Words can't begin to discribe how I feel

At work today the word quickly got around that a 14 year old cat had been surrendered. I didn't get why people were upset, it isn't the first time, people are idiots but this one goes beyond being an idiot. This women dumped her cat on us after having it for 14 years because it didn't get along with her new kitten. Yeah, instead of rehoming the kitten, who would be much easier to rehome and isn't attached to her she thought hey why not get rid of the 14 year old, who has spent all her life in this home with us. I can't even try to understand your thoughts on why this sounded like a good idea to you, but then maybe you didn't really care for the cat in the first place. If you did you wouldn't be doing it to the poor thing. The face in the carrier was scared, and confused. She didn't understand what she had done to be in this noisey place, but you didn't care you worthless women.

Do you realize that finding a 14 year old cat a home is next to impossible! She's going to rot in a cage here, no one wants a cat her age. They'll give her one glance see her age on her kennel card and move on to a younger cat while she rubs against the bars trying her hardest to get their attention, get some affection and find a loving home because her last idiot of an owner dumped her senior ass in a shelter for a kitten. If you didn't want the cat why didn't you jsut do her a favor and put her down. It would have been kinder then drop her in a shelter were she is going to rot in cage. I hope one day when your old your family drops you off in a homeless shelter, for some hairbrained reason.

I can't even explain how I feel right now, I can't begin to express myself because words escape me. Plus most of them aren't overly nice when I do think of some. You'll probably do the same thing to that kitten when it gets old. I'm glad you were told off when you gave the reason why you were giving her up, I'm glad they told you to never come back and try to adopt an animal from us and I pray that that poor kitten either dies before you see it as too old and you deside to dump that one too for another kitten, or that you put the poor thing to sleep instead of dumping it in a shelter where it will have little to no chance at being adopted among all the other younger cats and kittens it is now sharing its home with.

Yes the kitten was cute but guess what that kitten is going to grow into a cat, and that cat is going to keep growing older and older until it too is 14 years old. Where did you get the idea that pets are disposible? You wouldn't do that to your children what gives you the idea you can do that you an animal, to a 14 year old cat! When you took in that poor cat, you became respsonible for it for the rest if its life, not until you got bored with a senior cat. Before getting a pet think 15 years or so down the road, can you still see yourself taking care of that animal? If not then don't bloody well get one, its not fair to them or to the shelter workers who get the "pleasure" of watching this poor soul sit day after day in a cage slowly giving up on life.

I Adopted Your Cat Today

I adopted your cat today.
The one you left at the pound.
The one you had for ten years
and no longer wanted around.

I adopted your cat today.
Do you know he's lost weight?
Do you know he's scared and depressed
and has lost all faith?

I adopted your cat today.
He had fleas and a cold,
but don't worry --
You've unburdened your load.

I adopted your cat today.
Were you having a baby or moving away?
Did you suddenly develop allergies
or was there no reason he couldn't stay?

I adopted your cat today.
He doesn't play or eat much.
He's very depressed,
but he will learn again to trust.

I adopted your cat today
and here he will stay.
He's found his forever home
and a warm bed to lay.

I adopted your cat today
and I will give him all that he could need.
Patience, love, security, and understanding.
Hopefully, he will forget your selfish deed.

The good die young

I've been working at the Toronto Humane Society for over a week now. Most of my day if not all is spent medicating the sick cats and giving treatments to cats with long term diseases such as Diabetes. I haven't done much with the dogs or other animals there but I don't mind, when I'm not clocked in I at times go and look at the other animals wanting so badly to take them home. Two moments have stood out thus far that I must write about to try and heal.

My first day consisted of dealing with death. After medicating most of the cats in one room that had URI we went into one of the Isolation rooms where the more sick cats are. One cat stood out to me during the time we were in there. An orange and white female with no name, she had litter and other gunk stuck to her face from dried saliva. She had feces stuck to her back end as she didn't seem able either that or just didn't care to get up and use her litter box any more. She was redundant, in her own little world, she was there physically but mentally she was far from being in that room and aware of the things going on around her. The moment I walked in that room with the vet the smell of death was strong. Looking at that poor nameless cat I knew why, most of the cats in that room were severaly ill and most have now passed on with a couple getting better while the cages of the cats that had passed on were filled with more severaly ill cats.

I did what I could in that room and then moved to give the orange and white some attention, cleaning her face as best I could without hurting her. When she would work up the energy to complain and resist I would stop and stroke her head and back, telling her it was OK, that she was a pretty girl. When her face was clean again I worked on her back end, removing the feces stuck on her legs, tail and bum. She didn't complain and at one moment I thought I heard a purr but it might have just been my imagination. Lunch time came and I gave her a final pat and went to eat coming back I went right back into the room, the vet asked if I wanted to spend some time with her, give her some loving and make a final choice on if we should put her down or see if she makes it to the morning and go from there. I was left with her then. Picking her up out of her cage she cried but quickly fell silent and curled into my arms, resting her head on my upper arm as I moved to the window in the room. I turned so she could look outside without moving and for the first time that I saw that day she perked up, watching the cars pass by, the birds on the roof, the clouds moving through the sky. She perked up and lifted her head her eyes lost that dull look for a brief moment. I was thrilled and thought maybe she just needed some loving, something to get her attention. But after several moments of looking out the window she setteled back into my arms and went limp again. I stayed by the window, petting her, telling her she was a beautiful little girl, she would look up and meow at me in a sad and sorry tone. I would tell her softly to shh and stroked her chin while trying to hold back tears as another employee came into the room to tend to the other cats. While there we made some small talk about her and he asked if I wanted to name her. One quick thought and the name Glory came to me.

I could imagine how regal she must have looked before she fell ill. How sleek and shiney her coat must have been, how plump she was, the look of pure intelligence and knowledge in her face and the energy she must have had. But now she was nothing but skin and bones, her hair clumping and dull, she had nothing in her face but a dull barely alive look. Yet when I held her to that window she perked up so much I knew that was what she had been once, how much she must have adored watching the day go by around her before she got sick. So I remained by the window with her for awhile more before placing her back in her cage and cleaning her some more while thinking and telling her that I loved her and told her everytime she cried to shh it would soon be all over. I knew the answer already, knew what was best for her. That look in her eyes told me she was already dead on the inside, she was ready to go there was no reason to prolong her suffering. I couldn't help but cry.

At the end of our shift I told the vet my choice and she agreed. She asked if I wanted to hold her during it I nodded and held her as the vet gave her the first injection. Glory would fall asleep soon and then the final injection would be given to her. We couldn't find a vein and so I had to lay her on the table so the vet could put the final injection into her heart. I didn't want her to go on that cold steel table I wanted Glory to go in warm and loving arms but that wasn't to be. She was gone within seconds. The next day in that room her hair was still on the table. I picked it up, stroked it for a bit in my hand and with a final whispered good bye and an I'm sorry I swept it up and put it in the trash can.

I miss her without every really knowing her. Another cat died overnight in the room and why it still saddened me to learn that that cat had died Glory tugged at my head so bad I still dream about her but a her that was healthy and vibrant. Saturday while at work and doing my daily morning meds I came to a pair of kittens, a brother and sister, black and an orange tabby. The little black female, Lucy was doing very well, constantly trying to get her brother to play with her. Lincon, her brother would have none of it. He would growl and smack at her, he was still ill, a heavy nasal discharge smeared his face, his eyes were runny and painful looking and he weezed as he breathed. The meds weren't working, he was getting worse. I put a vet check tag on their kennel card for the vets to look at him when they came in the next day before I left the day before. Yesterday morning as I came to their cage I noticed something wasn't right. Lucy was bouncing around like normal but when she went over to bat at Lincon there was no movement, no sound. I opened their cage, he didn't move, normally he would have. Lucy stopped batting at her brother and came bounding over crying I lifted her into my arms where she eagerly snuggled into me and started purring. With my other hand I went to touch Lincon, I knew he was dead but wanted proof, wanted to be wrong. He was stiff and cold, he'd died. I sat back on the floor telling Lucy I was so sorry, telling Lincon I was so sorry until a vet came in and I told her what was wrong. Lincon, a beautiful orange tabby kitten was dead, his sister grived for him, tried to get him to play and wake from his slumber. It was so hard to see that. So see her grab at you as you walked by after he had been removed, cry at you and then go to the spot he had been and sniff before crying out adn coming back to the front of the cage. Poor little girl, she must be so confused and hurting. I hope she continues to get healthy so she can be adopted by a wonderful new family, loved on, pampered and have a another cat as a playmate, get everything that her brother deserved but never got.

RIP Glory and Lincon. You'll be missed but your free from your suffering now. You were both in my dreams last night, healthy and beautiful, the way you should have been, had been.

Caution, DO NOT adopt or give animals to this women!

I'm copying this from my email that was sent to several rescues. This women does not deserve to ever own another animal, please do not adopt to her or give her your animal should you have it up for sale or "free to good home".



This beautiful cat was euthanized by her adopter within six weeks of having been adopted. Her adopter was Lora Demeneghi, she used Darlington Vet Clinic as a reference....she previously had a declawed cat that had been hit by a car when it was just 2 years of age.

She had advised our adoption coordinator that all was well with Lexi at the 3 week period...no diarrhea. She went ahead based on her vet's advice and had 2 more series of shots given to her because he/she felt AVA's single set of shots were inadequate. AVA's shots were given in July 2008! AVA was having its' bazaar this weekend so many of us could not return calls immediately. Lexi was euthanized Monday simply because she had diarrhea. Finances were not an issue....but... The adopter wants her adoption fee back!

Kitten Adopt-A-Thon

Last weekend was the kitten adopt-a-ton. It didn't do near as well as previous ones, we adopted out 8 kittens where as one of the other adopt-a-thons we did 16. But those 8 now have homes at least.

My two guys never got adopted, but thats OK. They haven't finished thier medication anyways. But if your looking for a pair of kittens you know who to ask.

I didn't get pictures of all the new families as I wasn't there for a few hours of it.

Dundee (black, DLH who was related to Patience) was adopted by a lovely young couple who had another cat who looks like his twin!

Blair (silver and white tabby, DLH) was adopted out. Hopefully they can bring her out of her shell to the beautiful cat when know she can be!

Mixie (brown tabby DLH) was adopted out by a wonderful women who is a teacher in Brampton. She had lost her cat and was looking for another to fill the void she was feeling when her daughter brought her cat over. She wanted an older kitten, knowing she couldn't handle a younger one. Way to go Mixie! You've waited a long time for your forever home!


Drake(black, DLH relative of Patience and Dundee) and an adorable little grey and white kitten (we had a prblem with a litter of four, we weren't told who was who!) were adopted by a mother and daughter. They stuck around for a long time as the daughter had allergies, so the mother wanted to see if she would have a reaction or not, nothing. They seemed like wonderful people and hopefully the little girl doesn't have an allergic reaction to them! Best of luck!

Three black and white kittens (siblings to the grey adn white kitten) were adopted to a wonderful couple! Those kittens are going to be spoiled, they already have a wonderful and large cat tree purchased for them! Good luck with them!

The next kitten adopt-a-thon will be in two weeks! Please drop by if your looking for a furry new family member!

Quit the job, cat trapping is done, kittens for adoption...

Nothing much to add, I've got no major rants right now and the rescue work as died down a fair bit. The area we were trapping in we think we've caught them all now so thats done. I'm hoping to get involved in another one soon, it reall is alot of fun despite getting tore up.

I've quit my job at River Grove Animal Hospital. And I must advise anyone and everyone should you be looking to change vets or for a vet do not go there. It is not a well run clinic. When we (MHS) used the clinic and left the ferals there to be spayed or to find foster homes we were under the impression things wouldn't be skipped out on, such as food, medical attention and doing the surgeries properly. There was more then one time I had to call Tina and have her bring food for the cats as there was no food to be found for them. The vet didn't seem worried. Two cats died in his care that didn't need to, one had just come from another vet clinic to get spayed, Pico was healthy but too feral so was going back outside she died without reason after her spay. A young kitten died who was bouncing around fine in the carrier, was fine until she was taken there and then I found out she had died and he hadn't told MHS she had, they had a foster home lined up for her and asked me if she was ready to go and I had to tell them she had died the same day that Pico did. He said it was because she had dirrahea. I've mentioned to him some cats downstairs of runny eyes, he didn't go look at them, I took it upon myself to give them the eye cream without his consent because their eyes were looking so bad. I've been told by previous employees that sometimes the animals go for two days without food because he runs out, he skips things during surgeries because he's run out of it, one thing being the drug that numbs the area of the surgery, pain medication. He gets anry and yells and clients when they refuse a treatment after he has given them the option to refuse a treatment such as fluids during surgery and then yells as the employees for letting them do it. He's refused treatment to MHS animals because their foster parent was a former employee of his and he didn't want her to ever come into his clinic again because she quit to start her own business in grooming, making her go to a vet further away and risking the lives of the kittens adn mother cat she had. Two of these kittens have now died. Among other things, this vet is not a good vet, the things I've been told and seen are not made up so I have no fear of him reading this as I know what I saw and what the other employees saw before they got fed up and left. Sooner or later he is going to get in trouble for how he does things, for killing someone's pet. So please, don't go there, don't give him your money. I'm not a disgruntled employee, I'm worried for the sake of the animals that people trust him to make better and care about instead of the money they bring in.

Now that that is said, Wilson and Kutner are up for adoption now, they are up on the MHS website http://www.mississaugahumanesociety.com/ and I would like them to go together. They do have eye infections so even if they are adopted before their infections clear I'd like them to stay here and get treated so they can go to their new homes healthy. There is going to be another kitten adopt-a-thon this weekend at the Petsmart on Mavis and these guys will be there as well I.

Ignorance and irresponsibility is all it is.

A lot of people feel this way, I feel this way everyday and to be honest there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel like smacking someone around from a post I’ve read on a forum or I’ve met in real life. The reason most people seem to breed their DSH or Dalchiadore is because they are cute, will bring in money, want their kids to experience the miracle of birth and other stupid ideas. But I read one today that just blew my mind, perhaps it was the last straw, I had one nerve left on this subject and it’s now been severed. This person came into ownership of two cats, both just your ever day common cat saying since they had a male and female why not breed them and see what kind of kittens they make… because you know, they might produce some rare colored DSH that the world has never seen. I don’t mean to sound nasty but honestly! You want to see kittens? Go to your local shelter or rescue, go look behind an industrial building where I bet you $100 you‘ll find a feral colony with kittens, or even look at pictures on the internet, because that’s what they will produce.

Everyone always says who comes onto a forum about these ideas that they already have homes lined up, that friends and family are dying for a baby from their DSH or Heinz 57, if they are dying for a pet tell them to go to the local shelter or rescue and pick one out, go to a reputable breeder that tests their animals on a regular basis that isn’t breeding mutt to mutt, and making some “wonderful” designer breed, isn’t testing their animals and passing on health problems and knows what they are doing not just doing it because they want to but to better the breed. But guess what those homes you have lined up… they bail out, they decided they no longer want the animal and dump it, can’t afford it and the animal suffers or due to ignorance abuse the animal because they don’t know any better. If you want to breed your animal, and want to make sure it always has the best possible home then you keep it, you’re responsible for that life because you helped create it. So if that family or friend can no longer care for it or don’t want to care for it will you open your door and take the animal back? If your answer is no or I don’t know or anything but yes don’t go breeding your animal, if your not bettering the breed don’t breed it, if you aren’t prepared to test, vaccinate, deworm and give all the proper medical needs to the sire and dam as well as the offspring don’t breed it!

You realize that breeding your beloved family pet takes away a home for a homeless shelter animal for every life your pet carries? “Oh someone will adopt it” no, someone won’t adopt every animal out there, there are kill shelters out there that put a time limit on their animals not because they are horrible people and want to put these sweet animals down because we bred them and didn’t want to care for them but because they have no choice. Shelters and rescues have limits in funding and space; they aren’t some rich massive havens that keep every and any animal that comes in their doors no matter how long it takes to find them a home. Some are, but not all. I firmly believe if you want to breed your animal, your family pet just because, you need to work one day at a kill shelter and hopefully that will change your mind about breeding Bugsy the beloved stray cat you took in because you want a memory of her when she dies, or Molly the unregistered, family, mystery mutt because it’ll bring some extra income in while your on maternity leave.

Do you realize that EVERY DAY 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in this country while only 10,000 people are born? There simply aren’t enough homes for all those shelter animals, those unregistered, non bred standard family pets you just had to breed. And with every new life you help bring into this world you’re taking away a home from one of those shelter animals who people bred and just like you were sure they’d be in a forever home because it was a family friend ore family member who took them.

Every year 10 -12 million animals are euthanized because there aren’t enough homes out there? And no one wants to own up to the animals they bred and take them back when their owners no longer and can’t care for them.

Even if you breed purebreds its no guarantee they won’t end up in a shelter. 30% of all shelter animals are purebreds, papers don’t mean you should breed the animal. You need to be prepared to take back anything you bred.

Not only does spaying and neutering help with the over population problem it helps with behavior and health problems.
By altering your pet you reduce the risk of your pet:

- Roaming as they do this to find mates.
- Being bitten, scratched, getting into fights as this happens during fights over a female who when a male crosses into another males territory to get to a female, even the female who is not ready to breed will inflict painful and serious damage to a male. Also it means less likely of a chance of the animal getting a painful infection or abscess from wounds inflicted during this time.
- Developing cancers in the testicals and uterus.
- Developing pyometra which is a painful disease of the uterus, its sudden and deadly if left untreated for too long it has been compared to acute appendicitis in us. It happens at any age, and doesn’t matter if the female was ever bred or not.
- Altered cats are less likely to spray, even females spray.
- Reduces the risk of cats getting FeLV or FIV as well as other diseases that can be transferred during the mating of cats or dogs.
-Neutered cats won’t develop “stud tail”, this is caused by over active glands in the male cat’s tail.

It's also been proven that altered animals live longer healthier lives.

Do your pet a favor, do those who work and volunteer their time at rescues and shelters a favor, spay and neuter, adopt if you want a pet, foster if you have kitten fever or want to see the miracle of birth there are plenty of foster homes needed for pregnant cats/dogs and kittens/puppies. You don’t have to wait for the animal to have their first heat; you don’t have to wait for them to be 7 months old and then it becoming too late. You can fix your pet before their first heat and as early as 6 – 14 weeks

A Prayer From Those Who Can't Talk

I ask for the privilege of not being born ... not to be born until you can assure me of a home and a master to protect me, and the right to live as long as I am physically able to enjoy life ... not to be born until my body is precious and men have ceased to exploit it because it is cheap and plentiful.

No, they are not fine and healthy!

I know most of this blog has been about cats, but that’s what I’m involved in right now. I hope to soon get involved with more of the dog area of the humane society soon and even start foster some dogs as Drifter has moved back in with my parents. But I was emailed today about a colony we’re trying to trap; the owner of the building where these cats live behind was met and he sees nothing wrong the cats being there doesn’t want them touched as they catch the mice. He doesn’t seem to understand that some of them NEED medical treatment; some have bad eye problems and burrs firmly matted into their hair so tightly the skin is being punctured. They have fleas, mites, and worms. He thinks they are all just fine living off the mice they catch, the colony is over a dozen from what we were able to see and still new ones pop up. So this is to enlighten those who don’t seem to understand that the life of a feral is not easy.

Burrs so tightly matted into this kitten they were in her skin and surgery was thought to be needed. Thankfully we managed to get them all out (there were more patches of them on her) by shaving her down.

Feral cats are cats that have returned back to their wild state of mind due to being apart from humans for so long. Some are out of house pets who were never spayed/neutered and let outside, others were born to family pets (strays) who were dumped. The difference with ferals and strays is that strays were family pets that were dumped while ferals have never been in a home as a pet and have known nothing but the outside world and all its dangers.

Where one colony lives, among pipes, lumber and heavy traffic with large trucks on one side and a busy main road on the other, airplanes fly over head every few minutes as the airport is only a few blocks away.


The average life span of a feral cat is around 5 – 6 years, most of the time less, sometimes more. Some people will claim the same cat has been around for 15 years in their backyard or behind their business but really it’s the offspring or grand offspring of the first cat or a cat that looks similar to the first cat. Many people can’t tell the difference between two black/tabby/white/spotted/ etc cats for two reasons a) they don’t care enough or b) they just aren’t able to tell the difference as they never get close enough to the cat. Most of the ferals die off at an early age, usually around 2 years, if they go over this mark it’s a surprising. The littlest scratch can become horribly and painfully infected in a feral, slowly killing them.

A starving feral kitten.

These cats don’t get two if not more meals plus numerous table scraps a day, they don’t have a constant source of fresh water in a cute little dish that as “spoiled rotten” written on the bottom with little paw prints and fish around the sides. Ferals have to search out there food, be it mice, birds or dumpster diving these cats have to work for every mouthful sometimes going on an empty stomach for a few days. They don’t get to pick the beast grub out there, if the mice have eaten poison before being eaten, if the birds have some disease, if the meat they stole from the dumpster is rotten they get the painful effects of it They suffer, no one is there to offer them the best of the best every day twice a day.

A feral cat we caught that had such a severe eye infection the ate was eaten away. The affected eye has since been removed. Two kittens have now had eye removals from this colony.

Injuries and disease slowly kill them off, the smallest scratch or puncture can become horribly infected, worms and fleas slowly suck the life out of both adults and kittens. Infections are numerous and run rampant in feral colonies. The littlest infection will kill the kittens if they haven’t died from starvation or the elements. 80% of feral kittens die in their first year, but kittens, they gain sympathy from us humans when we see them and therefore they end up getting rescued. Rescues like Mississauga Humane end up going out and grabbing these kittens knowing full well that there are probably plenty of adults as well in horrid situations. Then you end up with hissy little kittens who want to hide under and in anything they can wiggle into/under. Though kittens of a certain age can be tamed and turned into wonderful housecats, this is of course if anyone sees them and tries to help. If they aren’t taken pity on or even noticed, if they live past their first year they stick around the colony and help it expand. Cats can and will breed as young as 6 months of age having litters ranging from 1 kitten to 8 kittens on average with as many as 3 litters per year. One female and one male can produce 429,000 kittens in just 7 years, how many would a colony of a dozen females and males produce in that length of time?

This poor girl was trapped and later died, her insides were filled with a yellow fluid making her look heavily pregnant.

TNR steps in when a colony is found. Usually this is a rescue that sends out volunteers to place traps out to catch the cats, baiting them with smelly cat food, fish, turkey, chicken anything that has a good smell to it and will lure them into the trap. If kittens are caught they are put into foster care to be tamed and hopefully adopted, though even when you get a kitten at the perfect age to turn around (10 weeks and younger) they sometimes can not be tamed. All of the cats if they are old enough and neutered/spayed, treated for any medical problems and if they are too feral they are returned to the site they were caught. To know which cats have been caught the vet will ear tip them; ear tipping is removing the point of one of the ears while they are getting neutered/spayed. This doesn’t cause any harm or distress to the cat. There are many people, who disagree with TNR, but those types of people are everywhere and you won’t change their minds. They see ferals as pests, disease spreading pests who should all be put to sleep. In some cases there is no option and they are put down but in many if the colony is maintained they are released or are placed in barns that have agreed to take on feral cats.

These cats are NOT fine out there, they need medical attention, many of them do some might not show it like the poor white and black female who died at the clinic and found out after that she had a thick yellow fluid in her organs. Others like the poor grey and white kitten would have died and slow and painful death from a little infection that was left untreated for too long. Several we have trapped have been nothing but skin and bones as it was thought they didn't need to be fed, they could fend for themselves which they can't, not when the colony is a large one, when they have kittens, when larger cats come in and steal away the food from the hungry mouths of small kittens. That any injury they have from a car, other wild animal or dog they will adapt to and be fine, they won't they will die a slow death. They won't be fine without shelter and won't be just fine in a freezing cold blizzard in the dead of winter. They need care, they need to be spayed and neutered, to be maintained. If your fine with them on your property, catching unwanted rodents then fine, but don't think they are just fine out there without any care, we humans created this problem so don't say it isn't your problem to deal with it is. Even more so if you tell us you want the cats kept around for rodent catching.

We caught 9 kittens all around 4 weeks old. All were infested with fleas and ear mites, had runny stool and bad eye infections. Several now have bad UTI's and are in and out of the vet clinic.

Adopt us?

First off, there is another kitten adopt-a-thon at Petsmart in the Heartland Town Center this weekend. The last one did so well we decided to do another to try and find homes for the remaining kittens we have. If your looking to add another member to the family feel free to drop on by it's at Mavis and Britannia. Not looking for a kitten? Thats fine, we'll also have posters up with information about some of our adult cats and our dogs and how you can adopt them if your interested.

Now onto some cats and dogs. First the cats, I went to the cat room at Petcetera today to take some picture of the cats there, these guys are all looking for their forever homes!

Rusty
Rusty is a sweet, gentle and affectionate cat. He loves to get a good scratch under his chin or to butt heads with you while purring up a storm. When there isn't any attention to be given he'll happily go curl up for a good nap. He's 6 years old and neutered. Contact Petcetera at 905-615-1419

Starbuck & Simpson
Starbuck is 5 months old, neutered and very friendly. He's very playful and curious. Simpson is the shy brother, he'd rather remain in the background then to be fussed over as he's a little uncertain of us humans. He's 5 months old and neutered, he'll need some TLC to become to perfect lapcat that we all believe he can be. He gets his confidence from Starbuck, and would like to be adopted with him. Contact Petcetera at 905-615-1419

Joey
Joey is a sweet, 5 year old, neutered male. He's very content to just curl up and sleep, but can also be a very outgoing guy. He loves his food, and is slowly starting to gain his weight back. Contact Petcetera at 905-615-1419

Cooper
Cooper is a whole lotta cat to put it nicely. It's not his fault he loves to eat, but he for sure needs to loose those extra pounds and love in moderation! He's 6 years old, and neutered. Cooper is a very friendly, healthy boy, despite his weight problem but does want a home, he spends his days sitting at the door in the catroom and looking out at all those who walk by. Contact Petcetera at 905-615-1419

Silkie
Silkie is a very friendly yet shy, spayed female. She's around 1.5 -2 years of age and needs an experienced owner as she doesn't like to be picked up and needs some TLC to come around fully, as she is still a little scared of people. Contact Tina at 416-358-0083


Moonbeam & Mandrake
This brother and sister pair are around 6 months old and are spayed/neutered. Moonbeam is the more outgoing and friendly sibling, while her brother, Mandrake is shy and timid, but would be more confident with her presence! They have been together since birth and they really want to be adopted together. Contact Petcetera at 905-615-1419

Maya
Maya is a sweet 17 week old, spayed female. She's a relative of my trio as well as Betty as they were all caught at the same area by the airport. She can be a bit shy at first but once you show her some love she's a giant cuddlebug. Contact Petcetera at 905-615-1419

Betty
Betty is a shy girl, 14 weeks old and spayed. She's not sure what to think of people yet and can get scared easily. Once she feels comfortable with you however she's a total lovebug much like her relative, Maya. She really needs to find a family that can help bring her around and show her we aren't all that bad. Contact Petcetera at 905-615-1419

Now from some dogs that are looking for some wonderful homes and families.

Sadie
I am a beagle, female, a petite girl of just about 20 lbs, 6 yrs old. They say I can be the role model for all beagles - I am quiet , sweet, gentle, friendly, quiet, calm... I get along fine with the dog and cats in my foster home. In my previous home I was left alone for longs hours daily, so I am looking for a loving forever home who will give me all the attention and treat me like a princess - and I am worth it! Contact my foster mom at 905-272-0436.

Landis
I am a Beagle X, male, about 4 yrs old. Heres a bio by my foster mom: "Landis is an adorable dog. If you are looking to add a dog to your home of cats then Landis is the one for you. He is currently living with 4 cats and gets along with all of them wonderfully. He is a dream in the house. He has never had an accident. He doesn't chew on things or bark. He just loves to hang out and relax. He is also living with 3 children and is gentle and calm with them. Landis LOVES to go for walks. He is also learning the basic commands such as come, sit and stay and would definitely benefit from some obedience training. Landis a very sweet little dog who will do well in a loving home with an experienced owner." Contact Lisa at yugiblue@rogers.com or 416-444-3082

Byron
I am a beagle, male, 5-6 yrs old, about 35 lbs. I am a very loving and affectionate boy. I would not stopping wagging my tail until you give me a pet. I am good with kids and other dogs; well behaved in the house and houstrained. I meet with all the criteria for a great family pet. Please come and see me ASAP before I am taken! Contact David at 905-823-0829

Gallagher
I'm a male Foxhound, about 3 yrs old. My foster mom thinks I am an absolute doll, and will make some family very lucky! Like Jake, I was kept chained up outside. I did not know what a home is until MHS came to my rescue, but I sure love living in a house now! Who knew couches were so comfy? I live with 5 other dogs in my foster home and I love them all! I'm very gentle, and great with kids. I don't have a mean bone in my body! I'm learning house rules, like not jumping on counters and that I'm only allowed to pee on trees. I really want to be a good dog, and I would benefit from some obedience training, although I'm pretty calm and well-behaved considering my breed! I just need to learn some basic commands and walking skills. I love to play outside but I'm calm inside. A fenced yard is probably a good idea, because although I *love* to be with you, I'm a hound after all! Contact Kathy at 905-894-7258 or email katyra_tollers@yahoo.ca

Bailey
am female Beagle X, 7 months, about 26 lbs. Heres a bio by my foster mom: "Bailey is very friendly, playful and doesn't bark. She is good around other dogs. She needs a family that is committed to continue with her training. It would be wonderful if someone was home for her during the day until she bonds and gets used to her new enviroment. She will walk on a leash and needs more training to know who the leader is. She responds very well to sit and stay. She is very adaptable and smart and is doing very well with her training. She really likes to be outside, so a fenced yard would be great. She is a very nice, good natured dog. She has had a bit of an unstable start and has been in several homes already. She really needs a home where the family is familiar with dogs and has the time to give a puppy. Her new family need to be willing to give her love and attention and be committed to her well being. Its best she goes to a home with no small children." Contact Linda Pizzale at 905-629-2219 lindapizzale@magma

A little patience

So, I somehow collected another foster kitten. I've mentioned her before, Patience. I hated to think of her in the basement at the clinic all by herself crying so I took her home with me yesterday, there is another women who was going to foster Posey, who unfortunately didn't make it who I'm told will take her. It's just getting her to call me back after I've left her a message about her. She's a skittish little girl, but not at all nasty, she's hissed and swatted at us a few times but it was out of fear not her being nasty. Can't blame her either, she's never been in a house before, around people and without her family. She's already starting to come around though. She's already worked her way into the hearts of the trio. She now thunders around after them, wrestling and giving them a run for their money. Even Bosco has taken to her faster then normal, caught them today in the middle of a grooming session which generally Bosco doesn't do with kittens, not even the trio!

MHS is in need!

Mississauga Humane Society is running low on foster homes, we've had several dogs and cats come in and just simply don't have enough foster homes for all of them leaving us no choice but to keep them in vet clinics or boarding kennels. You don't have to be a resident of Mississauga to be a foster parent so if your interested contact MHS by phone or e-mail.

Our foster care program is crucial to the well being of the animals that we have in our care. Foster care providers give our rescued animals a temporary home until a permanent home is found, this can take anywhere from a few days to sadly several months.

Without a foster home, we have no choice but to place these animals in a boarding kennel. This is especially difficult for us as more often than not these animals were confined for a long period of time before we rescued them. A foster home provides these animals with a warm and loving home. A home where they can at last feel like a valued family member. This transition makes the animal easier to adopt. Animals that are confined to a kennel for a long period of time can be unmanageable.

If you love animals ~ YOU can be a foster care provider! The MHS will provide the food and all of the expenses involved in caring for the animal(s) that you foster. We will ask you a few questions, do a home check, and will match you with the animal that would be suitable for you and your family.

Our foster care providers become quite attached to the animals in their care that sometimes they adopt them themselves. This is not necessary but we are sure you will find that providing foster care to animals in need is a rewarding experience.

We also are in need of a few other items and services. If you can help then contact MHS.

Estate for a Haven / Sanctuary

Money / Canadian Tire Money

Volunteer Veterinarians

Volunteer Drivers

Volunteer Dog Walkers

Volunteer Lawyer

Volunteer Bookkeeper

Dog Supplies Including: Crates, Dog Houses, Leashes, Dog Treats

Cat Supplies including: Cat Litter, Cat Food (Dry and canned), Carriers, Litter Boxes

Store Owners willing to let us place Drop Boxes

Shedding Tears

First about the trio. All three of them now have watery eyes, Chase' look the worst, red rims and his white hair just looks awful when wet. Wilson and Kutner are sneezing, I've yet to hear anything from Chase but then Wilson just started so he'll probably get it too. I've got to bring them in to get looked at, I'm thinking URTI. Their adoptive momma, Reyna now also has one watery eye that as green gunk coming out, great. So to the vet they go, possibly tonight I'm not sure. otherwise they have been great, Chase is by far the biggest now, Kutner looks big but its all floof, though he's not badly sized and then there is Wilson. The poor bugger is skin and bones, I don't think Chase is letting him near the food, and now that Kutner isn't so tiny and weak anymore he's now become Chase's sidekick. So I'll have to step in about that, though he's not acting tired or sick. Hard keeper? They'll get their first shots soon, but they are up for adoption now, just not ready to leave so if anyone is interested in them drop me a line.

Cought two more small kittens, one was covered in burrs and had to be shaved as she was longhair and the other was a cute little tortie about the size of the trio. We've called them Patience and Posey. I'll add some pictures of Patience but didn't get any of Posey, sorry. I'll get some today. As well as an older kitten who gave me a good aprting gift and once again my hand is wrapped up.

Patience after just coming in. She had burrs stuck to her everywhere, can't seem them very well in the picture as they were so far into her hair they were covered up and into her skin so badly we thought we were going to have to do surgery.

Stuck between her hind legs. This was a bad one to get out, several layers of burrs, feathers, and other objects plus all that hair matted into a ball and into her skin. There were several others spots too that were bad but this was the worst.

Patience after her haircut and a bath. She was such a good girl through it all, a few complaints and some squirming but nothing horrible. She's an angel even with her haircut.

The kitten adopt-a-thon was a great success! Might do another this weekend.

More watery eyes, but this time they belong to us. Two of the cats we trapped have died this week during their spays. One looked very similar to Chase, and we assume she was their mama. We though she had had a litter as she had a belly for the first few weeks and then she didn't. Turns out she hadn't had a litter recently, it was all fluid in her organs. She died during surgery. The other was an older kitten, tabby with white that we were putting back outside as she was too feral. The same one who ripped my hand open a few weeks back. They aren't sure what went wrong, she was fine during surgery but when they put her back in her compartment to wake up she died. They think it was a heart attack. I feel awful for the poor creatures, but in a way I'm happy for them, those two won't have to endure the winter, won't have to deal with disease or the every day hardships of a feral cat in the city. But then I feel like I've killed them, stolen their lives.

Update Time

I haven't been doing this as often as I should be.

First of all our one cat, Bosco had to be sent to the Vets. Wasn't eating/drinking, runny stool, high blood sugar (he's diabetic). He stayed there for three days, where they did several tests on him, his liver had high then normal levels and his pancreas is swollen. They thought he had a bile duct blockage but can't see anything due to all the swelling so they've sent him home and told us to bring him back should he get worse. There was the option of doing an exploratory surgery but Blake decided to see how things go for now. He came home with a "lovely" hair cut, leg, neck and stomach shaved. Which is not a good look for a fat cat!

Drifter has moved back with my parents for several reasons, msotly he was so stressed living here I decided it was best for him. One of these days I'll have another dog, but not right now. I miss him so much.

I've now become the offical MHS photographer. :) Yay me.

Dropped my camera in water, so I was without a camera for awhile, have a new one now and will show some new pics of the kittens. They've grown so much!

Wilson has an eye infection now that is being treated and it seems that there may also be some upper respiratory going on with Kutner.


Chase
Wilson
Kutner

Also if your in to greater Toronto area and have nothing to do this weekend, Mississauga Humane Society is having a kitten adoptathon at Petsmart (Mavis + Britannia road, across from Krispy Kreme). Its runs from 11am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Only kittens will be there are we have an overload of kittens looking for homes, if this proves to be a success we'll have an adult cat adoptathon later on. Sadly these little guys won't be there as they aren't old enough + they don't have their first shots yet but there will be plenty of other kittens there!

Kutner's bad habit

Took this video last night before I sent them to bed. Kutner's latest thing is to nurse on Wilson or Chase when they are trying to sleep. At times he does it so hard they squeal and jump away from him, I'm assuming its from being taken away from their mom so early and hopefully he grows out of it. So I get to be on watch for any sores he might be giving them from sucking on the poor guys. Even if Kutner doesn't grow out of it, it wouldn't be a horrible thing. There are plenty of adult cats who suck on things for comfort, like how a child will often carry around a blanket or stuffed toy. He just needs to figure out to not do it so hard and that not everybody will react so nicely to being suckled on.

Your a doctor for goodness sake, fix your own eye!

After opening his eye the first time (with some help from me) and having the ointment already put in both. Still some gunk there as you can see.
An hour later, the eye looks a little better, but he still won't open it the whole way.

Well OK, he's named after a fake doctor, and then theres that problem of having no thumbs to apply the medication to his own eye. Kutner's eye was completely sealed shut this morning by some sort or yellow/green gunk. He has eye infections and medications for them (Tobradex and BNP) and his eyes have been looking good until this morning. I washed away the gunk and he opened his eye a little, so I helped out a little and found more gunk wiped that away hoping he'd open his eye now. He'll open it a little but not fully. Doesn't seem to be bothering him but I'm going to get him checked out anyways or at least consult Lisa about how serious she thinks this is and if I should just keep him here giving him the eye ointments.

They all had their Neosol after I finished with Kutner's eye, I swear that stuff must be the animal version of Buckleys, they start running around with their mouths open, shaking and making noises before running to the food dish and gobbling up some food I assume to get rid of the taste. Wilson and Kutner still have diarrhea but it's starting to get thicker now and Chase was starting to get some pasty stool so i started giving him some Neosol and now it's getting better.

And a busy morning

Well I've been up and to the vet again already today. After speaking with Lisa about ways to get rid of the fleas on Chase, Wilson, and Kutner she phoned the clinic as she was sure there was something they could do. Turns out they can, I never bothered to ask what the pill was that they gave them I was far to excited to know that in 15 minutes all the fleas would be dead. I just need to give them one more bath to remove the dead fleas and no more bath wars! Well except for washing Wilson and Kutner's rear ends. For some reason they like to sit in their diarrhea instead of covering it up and going to their carrier, pillow, box, pillow or basket. So all fleas are dead, kittens can come play now without me freaking out about my own 3 beasts getting them. Woo hoo. And here are some new pictures of the boogers.


Wilson is such a little cutie. Who doesn't want to just snuggle him?


Looking a little dejected, Kutner and Chase wouldn't let him play with them.


Showing his brothers the proper way to scratch a couch.


Wilson likes to dream big. He doesn't think he needs those silly kitten bowls.


Kutner looking a little gooey.


The cuteness never ends with this little guy. Looking a little sad here.


Looks like Wilson tought his little brother well, Kutner really has the hang of it now.


Chase, this little guy really pulls on my heart strings and knows it!


He was jumping and spinning around in circles before running around the room.


Bright sun + camera noises = slightly unsure kitten

Busy Night

Kutner and Wilson have had the runs since they came here. I wasn't overly worried, it was pastey and its common for former ferals to get a little stressed when put into a home with other animals, and people which results in runny stool. We went out to dinner tonight got home and I smelt feces. I had left the kittens in the living/dining area with the stairs blocked off, I'd had them downstairs with me all day to watch them and let them get used to everyday life in a home, plus it was bath time again. So I searched around found a watery pile of stool behind a side table. Kutner and Wilson had it smeared on them so obviously they had both been back there and sat/rolled in it which meant there was poopy prints left on the floor from their frolicking poopcapade. Cleaned up the floor, gave them their second bath for the day and left them alone. Chase was perfectly clean and has had solid poop, my little angel. Can you tell I adore him?

Well after that within two hours Wilson went in the box three more times, with runny, watery stool. He'd quiver, tense up, and give a long drawn out cry as he did so. Kutner does the same thing. I felt horrible for them and decided I'd take both him and Kutner into the vet tomorrow morning when they opened as Blake had gone to bed for the night and blocked my car in. Well I get to thinking, that this could be a major problem, kittens can go downhill fast and without much warning so I contact a women who lives near me who fosters kittens for MHS and has for a long time. She knows allot about kittens so I emailed her to see what she thought about it. She was worried that they wouldn't be OK by morning and to get them to the vet tonight the clinic was open until 11pm it was 9pm at that time. I emailed back and forth with her discussing their stool, activity levels and eating/drinking habits. I went upstairs to wake Blake up and ask him to move his car (I can't drive standard otherwise I would have moved it myself) I had to get the kittens to the vet. He replied with "I'm sleeping, I'm not hearing this" rolled over and went back to sleep. Fine, maybe they'll be OK in the morning and then I can get them in when he leaves for work. Blake's mom then phones, kitten lady (also known as Lisa) had emailed her, heavy with concern over Wilson and Kutner's health. Asked how serious I thought this was and then after I told her I was pretty concerned said she'd phone back as soon as she contacted the clinic that I was coming. It was now 10:20pm. I waited for her to phone back as I did Wilson and Kutner both had a bowel movement, Kutner on a blanket and Wilson in the box and then both started to vomit large amounts of brown liquid. His mom phones back says get your butts to the vet now. I go and proceed to get Blake up again. Tell him they need to get to the vet NOW, and he really needs to move his car for me. He grumbles and finally gets up asked if I know how to drive his car, which he knows I don't. Tell him no, and he grumbles down the stairs. "Why can't they get sick on my time instead of their time, I should be sleeping right now" to which I reply with "well I'll make sure to tell the kittens that they can't get sick anymore unless its between the hours of 3pm and 9pm (the times he's home and awake)" He grunts and goes to move his car while I get my shoes on.

So off we go, of course I had to stop and get gas as I had put that off hoping for gas to go a little cheaper. Stop at one they want me to pay ahead of time or with a card at the pump. I'm in no mood for this shit, I don't know how much I'm going to put in, and I may as well fill the damn thing up while I'm here so I leave without gas and get the next one on the way, fill her half way up as I look at my watch and it's now 10:40pm. I run in and pay and speed off to the vets. I get there at 10:53pm. Just in time, as they were already shutting things down. Vet looks at both. Gives them an exam. Kutner screams like he's being skinned alive while Wilson is falling asleep in the carrier. He asks if I'd be OK with taking them home for the night, as no one would be there overnight to watch them. Said I'd be fine with that. He takes them one by one into the treatment area and gives them Sub Q fluids just in case, some Neosol and some cream for Kutner's eyes. I've never heard a kitten scream so loud as Kutner did when he was getting the fluids. You'd think they were killing him in some slow manner. Wilson was completely uncaring of his brother's desperate cries. He went and pooped in the carrier, then sat in it (never said he was smart) and then came out to cuddle up against me as I stood beside the table and suck on my finger until it was his turn. Wilson gave a few cries at first but then fell silent, Kutner continued to scream until I took him in my arms and up to my neck so he could snuggle into me and finally shush. I asked for something to clean the carrier out with and vet assistant did it for me, how nice as I would have done it myself. But hey, a hot guy cleaning for me? I ain't going to refuse. He brings Wilson back out and hands me over the Neosol and eye cream, gives me the directions for it and says to keep a good eye on them for the next few days as it would take a couple days for the Neosol to start working.

So they are home now, Chase came and greeted them happily and then all three went and curled up in their basket. Wilson and Kutner are on the Neosol for the next 10 days and Kutner gets eye cream for the next 7 days. All are happily snoring and sleeping away now. Blake is snoring up a storm taking up the whole bed, which means I'll wake him yet again while trying to push him over onto his side so I can get in and get some blankets to which he'll probably grumble some more.

All of this after I tore part of my toenail off this morning and not being able to walk on my foot properly because it hurts like hell and starts to bleed if I put any pressure on the toe. Yet I didn't complain once about it when I had to put socks and shoes on as well as drive with an extremely painful toe that was now once again spilling blood all over the place, causing the sock to stick to it so that when I tried to removed my sock at home I had to rip off as it had stuck to my toe and caused more pain as well as more blood to pour out. Rawr, I am women hear me roar.

So that was the adventures of today with the little boogers. Hopefully tomorrow will be nice and calm.

15 years of feeding them but not fixing them?

Sunday morning I went out with a couple other people about a feral cat colony near Toronto's Pearson Airport. The employees of the company where the cats had taken up home had said they have been feeding them for 15 years but it never accured to them to get the cats fixed to stop them from having kittens. I can't understand why that wouldn't come to mind after 15 years of several litters and more mouths to feed, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and think that they just weren't educated about the subject enough to know better. At least they were feeding them and built some shelters for the cats on the property, alot of places wouldn't. They agreed for us to go out and remove the cats, spay/neuter them and find homes for the kittens while the adults who are too set in their ways to ever live comfortably in a home will be placed at barns with a few being returned to the property as asked by some of the employees as they enjoy having the cats around. We've been told that some of the cats can even be picked up by some of the workers but of course when we got there they kept their distance from us but were clearly curious. Guess it was a case of "I don't know you so I don't trust you".

We found two seperate litters of kittens, a litter of 6(was 8 but two kittens found homes with employees) and a litter of 3. The litter of 3 were inside one of many large pipes, wet, muddy, gritty, and cold. The litter of 6 were inside one of the shelters warm, dry and sleeping in one giant pile of cuteness. We easily managed to get them into a carrier, it was the adults that were going to be trouble. They were around, watching us just out of touching distance, even when we opened food they remained out of reach but clearly wanted it bad enough to slowly creep over and grab a bite before ducking away from us before we could grab them. It was guessed that there were around 20 cats from what we saw while there, most of them calicos and torties pregnant or nursing. There were several older kittens there around 5 months old, but they kept their distance like the adults. One cat was missing an eye and the socket was bright red, surely it had a nasty infection there, another cat had a large cut on the side of it's face while others had runny eyes but other then that seemed in decent health, not too skinny at all, could be fatter but not bad all together, but I'm sure when winter comes they'll look worse.

I set a carrier down and put an open can of food inside to see if I could catch an adult, one nursing female, a black tuxedo who was the mother of one of the litters we had(we were told this) and a small black older kitten came up to the carrier, the nursing mom went inside while the black teen kitten remained outside, watching me carefully. I slowly moved closer and slammed the door shut, the black kitten darted away, and nursing mom of course went bonkers. I was unable to get the door locked for fear she'd grab my fingers as she lashed out with her claws at the door doing flips. Gary came over to help me, but as he got over and before we could ge tthe door locked she managed to squeeze herself out, Gary grabbed her to try adn get her back in and she gave him a good scolding for that. She then ran off to the ajoining property leaving Gary with a bloody finger.

Tina came back over as she had been on the other property trying to get some of the cats with a trap. She handed us the trap and we set it down, removing the carrier. Within minutes we had two cats in the trap, we packed them into the vehical with the kittens and headed to the vets. We'll be going back to lay down more traps for the other adults so all can be fixed and checked out, we would have loved to get the cat with the missing eye but it wasn't coming anywhere near us. Another time, hopefully.

I agreed to foster the litter of 3 and went to pick them up today from the vet. They are guessed to be around 4 weeks old, and have fleas. Of course they are too young to use any of the normal flea treatments on so I brought them home and before letting them into their room I gave them a bath in the kitchen sink with warm water adn dish soap. I'll be doing this every day for a few days until I'm assured the fleas are gone. One has an eye infection so has cream given twice daily to both eyes but otherwise they are healthy. Within seconds of being let loose in their room two of them were running around, playing and begging for attention. The other merely curled up in the cat basket and cried. He's the smallest kitten of the three and the one with the eye infection. I hoped he'd come around and a few hours later he did once he was and had some food in his belly. All three are running around, pouncing and begging for attention. We've named them from our favorite show, House M.D.

Drifter is completely frightened of them, and of course they follow the big lug around like ducklings do their mother. He then retreats to high ground where they can't reach him and watches them with a worried look. Reyna isn't fond of them but in time I know she will be, it just takes her a while to have that motherly instinct kick in and then you'll hardly ever see them apart. Bosco pretty much ignored them and stayed away from them. So it looks like they'll be great with other cats and dogs. They even tried to curl up beside Drifter for a nap but Drifter quickly and carefully jumped up and retreated.

All three are now eating and sleeping peacefully in their room. Dry, clean, and happy. I think I'll be holding off on finding them homes until they are a little older and will then have them posted up on MHS' website. This doesn't mean should someone be interested in them that I turn them away but I won't be actively looking for homes for them or letting them leave until they are at least 8 weeks old perferably 12 weeks but I wouldn't feel too bad at letting them go at 8 weeks. So if your interested or know someone who might be in one, two, or all three of them drop me a comment on here and I'll email you back about them.

Chase


Kutner


Wilson