Happy Birthday, Princess!

Hard to believe that Mom's "little one" is three!

 These were taken when she first came home....busy exploring...

 Trouble wasn't so sure he wanted a kitten..

 But eventually he warmed up to the idea...

Another refugee from the Osterberg-Romano Home for Little Wanderers that's found a happy spot in her furever home :D

Happy Birthday Gwyn!!!

Today is Gwyn's birthday. She's five this year! Hard to believe! :D We decided to give her her birthday present a day early:

Okay, so that's only part of the story...but I have been asking her this week if she wanted another baby kitteh for her birthday! So, my friend, the vet who saved Xander and gave him a chance at life has been saving little kittens again!

Crashed in the crate on the way home

This little guy got into antifreeze a number of weeks ago. Only about 5% cats survive that. Maybe I have a soft spot for them since we had one survive antifreeze when I was growing up. This baby had a very high fever and has had some neurological damage (his head wobbles...a lot...he sometimes runs into things..), plus he's deaf (although that's likely from the white cat/blue eyes genetic thing. But he's a happy baby!

My friend was looking for someone to foster him. We don't "do" fostering. When I can, I'm happy to contribute money and/or supplies to help animals in need. I admire people who foster. I can't do it. Pretty much, if they come into my house, they're staying! So, I was particularly drawn to this little guy and hopeful that he'd make a good playmate for Xander...maybe Willow could get some peace in her golden years (maybe I'm delusional and they'll gang up on her!). We've taken him in with the understanding that my friend will take him back if it's too upsetting for Willow or Xander....'cause, it's definitely not too upsetting for Gwyn! :D

Tomorrow I'll share more pix of the initial adjustment and tell you his name...which I think I already know, but want to confirm that LoML and I are in agreement...

Meet Cocoa

I had a tough job yesterday...my friend asked me to go by and check on her new furbaby, Cocoa. They recently adopted her from the local shelter, and she'd gotten spayed the day before. Since I was going to be in the neighborhood, my friend just wanted me to make sure she was still feeling okay and hadn't spilled all her water. It was a tough job...but somebody had to do it! :D

She's absolutely adorable!...And not just a little bit funny:

Check out my crazy puppy ears when I run!

Speaking of ears...she thoroughly cleaned mine! :D

More on Dogs

Okay, so it's "tomorrow" that I'm continuing yesterday's post...ran out of time (imagine that!) last night.

In honor of yesterday's National Dog Day I offer this video, sweet, but guaranteed to make you tear up. Sorry about that, but it's worth it!


Now, to explain further yesterday's tease...Gwyn and I encountered a box turtle on our walk Saturday. She wasn't as freaked out by it as she had been the first one she ever saw, but she's still not entirely sure what to do with them.

Sadly, I must report that Buster, the pointer that mom & dad rescued last year succumbed to mast cell tumors and had to be euthanized. While they didn't have him as long as they'd have liked, he had the best year+ a retired hound could have! One of his funniest quirks (to me, at least) was that he loved to pick up turtles and carry them around :D He would have most certainly liked this one!! Rest well dear one.

Bumper Sticker

Saw this outside the local PetSmart the other day and it made me smile!

One Year Old!

Today is Xander's birthday! At least, that's what we've decided. You know, with a rescue baby at some point you just have to declare a day to be their day :D And today is his. He's come a long way from being a tiny, sick, underweight little guy that a concerned citizen who found him didn't think would make it. He's now gone from being behind the curve....to *way* ahead of it! He now weighs roughly 13 pounds! The days of formula and kitten chow are over.

 

This is what he was up to today:

 

Quite a bit different from this little guy:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY XANDER!!!

Itty Bitty Kittehs

I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that a friend had unexpectedly lost her cat to a sudden illness. She went out to the local shelter a few days later and adopted two little sisters! :D I was so tickled when she met me at my car after work one evening to introduce me. Is there anything cuter???

I know that not everyone can dive back in (so to speak) right after losing a pet, but I loved the fact that my friend wanted to try to make the difference in one--or two!---lives as soon as she could. God Bless pet rescuers everywhere!

Postscript

Got distracted (imagine that!) and forgot to tell you the best part about ordering from M&M Designs: they donate 100% of their profits to canine cancer research and animal rescue organizations!!! Check 'em out.

Ain't No Sunshine..

..when she's gone. I mentioned at least once that the 'rents (parents) rescued Buster, an English Pointer earlier this year. He's doing fabulously...has put on weight, gotten healthier, and is spoiled rotten--as he was meant to be. And he is most definitely a momma's boy! The 'rents were off visiting my bro' & his family and I was left on critter duty. One of Buster's routines includes catching a bit of winter sunshine mid-morning. His pen doesn't get winter sun and most every day Mom takes him out for a while and chains him out in another part of the yard that gets sun. He does well on a line and will follow the sun until it moves off and then bark for Mom to put him back into his pen, where he can also go in & out of his garage and dog house. (His training of Mom is coming along nicely.) Unfortunately for him, it seemed as if every day that I wasn't working was a rainy day! I've learned that this now retired hunting dog doesn't like to walk in the rain either :D Sounds like another retired hound I know! I think I did a decent job and Buster really likes me...but I'm a poor substitute for Mom! I'm sure he was ecstatic upon her return last night.

Singing for his supper (He suspects I don't know I'm supposed to feed him without him telling me!)

Watcher #1

Watcher #2

I may not have been spending 30 minutes a day walking with Gwyn so far this month, but have been with Buster (not to mention Solana). Now that Mom's back, I'll transfer that time back to my own spoiled rotten hound.

Xander

So...the grief process for Oz continues...some days are better than others. As all who have gone through this know, it takes time for the acute pain to recede...but life goes on.

Our friend, a vet, reached out to us about a very special little boy she'd saved who needs a very special forever home. He's only about 5 weeks old now. Three weeks ago someone brought him to her to be euthanized. Being the kind of person she is, she decided to give him a couple of days. Something had happened to wound him and he's lost the sight in his right eye. It's basically closing up on its own...he's too tiny for any sort of surgical procedure. His left eye still needs treatment, but he has sight in it and hopefully it will heal just fine. Other than that...and being tiny...he's fine!

As long as Gwyn and Willow accept him, he'll have his forever home here. I've been talking to them for several days about him...they just really had no idea what I meant! I'm hopeful that Willow's mothering instinct will kick in and she'll decide she likes having an itty bitty baby kitty all her own.

His name is Xander. For any who didn't realize, we had named Oz & Willow based on characters from the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (a fun little show we always enjoyed...really...it was better than the name suggests!). Anyway, with Oz gone, it only seemed right that Willow should have Xander...another character from the show.

 You'll hear much more of him in the coming days. For now, I have to go check on him! :D

Thanks for Helpin the Goggies, Mayzie!

I was thrilled to learn yesterday that one of my blog posts was selected in Mayzie's Rescue Me Week contest. Now a $100 donation is being made to Greyhound Friends of North Carolina Mayzie says there were 180 posts featuring 233 wonderful animals needing to find their forever homes. May Granpa J's kindness and giving spirit live on through us all and may we be ever mindful of how a simple act can change lives. I'm reminded of the starfish story (many variations...)

THE  STARFISH  POEM Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.  He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?" The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said-  "It made a difference for that one."

.

Thanks to all who make a difference in one life at a time! Also, kudos to Mayzie for showing us this video which I have to share:

Rescues Make Your Heart Smile

Good morning. I really need to get moving...but feel like sharing this morning after getting all warm inside reading about Bunny's birthday over at Tales and Tails (be sure to watch her video!) and thinking about finding Gwyneth :D
Today's pet who needs a forever home in support of Mayzie's Rescue Me Week is this sweetie:

Alison

 

Here's what PAWS has to say about her: Allie is a beautiful, black, spayed 4 year old female feline. Allie is a quiet cat who likes to spend hours looking out a window. She will help you with paperwork & mail and loves to play with pens on your desk. AKA little thief! She also insists on talking to you while on the phone until you give a free hand for a pet. What we adore and love about Allie: Short, sleek thick fur that feels plush, but sheds little. Will catch a misspelled word while helping out on your desk. A very soft purr motor Sleeps in the crook of your leg while in bed. Very elegant cat no matter what she is doing. Gets along well with other cats Loves to play with pens, pencils, and paper clips. Cons about Allie: Loves to clean her humans hands while being petted. Does not like dogs Steals pens, pencils, and paper clips. Contact: adopt@pawsofcarteret.org

You can view her info here: Alison on Petfinder
And...oh my! I had to follow the linkys from What Remains Now (the Declan version of 4 faves) to see what happened when Declan forgot his cat mantra as shown in this post
Have a greyt day!!!