Whose Side Is Everyone On, Anyway????

Ok, my divine inspiration is obviously second to none, and my earthly minion did me proud!  But securing the (near) future for my little shelter is just step one.  There's more work to be done, and I trust it will be.  But there's more here than contracts and community support for the Little Shelter That Could.  There's 'David and Goliath' big vs. little, national vs. local, 'Rescue' vs 'Animal Control', and I don't like it.  I don't like it one bit.

Are we not all on the same page here?  Doing what is best and right for every homeless animal, even when those choices are difficult for humans.  And Humane vs Humane?  How humane is that?  (Anyone recognize themselves here?)  There's room for all of us, because otherwise the furry, and not so furry ones, will be the ones that lose.  Let's all 'come together' here, people.  (Does anyone realize how profound Beatle's lyrics are???)

I recently, well not me, per se, but you know what I mean, reached out for 'a little help from my friends' and I want to thank them for their support - Bonnie, Bill, Marcia and Madeline!  (Again with the Beatle's lyrics.)  And to our staff and volunteers, in the words of Cartman, "I love you guys"!  Yes, even Dora the magnificent, can get a little mushy sometimes.  (NO FAT JOKES!)  Speaking of fat - Miss Meechi is weighing in at a whole 11.4 lbs.  Better start shaking those tail feathers on a few laps around the office, Meech!
 
Our little shelter continues to amaze, and we hope that everyone sees us for the true, valuable little gem that we are.  People need to know that animal shelters have a nearly impossible task - taking in so many animals who were once wanted and then discarded and abandoned, and there's not enough homes for all of them.  Our little shelter has only 170 homeless dogs and cats.  Not many at all.  You would think finding 170 homes for them would be a piece of cake.  (Oooh, make that Temptations cake, please!)  But it's not easy, and we all know it.  But while they're with us, we'll make sure it's the best home it can be until they go to their forever home!

I'm back at last, with the Heiress apparent!

So you've been wondering where I've been?  I've been wondering that too sometimes!  It has been a while, I know, but you can't imagine all that's been happening in my world.  A bit of the dust has settled, my little shelter has survived round 1, but they've still got a few rounds to go.  This 'guardian angel' gig is a lot harder than it looks! 

While I know I can never be replaced - heck, my IV bag still hangs in my old office (!) - there is a new gal in town.  Meechi is her name, and Calico is her game.  The only type of cat more ornery than me is a Calico!  She just about has it all - hates kittens, check.  Is picky, check.  Puts the boys in their place, check.  Can command mere mortals with a look, check.  Is independent, check.  Doesn't need the company of her species, check.  Is adored, check!  And by the way, she has exceeded Denzel's record on the copy machine - a whopping 998 copies!

 

 

So what's Meechi's story?  The usual - dumped in the parking lot as a kitten, barely 8 weeks old.  She was a free spirit, romping the parking lot with abandon, refusing to be caught.  (C'mon people, kittens don't know that cars can kill.  At least have the dignity to turn them in safely to the right shelter so they have a chance at survival.)  Meechi was lucky.  She was eventually caught by the nice shelter lady.  And how, you ask?  Yup, the old 'Hansel and Gretel' trick!  (Temptations could actually patent the Hansel and Gretel trick!)  A trail of Temptations up the walkway, into the office, where the unsuspecting (read 'innocent') Meechi continued on her merry way, munching and crunching Temptations until - she was 'captive'!  Panic ensued, but the little one was safe.  Not sure about the whole people thing, she none-the-less realized they were kind and gentle and loving.  And full of Temptations!!!!  While she is still a bit wary of new people, she is the Heiress apparent, and has assumed the coveted 'spot'!  She has a heart on her left shoulder, and I like to think it's my heart - just a little bit of me.

Unhappy Valentine's Day....

The 'day of love' turned out to be anything but.  It's just lucky that my 'human communication vessel' was in the right place at the right time and heeded my 'call'.

For on the very day that love is paramount, my paramours, a poor, suffering feline was dumped to die in a parking lot.  This was a pet - he wasn't feral, he wasn't wild - in fact, he was as affectionate as could be.  But here he was, crying, dying, in a parking lot, abandoned in a box, trying to crawl his way to anywhere but here.  A faithful, loving pet, abandoned.  He could barely move, and only managed a few feet.  That's when I stepped in and sent in my troop.  She found him, lying there, and spoke gently to him, as he struggled to lift his head to her voice.  She stroked him, so gently, and he rolled his head into her hand as if to say, thank you, thank you for being here, don't leave me.  There's only so much I can do from 'up here', but this time I could be sure that this poor, suffering old one didn't die alone.  Die, he did, but knowing the gentle touch and love of a stranger at the end, instead of the love of his family.  How sad, how disgusting, how unnecessary - they should be ashamed.

Rest in peace, my furry one - I'm going to welcome you home.

Company's Coming, or "Knock, Knock, Knocking on Heaven's Door".....

I know, I know, I haven't been very timely with my blogging.  I meant to 'write' for Christmas, and then for New Year, and, now it's already the second month of 2012.  Please forgive me.  Oh wait - I'm perpetually forgiven because I'm 'here'.  ( By the way, apologies to Mr. Dylan, but I think he'll understand.)
Previously, I introduced you to my 'office mates', Denzel and Edward (Baby Ed to his mom!).  You already know that Denzel is happily ensconced in his forever home, and now Edward is too - with me!  This morning, Ed came a knocking and yours truly welcomed him with open paws.  No one ever expected it so soon, especially everyone who loved him and knew him and met him, but we Felines are on our own schedules. 

Before I share Edwards' side of the story, let me tell you some things about him.  Yes, he seriously got air when he would play with some dumb toy like packing peanuts, after closing time.  Yes, he liked the 'dry stuff' (don't we all!), and he thought Temptations treats were the food of the gods - we have them here so he's in Temptation heaven.  (Sorry, I can't help myself with the irony sometimes.)  When he mis-calculated his leap onto something he actually meant to miss it - he just acted all embarrassed so that you would all feel sorry for him and fuss over him - and it worked!  He perfected the birdie sound and that's a talent because not all of us can do it.  He liked the ladies (both species!), and frankly I never knew what he saw in that Liberty Belle.  He didn't mind 'kitten-sitting' when he had to but as far as he was concerned his job was to 'sit' while they 'kittened'.  He was the 'greeter', and a very good one at that - people asked for him all the time.  But most of all, he was a good sport and kept me company, even though I acted as if I abhorred him.

Edward would like everyone to know that he misses you but he'll always be there.  He's happy he got his own microchip with his own yellow tag, and he's sorry he got so mad when his bed got changed.  He will never like pet wipes but he appreciated the 'thought', and nothing beats a loving lap at lunchtime.  He forgives everyone who ever dressed him up in costumes.  He's very thankful to everyone who ever gave him treats, brought him treats and bought him treats.  He's happy he was an SGVHS 'shelter' cat because SGVHS was his home sweet home from beginning to end.  He knows how much he was loved.

Office Manager

Damn Birdies!

Cute, very cute!



It's coal in your stocking!