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November 2009   

Dear Friends,

Meet Max Brown. For those of you who had no time reading last month’ newsletter, here is a picture of the dog who has captured all of the volunteers’ hearts. The above Picture shows Max Brown, so called because we have another Max, who is black in color content on his bed, with plenty of blankets to keep him warm, a toy in his mouth, and you thought it was his tongue, right? And a plea in his eyes: “Please let me be yours for Christmas!” Here more information on Max:

  

He’s a nice medium size (40 lbs.), short-hair and a pleasing shade of brown. No particular breed stands out. He’s playful, and just under two years old, neutered, and gets along well with other dogs. Max Brown is housebroken, likes to go for rides and is up-to-date on shots. Although his previous owners didn’t have cats, they think he would be okay with them. He’s good with older kids: Young ones who jump around and squeal make him nervous. He barks and tries to appear ferocious to cover up his nervousness when meeting new people, but his tail is wagging and he’s fine after just a few minutes. He was found on the side of I-95 a year ago. The people who found him took 45 minutes to coax him into their vehicle rather than leave him there. Max was a good dog and adjusted well in his new home, but his rescuers already had two dogs and, even after a whole year, their alpha dog wouldn’t accept him and they always had to be kept separated. Max would make a great companion and a fun addition to any home without young children.

We have had many “offers” to take in more cats and dogs this month, but we just don’t have the space [or the money] to take care of them all. A plea from the Humane Society in Canada who rescued 100 sled dogs out of horrible conditions, asked if we could take some? No - so sorry. We got an urgent plea from a supporter who heard about a retired police dog who possibly would be put to sleep - could we take him? Very aggressive towards other dogs and all other animals, good with people and children, but he did bite his handler. Hmmm, that does sound a bit unsettling. So sorry, again no, we can’t. Another plea with; . . . cats all over the back yard, front yard, barn, house and street, can we take some? No, we barely can afford the care of the many we have now. It is very sad to have no choice but to say no. I am still hoping for the big movie star, or the “Stephen King” who says, “Yes”, I will help these animals, and I need some tax-deductions anyway. What is life without hope.

 

But there are nice emails and letters too. Not all of them make me feel sad and helpless. The Buckmore’s adopted Bridget, another one of our dogs, last year. Bonnie Buckmore sent us a donation with a note, saying: “Thank you for bringing Bridget into our lives. We love her to pieces”. Bridget was one of the lucky ones; she had two different families almost fighting over her. She had been promised to one couple, but ended up at the vets because she tore out her sutures when she was spayed. The vet tech fell in love with her, and it took many phone calls to set things straight between dog and two couples. I wish that would happen with all of our animals! I would probably be a nervous wreck, to have people fighting over our cats and dogs. Wow, that would be something pretty great. I would not mind at all, dealing with that!

Chances are with the way the economy is right now, that will not happen. People will probably be lining up in front of Shelters because they just can’t afford food and vet care any longer. Jim, Karen and Rebecca have been calling different stores and distribution centers for free or cheap food. Right now there is none to be had. Shaws who used to supply us with all the food we needed, stopped about a year ago. Jim keeps calling them, but all he hears is: we have very little- and of course a drive of 700 miles from our corner to the bottom corner of Maine is a total waste for 10 bags of food.

 

These past six months we were lucky to buy food from Good Shepherd's Food bank at 8 to 12 cents a pound, but they have hardly any right now either. We were told that people and shelters, which had not been there for the past five years, are showing up, begging for food. So on top of the most likely very expensive fuel bill for this winter, food will be another worry. What’s life without worries.

You have no idea how much we appreciate your help, and how grateful we are for our animals' sake that you are out there, thinking about them, and are helping with money, stamps, blankets, toys, and food, to keep them comfortable and content.

A huge Thank you to all of you!

And another huge thank you from me personally to the buyers of my book. I have had quite a few inquiries about it, and even though it’s soooooooooo far from being a bestseller, I have been able to sell quite a few books. I figure another 20 or so and the initial publishing cost will be covered, and the proceeds can go to the Shelter. So if you need a couple more for Christmas gifts to animal lovers, I am more than happy to send them to you. Again, title of the book is Paw Prints in my Soul and costs $12.00 plus $3.00 shipping. Please make checks out to "Gabriele Brewer".
   

CAT REPORT November 2009

I never did figure out entirely who donated what to our cats at the fundraiser, but they – and I -- are very grateful.  A lot of the good food and treats came from Jenny and Donna Bering; those are much enjoyed.  The soft bedding has been put to good use, as well, and there were lots of coupons from Marlene Kaplan, Iris Martinello, Judith Santos and Judith Smith.  Since then Karen and the Charles cat have given me more food, and Teresa and her family more coupons.  Many thanks to everyone.

As I write this the day after Thanksgiving, little Lisa has eaten almost nothing for two days.  (I now think of any holiday on which the vet is closed as a sick-cat day.)  After her brother Peter died so suddenly of kidney failure in the spring, I fear we’re going to lose her, too, though I have been able to coax her to nibble a bit of the fancy canned food from the Berings.  She’s not uncomfortable or in pain, and, like Peter, she doesn’t handle strange people or settings at all well, so I’m not taking her to the vet (where I’d have to leave her until someone found a free moment in the post-holiday rush) until Monday morning.  She’s sleeping peacefully on a supersoft bed on a laundry box at the head of the stairs, with brother Pooh curled up beside her most of the time.

 

Otherwise, no news (= good news).  Since this will be the last cat report this year, let me wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year – and thanks again for your concern for our animals.

 

Alice Winston sent us a donation in memory of Michael Kane’s dog Amos, who died of cancer. Amos had been a Charley’s Strays dog, a very lovable goofy guy, and he is being much missed by Michael. Alice also mailed us another donation in memory of Chief – Bob and Evelyn Allen’s four-legged companion. Roberta Chaves sent us a donation in memory of Rene Jean Fleurents, and Charley and Ruth Ames (our website manager) mailed us a donation in honor of Jim’s birthday. Those of you who have read my book know Jim as “The Texan”. To all of you and the following people a huge Thank You!

Al & Judy Smith, Belmont

Alice Winston, Swampscott

Barton Lee Patrick, Northport

Betsy Anderson, Framingham

Bonnie Buckmore, Waterville

Carole Parker, Stoughton

Charles & Ruth Ames, Grand Isle

Cindy Houston, Woburn

Cristine Cardello, Melrose

Dale Critchley, S. Weymouth

Dorothy D’Alessandro, Ossipee

Dorothy Eckstein, Medford

Enid Hayes, Halifax

Florence Bournival, Nashua

Frances Munday, Isanti

Inge Maiellano, Marblehead

Iris Martinello, Tewksbury

Irma Simon, S. China

Janet Sanborn, Hartland

Jean &Ralph Catignani, Conw.

Jean Tillson, Franklin

Jeffery Lary,Hartland

Joe Blake, New Bedford

Joe D’Alessandro, Tuftonboro

Jon & Barb Anderson, Augusta

Josephine Smith, Woburn

Joephine Ford, Holden

Judith Crosby, Belfast

Judy & Al Smith, Belmont

Linda Merriam, Dresden

Lisa D’Alessandro, Raymond

Lorena & Harry Clark, Beverly

Lynn Frischmann, Los Gatos

Marcia Smith, Bucksport

Marian Delarue, Woburn

Mary Klayda, Winchester

Maureen Dowd, Sargentville

Melody lavers, Pownal

Mildred Walker, Presque Isle

Nancy Brown, Waltham

Nancy Capone, Wakefield

Naomi Teixeira, Jay

P. A. Lenk, China Village

Pat Thain, Dracut

Robert Hull, Lawrence

Roberta Chaves, Westport

Ruth Giusti, Titusville

Sandra Nicholson, Beverly

Susan Borsic, Woburn

Werner Eckstein, Woburn
     

Now I have one more thing for our computer/Internet users: You can help Charley's Strays by using Good Search. Here is the info:

We're excited to welcome Charley's Strays to GoodSearch and GoodShop! More than 84,000 nonprofits and schools are now participating in our program and 100 new organizations are joining daily! Your organization is up and running on our two sites:

  • GoodSearch.com - The search engine with a unique social mission. It's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great search results, and each time you search, GoodSearch makes a donation to your cause!
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Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

 

Gabriele, Karen, Ted, Mary and Jim