Wacky & Why Wednesday

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm
STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT!

Rocky here: I took our blog back from my human artist because she's totally WACKED out, racing around here so fast it makes my head spin! I'm going to tell you more about WHY we chose to help the Rescue Farm and show you some more of their photos ... while my artist cooks noodles & turkey & dressing & more food than even I could eat, takes pictures of our fundraiser products, creates more products, and drives an hour away to pick up the latest ferals she rescued after their hoohaectomies, then drives them to the Rescue Farm ... hey, don't forget to feed me!!

I had to put down my paw about these ferals; I could see from the look in my human's eyes that she wanted to hire them as staff, so I had to remind her of my corporate edict: No more staff! This is the mama of the last two litters of ferals my silly human rescued, and her last two kittens. No more staff from this mama feral! Here they are at the vet, terrified of humans. (Can't blame them.) But once they escape their police trap prison and see their new home on the 40-acre Rescue Farm and meet their new mom & dad Jodi and Matt, these kitties will be happy campers!
The fact that the Rescue Farm helps us take care of feral kitties in our city is only one of the reasons we want to help them. The fact that they give a good home to cats and dogs that are sick or injured or special-needs is another reason. That they've found loving homes so far this year for more than 700 cats & dogs is another. But a big reason is that they NEED help!

Jodi told my mom, "We all know people don't go into animal rescue for the money. We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit so donations are tax deductible, but not having "humane society" or "animal shelter" in our name makes it hard to get donations. Nearly all our income is from adoption fees. Money is always tight."

Each cat they rescue is spayed/neutered, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and tested for Felv/HIV -- costing $60. Their cat adoption fee is $60. And this doesn't include food, shelter, medications or surgeries.

Jodi says, "We love cats, and there are so many cats euthanized just because there isn't enough room for them in shelters. We'll never stop rescuing kitties, but we can't possibly recoup the money we spend on their care. We rely on dog adoptions to help pay for cat rescue." Each dog costs $100-$200 to prepare for adoption, and their dog adoption fees are $150-$400, which doesn't cover heartworm treatments or vet care for malnourished, ill, or dogs hit by cars, which Jodi sadly says is "thousands upon thousands."

Last year Jodi & Matt spent $120,000 to operate the Rescue Farm. They brought in $104,000. "Didn't quite make it," Jodi said.

But in spite of their financial struggles, I saw Jodi's face light up as she explained, "Don't get me wrong - we love doing rescue; it's something we'll never give up without a fight. Spending each day helping those who give unconditional love is the most amazing feeling in the world. Working with animals who, on their own, would never have survived, is an incredible gift! We try to make life for our babies "like home" here, but our goal is to find dedicated, compassionate adopters to give our animals a true home so we can bring in more whose 'clocks are ticking'."

I saw Jodi shake her head and lament,"You know, we, as a society, live in a throw-away world. We buy something, then when a newer one comes out, we toss the old and buy the new. We do this with computers and cell phones. We do this with cars and furniture and clothes. Why are we doing this with our pets? What kind of people would do this to their pets?"

And that's why I'm so glad my human artists are helping the Rescue Farm ... and why so many of you, my blogging friends, are joining us in helping them. I mean, it's "There but for the grace of God go I." If my mom hadn't rescued all of us when we were tossed out, I wouldn't be here today and neither would my staff. ... Hmm ... maybe I should rethink that "No more staff" policy ....

Update 8:30 p.m. ....

My human artist just got back from taking the fixed ferals (Fixed? They ain't broke!) to their new home at the Rescue Farm ... and she smells like a barnyard! I'm sitting here waiting for my dinner, and she was out there giving treats to the blind horse Jeremiah, and his seeing eye cow Two Percent. Just look at her making that silly awwwww face and feeding those things treats bigger than my head!!

And if that's not bad enough, this Rescue Farm resident, Alice, got in my human artist's Jeep and tried to come back to Artsy Catsy! I saaaid .... "NO MORE STAFF!!"

Two Percent Tuesday

Only 2 more days to the Artsy Catsy

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for

Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm!

Today I'm going to let Jodi tell you in her own words how Jeremiah the horse, and his seeing eye cow, whose name is Two Percent, came to live with Jodi and Matt at the Rescue Farm ....

"In 2001, we heard about a rancher whose wonderful horse, Jeremiah, his companion and riding pal for 9 years, had gone blind from a vaccine reaction. The rancher said he wasn’t going to spend money for 20 more years on a horse that couldn’t “do anything in return.” So, of course, we took Jeremiah.

We doted on him, but he just seemed lonely. We thought it was our lucky day when the police called and asked if we could take a stray horse they found near the highway. She was skin and bone! We named her Lurlene and she and Jeremiah hit it right off. After 3 weeks of vet care, she was a different horse; she was playful and filling out nicely and so happy to be loved! But I woke up one day and went outside to find Lurlene, and a colt, lying dead beside Jeremiah. The vet said she’d been so ill and thin a month earlier, she’d probably already lost the colt, so with no heartbeat they didn’t discover she was pregnant.

The day we found her was Christmas Eve, and Matt & I were so devastated we stayed in like hermits for the whole holiday.

Jeremiah wasn’t himself after losing Lurlene, so we started looking for another horse that needed to be loved. Then came Cody, an 8-month-old male horse who was born with a twisted backbone, and his owners were ready to send him to “sale” (aka slaughter for meat.) We brought Cody to the Rescue Farm and fell in LOVE with him! He was so sweet and loved his treats and basking in the sun.

Because of his defective spine, sometimes he couldn’t get up from lying in the sun and Matt & I would have to get him back on his feet – it often took us hours. After a year, he started having more and more trouble until we were pulling him up every day. One day we tried for hours and hours, but Cody was just done fighting and he passed on. How we mourned our sweet Cody.

We tried and tried to find another special-needs horse, with no luck, and Jeremiah was so lonely. Then in late 2003 our vet called to tell us her neighbor had two newborn calves who needed to be bottle fed because their mother died giving birth. We brought one of them home and named her Two Percent because that was her milk choice.

Two Percent has grown up with Jeremiah and she doesn’t know she’s a cow – she thinks she’s a horse! He immediately fell in love with Two Percent, and she quickly started serving as his “seeing eye cow”! She leads Jeremiah wherever he wants to go, and if Two Percent is led away from him, Jeremiah just panics.

Ironically, we discovered that Two Percent is a hermaphrodite. That means she can’t give milk and can’t have offspring. Hermaphrodite cows, in ranchers’ eyes, can’t “do anything in return” and are killed. If they could see Two Percent with Jeremiah, they would realize what a precious gift she is giving in return for just being loved! And Matt & I have been blessed with two of the greatest big pets anyone could have!"

Only 3 more days to the Artsy Catsy

Thanksgiving-Christmas fundraiser

for

Cat Friends Helping Friends at the Cat Blogosphere

and the Rescue Farm!

Today, I want to tell you a bit more about the Rescue Farm and I think you'll understand why we at Artsy Catsy want to help them continue their work. Much of their rescue effort is directed at saving animals from shelters who are destined to be euthanized; many of them are sick or injured and considered not adoptable. Jodi and Matt's philosophy at the Rescue Farm is every animal is adoptable and deserves to live. If they're unable to find a home for a dog or cat, they keep it themselves and give it a loving home at the Rescue Farm.

Here are a few heartbreaking stories that, thanks to the Rescue Farm, had happy endings:

Kiefer ...
Kiefer is one of more than dozen cats with chlamydia that the Rescue Farm has saved from euthanization at "humane" shelters. Jodi explains, "In cats, this condition causes the eyeball to rupture and is common in cats who end up in shelters and have received no vaccinations. It isn't uncommon for us to have enucleation (removal of eyeballs) performed on kittens from shelters."

Tommy ...

Tommy was only 4 months old when he was brought to a shelter as a stray. The shelter was going to put him down because he was born blind and no one would adopt him. But Matt and Jodi took Tommy from the shelter and found him a home with a child bound to a wheelchair. Jodi says, "They're the best of friends!"

Norton ...

The police brought Norton to the Rescue Farm after he was beaten with a hammer and left to die. After dozens of veterinary visits and an eyeball removal, Norton was adopted and now has a loving home in Carmel, Indiana.


Herbie ...
Herbie was shot by someone, and then nearly euthanized at a shelter. But Matt and Jodi saved him at the last minute and got him the surgery he needed to survive.


Not all the animals at the Rescue Farm came there under such tragic circumstances ... but the fact that Matt and Jodi focus their efforts on such special-needs animals makes them, in my eyes, deserving of all the help they can get! You can see their perfectly healthy cats and dogs up for adoption on the Rescue Farm web site, at their PetFinder site, and at area PetSmart stores ... lots of sweeties like this one:

PiazzaPiazza was dumped at PetSmart one day, but Jodi says, "We couldn't bear the thought of her going to a traditional shelter. She's super cuddly and is great with other cats. She is about 1 year old and has been spayed, vaccinated, wormed, flea-treated and is Felv/FIV negative. She's a stunning little girl with lots & lots of love to share!" (If anykitty out there would like a little sister, just email Jodi. Piazza's adoption fee is $60)

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!

From Sharolyn: Rocky has relinquished our blog to me for the next week so I can announce some exciting activities here at Artsy Catsy. We've been very busy organizing new programs, creating new products … and capturing and finding refuge for the mama of the four feral kittens (here, here and here) we most recently rescued, along with two more of her kits.

Artsy Catsy’s mission is to help raise funds for kitties in need by offering artistic creations by cat lover for cat lovers. We’re pleased to announce two new ways to get those funds into the paws of the cats who most need them:

Cat Friends Helping Friends

We've been working with Robyn at the Cat Blogosphere, and we're excited to announce that, as of today, Artsy Catsy will donate 10% of all sales from our blog to Cat Friends Helping Friends to help blogging cats and families in need!

We hope that over time, as we launch our web site and expand Artsy Catsy, this will evolve into a substantial ongoing donation!

The Rescue Farm

As you know, Rocky has forbidden me from hiring any more cat staff members, so it's been a constant battle to find homes for the cats and kittens that we rescue here at Artsy Catsy. A few months ago I discovered the Rescue Farm, a non-profit no-kill rescue working to end euthanasia of adoptable animals. It's an unbelievably lovely organization run by a couple, Jodi (a former v.e.t. tech) and her husband Matt, who have dedicated their lives to becoming the "Best Friends" of the midwest. I've posted a few photos here, with lots more to come.

Artsy Catsy will donate an additional 10% of our proceeds to help the Rescue Farm with their important work.

Although they don't usually accept animals from the general public, Matt and Jodi gave the feral kittens we recently rescued a loving home on their 40-acre Rescue Farm. And this week they'll be welcoming with open arms the very feral mama of those four kittens, along with two more from her last litter. The Rescue Farm works diligently to arrange adoptions for their rescues, but in the case of ferals, they spay/neuter, give them vet care, and provide them with a loving home on their farm. From January through October of this year alone, Jodi and Matt have found loving homes for more than 650 cats and dogs.

I knew the Rescue Farm was a very special place when I met the blind horse they rescued and its rescued seeing-eye cow! I'll be telling you this special story this week, as I post lots of pictures and information so you can get to know the wonderful people at the Rescue Farm and meet some of their rescued animals. And every Friday we'll be featuring one of their kitties who needs a home!

Exciting New Products for Cat Lovers!

The biggest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday" ) is almost upon us. To quickly start raising funds for the Rescue Farm and the Cat Blogosphere -- and to help you shop for Christmas without getting crushed in mall stampedes -- starting Thanksgiving evening, we're going to feature some great new gifts and Christmas items for all you cat lovers and the cats you love!

So try to visit us lots this next week, even though it's going to be a busy one for all of us! And please accept my apology for so blatantly inviting you to shop, but we'll use one-fifth of everything you spend to help your kitties and friends!

Prize Winners!

I'm finally announcing the "Life of the Party" winners from my human artist's surprise birthday party! It took us days to decide, because there was only one vote - Grr, Midnight & Cocoa voted for Finnegan & Buddy. Therefore, as CEO of this enterprise, I made the decision myself. Hey, I can be arbitrary -- I'm da boss!

It wasn't easy -- we had some seriously frolicking felines at that fest! Donnie, Marie & Casey came early to clean up the spilled cake; The Meezers brought a bag of fev-vers; The Ballacai led us in box wars and tossed catnip confetti all night; Marilyn MonREOW brought tuna puffs; Zippy, Sadie & Speedy brought homegrown nip and came back the morning after to help clean up; Beezer brought flowers; China Cat brought Temptations; and a tipsy Tara sang Happy Birthday to our human artist while Beau moonwalked with a lampshade on his head!

But let me tell you, nobody out-partied these guys, and I hereby proclaim them the Grand Prize winners in our "Life of the Party" Contest. Let's hear a big round of appaws for ....

Finnegan & Buddy!

These are partyin' pussycats! They showed up early in green derbies with shot glasses hung around their necks; made toasts all night long and danced and sang "and it's NO NAY NEFURRR, No nay nefurr nooooo moooore, will I play the wild kittyyyyy, no nefurrr no mooooorrrre" ... They even came back the morning after to finish off the leftovers and clean up the mess! Finny & Bud, we're sending you this grand prize ...

a MeowWow 100% fleece bed, in GREEN to match your derbies:And since nobody voted for the bean Life of the Party, we're sending that prize to Finnegan & Buddy's mombean. It's a kitty charm to hold her sunglasses in her car and she can hang it from the visor or the rear view mirror. This one belongs to my human artist, but I'm making a special one in beads that match Finny & Bud's mombean's car! But wait, there's more! I'm also sending a consolation surprise to another rowdy meower ... Derby the dancin' cat, who jigged all night with a lampshade on his head, then passed out behind the couch and almost got tossed in the trash during the morning after cleanup!

Thanks to everykitty for helping us make our human artist's birthday a catful of fun!

We celebrated my human artist's 60th birthday this week and I, Rocky, turned 72 (in human years) last week. My human's childhood friend sent us this email, and we'd like to share it with all our cat & human friends who worry about growing older .....

13 Reasons Why Aging is a Gift

1) I am now, maybe for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometimes despair over the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. I am often taken aback by that old person who lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

2) I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon, before they experienced the great freedom that comes with aging.

3) I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
4) As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own best friend.
5) I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

6) Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

7) I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

8) I will walk the beach in a swimsuit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will grow older.

9) I know I am sometimes forgetful. But some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

10) Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or when a beloved pet goes over the Rainbow Bridge? But broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

11) As I get older, it is easier to be positive. I care less about what other people think of me. I don't question myself anymore. I've earned the right to be wrong.

12) Being older has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.
13) And I shall eat dessert (and Temptations!) every single day!

Let there be Peace on Earth

and let it begin with me

"If there were to be a universal sound depicting peace, I would surely vote for the purr." ~~ Barbara Diamond

"There are people who reshape the world by force or argument, but the cat just lies there, dozing, and the world quietly reshapes itself ..." ~~ Ivy Dodd

"The cat seldom interferes with other peoples' rights. His intelligence keeps him from doing many of the fool things that complicate life." ~~ Carl van Vechten

"If we treated everyone we meet with the same affection we bestow upon our favorite cat, they, too, would purr." ~~ Martin Buxbaum

"Maybe in the future we should ask presidential candidates where they stand on cats. Better still, we should demand to see the cats these candidates say they have raised, just to make sure we are not having the fur pulled over our eyes." ~~ Gilbert Gude