June, 2006

Dear friends,

Could all of our dogs be as lucky as our "Princess" in above photo! I told you about her in last month’s newsletter: She was the poor girl who was barely saved from being shot to death from her owner, and rescued by our volunteer, Cindy. Take a look at her now! Chances are that she found the perfect home for herself. She was adopted by a local couple that teaches at a nearby college. Let’s hope that life will be perfect from now on for our (their) Princess!

Ruthann and Mike have been very unlucky and very upset; within one year they have lost three rescued pugs. All three came from a Maine puppy mill. Because of being inbred they had not much of a life expectancy. Pugs already have a problem with their respiratory system, and when it gets hot, or they get excited, their inability to take in enough air must be horrible. After their first one died a year ago, they rescued another one from this puppy mill, and she died a month ago.

Several months ago the owner of said puppy mill contacted Ruthann, telling her she had a pup she could not sell and was going to destroy, so Ruthann took him. “Pip” was the cutest little thing, but died after living for only five months. The vet said he had never seen such a malformed diaphragm on a dog before.

If any of you are in for pugs, please spread the word – make sure you buy them from a reputable breeder. We have to do whatever is possible to put those puppy mills out of their dirty business!

"Brady", a seven month old Boston Terrier, also on the “unwanted” list, is staying with Ruthann right now in her home at the Shelter. So when Brady came to the Shelter, Ruthann decided instead of putting him into a run, to break up the silence in their home with this little guy. We have to wait and see if this will be permanent. Right now she is evaluating him.

Brady

Other than Brady the only two newcomers this month were two birds, the caged type. A couple splitting up, no time for the birds, so – Charley’s Strays to the rescue. Last I heard is that Mary knows someone who is interested in them, if not, I am pretty sure we can place them through our website. For a change it was only raining water this month, not cats and dogs! And speaking of water – boy did we get hammered with rain at the Shelter! We were actually wondering if it was time to start building an ark. But eventually the rain stopped. Our fundraiser tickets are already designated to bring in some money to build more housing for dogs – so the ark project can be put on a back burner for the time being. JJ

This brings me right to the next subject: building. Jim spent some time at the Shelter, tearing down the old fence around the barn. For a change he didn’t need me as gofer, he had a big help in our volunteer Stanley (more about him later). After Oliver died last fall, we had this huge empty barn, overgrown with grass, and around it a old patchwork fence. Chances are small that we will take in another calf, pig or horse– we can do only so much.  It was decided that we should not let the barn go to ruin. To change it into cat housing is impossible, way too expensive, and besides that would bring the cats right in the middle of the dogs, not a good situation for either of them. So we made plans, once again. Jim will make a partition inside in the barn for six or seven runs. We still have to figure out how to heat it, with as little amount of gas or oil as possible. Most likely there will be another wall and low ceiling put into the barn, to keep the heat in those runs only. But the inside will be done last, first Jim wants to do the outside. There will be a concrete plate poured in front of the barn, then six or seven outside runs will be fenced off to connect them to the inside.

The part of the runs connecting to the barn will be a concrete plate in order to prevent mud and other nasty stuff from being carried inside. A large part of the runs will stay natural; grass or whatever else grows there. The dogs will have a nicer environment than the average steel/concrete runs you find in most shelters. We have a $ 5000 estimate for the fence alone – putting that up is one thing Jim can’t do since he does not have the equipment to hammer the posts into the ground. He will do the rest of constructing the inside, hopefully with the help of Stan. I am getting too old and tired for the heavy work, like throwing shovels after shovels of rock and sand and cement into the concrete mixer and so on.

Now to Stan: Several months ago a couple started to volunteer at Charleys, Cindy and Stan. I didn’t mention them before because I am so used to people coming and going. You would not believe how many volunteers have shown up – had us spend valuable time with them which we could have spent a lot better with the dogs. We need to show newcomers “the ropes”, making them get to know the different animals, their different characters, and so on. But usually after a few times volunteering they get tired, burned out, or whatever, and never show up again. Well, Cindy and Stan are most definitely sticking with it. Not only are they very helpful and compassionate, but Cindy has already rescued one dog from certain death: Princess, the dog who was going to be shot. So while Stan helps Jim, Cindy plays with the dogs. And everybody is happy…Maine; the way life should be…well, almost. I still think a home of their own is really the goal for all of our animals. No matter how nice and good they have it with us, a kitchen with a refrigerator to stick the nose in and a couch to lay on beats everything.

Some dog news from our “old” ones:

Sammy, the Eskimo, who has been with us for four years, has allowed Ruthann to pet him!!! That’s BIG NEWS; nobody ever managed to touch him before.

Wendy, the old girl who has been at our Shelter all of her life, somewhere around 13 years old, suffered another stroke. We will talk with Dr. Slack to see if she is in pain, if so, and if he thinks its better, well, you know what’s gone to have to be done. Nothing we are looking forward to do.

Chief, the Louisiana dog, seems to be Ruthann’s nightmare come true. He is a very intelligent little guy, and actually messes with her. No matter if she lets him run loose for one or two hours, when it’s time for him to go back into his run, he seems to invent the most devious schemes to avoid being caught. And all the while he looks at her with the expression in his eyes: catch me if you can!

CAT REPORT – June 2006

This has been a quiet month for the cats, except for the occasional hum of the air conditioner upstairs – yes, it’s been warm enough already, so I’ve had it on more than once, usually during or after supper to cool the room so the funny-foot family and their chums can sleep comfortably.

The only unpleasant surprise was about 11:00 one evening, when I started seeing small splotches of blood on the dining room floor.  Watching the cats who were wandering around, I discovered the blood was from Brook’s foot: the lump Dr. Balboni found this spring was seeping just a bit.  Brook was unconcerned and it looked as though she wouldn’t bleed to death overnight, so I did nothing – good move, as she was fine the next morning.  I took her to Dr. B. the next day, and he found the lump was a knot of blood vessels, apt to bleed if she or another cat hit or nicked it.  Since Brook is well into her teens, he didn’t recommend surgery, fearing the anesthesia and stress would do her more harm than the lump. 

So far it’s not bled again, and if it does, I don’t care – after years as a cattery, there’s nothing left in the dining room that a few bloodstains will harm.  J

Otherwise all seems to be normal.  Brook is otherwise well, Alison has had no recurrence of her lung problem (knock on wood), and Evita is doing fine on her thyroid medicine.  Evita takes the medicine on her food with no fuss, her coat looks markedly thicker and smoother, and I think she’s put on weight – her ribs feel less prominent. 

Evita’s son Kennebec, the formerly-almost-wild one, has been on my lap several times recently.  I much prefer him there to his alternate spot, which is hanging on my back chewing the end of my braid as I try to clean litter-boxes.  Shy-High hasn’t invited petting again as he did last month, but he’s tolerated it.  Now if I could only get Emery and Kimmy tamed!   Both still avoid my hand, no matter how slowly and gently I try to get within stroking distance.  I can pet Emery while he’s eating (so I know he’s not really afraid of me, just stubbornly super-independent), but Kim will abandon a dish of food rather than be touched.

The Charles and Parent families continue to provide cat food, coupons and other forms of help and support, and I know many of you help with our vet bills and other expenses.  The cats and I appreciate all that you do for us.  I hope summer will be pleasant for you; and don’t forget, if you’re traveling in central Maine and would like to visit the cats, let me know and I’ll be glad to try to find a time that will work.

Al & Judy Smith, Belmont

Alice Winston, Swampscott

Beverly Maheu, China Village

Christel Friedow, Plymouth

Cindy Houston, Woburn

Cristine Cardello, Melrose

Dale Critchley, S. Weymouth

Diane Rizzo, Oxford

Donald Hill, Palmyra

Donna Bering, Lynn

Doris Lary, Hartland

Dorothy D’Alessandro, Ossipee

Dorothy Eckstein, Medford

Dorothy Watkins, Amesbury

Dorothye Andrews, Warwick

Emily Jorgensen, E .Boston

Enid Hayes, Halifax

Francis & Judy Archer, Canton

Harriet Snyder, Brockton

Inge Maiellano, Marblehead

Irma Simon, S .China

Jackie Lowney, New Bedford

Janice Solimine, Stoneham

Jennie Bering, Lynn

Joan Ryan, New Bedford

Joe D’Alessandro, Tuftonboro

Jon & Barb Anderson, Augusta

Joseph Arouca, Ormond Beach

Joseph Kogut, Upton

Josephine Smith, Woburn

Judy Rohweder, Northport

Karen Rapallo, Wakefield

Laureen Alden, Stoughton

Leslie Tucker, Reading

Linda Clish, Bangor

Linda Merriam, Dresden

Lisa Montmarquet, Raymond

Lorena & Harry Clark, Beverly

Marlene Kaplan, Melrose

Mary Klayda, Winchester

Michael Kane, Greenwood

Willa Rockett, Belmont

Mildred Walker, Presque Isle

Nancy Capone, Wakefield

Naomi Teixeira, Jay

Pat Thain, N. Billerica

Paula Wisniowski, Tyngsboro

Rita Lawrence, Reading

Ruth Giusti, Green Mountain

Ruth Willis, Braintree

Sandra Nicholson, Beverly

Viola MacDonald, Woburn

Josephine Ford, Holden

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

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