Good News and More Bad News

George & Trevor and Frosty & Snowball (pictured) went to an off-site event on Saturday. George & Trevor were adopted together and are hopefully enjoying their new home. Frosty & Snowball, also a package deal (i.e. you take both, not just one or the other), did not get adopted and returned to the shelter that night. Snowball (the one with more black on his forehead; head down in picture above) passed away Saturday night. We found out when we went to the shelter on Sunday to volunteer walking the hoarder's dogs. Frosty & Snowball were so bonded that they always slept together, played together, ate together, etc. When they found Snowball that morning, Frosty was sleeping on top of her buddy. It just breaks your heart.

And now, we are paranoid that some illness made it into our kitten group. The only two left, Peach and Eragon, have been having a little bit of loose stool and not much of an appetite. Eragon also has a lump on his lower abdomen that the vet will be checking out on Wednesday (the vets come to the shelter only on specific days). Misty is going to give these two an appetite stimulant and she took them back to the shelter this morning. They will stay in ICU until we figure out what is going on. We had to do it and feel horrible about leaving them there (they are so clutchy with people), but we have to think about our own pets. If there is something going around, we can't risk having our cats, and perhaps even the dogs, start dying. We've already started the massive clean-up and disinfecting of the house. We vacuumed and swept floors; we got a steam cleaner yesterday (amazing how fast these things quit working when dealing with pet hair) and started steam cleaning the carpets; this afternoon, I'll bleach the bathroom floors and walls, as well as the litterboxes and toys the kittens had used.

Rest in peace, little Snowball, and I wish little Frosty peace without her brother. I desperately hope the rest of my posts on these kittens will be happier ones.

5-year Reunion and Bad News

Misty and I traveled to Bryn Mawr College on Saturday for part of my 5-year reunion (reunion is actually all weekend, but we couldn't afford to "officially" attend, so we only went up for the day). Campus is still gorgeous with new additions like that above (I think those buildings are multi-cultural centers used by various clubs for meetings and such). We got to meet some wonderful alums previously known only online and via phone calls. We also saw quite a few members of my class, most of whom I was happy to see.

Unfortunately, when we returned home that night, we found that Hasana had passed away. She had been doing much better that morning - even eating a fair amount of KMR formula and Clinicare. Whatever got to her siblings got her as well. Rest in peace, little Hasana.

RIP Zami and Nuru

These were the last three kittens we took in. From left to right, you see Nuru, Zami (smaller of the twins), and Hasana. Zami passed away while I was visiting my parents last weekend and Nuru was gone this morning. They both appear to have died in their sleep, which is some comfort at least. Hasana looks pretty sick though. She has diarrhea and is walking very slow, just wanting to sleep most of the time. I don't think she will make it. Peach has actually been refusing food, which is very unlike him since he usually goes feral over wet food (see earlier photo). He doesn't want to play and I am worried about him as well. Eragon is the only other foster left in the house (George & Trevor, Snowball & Frosty, and Motka all returned to the shelter, healthy, in the hopes of being adopted - I'll let you know if/when they are). He didn't go with the rest b/c he seemed a bit skinny. We've been feeding him wet and dry to fatten him up and he is still interested in play, but I think we'll send him to the shelter soon in case the little ones had something that he could catch. And we'll just keep hoping and working to keep the itty bitty ones alive.

Adoptions!!!

Fostering is so worthwhile when you've managed to get them into good homes. River, Saphira, and my baby Serenity all went back to the shelter last Wednesday in the hopes of being adopted. Not only were they all adopted by the end of the week, but they were all adopted the same day (but to different owners). Misty got to meet Serenity's new owner and is very happy with the match (have to admit, we felt a bit picky about who got our wee one).

After getting neutered, Denver was ready to go back to the shelter on Saturday. There was an off-site that morning, so they decided to take him along. Well, that little firecracker was adopted before he even got taken out of his transport carrier! And, he gets to go home with another couple month old kitten - he needed someone to match his endless supply of playful energy.

We think our "adoption bios" are helping to get them adopted. For each kitten, we print off a picture with a paragraph describing their very best traits. The only hard part is keeping up with doing them before we have to send the kittens back (they are all roughly the same age, so we only get a few days off in between...and those few days have been spent working on the hoarding dog situation).

Big News

So the bat that bit Misty was rabid. She got 3 shots on Friday, another one Monday, and then I think she has to get more shots on consequetive Fridays for like 3 weeks. Poor thing. They don't do the shots in the stomach anymore, but Misty said they are still very painful.
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The 2nd story I have is quite sad. A woman was hoarding animals at her house in Whiteford. She supposedly ran a rescue operation that saved them and got them adopted, but something happened along the way. She got too many animals, didn't ask for help when she needed it, or something. Animal control went in and seized them on Friday. Many were dead. Our Humane Society took in all the living ones: 69 dogs and 4 cats [that is our final number; the news reports were inconsistent on how many]. It took hours and hours to do the incoming exams. Misty really took charge of the operation since she is the Vet Tech Supervisor and the first thing they needed was a medical evaluation. My girl was awesome. We worked from 8:30pm till 2:30am the next morning, but by that time everyone had had incomings, been given food & water & bedding, and walked around. Many dogs were so matted that they needed to be shaved down and mobile grooming people came to help with that.

I thought this would be a better photo choice than showing the animals in their sad states
(if you can stomach that, watch the videos below)

I was amazed at the outpouring of help - people saw the story on the news and rushed over with donations of food, bedding, etc. and to help walk/feed/water the dogs. When we first got the dogs, we had to use every crate we could find (we were already overfull in the runs), so some of the smaller ones like chihuahuas ended up in cat carriers. But, Petco & Petsmart came the next day with huge crates so that everyone could get bumped up a size. That made a huge difference. Misty got the crates lined in rows and I made a huge walking board, so there was some sort of order to the volunteers walking the dogs. The dogs are improving daily (some had never seen grass before!). We actually have more than enough food now.

We hope the volunteers continue to come - 69 (plus those already at the shelter) are a LOT to take care of. Staff and volunteers have been working round the clock. It is simply amazing to see. The shelter had to get a table to organize all the people that showed up to help. As sad as the situation is and as much as the dogs' conditions get to you, you can't help but get a warm feeling seeing everyone's generosity and good hearts.

If you are interested, WJZ News was covering the story all weekend. There is an article here (at least for now) with a couple related videos (the one with that says "warrant charges woman with 118 counts of animal cruelty" has clips of Misty speaking [red shirt; curly hair]):

http://wjz.com/local/local_story_132172457.html

Bat-ty News

Can't you just hear Peach saying "NO! My food bowl - mine!"

In other news, Misty got bit by a bat yesterday. It supposedly did not break skin (no blood was visible anyway), but they have to test the bat anyway. We'll know by Monday if the bat, and consequently Misty, has rabies. Oy vey.

the final three

These little guys seem very wild (though very needy), so I wanted to give them some very powerful-sounding names.

Nuru
(supposedly means "born in daylight")

Hasana
(the bigger of the twins; supposedly means "1st born of twins")

Zami
(anyone read "Zami: A New Spelling of My Name" by Audre Lorde?)

13 Kittens!!!!

Do you think we have reached the point where things are just a bit out-of-control? We now have 13 foster kittens at our house. And this is after River, Saphira, and my baby Serenity were taken back to the shelter to be put up for adoption yesterday (they were 8 weeks old). Denver got neutered yesterday, but came back home with us. On Saturday, he will go to an off-site adoption event in the hopes of being adopted. So, I guess it is nice to have so many new faces...keeps you from moping too long about those that moved on.

So, 13 kittens. Motka still has 3 with her: Denver (till Friday), Eragon, and Squishy (both boys who will be neutered next week and then sent off to be adopted soon after). Downstairs, we still have the 4 relatively new ones: Mellow Yellow, Strawberry, George, and Trevor. I think all 4 will be up for adoption within the next two weeks. So, that makes 7. I have pictures of 3 more below and then I will put up pictures of the last 3 tomorrow (once I've decided on names). That makes 13. Hmm....maybe we should throw in one more so we aren't unlucky. ;-]

Peach

Frosty

(a bit feral, so the name is for the personality)

Snowball

Poor Peanut

Okay, so Sati is evil incarnate. I fed everyone two days ago and then walked away to start the run of litter box cleaning (there are 4 boxes now in 3 different rooms), when I heard a yowl. We're not entirely sure what happened other than the fact that she attacked Peanut. Yes, poor little Peanut who has already had enough of a rough life.

Misty took him to the vet and, a couple hundred dollars on the credit card later, we found out that he had to have a tooth pulled. We actually knew that would happen b/c it was only half in the socket and turned on its side. He also had a tiny tooth mark and swelling under his jaw (you can see it in the photo above if you look really close), so we can safely assume she bit him. But, she didn't stop there - he also has a scratched cornea in his eye. He had to stay overnight at the vet and get fluids (he was running a very high fever). He came home with antibiotics and may still have to get the infection in his jaw lanced for drainage. He's been very clutchy since he got home.

Anyone know of obedience school for cats? The only solution we could really come up with is to separate to feed. It is annoying (imagine separating 3 of your own cats when the easiest places to put them are already taken by foster animals), but we'll do it. Did I mention that Tasha decided to go after Shelby tonight during their feeding (don't worry, she's okay)? I don't think we have enough rooms to separate everyone!

Kinetic Sculpture Race in Baltimore

I know, you are probably wondering what on earth a giant pink poodle is doing on the water. Well, it is time for the Kinetic Sculpture Race in Baltimore (East Coast Championship). It is awesome craziness. Ordinary people, though often college students, enter these big sculptures that have to be completely human-powered. Think inventive variations on the bicycle. The race is 15 miles on land throughout the city and includes a water portion (so you need to add floaties & rudders to your bikes), a sand pit, and a mud pit obstacle course.

I'll try to add pictures to Kodakgallery or something on Monday and will post the link here. In the meantime, you can read more about the event at Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Puppies!

As promised, the golden retriever puppy was quickly adopted into what the shelter believes and hopes will be a much better fit.


Now, Misty & I had said before we wouldn't take dogs unless it was an ER situation since our dogs get so jealous. Yet, surprise, she came home with these 4 4-day-old puppies last night. I guess they are sort of an ER situation b/c they have to be fed every few hours and it is hard to get a hold of the foster network on the weekends. They should have a more permanent foster home by Monday, though, so this is really temporary.

They are very cute, but a pain. Here's a fun fact you may not know: when puppies (or kittens) are suddenly without mom, they may start nursing on each other. And that includes on each others' privates. We've been constantly bottle-feeding them so they aren't hungry, but they are still doing it. Solutions: separate them all (not so feasible when we already have a set of kittens with Motka in the bathroom upstairs and another set of kittens in the bathroom downstairs, and not enough carriers/heating pads to go around) or put socks on them. That's right: socks. You cut off the bottoms, cut little holes for the feet, and slip them on. Whatever works, right?

Look who came for dinner...

Meet the newest batch of kittens. Their mom was very mean/feral and they were removed from her in the hopes of socializing them enough to be adoptable. Misty thinks we caught them just in time (apparently, after 6 weeks, it can be very hard to create an adoptable pet out of a feral animal). I think they are about a week younger than the other six who will be leaving in about a week with the hopes of getting adopted. Even Serenity, who has FINALLY started to eat solid food and not just nurse on Motka. I'm sad to see them go & worried about them, but I am hopeful that they will all find really good homes.

This is Strawberry

Mellow Yellow

And finally, the twins: George (left) has a bigger head and is slightly lighter in color; Trevor (right) is smaller and a bit darker. These guys will need the most socialization because they are very skittish right now. Strawberry and Mellow Yellow, Strawberry in particular, are playful & daring enough that I think they will be fine. We're giving these boys a lot of TLC.

Golden Retriever Puppy

This cutie was turned into the shelter yesterday because the kid he was bought for didn't want to take care of it. People, please remember that if you buy a dog for a kid under 12, that dog is still YOUR responsibility. Now, that can mean that you remind the kid to take it out and clean up after it, but it should not mean that you give it away. If the kid doesn't take care of it, YOU need to. Pets are not toys to be thrown out if a child misbehaves. They are living creatures that need love and attention. Please, think twice before buying an animal for a child and make sure you are ready to care for it yourself if the child fails to. That said, this little guy is lucky b/c he is so young - we don't usually have too much trouble finding homes for puppies.

My First Rally

No worries, this blog will never turn overtly political. Just wanted to show what we did this past weekend. We went to "Save Darfur Now: Rally to Stop the Genocide in Darfur" in DC. It was amazing - so many people!

This is only one of many amazing photographs shown during the rally (even better in real life -
the digicam added the graininess to the picture).


The speakers were all well-spoken and short, which is good b/c there were so many of them. The headliners (shown above) were George Clooney and his father Nick Clooney, who has been over there making a documentary about the genocide. If you want to know more, check out: http://www.savedarfur.org/