December, 2005

Dear Friends:

By the time you read this letter, another year of our life has gone. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, with lots of friends and relatives to keep your mind off the sad things which have happened to you at one time or another in 2005. I know many of our supporters dread the holidays, since their loved one is not with them anymore, be it spouse, or a pet. But now there is another year to look ahead to, and I hope it will be the best one ever for you!

It was a very turbulent year for Charley’s Strays. Over all not any better or worse than the previous years. I believe this year is the first one where there was no new grave with a dog added to our cemetery, which is a good thing. No tears shed over a poor canine that had to spend his/her last days at our Shelter. Oliver the bull could not be buried out there, it would have taken a huge excavator to dig a hole, and would have meant tearing down the fence around the cemetery. Mary was not so lucky, there were many tears shed for several of our felines. But at least they did have a “regular” home to live in, not cages in a Shelter.

The first part of the year brought us many headaches because of our very nice [personality wise], but not very effective caretaker, whom we finally had to let go. Looking for a new caretaker was also one heck of a job; interviewing people is neither Jim’s favorite past time nor mine. But as the saying goes: the 4th is a charm (okay, I made that up) after Nancy (1996-2001), Lance (2001-2004) and Bruce (2004-2005) it looks like we finally got what our dogs deserve; a nice compassionate couple, Ruthann and Mike, who are doing great with the animals. The dogs seem to be very happy in Ruthann’s care, she pays lots of attention to them, and even works with them teaching basic commands and so on. The Shelter is sparkling clean, so all is well.

2005 was also the year with several weather related catastrophes: Thank God Maine had no part of it. But help was needed for the hurricane victims, and we took in three dogs from New Orleans. Since we were filled to the top, we had to find homes very fast for them. Winter was lurking right around the corner, and these poor critters were definitely not adjusted to the cold weather up here.

Cindy Houston and Karen Rapallo came to their rescue. They found the first a foster home and then a permanent home for one of them. They really made not only their lives worth living again, but also helped me out of the dumps. Maryann Glover, who fostered Louis, found two permanent homes: one for Louis with her friends, one for a long-time resident of Charley's, the deaf Jack Russell named Linus, with her sister. The second “Katrina dog” also found a home right up here, thanks to our Website, which has come in handy several times now. The third is still with us, but with good reason: he has to learn to get over his food-aggression first. He also needs learn to start trusting people in general.

By the way; the photo on top of the first page, shows Dante, a very pretty and smart guy. He is also very adoptable, but dislikes most other dogs and was banned from his home state of Pennsylvania because he attacked several neighbors’ dogs. This boy would be perfect for someone who lives out in the country. A fenced yard is a must; Dante will take off, probably heading towards Pennsylvania. He has already tried it with us once, and until he is totally comfortable with his new family, that could be a problem. He does get along with some other canines, for instance he loves to play with Sammy, our very timid American Eskimo. Dante is still fairly young. If any of you are interested, please let me know. He does have kind of a lovable Elvis-grin, I think.

But to get back just for a little bit to Louis – I received such a great letter from his new people that I thought I would share part of it with you: “. . . Just wanted to let you know that we are the proud and happy owners of Louis, whom you recently brought up from the hurricane devastation. He is truly a special dog and has already filled such a big place in our hearts and home that we can’t imagine having ever not had him. We are a family of two parents and five kids, and he is equally wonderful with all of us, young and older. He is very comfortable with the “organized chaos” that reigns in our household, when he has had enough of playtime he just takes himself off to sleep, usually right in the middle of the floor that gets the most traffic! A tribute to all of you who cared for Louis before we got him. Our vet gave him highest honors for his health and appearance (teeth, coat and weight) and especially for his excellent behavior!” Thanks  - Alexandra and Peter, you made more than my day.

And since I seem to have somehow jumped right into the “Thank You’s”, I may as well stay with it: Charley Ames, our web site manager, gave us a nice Christmas present in the form of another year paid “Web”. This modern way to advertise has helped us tremendously. Already, we have placed at least four animals this way. Charley puts my newsletter each month on the Internet, quite a few people are reading it, and since the web site has good photos and descriptions of the animals in our care, we have had many inquiries about them. Sometimes it works out, other times not. So a big “Thank You” to Charley!

Thank you, Sylvia Forino, Dotty Ferris, Debbie Robinson and Cindy Herrick, for doing a Christmas raffle for Charley’s Strays in a Petco Store! The four ladies had permission to hold this raffle for two weekends, but Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, from North Shore Feline Rescue made sure this was not going to be. Mrs. Claus, who identified herself as Mrs. Dufor, called us at home with a big chip on her shoulder, complaining about us “taking away” from her profits. Jim told her we were all in this for the same reason, to help animals in need, but she would not hear of it. She and her husband or whoever the male Santa was, were taking photos with children, $10 a shot, and did not take kindly to the idea that our ladies were selling tickets for $1 a piece to raffle off several baskets. When passer-bys started wondering why Mr. Claus was screaming at our ladies, the manager checked into store policies and found out that the “cat-people” had been on an approved list, but we were new and had not filled out the required paperwork. So after many phone calls between Sylvia, Dotty, the manager, Jim, and myself, the end result was that our raffle was cut short a day and a half because of the jealousy of another animal rescue. Yep, that’s the human race for you. I will never understand why so-called animal friends actually would be envious of another organization that tries to make some money to help animals in need. But I have seen it in New Orleans where the big organizations rather would let thousands of animals die than share the money they were shoveling in for rescuing these poor animals.

Anyway, even with all those obstacles, the ladies presented us with a check of $771, which should fill our oil tanks for two months! JJJ

And “Thank You” to Cindy Houston, who had taken a part-time job in a flower shop just before Christmas, working up to 12 hours a day, and gave us part of that hard earned money to help the Shelter. Viola McDonald surprised us with a couple of early Christmas checks from her relatives. For years she has been telling all of her friends and relatives not to buy her presents for her birthday and for Christmas, but to give to the Shelter. Thank you, Viola!

We also received donations in memory of loved ones, thank you very much to: Mary Klayda, in memory of her husband Frank, her brother Charles, and her niece Sandra; and to Paula Wisniowski in memory of cat Sushi and dog Cazack. 

CAT REPORT – December  2005

As of this writing, all our cats are well and seemingly happy except Tess, and she’s getting better. She’s been not eating well; rather than worry about her over another weekend, Saturday I left her at the vet’s while I was at the kennel. She ate for the vet, of course, and Dr. Macmillan could find nothing seriously wrong.  Tess got another thyroid test (she would have needed one in January anyway), and as a result her medication has been reduced.  She ate a little better Sunday; I hope cutting the medication will give her even more enthusiasm for food.

Having Tess, Evita and Purina/Meg together in the room that Tess and Snooks formerly shared is working out well. All three are quite independent of other cats, so Purina is glad to have fewer companions. Tess and Evita also like their own space, though I sometimes find them sharing a chair or a pillow.  Evita is putting on needed weight, since I can leave dry food down all day for between-meal snacks, and Purina isn’t overeating as much as I feared she might. Tess wasn’t happy being segregated in a dining cage for meals; now I stay with them while they eat to prevent dish-swapping. 

Evita is also getting less hard to handle – she even lets me comb her occasionally. Her companion, Emery, is still in the back room, and still evades me if I try to pet him. 

A special note for everyone reading this report who pays Maine income tax: when you get your 2005 form, please write yourself a reminder to donate to the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund tax check-off. This money is used to help fund the voucher system that assists low-income residents with spaying or neutering their dogs and cats. There are other funding sources, but the total collected doesn’t begin to meet the demand; the applications far outnumber the available money. Even if you can give only a dollar or two, that will help. Legislators will review all the check-offs to see how much money they bring in, but perhaps they’ll also look at the number of supporters, to see how many people who might vote for – or against -- them approve of each one. The more money the sterilization fund gets, the fewer unwanted animals there will be, and having fewer unwanted animals will make rescuers and shelter operators very happy. If you’d like more information on the program, the toll-free number is 1-800-367-1317.

Many thanks to all our friends and supporters. I hope by the time you read this, you will have had a merry Christmas and be looking forward to a happy new year.

A woman brought a very limp duck into the veterinary surgery. As the vet pulls out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest, he says: “I am so sorry, Cuddles has passed away. “ The distressed women wailed, “Are you sure?” "Yes, I am sure. The duck is dead," he replied. “How can you be so sure?” she protested, “I mean, you haven’t done any testing on him or anything: He might be just in a coma or something."

The vet rolled his eyes, left the room and returned a few moments later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed delicately at the duck. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog and took him out, returning with a beautiful cat. The cat jumped on the table and also sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He sat on his haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said: “I am sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."

Then the vet produced a bill which he handed to the woman. The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “$350!” she cried, “just to tell me my duck is dead?” The vet shrugged, “I am sorry. If you’d taken my word for it, the bill would have been $40, but what with the Lab report and the Cat scan . . .

Alice Winston, Swampscott

Betsy Anderson, Framingham

Cindy Houston, Woburn

Cristine Cardello, Melrose

Denise Bolieau, Monmouth

Donna Bering, Lynn

Doris Lary, Hartland

Dorothy Biron, Waterville

Dorothy D’Alessandro, Ossipee

Dorothy Eckstein, Medford

Elizabeth Fay, Northport

Elizabeth Johnson, Sanford

Emile Jorgensen, E. Boston

Enid Hayes, Halifax

Florence Mason, Lexington

Francis Archer, Canton

Harriet Snyder, Brockton

Inge Maiellano, Marblehead

Iris Martinello, Tewksbury

Irma Simon S.China

Jean Catignani, Conway

Jeffrey Lieberman, Fairfield

Jennie Bering, Lynn

Jim Lavita ,D. Robertson, Dennis

Joan Ryan, New Bedford

Joe D’Alessandro, Tuftonboro

John Caswell, Newport

Jon & Barb Anderson, Augusta

Joseph Arouca, Ormond Beach

Joseph Blake, New Bedford

Joseph Kogut, Upton

Josephine Smith, Woburn

Judith Archer, Canton

Judy Rohweder, Northport

Linda Clish, Bangor

Linda Merriam, Dresden

Lisa Montmarquet, Raymond

Lorena & Harry Clark, Beverly

Manuel German, Reading

Marcia Smith, Bucksport

Marian Delarue, Woburn

Marie O’Brien, Pawtucket

Marlene Kaplan, Melrose

Mary Klayda, Winchester

Maureen Murray, Brick

Nancy Brown, Waltham

Nancy Capone, Wakefield

Naomi Teixeira, Jay

Pat Thain, N. Billerica

R.D. Bournival, P. Beach Garden

Paula Wisniowski, Tyngsboro

Rancourt Family, St. Pete

Richard Lizotte, Newton

Rizzo Family, Oxford

Robert Hull, Lawrence

Roberta Chaves, Westport

Roger & Shadow Ellis, Holden

Rust Pappathanasi, Swampscott

Ruth McKinney, Grand Isle

Sandra Nicholson, Beverly

Viola McDonald, Woburn

Willa Rockett, Belmont

My plea for stamps was answered; even a dog sent us some stamps! Thank you so much to Harriet Snyder, Dorothy Eckstein, Mildred Walker, and ex-Charley’s Stray, dog Sadie Culver!

We received Wal-Mart gift certificates from Joan and Tom Ryan, Marie O’Brien, Viola McDonald and Jon and Barb Anderson. Thank you! And last but not least: A huge Thank you to Jackie Lowney, who supplied our four ladies at the gone sour raffle at the Petco store with four huge beautifully made baskets to be raffled off. Cindy Herrick, who not only spent a day there before Charley’s Strays was kicked out, had also made a very beautiful basket for this occasion, thank you very much to Cindy!

By the time you read this letter, I am packing suitcases, once again. This time Jim and I will not go to the Shelter, but we will follow the snowbirds south. Our friends have invited us to stay with them for a while in Georgia.

After that we will probably head towards Florida for a few days to check out what’s new there, and to fill our suitcases with sunshine to make it through the rest of the northern winter. To keep you informed about what’s happening at the Shelter, Ruthann has agreed to write a short January newsletter for you. I will be back in time for the February report.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2006

Gabriele, Mary, Karen, Ruthann, Mike, Ted and Jim

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