March 2009

Dear Friends:

And you thought rats where ugly? Hmmm. . .

Spring is finally lurking around the corner, even though we still have about 30 inches of snow in Limestone, the smell of warmer days to come is in the air! The Shelter has only some patches of snow left where the sun does not shine, or rather does not get to. So we can now say; winter is officially over, even though the heaters are still on. We had shut down our small kennel building during the winter in order to save on heating costs: We had moved all of the dogs into the large building. Now, just about at the end of the heating cycle, we had to restart the furnace in the small kennel because another new dog found his way to our shelter.

Last week a Humane-Society shelter called, pleading us to take a four year old blind Rottweiler mix; a very friendly, easy going dog. I guess that’s why the shelter people thought he was worth saving. As soon as Rebecca, our lady in-charge at the Shelter, takes some photos, I will put him on the “special-needs animal website”. With luck he will find a home. Ted thinks the Rottweiler has cataracts, and these may be able to be removed surgically. We will try to get a hold of one of our favorite friends and supporters, Dr. Bachrach from Massachusetts who has been doing wonders for blind dogs. If any of you ever need the eyes of your companion checked, let me know and I will give you Dr. B.’s address. Anyway, there may be hope for this poor dog. He seems to get around well, and can see shadows or movement, but that’s about it.

Other than that, things are going okay, considering the bad economics. Any major building or repair plans have been put on hold. Right now all we can do, and afford, is the daily upkeep; food, veterinarian care, warmth, insurance, electricity, and  maintenance for the critters in our charge. We are very lucky to have you on our side; with your help, the furry ones will survive, and thrive.

To supplement our income at the Shelter a bit, I listed some of the birthday, thank-you and other cards our supporters have been sending to me, on eBay. eBay, as many of you probably know, is an auction site on the Internet. So far I have been able to sell about $30.00 worth of cards; the money goes directly through eBay and their partner, Mission fish, to Charley’s Strays' bank account. So if you have more cards, and you don’t need them, send them to me please. Every penny we can raise for the animals will help. If you have a whole box full, mail them via “Media-Mail” through the Post office - it’s much cheaper than regular parcel post. A lady I met on eBay, Christel Friedow, has been knitting baby socks and also has eBay sent us the proceeds. Thank you Christel, for being such a kind-hearted soul!J Any small items you think could be sellable, especially designer stuff, and Steiff toys, just no dishes or breakables, are also appreciated. With the huge vet bills we had in the past six months and another huge one coming up when the cats have their vaccinations in spring, we will need every penny we can possibly lay our hands on.

CAT REPORT  –  March 2009

Our good cats haven’t been up to anything exciting this month - like us two-legged critters, they’re waiting for spring.  We’ve already had several more days when it’s been warm enough for cats to sit on the porch for a while.  Oswald loves it.  Sometimes he dashes out and all the way to the far end; other times, if a loud truck has just been by or something else has spooked him, he slips out one whisker at a time.  Once out, he’ll watch chickadees in the shrubs for hours at a time.  But neither he nor the others make serious attempts to get all the way outdoors, not even when I’m going in and out through the screen door (carefully, of course, just in case some cat does get adventuresome).

Little Kennebec gave me a surprise the other day.  He’s usually so timid with strangers - well, the plumber was fixing the water line to the washing machine in the far end of the kitchen, and Kenn was right under his feet!   The plumber dropped a nut, and Kenn pounced on it as a new toy.  I finally had to pick him up and hold him so he wouldn’t get stepped on.  He put up with that for a minute or two, and then lay down on his bed about four feet behind the man and watched the rest of the show.

As usual, the cats’ friends have been generous.  I’m grateful to Karen, Ted and Olivia (the Charles’ cat) for food and to Jennie Bering, Roberta Chaves, Suzanne Belisle and Teresa Parent for coupons - hope I haven’t forgotten anyone!  The donor who wishes that her name not be in the newsletter sent more of her hand-made cat beds, which the cats enjoy.  Some of the beds stay where I put them in a basket or as an inner liner for a cat bed; others get moved to wherever a cat feels like sleeping.

One more reminder to anyone who pays Maine income taxes: please make a donation to the state’s companion animal sterilization fund on the check-off list!   There are more than enough cats and dogs to go around already, without more unplanned and unwanted litters.

Alice Winston, Swampscott

Betsy Anderson, Framingham

Carole Parker, Stoughton

Charley & Ruth Ames, Grand Isle

Cindy Houston, Woburn

Dale Critchley, Weymouth

Donna  Bering, Lynn

Doris Lary, Hartland

Dorothy Eckstein, Medford

Elizabeth Fay, Northport

Enid Hayes, Halifax

Florence Bournival, Nashua

Grace Kiley, N. Andover

Inge Maiellano, Marblehead

Iris Martinello, Tewskbury

Irma Simon, S. China

Jean & Ralph Catignani, Conway
Jean Tillson, Franklin

Joe D’Alessandro, Tuftonboro

Jon & Barb Anderson, Augusta

Josephine Smith, Woburn

Judy & Al Smith, Belmont

Judy Rohweder, Northport

Laureen Alden, Stoughton

Linda Merriam, Dresden

Lisa D’Alessandro, Raymond