Feb 2010 NEWSLETTER….

From me to you….

All of you know that I have been on dialysis for almost two years.  When I had the surgery to place the peritoneal catheter in my abdomen, a hernia developed from that surgery.  I chose not to tell anyone about it and hid it as long as I could.  A year and a half later, I had to have a CAT scan on my sinus nodes and that was the first time I had lain on my stomach….I became deathly ill and had to go to the hospital as the hernia had ruptured and caused intestinal blockage.  So I was rushed to emergency surgery…was in the hospital for a week and came home the day before Thanksgiving.  To add insult to injury, I had to go to the kidney clinic 3 times a week for 4 weeks to do hemo-dialysis through a catheter placed in my clavicle area.  So, now I’m back on peritoneal dialysis on a nightly basis and I’m really feeling good.  I’m back to my regular routine, but I have never been so far behind as I am now.  I have to have the newsletter to the printer by January 11 to have it published and mailed by February 1…that’s why my news is always a little late.  I guess the point of telling you about my surgery is that the revenue for November was less than $12,000 and the expenses were three times the revenue….

The South is frozen…..well, the sanctuary is anyway….

Today is January 10 and the high today will not reach 32 degrees and the low tonight will again be 15.  We’ve had frozen water pipes, broken water pipes, frozen locks and all small animal water containers frozen solid.  This weather has been going on for a week and will last another week before we see a break.  The birds had to be moved from the outside aviary into my house causing the two jealous African Grays who already live inside to go into a jealous frenzy….nobody ate for two days.  Now they are all saying everything they know and exchanging whistles to see who can be the loudest.  Keeping all of the domestic cathouses warm has been difficult at best. Living in the South doesn’t prepare you for a hard winter. The staff has insulated doors and windows and stapled plastic to all outside windows.  Keeping litter boxes cleaned when there are 30-40 cats in each house is difficult at best.  No one wants to go outside; so territorial fighting has become an issue.  The propane tanks have to be filled every two weeks to the tune of $1,700 each time.  We are struggling to keep the houses warm enough.  We need help with our propane bills….I guess that goes without saying.

There is a fungus among us…

Ringworm keeps popping out at the rate of one or two cats a week.  I keep thinking the cold will keep the ringworm at bay, but the cold probably doesn’t have anything to do with it.  So, all of the cats and kittens have to be wiped down with fungal control whether they have ringworm or not.  We have 6 cats and kittens in isolation as I write this…with 222 domestic cats, I wonder what the odds are as to how many will be infected.

Shera, the lioness and her mane…

The opinion of everyone I asked was that, for some reason, Shera has an abundance of testosterone and is low on estrogen.  I know that females have lower estrogen levels as they get older.  Savannah, whom Shera has lived with all her life was always the dominant of the two….guess who is head honcho now?  At 17 years of age, we don’t think this will affect her health in any way.  She has gained weight and has more muscles than she ever had before…she would be the one to control the television remote if there was one.

Update on Danny, the blind horse….

The few months that Danny has been here have made a drastic change in his appearance.
He has gained about 150 lbs and has really adjusted to his new life at Cedarhill.  The only time he appears stressed at all is if Sonny, his Seeing Eye miniature horse gets too far away from him.  When that happens, Danny whinnies until Sonny comes back to his side.

Arthur and Kirby….

I looked out into the pig habitat the other day and saw Kirby stretched out taking a sunbath in the warm afternoon sun.  Arthur crept up to her and lay down beside her as close as he could without waking her.  We have never seen Arthur approach her when she is awake….I guess he will just remain Kirby’s secret friend.

Chester, our new blind cat…

I received a phone call from the Tuscaloosa, AL shelter.  They had taken in a blind cat that was of course, unadoptable.  A couple saw him under some brush by their house and  lured him into their garage with tuna and took him to the shelter.  These people didn’t have any animals, but wanted to do the right thing by him.  When I agreed to take him, the couple picked him up from the shelter, brought him to Cedarhill and left a donation for his care.  Chester’s eyes had been surgically removed and he had been declawed….I know he had belonged to someone, so if any of our animal friends in Tuscaloosa have seen an ad for this lost cat, please tell me.  After Chester sized up the senior house, we found him in a bed very close to Miss Freckles (20 lbs) who doesn’t like people and hates other cats.  For some reason, she tolerated Chester…maybe a new romance is in the air.

Frankie, another helpless cat…. 

I received a call from Carol in Tuscaloosa, who also rescues cats.  She asked us to take little Frankie, who is about 8 months old.  When she found him, he was so thin and ridden with parasites; to add insult to injury, he had been poisoned with antifreeze. After Frankie had been poisoned, he was in a coma for two days and had convulsions…he fought so hard to live.  Frankie walks like he is drunk…now we call it drunk with happiness.  He is one of the sweetest and friendliest little kittens…he has stolen all of our hearts.

A pet’s ten commandments…

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years.  Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me the time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me.  It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up for punishment.  Your have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me.  Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you spank me, or strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me.  Perhaps I’m not getting the right food; I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I am old…you too will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please.  Never say you can’t bear to watch.  Don’t make me face this alone.  Everything is easier for me if you there, because I love you so.

Until next time…

I so appreciate your support of the animals.  Taking care of over 300 animals is a difficult task at best and we can’t do it without you.  I just know in my heart that we will get our new animal care building built this year.  Let’s make 2010 the year for the animals.