Sunday, January 22, 2012

Jan 15-22: Skat in heat?

Very changeable weather, cold and windy (very windy), warmer, rain, tornado watches, thunderstorms ... more like March weather... Skat goes in heat, the Damcat is smitten... looking at vans ... Banshee goes to pet therapy, Snoopy to rehab, little Mattie visits, Corey healing well, DB very energetic all week ... Skit learns to leap to the top of every piece of tall furniture in the house ...


Monday January 16

Off for MLK Day! Cold and windy, mower won't crank, morning walk all around property, feed and kennel. Let DOCAD in ... you're not gonna believe this but Skat (the long haired kitty) is in heat. Yeppers, 4 months old, trilling and flirting and, uh, the Damcat is well, smitten shall we say. Ack. Quick research online, he cant hurt her, and this MAY induce ovulation so she'll go out of heat. Take Banshee into town for vet visit , discuss rabies vax and reactions, also discuss Skit and Skat, set appointment to spay next week. Then go look at more vans, geez I hate car salesmen and dickering. Return home, its after dark, let Banshee out, fix dog food, fix plate of human food for husband, then off to church meeting (husband feeds dogs). Return, the DOCAD still inside, the Damcat is exhausted, sleeps like a rock all night

Tuesday Jan 17

Warmer but very very windy ... have early hearing in Columbia so husband feeds dogs. Return from hearing, dogs kenneled, let out for walk, and brief run, then take Banshee to nursing home for pet therapy, a really moving experience today, several residents shared stories and pictures of their beloved dogs who had passed. Leave and go to another car dealer, this is getting really tiresome. Husband goes to chiro, I return home, almost dark, kennel, fix food, then take for walk and feed and kennel. Inside, the cats all sleeping, Skat seems to have calmed somewhat ... but still exhibiting mating behavior. All fine until the Damcat throws up, on the bed, have to remove sheets, wash, turn mattress, clean ... ah, the joys of pet guardianship...

Wednesday Jan 18

Pleasant morning but mower wont crank ... walk Snoopy, all the way to the back, where she attempts to greet neighbor's horses, jumping around ... ack. Limping. Carefully make our way back, she stabilizes ... feed and kennel, off to work ... long day, return home after dark. Dogs kenneled. DOCAD busily destructing the house. Now Skit has managed to learn to leap to the top of the armoire in the bedroom and won't come down (like a cat in a tree?) fine, stay there, shake food and here she comes ...  Skat no longer displaying mating behavior ... could the Damcat's 'attentions' have induced ovulation? Frankly, this is more than I EVER wanted to know about cats mating behavior... vet says let's wait a week to see if she is out of heat ...

Thursday January 19

Mower won't crank again . Cool and cloudy, threatening rain ... little Mattie shows up ... morning walk, then work a bit on a file and go to Cola for hearing, client no show, wonderful. Return and work at satellite office then home. Take dogs for evening run, mower running fine. Groom all. Corey's sore healing, but slowly. Banshee has sandspurs on her belly. DB has rolled in something unpleasant. Snoopy is skittish tonight. Feed and kennel.

Friday January 20

Wake up feeling very poorly, stomach hurting, nasuous ... husband has gone into town, fix food, walk dogs, starts drizzling, feed and kennel, lay back down. Let DOCAD in. Husband brings me some immodium and settle. Feel a bit better, if shaky, go out and groom dogs then take Snoopy and go into town to arrange a change in foster homes for the heeler we're trying to rescue, then to rehab for Snoopy and chiro, return home, its dark, dogs kenneled. Feed and kennel Snoopy. Stomach hurting again.

Saturday January 21

Very unpleasant weather today ... starts off warm and cloudy, starts drizzling while I'm running the dogs, meet husband back at kennels, feed and kennel. Stomach bothering me again. Let DOCAD in, feed, clean their room. Raining off and on. Around noon, break in weather, let dogs out, brief walk, then put Snoopy inside, run the others ... pick Snoopy up, its starting to rain again, back to kennels. Raining hard now, high winds, tornado watch. Ack. Finally stops very late afternoon, give dogs final run, feed and kennel. Husband and I go into town to buy supplies at WalMart

Sunday January 22

Foggy, cool morning. Morning run-walk, feed kennel, go to church. Turns colder, in 40's, damp and windy. Let dogs out, walk-run, then groom and leave in crates, give husband lunch, put DOCAD in bedroom with Damcat and go get dogs, run the 3 while Snoopy inside, very cold. Let all dogs in, take naps, try to work on computer. Stomach bothering me again. Husband napping with the cats. The day wears on. Friend who is fostering the heeler calls, not going well with her resident dogs. What next. Hopefully she can take her to the potential adopter tomorrow. Put in a wash, getting dark, take dogs for final walk (mower wont crank) feed and kennel, return and let DOCAD out of bedroom. They are very energetic tonight, leaping through the air ... get wash out of dryer, ack, a pen has leaked all over dryer. DOCAD go IN dryer and wont come out. Start folding cdlothes, they leap into the clothes pile and start wrestling. Put them in their room for the night

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Jan 9-15: Anniversary of Angel Ginger's diagnosis

Rain mid week, turns much colder very windy, brrr ... little Mattie visits several times, the DOCAD doing well (they have now destroyed a houseplant and two sets of blinds) , try to keep them inside at night but it doesnt work ... Banshee destroys her crate pad, Snoopy doing well at rehab, husband and I look at vans ...

Monday January 9

Heat wave continues, temps in 70's ... light rain but nothing much ... let DOCAD in, then morning rum-walk, joined by little Mattie, off to work ... very tiring day ... dark when I return... DOCAD doing their job of creating chaos and deestruction, but calming somewhat (whew) ... whoops spoke too soon, Skat climbed up my leg at supper, ouch...
Anniversary of Angel Ginger's diagnosis ... 2 years ...

Tuesday Jan 10

Some rain in night, damp and foggy morning, let DOCAD in ... and here's little Mattie for morning run. Husband takes Snoopy, I run dogs, feed and kennel, go to work , now pouring rain... return early after meeting, still light, husband in town, little Mattie greets me at gate. Back to trailer, was going to put DOCAD inside but dont want them running and getting on roof if Mattie chases them ... fix food, back to kennels, release dogs, Snoopy on leash, all wildly excited to see Mattie, she and Corey chase each other all opver (quite comical, she runs underneath him, he gets all tangled up turning around to follow her, barking joyously ... Snoopyt wants SO badly to join in ... not yet, sweetie... long walk all artound property, back to trailer, let all (except Mattie ) inside, check emails, then leave Snoopy inside and take others on evening run, then pick Snoopy back up ... husband has arrived and is unloading truck with worker, doghs all rush over, barking, mass confusion ... finally get sorted out and feed and kennel ... let DOCAD in, quickly, while Mattie chewing on her bone .

Wednesday Jan 11

Colder this morning, but not raining yet, morning run, feed and kennel ... Snoopy walking well, Corey's ears doing well ... feed DOCAD and clean their room, go to work ... starts pouring rain, rains all morning til mid afternoon ... dentist appt late afternoon, return home in time for evening run, DB in high spirits, running in circles around us, little Mattie shows up, Snoopy so wants to play with her ... we walk to the back of the property, some critter has dug under fence, husband is carrying branches over to plug up hole, Corey goes nuts (he loves to chew branches) husband makes mistake of throwing one for him, and poor Snoopy tries to JUMP after it, aargh ..fortunately no damage apparent. Go slowly back to kennels, feed and kennel. DOCAD inside with the Damcat, chasing each other ... the Damcat is acting like he's a kitten again...


Thurs Jan 12

Getting colder, cloudy, morning rum-walk, feed and kennel ... return after dark, dogs kenneled, take out yogurt-essences .. husband ill with stomach flu, give him soup, DOCAD in rare form tonight, attack my one remaining houseplant knocking it on floor, dirt everywhere ... aargh. Vacuum it up. Put DOCAD up for night. Very windy tonight, scary sounding, feels like the trailer is going to blow apart ...

Friday Jan 13

Very cold and very windy morning ... horrible, like a knife cutting through you. Mower wont crank. Walk dogs, trying to stay on side of building out of wind, finally all take morning poop, little Mattie shows up, feed and kennel. Go by food bank, drop off food , pay taxes, then to work (hearing in Ga,) ... then to office then chiro, return home after dark, dogs kenneled, DOCAD inside, raring to go, not satisfied with their destruction of last night ... calm down after awhile, keep them inside tonight as it is really cold.

Saturday January 14

Still cold, not as windy thank heavens. The DOCAD are in the bathroom with the Damcat, he apparently terroirized them and threw them out of bed, they are huddled behind the toilet. No injuries though. Let them out, feed them, fix dogs food, go let dogs out for morning walk (mower wont crank), feed and kennel. Take Snoopy to rehab, she is doing very well, gets on the blue peanut no problem and even almost whole body on big red peanut (will get pictures, the goal is to stand on it). Pick up dog food, return home, take dogs for run (mower cranks), then groom, Banshee rips up her crate pad, kennel, put DOCAD in porch room,  husband and I go to look at various vans and deal with car salesmen. Return after dark. Feed dogs, let DOCAD into trailer, feed. Tonight decide to put them in bathroom,leave Damcat out, this doesnt work, they start ripping apart the bathroom, let them out but they simply wont lay still in the bed, the Damcat starts washing them, they start fighting out feet under the covers ... strange, during the day they will curl up quietly in bed with you to take a nap, but not at night. Finally put them out in porch room. Its warmer tonight.

Sunday January 15

Not as cold today. Morning walk, as mower wont crank. Feed and kennel, Let DOCAD in, go to church. Return, let DOCAD out for awhile, then put them inside  and let dogs out, go for long walk around property, then inside (cats and husband in bedroom). Fix lunch. Put in a wash, read, take brief nap, go for another long walk (poor Snoopy keeps getting sandspurs), then groom, leave in crates while go fix food, then back and take a final run, husband walks Snoopy. Feed and kennel. DOCAD inside with the Damcat, all is well. Put them outside in the porch room when go to bed.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Jan 2-7: Van finally dies

Week starts out very cold and windy .... ends up sunny in 70's ... very strange weather for January! Mower works off and on during week, van is OK early week but transmission messes up on weekend, almost stranging us ... DOCAD fitting in well, stay inside the 2 cold nights but have to stay in bathroom with the Damcat (who isnt tremendously pleased to be  babysitting all night) as they are TOO lively at night ... Banshee goes to NH for pet therapy, Snoopy doing really well at rehab now, Corey's hiney healing  but he is being really obnoxious towards the DOCAD ... county council meeting on new animal shelter, vote in favor ... monitoring this mess is going to be a full time job, I fear ...little Mattie visits several times ... a busy week!


Monday January 2

Cool and clear, very windy all day, temps struggle into high 40's... brrr. Didnt sleep well last night, stomach bothering me, but OK today. Husband better too. Morning run-walk husband and Snoopy follow us all way down hill ... , windy ... feed and kennel, then feed DOCAD and clean their room, let them out for awhile. Washing dogs' crate pads today, start wash, then go to get dogs for run, Corey starts barking at DOCAD's porch door, husband comes out on porch and throws water at him ... leave Snoopy inside with husband and the Damcat, continue run (mower working)... stay out for about an hour, Corey still wet and now dirty, let him chew sticks in the woods awhile and he's finally calmer ... back to shed, crate them. Go inside, print out info on shelter for neighbor, meet her at gate, then back to shed, groom Corey, Banshee and DB. Husband going into town to doctor, brings Snoopy to shed also. Back to trailer, let DOCAD in for a bit, continue washing-drying crate pads, then let dogs out, walk around as much as I can stand, then put them in van, go to store, van running OK, return late afternoon, was planning to take dogs inside til suppertime but when let them out of van, they go nuts, DB leading the pack, sniffing and barking and carrying on in 'intruder alert' mode ...  cannot see anything amiss in any outbuildings, but cannot get them calmed so kennel them with chewies, go inside, fix food, put last of crate pads in dryer, go and let them out again, same thing, this time full tilt towards front gates, loud barking, Snoopy trying to follow (and pulling me) ... they finally calm down, and I feed and kennel them. Have NO idea what is wrong, maybe its the wind (which makes ME feel like I'm going crazy too) ..back to trailer, dark now let DOCAD in, husband returns, he and worker putting plants in greenhouse and heaters in pump house (supposed to go to 15 tonight) workers wife sent me some soup and cornbread! Let DOCAD stay inside tonight, in bathroom with the Damcat which they all enjoy (though I miss the Damcat in bed).. DOCAD are too rambunctious in the night. (they think the bed is a trampoline and jump up trying to catch the light pull on the fan)

Tuesday January 3

Oh boy, its cold, and WINDY ... about a 30 mph wind this morning. Mower wont crank. Walk dogs, very miserable (me, not them), feed and kennel. Let DOCAD inside, clean their room, go to food bank ... return, DOCAD inside, let dogs out for brief run, still horrible wind ... then load them up and go into town for pet therapy at nursing home for Banshee. Others get very brief walk, its really too miserable to be out in this ... return home, put DOCAD in bathroom, let dogs inside while fix their food and print out materials for council meeting on animal shelter, then feed and kennel, change clothes, go to meeting. Husband and friends join me there, Council voted 4-1 in favor of building and operating a new animal shelter. Although I am encouraged by the fact that Aiken SPCA will be a 'partner' in this venture (offering help with adoptions, spay-neuter clinics), and by the fact that the operating budget has been increased from $36,000 to $50,000, I still have concerns about kennel space and staffing. Return home, still windy and very cold, temps plummeting, put extra blankets in dog kennels, let DOCAD stay inside tonight.

Wed Jan.4

Very very cold. Husband got up around 5 AM and put dogs in heated shed in their crates. Water frozen solid this morning, mower wont crank, my foot is giving me a new weird problem (hurts on top) and can hardly walk. Limp around, at least it isnt windy, though its about 18 degrees. Get fresh water for dogs, let them run, feed and kennel, temps up to 25 now. Go to work. Return after dark, DOCAD still inside. Husband has let dogs in several times, put DOCAD in bathroom. Let them stay inside again tonight

Thursday Jan 5

Not as cold as anticipated in the night. Let kittens out, then feed and put in their room, unkennel dogs, mower wont crank, so walk dogs, foot better today thank heavens. Feed and kennel, go to work, long day but at least warmer, in 50's! Return home after dark. The Damcat is beginning to get tired of the DOCAD, he hides in the closet, and he lets them push him away from food, so feed him separate and put DOCAD in their rooom

Friday Jan 6

Warmer today thank goodness. Morning walk, mower still wont crank. Husband gone into town. Give dogs a nice long walk, feed and kennel, groom them. Snoopy walking really well until gets sandspurs .. first in front paw, then in back.Feed DOCAD, let them inside. Skat is getting really chubby, Skit is more the slim sleek type, like Damcat. Take them to vet for 2d set of shots. Go to work, then chiro, return after dark, dogs kenneled, let DOCAD in.

Saturday January 7

Mid winter heat wave continues, temps in 70's. Husband let DOCAD in, I made mistake of trying to put them in room while I fix dogs morning chow, Skat promptly ran up a tree, very difficult getting them back in .... husband then goes into town. Let dogs out, walk Snoopy, halfway down hill she is taking her AM poop and it starts raining ... not hard enough to get damp, back up the hill, feed and kennel. Get ready to go into town, husband returns, workers arrive, someone is working on mower today thank heavens ... load dogs into van, go for Smoopy's rehab, she is doing fantastic today! Does all the exercises, adds new ones, very happy about it all. Bring Corey in and weigh him, he's at 81.9. Leave rehab, going to Pet Smart ... when the van transmission starts slipping and sliding ... oh, no ... turn around, head home, and make it, thank God. Whole day now in shambles, didnt get to library, didnt get to store, arrgh. On the bright side, my back feels pretty good. Unload dogs, kennel them briefly, while fix husband lunch, put kittens in bathroom, then let DB, Banshee, Corey out, mower now fixed, take them for run, then swing by kennels, get Snoopy and go back to trailer, inside for awhile, husband finishes work, comes in and takes nap with the cats. Out again with the 3, then Snoopy for walk, little Mattie shows up to visit, all glad to see her...feed and kennel. Let DOCAD stay in until late, then put them out in their room.

Sunday Jan.8

Still unseasonably warm, very misty this morning, bring DOCAD in, morning run-walk, mower working ... dogs appearing and disappearing in the mist, Snoopy spots a rabbit ... feed and kennel, go to church. Return, DOCAD still inside, let them out briefly, then putback in, let dogs out, walk all around property, then to the shed to groom. Corey's hiney healing nicely, his ears looking good. Take dogs for brief walk then inside trailer (DOCAD in bathroom), nap time. Do wash. Then evening run , husband walks Snoopy, a bit of mowing, DB and Banshee fence run with horses, little Mattie shows up in time for supper. Feed and kennel, back to trailer, DOCAD napping with the Damcat. They wake up and begin terrorizing us, sitting on keynoard and swatting monitor screen, climbing UP my leg, leaping thru the air and landing on .. husbands foot, OUCH ... that did it, put them in their porch room for the night.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Dec 26-Jan 1: Happy New Year

A pleasant week weatherwise ... DOCAD (Demons of Chaos and Destruction, aka Skit & Skat) driving us all bonkers ... the Damcat trying his best to keep order ....Snoopy doing well, walking pretty confidently now ... Corey to vet to check sore on hiney ... mowing (the mower cranks!) the vetch (already) ... the van gets its transmission filter changed (keeping fingers crossed) ...


"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown



Monday Dec.26

Sunshine! Thank heaven, I really couldnt take another day of rain... let kittens in, clean their room, feed them, then go for morning walk with dogs (mower wont crank), feed and kennel. All dogs very excited that its no longer raining! Back to trailer start a wash, let kittens in, they are quite sweet in the morning, very cuddly, cleaning each other, the Damcat joining in, then napping. Put them back in their room, let dogs out, now the mower cranks so put Snoopy inside with husband and take others on long run, burning off their pent up energy  ... this is so much better. Do some mowing too, the vetch is coming up in back. (this usually happens in February-March ... it has been so warm so far this winter ...) back to home, fix lunch, do another load of wash, nap, then out again with dogs. Picking up branches in woods (Corey's favorite pastime, he is so helpfull), practice sit-stay-a bit, back to get Snoopy, take her for walk, husband working on windows, then take all dogs to shed, groom everyone, clip DBs nails, try to get Snoopy on grooming table with ramp (gift), but its still too steep. Let all out for last run, get food feed and kennel. Let kittens in, clean their room.

Tuesday  Dec 27

Back to work ... cold morning, frosty, morning run-walk (mower does crank), feed and kennel, off to work ... return after dark. Dogs kenneled, take out yogurt-essences. DOCAD (Demons of Chaos and Destruction, aka Skit & Skat) are inside already, bouncing on the bed trying to catch the fan pull. Feed them, clean their room. Whew.

Wed   Dec 28

Cool morning, dogs in VERY high spirits, Snoopy trying to jump and play .. not yet, sweetie. Husband walks her while I run the others (mower still cranking!) feed and kennel, let kitties out, feed and clean room, then off to work, have appointment in town late afternoon, husband not feeling well, headache but chiro not in today ... he goes on from appt to Lowes, I return home, let dogs out, walk Snoopy to trailer, take others for very brief run then feed and kennel

Thurs Dec 29

Cold. Mower wont crank. Walk dogs, feed and kennel, go to work, return well after dark. Let DOCAD in, they are now climbing the vertical blinds ... ack.

Friday December 30

Off today! Cool crisp frosty morning, morning run-walk, feed and kennel, let kittens out, feed and clean room. Put in a wash, Let dogs out, walk Snoopy then give her to husband while I run the others and mow (yes, the vetch is growing) ... decide to take Corey in to let vet look at his sore (which is healing but not as fast as I would like), van is still inoperable, so just take Corey ... stop by new local rescue to check it out (looks quite good for an outside small rescue, animals all well tended and happy) ... then into town to vet, who says  Corey is healing fine, puts some collagen cream on it no charge ... go by PetSmart, getting late so no trip to gardens, return home, dark, other dogs already kenneled. Feed Corey and kennel him, back to trailer, let kittens out, watch them play in the dusk ... uhoh, on the roof ....


Saturday Dec 31

Warming up! Morning run-walk, husband in town, have just finished when he returns. Feed kittens, clean their room. Take Snoopy into town for rehab, the van is being worked on, run a few errands return, let others out, brief run, then groom and leave in crates while let kittens out ... musical animals game continues ... let dogs out, put Snoopy inside trailer, take others out to take down Xmas decorations on gates, mow a bit, then return. Van is supposedly fixed (replaced the transmission filter), load up dogs, go to store, seems to run fine, return after dark, feed, kennel. Let DOCAD in ... they are in fine fettle, racing thru the trailer, wrestling with the Damcat, chasing their toys ...

Sunday January 1

Happy New Year! Cool, cloudy morning, morning run-walk, feed, kennel, let kittens in, go to church. Return early (no refreshments today), sprinkling rain, but stops and clears up. Let kittens out for while then put them back in their room and let dogs out. Corey is totally fascinated by the kittens, stands at their porch door whining, tail waving ... but he is just too big for them yet .... husband feeling poorly again. Take Snoopy on leadh and others and walk all over property, stopping to let Snoopy (and myself) rest. She is doing very well, walking pretty confidently now. Return and put dogs in crates, check on husbaan, fix him soup. Put in a load of wash. Back to shed, let dogs out, bring inside, Corey is especially rambunctious today, wont stay still, wont nap. Let him out, he harasses the kittens in the porch room, then bark. Grrr. Leaving Snoopy inside with husband, take others on long run, mow, then back to shed, groom. Corey drinks an entire bucket of water but still antsy. Wind has picked up a lot, maybe thats it. Take him out again (Banshee and DB not interested). Getting dark, get food and Snoopy, feed and kennel all. Back to trailer, let kittens out to roam a bit, but, here comes little Mattie (havent seen her in awhile) ... she sees the kittens and runs off ... let DOCAD in for their evening chaos and destruction duty.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Dec 19-25: Christmas week

Week before Christmas ... weather cool then warm again, ends up raining Christmas Day ... Skit & Skat fitting in, causing chaos and destruction, but learning to 'be good kittens' (ie, dont scratch the humans, dont jump on the table during dinner, dont climb the human's legs) ... the Damcat is a stern taskmaster ... mower broken all week, finally patched by weekend .. van drivable ...  pet therapy day for Banshee, she has a great time and looks adorable in her Christmas get up... rehab for Snoopy (who is doing quite well) ... Corey is ansty from lack of running (he wont RUN if I'm walking ...) his hiney sore healing but not as quickly as I'd like ... DB in high spirits, running in circles ... no visit from little Mattie (I think they went somewhere for holidays) ... a good week.

Monday December 19

Crisp clear frosty morning, morning walk-run (me still walking), workers arrive ...feed and kennel by myself (husband busy) ... then on to work (after getting air in all tires, and oil) ... long day, return after dark, take yogurt out to dogs, let kittens in, they are doing so well with the Damcat now, they are all giving each other baths ...

Tuesday December 20

Fairly warm again, 60's ... husband gone into town very early, let kittens in, clean their room, feed them, then get dogs for morning walk ... feed and kennel, husband shows up; back to trailer, let kittens in to play with the Damcat ... then go to food banks, unload food, return home. Let dogs out for walk-run (me walking,lol) load them into van and go to nursing home for pet therapy (Banshee), the others along for the ride. Very successful visit, Banshee and I alone for half of it, but another of our team and her dog show up halfway through; whew, this is a large facility, but very appreciative ... one resident told me 'I lost my dog, my bird, and then my husband, and ended up here ... and they wont let me have a dog' She was very happy to see Banshee ... they were having a party, and  one of the aides (not a resident) dropped a piece of chocolate cake on the floor ... I moved really fast and scooped it up from under Banshee's nose ...back to van, took Corey out briefly, the worker who had escorted us was parked next to me, she was entranced by Corey, who was on his best behavior, she wanted to know if HE could come in next time, I was going, well, he's very friendly but he is also VERY vocal ... she acted like she didnt believe me, but then my wild Irishman decided we'd talked long enough and started barking ... so she could see what I mean... was planning to take dogs into North Augusta and try the park there, but, it started raining, so return home ... kennel dogs, then run to trailer, get soaked ... kittens inside with Damcat and husband ... try to take a nap but, they're not quite ready for the concept of remaining quiet at naptime yet... stops raining, so let dogs out, then feed and kennel

Wednesday Dec, 21

Drizzle all day, morning walk, feed and kennel, return home after dark. Kittens into everything, on the table, climbing up my legs while I cook... aargh. Put them up.

Thursday Dec.22

Off work today. Morning walk, feed and kennel, feed kittens and watch them play awhile, then go into town, need to stop by my office for awhile. Return home, take dogs for long walk all around the property, which of course starts my back aching. Feed and kennel, then lay down.

Friday Dec. 23

Warm today, in 70's ... let kittens in briefly, then feed, let dogs out for morning walk, feed and kennel, let kittens out again, then go to meet with friend about county shelter proposal. Return home, fix lunch, dogs walked, then load in van go to town to chiro appointment, then to gardens for a walk ... Corey entranced by little white poodle ... stop by Home Depot meet husband to look at lawnmowers, dont buy anything, return home, van transmission starts acting up, stop and check fluid, its OK, make it home no further problems. Dark when arive home, feed and kennel. Let kittens in, they carouse through the trailer, sppreading chaos and destruction. What fun!

SAturday Dec.24

Christmas Eve, warm weather continues, husband has patched lawnmower engine, still leaks but runs, so take dogs for morening run, while husband walks Snoopy, then feed and kennel, let kittens in. Then take Snoopyto rehab, husband comes, go in his truck, pick up window at lowes, check out a few more mowers then return home, let others out, run, gosh it fels good to be mobile around the property again, dont know how long it'll last. Brush everyone, let inside, take naps, then fed and kennel, take preset to neighbor, return home,  let kittens in. They last about an hour then the Damcat starts playing too rough

Sunday Dec.25
Merry Christmas! Colder, cloudy ... morning run-walk, then feed and kennel, go to church... very small congregation (everyone goes to the 'big service' Christmas Eve, I dont, too big a crowd), return home, it's now starting to drizzle, quickly let fogs out for a run, put Snoopy in trailer ... and it starts raining harder ... put dogs in shed, heater on, brush ... then go  back and get Snoopy, kennel them for long rainy afternoon. Kittens inside, doing quite well, learning to stay OFF the table while we eat (and then get to lick the plates)... the Damcat playing rough, but also grooming them quite nicely ... kittens curl up with husband for nap ... rains ALL day ... go out to feed dogs, at least pens are staying dry ... let them inside shed for brief grooming, then feed and kennel.


And a poem for Christmas Day

Dear Lord on this Christmas day
There’s just one gift for which I pray
Please watch over all dogs everywhere
And Bless them with someone to care.

Watch over the pups with plenty to eat
and hungry strays out on the street
Those getting treats each time they yap
and those that struggle for every scrap.

Those that sleep on a nice soft bed
Those with hard ground under their head
Those who play with girls and boys
And those that never had any toys.

Those kept clipped and brushed and clean
And scruffy ones that don’t smell too keen
Those who get to ride in cars
And those that sit behind a cage bars.

Those that flunk obedience school
Dig up the yard, snore and drool
Chew up your stuff, chase the cat
And still they’re loved in spite of that.

And those that are as good as gold
But left out to shiver in the cold
Chained up and forgotten there
They long for a warm home to share.

Please God on this Christmas night
Help more people do what’s right
For each dog they meet, to do their best
And send your comfort to all the rest

By: Rocky Ridge Refuge

   
http://www.rockyridgerefuge.com

==
Thoughts Of A Stray...

Another morning...I stretch my tired body. It was cold and rainy last night. But at least that pine tree gave me a little protection. Still nothing to eat. Let me try a little grass. So many puddles after the rain. I wish the water weren't so muddy. I wish I had a bowl again, like I did back home. It seems so long ago. I wonder why they threw me out? I must find some food. ...Hope that man doesn't chase me away from the dumpster again.

Why does he care if I take what he throws out? I'll walk a little further today. Maybe I can find a quieter place to rest tonight. It's so noisy by the roadside. Oh, here comes someone walking their dog! Maybe they'll let me follow. NO!!! They're crossing the street! Wait for me! Wait for me! It's early yet, but I'm so tired. I think I'll try to sleep. So tired. So hungry. So lonely.

"Hey, mom, under that tree! Looks like a dog!," the little boy said. " Honey, it looks like this one didn't make it," the mother said. "poor guy, he couldn't have been more than six months old." --Author Unknown

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Dec 12-17: Videos of DOCAD,Snoopy,Corey

Long week ... very warm to start, ends with normal December temps ... van out of commission all week, finally fixed on Sunday, also no mower so dogs do not get proper exercise ... Snoopy doing well at rehab, Corey to vet for hot spot on hiney ... meeting about the county impound-kill facility ... the Damcat playing too rough with kittens?... Skit gets on the roof and wont come down ... little Mattie visits several times ..do home visit for rescue ... a long week, at least my back feeling some better, I need all my strength to cope with the kittens!

Monday Dec 12

Cold and drizzly, morning run very brief, feed and kennel, go to work, return after dark. Take out chewies and yogurt. Let kittens inside clean their room.

Some pictures of Corey http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.322210637803882.80953.100000448447582&type=1&l=684351f0f0

Video of Corey & ML napping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsXoRY6-1l4
Tuesday Dec.13

Warmer today, very pleasant temps ... morning run, feed and kennel, then let kitties out, clean room. Unfortunately my lawnmower is now on the blink, they think the head is cracked as its leaking oil. Also van still not fixed. Groom dogs, then let inside, get ready to go to meeting about shelter. Meeting is fairly successful, got an increase in the budget of around $10K, but still underfunded according to HSUS stats for number of animals. Don't know if they will postpone vote to do more research or not. Still no concrete building plans available. Return home, feed and kennel dogs, let kittens inside, still worry about the Damcat being too rough with them, I really need to do a video so some of you cat xperts can chime in!

Wednesday Dec.14

Video of Damcat & kittens brings interesting responses, but bottom line is everyone thinks I should stop the play (or whatever) when gets too rough. Morning walk, foggy, feed and kennel, then on to work; return before dark, walk around (no mower a bit, let dogs inside, then feed and kennel

Damcat & Skit&Skat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og9fxh_-6yM


Thursday Dec.15

Foggy again, still very warm ... morning walk , joined by little Mattie, feed and kennel, feed kittens, clean litter, go to loong day at work, return after dark

Friday Dec.16

Warm weather continues, high 70's ... in December. Husband lets kittens in, then goes into town to bank, I feed kittens and then start morning walk-run ... no mower, still, so we walk slowly around trailer, Snoopy now walks very well in straight line, try to practice circles, but other dogs keep coming over ... they won't run far unless I go out on mower. Corey in particular not getting enough exercise. Little Mattie shows up, feed and kennel, back to trailer, workers start arriving, little Mattie barking fiercely. Husband returns, finally Mattie leaves, let kittens back inside, then go in to work. Husband brings Corey in and meets me at vet, get Corey's hiney looked at (vet says it is healing, but forming a callus as its where he sits, so gives me some antibiotics ... then to chiropractor, am late so he's taken next patient, walk Corey around outside so he can pee, then put himn car, have chiro adjustment, then meet husband at Subway, then return home, get food, feed all dogs, then let kittens in, until play gets too rough, feed them and put up for night

Saturday December 17

Somewhat cooler and cloudy this morning, morning walk, feed and kennel, let kittens out, feed and clean room then get Snoopy and go to rehab.(Van still not fixed, cant take all dogs). Snoopy does well today, even with the distraction of other people and dogs,
lets Maggie the tech put her swim harness on for first time, and gets a Christmas present!  Leave rehab, go by library and a few errands, then to Jay's for energy work, Snoopy actualy lets him touch near the injured leg ... then on to do a home visit of a local woman wanting to adopt from a rescue in NC, then (finally) back home ... other dogs are kenneled, let them out, take for walk, then groom, then back inside for nap, fix food, another walk, feed and kennel, let kittens out. They are beginning to 'fight back' with the Damcat! He still grooming them and playing well with them (if a bit roughly).


And a video of Snoopy at Rehab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCqHbDC7OLU
Sunday Dece,ber 17

Much cooler today, bright sunshine, beautiful! Let kittens out, feed them, put them back in, let dogs out, morning walk, feed and kennel, go to church, return, let kittens inside again, then out, then put them back in and let dogs out ... walk (quite a long walk, Snoopy doing well)  then inside to fix sandwiches for husband's crew, deliver sandwiches then take dogs into shed to groom,. Corey's hiney healing well. Van has now been fixed, load dogs in van, take for ride (just locally), return, let them inside for awhile, Banshee being very obnoxious, tearing up paper and harassing others, put her out, then DB wants out. Take brief nap, but Corey wont settle down either, so fix food, then evening walk and feed and kennel.  Let Skit&Skat inside to 'play' with the Damcat, eat supper, after supper I am watching Damcat groom Skat when I realize, havent seen Skit for a long time .. shake food (the cat 'recall' system) still no Skit. Search entire trailer, refrigerator. go outside ...no Skit ... oh no, I'd started a wash while the kittens were inside ... stop the washer, half full of water ... husband gets plastic trash bin, we pull all the clothes out ... no Skit. But now the floor is flooded, as the trash bin husband found leaked. Get that mopped up, put clothes back in washer. Check outside again ... this time I hear a  pitiful meowww... Skit is on the roof, peering over, wont come down ... husband climbs up and finally gets Skit, who is puffed up 3x her size in fear ...let her inside again, then put both kitties up for the night in their porch room ... they are too young to be out at night,lol.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Dec 5-12: Edgefield shelter meeting

Warm weather to start, cold front moves in midweek with a blast ... Skit and Skat come inside to meet the Damcat ... council meeting on proposed county impound-kill facility, vote postponed ... back hurting very badly this week ... pet therapy day for Banshee, rehab for Snoopy, Reindeer Romp (I only take Banshee as my back is acting up) ... the week ends with my dog van breaking down, and I'm catching a cold ....


"Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animals suffering? Because government is not. Why not? Animals don't vote." ~Paul Harvey

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  Edmund Burke


Monday December 5

Warm weather continues ... can this be December? Fine with me. Morning run, Corey's hot spot looks better, but it should be healed by now ... feed and kennel, feed kittens and clean their room, off to work, return well after dark. Take yogurt and chewies out to dogs, check Corey's hot spot, clean his ears (which are doing fine... )

Tuesday Dec 6

Still very warm, Morning run-walk, feed kittens, clean box, then off to food banks ... return lunch time, load up all dogs, go to nursing home for pet therapy with Banshee, then to Hopeland gardens to walk others ... traffic too bad to go over to PetSmart, so return home, brief run, feed and kennel, then on to council meeting about funding new county shelter. At least vote postponed. Back starts hurting in the night.

Wednesday Dec 7

Cloudy and cool, bad weather coming today ... morning run, my back is really bothering me, feed and kennel, go to work ... bad weather comes mid day, very high winds ... leave work, go to church for ordination service, then home, I am in severe pain by now...

Thursday Dec 8

Clear and much colder! Manage to do morning run-walk and go to work and return home. Let kittens in house to meet the Damcat, goes surprisingly well, he is playing with them, grooming them etc.

Friday Dec 9

Cold and heavy frost. Back still very painful. Morning run-walk, feed and kennel. Take Snoopy with me into town, take her to rehab, go and try to work, go to meeting, try to work, give up. Take Snoopy home. Other dogs in trailer with husband. Lay down, then get up feed and kennel, go back in town to chiro, husband drives, pick up building supplies, buy back brace, return home, let kittens in house after supper.

Saturday Dec 10

Back seems some better. Morning run, starts hurting again. Little Mattie joins us. Feed and kennel, then take Banshee into town for SPCA event, very cold, windy, stick it out for a few hours then return home. Kennel Banshee with others, then lay down for an hour, up again some better, clean kitten room, then let dogs out, take for run, riding the mower makes back hurt. Take dogs to grooming shed, groom everyone (except Snoopy who cant get on table and I really cant bend over) then am taking them out to go back to trailer when husband shrieks ... 'put the dogs up' ....  he had let the kittens out , Banshee and Skit in a 'standoff' ... whistle, dogs all return, rekennel, wait for husband to put kittens up, then let dogs out and proceed to trailer. By this time my back is painful again, so lay on couch (or try to, Corey keeps nudging me awake, and yes, I know they havent had enough running today ... ) Fix food, decide against atempting evening run, feed and kennel. Then let kittens in house .... wow they are really destructive, Damcat tries to keep them in line. Skat even got in the refrigerator and perched in the bottom door, didnt see her, closed refrigerator. After a few minutes noticed only 1 kitten milling around my feet, opened refrigerator and there was Skat, trying to open the butter tub. Been a long time since I've had kittens. Put them back on the porch for the night, am NOT trying to sleep with them rampaging thru the house.

Sunday December 11

Cold and windy morning ... put on back brace, morning run-walk ... riding the mower really aggravates my back. Feed and kennel. Feed kittens. Go to church, return. Kittens are inside. Back hurting, lay down, kittens all over me, fighting with each other in the bed, this isnt working. Put kittens on porch, go get dogs, take the 3 for run. Then back to trailer. Feel like I'm catchinhg a cold now (guess its the wind). Husband also not well. Highpoint of afternoon was dogs are asleep, I'm on computer, the Damcat has gone under sink and comes out, slamming the cabinet door which the dogs think is an 'intruder' knockong on door, leap up, race around knocking things over while I try to catch Snoopy's leash, to let them out to check on the non existent intruder. Husband and I then decide to take dogs for van ride, I get them all loaded up, we take off, make it a block ... and with a terrible noise, a belt breaks ... smoke pouring under the hood ... husband walks back home, gets truck and tows it home... the dogs were wonderful watchdogs, the people who stopped to help (while I was sitting waiting for husband to return) were greeted with ferocious barking and growling. After get back, its near dark, let dogs out get food feed and kennel ...then let kittens in house while clean their room ... Damcat plays with the kittens , grooms them, chases them and tries to get them to chase him. But ... he also grabs them (not hard but grabs them) by the neck behind the ears (they just stiffen), and, they were on their side and he was mouthing at their tummies. The Damcat is NOT 'puffing up' and not making that weird moaning noise upset cats make. but the kittens 'squeak' when he grabs them behind the ears. The kittens using his litterbox hasnt distressed him, they eat together in relative harmony (occasionally he swats them). I'm pretty good at identifying dog 'body language', but its been a long time since I've had kittens to interact with a grown cat, and, really havent observed any cat fights for years (the Damcat and my last cat, Callie, who passed 4 years ago, never fought ... How do I tell if cat behavior is getting 'dangerous' and needs intervention?