Itsy, the last of the woolies

I had the privilege of visiting Itsy in her new home. Just a few days after finding her right family, I saw her happily napping on the couch like she had been there her whole life. It was a long road for the Woolies, but all of them are in a better place.

KO and Stella

A wonderful family saw the beauty of Stella, a sweet, middle-aged cat with a sassy attitude and a lot of personality. This same family is taking Sess, known in New Orleans as KO. KO has been with me for the past few weeks and goes to his new home on Wed., after being neutered.

a busy day!

Yesterday morning the St. Bernard parish officers were arraigned. These "manly men" with weapons who shot dogs were too cowardly to even show up. Letters from every state and around the world accompanied animal activists to the courthouse, where we were present. But the former officers are feeling the heat, and we feel certain jail time is coming!

Why is this so upsetting, when sadly, animals are shot every day? Well, for a couple of reasons. First of all, these were POLICE OFFICERS. The shootings occurred after the people were evacuated, and the police should have been HELPING save the animals, not causing their needless and painful death. There were no 911 calls occupying their time. These worthless bastards are claiming we "don't understand" the situation that was going on. That "these were vicious dogs". BULLSHIT!!! Not only is the videotape clear, THOUSANDS of animal lovers left their families and jobs to rescue animals as soon as the storm hit, and for months after that--myself included. We know exactly what the situation was. I never heard about 1 person getting injured by a loose dog. These were people's pets roaming the streets, not rabid vicious pit bulls.

Speak up and be heard! Write a letter to the judge presiding over the case, and email it to us. We'll make sure your voice counts!

Nuzzling my face, with his snotty nose and runny eyes, is Sweet Sess. Despite how icky he feels he is still the most loving kitten I've ever seen. Sess is a product of the New Orleans disaster, and the reason we work so hard to spay/neuter and pull animals off the streets. One of our volunteers is there to continue the work and hopefully bring back more babies. And I told him specifically to look where I found Cuddles. Because if Cuddles has 10 brothers and sisters even half as aweesome as he.........well!! We'd just have to make room for them, wouldn't we??!!!!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

I've lived in Grand Rapids my whole life, and I swear it has never been so cold!! I put a tray of ice cubes in the freezer, and 1 outside, to see who would win! Last night I had terrible nightmares about freezing cold cats. I hope they are in their winter shelters and warm. And for those who don't have winter shelters..............I can only pray.

PLEASE HELP!!! Winter shelters can be made from styrofoam coolers. We have a never-ending need for them. Please donate to keep the homeless babies warm! It will take all of us to make a better life for the MILLIONS of them that need us!

Crazy for cats

Only for cats would I go out in a blizzard. And several calls came in today. Now that it is freezing people are calling about the cats they've known about for months.

They wait until the cats are in immediate danger, and it often puts the people in danger too! IF YOU CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THE CATS YOU ARE AWARE OF TO CALL ME WHEN THEY ARE IN DANGER, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THAT MOMENT HAPPENS!!! I can not stress this enough! Care enough to pick up the phone and get them spayed/neutered, and get them on a waiting list at a no-kill shelter. Low-cost options are available in our community! Visit www.csnip.org for more information.

Home Sweet Home

I’ve lived in Grand Rapids my whole life, though I’ve traveled around the world. I’ve been everywhere from Fiji to Luxembourg. I’ve loved the places I’ve gone but never did I want to live in any of them. And I was never able to leave G.R. for more than 2 months at a time. I shortened trips and cancelled plans due to homesickness, and finally accepted that this would always be home and I would never be able to leave.

Then I met Jeni and Tammy on my trips to New Orleans. They live in Raceland, about an hour away, which was a safe place to come home at night when N.O. was uninhabitable. I’ve spent so much time with them that the standing joke is: We invited Amy to stay, but we didn’t mean forever!!

Leaving there sucks, because it has become my 2nd home. When I hugged Tammy goodbye, she didn’t even say goodbye. She said, “When you coming back?” I told her next week, which sounded good to both of us. I spent last Thanksgiving and this New Year’s with them.

I know New Orleans and the entire St. Bernard Parish better than most lifelong residents. I know which areas are up and running, and which are untouched. I know where people are coming back to, and which areas are still abandoned. I know the personal stories of more people there than I do here. I know the demolition schedule, the policy meetings and the rebuilding plans. I don’t need maps and I can give anyone directions to anyplace in the area they want to go. I can tell you the best place to get a haircut and who serves the best gumbo.

Being there is stressful, because of the current state of the animals and the situation. So much is going on that it’s hard to stay one step ahead of the DNR, who is poisoning standing water to prevent westnile and thereby making the water unsafe for animals, and the demo crews who don’t have time or interest in making sure the animals are out ( you can’t see under these houses anyhow).

But it’s HOME, in a way I never thought anyplace else could be………………..

My Volunteers

I haven't talked a lot about my volunteers, but I can't tell you enough just how awesome they are! I have a handful of those dedicated to the care of these cats.

Tiffany- my right hand. I can't believe she not only tolerates all the stuff I give her to do, but laughs her way through it.

Tammy - who despite allergies, cleans litter pans and does laundry around the clock!

Becky - Adoption princess. She runs the place better than I do.

Tim - Tim spends a LOT of time with us, and has managed to tame BUTTERFLY!! Probably the most important thing he has done for us so far. I told Butterfly she was on the road to an outdoor colony, but she and Tim may have changed my mind! Tim leaves us next week to head down to NEW ORLEANS, and continue my work, as well as have the experience of a lifetime. All prayers for his safe and successful journey are welcome!!

Caitlin - Not even in high school, yet she averages 7 hours per week with us! Very helpful and knows what needs to be done without me saying it. And this week she had Bianca purring on her lap!!

Joy- Possibly the sweetest person alive. Always dedicated and was an enormous help with the intake of the Katrina cats.

Marilyn - Not sure how she finds time for us with the HERD of cats at her own house :). I'm surprised SHE doesn't need volunteers. Loves the cats and always leaves me funny notes.

Jenna - The one who sacrifices her Friday nights with us. Just as wonderful and loving as a person could be.

Mandy - Another awesome person. Always chips in for whatever I need help with, and took the initiative to take pictures of the cats so new volunteers could keep track of who is who!

Katy - Katy joined the Peace Corps, but before she did she spent TONS of time cuddling and helping out with the cats.

Hazel - Spent all her Sunday nights with us for I don't know how long. THANK YOU!!