On Sunday we headed over to the Boston Common to join the many dogs and their humans participate in the MSCPA Walk for Animals. My donation goal had been set at $200, but with the help of friends and family I raised a total of $253.16 for the critters!

It was such a fun day, and to be around all those furries made me very happy! The walk itself was just about a mile so no trouble there. It was just about having some fun and most importantly raising funds and awarness for the protection and care of all animals.

Here are some pictures taken of the day. I look forward to next year's walk!

Posted by sha at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just signed up for my first MSPCA Walk for Animals! I am so excited to be a part of this event which will help so many animal's lives. Those who know me know how much i care about all animals, and so it is hard to believe i have not signed up before, but here i am now.

So, please go to my official donation page, and any donation you can make it so greatly appreciated! And if anyone wants to come out and walk with me, please let me know!

thanks! Shannon

Posted by sha at 05:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night i got a call from my brother and sister-in-law; it had to do with a stray kitten. It seems this little fluff ball had been hanging out in their backyard meowing all day. They have a wooded area behind their house that they will often see other cats coming and going, this one did not want to go. In fact by the time I got there it had walked right up their back porch like it owned the joint.

It immediately came right up to me, still meowing of course. Even though it was extremely friendly- i thought it might bolt at any minute, so I quickly got it into the carrier i had brought along- with a little food- i suspected it must have been very hungry by this time.

We all proceeded to head back behind the house into the woods to see if there were any more kittens. Thankfully, I had the wonderful assistance of Heather from MWHS guiding me through all of this- thanks Heather!

As we walked through I listened carefully and check all nooks and crannies to see if there were other little ones just too shy to come out. After a while, with not sight or sound we headed back, my focus on the little black and white fluff ball- who we could hear meowing all along the way.

Once home, this little one proceeded to just wail and wail all night. I had set up the veri-kennel so as to put a litter box in, some bedding and some food. We tried to sleep, but it was here and there.
Certainly not a sound sleep, more like worried when I did not hear a peep.

Early this morning I got up and thought it was time to get to know this little one a bit more. So, I brought in my coffee, laptop and camera- had to get some shots in! As soon as I opened the cage door the little one, popped out and right over to my lap. All this little one needed was love, and I had it to spare abundantly. For the next hour I typed away checking email and such with the fluff ball walking all over the keyboard. It then walked over to my coffee, now a bit cold- stuck its little nose in and had a sip. As it pulled it little black head with white chin up- I noticed the white under its mouth was a bit muddy looking-coffee colored you could say. So, that is how Java got his/her name!

Java and I took a bit of a snooze together, with her lying right on my stomach- again as if she owned the joint. After awhile, she got up, had her photo session and then I got the call from Heather. It was time for me to let Java go. She was to go to the Marlborough Animal Hospital to get checked out and make sure she was okay. And then she would be picked up by another volunteer from the shelter and put into a foster home. Come to think of it, not sure I even said a proper good bye to Java, probably better that way, it was hard to let her go- though I knew it was the best thing for her.

As with everything else in my life right now- there was a reason Java came when she did- and left just as quickly, a reminder to stay true to myself and to always take of the little ones! Be well little Java.

Posted by sha at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It has been a month since we trapped the kittens, seems so much longer. They have really progressed so much, though we had to take them to the vet yesterday- so they did regress a bit afterwards- though Molly and Marvin are back to being love bugs. They all got a good report on health, except for Marvin.

The doctor heard a heart murmur, which can be a very serious condition in cats. We will need to take him back in month to see if it is still there, if so then he will need a cardiologist to take a look. We were pretty sad to learn what can happen to him if he does have a murmur. Marvin won’t live a very long life, and can have a very painful episode should a clot occur. Marvin will need a special home who can cope with his condition, Todd and I knew right away he was already home he needs look no further.

Posted by sha at 09:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night, we decided that Ricky wasn't really a Ricky afterall. I think he even knew it wasn't is name. So, Ricky is now Tommy- and it just fits, so say hi to Tommy

Posted by sha at 06:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I never knew kittens could have so much energy- and for so long! Granted, having a child must be so much harder but we are quickly realizing what it is like to be sleep deprived. We may not have to get up at 1, 2, 3 or 4 am for feedings, but we do have to constantly get up and tell the kittens to go to bed! They are all in the room right next to our room, and all we hear all night long is one big party. They run around like they are on a race track, they run into the walls, the doors, the radiators-with a big, giant thud!

I have been playing with them every night between 8-9 to try and wear them out, we even give them their baby food treats later at night- nope all they want to do is play all night long. No wonder they sleep all day!

If anyone has any ideas, we sure could use them and some sleep.

Posted by sha at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This has been a good week for the kittens. The baby food treat sessions are going well, Marvin and Maggie are the little piggies, always up front first. Maggie still hand back a bit, she is scared but independent at the same time, she is a neat little girl. Little George is so cute, as soon as he realizes everyone is having some baby food, he pushes his way front to get some, all the while giving that little innocent face. And Ricky, or as Todd now wants to call him, Drexl he really started to come out of his shell. We have been moving away from the bureau when giving the treats to lure them out more into the open, and decided we would only give Ricky one taste off the little stick- and he see if he would move forward- well tonight he did. He saw his brothers and sisters all enjoying themselves, moved up and had some baby food right off Buster's finger. Buster even made eye contact with Ricky and he did not back away-that's progress!

We just hope that when they have to back to the vet in a few weeks for their next set of shots- it does not set the process back too much. We took the cage out of the room today- they don't really use it anymore- and we plan on getting them some type of condo they can climb and have fun in.

We went to go feed their family in Westborough today- and saw who we think is Molly's dad- white paws and bib, rest all black just like little Molly. As soon as we can, we plan to set up a few traps on a Saturday and hope we get the adults!

Posted by sha at 09:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So, one of the aspects of trapping feral cats, is to have them spayed and nuetered- then try to see if they can be adopted. Not all feral cats can adjust to a domestic life and so in their best interest and happiness they should be released back into their colony, that is TNR. With kittens there may be more room for them to adjust, maybe not. The most important thing is what is in their best interest, not yours.

But it does not end there, these animals need a consistent food source. If you were feeding them before they were trapped, then you need to continue to feed them after the are released. Now you have a colony that will die off naturally, and will not continue to populate at alarming rates. TNR is the humane way to handle the feral cat over-population.

Buster and I do plan to go back to the location in Westborough to trap the adult cats, have them fixed and release them back- and of course to always feed them, as we do now.

Posted by sha at 08:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just over two weeks ago, Buster (aka Todd) and I decided we would trap, take in and foster 5 kittens living outside in the bitter cold. It has been an amazing few weeks- i had meant to record the events more frequently, but with the holidays, 5 kittens, plus our 2 boys, George and Charlie, it has been a bit busy.

So, here we are just upon the new year, and we have 3 boys and two girls. They went for their first visit to the vet this past week. It was very traumatic for all involved. Buster was great at wrangling the kitties, i was a bit more timid. The poor kitties just freaked out when we try to catch them one by one and get them into their own carriers. Someone how we managed to with all fingers in tact- and minimal scratches.

While at the vet, they were spayed and neutered, which is most important. They were also tested for FIV and FeLV- which thankfully they tested negative for! They also got the standard spa treatment, nail trim, flea treatment, and ear cleaning.

Since back home they are doing very well, some are coming out a bit more, like Molly and Marvin. Lil' George, Ricky and Maggie are having a harder time- but we will give them all the time they need- to make sure they get adopted into good homes.

Posted by sha at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)