Thankful for:

Although I’m not a fan of Thanksgiving (see last year’s post), I think that our world would be a better place if we more frequently focused on that for which we are thankful instead of nearly constantly complaining about the irksome, hateful and horrid things in our lives.  Granted when there are things in our life that are bad, we should do our best to change them.  The occasional grief and/or sadness in our life cannot always be “fixed”.  Only time and new priorities can help lessen the grief and sadness.  
 

So to avoid another day of complaints on my part, here’s a list of those things for which I am thankful.

1. I am so very grateful that I am a woman. 
2.  No turkey has been killed for my taste buds in over 23 years. 
3.  I have today and tomorrow off…….with pay. 
4.  My cats and dog. 
5.  A relatively pain free day, even though I’ve taken 2 prescription pain pills and 2 over the counter pain pills since 4 AM. 
6.  I have 4 clean litter boxes, with just 5 more to go. 
7.  I have decided not to cook today and, instead, doing that on Saturday. 
8.  I am thankful to have shared my life with numerous cats and dogs over the years.  I still miss those who have died, most especially the greatest cat ever born, my one and only soulmate, Casey Anansi.  The love and understanding I received from Casey forever changed my life for the better.  RIP my darling – gone, but never forgotten.  He has been gone since January 10, 1990. 
9.  Each day brings me closer to retirement.  I just hope I can hang on for another 2 years and 3 months.
10. My diabetes is under control. 
11.  I am able to take care of myself.
12. Although I broke a nail, I didn’t fall today when Tessa came running across the living room and nearly knocked me down.   
13. Joss Whedon and all of his work, especially Buffy the Vampire Slayer, followed closely by Firefly.
14. Aaron Sorkin and especially The West Wing. 

I’m going to leave it there.  I don’t want to push my luck.  So, what are you thankful for today?

 

Dogless No More

It was just too much for me.  Without Celie, I had no one to "wash" the cat dishes clean each night.  Of course I have always washed their dishes with soap and water, but I had become used to the dogs or dog licking up what the cats left behind when they were done eating.

Candy, a cat rescue friend, suggested a good looking black lab who was scheduled for "death row" at Animal Serivces.  That led me to the website of Orange County Animal Services to take a look at the dogs they had.  The lab was good looking but I wanted a smaller dog in the hopes there would be no conflict with the cats.  Plus, I'm aging rapidly and wanted a dog that would be easy to handle and get into and out of my car.  I also wanted a dog who was at least 6 years old.  There were quite a few, but one in particular caught my eye. 

MEET MAGGIE

Don't let the picture fool you.  Although she looks small in the photo, she weighs 43 pounds and is amazingly strong.   She is 8 years old, housebroken but not leash trained.  She nearly pulled me to the ground when Barbara and I went to the shelter on Tuesday afternoon.  Although she seemed timid and depressed in the run, once she was out of the run, she headed for the door and OUTSIDE!  I took the leash off and she walked around the yard, bounded after any bird who landed on the ground and generally enjoyed the freedom.  

Once we brought her back to her run, the sadness returned.  No doubt other potential adopters during the nearly two weeks she had been at the shelter had taken her out and then brought her back.  There she laid, alone and destined for the euthansia room.  She had been at the shelter since February 1st and time was running out and her hopes had been dashed too many times.  

Before Barbara and I went into the shelter area, we visited our long time friend, the manager of Animal Services, Dil Luther.  I met him the day he started working there, back in 1991.  Although we haven't always agreed on their policies, we have remained friends and have worked together to help the animals of Orange County.  He has gone to bat for CARE's T/N/R program on a number of occasions and for that I will be forever grateful.  Dil went into "the back" where the dogs were with Barbara and I.  He rushed us back to the front to get the adoption application filled out.  Maggie would be going home with me..................but not until Wednesday afternoon.  

She's been with me for just over 24 hours.  In fact, right now, she is under my feet as I'm typing on the computer.  The cats are hanging back, definitely not sure what she is, why she's here and not particularly happy about her presence.  She is a bit hyperactive, especially when she thinks she is going outside.  She loves riding in the car, but gets a bit more worked up than I would like.  By the time we reach our destination, she's panting and nearly gasping for breath.  On the leash, she can't get where she wants to go fast enough.  

Although she went through the shelter clinic before coming home, I took her to my vet today.  At the shelter clinic she got her rabies, bordatella and DHLPP vaccines along with an Ivermectin shot and a microchip.  She, however, had diarrhea.  My vet found that she is riddled with hookworms.  He medicated her and gave me other meds to give her.  She has to go back in 2 weeks to see if another treatment is necessary.  For the diarrhea I cooked her chicken and rice tonight.  I made enough for the next couple of days.  I've found that chicken and rice often works better than any medication out there.  In fact over 20 years ago a former boss was frantic because her dog had gone through every treatment her vet knew of to stop her loose stools.  Prolonged loose stools can lead to dehydration and ultimately death for dogs and cats.  I recommended either chicken or hamburger and rice.  Within a few days she greeted me with a huge smile and told me that I had saved her dog's life.  I was just happy that it worked and her dog was on the road to recovery.  

That's about it for now, but I'm sure I will have occasional updates.  I'm also sure that the cats will come around, if for no other reason than the fact that Maggie simply isn't interested in them.  She is perfectly happy letting the cats deal with her on their own terms and take their time getting familiar with her.  Right now I think she's just happy to be out of the shelter and in a home.  I'm happy too!

P.S. - No, I'm not changing her name.  She's 8 years old and knows her name, so I won't be worrying over finding the perfect "C" name for her.  She will remain Darling Maggie.  Oh, and Dil, Barbara, Dr. Porter and I are debating just what her actual genealogy is.  Short of having her DNA tested (yes that can be done for dogs), we will never be certain of what breeds contributed to her cuteness.

P.P.S. - Cody, the lab, went to a rescue group so he made it out of the shelter alive as well.  

I hope each of you will, at some point, do your part and save an animal from a kill shelter.  You won't regret it.

The Holiday Season

Thanksgiving is a holiday meant for all to give thanks for all that they have.  

Christmas and Hanukkah are holidays where gifts are given to family, friends, neighbors and even co-workers.

As I have lost all of my immediate family, as well as beloved dogs and cats, over the years the holiday season has taken on new meaning – or no meaning – to me.  Certainly, as a vegetarian, the feasts with the carcass of a dead animal as the centerpiece is repulsive.  In the past few years I have chosen to enjoy my time off from work in unconventional ways.  Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I plan to see The Hobbit.  With any luck the theater will be nearly empty.

As far as gifts are concerned, most everyone I know has followed my request for NOTHING PLEASE.  I need to divest myself of enough stuff to fill a large store.  When that will happen is anyone’s guess.  The last thing I need is MORE STUFF.  To practice what I’ve been preaching, both last year and this year, instead of buying gifts for my employees I have donated to a non-human animal charity of my choice.  Both are grassroots, local nonprofits.

Last year I made a monetary contribution to the building fund for the Spay N Save's low cost spay/neuter clinic.  They opened their clinic earlier this year to one and all.  To find out more about Spay N Save, check out this link:  http://www.spaynsave.org/

 

This year, thanks to the recommendation of a friend, I chose the kennel at Harbor House.  Earlier this month Harbor House, a shelter for women who are battered by their partners, opened their kennel for the companion animals of the women who are staying at the shelter.  Most shelters for women who are battered do not permit them to bring their cats and/or dogs with them.  Due to that fact, many women remain in abusive relationships to protect the animals they love.  

This link for Harbor House (http://www.harborhousefl.com/2012/08/3rd-annual-paws-for-peace-walk/) provides a complete description of why these caring people chose to open a kennel that provides a safe haven for these animals.  For many of us, myself included, our companion animals are precious, priceless, irreplaceable members of our families.  

While I realize that it is too late for anyone reading this post to choose to make a donation to a charity this year, I want to encourage each of you to consider doing this for future “special” occasions where you would normally purchase a gift.  Instead of continuing to fall prey to the crass consumerism that abounds, help out a good cause.  Your money will help and you may start a tradition within your circle of family and friends.  You will, most certainly, help raise awareness of the causes you support.  Most of us, especially in the developed world, have enough stuff to last several lifetimes.  No gift is too small for those in need.  

During this enduring recession, it has been the small, grassroots and local nonprofits that have suffered the most.  The majority of these groups do not have a stockpile of money to help them through the tough times.  Local cat and dog rescue groups often operate in the red because of mounting veterinarian bills to save the lives of the sick, injured or abused animals they take into their care.  I encourage each of you to look around your community and find good nonprofits that need some help.  If you can’t give items they need or make a monetary gift, consider volunteering your time.  Most need caring, reliable volunteers for everyday tasks throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.  

The giant nonprofits that you’ve heard of or whose ads you often see of television generally have endowments or large bank accounts.  Don’t believe me?  Check out Guidestar to see the latest IRS 990s of some of the nonprofits you have heard about.  The larger the group, the larger the staff, the larger the expenses that don’t go directly to their cause.  United Way, for example, takes at least 15% of your donation simply for managing the fundraising.  When you get a phone call to raise funds for your local police or fire department, that call is made by a fundraising firm.  That firm may keep 40% or more of each donation they collect.  You would be better off taking some home baked cookies to your local fire station or even donating some money if the local firefighters are volunteers.  

This is just my 2 cents.  Take it for whatever it’s worth to you.

WISHING EACH OF YOU A JOYOUS AND SAFE 

HOLIDAY SEASON!!

METACAM - not for use in cats

This is just a short post to alert anyone reading my blog and who isn't in my email list.  There is a VERY important post at Covered in Cat Hair.  It's something that I think everyone who has a cat and, honestly, anyone who shares their home with any critter needs to read.  Our companion animals can't ask the vet any questions about their treatment, so it is up to us to ask those questions.  If you don't understand what your vet is telling you, then let him or her know that.  The life of the animal that you love could be at stake.  This advice holds true for parents and for yourself as well.  Ask questions of your doctor, just like you would of your auto mechanic, plumber or home repair person. 

Here's the link:  Ask questions - a life may in the balance

And while you are at it, check out the latest post at Vox Felina:  Apocalypse Meow

Finally, if you are so inclined, check out the political discussions at Skydancing

Thanks everyone who takes the time to follow my blog.  I really appreciate it.  And, please, feel free to comment or even ask me some questions. 

Caleb

This is my old man – Caleb. He became a part of my household in October, 1997. I figure he was born in either 1995 or 1996, which makes him between 15 & 16. Pretty darn old for a german shepherd mix.

He started his life with someone else, someone I never met even though he lived on the other side of my street and a few houses west of me. He was living in a house that had recently been purchased when the used car lot on the corner of my street expanded and bought the adjacent property with 2 houses on it. He worked at the car lot and the owner let him live there with his dog. When his boss found out that he was doing drugs, he fired him and kicked him out of the house. He left the dog behind to fend for himself. He did tell someone in the neighborhood that he would be back to get the dog. He never came.

Before the car lot owner bought the property, and before the last tenant in the front house moved in, the people before him moved out and left their cat and her kittens and their 3 legged dog and her puppies. The dog lost her leg after getting hit by a car. The house was (it’s demolished now) about 5 car lengths off a very busy major road in Orlando. The momma dog was very protective of her pups and all went to animal control. No doubt all were killed there. I took in the momma cat and her 2 remaining kittens – Climber, Chloe and Cleo. All 3 of those girls have passed on.

So, back to Caleb’s story. I started feeding him when he was abandoned. He had no collar, so I couldn’t put a leash on him. He would let me pet him with one hand, but not two. I wasn’t able to slip a collar over his head. If I brought both hands toward his head, he would run off. Every time I put his food bowl down, however, he would lick my face. He was obviously frightened, but friendly. After about 2 weeks, I was despairing that I would never catch him and he would get killed by a car either on the major highway or our street. He took to sleeping under one of those hot dog carts further down our block. Then a friend who did dog rescue came to help. She brought a couple of burgers and a slip noose. She held up the slip noose and held the burger on the other side. Caleb put his head through to get the burger and Voila he was finally caught.

My initial plan was to get him checked out with the vet and then turn him over to one of the area rescue groups to find him a home. Unfortunately, Caleb turned out to be very frightened. It was obvious that he had been beaten, smacked and probably kicked by his worthless previous owner. If I laughed too loud at something on TV, he would cower. If I raised my hands for anything, he would shake and cower. He wouldn’t let anyone walk behind him or touch anywhere near his tail or back legs. He just wouldn’t have been able to find a home because of how timid he was. The sad thing is the abuse I suspected isn’t the only thing that happened to him before I took him in.

About 5 years ago, his back legs went lame. He couldn’t stand up and his hind legs would get twisted when I tried lifting him to his feet. I took him to my vet, who took an x-ray. I took a look at it before the vet came in and was puzzled. There were spots all over the x-ray. I thought there was something wrong with the film. I was wrong. When I asked the vet about it, he told me that those spots were buckshot. Someone had shot Caleb with a shotgun and his body was peppered with the buckshot. The x-ray also showed that Caleb has degenerative disc disease. He was put on aspirin and prednisone. The vet wasn’t hopeful it would work, but within less than a week, Caleb was running through my backyard and acting like a puppy. He was obviously glad to be feeling so much better. He has had a couple of recurrences since that time, most recently this past weekend. Back on the pills, a muscle relaxant along with the prednisone, and getting his nails trimmed and he’s back to being his old self. At his age, he is nearly blind and totally deaf. He can’t hear the other dogs bark, thunder or firecrackers. At least the deafness is a blessing in disguise for him. He would always shiver in fear when we had a bad storm or someone nearby was shooting off firecrackers.

I thought I was going to lose him for sure in December, 2009. He had a tumor in his lower intestine and needed to have surgery. With his back problems, the location of the tumor and his age, I doubted he would pull through. He spent the night at the surgical specialists, following the surgery. I picked him up the next day, and you would think he was coming home from a spa visit. He not only pulled through, but did it like it was no big deal. The ability of animals to, so often, bounce back from surgery never fails to amaze me.

I don’t know how much longer Caleb will be with me, but he certainly has a strong spirit and desire to live. He’s come through so much and is such a sweet guy. Us humans could learn something from him.

More Random Thoughts

Well, 2011 started off as 2010 ended – still recovering from the surgeries, but able to work part time and still have weekday hyperbaric treatments.  When will this be over?  It’s anybody’s guess.

So, while I recover, the world keeps spinning.  While going through this extended recovery period, it’s harder and harder to look on the bright side. The state of our planet continues to spiral downward and seems to concern only a small percentage of Americans.  More and more species are not only endangered but are going extinct.  Last year was the hottest year recorded and polar bears may die out in the next 20 years.  Big cats throughout the world are still being killed, either because of concerns over protecting livestock or just for the sport of it.  Over 700 manatees died last year, the worst year on record as well.  Millions of unwanted, homeless cats, dogs, puppies and kittens are killed in shelters each and every year.  Children in developing countries are dying in mines, due to pollution, war or lack of clean food and water.  Lack of regulation and strict oversight allows things like the Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico and the West Virginia mining disaster, yet Florida’s new governor wants government to get out of the way of business.  When will people realize that the one and only thing that business is interested in is PROFITS?  It isn’t about worker safety, it isn’t about creating jobs, it isn’t about providing healthcare for their employees, it isn’t about insuring that generations to come have a healthy planet to live on.  PROFITS, that is the only concern.  Government regulation is the only thing protecting the average citizen and worker.  Without regulation our air, water and food supply would be in even worse shape.  There would be no OSHA overseeing workplace safety. 

Of course, there has been good news as well, both on a personal and world level.  Chaz, who was given not much chance of surviving long back in September, is still with me and hanging in there.  His brother, Charlie, although still way too thin, continues to eat everything that isn’t nailed down.  CARE Feline TNR helped pull 40 cats from Orange County Animal Services and is finding homes for many of them.  Animal rescuers, from the one person to multi-volunteer ones, continue to place cats and dogs in loving homes.  According to the Washington Post, vegetarian and vegan diets are becoming more mainstream.  China is putting large amounts of money into renewable energy and water conservation.  And, for the time being, the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is safe from oil drilling.  Let’s hope 2011 will have more Good News stories than Tragic News stories. 

My favorite holiday website

I discovered this site 3 or 4 years ago.  It always make me smile, especially because I haven't put up a tree in years.  Check out the pictures and I hope it makes you smile too.

http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp

Happy Holidays to one & all.

HATE THE SIN, NOT THE SINNER?

Not so much where Michael Vick is concerned. Vick is not a hero. Vick should not be back in the NFL. Vick has never been and will never be a compassionate, caring human. He destroyed the lives, hearts and spirits of too many dogs in the most callous, disgusting manners he and his partners in crime could devise.

Hate is not a good thing. It isn’t a quality that I like in myself, but I find there are truly some things worth HATING with all of my being. At the top of the list are those who, with no twinge of compassion, torture, mutilate, neglect and/or torture innocents and those weaker than themselves. This is done to nonhuman animals, children and women routinely every second of every day on this planet. And, in the overwhelming majority of cases, it is done by men. Testosterone loaded, aggressive, violent men. In our society, in particular, violence is not only condoned but applauded throughout all forms of media. The most popular movies and video games are those which are the most violent. The messages: violence is good, clean fun; violence solves problems; violence is necessary.

What set me off this morning? The story of Mel, a little black dog who was beaten, tortured and used as a bait dog by Vick and his friends. You can read the LA Times story here: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke-20101117,0,4438010,full.column

Mel, a black pit bull, cowers to the corner while another dog, Pumpkin, shields him. Mel was one of the 47 pit bulls in Michael Vick's interstate dogfighting ring. (Richard Hunter / November 16, 2010)

Years after surviving this chamber of horrors, Mel has found a safe, loving home. He suffers still from the damage inflicted by the monsters of Bad Newz Kennels. While Mel still trembles and fears new people, Vick is being lauded for his record breaking performance as quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Football fans are going crazy for Vick’s amazing skills. Some are predicting he may take his team to the Super Bowl and win them Super Bowl rings, the Holy Grail for all NFL players. Then there is little Mel and the other survivors from Vick’s “past” life, the one he has “paid his debt for” according to many.

Something is broken in Vick that can never be fixed. No fully human person could ever do what he did to those dogs and be able to live with themselves. He is not a role model. He is not a hero. He is not repentant. He is a monster and will remain one. He doesn’t deserve fame, accolades or rewards. It isn’t up to the fans to forgive and forget the transgressions of this pond scum of a person – his victims continue to work through their recovery and they are the REAL HEROS & HEROINES of this story. We must never forget them.

To read more about the story of the surviving dogs, check out The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant. You can read a review here: http://badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2010/08/jim-gorant-lost-dogs-our-review.html written by people who took in many of these dogs.

Dinner with Cordelia

In case you were wondering, no I'm not a professional photographer.  And, of course, based on this picture, I knew you weren't wondering that.  These are THE GIRLS, AKA Celie on the left (after the character in the incredible Alice Walker's The Color Purple) and Cordelia on the right (after my least favorite Whedonverse character of Buffy and Angel fame and the only character whose name starts with a C!). 

And this is Caleb, the boy of this mighty triumvirate.  Of the three, he is the sweetest.

I am a cat person, however, I didnt' discover this until the summer of 1968 when my mother let me have a Siamese kitten.  I had found the meaning of life.  My father was not a cat person, to put it nicely.  I once tried to bring a kitten home from a Girl Scout meeting and after getting one foot out of the leader's car, my dad yelled from the front door, "take that damn thing back where it came from."  This is the real reason I am a multiple cat person.  Parents, take note, forbidding cats (and maybe dogs) to your children - very bad idea.  You may be creating a Monster who will rescue animals and choose to keep many of them.  To insure your child will grow up to be normal (something we all aspire to ??), let them have a cat and a dog.  So, no cats, but I did have dogs - one at a time - growing up.  Dogs are nice, but they just aren't CATS.  There's nothing like a cat.  I firmly believe that cats are the pinnacle of evolution.  The majority of cats that I have known have been considerably smarter than nearly every human I've ever met.  I think that is evidence enough, at least for me.  And they are confident, cool and graceful.  I'm generally relatively confident but cool and graceful, not even close.  My father, who really was otherwise truly wonderful, wouldn't allow me to take ballet lessons.  Of course, that is the reason why to this day I am a licensed and certified klutz. 

The actual reason for this entry was to share a dinnertime story.  Cordelia, aka Cordy, is the goofiest dog I have ever had.  Both she and Celie bark while I'm mixing up their food, as if their loud chorus will somehow make me finish faster.  Arghhh.  Barking dogs, not one of my favorite things in the world.  Personally I prefer purring or vocalizing, both done by cats.  But, I can't help but laugh at Cordelia when I head into the hallway with her bowl.  She hops, dances, leaps, jumps backwards.  I think this is because if she takes her eyes off me, her bowl will disappear and she won't be fed.  Cats would never think something that ridiculous.  So Cordy hops backwards, raising up on her hind legs and then down.  Then she performs the same goofy dance until I bend down and put her bowl on the floor.  Who wouldn't smile at the spectacle?  She's just so funny doing her dinner dance.  I'll give this one to the dogs.  Food makes them happy.  Food is the most wonderful thing in the world.  Food is a reason for excitement.  All the while, Caleb waits patiently in the other room.  Of course, when the dogs have finished eating then it's time for more excitement.  Why?  Because now they get to lick the cat dishes.  Ah, the joy of the dinnertime ritual.