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September,
2006 |
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Dear friends,
I hope this letter finds
you in good health, and just about ready to pack your bags for the trip to
Woburn to see us at the fundraiser! After all, what good would a fundraiser be
if nobody showed up? Pretty well the same as for wars: Who would fight them if
nobody showed up? Something the Human Race should seriously consider.
Before I get into our
yearly big event, the latest news from our Shelter: The good news this
month is that we could place two of our dogs – Bullet, the 9-month old
scared-to-death shepherd and Earl, a divorce-dog, found homes in
Massachusetts. Kathy Hillman, a long time supporter, contacted us after last
month’s newsletter, and she ended up adopting Earl, while a friend of hers
adopted Bullet. Another happy ending to a very sad Bullet-story. As I am
writing this newsletter, we are in the process of placing another little guy,
a nine pound poodle-Shitzu mix that came out of a horrible situation. These
little dogs normally find a home fast. It’s a shame that we can’t shrink our
big ones JJ.
The bad news is, we
have 20 plus additional dogs waiting for a
home, with more showing up all the time.
Which makes building more
housing for dogs very important, and Jim is just doing that. He spent several
weeks at the Shelter, cleaning up in front of the barn, setting a form to pour
concrete. |
Stan and Mike
helped. Since Jim has lots of problems with his knees, he was going to
have a company pour the concrete after he had finished setting the
forms, but he decided against it to save money. Well, between him, Mike
and Stan they got the plate done, and Jim was good to go after a few
days at home resting his knees; a broken kneecap from his military time,
a torn meniscus and arthritis, nothing major though. The invoice for the
concrete was $500.00, so all the people out there who have been buying
tickets, thank you very much, without the fundraiser money this
could not have been done.
Right now we are
waiting on ADA Fencing. That’s the company who has been doing all of our
fencing at the Shelter, to come and fence in the outside runs. Hopefully
we will have lots of people buying their Christmas gifts from us at the
fundraiser, because we will need lots of money for ADA fence. After this
job is done and next year when the inside of the barn converted, we will
have enough space to take in six additional dogs, even more if we can
pair them up. I know it’s only a drop in the ocean, with the millions of
unwanted ones out there, but we have been placing quite a few this past
year, and for every one who finds a home, another one can come to us and
have a chance at a good life, even if he does stay his whole life at
Charley’s Strays. |
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Money
is not only needed for the every day care of our 4-foots and this
new building project. I am looking ahead with bad feelings in my
stomach area when I think about winter, and the fuel prices. So I
was very happy when Cindy Houston, one of our long time supporters
and friends, announced that she was organizing another yard sale
at her home. The money being earmarked for the heating fuel. On
Saturday, the 15th, she did just that. Joan Ryan and Jackie Lowney,
these are the two ladies who make the beautiful fundraiser baskets
every year, Jill March, Jim and Shirley Crawford who are friends
of Cindy, lent their helping hands. The yard sale was a huge
success: $407.00 worth of “fleas” were sold! I will be able to
gloat over this check a few minutes before sending it to “MainGas”,
to fill up the fuel tank. Thank you very very much to all
these people!
Viola
McDonald, also a supporter from way way back, she knew Charley 20
some years ago, has been pet-sitting for many years and always
gives us the money she earns for that. This time she took care of
a guinea pig! The lady, who paid for the care giving, has a 10
year old son who wanted to be part of that and gave us his whole
allowance of $4.00. Thank you very much, John McFarland. We
will be sure to buy extra special treats with the money.
And a big
thank you goes to Viola’s friend Marie Zierri, who gave her a
check for us for the bottles she has been collecting all year long
for Charley's Strays. |
While
we are at the thank yous; Inge Maiellano had to sell her car, but
didn’t know quite how to go about doing it. So Alice Winston
helped her. Inge offered her money for doing all the necessary
running around, but Alice refused, telling Inge to send it to us.
Inge mailed us a nice check, which will help pay the $700.00
property taxes this month Thank you, Inge and Alice!
And just as
important, of course, are all of you who helped with the food and
the huge vet bill.
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This is
Rex, another very sweet and lovable dog. He is also
looking for someone to give him lots of kisses! |
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Phineas
CAT
REPORT – September 2006
Here are photos of
BabyJay’s boys – George, John, Phineas and Simeon, so you can see how
much they’ve grown. There’s no photo of Rachel this time, because she’s
already gone to her new home. Gabriele wrote last month that Steve and
Derek lost their beautiful Punkin: Rachel’s their new cat.
John
BabyJay and the boys
went to the vet today – first trip for the boys, second for BabyJay.
Phineas is the smallest kitten, weighing two and a quarter pounds;
George is the biggest, more than two and a half pounds. Everyone seems
healthy, except all but Phineas who probably has earmites, for which
I’ll be treating them. Dr. Macmillan didn’t give any vaccinations.
BabyJay shouldn’t be vaccinated while she’s still nursing the kittens
(though they’re all eating both canned and dry food); and as long as the
kittens stay separated from the rest of the cats, there’s no rush about
their shots. BabyJay was her usual affectionate self with Dr.
Macmillan. The kittens were a bit scared, naturally, but by the time we
got home they were ready for play and a snack. |
The older cats are all
doing well enough, too. Evita, the one we started on thyroid medication
early this year, has responded very well. She has some flesh on her ribs
and a thick coat of fur (still rather untidy, as she never learned to
groom herself properly and rejects my help). Brook, who’s somewhere
between 16 and 19 (depending on which of the records she came with is
accurate), went off her food for a few days, but is eating better now.
I’ve been letting her stay in the kitchen (where she makes herself at
home on the shelves and the stove) so she can get more small meals more
often, and fixing her food the way she likes it, with lots of juice or
gravy. Of course, every now and then she dives into the dish I fixed for
Otis, my cat who lives in the kitchen, and eats up his crunchies . . . I
was pleased to hear from the couple who adopted Baby that she’s doing
fine with them. Obviously, they’re providing the tranquil home that a
cat with a minor heart problem needs.
Simeon
As always, my thanks to
all of you who are supporting Charley’s Strays, cats and dogs
both. Special thanks this month to Brian for his photography, and the
rest of his family for all their help; and to Olivia Charles for cat
food. It seems as though I’m forgetting someone or something that I
meant to mention; if I am, my apologies.
George |
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2006 Fundraiser |
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October
14, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm |
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at
the First Baptist Church in Woburn, MA |
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| 12:00 noon:
We are selling tickets
for the drawing of a huge basket, made and donated by Jackie Lowney,
Bedford. Sorry, no picture is available, but Jackie has always made
the most beautiful baskets I have ever seen. This basket will go to one of
our “visiting guests”. |
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For the following
you need not be here in person. We will mail it to the lucky winner(s).
Please click on thumbnail images to enlarge. |
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1:00 pm:
1st Prize: Drawing of tickets for cash prize of $300.00. |
$300.00 |
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2nd Prize: Drawing of the ticket for cash prize of $50.00
donated by Enid Hayes, Halifax. |
$50.00 |
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3rd Prize:
Beautiful sweater, Size Large, hand knitted and donated by my German
friend, Anneliese. |
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4th Prize:
Set of two Cranes, very nice, for your garden or home. |
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5th Prize:
Three pierced porcelain plates, donated by my friend. Theresa
Birkhofer, Canada. |
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6th Prize:
Three sets of hand crochet potholders, made in Germany, by my friend
Ingrid -- just for Charley's Strays. |
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7th Prize:
Dog food dishes in wooden stand with storage compartment. |
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These are just some
of the prizes. We have around 15 this year to give away! So, in
order to save us the postage, you just will HAVE to come in person!
Besides, we would like to see all the “old faces” and would not mind at
all to meet some “new ones”.
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| Our grateful thanks to all
who have contributed so generously to Charley's Strays. Without your
kind help we would not be able to help all our our four-legged friends. This month
the following people helped us to take care of Charleys
Strays: |
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Alice Winston, Swampscott
Carol & David Parker,
Stoughton
Cindy Houston, Woburn
Cristine Cardello, Melrose
Dale Critchley, S.Weymouth
Donna Bering, Lynn
Doris Lary, Hartland
Dorothy D’Alessandro, Ossipee
Dorothy Eckstein, Medford
Doug Robertson, Dennis
Elizabeth Fay, Northport
Emile Jorgensen, E. Boston
Enid Hayes, Halifax
Florence Mason, Lexington
Gaetane Boutin, Penobscott
George Hinds, Cambridge
Harriet Snyder, Brockton
Inge Maiellano, Marblehead
Iris Martinello, Tewksbury
Irma Simon, S. China
Jean Catignani, Conway
Jennie Bering, Lynn
Joan Ryan, New Bedford |
Joann Denapoli, Arlington
JoAnn Waters, Chelmsford
Joe Arouca, Ormond Beach
Joe Blake, New Bedford
Joe D’Alessandro, Tuftonboro
Jon & Barb Anderson, Augusta
Josephine Ford, Holden
Josephine Smith, Woburn
Judy & Al Smith, Belmont
Kathleen Hillman, Chelmsford
Laureen Alden, Stoughton
Linda Merriam, Dresden
Lisa D’Alessandro, Raymond
Lorena & Harry Clark, Beverly
Marcia Smith, Bucksport
Marian Delarue, Woburn
Mary Klayda, Winchester
Michael Kane, Greenwood
Mildred Walker, Presque Isle
Nancy Capone, Wakefield
Naomi Teixeira, Jay
P.A. Lenk, China Village
Pat Thain,
N. Billerica |
Paula Wisniowski, Tyngsboro
Richard Lizotte, Newton
Roberta Chaves, Westport
Rose Chioccola, Stoneham
Rust Pappathansi, Swampscott
Ruth Giusti, Green Mt.
Ruth Willis, Braintree
Sandra Nicholson, Beverly
Tera Coull, N. Vassalboro
Viola McDonald, Woburn
Willa Rockett, Belmont
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Before I close this
newsletter, my condolences go to our friend and supporter, Joe Blake.
Joe’s mom died this month. |
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Thank
you again for helping us making Charley’s Strays a sanctuary!
Stay happy and healthy! |
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Our
best wishes,
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Gabriele, Mary, Ruthann,
Karen, Cindy, Mike, Ted, Stan and Jim
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