myanimalcare

Monday, September 26, 2011

Visiting Karuna

Karuna was a very old female stray dog rescued by Chong in a dying condition. She had been bitten and attacked by a pack of wild dogs and when rescued, could not even move. We thought she was already paralysed.

To cut a very long story short, Karuna was sent for treatment and her medical treatment and spaying was jointly sponsored from our funds and the temple where she was rescued.

Upon discharged, Karuna went back to the temple, but I felt sorry for her being so alone at the temple, so I asked my mother if she would like to foster Karuna.

Mum said ok, so Karuna went to live with my parents in Bukit Rimau.

I visited Karuna yesterday and she has put on weight. Mum says Karuna is so very well-behaved. She doesn't demand much and appears to be so grateful to have a home again (we suspect Karuna is an abandoned pet as she had already been spayed - we opened her up only to find she's been previously spayed).

Karuna doesn't shake when Mum bathes her, but only does so away from Mum so that she won't get wet. She is also quite a guard-dog, she barks when strangers come to the gate.

Mum is happy with her and says she is really good. Karuna is still up for adoption. She is estimated to be about 12 years old. She is arthritic and has a few skin lesions, not your ideal pet, but should anyone out there like to give an old girl a home, please contact me at chankahyein@gmail.com.

We'll get her nails cut this weekend.

Two female cats spayed (Farida's)

Cathy wrote in for her friend, Farida:

My friend, Farida (she sent her other rescue cat, Noah for neutering under Animalcare some months back) managed to finally capture the mother cat who's been giving birth numerous times under her staircase and after keeping her for 2 months (her name is Koko and was pretty feral) to get her used to being touched. She also rescued a kitten (Kiki) around the same time who found it's way to her garden. They are now ready to be spayed so Farida has asked if Animalcare could help again? I have asked her to give a donation back to the fund which she has agreed to do.

As she is working full time, she asked if it's possible to arrange for the spaying this coming Monday, 26 September? The plan is for her to drop them off at my place on Sunday night and I will do the running around then she collects them on Monday evening after work.

So Cathy helped send the two cats, Koko and Kiki, to our panel vet today and both have already been spayed. Cathy collected them back for Farida as she was at work.

The spaying for both is sponsored from our funds. We thank Farida for her RM150 donation towards our fund. And thank you, Cathy, for helping out with everything.

A male cat neutered (Francis Tze)

Francis Tze was one of the very first person I spoke to and who agreed to participate on our One-Street CNRM. On his own, he feeds the stray cats (now community cats) on his street, which coincidentally, is the street I'm moving to at the end of this year.

Every morning, Francis brings kibbles all neatly packed in newspapers. The cats come running when they see him (I witnessed this when I visited the site), he feeds them, and then, he cleans up the place and packs all the food back.

So, today, Francis brought one of the male cats to be neutered at our panel vet. This male cat has a sister, which will be done only on Thursday as I could not get an appointment under such short notice.

The neutering cost is fully sponsored from our funds.

The photo from Francis, on his breakfast rounds.

The cat at the vet's today.

The cat has already been neutered and Francis has collected him.

Meeting Wii...!!

Wii was my rescue....some four years ago.

Wii was rescued together with his sister, Vixey, from a rubbish heap in October 2007. Vixey turned out to be a pygmy kitten (with congenital growth retardation) and I nursed her for two years until she passed away of kidney failure. After Vixey's passing, Wii exiled himself to my back alley and simply refused to come home except for food. He would come home 5-6 times a day whenever he heard me in the kitchen.

Wii was terrified of my alphas (Cow & Bunny) as they would chase him out to the back alley. Wii seemed quite contented living in the alley (and I suspect, in some of the friendly neighbour's houses) but my immediate animal-hating-only-humans-can-live-on-this-earth neighbour started shouting at Wii and throwing things at him. Wii has this tendency to mew a lot whenever he came home (to the kitchen) and this drove the neighbour up the wall. He simply could not stand the sound of any animal. To make matters worse, Wii did enter his house a few times as his kitchen windows were always open. Sigh...I could not stop Wii except to cage him up. But would life be for a cat in a cage, especially when he had been free all his life?

We tried bringing Wii back into the house, but he was so terrified of my alphas, he would run off back into the alley, only to be shouted at and cursed by the animal-hating neighbour. Wii's only friend was Tiger (Tabbies, Inc.). Wii and Tiger would touch noses every morning and whenever Wii came back for food.

I was very worried for Wii's safety, so in August 2010, I asked if Roselin (bless her kind soul) would be willing to adopt Wii. Roselin agreed and Wii went to live with Roselin. It was so sad for me to part with Wii, but it was for Wii's own good and his safety. There's no telling what my animal-hating neighbour might do. Cow & Bunny's territorial nature did not help at all. Sigh...

However, when Wii entered Roselin household, he totally transformed into a big bully and was absolutely hostile to all of Roselin's (then) 16 cats. This totally surprised me as Wii was so timid and gentle while living with me. It just goes to show how a cat's personality can change when the environment changes. Roselin faced a lot of challenges helping Wii adjust.

During this year's Chinese New Year, Roselin found a home for Wii and Wii went to live with his new owner. Wii was treated really well (he wore cat clothes, etc.) and he was the only cat. That was good for Wii. Unfortunately, this new owner travelled overseas a lot, and Wii was passed to friends for fostering.

Roselin was not happy with this arrangement, so she took Wii back and Wii went back to live with Roselin and as before, couldn't get along with her cats again....

This went on until a dog with a character came to live with Roselin. This dog was named John Wayne and for good reasons too. He could not get along with other dogs and was a big bully himself.

Now, Wii could not get along with other cats and John Wayne could not get along with other dogs, BUT, the two got on like a house on fire!

Would you believe that?

So, the two live in Roselin's kitchen and became, in Roselin's words, "Best Friends Forever"! They even lie on each other when they sleep! Roselin, where are the photos??!!!

Anyway, that's the story in a nutshell.

Yesterday, Roselin was worried about some bald spots on Wii - was it mange or hair loss due to fights? Yes, Wii does escape from the kitchen and goes out to fight with Roselin's other cats occasionally.

So I said, bring him to our vet. I'll pay (not AnimalCare, but me). I owe Wii that much, and Roselin too.

So, Wii came to our clinic today.....

Hi Wii....!!!!

It felt so nice holding Wii again.

The last time I visited him was when he "got lost" for a few hours. Roselin called and I rushed down there, but by the time I got there, Wii had already come home. Recently, he "got lost" again, but came back when Roselin opened a can of fish!

That's Roselin with Wii.

The vet said it's probably nothing but just some scratches and battlescars. He applied some povidone iodine on those few spots.

Roselin also brought a newly rescued puppy for a check-up.

I had a good time carrying Wii while the vet examined the puppy. Wii does remember me, I think. He mews loudly whenever I visit him at Roselin's house and nudges and rubs his face on me.

Those are the bald spots on Wii.

Time to go home now, Wii.

Bye now...and be good.

Thank you, Roselin!
(I owe you for many lifetimes for taking such good care of Wii.)

Sunday, September 25, 2011

What have the Blueys been up to?

Let's take a look at their antics today...

Both can lick milk on their own, but Bagheera still wants to be syringe-fed!

The vet says the sooner they get off milk, the better, so I'm weaning them off gradually.

And Bagheera tries everybody's food, too!

Spunk is my middle name.

This is the stage where they will practically play with anything!

And explore very nook and corner.

I thought we had lost Baloo and looked for her everywhere....until we found her sleeping peacefully behind this cupboard!

Even Bagheera got worried and started mewing.

Paper football!

Half-time!

Milk-time!

And they are back in action again...

After the match is over, Baloo attempts to go behind the cupboard again, but I've blocked it this time.

And while my eyes can barely remain open, the two spunky little sisters are wide awake.

Bagheera can finally climb onto Bunny's pink box, so that's a whole new playground for them as well.

But nothing beats being with Uncle Bobby!

Goodnight, folks!

Indy and the Blueys

Ever since Indy came back from the vet's, he seemed to have lost a bit of his confidence. He no longer sleeps on top of the car in the porch. Rather, he prefers to sleep under the neighbour's car.

So, every morning and evening, I've had to go over to the neighbour's to call him back for food and medicine. Sometimes, he just wouldn't budge. Then it is Fussie Cat to the rescue....

This morning's breakfast.

(Indy is missing from the gang)

That's Bunny's food, but he prefers to wait for Bobby and get his share of raw chicken.

And who is the little one in the foreground?

Why, it's the brave and spunky little girl, Bagheera.

That's Baloo.

I think their personality is really showing now. Bagheera is all spunk. Baloo is quieter and more shy. In a way, very well-behaved and has a touch of aristocratic blood, too!