radar of a lot of people. This is greatly due to the hard work and dedication of Janet Meana (now Vormittag). Janet is the editor of Cats and Dog's Magazine. You know...the nifty free publication that has put West Michigan Rescues on the map. Without Janet's wonderful monthly magazine, people wouldn't know about me or a dozen other good Rescue groups. Dr. Bruce Langlois sponsors a monthly page for Gina and I to share information with the public. Countless lives have been saved due to Janet's tireless efforts to spread the word! Thank you Janet for all that you do!!!

Erica Carranco is one of my dearest friends. It's E that designed my website. She maintains it. I don't even know how to access the thing. She takes care of everything! Erica also spiffed up my petfinder page. When I'm really feeling low, I can call E and she will lavish me with empathetic love. When I had to euthanize a toad that I accidentally maimed, it was Erica who talked me through. E, I simply adore you!

Since Carol's Ferals is more in the public eye due to Erica and Janet, I'm getting more and more financial donations. Some of these are from you wonderful blog readers. Some are from people I don't even know.
I have to say it here now....I don't write thank you notes. I tried in the early days but often times donations are made via paypal and all I have to acknowledge is an email address. I know handwritten notes are important to people and I don't underestimate that. But so long as I'm pretty much flying solo when it comes to administrative details of this Rescue, I'm going to try to do my thanks in this public forum and save the time it takes to hand write a note and devote it to helping more cats. I hope that's OK with you all!

Thank you to everyone who sent me money this year. I want to continue to help cats and with your sending me a few dollars here and there, it's a few dollars I don't have to pull out of my savings. As you all know, I don't work any longer. The money I spend on the Rescue comes from my pocket (as does it with most Rescues), so by sending me funds, you help me continue to do the work that I love and that I hope I can do for a long time to come. For those of you who donate food or supplies, I soooo appreciate you! I have a wish list on the website and anytime I receive something from the list, I feel like a kid at Christmastime!

This year I was able to help a lot of people who really care about cats. There are people like John Koreja and Jim Schalk who paid out of pocket to fix every cat that they brought to me. Both of these guys have far exceeded a grand each on fixing and medicating cats that don't even belong to them! There are people like Patty Walczak who just about turned herself inside out this fall trying to fix the cats in her mother's backyard. Then you have dear, sweet Lisa Barnette who has not only fixed the cats on her property but those that are living in the barns of her neighbors. I think she's caught over 30 so far! She finds homes for the kittens too! And she always has a donation for me!

I don't think Steve Williford knew what he was getting himself into when he offered to help with the TNR efforts in Saugatuck. Now basically a "one man show", it's Steve who transports trapped and rehabbed cats between their home in Saugatuck and my rehab facility at Brooknelle!

I know I'm not thanking everyone that I need to. That's what's scary about doing a thank you page. Invariably, I'm going to leave out someone who my scattered mind has forgotten. And their being forgotten is not that they didn't make a huge difference to me and my Rescue, but rather that I'm a flippin' mess!

Those of you who have helped me this year, know who you are. I know you didn't do it for show or a thank you card. You did it for the cats. And if I have properly thanked you or not, please know that your support is greately appreciated!

With Much Love and Gratitude,
Carol

PS What I'm most thankful on this day of Thanksgiving is that Spooky is making nice poop. When I scooped his litter box this morning, I found some very nice little deposits. I wanted to take a photo and put it up on the blog, but I checked myself, deemed it slightly inappropriate on a day of feasting, and decided to just give you a mental picture instead!

What a week!!!

Returned from Florida and hit the ground running! On Sunday I had two cats brought to me. On Monday, 14 more. Tuesday night netted 11 and Wednesday with a trip to Cedar Springs and more folks coming at me from every direction there were 13 more. Two cats that were already fixed are not included in these numbers.

So it was 40 cats for the week! Not bad! My best ever week was 42 and that was a 5 day work week. With the help of some very devoted people who trap like maniacs, I was able to do 40 in 4 days!

This makes me very happy! As you know, the numbers mean a lot to me. I want to cut a swath across Kent County and make a real difference.

In tallying up my numbers since January, I've been able to fix 616 cats! My goal is to reach 700 by the year's end. I have to take a closer look at my numbers because I believe that there are more that I'm not including that were adoptables, but with owned cats in Cedar Springs, TNR's and adoptables that I've counted since at least mid summer, that's my number!

Since deciding to station myself at Brooknelle and accept trapped cats and not set traps myself, I have more than quintupled the number of cats that I've been able to have fixed.

An ordinary week in the early part of the year would be 6-9 cats! Now the average is 25-40! And now, I'm only working 4 nights a week. This is all part of my plan to sustain myself so that I don't lose my mind and have to leave rescue all-together. I think that if I continue to find good competent people to assist me with my Rescue, I will be able to work smarter, not harder and get more cats fixed which will help me to significantly contribute to the goal of NO MORE HOMELESS PETS.

Thank you all for reading, supporting, helping and sending me strength!
616 cats are better for it!

: ) C

PS Two good things. Bruce put Spooky on a new antibiotic that has completely turned his drippy butt to normal poop production. Yesterday he actually had two little tootsie roll type turds in his litter box. I scooped his box then ran around the house doing the "happy dance" and making calls and sending emails to those who know what Spooky has been through. Today, he's allowed out of the bathroom since he's not dripping anymore! Once I get the Giardia in the kitten room under control (4 more days of meds), then he can be a part of that population and I'll bring Cookie and Oreo from Brooknelle too!

PSS Whoever suggested I take Melatonin to help me sleep, I want to thank you. I think it was Bruce Langlois and Kim Grant. Thanks so much cuz I sleep well and I'm off the Lunesta so I'm back to normal and feel like I can take on the world again (after a long absence from feeling anything except being afraid to get out of bed). Thanks!!!

My Florida Trip

Well, I'm back!

I've actually been back for over a week but I've been so busy I've not had time to blog. I suspect you must be wondering what happened to me. Some of you have emailed me asking if I was OK.

I'm great. I really needed that vacation folks. Getting up in the morning and not having any responsibility beyond making myself a cup of tea really was what the doctor ordered.

I did have really sad new when I deplaned in Florida however. Despite the sun shining and nice warm weather cast down onto me, I had an voice mail from Gina telling me that one of my kittens at Brooknelle was found dead in the cage earlier in the morning when G went in to do her own Brooknelle chores.

This kitten was one that was being fostered by Crystal the feral mama of Heidi Andree who had three kittens at Brooknelle in the early fall before I was able to get her in for spay. Crystal took the two orphaned kittens that Elida was bottle feeding.

When I last was at Brooknelle on Thursday night everything was status quo. But then by Friday, I had a dead kitten.

This is how it goes with kittens sometimes. They turn fast. And this was no exception! Lightning struck again the next day and two more kittens were found dead. Vic and Jolyn took mama and the remaining two kittens to Bruce for assessment.

I was called to make the decision. It was distemper and Dr. Langlois suggested we euthanize the remaining two kittens but try to save mama. I agreed and the other kittens joined their siblings both biological and adopted across the rainbow bridge.

It was very stressful being away during such a time. But I suppose it was meant to be that way cuz I'm sure I'd have completely lost my mind had I been home. Vic and Jolyn emptied Brooknelle of cages (except for the ones that housed Cookie, Murroni, Oreo (the new kitty that was found in my condo complex) and Buggy Ding Dong (the kitten from Cedar Springs). The place was scrubbed from floor to ceiling with bleach and Vic took every cage home and scrubbed it with bleach according to direction from Bruce.

I returned to GR on Saturday. Vic met me at Brooknelle on Sunday and we put the place back together again. Stu Mackenzie made up some awesome risers to keep the cages off the cold cement floor but not compromise sanitation by having porous materials underneath.

Why did this happen? Distemper peaks in the fall. Nancy of VPC has been reminding me of it every fall. I'll get a call saying that "the shelter wiped out their whole feline population for distemper today". It's very distressing. But like canine parvo, feline distemper is spread through fecal matter so it's easy to transmit.

When Vic joined my team a month or so ago, she suggested I bleach litter scoops between cages. It was a no brainer really, but obviously something I wasn't doing! And for this, my 5 kittens paid the price. Now, every time a litter box is sifted, the scoop is immediately put in bleach water and awaits hardcore cleaning.

It's absolutely ridiculous that I wasn't doing this all along. Scoops are inexpensive. I use great care and caution not to wipe out water bowls with a towel that will be reused. I never reuse food. When a cat leaves Brooknelle, any remaining food in the bowl is thrown away. I have been ultra careful not to spread URI by covering cages if cats are sneezing or show any signs of illness. But I have been remiss with the litter scoop...something so simple.

Well, hindsight is 20/20 and now that I've been bit, I'm going to be careful. What is it that they say? You have to learn by making YOUR OWN mistakes. All the warning of Nancy and the experiences of others doesn't do too much. If we could learn from the screw ups of others, then there wouldn't be any screwing up any longer would there? So this was my lesson.

On Friday, Heidi Andree picked up Crystal and released her back into her backyard sanctuary. You know Heidi's set up. Her wonderful styrofoam cooler shelters have been featured on the blog. Her cats have it really good. She's an amazing woman! She and her husband Jerry really care about the cats that they feed.

I'm saddened by the situation, but am taking it as a learning experience and I've pretty much stopped beating myself up about it. I take full responsibility for exposing those kittens to distemper and now know how to be careful and use more sanitary practices.

What more can I say? Besides....rest in peace sweet little ones. I'll see you across the rainbow bridge someday myself.

Volunteers Needed for Dec 8th Spay/Neuter Clinic in Ionia

Hello Feral Friends

If you haven't been part of a mass spay/neuter clinic in the past, here is your chance to really make a difference to the pet overpopulation problem. If you have volunteered already once or twice and want to again....we need you.

Dr. Bruce Langlois and Safe Haven Humane Society in Ionia will be going for "round two" and attempting to fix 250 cats and dogs.

At last request, Dr. Langlois was looking for 20 more volunteers.

If you are interested in helping with this landmark event (surely the most animals fixed at one time) in this area, then contact him at: brucelangloisdvm@yahoo.com

He is in Peru doing spay/neuter and teaching vets there how to do massive s/n clinics so don't expect an answer to your email till after thanksgiving.

But do, get in touch with him and let him know that you would like to be a part of helping reduce the number of unwanted, homeless animals in West Michigan!

: ) Have a groovy day
C

Florida Bound

Feral Friends.....I'm off!
No, NOT MY ROCKER!
I'm off to FLORIDA!

My dear friends Jonelle and John are picking me up in Orlando this afternoon and we are driving to their condo in Bonita Springs (near Ft. Meyers). Yeah, I'm going to enjoy some sun, fun and John's awesome margaritas!

I'll be back on Saturday, November 10th. Back at TNR and Rescue work on Monday the 12th.

Thank you Arlene who will take care of cats at my condo. And thanks to Mary Eteo and Vic Cabot who will man the helm at Brooknelle.

If you told me 6 months ago that I'd feel comfortable leaving my cats and taking off to Florida for a week, I'd have said "you're crazy". But with the very generous help of these people and others I feel just fine leaving!

I promise to come back rested, mentally adjusted and tan!
: ) Carol