Sunday, April 29, 2007

parakeets have found home


Our two rescue parakeets, Sunny and Sally, were just adopted this morning. They were abandoned by their owner because they were too messy and didn't "tame" fast enough. Their owner already had them stuffed in a small box and was about to just drop them somewhere. Luckily a wonderful person was there to intercede and then found us to help find them a home. Their new Mom has other birds in the family, other parakeets and a senegal parrot. She fully understands that birds are quite messy and take time to become friends with you. I know they'll be well taken care of and have a permanent spot in their new home.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

New Family member!

For anyone that has been to our home, our point of rescue, they would know that we love cats. We have had 4 cats, Motorman, Jade, Harry and Paige. As of yesterday, we now have five :):) Randy is our newest addition. Ray and I adopted Randy from the Cattarougus (in Olean, NY) SPCA which is a no-kill shelter. Randy had been in their shelter and waiting for a home since 2004! And let me tell you Randy is the most handsome, sweetest , playful boy ever, it was love at first sight for me. We weren't looking to adopt another cat but Randy took our hearts he really was meant to be. Yesterday I let Randy roam around the house and investigate and I lavished extra time and attention on the other 4 kitties, I never want them to feel that I think any less of them just because there is someone new. All our cats were adopted and we also adopted them as adults, Randy is close to 4 years old. If anyone one loves to stop by and have Jade ( slim black cat)all over them or Harry (black and white) stick his butt in your face then demand you pet him, now there's Randy he'll be wanting attention too.
Monday was a vet trip day, we took KC, our patagonian conure we have had her for 6 years, she is a family bird. KC hurt herself during one night, she was thrashing around in her cage (night frights) and had injured her wing, underneath near her armpit. She had stitches put in to help it heal, but healing has been slow going because she picks at the area. We thought she may need an E-collar to keep her from picking on it. Dr.T said the wound did look much better and that we should not put the collar on her, it is so stressful for birds. He gave her a different antibiotic to ward off infection and help it heal more. I also took in Sweetie the rabbit for a check -up to make sure she is healthy and well for adoption. She is not pregnant, that is good, there are so many rabbits needing homes. Sure we would have taken excellent care of babies ( I am sure Sweetie would have been a great Momma) and then we'd find them homes at the appropriate time. The sad truth is, is that there is such a large amount of homeless rabbits at shelters and rescues every day that a litter of rabbits only brings that number higher. But if babies are on the way we always help Momma along ( mainly with a great diet, she does all the hard work) and help the babies to adulthood then find their loving homes. Sweetie is perfectly healthy and a gorgeous rabbit according to Dr.T and she is! She is now available for adoption.
Elso and Puglsey the rabbits will be seeing Dr.t also for their check-ups. Any rescues that arrive here, we never push them out the door right away by placing them for adoption the moment they arrive. We want them to calm down, settle in, then see a vet first. It's stressful for them to be moved, especially into a place with so many animals of all different types. This also gives us a chance to evaluate each rescue, their personality and behavior, likes and dislikes. We get to know them so we can help all potential adopters and adopters with information about their new pet. And once someone is on Petfinder to be adopted, they are here or in a foster home until they are adopted, no matter how long that may take.
I have a lot of new pictures in the camera right now, but they aren't uploading into the computer. I don't have any pictures this time :( I promise lots of pictures next time.
Ray and I are going to go have dinner now, then we'll spend the rest of the night cleaning and loving everyone, and making Randy at home, YAY!

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Why would anyone do this?

I would love for anyone to comment on this issue I am about to write about. I have changed the comment settings so that anyone can leave a comment now. I would love to hear every one's opinion.
I was reading through a Reptile's magazine and came across an ad, it is a breeder that sells all types of aquatic turtles. As I read more, I became disturbed when I found out that this person is selling baby turtles that have no eyes and two heads. It seems that the person acquired ( whether by accident or not) these mutations and are now breeding them to make more turtles with the same genetic deformity. And is also asking for more money for these "special" babies. Now, I love and become attached to any pet with special need or deformities, I care for them and love them the same as any other. but any of the pets we have here with a "handicap" became that way by accident or happened to be born that way by accident. I feel strongly that to INTENTIONALLY breed so that the babies come out blind or with two heads just to make a few more bucks is completely wrong. I was so furious and disturbed by the whole thing. I'd let the remaining turtles live out their lives in peace and stop allowing them to breed to make more like themselves. I am sure life isn't easy for a blind or two headed turtle. I am against breeding all together, but this practice actually makes me feel ill. How does everyone else feel about this?

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

the fish are now home


About three months ago we took in 3 goldfish that were left in a bucket ( in freezing winter weather) outside a retail store. The employees informed me that there were already dead fish in the bucket that they nicely already removed from the bucket before I arrived. There were three survivors, 2 black moors and a shubunkin. I had a 30 to 40 gallon pentagon tank already running and established ready for their arrival ( this tank is reserved for any rescues). The black moors had some health problems over the coarse 0f these months but in the end they helaed up nicely and became very vibrant, the shubunkin was the healthiest from day one. I imagine their ordeal outside in the bucket caused some illness in them. I was so afriad I was about to loose them but then they suprised me and bounced back, what strong fish they are.

Now, for the happy part, they have been adopted. Jennifer who has loads of experience with goldfish adopted them on Sunday. The sad part was placing them in a bucket to go home in. We reassured them that it was only for a short period of time and they won't be left outside. Their trip in the bucket took them to their forever home. I'll also be meeting Jennifer's two daughters sometime soon, they are fellow animal lovers.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

The help of fostering


Yesterday, Pinkie went into a foster home , she now has a foster Mommy to care for her while she is up for adoption. Pinkie is the female guinea pig that had a bad case of seborrhea. We are grateful for all the help foster parents give to us. Since we rescue from our home, we quickly run out of room and we do not want to take in too many and spread ourselves too thin. When someone fosters a rescue within their home that frees up space for us in our home so we do not have to turn away another rescue. We applaud all foster parents. And cheers go to Carrie and Dawn who are fostering for us right now :)

Lexi and Lizzie, the two female guinea pigs that arrived earlier this week are still very frightened. Their fear is close to panic, I feel so bad. It is apparent that these girls were not handled much ( at all), may not have been payed much attention too, and may have kept in a room where not much went on around them. i am used to piggies and other pets being scared when they are brought here, they are not used to this house and everything around them. but this is beyond that, they are fearing for their lives! They go into a full blown panic. And I haven't even picked them up or pet or touched them yet and they are still that scared. I won't even attempt to pick them up until weeks from now, they will need lots of time to settle down, calm down. I wish there was some way I could reassure them. They stay in their igloo most of the time, they feel safe inside there.

I took a cute picture of our resident cat, Motorman. All the cats are loving a scratching toy I got for them. And they totally destroyed and disassembled it and this is Motorman playing with a piece of it. motorman is the oldest cat here, he is 11 years old, but he still plays like he is a kitten. Yesterday he was chasing his tail and sliding in and out from underneath the couch. I love him to death, he's my boy.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Neuters, Melody, New arrivals and the Urinator


I have so much news and so much to say,

First off, Anthony went in to see Dr.T today and he had the horrible snip, snip , dreadful, NEUTERING! AH ! Okay, it's not that bad. It ensures he won't be adding to the already large number of rabbits, and it will keep him healthier in the long run. Once spayed or neutered, rabbits won't get the tumors and possibly cancer on those reproductive parts. Anthony was very sleepy when he first got home. But now he is his usual bouncy self and has been diving his head into the food bowl and munching on hay, a good sign that he is on the mend. He was prescribed a medicine to help alleviate the pain, I gave him some already for tonight, he'll get another dose tomorrow.

Melody the female dutch bunny saw Dr.T on Monday. He checked her all over and she passed her health exam with flying colors. She also had her nails trimmed. She is such a sweet girl, she adores attention and being petted. She let me place a harness on her without a fuss and seemed very content wearing it. I'll leave a picture of her in her harness suit, isn't she cute wearing it?

We are still working on her using her litter box continually, she is using it better than she was, but she still has oopsies outside the box. She'll get there.

On a much sadder note, the little grey mouse that was ancient, died today. We were given this mouse well before we started Life Long Tails, which was a year and a half ago. Grey mouse's former owner had him for over a year, and we had him for 2 and a half years. That made grey mouse over 3 and a half years old! Mice normally have a life span of 1 to 2 years. Grey mouse became geriatric, he stopped using his wheel, and couldn't walk up the ramps in his cage, so we formatted his cage to suit his needs. He started walking stiffly, but he kept eating and doing his normal daily activities. I started calling him Mr.Jingles after the mouse that lived on and on in the movie The Green Mile. It's strange that he is gone, it seemed he would aways be with us.

Some newcomers arrived both yesterday and today. Yesterday two female guinea pigs were brought here, Lexi and Lizzie. They are scared, we are keeping things quiet around them, they should relax and feel more at ease soon. Today two lionhead bunnies arrived, male and female bonded pair ( fixed) Elso and Pugsley. These two are gorgeous, stunning, and beyond all cuteness. Note for Karen- Ray and I set up their cage just the way they like it and are used to. They are doing great, eating , drinking , using the litter box ( the used one) and grooming themselves and each other. They didn't even mind Old man Butterscotch coming up to their cage and watching them, they were curious about him. I let Butterscotch out of his cage to stretch out his old joints. I never let bunnies from different groups out at the same time, rabbit fights are like the Tasmanian devil in a whirlwind.

The other day I brought out Satin the black bear hamster and placed her on Ray on the couch. I love bringing out the rescues to socialize them and love them. So I was petting her on Ray and so was he, when suddenly she backed up and let out a pool of pee on him. Ray wasn't thrilled but he wasn't angry or upset either. he just got up and washed off then came back, no big deal. It was my fault for waking her up and not letting her go to the bathroom in her cage before bringing her out. She's never done this before, but I couldn't help but laugh. Ray got it good, ha ha. I know that means my time is coming soon.


Tuesday, April 10, 2007

update on Wilbur

Wilbur is the male guinea pig that arrived with a horrible mite infestation. He was treated with revolution a month ago and has greatly improved, much of his fur that he had lost is coming back in. There is just one area on his back that still itches him and still has scabbing and no fur. Yesterday he received his second dose of revolution so I am hoping that kills the rest of his mite problem and he'll be 100 percent better. Poor, poor Wilbur. He does seem in much better spirits and not as irritated and itchy as he was when he first came to us.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Maple


I almost forgot to say that Maple was adopted on Friday. Maple, a female bunny was found and caught outside. The person who found her couldn't keep her but was desperately looking for a home for her or a shelter or rescue who could find her a great home. That is how Maple came our way. We are assuming that Maple's former owner didn't want her anymore so they dumped her outside ( so sad). After a vet visit, she had ear mites and was treated for that, then we had her spayed. And now, she has a great home, she'll be so happy. She'll never be left outside again.

Easter time

Happy Easter everyone,
I've been spending the morning and the afternoon with the hubby and lounging with the cats. Soon I'll clean some cages. A few rabbit cages need a good clean up, Melody, Envy and Anthony, I'll also snuggle with them and give them time out of their cage to roam and romp. I'll try and get some nice pictures of them while they are out. A fellow LLT board member and friend brought us our 100 pound order of Oxbow Timothy rabbit pellets. I always feel bad that he hauls that heavy food, but I know I'd collapse if I tried to. Thank you Russ!
A few days ago 3 male rats were surrendered to us. I named them Hyde, Kelso and Fez ( love that 70's show). They were brought to us in a cage that was far too small for them. I immediately moved them into a large multi- level cage that was donated to us a while back ( thank you Gino :)) They absolutely love it and I can tell that are so much happier and comfortable. We'll have them checked over by Dr.T real soon and then have them up for adoption. They will need to go to their new home together, they are bonded and great friends to each other.
That's all for now, going to spend some time with the animals, clean them, love them and adore them. then we'll be going to dinner with my family and spending the evening with them. Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

helping the fish

Some of you may already know that I work in a fish department at a fish store. Yesterday someone wanted their water sample tested and proceeded to tell me how he has this large fish that is much too big for his tank and too aggressive. I asked him what kind of fish it is, and he didn't know. But then he went on and told me that it was too large to flush down the toilet so he was going to "throw it out in the garbage." My eyes widened and I was shocked and dismayed. I pleaded with him to not do that and that I'd take the fish in. I worked again today so he brought in the fish. It is a full grown beautiful parrot cichlid that I named chubbs. He'll be placed on Petfinder to find a great home soon. In the meanwhile he has a place in our 75 gallon tank.
Also today a customer was buying new fish for his 10 gallon tank. And he wanted a plecostomus. I told him straight out that this fish would grow way too large for his tank. He then said " I'll just get rid of it at that point." why are fish so badly treated and easily tossed aside and thrown away by people? It's sad and infuriating to me. I care about fish and all animals, when I hear about or am faced with this train of thought and treatment of pets It just hurts me. I guess that is what has lead me into rescuing.

Monday, April 2, 2007

Boomer and Billy Bob


Boomer the boy rabbit has been with us since November of 2006. We had him neutered and he has been searching for his home ever since. Well, last week, his search ended, he was adopted and now he is home. His new Mom fell in love with him as soon as she picked him up and held him. Boomer also has a couple little girls in his home that will love him and adore him too.

Yesterday, Billy Bob the guinea pig arrived here. He's an adorable black and white crested guinea pig. I don't have any pictures of him yet. Billy Bob was making too much noise at night in his former home. he was waking up too many people that did not appreciate his enthusiasm. Once we have him checked over by our vet he'll be adoptable.