Out with the Old In with the New--Cats, Fundraisers and Halloween

Tomorrow is Halloween.  Whooptidoo!   I have not bought candy so far.  I have some candy someone sent me, when they sent me some cat treats including dried fish flakes that I've been munching. I can put out some of that if I don't get more. I do not buy candy to give out for Halloween until the day of, in fact, just an hour before twilight, because otherwise I eat it myself.

I did carve a pumpkin:

I declare the fundraiser, which is about to end, a huge success.  The funds raised helped Starr, Shady and Funny Face get vet care, with a bit left over for good measure!  What's not successful about that?  Nada.

You can still see the fundraiser widget if you glance right today or tomorrow.  It has raised, with 9 wonderful people who gave, some of them repeatedly, over $600.

 It was meant to create an emergency vet fund, right after old Vision fell off a cat run injuring an eye, Poppy had to have her last four teeth pulled, and Miss Daisy quit eating, all at once, resulting in large vet bills--$200 for Vision's first visit alone.

Old Vision is doing OK, but looks close to her age, not a day over 18, even though she's 20.  Ha.

Vision with buddy Honey

Miss Daisy resumed eating after some antibiotics and sleepless nights on my part (she's my baby).  And Poppy did have her last four teeth removed.

But then, along came more vet needs.  Starr was crying out now and then, when she'd eat.   Off she went, a trip that resulted in a $325 vet bill and seven teeth pulled.  She was also updated on her rabies vaccine.

Starr

 Shortly thereafter, Shady had a fang slip down, the infamous "hanging fang" incident.  Off she went.  Five teeth pulled plus she was updated on rabies.  The trip cost another $220.

Artsied up Shady!

Then I retrapped Funny Face, the yard stray, and took him to Heartland.  He was having trouble eating.  They dug out a badly infected tooth root, gave him a convenia injection, updated his rabies and three-way vaccines, flea treated the flea crawling stray and wormed him, all for $40!!  Man alive!  One lucky boy is he!

Funny Face

So of the $629 raised, $585 of it has already been used to help Shady, Starr and Funny Face.  I used the money wisely, like the funds were a precious commodity, by choosing vets who are lower cost so every penny got its maximum value it could possibly get.

The latest clinic I found is very straight forward and affordable.  I like it.  For the number of teeth Starr and Shady had pulled, the antibiotics, and rabies vaccine, those things for just one of the cats, at other clinics in the valley would have exceeded $600.  So I am pleased to have found an affordable clinic that is fairly close to me.

THANK YOU to all those who helped by donating!

I am trying to find homes for Slinko and Angel, the two cats here who might be ok with homes of their own.  Many cats here have gone to homes but been returned.  I call them members of the Bounce Back club.  Cats do not like change and change is hard on them, so that weighs heavily in decisions on who might be put up for adoption and who won't be.

Bounce Back club member Honey, who was gone two months before being returned.  She was so excited when let out of the carrier back here, she ran in circles, then ran to each cat, her friends, and touched noses.  I cried to see it.

Juno was gone from here two months, before being returned exceedingly ill with heat stroke.  I rushed her to the vet, who diagnosed her with heat stroke blindness.  She could see but her brain could not process what she was seeing.  Eventually she healed and is very happy here.

Soloman went to a home in Eugene, with a woman who claimed skill with shy cats.  Two days later, she demanded I come get him or she'd have him killed, as she said he'd bitten her.  I rushed down frantic and pulled him out of a closet where he was cowering scared to death.

Nemo was gone three months, to a Salem home, where something happened to him while he was there.  After they asked I come get him, he no longer would come in the house.  He was no longer my happy little boy who'd not want far from me and always be on my lap, like his sister, Starry.  He's gradually coming out of whatever happened, but it has taken years.

Mooki went to a Salem home, and howled so loudly the woman had to bring him back scared her neighbors would complain and she would be evicted.  I had never even heard Mooki meow before and since then, he hasn't again.  He just wanted to come home.

Shaulin went to a Lake Oswego home with people who claimed to be cat whisperers.  However, it was just the next day they demanded I meet them to take her back.   She's Bengal Abyssinian mix and these breeds attach to one person generally.  So much for the cat whisperers.

Blueberry went to Heartland after I rescued her, with her siblings, in Lebanon.  She was there two months, then went to a home down along the south coast, but was suddenly returned.  Heartland then asked I come get her or she would be euthanized.  I found her shaking in fear in a carrier in the bathroom over there and brought her home.  Once she realized she was back in my bathroom, she completely relaxed and began purring so loudly I thought something was wrong.  She was just so relieved to be home.

But I think Angel and Slinko would benefit in the right homes.  So I keep trying on their behalf.  It's not easy to find people who are responsible and caring, who will keep them indoors or contained in the owners yard, and have the money to take them to a vet if they need it.  But...I keep trying.   If a match came along for any of the cats here, they'd go, with a fond farewell, but they'd go.

I found another clinic in Vancouver with affordable flat rate dentals.  Really nice vet answered the phone when I called.  Because they are booking appointments now for March, they are that popular, I put Teddy, Jade and Soloman on a cancellation list.   Mooki, Comet and Misty are the other three who need it.  Then I'll be caught up I think.

So the next fundraiser will begin on Monday, with a goal of raising the money needed for those six cats to get dental cleanings with extractions.

What can I say, but use an all time favorite quote......

Onward to infinity!

Guess Who?