Our Marco

Definitely one of a kind was our little Marco, nicknamed my Charmin Kitty because she was so squeezably soft. Her pregnant mama was rescued from the streets of Philadelphia, Pa and delivered her litter safely in the care of her foster mom who volunteered with an organization called Cat Shack.

Separating siblings or just choosing between the last two left was an impossible decision for my husband to make so being the softy he is he comes home with two kittens. Two little fuzzy, fly away furballs we named Marco and Polo.

These two had to have been the most pampered kittens imaginable. Our kids were at that age where they could be very responsible with pets yet not too old that they became easily tired of their existence. We always were a multi-cat household and over the years other cats were adopted into our home, much to the dislike of these two disgruntled princesses.

As Marco got older she clearly left her message to us how she felt by leaving behind as my husband joked "golden honey droplets". Driving us crazy with her indignant behavior and bugging to go outside to get away from the others, we finally relented. Not meant to be an indoor and outdoor cat, it was a decision to either ban her to the basement because she couldn't be trusted, or give her the freedom she craved at the risk of losing her.

We got away with it for about five years until a fateful evening in October 2010. Torturing ourselves with guilt over her "could have been prevented" death, once enough time passed to see things rationally I now realize that she lived her life as she wanted and had a wonderful time with us. She was definitely a favorite and just thinking about her cute antics brings forth tears but in the world of cats she was one of the lucky ones and had a wonderful eight years to do as she pleased.

In a household like ours there will always be someone new at our door who needs our love and care. In life, "It is what it is". Words of wisdom from a dear family member. We love our pets and do the best we can at the time. Being totally responsible for their care we tend to forget that they are individuals too and want to lead their own lives. We can only do so much to keep them safe and healthy.

I do pray a lot and thank God every night when everyone is in the house and safe for another day. Right now we only have one other cat who goes outside. She gets herself so upset when she feels trapped with other cats that it is just too chaotic. I have yet to see her near the road but again she has her own mind. So I just pray for her safety and listen for her at the door.

Love and Loss...The Serenity Prayer

While children are young the pets in the home are usually a stable part of their lives and assumed to always be there upon returning home.
But children grow up and pets grow old.

One of my most rewarding moments as a parent was having the opportunity to witness my two young children stand in a room brimming with ten furball puppies and telling them to pick one. The litter was born January 29, 1998 on Superbowl weekend. We used our wedding anniversary as an excuse to take one of the puppies and on March 8th we loaded up two very excited children and one lucky pup.

These puppies were one of those "mistakes" where a purebred mom accidentally comes into contact with a neighborhood dog. Not being worthy of a papered dog they were free for the taking. The mom was a black lab and the dad a golden retriever. The kids chose one of the long-haired fluff balls with just a smidgeon of white. By the time we got home it was decided her name should be Smudge.



We already had our Yankee who at that time was three years old and very receptive to his little charge. From day one that puppy had an enviable life for any dog. Between the doting cats and the ever present Yankee she wasn't alone for a minute. We never needed little tricks to keep her from whining or prevent destructive behavior from boredom. Housebroken by four months she had the run of the house and sought out her lifelong place by our bed.

With such long thick black fur, summers were hard on Smudge. Using a shearer for horses she got shaved every May. It was like shearing a sheep. Once she got used to the noise she relaxed and reveled in the cool freedom when done. Of course all that black fur turned up in I'm sure countless bird nests throughout the neighborhood. We even found it being used by a nest of mice in an old gourd birdhouse.

A favorite memory was her fondness for our chickens. Yankee was fine too with their presence but Smudge would actually sit next to the babies upon their arrival every spring. I'm sure they were just fascinating to watch and it was warm by the heat lamp, but by the time they were moved out to the barn, Smudge was trusted not to chase or hurt any one of them. A nightly ritual was to tag along when we shut the doors for the night and receive her daily treat of an egg.

A large dog, our battle throughout her lifetime was to try to keep her weight down. At her heaviest she hovered a bit over 100 lbs. We lost her without warning shortly after Thanksgiving in 2008. Possible causes were an undiagnosed tumor or circulatory problems due to "fatty blood". Like every pet owner we tortured ourselves for not being more aware of any warning signals she may have been portraying. Animals are amazing at not outwardly displaying signs of pain. By the age of 11 she was gentle and quiet anyway. I just hope she wasn't suffering and we were clueless.



Still find it hard to fathom we got through losing both our beloved dogs within six months of each other. But we have the comfort of knowing we gave both those dogs the best we could offer and they died knowing they were loved and part of a real family.

Life goes on and if there is any character building in loving and losing a pet it's knowing when to
"accept what is". What is done is done and no matter how many replays we put ourselves through we have to realize "it is what it is". There is good reason why the Serenity Prayer is found within so many religious traditions.






God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference

A Pet's Christmas Wish

The windows are drafty,
My warm perch is now cold,
Bare is the landscape,
Bird's songs long told.

The air is charged, nerves wired and tight,
So much is different, my impulse is flight.

The talk is just fine, of love, peace and hope.
Yet actions speak different, they just seem to cope.

A tree I can't touch, shiny toys not for me.
What is it all for, are we not too family?

Let me know when its over, we'll just do our own thing.
You're too busy to notice, all I hear is ka-ching.

Just give me a few boxes, ribbons and paper to tear.
Spend your money on better things, such as my friends needing care.

I speak for those you do not hear.
I speak for those you do not see.
Behind closed doors, cages out of our sight.
They wait and they hope for an end to their plight.

Let them too seek hope for the New Year.
Let them too enjoy peace and feel secure.
Let them too share love and hold someone dear.

I love you my family, my heart belongs to you,
I thank you sincerely, for all that you do.

Happy Holidays to all!

Attitude, Grace and Gratitude

November is the time of year when we usually think about grace, gratitude and thankfulness. Our list of what we are most thankful for usually begins with home and family.

If our animal friends were to make such a list they probably wouldn't need to prioritize, because all that would be on that list would be a home and a family to call their own.

Most of our pets were unwanted or abandoned throwaways. They usually show up young, scared, hungry and in need of medical care.

 Always leery of bringing a cat of unknown origin into the home and exposing our other cats to disease, we tend to put ourselves in the position to choose either to take on one more, take it to a shelter, or just stay out of it and hope someone else finds it and takes responsibility.The chances being poor for a good outcome with two out of these three, our kitty choir usually grows one more.


All these little souls want in life is to be safe, warm, fed and secure. That is all they need to be content. There is no inner turmoil over the difference between wants and needs, no envy or resentment over what life tends to dish out. No self torment or self-pity over the past or worry about the future. They live in the present and focus on what is going on right now. We would be wise to observe and realize that often time, "it is what it is" in life and so be it.

Animals are a reminder that happiness isn't like a carrot dangling on the end of a rope, always close but a bit out of our reach. The fickle, fleeting emotional roller coaster that comes with any given day's events is certainly not what we should be using as our barometer of whether we say we're happy or not. Flighty feelings should not be the measure of true happiness. Happiness isn't something to be found, it is right here the whole time, within us. We have to remember that we may not be able to change a person or situation, but we can change our attitude towards that person or situation.  By redirecting our attitude, and refocusing negative energy into the positive, we can stop the destructive pattern of "if onlys" that are so emotionally and physically draining. 


Humans often feel the need to delve into areas of philosophical and spiritual studies, seeking the knowledge to figure out what why we are here, what's it all for, and is it all worth it in the end. Animals are blessed with not being bogged down with such mental anguish.
Do you find that the minute you sit down there appears a cat settling in your lap or a dog at your feet, with no where to be but with you?  While you may be tempted to end such moments because your mind is swirling with things to get done on the 'to do' list, take twenty minutes and enjoy that daily moment of silence.  We hear so much about calming the mind and daily meditation of quiet, yet never seem to find the time in our schedules. Allow yourself those shared moments of unconditional love from your furbabies, without thinking it a waste of time. You may not realize it, but our pets are often more in tune with our health than we are and they are letting us know that it is important to just stop once in a while and learn to just "be". Their Golden Rule is not only to take time to "be", but to take time to play and just be silly.


Maybe that is why we have and probably always will have a number of pets. They are a constant reminder in this crazy world's attitude of "I deserve what I want", "I want what I want and I want it now" and being victim to the "never enough syndrome". In reality, do we deserve anything in the grand scheme of things? I remember an important lesson learned at age 16 when it came time to drive a car. Having a driver's license is not our right, but a privilege, and with privilege comes great responsibility.

Thanksgiving is a time to realize how privileged we really are, and it is our responsibility to be aware of those around us who are less fortunate. 
Do so, and it won't take long before we realize the enormous satisfaction in lending a hand to meet the needs of another. This holiday season, reach out to hold a hand, or a paw, and have a better understanding of what the word 'grace' really means.



                                                         
                                                              Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween Felines

October is not only a beautiful month for us humans but I think a favorite of our animal friends as well. Gone is the drowsy heat of sleeping away summer days. Now these feline children of ours are more intent than ever to sneak out the door every time it opens. The air is crisp, scents are carried in the breeze and it is a great time to bother the nervous, scurrying rodent life as they busy themselves in preparation for winter.

Three of our little guys just say Halloween all over.

On the roof is Smuckers, a nervous little girl who isn't one to bother birds and other wildlife, she just loves to be free. It is such a helpless feeling when they get out because it is totally up to them when they come back in. I know the neighbors think I have a screw loose when they hear me at night calling "here puss, puss, puss!" Most times certain cats are probably nearby, but do you think they'll come when called? Believe it or not we do have a few cats that will come at the sound of our voices. We call them our dog cats. Others are most likely pondering what the big deal is, but if we're not right there when they're good and ready to come in, they pound on the door as if their life depended on it.

Here is one of our many rescues we call a "throw-a-way kitty". She was left with a bunch of donated boxes at a local thrift shop. So scared and tiny, it took her months to finally get over that impulse to run whenever someone reached for her. My husband is the exception. I think she imprinted on him since he is the one who actually caught her without scaring her out of her wits like I did.




The real story here is a true Halloween miracle, our black cat, Taylor. He is pictured with his brother, Fender, who both came as a package deal (yes, they had belonged to a musician).
It was only days before Halloween, a few years ago, and we believe Taylor was clipped by a car. My husband just happened to return home probably soon after it happened because he discovered the cat flipping around in our driveway.
Fearing the worst what could he do but bring him inside so at least he wouldn't die alone. I've always been intrigued with the alternative therapy known as homeopathy. Its one of those things that if you hit it right with the correct remedy you are amazed, and wonder if it was just coincidence since it is so hard to really understand why this method of healing works.

It was obvious this cat was probably going to die of shock so I aimed to take care of the most acute problem first. Rescue Remedy is a combination of five Bach flower remedies: Impatience, Clematis, Rock Rose, Cherry Plum and Star of Bethlehem. These remedies are for traumatic stress and terror.
Taylor had classic signs of shock such as glazed eyes, pupils different in dilation, irregular breathing, and bodily shaking. I spent that entire night keeping him swaddled and warm. Four drops of Rescue Remedy was given every fifteen minutes for about two hours until he seemed to calm down and his breathing slowed to a more normal rate. (A bottle of Rescue Remedy should be kept on hand for many an emergency be it people or pets. Giving a dose every 15 minutes en route to either the vet or a doctor can make all the difference when there is fear, panic or possibility of shock.)

By morning he was still with us and much more alert. The main concern now was that his body just sank to the ground. When he tried to walk he dragged himself with the right side of his body. Front and back legs worked but only on that one side. We figured if his back was broken both back legs would have been useless. If he was hit in the head he most likely wouldn't have survived at all.
It was concluded he was probably thrown and suffered a concussion and nerve trauma. So we were advised to give our Taylor the gift of time and see how his body responds as the inflammation decreases. As we often do with our pets, once we know what we are dealing with we take care of our own by utilizing what we know from both conventional medicine and alternative methods.

Another wonderful homeopathic remedy is St. Johnswort or Hypericum. This treatment is recommended for nerve injuries and trauma. We gave him the potency we had which was 30x, four times a day and just watched for change. What we were looking for was the hope that once there was a decrease in inflammation there would be signs of improvement.
Sure enough, within two days he could hold up his head. He tried in earnest to get himself to the litter box where one of us would then hold him up to do his business.
What a relief when he started to show an interest in food. He didn't seem to be in any pain so we made him comfortable and waited.

Within a month he tried to stand on wobbly legs but couldn't hold his weight. Another month and he could walk but stumbled and fell easily. By six months he mastered the coordination to once again be able to jump. That show of perseverance was a great lesson for all of us.

Now a few years later the only residual signs of damage are a slight cock to his head and a watery eye. A bit clumsy he has made himself more endearing than ever.
A creature of habit, every evening he follows us to our bedroom and settles in.
Interesting that it is usually those with special needs who hold such special places in our lives.

Did someone intentionally hit him because he is a black cat and it was Halloween?
We will always wonder. Only Taylor and that driver really know what happened.

The battle of trying to keep these cats indoors is never ending. If a cat wants out, he'll try every which way to hide and then dart between, over, and under our legs as soon as that door opens. One of our houdini cats even knows how to pop out a screen. So another cold season is approaching and our little escape artists are now eager to come in when the warmth of the afternoon turns chilly towards evening. And not surprising, mine aren't the only cats wanting a warm bed to sleep in. There are two new little faces briefly making an appearance before scurrying away in fear.

Fear of what we don't understand

If you think about it, why are so many of the creatures that make us cringe physically unappealing?

Perhaps its the best self-defense nature could have given them. Snakes, bats, spiders, creepy crawler bugs; all considered physically unattractive, so our natural reaction is to avoid touching them.

How many times are we told not to touch a butterfly because if we remove their wing coating they won't be able to fly properly? Or those fuzzy woolly bear moth caterpillars we love to "pet" causing the poor things to recoil in fear. When something is visually beautiful we tend to be drawn closer and want to touch.

In nature too much attention is often a threat to their existence. To really look at the face of an insect, spider or bat is very fascinating. They look like aliens for a good reason.The intent is for them to look like a threat to the onlooker so they are left alone. Why would they want to mess with something as giant in size comparison? They are usually more than glad to turn tail and get away from us. So why do we have the need to crush anything that moves?

Fear of what we don't understand. When we don't understand something we get on the defensive.

According to David Bodanis in his book "Secret House" the typical clean and tidy home still houses many, many spiders. These beneficials prefer to stay hidden in the dark corners of our cabinets and basements and quietly give us a hand in keeping those insects at bay who can do us harm. No one wants visible spider webs on their living room walls but to spray liberally with poisonous insect spray just seems ludicrous.

Same with rat and mouse poison. Why purposely place these threats to our children and pets while killing every garter snake or black (rat) snake you see under your bushes? Snakes only try to look scary when disturbed because they are startled and need some sort of defense. The best way to deal with any frightened creature is to just slowly back away and let it get away from you. What better way to keep those mice from moving into your home once the weather turns cold than to just leave the garter and black snakes do their job. The only time you'll probably ever see them is should they be minding their own business sunning themselves on a warm day. Snakes sense the size of their pray by the heat given off and are no threat to anything too large to eat. These two beneficial snakes pose no threat to humans. Just leave them alone or if in the house have them safely removed to the outdoors.

black or rat snake

garter snake

Further research tells us that snakes are one of our teachers of transformation. According to Clea Kanaan in her book, "Sacred Land", snakes remind us that though life may change the way it looks, it is a coiled spiral of rebirth. Just as the snake sheds its skin, there are times when we must shed and change either spiritually or physically and remove ourselves from comfort zones. Accepting change, awakening creativity and passions is definitely a boost for personal growth.

In the end we finally shed this life altogether.

It's instinctive to swat or jump when we feel something crawling on us or recoil when we walk smack into a spider web. But let's get a grip when it comes to those planned attacks of stepping on every scurrying ant or using bug spray like its only going to harm its intended target. Man or beast we all breathe the same air.

Below are three non-aggressive common spiders around our homes and gardens:
If interested here is a post for more information about some common spiders

grass spider

garden or orb spider

barn spider

"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as important to the child as it is to the caterpillar"
George Miller

Yankee Doodle Noodle

May 18, 2014 had marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of our beloved Yankee.

May 18, 2009 Our last day

Comfort to a new rescue

Our Yankee was one of those dogs who was just at the right place at the right time.
Turned over to the humane society at 8 months his outcome could have so easily turned out differently.

 We came into his world on day eight of his stay and were told he was scheduled to be euthanized the next day due to lack of space.
Probably due to no fault of his own he was supposedly given up because his previous owners hadn't the time for him.

It amazes me how the behavior of a dog is often its death sentence and a relief for the owners to be rid of the "problem" when so many issues could have been avoided with proper guidance.
The definition of discipline is guidance and supervision not punishment. A dog's home and the people in it are his entire world so of course all they want is to please and be loved.

It was obvious from day one with Yankee that he had very inconsistent training. The only thing he was confident about was he knew his name, so we didn't make an attempt to change that and confuse him any further.

Though his paperwork said he was housebroken he obviously was not. So where was he for eight months, tied to a box when no one was home? A quick learner we got through that without too much trouble.

He was what is called damaged goods. You know how when a person talks they sometimes move their hands around? Imagine how sad it was when we realized what was happening below. There was this dog cowering with squinting eyes. Now what was done to him in his short life?! He never really got over that instinctive reaction to sudden arm movements near his face.
I have a feeling he snapped at someone's child and that was the last straw. He couldn't be trusted around other people's children which was so very annoying whenever we had company. He had to be away from the action as well as us and this always resulted in a very sad, distraught dog.

He was around five years old till he finally listened without it being a deal. He came when called and got over that game of running away when we approached him. Maybe it took that long for him to really believe we weren't going to hit him when he did come back.

At the age of three we adopted a puppy from our son's preschool friend. That little dog, Smudge, was the happiest little girl. Yankee adored her and they spent every waking moment together. Dogs are not meant to be alone and it is wonderful when a large part of their lives isn't spent just waiting for their owners to return.

We knew from Yankee's first vet check-up that we may have to deal with joint problems later in life. His one back leg was a bit straighter at the elbow joint than the other one. We managed to keep him at an acceptable weight to prevent undue strain on the joints, however wear and tear on his hip joints from hip dysplasia slowed him down by age ten.

Herbal supplements, massage and finally the drug Procardia kept him going for two more years.
We prayed we wouldn't have to play God and decide when his time with us would end. It was heartbreaking to watch how anxious he would get when he couldn't get up fast enough to get outside and realized he soiled himself in the house. By the end he was in diapers not just at night but all the time, so if I wasn't right there to help him up at least he wasn't laying in a mess.

Our most heartbreaking day was May 18, 2009 when he could no longer hold his weight at all. Moments like that become surreal and we just go through the motions of what has to be done.
Thinking back on the days when Yankee could do backflips against the door and fly across the lawn with agility, it would be selfish on my part to let him live in a body that has become a prison.

Happy times