Thank You Mildred!

Mildred is a friend I met in Long Island City when I lived there. She lived a block away and we met one night when I was feeding My Little Girl.

I learned she was her caregiver and had her fixed years ago. We started talking and I realized she had been performing TNR on that block for many years. However, it wasn't "TNR" to her, she did not even know what "TNR" stood for, she just saw a problem and stepped up to help fix it. I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! She tells me all the time how she "doesn't do that anymore," but she still dabbles:) She said years ago she had crates stacked upon crates and got the street cats fixed and put back out and the friendly ones all got homes. She feeds on her block daily and when she sees someone without an eartip she either traps them herself or she gets in touch with a local TNR group CARE for Cats to get them fixed.

Well...OOPS! She did it again!

Mildred's husband, Johnny, alerted her there was a mom and 2 kittens

across the street living under a porch.

(above photo provided by Mildred)

Mildred had seen the mom a few months before then but not since.

So off Mildred went with her trap!

She got the mama and then she got her 2 babies.

LOOK at these beautiful kittens!

I went by to check them out and I have never seen kittens so young with a winter undercoat!

It was AMAZING! True fur balls!

They were all hissy and nasty for about a day...

now they sit on her chest and lap and purrrrrr!

Mildred has learned the mom was an indoor cat

and was left out with the garbage when someone moved:(

Left out in the cold in November to fend for herself.

(above photo provided by Mildred)

She found shelter under a porch and ended up pregnant.

Mildred has already found the babies a great,

new home with another lovely person in the neighborhood (her story to come)

and is working on placement for the mom.

The cats on Mildred's block in Long Island City are lucky to have her looking after them and I am thankful for her selfless efforts.

Here's to Mildred and the Long Island City street cats!

Thank you Mildred!

Smudge and Eva

Smudge is a great cat that has run into some bad luck.

He belongs to a dedicated animal rescuer, Eva, who devotes countless hours and dollars to cat rescue. Smudge was one of those rescues, and he had the happiest ending when he got to stay with Eva as one of her own.

Three years ago Eva went to New York City’s Animal Care and Control for her first day as a NYCACC volunteer. That day she met Smudge.

He was 8 years old and surrendered to the shelter because his owner did not have time for himL Eva adopted Smudge that same day! It took a while to figure out the purrfect name for him. He was called Bumble Bee, Santa, Figaro, Giuseppe, Other Cat, Big Cat and finally Smudge. He never felt abandoned again, and instead has been showered with love and affection.

In return, he gives joy and love to Eva, his feline siblings and feline foster friends.

He even takes the time to teach the little ones how to be big catsJ

Since then, he has spent his days sunning himself on the fire escape

and lounging around the apartment looking cute

On Wednesday, while under anesthesia for dental work, Smudge’s heart stopped. He was resuscitated and is currently fighting to recover. He is under round the clock care and his mama, Eva, is visiting him as often as possible to remind him he is loved.

I love seeing a person go so above and beyond to provide care to their beloved animal(s). And Eva goes above and beyond for each and every animal in her care, not just her own.

This is very different than what we see on the streets and in the shelters. Animals tossed aside that end up suffering or lined up daily to be routinely euthanized in kill shelters for lack of space. Eva goes into the shelter and rescues countless cats from this fate. Her tireless efforts are inspiring and admirable. She pulls cat after cat and finds them all homes. Regardless of being short on time or anything else that might get in the way, Eva never stops. She rescued Smudge from the shelter and she didn't stop there. Three years later she continues to rescue cats and kittens. Cats with illnesses, injuries and neurological disorders don’t slow her down a bit! She gets them all homes. Eva does this on her own with her own time and her own money.

And now it is one of her own she is trying to get back in to her safe and happy home.

Smudge has a long way to go and Eva will be with him every step of the way.

Our paws are crossed and we wish Smudge and Eva the best of luck.

To see more pictures of Smudge and Eva’s other rescues, go tohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/evapro/

The Calico Thank You Reel!

This litter needed a lot of help and a lot of people jumped in to help them.

To see the Curious Case of the Calicos story, see my previous posts.

They came to me ill with parasites (rescuer had started treatment) and once that was resolved they were showing recurring fevers and one, Santee, had a very swollen belly. The first 2 vets would not consider what else it might be, but after a lot of research and finding the right people to help, we were finally on a road to recovery!

Miniconjou died only a few days after she got to my home, but her 4 sisters, Teton, Lala, Santee and Tanka survived and fought this battle hard. They were named for the Sioux warriors and with the help of Dr. Adams of City Vet, they fought like warriors! And won!

Thank you all for your part in their recovery! Words can not express my gratitude.

THANK YOU DR. ADAMS AND CITY VET! YOUR DILIGENCE, COMPETENCE AND COMPASSION SAVED THESE GIRLS!

THE THANK YOU REEL (ITS A LONG ONE)...

CITY VET: DR. ADAMS, JASON AND THE REST OF THE STAFF: Thank you for looking past the FIP diagnosis and finding what was hurting these girls! Thank you for your patience and compassion in treating them and helping me to treat them at home. The courteous and kind manner of everyone on staff at City Vet was calming and contagious:) I walked out of there feeling confident and hopeful every time. I could tell you were all rooting for these girls!http://www.cityvetnyc.com/

CARE FOR CATS/LARI OLSEN: Thank you for rescuing these girls from that back yard in Bay Ridge and caring for them while they nursed from their mama. Thank you for your help and advise in caring for the girls and for listening when I felt so helpless. And thank you for your ongoing and tireless TNR and rescue efforts in NYC.http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/pets/2010/04/17/2010-04-17_trapneuterreturn_nonprofit_gives_feral_cats_humane_way_to_live_9_lives.html

FAITH POPCORN: Your generosity and compassion for these girls and so many other animals is truly amazing. Thank you for your contribution to the care for these girls (and all the others).

FAITH POPCORN'S BRAINRESERVE (my office): Thank you all for letting me bring the girls to the office with me when they needed round the clock care. Your patience, tolerance and understanding are so kind. Thank you also for the donations to the girls' vet care and testing. http://www.faithpopcorn.com/

IRENE DE VILLIERS: Thank you for coaching me through the FIP scare and for reviewing their blood work. Your help and advise helped us rule out FIP and turn the corner to recovery! The answers and hope you provided helped me keep it together and keep going. I admire you for dedicating your practice, personal time and research to FIP.http://www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/fip.html

FRIENDS OF ANIMAL RESCUE (FOAR): Thank you for your contribution to the girls' vet care!http://friendsofanimalrescue.com/

MR IRSAY: Thank you for your contribution to the girls' vet care.

THE GIRLS' NEW HOMES/ADOPTERS: Thank you for providing a safe and happy home for these girls!

NORTH BROOKLYN CATS (LISA AND SHAWN) AND EVA: Thank you for coming to the rescue with supplies and advise. Thank you for listening when I felt overwhelmed and scared. Thank you for including us in your adoption events at Muddy Paws where all 4 girls were adopted! Thank you for all the work you do to rescue so many cats and kittens. North BK Cats: http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Brooklyn-Cats/125040640883852 and Eva:http://www.flickr.com/photos/evapro/

MUDDY PAWS PET SUPPLY: Thank you for your generosity in allowing North Brooklyn Cats to host adoption events in your store (Williamsburg, BK). It helps so many cats and kittens find new homes. http://www.muddypawsny.com/

FLICKR/TWITTER FRIENDS: Thank you for your kind words and thoughts, your help in promoting adoption events and for cheering us on!

TAMMY CROSS/KITTEN LITTLE RESCUE: Thank you for your advise and calming words. http://www.kittenlittlerescue.com/index.html

CITY CRITTERS: Thank you for making room for us on your van to get the girls spayed! http://www.citycritters.org/

YAHOO GROUP: FIP_SUPPORT: Thank you for your support and help along the way. This is such a great group.http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FIP_Support/

AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO BIG CITY LITTLE KITTY'S (MY) RESIDENT CATS, EKO AND TIGRA for tolerating not just another litter, but a litter that needed a lot of care which took up all of your mama time. Thank you for teaching these girls how to be big cats when they were finally healthy and out and about in YOUR home. And thank you for letting these little girls sleep in your favorite spots in mama's bed.

ITS OFFICIAL! TANKA AND SANTEE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AND ARE LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

After several weeks of hiding under their blanket at North Brooklyn Cats' adoption events at Muddy Paws in Brooklyn, Santee and Tanka finally found a wonderful, forever home!

It was December 18th, a week before Christmas.

Santa delivered early this year!

Their new mom and dad walked in and took one look at them and knew they were their new kittens! I told them to be sure and look at everyone else available, but they knew, they wanted the girls! So that was it! Later I brought the girls over to their apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and they had them all set up to start in a small room (bathroom) until they get used to their new digs.

I hugged and kissed them and told them I love them and set them in the basket.

Here they are as I walked away and said my last goodbye.

I just called to do a 2 week follow up/check in to make sure the girls and the adopters are happy and was assured they are totally in love with Tanka and Santee (now named Kyle)!

She said they are now comfortable and confident in their new home and of course super sweet and loving:)

I also hear they have a new toy, their water bowl!

They play in their water bowl every day and leave it empty for mom and dad when they return home from work! Heehee! Stinkers!

I forgot to ask if Santee (Kyle) is still doing that shoulder bit:)

So this story ends with another happy ending!

Great job girls!

Best of luck and lots of love to you!

XOXOXO