Helping Kitties

Early December we received a call from a lady who had been taking care of a feral colony for many years. She had TNR through a rescue years back when grants were available to the residents of Kanawha County, West Virginia. She had moved down into a neighboring city and had been coming back daily to tend to the ferals (apx 10). Her house had been up for sale for 3 years. She ended up selling the property and taking a serious loss but more so than money she was losing the property to tend to the cats.

She reached out to Gargoyles and though we are not in a position to take on a feral colony something in her voice called out in desperation for these felines that never asked to be put in a situation like this. She told me of four kittens, two real young but able to eat some food and two slightly older. She could touch them, even hold them but make no mistake these are feral cats that are fearful of humans other than their caretaker.

Kittens rescued early enough can be 'domesticated' and become exceptional pets. So if nothing else the kittens may be able to be accepted into a rescue, it was worth a try. 

Through a Messenger Group dedicated to helping the animals of West Virginia, made contact with a rescue in Morgantown that would sponsor these kittens - all four of them. Most of the members pay for the vetting, food, and fuel all out of pocket. Together we network, transport, foster, and rescue animals day in and day out. The energy is electrifying everyone always lifting each other up, showing gratitude and offering emotional and physical and financial support. 

The caretaker caught the first two, the younger ones and they stayed with Gargoyles for a few hours in a special Quarantine Crate.

Picture taken in Morgantown

Picture taken in Morgantown

Met the transporter across the river in Big Chimney and these two babies were on their way to the next step in saving lives. They would be housed overnight in a heated basement with two puppies who were on the next morning transport to Morgantown. A complex network that comes together with people who put the welfare of these sweet animals top priority.

The new property owner requested the caretaker to not come back on the property, not in a bad way, but more due to contractors and a dangerous work zone. After a phone conversation with the new property owner Gargoyles received permission to access the property to feed, trap, whatever we needed to do for the feral cats. That was a relief.

There are adults, some very sick and need to be seen by a vet, two that a vet would probably humanely euthanize. Several females in reproduction age, two current mothers of the above mentioned kittens.

This week the cats have been fed by Gargoyles, slowly gaining the trust of the ferals. Today the kittens were captured and extra food put down for the adults, as predicted bad weather may prevent travel up the mountain where they reside.

The kittens are staying the evening with Gargoyles, in the Quarantine Crate - inside - out of the freezing temps that have settled into our area. These are quite a bit more feral than the other younger kittens. The kittens will be fostered by a feral whisperer who will handle, socialize, and help the babies become calm and friendly pets. This process enables the babies to be adopted into loving homes.

Unique marking on the head.

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. 

Treat Recipes from Honest Kitchen

The gang around Gargoyles Animal Rescue has been using the honest kitchen for topping dry or wet feed for an exciting flavorful meal, so when this juicy recipe showed up in my email today I was excited for the pups. All pups having a chance to have a meal prepared just for them - they know - man, I'm telling you animals know when you will & do go the extra mile for them. The peace this creates in our heart is beyond words. So please try it for yourself, and enjoy life with your furry friends.

Recipe: Fresh Breath Treats from the honest kitchen

One of the sweetest mares...

December of 2014 I moved back to Midway, Georgia and met some cool horse friends out at the barn where my girlfriend keeps her horse - Tracy. I fell in love with a black TWH named Diamond and met the sweetest mare I've ever met, close second place is my beloved Lady that belonged to my grandpa. This mare here was named Skittles when she came to the barn and was in a name change and was being called Lena when I met her, so that is what I know her by and then Sea Lena when I toyed with the idea of seeing if she wanted to go to Virginia - before I learned that her momma was in love with her.

All of a sudden my girlfriend informed me she was heading to the barn that Lena was experiencing colic. I declined going - I'm without some of my meds right now and not able to exert myself (can't bring it back). When she came home she declared the worst... and even more horrific is the owners were going to shoot her with a gun to save money from having the vet to come back out there and euthanize her. Oh my god, are you kidding me, your going to make that sweet mare go through that?! I can't throw any stones in their direction, I too am guilty of doing the same thing with my beloved Bonnie Sue, my Doberman guardian from my early 20's.

This poor mare was suffering a gnat bite dermatitis much like Beltania

Even as miserable as she had to be - she never not once acted out or was bitter.

Lena knows of no pain now.

The sweetest mare I've ever known. (Sheila)

Spring 2015 Lena, the sweetest mare. R.I.P.

Lena & Diamond Spring 2015

We went out to the barn this morning - Diamond was in pain with his front feet and Chuck thought he might be foundering. Not good! So we get there and get to work, cleaning out his hoof on his left front hoof, he wasn't sore, he was stinky but Lisa ensured me that was the normal (OMGdds), and not thrush, it has been a while since I messed with hooves and I just knew it smelled rotten to me.

Lisa used cold water and hosed him for apx 20 minutes and reduced the inflammation in the crook of his pastern hock. She thought it was from the horrible ground between the barn and water trough. Horrible black water mud mixture that has probably claimed a couple of Tracy's shoes and no doubt not helping the horses out any. She buted him a couple of g's and we let him loose in front of the barn area to graze on the grass, when the bute had set in we opened the gate and let him back into the pasture, he walked with a very sore limp to the hay bale and started eating. When he stepped again around the bale after a few minutes there was no real sign of pain in his walk so the bute had taken effect - he was in no pain right now and going to get his 'eat' on.

I didn't try to read the energy associated with his hoof, I would of rather a vet come and look, he could of pulled a ligament, or muscle, or tendon and he really needed a professional, but he also needed a dry pasture and fed two times a day, and told how gorgeous he is about a thousand times a day. I hate being like that and not trying to fix him, but I fear that I would be spending a good amount of energy and his condition would only improve for the smallest amounts of time.

O World Project Interview - Animal Communicator - Anna Breytenbach