OT we adopted two cats

Oh, that's lovely! I'm not a cat person meself, but it's so nice to hear of such a happy outcome from both sides. There's been a spate of animal atrocities in our local area, so it's especially good to hear of two catlets who started at a disadvantage falling on their feet as it were.

It's freezing cold over here tonight and our dog (Miss Alice) is

*shivering* in her bed. She's squidged herself in between the two cushions and I'm just about to get her a warm water bottle before going to bed. Brrr! Best place for everyone tonight!

=A0 snipped-for-privacy@silverthorn.org

orn.org/mstjohn

Concatulations!!!! And thank you for rescuing two needy critters!!

Good for you! And good for the cats, too!

I'm a "dog person", and my Clara is a mutt who was rejected by her mother at birth and had a twisted, deformed front leg, ankle, and foot, smaller than the other, and with no hair. The homeowners with the litter were going to let her die, but neighbor children took her to their grandmother, and Grandma and Grandpa took her in to feed. Grandma worked for me and knew I was going to get a dog from the shelter, and said she thought she had my dog already if I was game for a crippled mutt of unknown heritage. Grandpa brought her in to the office when she was 2 days old, and she was a cute little critter! Grandpa was retired and kept the puppy warm on his lap in the recliner, fed her, and introduced her to the grandchildren and the 3 adult dogs in the house. I thought Grandpa would keep her, but they figured she would have a good home with me, and with 3 dogs fulltime, and 3 kids and 7 grandkids in and out all the time, they were already pretty busy. Clara is now 6 years old, 60 pounds, and a delight! Her leg did grow, and got hair, but is clearly deformed, but that's just the way it is. She walks and runs a little funny, and her muscle development is skewed, but she gets along just fine. She's a sweet girl, and very bright, and I am blessed to have her!

For 4 years I had a Yorkie who needed a home when my neighbor died. Molly was 11 when she came to live with me, and had cataracts, arthritis, a heart murmer, and a cough that little dogs can get when they're elderly, and was a sweet little thing who just needed a home. None of the neighbor's family wanted Molly, so she came to live with Clara and me, and got along very well. When she first arrived she would sit in my driveway and look at "her" old house and yard, and sit there and cry, but after a couple of months she settled in, and lived until she was a few months past her 15th birthday.

Sometimes I think that critters just "happen along" in your life, and those are often the best!

Lucille

Mary, this is a great thing, and reminds us so much about caring for the animals and others in our lives. I often think about what happens to pets when their human family leaves them behind. Sounds like you and Clara have a good life together.

Ellice - another dog person

When we lived in Scarborough we had Frank, a German Shepherd aged about

1. Then the local animal welfare asked us to look after Mick, a German Shepherd/Collie cross (aged about 2 or 3) who had been so badly treated that he might not live for more than 48 hours. Maureen spent two days sitting with "little" Mick feeding him boiled water and rice. Not only did Mick survive but he stayed with us for another eleven years! As Mary said, creatures just "happen along" Bruce

I had a conversation with someone from church last week who said she's waiting for her next cat - her last one died several months back. I mentioned going to a shelter, and she said, "No, when it's right, a cat will come to my door. I'm waiting for God to send it to me, and it'll happen when it's meant."

Well, that's just how WE got our cat - he adopted us, not the other way around. And I know the Almighty had a hand in it, because he's such a good fit with our quirky ways (and vice versa). And in a household of highly allergic people, it takes a special cat for all of us to be able to live with him!

Sue

Some cats have no effect upon me whilst others only have to enter the room to make my eyes water, my nose run and my chest to start to sieze up. Our cat, Surrey (named after Richard III's horse, not the English county), was acquired because the mice had moved in after the harvest three years ago. She is the only cat we've ever had after 35 years of German Shepherds and I'm delighted to report that she has had no direct effect upon me. However, like the dogs, I always have to be careful to wash my hands after touching her... Bruce

Well, we are the same way! When DH and I realised we were serious about fulltiming when he retired, early, I decreed "No pets". They wouldn't travel well in a gypsy type lifestyle.

#1 Mistake... DH was going to Berlin a lot on business, and brought home a local little kitten to keep me company. Thirteen years later Dammit Ralph ( his real name) dies with diabetic complications. We were then living in the RV.

#2 About four years after D Ralph's arrival, I get a phonecall at work.."There is this sweet little dachshund, 11 mos old, who will be put to sleep if no-one takes him". I said "OK, I will put an ad in the paper, and we will keep him til he has a new home". The ad never was put, and dear old Whisky died when he was thirteen.

#3. We were no longer traveling, due to DH's mother needing a home, so we got grounded. Gretel was given to me as an 8 week puppy on Apr 24

1998, to keep Whisky active. OK, she is/was cute.

#4. I was in Maryland babysitting grandkids in Sept 2000. DH calls me and asks if I know a good name for a male dachshund who had "found" us! He was a stray, dropped off where we lived; I guess his previous owner figured he would be adopted, and he was. At that time the vet figured he was 2 years old.

Soooo, the only pet we paid money for was Gretel. However, I wouldn't trade any of them!

We travel in the summer with Max and Gretel, and thoroughly enjoy them. However, Max still refuses to respond to his name......that wasn't the one he had as a pup!

Gill

How lovely for you, Margaret. And how fortunate for the kitties. One of mine was a stray, one a rescue, one dropped off rather than go to his death, and one a shelter kitten. All have been fine companions, and given much love. I am sure yours will too.

Dawne

I have another friend from church with two mini dachsunds - named Max and Greta, IIRC. Is there a common thread to names of dachsunds?

Sue

We've often had pets find us and it's always been good for both sides. We had an Australian shepherd, Mathilda (of course!) for quite a few years who was dumped on the side of the road as a puppy and found her way up our road to the house. We did drive around to all the ranches where we live in case she belonged there but we ended up keeping her.

We currently have 3 dogs - one is from the animal shelter and 2 cats who both came from a rescue group. I just cannot ignore a helpless animal who needs care and attention.

We've also taken in friends' pets when they've been in the middle of moving and found ourselves with them for 6 months or so. Once you have a lot of animals a few more just adds to the fun.

So glad the new cats have found you - wishing you many years of purring and petting! MelissaD

Congratulations on your new babies. Isn't it funny how their personalities are all so different? Dora Still thinking about getting another cat. My old boy is enjoying being #1 though.

Congratulations and best wishes - so far a cat has not found me, but I am sure one will if it is meant to be.

Pat

Good thing I don't have your addy, then, because over a dozen cats have "found" me. Some we adopted out. We still have 12. 2 elderly at around 14-15 years of age(1 just had 4 molars pulled this Tuesday past, has ulcers on her tongue, because of which she barely cleans herself and is constantly drooling, is on anti-b's for who knows how long - they gave us 2 bottles of liquid to dose her with, and when we get near the end of the second bottle is when we take her back for a follow-up. We know she's felling better as it's getting more of a struggle to get the meds into her). The other 10 mare between 2 - 6 years old.

Despite what we say, I don't think we could bear to part with any of them.

And I almost forgot the dog. Who sometimes forgets that the enclosed back porch is NOT outside, so leaves a puddle or pile back there....

I'm all the way over here on the east coast so safe I guess lol I am living in a condo so not really where cats would find me. There was one in the parking lot for a couple of days but a family in one of the houses took him in.

I saw one the other night on television, owners had dumped him and we had a terrible winter and he had been found with ears fallen off from frostbite and much fur missing. He was really ugly and I intended to call and say 'I'll take him' but the 'phone rang just then and I never discovered where he was, so not that one ! There will likely be one though lol

We have a foundation for stray cats called the meow foundation here, and they have an online cat-a-logue. I've been looking at it now and again. I was thinking of trying fostering to see if Max would tolerate other cats around, but I'm not sure I could let them go once they got their foot in the door. Dora