Our Cry for Help was Answered

About a year ago a young lady cat rescuer was alerted to a feral cat situation at Charleston Arbors in downtown Charleston, WV. It was during the trapping and relocating of the said ferals that our association deepened and she introduced me (Sheila), to a Facebook group chat later to be named 'Crazy Cat Ladies'.

I (Sheila), was witness to the countless saving of animal lives - cats and dogs, other animals as well. This group has it's heart in the right place. Though I didn't feel very welcomed - at first. I'm an outsider, not originally from this area - and a bit of a loner.

Several times I had reached out to this group for help, when Phoebe Peppercorn was ran over and needed medical attention this group and particularly one lady stepped up and donated a large amount to save Phoebe's leg, after a vehicle accident. Unfortunately her leg couldn't be saved and this lady again donated a large amount to help with the cost of amputating Phoebe's leg. The surgery was a success and Phoebe is laying beside me on her very own pillow, cleaning herself as I type this post. She is happy, she is safe, she is greatly loved.

Recently I posted a plea for help on feeding the colony and feline family that is Gargoyles Animal Rescue after our main sponsor suffered a stroke and we would not ask her for any more help. In the group is one lady who responded with an offer of food, she even brought it to us. When she arrived she was floored by our shear numbers. When she learned of our financial status and the amount of cats that hadn't been altered she went into action and started a fundraiser. She also set us up at her vet's for our littlest members who were suffering from suspected Upper Respiratory Infections.

That was last week and at last check the fundraiser was at almost $1,000.00, but we have more to raise as the surgery and care is expected to be closer to $2,000.00. We have 29 cats needing to be altered in their reproductive abilities; 14 females to be spayed and 15 males to be neutered. Plus rabies' shots, flea meds (vets around here insist on flea meds during this procedure), hazard waste fees, vetting of the sick babies, their meds, and care for the cats after their surgery.

Cats can get away from you in hot messy minute with breeding. The babies come, you try to get the momma fixed when you manage to pull enough funds to the side from feeding them and paying the bills to run the operation. Then when you make the appointment and gather your momma you realise she is pregnant again - and too far along, you are against ripping babies out of a momma's womb. So you get one of her daughters from a previous litter in her stead - at least you are stopping one more cat from reproducing. But there is that momma having another litter of kittens and then one of her daughters that you didn't spay is having her first litter... the vicious cycle goes on and on.

About 10 months ago there was a program for help with feral colonies in Kanawha County (where we reside), we reached out to them for our whole area, when we inquired about our status we were told we were on the list. Never heard another damn word. That is the way of things here. Felt like we were back in Georgia with the 'Good Ole' Boy System' and if don't know who's who then you just don't matter.  Not like in Houston, TX where not only were there grants everywhere to address feral and stray cats but a whole network of transports and loaning of traps. It was amazing, we were located north of Houston in a most awesome city named Montgomery, the way people networked thousands upon thousands of lives were saved every year.

Another amazing city was Greenville, SC where the local humane society had 'Tom Cat Tuesdays' where you could get a tom cat neutered for $10.00 - hell we were sending the Toms there by the groves for a little snip, snip. Clearly remembering one particular trip to the Humane Society Clinic where we admitted Caroline (female canine 50#), Adorable (male), Mewen (male), Squirrel (male), Phoebe (female). They all received altering surgeries, rabies' vaccination, and pain meds for under $200.00. That was in 2012 - 8 years ago but still impressive. Greenville had a second shelter that was a 'kill shelter' but they had a very affordable clinic that helped us save the life of Paca - our 'bait dog' miracle. They would diagnose whatever was going on with her, discuss a course of action, give me a written prescription which I could take to any Publix and they filled it for free. Gotta love Publix!

Charleston has several rescue orgs and groups doing everything they can to make life better for the animals that come across their path or social media feed. What we need is a unified organization of all the rescue groups and someone writing grants to get the funds in here, also to write to the companies and organizations that offer grants, they can tailor grants if enough oil is added to the squeak.

We need to unify our energy and direct that powerful force into the best way to help as many if not all of the animals in our community, in our state, in our regional area, in our country, in our world.

Facebook Fundraiser for Gargoyles Animal Rescue

Paca

June 21, 2011 a scraggly hairless canine entered into my animal rescuing efforts forever changing the name of my one day in the future licensed animal rescue. Dealing mainly in cats my efforts went under the title of Shadow Cat Rescue, when I took on Paca (scraggly hairless canine), I changed the name to Gargoyles Animal Rescue. Why Gargoyles? Because 1). she did resemble a gargoyle at that time and 2). I have always been a little different than mainstream people so my rescue needed to reflect that.

It took 2 years to heal Paca of all her maladies and another couple of years to train her to the point where I felt comfortable putting her in the care of another. It was suspected that Paca had been used in the illegal and immoral act of dog fighting. To do my part in protecting her and other animals I trained her as best as I could and feel she is going to be a behaved and respected member of a new family.

Her new parents traveled 4 hours to meet and adopt her. She will have a extremely large fenced back yard, she will be a inside dog, she has 3 feline siblings and her new parents seem to be a perfect match with Paca and I am ecstatic about this union.

As you read this entry please think good thoughts about Paca, about her new family, about our rescue and remember we are all in this thing called life together - let us all get along and share love - not hate.

Paca and her new family.

June 21, 2011 

April 16, 2016

and Toby is his name - o

This dog is not a Gargoyles Animal Rescue dog - this baby needing a home is in a shelter - is available for saving. Please find the contact information below. May good people respond. Please share to your social media and thank you for what you do. There is no noble deed greater than saving a life. All Life Matters!

I just love Toby, and have shown him to countless visitors to the shelter, and even though there is not one single thing wrong with him, they have always chosen someone else!  Toby still wags his tail and play bows when he meets another friendly dog.  He greets me happily when I visit him at the shelter.  He doesn't know his time is up and he is scheduled to die this Friday, April 15th...but I know, and it is breaking my heart.

Please share him, and if you can rescue him or foster him, please, contact me TODAY!  We will arrange pull, vetting and will help with transport.  Share as widely as possible...the clock is ticking!!

Gail  917-873-7408
newsweeq@aol.com

Toby's Video:  https://youtu.be/rEZUro9tQlU

B-6  EXTREMELY URGENT!                               Breed:     YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE!! Sex:         Male Age:         Adult  (2 years per shelter notes)          Size:        Medium   Weight:   Weight not available ID:           A031725 Shelter Name:  "Toby" Vaccinated, Heartworm NEGATIVE  PLEASE CONTACT COWETA COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL TO ADOPT THIS PET: 770-254-3735.   The address is 91 Selt Road, Newnan, GA.  Oh "Toby", you are such a sweetheart of a fella!!!   When we met "Toby",  we were so impressed with his manners and how he "sat" for a treat when asked.   He loves people and tried very  hard to please.  Just take a moment to watch his video and you will see what a loving,  sweet and well-mannered fella  he truly is.  Sadly, "Toby's" days are numbered since he has been at the shelter since  DECEMBER 2015.   His only crime is that he is homeless....and we know that that is not his fault.  Poor baby.   All he needs is someone  to open their heart and home but you must hurry....his time is running out.   PLEASE HURRY!  This pet has been at the shelter since 12/02/15!!

You may know...

That Gargoyles Animal Rescue is ran mostly by the efforts of Sheila Shafer-Roberson, and that she has fell upon hard times and is living with her best friend & family - Lisa S. In G.A.R. there are 9 animals, 3 female dogs and 6 cats (4 males, 2 females/Queens). All animals and Sheila sleep in one room of Lisa's house. Every morning all the animals are let outside to do their 'business', the cats stay out, the dogs come back in. All but 1 cat go outside by the back door, Phoebe Peppercorn goes out the front door as she is the only one allowed to be out front with the resident queen - Bella, a feral rescue that owns Lisa and her husband's heart. (She is my best friend after all so we do share characteristics).

I've been telling Lisa that her cat has been very curious about my room, she also loves the fact that I am so 'open' for conversations with her species. She will come to my closed door and meow for me, I always check on her to see what she needs, she usually asks for food, sometimes to be let out, or sometimes just to talk to someone who listens to her and understands her.

She has even came across the threshold into my room. When I tell Lisa about this, I feel as if she is saying "sure she is", but that she doesn't believe me. Well you can't dismiss photographs, now can you. Bella knows the morning routine for my animals, she is a very receptive to all that transpires in her home. Yesterday she boldly came into my room following me just a talking her head off. If I tune in I can get the gist of her conversation and communicate back. I wasn't far from dreamland and my head was a bit fuzzy so I wasn't carrying on a conversation with her and just came in my room leaving the door open because to close it would of been rude and I try very hard to not ever be rude to anyone. When I made it to my desk I turned around and seen her by the water bowls, so I grabbed up my phone/camera and started taking pix. When I showed these pictures to my friend she went through them and said "what am I suppose to be noticing"? I said "that your looking at your cat", she said "Oh"!

At the water bowls for all animals,
she is in between where Georgia & Paca slept.

Preparing to jump on my bed, right where
I had been laying just moments earlier.

On my bed, she must feel comfortable with my energy,
that spot is highly infused with not only my smell,
but all the animals who snuggle in as I sleep.

She is on a feeding station for the cats, nearing
beds of several cats but mainly the
queen she spends time with in the front yard.

Not exactly sure what to make of all of this, she is a queen but she is young and not far from her feral days. She isn't mean in her claiming of space in and around her home. I am going with the theory of curiosity, I've often picked up from her that she believes I have a secret portal in my room >in her mind > all the animals and myself go on amazing adventures throughout the night and by gosh she wants to see this damn portal. 

Service Animals: Information on Therapy & Service Dogs

Synopsis: Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities

Definition: Therapy Dogs

A dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, people with learning difficulties, and stressful situations, such as disaster areas. Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily. A therapy dog's primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with it and to enjoy that contact. Children in particular enjoy hugging animals; adults usually enjoy simply petting the dog. The dog might need to be lifted onto, or climb onto, an individual's lap or bed and sit or lie comfortably there.

Main Document

An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler (sometimes with the help of a professional trainer).

Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Although a service animal is most often a dog, it can also be another kind of animal such as a cat, bird, monkey or pig.

Capuchin monkeys have been trained to perform manual tasks such as grasping items, operating knobs and switches, and turning the pages of a book.

Miniature horses are sometimes trained to guide the blind, pull wheelchairs, or as support for persons with Parkinson's disease.

Cats are also sometimes trained to signal their deaf owner for certain sounds, or may naturally be able to predict seizures in a person.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform independently.

Most people are familiar with Service Dogs such as Guide Dogs for those who are blind and Hearing Dogs for those who are deaf. Yet, we often do not realize that, Service animals are not limited to animals that assist people with hearing or sight impairments, but also include those that otherwise assist individuals with disabilities.

Under the ADA, privately owned businesses that serve the public, including restaurants, hotels, stores, taxis, and airlines are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. As such, businesses must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals with them, wherever customers are normally allowed.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990), As defined in section 36.104 of the title III regulation, a service animal includes any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability

It is always a good idea, when making hotel reservations, to inform them of your specific disability and that you are being accompanied by a service dog. Even if a hotel or restaurant has a "no pets" policy, this never applies to service animals.

In many areas of the world, assistance dogs are not required to have any sort of "certification" or proof of their training; however, most programs voluntarily certify their dogs, and many wear a harness or cape to identify them.

Typically, a potential service animal undergoes extensive behavioral testing before being accepted into a training program.

Above all, a service animal is not a pet, although the animal is probably loved by its owners. If you see someone with a service animal, always ask for permission before petting or handling it, and be aware that if the animal is working, you may not be allowed to touch it.

Facts: Service Animal

In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits any business, government agency, or other organization that provides access to the general public from barring guide dogs. However, religious organizations are not required to provide such access. Current federal regulations define "service animal" for ADA purposes to exclude all species of animals other than domestic dogs and miniature horses. Other laws, though, still provide broader definitions in other areas. For instance, the Department of Transportation's regulations enacting the Air Carrier Access Act permit "dogs and other service animals" to accompany passengers on commercial airlines. The Fair Housing Act also requires housing providers to permit service animals (including comfort and emotional support animals) without species restrictions in housing.

Information transferred from: Disabled - world dot com!

Doing What It Takes

The past two weekends we have been set up to sell our wares trying to raise $ moolah for this rescue. Today it was most needed in order to feed the troupe.
Mission accomplished : )

Last Saturday we set up booth at the Midway Festival, unfortunately we were rained out within an hour with only one $2.00 sale to line our wallet.

Jewelry, note cards, catgrass, and focal gemstone beads.

Another view of the table with some Onyx-carved Kitties and Felted Critters

Catgrass & Flax Seeds, Organic Catnip, DeVa, & Diatomaceous Earth

Our table at Midway Festival

All set up!

Then on Sunday May 3rd we set up at the corner of Limerick @ Hwy 17 and sold most all of our plants, some Diatomaceous Earth and met some interesting people. Main thing is that we made enough capital to purchase some chicken for the dogs and tuna for the cats. Left with IGA & Dollar General choices, it really wasn't rocket science to figure we were better with human grade food.

**Most every bag of carnivore food in those stores starts with ground yellow corn - 1. our charges are carnivores, 2. even if our charges were herbivores the feeding of yellow corn is seriously wrong. Carnivores need meat with a slight side of veggies. If you are trying to feed your carnivores a more correct diet by means of their natural 'wild' menu basically the only vegetable matter these carnivores would normally partake of was in the stomachs of the animal they were dinning upon - think about it.**

***Corn should be fed to humans and animals as a desert, not a side dish or definitely not a main course. Corn causes the consumer to 'heat-up', due to its high content of sugar. Most of the corn found in our grocery stores come from Monsanto stock and that is Genetically Modified Organisms - not cool, not cool at all.***

Our table at the corner of Limerick & Hwy 17

Organic Heirloom Beefsteak Tomatoes

SMR 58 Cucumber

May they continue to grow for new caretaker!

Several people showed an interest in Paca (from her photos), she is a darn good looking Bulldog if I do say so myself. (maybe just a bit bias). Today we put in 2 hours in the hot Georgia Sun to earn $30.00 and that took care of immediate needs and now have enough food to last till later on in the week. Hopefully something else will turn up an opportunity for us to make a little more cash. We don't give up, we just bow our heads and thank the heavens above for all that we have and in our faith more always presents itself to us.
We are blessed to have amazing people backing our efforts - thank you (if you are one of them present/past/or future).

Traveling With Pets In America (or anywhere else)

Gargoyles Animal Rescue travels with pets all of the time. One of our kitties is an Emotional Support Animal trained to travel everywhere with her person. We also have a Service Dog in Training and she goes everywhere with her trainer. The other animals in our rescue have mixed emotions about traveling, the older cats want to stay put. The younger cats love the adventure, its that whole curiosity thing with them. All of the dogs love to go 'bye-bye', and readily jump into any vehicle offered.

Would like to give a few tips we have learned over the years on traveling with pets, these are things that work for us and the animals in our charge. Not all animals are going to react the same. Be patient and never raise your voice or hand to them - you are here to protect them - do your job well.

• When traveling by vehicle it is best to carry you some extra clothes (jacket, sweater, etc.), and crank up that a/c (protect any cold-prone animals with a place to hide or sweaters for them). It has been our experience that the cats aren't as vocal and most everyone just sleeps when it is cold - they hibernate so to say. That makes for easy driving conditions inside the vehicle.

• Do not feed or water for at least 12 hours before departure and make sure everyone has had a chance to empty their bowels and bladder before you load up. What this does is 1. keeps anything from being vomited and 2. cuts down on bathroom breaks for the animals or hurt their kidneys to hold their full bladder for extended amount of times.

• If canines are what you are traveling with, keep their collars on at all times (hopefully with i.d. tags or micro chipped). Do stop often to allow them to exercise and mark territory (if you withheld water they shouldn't need to urinate - but they will mark territory with a dribble here and there).

As summertime approaches and the temps rise, please remember that whatever the outside temp the inside of your vehicle will be at least 10 degrees hotter. 

In the above pictures the canines were traveling on FAT TUESDAY, they dressed for the occasion.

Oliver's Campaign

Oliver is apx 1 - 2 yr old intact male cat who just showed up on our porch one day asking for help. We couldn't turn our backs on him. We are trying our best to raise the funds to vet and neuter him, so that we will feel comfortable adopting him into his forever home.

Rather the handsome chap he is.

Oliver just showed up one day.

His second day here he was picked up and brought inside.

He was mistaken for Mewen.

Best Picture of Him EvEr!

He didn't want to leave, he found true lovers of kitties! 

The other cats aren't accepting him - they say he stinks, must be the hormone called testosterone. A altering of his reproduction facilities would end that problem.

eBay listing to help the cats in our rescue!

Beltania's Vet Visit

 April 2, 2015 2:00 p.m. Richmond Hill Animal Hospital  Richmond Hill, GA

Beltania met the staff at Richmond Hill Animal Hospital, some were honored, some were terrified.

We are thankful that Beltania has been witnessed by a licensed medical doctor and treated thru and under his expert wisdom. We are eternally grateful to those who help us in the financial department, without you none of this would of been possible - thank you very much!

Kind and compassionate

Doc and Beltania did not hit it off well.

Doc was a bit hesitant on handling Beltania

I informed that her bark was way worse than her bite.

He said "he'd rather not find out".

The last one was a doozie!

We arrived home to goodies waiting on the porch.

So thankful, so very thankful!

We do have a foundation fund with the remainder of Beltania's 'Go Fund Me' account and are applying that to the Oliver's goal. Going to get each animal squared away - by gosh - one animal at a time.

Vet Appointment Made ~ A BiG Thank you!

The donor asked not to be identified on the donation site and with that; her requests are honored. We know whom she is and have communicated with her. Before a couple of days ago, we did not know each other, I'm thankful for good-hearted people who utilize the internet in an almost divine way, thankful that those said people are graced in their life and they enjoy gracing others, thankful that my beloved furball - Beltania will get to go to a veterinarian this week for treatment of her flea-bite dermatitis, she will receive the medicine needed to heal her and bring comfort to her mutilated body. All because someone cares, thank you!

Beltania's medical care was absorbed into the whole venture by private means years earlier. After the relationship dissolved and became no more all the general (basic), needs of the animals fell to the way side and purchasing food became the only realistic goal. This has been going on for almost two years now and the weight of it all is sometimes unbearable by just one person (no matter how hard she tries).

With every molecule of the energy in my midst I thank this person who donated so much for a kitty to know comfort, peace, and pain-free existence - Thank You!

I held Beltania in my arms last night, she immediately started purring and I thought of the last thing the donor said about Beltania knowing how much she was loved, she was correct: I do love Beltania and believe 100% that she knows that and returns it back. A most remarkable beating heart wrapped in gorgeous black fur and golden eyes. Beltania.

(by: Sheila)

Thank you, Thanks, THANX to Everyone!!!

Debbie of the Community Pet Project and I have been playing telephone tag for the past several days and finally 'hooked up' (so to say), I stopped by her home this evening on my way home and boy o' boy did she load us up with all kinds of goodies. We received a couple of really nice cat beds, food, treats, blankets, disposable dishes (excellent for transporting), and some toothbrushes!!! (Please check out the pictures below)

Everything is appreciated and will be put to good use, but let me tell you the toothbrushes are the real treasure for me. Had purchased the toothbrush kit ($14.00), for the animals as a holiday gift and haven't seen it since the fire - haven't a clue as to what happened to it. So heck yes, can get everyone back on schedule with getting rid of plaque and stopping it from forming in the first place.

All 9 animals took to having their teeth brushed within the first attempt and have 

made this chore - not so bad.

Dennis of Canines & Felines Marketplace in Greenville, SC donated some of the animals' staple diet foodstuff - the honest kitchen, along with some Kosher Beef in a can for dogs, and a whole box of Taste of the Wild samples that the crew around here absolutely love. A couple of weeks ago Dennis donated some Stella & Chewy's, and the honest kitchen Perfect Form & Goat's Milk (which was Johnny-on-the-spot when a virus hit the rescue). Dennis has always helped out our rescue - wouldn't be able to do what we do for the animals if it wasn't for him - greatly appreciate Dennis!

Elisa wrote an article about our plight and we received a box of blankets from Chris in Texas - greatly appreciated - been using them everyday!

Dana in Chicago donated $$ to help get Paca to the vet for a bad dew claw before the fire and deserves a fair mention here.

 Thank you everyone, the animals had a blast checking everything out - like little kids - "what did we get", as they look up at me with big bright eyes - thank you everyone for giving me that. The crew has played hard on investigating their treasures and are all laying down on the new blankets and new beds - happy and content.

Mewen says "we gots stuff".

Adorable

Mewen looking over some donations from Dennis of Canines & Felines Marketplace in Greenville, SC.

Phoebe Peppercorn checking out a bed donated to us by Debbie of the Community Pet Project in Simpsonville, SC

Adorable checking the comfort level - it passed!

Items donated by Debbie of the Community Pet  Project

Phoebe (background), was first on the scene checking everything out.

A big Thank You to Canines & Felines Marketplace!

Kosher Beef in a can from Chicago - the dogs LOVE it!