December '04 Newsletter
Happy paws yall! Hope everyone is filled with the Christmas spirit & surrounded by those they love.
Security should be on the top of your list this holiday.
1 Please make sure that all outside lights are working. Consider installing motion detector lights--excellent way to deter the unwelcomed.
2 Keep your shubbery trimmed esp around your entrances and windows.
3 Do not leave garage door openers in vehicles in your driveway or (shudder) parked on the street. Quick smash of the window & the uninvited can be in your home before you can say boo!
4 LOCK all doors especially the door leading into the garage. Getting into your garage is easy for most criminals--an unlocked door is their form of an invitation.
5 If you change or install a new alarm code/system, please remember to inform me.
6. This is EXTREMELY important!! Make a copy of your housekey & give to a neighbor, relative or hide in a very safe place. (never under the matt!) Or swap keys with your neighbor--put your key under their mat & theirs under yours!
Recently I had misplaced a client's key & called a locksmith in addition to the Collierville Police.
I had a copy of the client's contract that stated I could be in home PLUS the client was on the CPD Vacation Watch list that stated Critters Pet Sitting had access to the home. When the officer arrived, she repeatedly told the locksmith she didn't feel comfortable giving me a key despite orders from her supervisor that I was on the Vacation Watch List & had permission to be in home. This locksmith is the only company that services this area. He told me never to call him again. I believe this officer discredited my business--this concern was discussed with the officers' supervisors...
Unfortunately, the damage has been done & I don't believe this locksmith will ever make a key to anyone other than the homeowner no matter how much documentation that states otherwise. In this particular case, I found the key & the pets were taken care of in a timely manner.
But if an "act of God" should happen that would prevent me from entering your home or delay my arrival, a key should be given to a neighbor(s) for emergency situations. Storm "Elvis" comes to mind when the roads in Fayette County (where I live) were not cleared for several hours & delayed my breakfast sits til almost lunchtime.
I am a responsible human but not without fault and since Sept 11th, I think we all need to have a backup plan should any emergency arise. Please remember to give a trusted neighbor a key & give me their name, address & phone number.
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Please consider donating to Purrever Ranch on a monthly basis. It costs several hundred dollars a month to feed & care for 28 cats & this does not include Vet & medical expenses. A donation of $25/month would certainly help keep Purrever's doors open. Right now I am in personal debt trying to care for these precious seniors. There are only a few of you wonderful humans that donate monthly. Thank you very much to all that have supported Purrever Ranch. But, if Purrever doesn't start to receive more monthly donations, I may be forced to close the doors & stop my rescue efforts. There are other ways to donate as well. Following are a list of items Purrever needs.
1. Canned Cat Food (Purrever spends over $125/month on wet food alone)
2. Dry Food (Maximum Nutrition Hairball & Senior (sold only at Wal-Mart), any premium dry food--Science Diet, Nutro, etc. Oral care is esp important in senior cats. Friskies Oral Care (sold at Petco) is one of their favorites. Any food containing red dye will be fed to the ferals.
3. Vinegar (White & Apple Cidar) We go thru GALLONS each month. Used to clean & disinfect.
4. BLEACH.
5. Laundry Detergent. The cats blankets & bedding are washed daily to keep cats healthy.
6. Frontline or Advantage (Imagine the cost multiplied by 28!)
7. Cat Beds, Trees, Condos, Bedding (used soft blankets welcomed!) sheets, pillow cases, pillows, bath matts, carpet squares, etc.
8. BUNK BED FRAME (this will give cats more room & give space for scaredy cats to retreat)
9, SCOOPABLE CAT LITTER! There are 18 litter boxes at Purrever!!
10. Stainless steel bowls. (Plastic can never be completely disinfected no matter how much bleach you use. Plastic harbors bacteria.
11. Large Plastic Bins (Rubbermaid type) to store bedding.
12. MONEY. Purrever is in dire need of monetary donations. Elderly cats go to the vet more often & a few need to go for minor problems.
13. Shop at Zazzle & buy from Purrever's gallery. Purrever receives 10% of each item sold. There are shirts, greeting cards & posters updated often. Be sure to click on right side of screen to see how each design looks in a T-shirt, sweat, tank, nighties & INFANT!! (cute!) You can also chose the color of your shirt. Following are a few examples.
If you have any cute pictures of your pets that you would like to donate to Purrever to use for greeting cards, shirts, etc, please send them to me!!
Christmas For A Kitten Nobody Wanted
You may recall a feral kitten I gentled for the shelter named Parkay. His lucky brothers were adopted by the Barbour's and his sister was adopted as well. At one time CAS had over 120 cats & kittens needing homes. Parkay is a very passive kitten & was looked over by friendlier felines. Every day, humans came and adopted other kitties. Nobody wanted Parkay.
For six months, he lived in a cage. No room to exercise his growing muscles. His little body grew more passive and timid. When I gentle these kittens for the shelter, I promise these babies that they will have a happy life with loving humans that will cherish them every day of their lives..
My promise to Parkay had been broken. Until now. Parkay is back at Purrever Ranch. He is having to adjust to life outside a cage. If you want to know where the phrase "acting like a caged animal" came from, I will show you Parkay. But he is adapting well and slowly acting like a kitten. His muscle tone is improving & his spirit seems to soar each & every day.
The little orange kitten nobody wanted is loved and home for Christmas. Want you too consider adopting a homeless animal? Consider giving the gift of life this year. Gift certificates are available at CAS, FOCAS, House of Mews & other loving rescue groups. Purrever discourages giving a live pet for a gift. A certificate ensures that human & pet are well matched & helps reduce surrenders of unwanted pets.
BTW, Parkay had a cage roommate named Donnie. Donnie is an orange teenager as well. Playful & sweet & been at the shelter much too long. Please consider adopting this little boycat. For more info, call CAS 901-457-2670 or visit 603 E South Street, Collierville, TN.
FOCAS has LOTS of adorable pets looking for homes. Please call Lynne Thacker for more information 853-3104.
REMINDER: The offices of Critters Pet Sitting & Purrever Ranch will be closed Jan 3rd thru Jan 6th. For a complete listing of closings, please visit www.gotcats.org/closed.html before making your pet sitting reservations to ensure availability.
Purrever Coat/Sweater Drive!
Babette is a very old Torti Persian that had to be shaved when she was
rescued from wandering the streets. Her hair is taking a long time to
grow back & like most seniors, she gets chilled. If anyone has any
XS or S dog sweaters, t shirts, etc they would like to donate to Babette
& other senior kitties residing at Purrever Ranch, please contact me.
Believe it or not Babette LOVES her quilted vest. It keeps her purry warm!
PURREVER RANCH IS HOME TO A FAMOUS ACTOR!
If you have been to the Germantown Community Theatre, you are familiar with CT the famous cat. CT has been a loving fixture at the theatre for over a decade. This approx 15 yr old mancat has performed in several plays and the decision to find him a home during the winter of his life was a difficult one for all at GCT. CT loves to go outside & was getting into fights with wild animals--the last one nearly took his life.
Being responsible pet owners, the theatre wanted what was best for CT. After going through an interview process to make sure CT would be happy at Purrever Ranch, we decided that CT would indeed be safe & loved at the ranch.
CT is adjusting to life with other cats quite nicely. He loves watching the birds from the screened in porches. It is imperative to CT that everyone know what he is thinking and speaks his meows often. But we suspect there is still a bit of the actor's ego & he simply likes the sound of his own meow... >"<
Purrever Ranch will keep you informed of any upcoming perfomances or appearances CT will be at the Germantown Community Theatre. Until then, he's purrfectly happy being a semi-retired cat.
CT is considering doing some pawgraphs for a Purrever Ranch fundraiser. Details soon!
Feral Alley Update
Rember Darling, my fav feral? Just before her "home" was demolished, I was able to trap, spay & vaccinate her. It is very difficult to rehome a feral to another free roaming existance. Chances are they will try to travel back to their orignal territory. I am having a horrid problem with coyotes & didn't want her to be their dinner. ..
Darling is also home for the holidays, happily at Purrever Ranch. She spends most of her time in the enclosure or front screened in porch. This is an extremely smart feline. In no time at all she learned how to use the cat doors. When it rains or gets too cold, she is inside snuggled up in a blanket in a basket. Darling is a very passive, non aggressive cat that gets along quite pleasantly with all the cats at Purrever Ranch. I'm happily surprised at how well she has adapted!
This is Almond Joy & Mounds, two of a feral
colony that I have deep affection for. Purrever
hopes to TNR (Trap Neuter Release) these cats
to help reduce the endless cycle of feral
reproduction & the spread of disease. With
your help, it can be done. Please visit Purrever's
Donate page to see how you can make a difference!
What's Mew At Purrever Ranch
Currently there are 28 felines (with another two scheduled to arrive from terminally ill human) calling Purrever Ranch home. At the present time, I am not able to accept any more geriatric cats. Donations are alarmingly low. PLEASE consider donating on a monthly basis to keep Purrever Ranch in operation.
