We have six siamese cats and two Labradore Retrievers that we love dearly.  I have a difficult time trying to realize that I can't save them all.

Have any of you adopted or taken in a stray?

Oh, yeah. I have. Mostly Collies since I bred and showed Collies for 30 years but we've had mixes & other pure breds we couldn't refuse. In fact, we have a rescue cat and a rescue poorly bred Sheltie now.

Its funny. The rescue cat is from "the ghetto", was a feral cat. The foster home said she liked people but hated being in the house and suggested she would do best as a barn cat. We have two house cats and a feral cat that lives in our separate "garage" who has FINALLY made up to my husband and I to a degree. Well, this rescue barn cat from the ghetto now spends as much time in the house, of her own volition, as she does out to the barn. And the two house cats are spending more and more time outside!

In fact, the Sheltie and the two "house cats" have teamed up and tag team the moles in our yard. The cats find them, the Sheltie does the digging w/the cats sitting next to the trench staring intently. The cats then catch the mole and when done playing w/the poor thing brings us a present of them and deposits them on the front porch. Oh joy, joy.

We even had a rescue horse here for a year and a half. A pretty red chestnut 1/2 Arab-1/2 Quarter Horse w/only one eye, the other having had to be removed due to an untreated injury. She was a corker when she got here. She hadn't been handled much and would threaten w/her rear, strike w/her front hooves and attempt to bite. She would amuse herself for hours in the pasture w/an old big branch off one of the trees, tossing and chasing it. When she arrived we locked our old mare up as she's not particularly fond of other horses. We let the gelding out first figuring he would be fine. Ha! He came racing out of the barn, nearly running me over, mouth wide open, ears pinned back .... that little filly, blind in one eye and all, had no problem w/him, he never connected and she got him in the ribs good several times. When she left here she was sweet, sensible, great w/farrier, vet, etc. My granddaughters, 6 and 9 could handle and groom her, pick her feet, shave her ears, etc. We three cried a lot when that little filly left!


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
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Hi auntnene! I have two cats, both rescues. I adopted my older cat (8 years old) from a local shelter six years ago. My other cat, now two, was given to me by a neighbor when she was 8 weeks old. She was born wild, and for some reason she and her three litter mates were abandoned. They all got adopted, she was the last of the litter. She had a bad eye infection, ear mites and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to socialize her, but with a lot of love and a couple of trips to the vet she's become a real sweetie. She's vocal, the most talkative cat I've ever met. She took to my other cat immediately, and they're inseparable. They're both black. Peanut, the older one, is solid black. JD, the younger, has some white markings on her chest and belly.

It took a few weeks for them to get used to my BIPAP. They would run from the bedroom when I'd turn it on, but now they'll come up on the bed in the morning and pat the mask with their paws when it's time for breakfast on the weekends.


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We had a standard black kitten show up in our yard about 6 years ago. I came home and the wife was raking up leafs and this little black kitten was chasing the rake. We asked around the neighborhood it was no ones kitten. She is now full grown and thinks shes the queen of the house.


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Just took in cujo about there weeks ago.He was going to get put down by his owners.....
He gets along great with the kids and besides a few things like digging up a house plant in the living room to bury a bone   has been a great addition to the family.

Ha! A Border Collie. They're a working breed and need to be kept busy. That's probably why his owners were going to get rid of him. He'd get bored and get himself into trouble. They're extremely intelligent. How old are your kids? Pick up a book on Agility Training at the library. Its FUN - for dogs and owners! And Border Collies do great at it.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
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Well hello, Auntene--

You sound like me ;-)  The best thing you can do is accept the fact that you really can't save them all. Nobody can. However, we each can feel good about what we can do.

A couple of years ago, someone left a beautiful tuxedo (black and white) cat at my complex. I left food for her when I could, and we let her stay in the laundry room. Already having two cats, I was afraid to bring her into my apartment for fear of feline leukemia. I lost two cats to this disease within a year of each other.

Anyway, long story short, she had a litter. A neighbor and I caught the mom and most of her babies. I brought my other two cats to mom's, and brought in this stray until I could find a shelter for her. Wasn't easy. After spending the better part of Labor Day weekend on the phone to shelters, I finally found a vet who works with foster care, and she agreed to take her as long as she was disease free. Thankfully, she was clean, and the vet took her in.

A few weeks later, I learned that a stray/feral cat who isn't spayed/neutered will produce 2,000 cats through the generations. That's huge! I felt good about making this small difference. I didn't just save one ... I saved a potential 2,000.

I now have three cats and a dog: A Humane Society Tabby, a breeder's :-( Siamese, a rescued feral black American Shorthair, and a breeder's :-( Pomeranian. My American Shorthair was born in the back of a cave in one of the Carolina's (hence the name "Red-neck Ripley") . He was trapped, put on a truck to Massachusetts, neutered, given to a foster family to "learn how to be a kitty", then put up for adoption at my cat veterinarian. I didn't know people did this. Sounds very traumatizing for these poor creatures, doesn't it? He's a big boy, 13 lbs, and he was caught a bit late to be a "normal" cat. I treat him very differently than my other two cats. He gets along fine with them and my Pomeranian. Wouldn't trade him for the world. Here's another cat who could potentially have produced another 2,000, and though I didn't save him directly, I am happy to give him a home.

CrohnieToo and Zen: Yes, a Border Collie, being a herding dog, requires a lot of activity. The problem is that most people don't do their research before choosing a puppy. Sad. Dalmations, among others, have fallen victim to this. People have to choose a dog that fits their lifestyle. I love most breeds of dogs, but Isabelle is my third Pomeranian since the breed works best for me.

One last thing: When Katrina hit, I was not only horrified by the plight of the people, but the animals as well. I made a considerable donation to the Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org, specifically to rescue and shelter these pets. A representative actually traveled to meet me, not only to thank me, but to inquire what my thoughts were on specific animal issues. I encourage you to visit their website.

Ok ... enough of a brain dump!  Do what you can, and feel good about it ... large or small!



Last edited by SnickersPie on Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
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SnickersPie

Hey does this count?? Our 20 year old moved out of the house and left his dog behind. Peaches a 1y/o 4 lb. chihuahua RUNS our house(all 2900 feet!!) Nick had gotten her for a girlfriend(now ex) Peaches was the runt and they weren't even sure if she was going to live. I tease her all of the time saying she got the best part of the deal living the life of luxury and maybe her brothers and sisters should have been nicer to her. My husband used to raise dobermans;now he drives around with a chihuahua by his side.


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BARBCCRN,

I've seen your posts throughout this site since I joined yesterday!  

Of course it counts! Another good example why a pet should never be a gift unless the recipient specifically asks for it. Doberman's are wonderful animals, but I know I couldn't take adequate care of a dog that size. It is endearing that your husband now drives around with a petite Chihuahua. All dogs have a unique personality, and there are many small dogs who "think" they are big dogs. My Pomeranian sure does.

Nice to hear from you, and take good care of Peaches.

Off-off topic, I see you're from Vegas. I spent a week there this Spring and couldn't believe how much it has changed since the last time I was there is 1980.


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SnickersPie

Boy, BarbCCRN, if that Chee-chee-wa-wa of your husband's was a long-coat, that would REALLY be going from one extreme to the other. As it is, its still a bit of an extreme! Wicked grin. From breeding Dobies to a rescue Chihuahua. What a guy!


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

It's nice to see so many open their homes and their hearts to animals. I am now feeding a beautiful gray kiten that comes around. I noticed it outside and it was really skinny so I have been leaving it food. He let me pet him yesterday. If I can get to where I can pick him up, he gets to go to our local vet on , "Tom Cat Tues."    They will neuter him and check for luekemia. I'll then have a cat to find a home for. I'm already over our towns limit (shhhh) on pets. My cats don't go outside so they don't need to know. Our two labs are a blessing. They keep me walking. Every morning and every evening they let me know it's time to go for a walk. We realy didn't expect to have any animals at this time in our life because our kids are grown and we like to travel. We found a nice kennel in the country the labs like to visit and we have someone come in and care for the litter boxes and feed our siamese.  It works for us and when we are home, we have the unconditional love of our fur kids. Now, if I can just keep them all off my bed at night, I'll be happy!!

I always end up with animals no one else wants.  CW, my fav. cat was an amazing lover boy and his previous idiot owner let her husband tell her to get rid of the cats.  They were getting ready to literally throw them to the coyotes when I got CW.  I had him 12 years and then he escaped last year and despite a very hard effort and daily and nightly searching by me and a hired pet detective for several months, he couldn't be found.  We miss him.  Lucky is a cat who found us in a parking lot.  He is my mischievous juvenile delinquent and gets in front of the monitor when I’m at the computer, as he is doing now.  Princess Rose is purrrly ornamental.  She is an aloof cat, not too bright and only likes to be petting if you are at her level on the floor.  She does this weird grooming thing with our hair though.  Gracie was abandoned because her owner moved and didn’t feel she could take her (huh?  I don’t get that, especially with a cat).

I recently had a bunny euthanized (peacefully in my arms).  She was 11 years old and the oldest rabbit my vet had seen.  She was some kid's Easter Bunny and they obviously left her out back and didn't care too much when she got out.   A kid did call when we had "found" posters up, but when I left a message that she was a house rabbit now and integrated into my family, they didn't call back.  Hugs Bunny was never socialized and she was mean and a biter .  We had an understanding though, she not draw blood and I would not turn her into hasenpfeffer  

Freddie is 7 years old and apparently led an abused life before finding his way to us.  He is the sweetest little guy, but unbelievably bull headed and truly not able to be house broken.  Now he thinks that if the litter box is OK for the cats, then it is OK for him to pee on the outside of it.  In fact, I’m cleaning that up as I type.  We have only had him a year.  I work with an animal behaviorist to help him, but I think it’s going to take maybe two years before he gets it.  Just when I think it is safe to let him sleep on the bed rather than in his crate at night…

I don’t know what I’d do without these creatures.  They fill my life with love and have kept me going on many occasions.  Nobody can take better care of my furry kids than me  
Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Quote:

Nobody can take better care of my furry kids than me  

That, is exactly how I feel!  Everytime I vacume or look around my living room at my furniture all covered in sheets, I wonder what on earth I am doing.  Everytime I plop a Zyrtec in my mouth I wonder if I didn't have animals if I would need the allergy meds. Then, a cold lab nose touches my leg or a soft warm kitty jumps in my lap or hordes the computer screen, I know they are here to stay. No one could love these particular fur kids like I do!

Thomas, Maggie, JC, Sam, Hannah and Vinny are our siamese. Hannah is a snowshoe and is picture perfect! Thomas is huge and could stand to lose some weight. Maggie is always on my lap. She is a dainty little thing.  JC and Sam are brothers who love to sit with me at the computer. Sam makes sure he grabs the spot between dh and I at night.  JC is my husbands buddy and is our biggest talker.  Vinny was a breeders kitten she ddin't sell and she left him in a dark corner so he doesn't like to be picked up or held. He loves the brush and comb and after 4 years, is just now starting to come around and hang out with the gang.

Sawyer Brown is a chocolate lab whose original owners divorced. He was in an apartment in a crate for 9 hours a day. He is beautiful and loves the big fenced yard. Jasmine is a black  lab who was very well cared for but when the baby came, she went to the pound.  One day on our walk we passed a house and she heard a baby cry. She layed down in the driveway and sighed a big sigh. I had trouble getting her to leave. The kids in our neighborhood are her buddies and when she sees them she barks until we go visit.

With personalities such as these, a little hair on the floor and the sheets on the furniture, is such a small price to pay. No one loves my fur kids like I do either and they love us as well.

I just pray no one finds a hair in the stuffing  this Thanksgiving  

Eh, what's a few hairs between friends? They say you'll eat a bushel of dirt before you die, so why would a few hairs be so gross?


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I have 2 dogs and 3 cats a ball python and mice tanks as well as a 55 gallon fish tank Im an animal lover always wanted to be a vet but that never worked out however I did go to school and am an LPN. But since my head on accident in 2003 I havent worked. I got hit by a guy who was working on his lap top and my luck hasnt changed regarding accidents. 2004 backing up drive way with stockade fence in truck and hit edge of driveway and it bent the whole tail gate bumper area 2005 Truck sitting out front of house in parking spot 2 am someone talking on thier cell phone took out whole drivers side of truck 10k in damages  april of 2006 Hit a deer very little damage but have freezer full of vension. 2001 Dodge ram 1500 1/2 ton 4 x 4 I think the truck won the deer vs Dodge issue. My saying now is I had 1 a year now I should be good till 2007