KITTY RESCUE PART 3

Last night Caesar the dog and I drove in an hour of fog in hopes of rescuing the third and last kitty. We did it! "Blitzen", "lightning" in German, is aptly named because he or she was the hardest catch. But, within thirty minutes, this solid black kitty was in the live trap and on the way to reuniting with the siblings in our lower level.




All three are resting comfortably, eating well, using the litter box. This morning during feeding they came right out in front of me and ate. Eventually I'll just put the food in my lap and they'll have to come and get it.


I thought Blitzen was the leader, turns out it's the runt, smaller than the other two, most talkative, and even approached and smelled my hand. What a cutie!

All in all it cost me a tank of gas, nerves, some time -- and I feel like it was the best thing I've done in 2009. I thank my Lovely Wife, blog friends, and best friend Dave for their support; the posts, calls, texts, and emails really gave me great confidence during the adventure. And Caesar the dog, of course. My buddy is always by my side and he's a rescue dog that rescues!

This holiday month I ask you to please help an animal in need. These kittens are happy now, they're not struggling in the cold, searching for food, dodging cars in a drive-thru. Cats and dogs are domesticated animals not indigenous to this country.

PLEASE help a little friend in need this month, they will appreciate it. Here are some suggestions, every little bit counts!

*Donate dog or cat food to a local animal shelter (they usually prefer basic dry food, tan in color). Call your ASPCA, Humane Society, or other shelter and ask what they are in need of.

*Visit a shelter and walk a pet, give them a good "scratchy", just talk to them.

*Adopt a pet. A dog is a big responsibility, especially if it is a puppy. Cats are very self-sufficient. Please only adopt if you can have the pet inside and have the time and money to care for it.

*Feed a stray. If you know of an area where stray pets gather and need food, please leave some for them. If you do this over time they will befriend you.

*Defend a suffering pet. Is there a person on your street who is not feeding or housing a pet properly? You can make an anonymous call to authorities and they will act. You might be the only voice for this suffering animal, please stand up for their rights!

*Donate, online or in person. Most shelters are in need.

There is a concern about donating to "kill" shelters. Last year this area alone put down 5000 animals because they do not have the room to house them. It's ashame, worse maybe, is the suffering these pets endure in improper environments. The best way to prevent this is through spaying and neutering. If you or a friend have been putting this off, please act this month!

Somewhere out there is a little buddy who wants and appreciates your help. Please don't leave it up to others -- ACT NOW!

PLEASE forward this to a friend, every bit counts! THANKS!

KITTY RESCUE PART 2

So, as described yesterday, three black kitties, maybe ten weeks old, were living around a McDonald's trash dumpster an hour away from here. This morning I headed out with all my cat-trapping gear and faithful rescue dog, Caesar, at my side.

I was nervous on the drive up. I feared seeing three black spots on the highway upon arrival. Not the case, thank god. But, my jitters were more justifified than I knew -- I had just hopped out of the van, searching for the kittens, and low and behold a fat guy, 30's, crewcut, comes up to me. Here it is in script form --

Brian scouts the dumpster area of McD's and a place called "Clock" or something, whose drive-thru is adjacent to all of this. A fat guy approaches, apparently annoyed.

FAT GUY
What are you doing?

BRIAN
(easy-going)
Oh, hi there, seen any kittens running around here?

FAT GUY
(still with his asshole tone)
Yeah, why?

BRIAN
Well, I uhh, we noticed them the other day, looked like they would be run over, so I brought my stuff to catch them and give them a good home and all.

FAT GUY
Cats been here for years, we like them. You're not taking all of them. You need to come back at night anyway.

BRIAN
Well, I uhh... I live far away, drove over an hour to get here--

FAT GUY
No, you need to come back at night, we want the cats here anyway.

BRIAN
Oh yeah, cats are good, they kill the rats.

FAT GUY
(super-wide eyed)
Rats? Oh no, no rats here, we don't have rats.

At which point I just figured out that numb-nuts here is a cook, and I'm implying they have rats, beyond the fact that they are facilitating having wild animals on the property, etc.

I acted as if I was leaving, he went into the back door of the place, and I set up shop. Before I knew it, two black kitties were coming out of the bushes. I got them with the live trap, one at a time, had to string the door because they don't weigh enough to set off the trip plate.

The first one, "Donner" (thunder in German) was not happy at all when I went for the transfer to the kitty carrier. Thank god for thick gloves. This all took place in the back of my van, doors closed, smart move.

The next, "Comet", was more more calm, I figure it's a female. She did fine with the transfer.

And still, we had a third black kitty MIA. He's the smart one, the dodgy and conniving one, too smart for the trap it seems. I waited it out but he went to crash in the bushes, full. I have to wait until he's hungry again to trap him.

So, we headed back, just released the kitties into the basement. Wanted to get them into Caesar's big kennel but they had other plans. Next on the agenda is socializing them enough to get them checked for any diseases.

I'm heading back for the third one tonight or tomorrow.

ATLANTA TRIP & KITTY RESCUE

The weekend was spent traveling to civilization -- Atlanta this time. Malls, bookstores, people -- wow. It didn't even dawn on us that the place would be nuts with Christmas shoppers.

Screenwriting related, the only thing "BORDERS" had was "Screenwriting for Dummies", and I'm beyond that by now, could have used it 100 days ago though, lol.

And, "BLOOMINGDALES" might want to take the security tag off Lovely Wife's cashmere sweater before they bag it and we find out 200 plus miles later. So, that saga will continue, not sure if a local store can undo that tag or what.

But the biggest news -- three kittens, black ones, running around a dumpster at McDonalds at "25" and the toll road, an hour from here. We pulled in for a pit stop and saw this black kitty looking up at us, next to a cinder block wall that encases the trash area. A lady and her five year old daughter, in a PT Cruiser, were chasing the cats around the structure, trying to catch them. On foot, not in the car, lol.

I told them to stop, there's tons of traffic in the area. I also said the lady should call the Humane Society, and she returned with a dummified look and left. Good. So I called Greenville H.S., and of course, they're closed on weekends. Huh? When do people adopt, or need a pet saved? Usually weekends.

We stopped by to check on the cats on the way back, I had left food and water, which was gone of course. Saw all three, left a ton of food, water, a box with a rag in it hidden in the hedges where they frolic.

Tomorrow, Caesar the dog and I will head up with the live trap, wet food, towels, rope -- all my cat-trapping gear and knowledge. I'm confident, but wild cats are smart, even when only eight weeks old. We'll give it our best shot, stay tuned!