a post by the mom
If you hang out in rescue long enough, you will eventually hear someone say "I get into animal rescue because I don't like people". And others will snicker or whatever.
But in fact the opposite it true - animal rescue is still a PEOPLE oriented service group. Very few aspects of rescue will keep you away from people, though some will allow you to avoid the general public (and maybe that is more what they mean when they say that).
However, I think with that general mindset, some forget that people - the general public - are our most important audience. They share our posts on social media, they are donors, they are adopters. I think sometimes rescues act like they are doing the public a favor.
Of course, I've had people from the public act that way with me - as though I need to be even more grateful for their attention or ignore things on applications because "they are doing us a favor by adopting". Yeah - not how that works.
But recently I've seen a couple of instances where adoptions could have gone very wrong or not happened at all because of things that were handled badly. Rescues need to remember they can live or die by their reputation - and bad word of mouth spreads much farther and faster then good. I can't begin to tell you the number of people who have told me "bad" rescue stories.
Don't get me wrong - rescue is hard and sometimes you are catching people on a bad day. I've had it happen. But I think we all need to step back and remember that we are ALL human and we ALL need to get along and take a breath.
So if you are in rescue remember the public sees cute animals not the work that got them ready for adoption. If you are the public remember that rescue is hard and heartbreaking. Let's meet somewhere in the middle.
Mike is 1 year old!!! Break out the treats!
If you would have asked when she came here as a foster, we wouldn't have thought she would celebrate here. But we are glad she is happy and healthy.
We are still looking to get her into her forever home. Mom's friend Heather actually has Mike right now for a couple of weeks. She gets more space and is around other cats all day. She is doing really well but was happy to see mom last night.
Winslow and Sedona were adopted TOGETHER! The family has kids and we are optimistic it's a great fit.
Bisbee was also adopted separately.
Just 3 Arizona kittens to get adopted.
Laredo has a friend. Mom borrowed a kitten from another foster so he can learn to kitten.
Harvey is at the pet store. Garibaldi is still here and having fun playing with Blueberry who is taking a break from the store. Since they are older they are loose in the house and having a good time.
And Mike is still here doing Mike things.
Stay cool and safe!!
We suddenly have a lot of orange arpund here.
The rescue had an adoption event at the local Petsmart this weekend. Mom doesn't mind doing them, but it is tiring. A lot goes in to planning it and then getting there, setting up, talking to people then breaking down.
It can be hard doing events at pet stores since a lot of people aren't coming in always looking to adopt. But it's good to talk to people about whatever.
Of course, things don't always go as planned. We got a few applications and did send one kitten home.
However, Friday night a long haul trucker stopped in with a small kitten he had found in Texas and had been caring for for a couple of days but realized he was in over his head. Meet Laredo.
The Sunday about an hour after we packed up, someone left a pair of kittens at the store. So they are with us too.
It's a tough time of year for small rescues: lots of kittens and not always a lot of adoptions.
ROCK was invited to a yoga studio on Friday for Cats on Mats.
Mom took the Arizona kittens and Mike. Mike got found heaven hanging out with lots of people for a few hours. The yoga studio did a great job of advertising and several peopke walked in and said "it's Mike!"
There is a local photographer who schedules a day to take pet pictures. Chanel has gonna a couple of times. When mom saw that David was taking pictures last weekend, she reserved a spot for Mike.
Mike did really well. The hardest part was she had to be on a box to fit in the frame so mom had to hover to keep Mike from falling off.
We think the pictures turned out great.
Well mother nature was weird last week. It was very hot mid week (mid to high 90s) then mid 70s this weekend. We also lost power Tuesday afternoon until early Wednesday morning and it got pretty warm in the condo. Luckily it came back before mom had to make decisions about how we were handling it.
We knew it was coming. And yesterday morning it happened: 2 kittens escaped the foster room.
Yep, that's Winslow and Sedona. Mom wasn't very happy that they decided to nap UNDER her chair though.
The tabby boys haven't figured it out yet, but it's probably only a matter of time. Thankfully they understand the sound of the food can opening so they come running for dinner. Plus they are super friendly
Mom and her friend took the cat they trapped on Sunday back after surgery on Monday. The goal was to try to catch the momma cat longing to the kittens they got Sunday. Well, in record time Sparkie was in the trap. She is now back with her babies and taking good care of them. She's a little scared but should be adoptable.
Everyone here is doing well. Mike and the kittens are getting along pretty well. She gets a little frustrated when they get wound up, but otherwise they are good.
Mom did have an adventure on Sunday. A friend of a friend has some cats she is caring for and of course there are now kittens. Mom and her friend went down and got the younger group of kittens. They then tried to catch mom who isn't feral but is very cautious. No luck. So H is gping to bottle feed and we will try again. But they did catch the other momma (her kittens are older and will be ok until later today) so she's being spayed and released. Then it will be attempt 3 catching the momma cat they need.
In less than a week, the kittens have cleared the panels. Mom heard a strange noise on Saturday and there sat 2 kittens behind the airlock gate. Oh well....at least it was a few days for everyone to get to know each other.
Mike is a little weird about them being loose. She complains when she alone. But she also complains of they run around too fast. We suspect she would do great with an adult past the crazy stage. But she does like them when they are a little more quiet.
Mom planted flowers on the balcony. So the new game now is escaping kittens while she waters the plants. (So far the kittens are winning)
As you know if you've been following along, mom is volunteering with a new rescue. They mainly do TNR and don't have a shelter location so it's all foster base. Because of that, they limit their intake so there aren't a ton of kittens.
However, one of the volunteers found a group. They were grouped with a single kitten who was just weaned so she can learn to be a kitten appropriately.
Phoenix was the bottle baby. She's about a week younger. She was named for the mythical creature but mom decided to go with cities in Arizona.
They are very purry and good eaters. For now they are in a pen set up in the foster room. In a couple of weeks when they are a little bigger (or when they are big enough to escape) they can be out in the foster room.
Mike has sat and watched them a few times but seems to enjoy looking out the sliding doors more.
The tuxedo boys were all neutered last Wednesday and adopted by Saturday. Yay!!
Mom left us for the weekend but for a good cause. The kid (her niece) graduated from high school. Mom isn't sure how that's possible but the kid has a diploma to prove it.
Mom also cheated on us with the kid's new puppy Koda...she just had surgery so is wearing the cone
We weren't sure how things would go with the smaller boys in the foster room with Mike. Turns out the answer is - it's all good. Mike was a little annoyed the first day, but she doesn't like change much. The kittens quickly learned her patterns and to get out of her way. Mike does get a little bad when the 4 of them get really wound up and running, but we've learned over the months she's been here it is mostly frustration.
