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21 May 2013

Real Rescue Dogs Are Talking…

HIYA!! SAVANNAH HERE!!!

Today I have another interview for my series…

Life Changing Interviews With Savannah

My special guest today comes from a well known CAT BLOG…yes…that’s what I said…a Woofie living most quietly on a very populated CAT BLOG.

What?? You say!!…and yes, I agree…this is one very, very special woofie indeed…let me introduce you to my pawsome Real Rescue Dog…

GRETE

APAWS!!! APAWS!!! APAWS!!!

Grete is a proud member of Cory Cat Talks blog…let’s get started…

Savannah: Hiya Grete! I can’t tell you how purrleased I am to be having this woof session with you!

Grete: *wags tail* Hi there Savannah! I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Wanna see my ball? It squeaks! *squeaks ball*

Savannah: MOUSES!! Grete! You are right, that ball really has a great squeekr to it…thanks for sharing that…ummmm…that nice noise…(Savvy takes paws off ears)…must be your new ball…

Thanks so much Grete. Now first, I think readers will want to hear how you came by your name. It is an unusual name, don’tcha think?

Grete: Well, it might be unusual to some, but it is really familiar to me!!

When I was advertised on Petfinder.com, my name was Gracie. That was my name in my previous life. Mom and Dad actually LOVE the name…but it belonged to Mom and Dad’s Guardian Angel Borzoi…the amazing Gracie. Mom and Dad didn’t want to upset me too much so they thought that they should change my name to something not so different. So they kept the GR and came up with Grete.

I love it! It was good to have a fresh new start and a cool new name.

Savannah: Actually, I think it is just purrfect for you too. Now, just to get started, will you share with all of us how you arrived in your furrever home?

Grete: I had a very interesting and confusing start in life. My first home…well; I think that is where I was named Gracie. Anyway, from what my mom was told I was picked up by Animal Control in a county about 30 minutes from where I now live.

When they picked me up, I had a microchip, but I was traced back to an owner who was forced to give me up…they did that in a completely different county than ours…about 45 minutes from where I now live.

This is where it gets really confusing. The county where I was given up originally sent me off to a local rescue group that adopted me out successfully.

But it wasn’t so successful after all since I ended up on the streets once again…no one knows how or why. By the time my Mom and Dad found me on the Animal Control website, through Petfinder.com, I was 22 months old.

I was lucky that Mom was looking at Petfinder on a regular basis. One day, there was my photo and Mom and Dad immediately dashed off to meet me. When they got there I was in a concrete kennel. All the other dogs were barking and jumping up and down, but I just sat there. After they sprung me, we had a meet and greet on the lawn and I immediately took it upon myself to plant a kiss on Mom. It worked! Mom and Dad also asked them if I would be ok with cats and they thought I would.

Next thing I knew is that Mom went in the office and Dad stayed with me outside. After what seemed like forever, they invited me to jump in the car. I hopped right in and I knew this was my lucky day.

Savannah: Oh Cat! Grete, you must have been soooooo excited to busted out of jail and then you got a car ride to your new home…PAWSOME!!

So, how did it go with the cats…aren’t there several over at Cory Cat Talk??? And maybe give a few woofs about any challenges you had to face when you moved into your furrever home? You know, was it hard to show your REAL SELF at first??

Grete: Well, I thought I had it made once I jumped in the car. They took me home and let me come inside the house. They kept me on a leash the whole time. I didn’t understand…but once the door opened I saw all of these kitties!

Whoa! I barked one bark. “HELLO”!

I think it was too much for them because I saw a few of them go vertical…almost hit the ceiling! It was awesome! (snicker, snicker…)

Now, I help Jonesie with her garden and we share jokes together…

I think my biggest challenges in the first couple of weeks were meeting and getting to know my new “pack”…I realized I was now a cat herder. To keep us all safe, Mom and Dad kept me on a leash at all times, even in the house.

Flash forward, and you can see that now we sleep together…that’s me with Cory…

At first I was deemed the perfect dog, but as time passed and I got more comfortable, some of my issues came out. I was deathly afraid of lights like car headlights, flashlight, even sunbeams when they flicker out of control. I was also afraid of sirens and I would howl mournfully every time I heard one. Vacuum cleaners are evil and I run and hide when mom takes it out of its hiding place in the closet.

Savannah: Oh Grete…I don’t think fear of the evil HOOVER is considered a “challenge”…why the humans should know better than to ever use those loud evil machines around any of us furramily. Sheesh…you are not alone in wanting that wicked HOOVER to be dedded!…just sayin’…

Sorry Grete, I interrupted you…keep going…

Grete: heh…heh…no problem Savvy. Glad to know I am not alone in fearing that HOOVER!

So, health wise, I had an intestinal bug and my system was all messed up. That took awhile to get all better. The worst of it was that my Mom was taking me on long walks and she started to run with me. I loved that time together, but it didn’t take too long for Mom and Dad to discover I had pain in my elbows. I was diagnosed with bilateral elbow dysplasia!

Savannah: OH Grete! You just couldn’t catch a break in the beginning, huh?…what happened??

Grete: After my diagnosis with bilateral elbow dysplasia we knew I’d have to get treatment…but one day I was playing with my Dad and I put my paws up….and my paw got caught in his pocket. The next thing I knew I was howling with pain. It was horrible! Dad felt guilty. I knew it was not his fault.

This meant my treatment became an emergency. I was scheduled to have my first surgery on October 1^st 2008.

I had to be on total rest during my recovery and then gradually I could go out in the backyard, on a leash of course.

My second surgery happened in December of that same year.

Did you know that once I was all recovered from my elbow surgeries I thought I was DONE!

But, the biggest surprise of all was when I went into heat! When I was adopted from Animal Control, Mom and Dad were told that I was spayed. Well, I was not! Ha! So, I went in for my spay surgery in April of 2009. I had 3 surgeries in my first year in my new home.

Savannah: Grete, you were so brave having to go through so many surgeries as soon as you got to your furrever home; please tell us about the great progress you made when you started to work with your Mom and Dad to help you become a furramily?

Grete: My progress in getting acclimated was not easy. I went to basic obedience class when I first arrived, but that was not enough for me. I had issues. Mom and Dad took me for 8 weeks of private lessons with a woman who specializes in German Shepherds.

I was very over reactive to other dogs. I would bark like crazy if one got within 50 feet of me…or more. We practiced a lot…the trainer had 3 German Shepherds so I had to get used to having them walk by me…me walking by them. Me getting used to seeing them when they weren’t where I expected them to be. That helped me a lot.

I also passed the test at doggie day care so I’m approved to go play with the other dogs there. I really don’t like being anywhere away from my family, but Mom and Dad say it’s better that I have a place I can go when needed.

Savannah: Grete, your rescue is so impawtant for others to learn from. Of course, we adult shelter rescues sometimes have challenges that we cannot tell our new furrever furramily…we have no “human” voice.

But no matter, we all have so much joy and love to share in our new homes.

So I promise, this is my last question; can you offer any advice to our readers to help them support their adult rescue dog, or one they may be thinkin’ about bringing into their home, through its recovery process?

Grete: Mom remembers talking to someone who was complaining about an adoption fee for a purebred dog. They were looking for a “free dog”. Ha! There is no such thing.

If you think about it, Mom and Dad adopted me for $100. Yes, a bargain I know! I also came with a certificate for an initial exam, and coupons for doggie stuff.

To be real…you know how much I really cost? Now my mom will tell you I’m priceless…but for those looking to adopt you might as well get full disclosure.

Between all of my doctor visits, surgeries, medication…by elbows cost around $10,000.

My spay surgery was about $450.

My dog training lessons…mom can’t remember, but that was an additional cost of several hundred dollars.

This is on top of all my expected expenses of food, boarding, squeaky balls, licensing…and regular vet care.

I want to let everyone know that there is no such thing as a free dog.

I was VERY lucky that my Mom and Dad were willing to do whatever was necessary to take care of me. It could have easily been curtains for me if the people at animal control figured this out before my Mom and Dad sprung me from that awful concrete kennel.

I’m a lucky dog.

Also, with all of my rescue issues, with love and patience, I’m much better about all my fears. I no longer howl when I hear a siren. I still don’t like the vacuum cleaner but I know it will not harm me.

I whine and talk a lot and that has never changed. It never will. It’s who I am.

Savannah: (Savvy reaches over to Grete and gives her a gentle paw pat…)…Oh Grete…you have so much wisdom to share with all of us. I cannot thank you enough for coming to have a few woofs with me.

Anything else you want to add???

Grete: When you adopt a rescue dog, you have to be prepared for all of the suitcases of baggage we may bring along. Be patient…understand that we may need time, veterinary care, obedience lessons. I found my beloved forever humans…

…and I have forgiven them that they did not tell me I was going to live in a cat house.

…Anywho, I still would have said yes!!!

Grete, you are so right about being one lucky woofie!! Give me some high paw pats!! whap, whap, whap!

Pawsome interview!! Thank you so very much.

Well, that’s it for today. Hope you will all hop over to where Grete lives and let her know how much you enjoyed her interview today.

Thank you ever so much for visiting and learning about Grete and her adult dog rescue story.

Paw pats, Savannah

Posted in Savannah's Life Experiences and tagged dog rescue, real rescue stories, shelter rescue cat, trust

07 May 2013

51 Comments

REAL RESCUE CATS ARE TALKING…

HIYA!! SAVANNAH HERE!!!

Today I have another interview for my series…

Life Changing Interviews With Savannah

Now this guest will not be known to lots of you. Mouses! I never knew her before myself. But I was so purrleased when she quietly volunteered to share her rescue story with me. She is shy and a bit timid sometimes around other furriends but I know you will all help me give our most warm welcome to her…

Without any more introduction…

Meet MOOCH!!

APAWS!! APAWS!! APAWS!!

Her furramily has a blog called The Misadventures of Me…they are still working on their Mom to let them blog more often…but the kibble has to be brought home somehow so she needs to keep focused on her new business.

Let’s get started…

Savannah: Hiya Mooch. Thanks lots for stopping by and having a meow with me today. How are you feeling?

Mooch: Hi Savannah – I’m a bit nervous.

Savannah: (reaches paw out to Mooch and gives her a little soft paw pat)…don’t you worry Mooch. All my readers are the nicest furriends and very kind and understanding. You just meow at your own pace.

Mooch: Funny story really–the other set of beans saw me first as I was mooching food off of stray kitteh CoCo’s plate. I was hungry so I chased her off to eat. I guess this is what a mooch is – me!

Savannah: Oh Cat! How do the humans ever come up with these silly words? You were just makin’ sure you got some noms…what’s the big deal??

Anywho, we would all like to hear about how you came to your furrever home. Could you give us some meows about that?

Mooch: Four years ago, I was homeless; I dun remember how I got that way. My blonde lady mom would feed the stray kittehs. I would come and eat when she would put food out.

Then one day, I was suddenly scooped up while I was outside, I didn’t mind so much as it was really cold and snowy. When I first came indoors, I ran to da dark area, the blonde lady mom calls it the basement. She would come to visit several times a day, to feed me and spend time wif me.

I know that at one time I was loved acuz I had a lady-ectomy already and I liked peoples but was a bit shy. The blonde lady mom thinks I am about 12 years old but I dun know really. So I was probably 8 years old when I first came to her house looking for foods.

Savannah: Oh noes Mooch. How awful to not know where you came from. I don’t know either and wish I did.

What have been the toughest things you have had to change so you can let your blonde lady Mom know you more as your REAL SELF?

Mooch: Well I dun trust jus any peoples. I’m specially ascaird of littler peoples. I tend to be more alone than most of the kittehs here, the blonde lady mom calls me a vampire cat acuz I come out mainly at night.

Mooch in her daytime hidey place

I do love the big guy and the blonde lady mom, I likes to sit and nap wif them at night. I even roll around and flash my belleh at them to touch. I really likes that a lot!

I have trouble getting along wif Shadow and Molly. Dey has been here like furever and they dun really like me. So when they hiss at me I go at them and I usually win. The blonde lady mom says NO to both of us when it happens, sometimes she plays herding kittehs. Herding kittehs is when she guides one of us back to our safe spot with her legs.

I’m still tryin’ to like different peoples but I’m not sure of it. I dun know how to extend myself to them, so I hide; I guess I need to work on dat still.

Savannah: That sounds scary to come to a furrever home with other kittehs who don’t want you to be there. You are very, very brave Mooch.

Can you meow more about ways blonde lady mom and the big guy try to help you get past your fears?

Mooch: I didn’t play much then and it took her a squillion minutes to coax me out from my hiding spot down there. It took like a million days fer me to let her pick me up—dats when she dragged, er, brought me up to the brighter area of the house.

The peoples first fed me in the area I hid in, then they moved it further away so I had to come out. I was coming out acuz I had to find the litter box somehow, ya know? I surprised them though; I knew all along where the box was yoo see, I’m smart like that!

I trust the big guy a lot now; he can pick me up and roll me around the bed like a puppy he said. I just like that he loves me a lot so I show him my belleh and meow at him.

I has been asked if I was a clean kitty when the blonde lady mom found me. Well, I really wasn’t acuz being outside in all, yoo has to find a place to sleep, which may be in the dirt. My furs was covered with dirt but the blonde lady mom said it started to shine after I came in to the bright part of da house.

While I was in the basement I was really nervous so my coat had white flakes everywhere, I couldnt help it!

I has heard a lot about a ptu and v-e-t person from Toot, my blind sisfur kitty but I’m sure I don’t want to go. The blonde lady mom has promised that she won’t take me as long as I stay healthy.

I’m just so nervous when I’m picked up or in a closed in space that it would do me more harm than good at this point to bring me there it was told to her

Savannah:..Oh Cat Mooch! You really had a tough time living out in the cold like that. And then to be so scared you stayed in the basement for like a whole year! I can so relate to that fear thing…I am scared of my own shadow!

Now, can you give us some idea of how much progress you think you have made trying to be more and more of your REAL SELF? Are things different four years after you first hid in the basement?

Mooch: The blonde lady mom says I am a work in progress. I fink she means I needs a bit more help but what the best fing is—they has all accepted me fer who I am and what I do!

I suppose I need to work on coming out more during the day. Oh and being more friendly to the other kittehs. I did sleep next to a foster kitten the other day where I usually hiss and swat at them!

Savannah: oh Mooch! That’s progress for sure! Good for you! Give me a high Paw Pat…(whappity, whap, whap)…YES!

Ok, last question, can you offer any advice to our readers to help them support their adult rescue cat, or one they may be thinkin’ about bringing into their home, through its recovery process?

Mooch: A new person that takes yoo in has to understand that we need our space and time too. We is confused and sad and sometimes so scared we seem angry (but we really aren’t… ya see cats don’t feel ‘anger’…that’s a peep thing) when we are lost/abandoned or left on our own.

We won’t behave like yoo want us to, and we may even hide for a week, two weeks or a year or more. We has to learn to trust yoo as much as yoo has to learn our ways. I found the right place acuz my family accepts me fer who and what I am but I has also learned that they are good fer me. Time and patience and even getting down to my level (like the blonde lady mom did) helped me.

Savannah: Mooch, you have been so very brave to stick around this long and meow with me about your life and how you found your furrever home. This was great!

Any last thought or words of wisdom you want to share?

Mooch: Sometimes learning to love and trust is furry hard on us kittehs and the right person will know how to see yoo through it all!

Mooch & Blonde Lady Mom

A purrfect last comment Mooch! Right on!! We can do anything when our peeps trust US to show them our REAL SELF as much as we can. And like with you Mooch, we may take a really long time to trust them enough to come into their presence and light. Here, let me give you a paw hug…ummmppff!…Thank you so much!

Hope you all enjoyed meeting Mooch. I sure have had a great time getting to know her.

Paw Pats, Savannah

Posted in Savannah's Life Experiences and tagged adopt adult cat, cat recovery, real rescue stories, scared cat, trust

15 Apr 2013

48 Comments

B4TC…I Will Be The Change…

HIYA!! SAVANNAH HERE!!!

I am joining what I hope will be thousands of bloggers who will post today about how each of us can Be The Change For Animals.

My Mom and I want to introduce a rescue organization we are starting to volunteer with–Community Concern For Cats (CC4C).

Because of all the recent ‘demonic’ media representation about how feral cats, and actually cats in general, should be considered a threat to both the world bird population and even human health, we believe we MUST become involved more directly in making sure feral cats have a voice and a chance to live their lives. The cats do not ask to be ‘feral’…but humans have created their existence and in many ways, their plight…

If you have missed the brouhaha created by a misinformed and misguided Audubon Editor At Large, click HERE to read about it as featured on a great blog Vox Felina.

Then there have been dozens of newspaper articles taking off on the even more misinformed media hype about “cats as cold blooded killers”…to quote Mr Dan Harris as he presented this “research” for ABC Evening News with Diane Sawyer. To read about this “research” released by the Smithsonian, click HERE.

Finally, there is the New Zealand businessman who has been promoting killing not only feral cats, but all cats–click HERE to read about this perspective.

So, I want to encourage everyone to help wherever and however they can to help their communities treat the feral cat populations with “humane” intentions…meaning with “kindness, mercy and compassion”…which are assumed traits of “humanity”.

Now, back to Community Concern For Cats (CC4C) in Contra Costa County, California. They are committed to not only feral cat population management and care, but also to helping as many strays as possible find their next truly furrever home. They can be found on Face Book by clicking HERE.

Like so many small private non-profit rescues around the world, CC4C is made up of dedicated volunteers, there is no paid staff…here is what they say about their history..

“Community Concern for Cats (CC4C) is a non-profit 501c3 rescue organization celebrating over 25 years of service to Contra Costa County. We are an all-volunteer organization comprised of members, fosters, and volunteers who work hard to make a positive difference in the lives of the cats we meet, and in helping our communities. We are supported by individual donations, grant writing, and fundraising.

We do not have a shelter or facility of our own, so nearly 100 percent of our adoption fees and donations go towards spay and neuter and the medical treatment of our rescued kitties. Through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), rescue and rehabilitation, we are able to reduce the cat overpopulation and provide needed loving homes for cats that otherwise would be homeless.

The President, Miss Gemma, wrote about how she became involved in CC4C and you can read her story HERE. Miss Gemma and all the volunteers at CC4C ARE THE CHANGE FOR CATS. I am proud my Mom gets to help them sometimes…

…ahhh…well…I don’t like how she smells when she has been helping them…cuz she helps a friend of hers who fosters bottle kittens…this is my Mom feeding feral rescued bottle kittens..

Hey, Let Me Have Some

Really, I do know how to do this

Food Coma

Precious Kitten Life

I may be a runt but I am hungry!

Watch Me Lady!!

Here, Let Me Hold Your Head On

…yeah, I know…they are “SO CUTE”…but seriously…did you see those claws???

I hope I can Be The Change For Animals every day of my life.

Paw Pats, Savannah and Mom Linda

peeEss: PURRlease come by on Tuesday April 16 to read another Life Changing Interview By Savannah…Real Rescue Cats Are Talking…you are NOT gonna want to miss this one!

This is a blog hop for B4TC!

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