I rescued a human today

I rescued a human today.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering
apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I
had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she
wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view
from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want
her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter
keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about
my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a
difference in someone's life. She got down on her knees and made
little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head
up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my
neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek
and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I
instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I
would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do
everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are
out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved.
At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Just cute and sweet!

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1560479383964&source=jl999

Yummy Greek Food This Week in GR!!

Once again, it's time for our annual Greek Luncheon and Bake Sale.
Join us for a cultural experience of food, music, and great conversation!

What? An authentic plate consisting of:

spanikopita (spinach pie),

pasticho (Greek lasagne),

Greek salad and bread, and, of course,
baklava for desert.

(A vegetarian version is available.)

When? Wednesday, November 19 and 20 ,
11am-2pm dine in, carry outs 11am-6pm.
Carry outs can't be guaranteed without a reservation after 2pm -call 454-6563

Where? 330 Lakeside Drive NE GR 49503 (between Michigan and Fulton)

Who? Whoever is interested!

Cost? $10

This is a fundraiser for Philoptochos (translation- "Friends of the Poor"), a charitable women's group connected with Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. This group will donate about $20,OOO this year to local charities like Gilda's Club, Gleaner's Pantry, Ronald McDonald House etc.


****I'll be serving tea and coffee during the sit down times. So if you want me to wait on you, come by and enjoy some delicious Greek food. Coffee, tea AND ME!!!

: ) C

I'm not old. . . . . I'm just big boned!

Hello Feral Friends-

Saturday is my 43rd Birthday! Yes, I know . . . . . it's unfathomable!

In lieu of gifts I'm looking for donations to my Rescue.

Things the cats can use are:

Bleach
Dish Washing Liquid
Laundry Detergent
Gift Certificates to: TSC (for horse bedding. . . which makes a fine kitty litter for the caged rehabbing cats), Walmart (for canned Friskies . . . . patae' style foods) or Costco (for Fresh Step scoopable litter for the adoptable cat room).

Now that we are 501c3, all donations are tax deductible.

So if you want to celebrate my birthday, this is a great way to do it!!!

Cheers!
Carol

Fun with food that's not fattening!

Why you should buy your flea products from your vet vs a store

> Subject: Fwd: Cassandra's Story posted to Hartz Victims

>
> The following has been posted to the HartzVictims.org
> website. It has been titled ‘Cassandra’s Story’.
> Since all postings are pending until reviewed by the
> moderator for content, I can’t tell you how soon, or if,
> it will appear, but it follows as submitted.
>
> Last weekend, I was unable to pick up Frontline
> to treat Cassandra for our flea problem. Sunday
> evening Kmart was open and I stopped to see if they
> stocked any flea medication. Hartz products were the
> only line being carried by the store. Since Hartz has long
> been a well-known pet product name, I purchased their
> Ultraguard flea drops. I applied the drops to the back of
> Cassandra's neck and left the room to wash the product
> from my hands. When I returned, she was still on the table
> with a glazy out-of-it look to her eyes and appeared to be
> drooling. I live in Lancaster, PA and we are blessed to
> have an excellent 24-hour animal emergency center -- PETS,
> and I rushed her to their facility. The staff
> immediately treated her by shaving the area and washing it
> with Dawn detergent. She was noted to have started with
> tremors but because the product was removed from her skin so
> quickly, full seizures were avoided. She was
> sedated and observed for several hours. I learned from
> the staff at PETS that nine out of ten animals treated with
> Hartz flea products have reaction to this pure pesticide
> product.
> Back at home, I learned the following taken directly from
> the EPA's website:
> "At EPA’s insistence, Hartz Mountain Corp. has
> agreed to cancel uses of several flea and tick products that
> may be associated with a range of adverse reactions,
> including hair loss, salivation, tremors, and numerous
> deaths in cats and kittens. In the short term, the agreement
> calls for new labeling of the products. The new labeling
> will state that the products of concern are not to be used
> on the most vulnerable animals, including cats and kittens
> that weigh less than 6 pounds, cats older than 13 years, or
> kittens less than 5 months old.
> Through this agreement, Hartz will voluntarily stop all new
> production of these products by September 30, 2005 and will
> not sell or distribute any affected product after December
> 31, 2005. The company has agreed to a prohibition on sales
> down to the retail level by March 31, 2006. "
> Cassandra is fourteen. There were no instructions on the
> product packaging to not use the product on cats over
> thirteen or I would not have bought the product.
> I have been telling all pet owners that I know about
> this. I noticed today that my Kmart receipt asks for
> feedback on my shopping experience, so they will be hearing
> from me on this one. I cannot praise the kindness and
> professionalism of Doug Bowman, VMD and the staff who were
> on duty Sunday evening at the Pet Emergency Treatment
> Services. Without their efforts, I would have foolishly
> lost my precious Cassandra.
> Please pass onto others.



Feral Friends, please warn people about this. Gabby and I had to rush our cat Socks to the emergency vet back in 2004 for the same reason. Socks made it through and Hartz paid our $450 vet bill. The stuff is bad news! People should only use vet purchased products on their pets! This was so upsetting to us. We trusted Hartz as well. This was the same time we spent countless hours researching what kind of cleaner to use on our new RV. Then we put K-Mart purchased poison on our beloved animal. We felt like idiots when we finally got online and read about how toxic these products actually are. I say Frontline, Revolution or NOTHING!!!

That year, whenever Gabby and I would go into stores selling these products, we would load every single carded flea preventative up in a cat carrier and hide it high on a shelf. Nobody ever caught us.

Thank you Kathleen Oliver for reminding me about this!
C

Bored at work???

Go to sleeveface.com and check out some creative folks and the fun you can have with a camera and an old record album.

www.sleeveface.com

Is it time to go home yet?

click here: http://billychasen.com/clock/

Stuff

Hello Feral Friends-

Trying to take a week off of running cats is near impossible. While I've been able to at least avoid runs of cats to Bruce's for spay/neuter, I'm still constantly on the phone and taking in cats who are in need.

I'm sitting on Max for Stephanie and her mother while he's medicated for a nasty upper resp infection. Then once he's better, I'm gonna get his nuts snipped off and Steph and Jeri will be taking him inside to be a house cat! Yeah for Max!

Today I had a white little 6 month old named Snowball brought to me by a gal named Leslie who has been feeding her outside since she was a tiny kitten. Snowball nipped at Leslie's daughter and had to be quarantined or euthanized for fear of the dreaded (nearly non-existent in Kent County for 13 years) rabies virus. So Snowball will hang out at Brooknelle for the rest of her 10 day quarantine period (in a separate room from Max the sickie).

Christy is trying to tame Diamond the orange girl that HS called me about a few weeks ago. Traumatized by being taken to HS after her owner could no longer keep her, she has been a fretting psycho ever since arriving there. Suzanne contacted me to take her and work on friendling her up. Christy has been laid up due to her neck injury from last year thats flaring up, so today was the first time she has been to Brooknelle to work with her. Brave / Foolish girl that she is, she did manage to get Diamond to eat food off her finger. But my girl nearly lost her right hand when she tried to change out Diamond's litter box.

Today I was nearly made "road kill" trying to locate a kitten spotted by a woman yesterday while driving south on 131. She attempted to wrangle the 6 week old black kitten but it ran. She went to a petstore and purchased a crate, lined it with a blanket and left food. Gloria called me today to see if I would try to catch the kitten. Christy and I were already out and about so we risked life and limb during high speed rush hour to locate the crate. Crate was found, food was gone, but no kitten live or dead anywhere so I had to write this one off. But both Gloria and I at least know we did all we could. Hopefully the little baby went behind the sound barrier wall into the neighborhood to the west.

So, try as I may, I can't get any rest. But it's OK! I dig the adventure.

The count for fixed cats this year is 804. Last November and December brought over 100 cats so the goal is now 900 for the year. RC Kula set my goal for 1K, but that might not be possible unless I find myself another Ray Jones (90+ cats that started as only 3 two summers prior).

Christy and I enjoyed seeing Joan Baez Monday night in Ann Arbor. She was lovely and gracious as ever. It was two years since I'd last seen Joan and I was really in the mood for her. The new album is wonderful as anticipated.

Saturday we will hit the casino in Mt Pleasant for my birthday. Hoping my mom and dad's spirits will grace us and sit me in front of the winning slot machine. We are both CMU alumni so a walk around campus on a crisp fall day will be really nice!

Have a groovy week!
: ) C

Found Cat!!!

Thanks Steve (From Saugatuck) for this funny!!!

NO TRAPPING TILL NOVEMBER 16th

Hello Feral Friends-

Taking a break from running cats from November 6 - 16th. Got some stuff on the calendar that will keep me from working next week.

For those of you who care to know.....I'm getting away this weekend and spending time with Tracy, my best friend from college at her condo in Gladwin.

On Monday I'll be seeing my favorite person, Joan Baez in Ann Arbor. It's been two years since she's been in the area, so I've been jonesing (or should I say JOANsing).

With Sunday and Monday shot, I decided to take the rest of the week off and get caught up on some cleaning at Brooknelle and work on putting together a benefit (more on that later).

So if you're planning on a trappin' - - - - DON'T till November 16th.

: ) Carol

Prop 2 passes in California

I haven't seen the Oprah on the subject or read extensively, but hearing that prop. 2 passed in California is cause for celebration. While spending nearly every moment with my vegetarian guru, Christy I'm coming closer and closer to ceasing the carnivorous cravings. Still, tonight I'd like filet mignion. But at least prop. 2 will make life better for farm animals in CA, so I'm happy about that.

For more about factory farming reforms click on this link:
https://community.hsus.org/humane/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=28847277

: ) Carol

We Beat Last Years #s

Hello Feral Friends

In 2007 we fixed 768 cats.
As of last week, we have fixed 785 so far in 2008.
My cocky goal last year was 1K, but not sure that we will make it.
But we are increasing our numbers and that's a good thing.
More people are getting the idea.....JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TOUCH THEM, DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T HELP THEM!

Thank you Dr. Langlois for sponsoring my article in Cats and Dogs Magazine for the month of November.
Thank you Janet for making Cats and Dogs Magazine possible.
So many people have found our services through this remarkable media venue.

: ) Carol