G.A.R. Goals 2013

 Goals 2013

• Purchasing property for rescue/home.
• Applying / Receiving Non Profit status from Internal Revenue Service.
• Buy domain and build website.
• Establish rescue and pulling privileges with shelters.  
• Initiate a network of pulling animals from overcrowded southern shelters and relocating to northern rescues.  
• Build educational program for being a responsible pet care-taker.
• Meeting the correct Veterinarian for this rescue and securing their services.

Five Year Plan

• Facility to house (not cage), up to 50 fatally dis -eased felines, and provide them quality life.
• Rehabilitate 'problem' dogs and give them a purpose, a job, enable them to be the most they can be/ want to be.
• Provide educational entertainment to seniors, children, and anyone else that needs such with Therapy Animals. 
• Working network of individuals providing aid to help animals.    
•  Fleet of transportation vehicles to aid the rescuing of animals.
• Many happy inter-species family connections.

 
 

Lil' Man

Late last week I had noticed Lil' Man spraying urine like a Tom, marking the back yard. As I hadn't ever noticed him doing this inside and there is a neighborhood cat that aggravates our kitties (by coming onto their property), I took it as a means of telling the other cat and all other felines that this is his place - so I let it go.

While refilling the outside water bowls a couple of days later I noticed a spray mark on a container - but this urine had noticeable blood specs in it. So an appointment was made for him at the vets to be checked out. Lil' Man is 8 years old so when a Senior evaluation was recommended I agreed.

On Wednesday (3/6), Lil' Man was weighed before his appointment - 16.7 lbs and was seen by one of the vets. She put her hand on his abdomen and felt around, she checked the inside of his mouth, she stroked his fur and petted his head - the whole time listening to me tell his medical history - how he had been on anti anxiety meds for urinating in his dad's suitcase a couple of years back - how me studying how cat's think through the book The Cat's Mind by Bruce Fogle DVM, taught me the benefit of letting him go outside and that cured the pissing inappropriately situation - so he came off the meds.

The vet states very early on that he probably has FLUTD Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease and the only way to treat that is thru meds or diet and there starts the spill for one of the brands of prescription pet food. We have a issue here - because I study behavior and nutrition and I've worked hard on getting them to a decent point with their diet - not wanting to upset all of that - and especially with not knowing for sure what is going on with Lil' Man.  Not going to go into all that took place - may write about all of that on my own personal blog - this blog is about the animals. But I will state that I truly felt that if I didn't agree to purchase a food from them, she was not going to go any further with Lil' Man's examination, that blood wouldn't be drawn and tested, that Lil' Man would continue to suffer.

Royal Canin Fel Urinary SO 7.7 lb dry     -    $37.50
Royal Canin Fel Urinary SO 5.8 oz can (6) - $11.10

Several things happened in succession concerning this vet's office and a whole feeling of being 'raked' over the coals by them. These things are relevant to this story but not to Lil' Man's health. (last one is relevant to his health)

• The food has Chicken Meal as the first ingredient, the fourth is Corn Meal (any meal should never be your first ingredient - the commercial corn industry is completely dominated by Monsanto - GMO)
• A order placed to 1 800 Pet Meds was denied by the vet's office, so Caroline will run out of her heartworm prevention this month.
• Voicemail from the vet's office informing me of their policy concerning outside Rx suppliers.
• Second voicemail relaying the results of Lil' Man's blood and urine tests, which told of a Urinary Tract Infection - NOT disease, and everything else - and I mean EVERYthing else came up perfect.

Lil' Man was prescribed ORBAX Oral Suspension (orbifloxacin) 1.8 cc once a day for 10 days. The vet stated that she wanted to see Lil' Man back 1 week after he finishes his antibiotics.

Toys on a tight, tight, really tight budget!

A small private rescue that was already on limited funds - lost a major income + was gouged by a local vet, make purchasing toys for the girls a bit daunting. But low and behold I remembered a trick I've used before - stuffed toys from Goodwill.

In the past I've purchased a huge bag full and dispensed one or two at a time per canine, the pickings weren't the most desirable for pet use so we carried nine toys home (3 per). This time we placed the toys in a laundry basket for the dog to get at will and they are loving this technique.

The big blue seal was priced $3.00, but the lady rang it up and all the others for $.50 each - so we spent $4.50 and the girls are happy. Not as good as a some Kong toys that would stand up to rough play, but they are fun to play with and help keep them from chewing on each other.

For Pepper it was a chance to watch the dog's excitement, but this was best observed from the safety of carrier kept 3 1/2 feet off the floor.

Toys provide mental stimulation for the animals, not to mention they absolutely love for us to give them things. After they give us so much - unselfishly - I feel as if it is the very least I can do. It is a shame it usually is the last thing on my list and has been bumped off the list way too many times.

Already have a line of Organic Cat Grass and Organic Catnip going up for sale this week at Canines & Felines Marketplace, but I also need to get a line of dog toys - stuffed at this point is all I can see - has to be Organic - has to be safe.

It is my desire to set up items I would purchase myself - safe and environmental friendly and sale them to raise money for the animals in our rescue.


Paca makes some of the most unusual faces.

Here to help

A couple of days ago my boyfriend and I was shopping in our local Publix grocery store when my cell rings, I answered the call. It is a gentleman looking for help for a stray dog that had been dumped near his home. I give my standard response of contacting the Greenville Humane Society and see if they can take him - I'm full. It always goes on just a bit more, I know each story has merit and each animal has a right to be loved and given a good home, each one matters.

I continue to listen to this gentleman who says that the neighbor's dog was hit by a vehicle the day before and that dog's owners are accusing this stray dog for the accident and are trying to kill him. The gentleman goes on to say that they came out with a shotgun and the gun wouldn't fire (here in my head I say 'thank you', that it didn't work).

"Greenville Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, they may charge you a fee for surrendering this animal, but really sir, what is a life worth to you"? It is my spill, I say it several times a week on the phone to people who call me trying to help an animal.

I listen to every caller, I don't judge - I'm glad they are trying. I try to help each one with as much information as they seem to be searching for. I can't take on the animals - I ran out of room. I have a couple of animals that need to go on to their forever home(s) before I can take on any more.

Animals are my life, I will do everything in my power to protect them, to heal them, to love them, and to show them respect. For the humans who care about animals, I'm here for them, to help them however I can. I'm a simple person with very lofty ideas - and the gumption to go for it!

Sheila and Caroline

Shots

Took half the gang up to the mobile vet clinic and saved a whole bunch of money.  Caroline received her Rabies shot, Paca and Georgia received Rabies and a yearly booster, while Pepper received a Distemper and Rabies shot.  All that for $52.00!

The mobile unit is awesome for saving money but I'm always fearful of taking a cat up there (Pepper), it is located right beside a major roadway.

Waiting on Valley Vet to confirm Caroline's Heartworm preventive Rx and will have that and tapeworm meds on the way for the whole gang. That will be $85.00, these meds aren't cheap but these are the things that are necessary to raise healthy, happy animals.

 Late last night I discovered blood and urine sprayed on a plastic container outside, the only one that comes to mind is Lil' Man, and he is getting a vet appointment scheduled today or first of the week. (Day is already running into overtime and it is just 7:00 a.m.)

Lil' Man has been losing weight - though I put that off to going outside and exercising, there has been issues with him peeing outside of the box - and put that towards his hatred for Beltania (which is mutual). We will get him in and checked out, this is serious stuff - when there is blood in the urine.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to our new format as we say goodbye to facebook.

For anyone interested in keeping up with the story of a different kind of rescue, tips on feeding wholesome food and all things animal (and some human stuff too), please bookmark or follow us here. Thank you for caring about the animals!

What you won't find here is any asking of money, any pressure to aid the animals in our care. We are 100% privately funded and do not accept public donations.

We are a small rescue, just starting out and our space is very limited. At present we are full, most of our charges are here for the rest of their lives, a few are available for adoption. The stories you will read are about all of our animal friends here and those that we have taken a special interest in.

Please feel welcome to comment and ask questions.

Sheila