My friend Dale Ann posted this on the Feline Diabetes Message Board, and I thought it too poignant not to share...

I AM AN ANIMAL RESCUER

By Mike Stellas

My job is to assist God's creatures;
I was born with the need to fulfill their needs.
I take in new family members without plan, thought, or selection.
I have bought dog food with my last dime;
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand;
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid;
I have fallen in love a thousand times,
and I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body.

I have Animal Friends and friends who have animal friends.
I don’t often use the word "pet".
I notice those lost at the roadside,
And my heart aches.
I will hand raise a field mouse,
And make friends with a vulture;
I know of no creature unworthy of my time.

I want to live forever if there aren’t animals in Heaven,
But I believe there are.
Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind.

We may be master of the animals,
But the animals have mastered themselves,
Something people still haven't learned.
War and Abuse makes me hurt for the world
But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for mankind.

We are a quiet but determined army
And making a difference ever day.
There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan,
nothing more rewarding than saving a life,
No higher recognition than watching them thrive.
There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play
who only days ago was too weak to eat.

I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done,
My home is never quiet,
My wallet is always empty,
But my heart is always full.

This is more a note for me to keep track, but Woody is back on anti-biotics aka Zenaquin.  We started on the 18th.  I am JUST giving him ab's this time, no pred...we'll see if that helps, as the swelling is slowly getting bigger.

Long time readers may remember Bumper, the kitty that belongs to my friend Felice.  Bumper lost her battle with cancer the day after Christmas.  Felice wrote such a beautiful tribute that I asked her permission to share it here.

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my cage I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of it.  I didn't want her to know that I missed the small litter box. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life. She put her fingers inside my cage and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my cage door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human Nov 1, 2001 and left this world Dec 26, 2008.

I will watch over her forever. She will never be alone because I will always be by her side, even if she doesn't see me. I will never break the promises I made to her over 7 years ago. Our time together on earth was too short.

One day we will be together again, forever.

Bumper (GA)

Image is a beautiful short-haired silver tabby cat with large golden eyes.

I am wishing Bumper safe journey and wishing all who love her peace.  Blessed Be!!!

Charlie is home this weekend, so I won't be on much.  However, I wanted to share this.

Wednesday night I went downstairs to feed the cats that stay down there.  Two are feral, two are semi-feral and one just doesn't like being upstairs--they stay down there by choice.  I could hear a cat crying in the furnace room so I went to investigate.  Darling (extreme feral) was sitting on the furnace.  It was not her meowing.  I could hear another cat, but couldn't find it.  I was a little over an hour late on feeding time, so assumed the cat was crying because it wanted me to hurry up and fill the dishes and Go Away so she could eat--Reese does that sometimes, staying just out of reach but yelling at me to go away.  In other words, I didn't think to much about it.

Thursday morning I was at the back door calling Gato in when I hear that same cat-voice crying in the basement.  No where near feeding time.  Now I am concerned.  I follow the sound and find Darling hovering by the furnace again.  The crying cat nowhere to be seen.  I call for Charlie to come downstairs because he is tall enough to look into the ceiling crevices.  We look and look and cannot find the crying cat.  Frankly, I was starting to feel like we were in the movie Poltergeist, where they could hear Carol Ann right THERE, but couldn't see her. 

Then we notice the cover has come off one of the furnace pipes. 
Charlie:  "You don't think..."
Folks, it's winter in Michigan, the furance has been running...
Me:  "No!"
We stick the flashlight into the hole and call to the cat (we still don't know WHO it is because I have been unable to locate the second extreme feral and either of the semi-ferals) to "Come to the Light!"
More crying from the cat, but no cat. 
He pulls out the furnace filter to discover something has dug its way through it.
He pops the side off the furnace...and out pops Misha, our semi-feral tuxedo! 

Since I don't always see the ferals when I go down to feed, and sometimes cannot even find them when looking for them--they are cats and a cat that doesn't want to be seen will not be seen--I have no idea how long she was in there!  He handed her to me while she was still in semi-shock and I whisked her upstairs to the spare bathroom.  She was dirty, hungry, thirsty as hell with a good chunk of fur singed off one side, but otherwise OK.  It has been my experience that any time a cat has a near-death close call that their personality changes.  I've seen it over and over.  Misha is much more friendly and cuddly and she will stay in the spare bathroom until we are sure she is fully tamed. 

The cover is back on the furnace pipe.  She had been in the hot part, obviously.  Managed to not go through the fan and clawed her way through the filter to get to the cooler part of the system.  Misha was smart enough to realize that Mommy would help her, if only she let me know she was in trouble.  Darling was by the furnace every time I went down there because she stayed with her!  Darling HATES people, but what a sweet sweet thing to stay near her cousin like that!  Darling has something wrong with her mouth and I so wish we could catch her to help her--and no, a live trap is no use with her--so please say a little prayer that Darling, like Misha, realizes that we WILL help not harm if you only LET US.

When we thought/talked about how disasterous this could have turned out...
ZOMG!

My mother has always said that how the New Year starts is usually a pretty clear indication of how the rest of the year will be.  Grammy was a Kitchen Witch, and I'm sure this is something she passed down to my mother.  I have found it pretty accurate, so I have to say it will be a lucky year for us.  Sloppy luck, but Luck all the same and I think I'll very gratefully take it!

ramboconan thinking of you and remembering your sweet, courageous boy on this sad anniversary.
HUGS...

"Those we have held in our arms for a little while, we hold in our hearts forever"

He was doing better, but over the last few days there is a new development.

( Cut for Gross TMI, but I DO want Cat People Experience/Input... )

ETA:  The general consensus is that this is just a new IBD symptom.  SO, I've him back on pred, but only 2.5 mg.  Started last night.

Here's the Story:

OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH COPPER
(When we first recognized that Copper was a very special boy).

Ten years ago, before my husband, Terry, and I formed S.P.A., we rescued animals and paid for their care as best we could, out of our pocket.

We were visiting the vet's office with a dog we had rescued and saw a cat in a cage who was curled up in the far corner and looked as if he was in pain. A sign was hung on his cage which read "HUMANE SOCIETY WILL PAY $20.00 LIMIT".

I inquired "So what is the story behind this cat?"

We were told that the President of the Humane Society had been called late one night from someone at the bar who tried to start their engine and heard a scream. The President of the Humane Society called a local vet to pick up the cat. The vet was told that if the cat was damaged more than $20 could repair, to "put him down". So the vet said he was going to euthanize the cat because it needed extensive (and expensive) surgery to repair broken bones in his hip.
We told him to put him on our bill, even though we had a very limited budget (in fact we were in debt at that time).

After a story about Copper's plight was graciously printed in the Fremont News Messenger, we received over $800 in donations from compassionate citizens in our area which more than covered the surgery. The surgery was 100% successful. Copper had a pin in his hip for over 3 months and received all of his shots and was neutered.

We fostered Copper until one day when a woman from Fremont called to ask if we had a "special" cat that her father-in-law (who lives near Elyria) might adopt. Within 4 years he lost his wife, his 3 cats, and his hearing. Her father-in-law had become extremely depressed, she said. She was looking for a cat that would give her father-in-law companionship to possibly bring him out of his depression. To us, Copper seemed to be the perfect choice.

Copper's daddy lived in Elyria and loved and cared for Copper in his home for the past ten years.

Well, this same daughter-in-law called us two days ago and said her father-in-law had passed away and that they needed Copper out of the house right away.

She said she'd make a donation to S.P.A. if we took him. We said of course we'd take him back. We explained, in fact, that she had to return him to us as stated in S.P.A.'s adoption contract. All animals must be returned to us so we can ensure their next home is just as special as their last.

She apparently thought twice about her offer to make a donation because she then called back and said she found someone she knows in Fremont who would try Copper out. This woman had a dog and from what we remembered Copper wasn't fond of other animals. She said if it didn't work out with this woman, that this woman said she'd find someone else to pass him along to.

I said. "Well you can't simply hand Copper over to someone else until they first fill out an Adoption Application. Once approved, we'll take Copper to her home as we always do with SPA animals, so she can sign an Adoption Contract with us."

To make a long story short, this woman not only refused to fill out an S.P.A. Adoption Contract but apparently thought the idea was absurd. She said there was no way she needed to be approved by anyone to take Copper. Basically she said "screw them, let them have him back."

So Copper was dropped off at our vet's office yesterday.

How much of a donation did the daughter-in-law leave? Zero. She dropped her father-in-law's beloved cat off and drove away. That's fine with us. Our primary concern is that Copper will be well cared for. We know that is what Joe would have wanted.

S.P.A. doesn't have a foster home available for Copper, so we will have to pay to board him until the perfect home is found. If anyone wants to donate towards his boarding expenses, that would be much appreciated. (Donation Info Below if you are interested.)

But what we are really hoping for
is to place Copper in a loving, responsible home ASAP.

Scroll down for an updated of Copper today.

May Joe rest in peace.

Copper is about 11 years old and in tip top shape.
He is up to date on shots and generally very friendly,
although he is very frightened right now.

He has no idea where his daddy, Joe, has gone
and is confused as to why he was driven away to be kept in a cage.
We are hoping to find a loving, very special forever home for him soon.

He'd make a great companion for a senior citizen. He was spoiled and loved very deeply. We'd like to find someone compassionate and special, just like Joe. We are hoping that Joe is watching from heaven and is happy that we followed through with our initial promise that we made to him, that we'd take Copper back and care for him until the perfect home is found should he ever have to give his best friend up. And unfortuantely, he did.


DONATIONS FOR COPPERS BOARDING & CARE:

You can donate online at: www.spaohio.org

or you can mail a donation to:

Joe's Boy, Copper
P.O. Box 1047
Fremont, Ohio 43420
Barbara McGrady
Society for the Protection of Animals, Inc.
P.O. Box 1047
Fremont, OH 43420

Picture shows a delighted old man and a brown and black tabby cat.