Conference misery::feline_v1

    First of all, let me state how wonderful it is of you to look out
    for this stray kitty!  You deserve a medal.
    
    Unfortunately, I know of no such organization that would help pay
    for this little guy's surgery.  I've rescued a lot of strays and
    always had to pay for the veterinary expenses out of my own pocket
    (with the exception of a few wonderful feliners who made significant
    contributions).  But that doesn't mean that nothing exists.  I hope
    another feliner can help out in this area.
    
    I would be more than happy to make a donation to assist with the
    cost if it comes down to that.  Please keep us informed.  And don't
    be shy about asking!
    
    Thanks so much for being there for this kitty.
    
    
    /Roberta
    
    
    

    Its a very compassionate thing you are doing by taking care of this
    little guy.  I don't mean to get off on the deep end but isn't it
    ironic that your other 3 legged kitty has passed on and now you
    have this new one to take care of!  Reincarnation maybe?
    
    Try calling the Humane Society in your local area, maybe they can
    direct you to some funding.  If not, I too am willing to make a
    donation for his care!
    
    Good luck!
    
    
    Jeanne (Cali, Sam, and Sweetie)
    

    You're WONDERFUL!  I'm with Roberta.  I'll be happy to make
    a contribution too.  I don't know as it'll qualify as "significant"
    as we've just contributed money to my folks for $1300 worth of
    surgery on their dog but I figure every bit helps!
      Where are you located?
      Nancy DC

    Count me in on the donations, too.  And, I agree with all the
    previous replies--you ARE wonderful to help this little one out.
    So many would simply ignore him.
    
    Just let us know.
    
    Barbara

Good morning everyone. Your outpouring of warmth and generosity is heartwarming.
I can't express my appreciation too much. So far we have not been able to
find a organization which provides funds. In one respect I guess I can see
their point of view. With a limited amount of funds to hold and place stray
or unwanted animals they concentrate on those that are healthy because
there are so many of them. But that doens't change the way Linda, my wife,
and I feel about this little guy. Other than the leg he appears healthy.

Here is the latest on him. He is to have his surgery today. The leg will
be amputated and he will be kept over night. If there are no other problems
such as running a temp he will be allowed to go home tomorrow (incredible!).
We have a room in our cellar where we can isolate him until he is feeling 
better. The other cat I mentioned that we had that had 3 legs was named Ziggy
and we often called him Zig. With that in mind we have decided to call this
cat Zag. After his surgery I will post an update in here to let you all know
how he is doing. If i hear anything this afternoon I will post it then if not
first thing tomorrow A.M. He is at the Danvers Animal Hospital in Danvers, Ma.

When we pick him up tomorrow we will have to pay the bill. Therefore I will
ask any of you that care to help out in defraying the cost of his surgery to
please send a check to my home address which is:

Thomas MacDonald 
135 Lynn St. 
Peabody, Ma. 01960

Please include a note that tells me your mail stop. I am a camera bug and will
be taking pictures of him when he comes home and as he progresses. If you care
enough to help out in this matter I would at least like to send you a picture
of him along with the thanks and appreciation of Zag, Linda, and I. When I put 
a note in here I did not expect people to donate. It was my hope that someone 
knew of a organization that helped with this type of case. Your genrosity, 
caring, and compassion have touched us deeply.

Tom

    
    
    I too would like to applaude your compassion!!
    
    Let us know how the little guy recouperates..
    
    F.

    The check's in the mail.  God calls us to take care of His creatures
    and I'm only too glad to help out!
    
    Funny how the wounded, pregnant, and otherwise unfortunate animals
    manage to find their way to the 'right home'.  Bless you!!
    
    Mary

    Thomas - My donation will be on the way early next week.
    (Unfortunately, this last week of the month is a bummer with the mortgage
    due, etc.)
    
    Hooray for Zag!
    
    And I think the idea of pictures is a great one!!
    
    
    /Roberta
    
    
    

    
    
         AAAhhhh  even though times are tough I will gladly send you
    a little help :^)....
    
         After all I have a 3 legged cat myself it would only be right!!!!
    
         You are WONDERDFUL!!!!!!!
    
                                            kim and 3-way
    
    

    
    
    I ditto .9
    
    Except for the three legged cat..
    
    F.

    God bless.  I think you and your wife are great.  The check is in
    the mail.  Let us know about his progress and if we can help in
    any other way.

    Writing mine right now.  Posting this afternoon.  
    
    Thank God for people like you.
    
    My daughter is currently helping a stray that gave birth to 3 kittens
    in her bathroom.
    
    If there were more people like the Feliners, there would be less
    strays needing help.
    
    Sandi (mom to Lightning, DejaVu & Thunder)
          (foster-great-grandmom to Patches, Velvet & Little Grey)
    
    

    In memory of our ancient (15 yrs) Ada who got out of the house when
    the wife was in the hospital 3 wweks ago and has not returned, our
    check is in the mail too.  Bless people like you!
    
    Chuck

    Things be a bit tight right now with Ninny and all, but I'll
    send something along next week.
    
    Mary-Michael

The surgery has been completed and went well. He is just waking up now
from the operation. The vet said that if I call tomorrow after 10:00
I will be able to get another update. Unless there are any complications
he will go home tomorrow night.

Tom

    YIPEE!!  Let's hear it for Zag (AND Tom!).  I'm glad all is well...
    
    Mary
    

My check will go in the mail tomorrow morning....Take care of Zag and keep
him away from the roads...

			Good luck to you all,


			D (mom and aunt to Hannah, Nick, Sam, and Tabby)

    My check is also in the mail.  
      Give Zag & Co a pat for me
    
      Nancy DC
    

Good news on Zag! He is doing fine and will be going home after work
today. The vet said he is recovering nicely and he seems to be quite
friendly. I'll put another update in early next week to let you all
know how he is doing in his new home and with his recovery. 

Tom and Linda and (of course Zag)

Hello everyone. Zag is home with us and is doing quite well. He is eating
normally and seems to be getting around with no problems. He is still 
isolated in a seperate room. We will continue that for a few more days.
He takes his medicine like a real good kitty though and is starting to 
trust the kids and I.

He is real friendly when we go to visit him in "his room". Later in the 
week I will give you another progress update. 

Tom

    
    
    Yaaay!
    
    He's probably getting friendlier as the pain gets less..  ?
    
    Good for you!
    
    F.

    
    Three cheers for you and Zag!!! You may have already answered this,
    but which leg did Zag loose?  We are happy to contribute to his
    vet fund, Panther and Spot told me they would gladly give up their
    yearly visit for the benefit of Zag!!!  (No such luck girls, the
    appointment is made, no getting out of it!!!)
    
    feline encouraged,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    

Thank you to Sue in .22 for pointing out an oversight on my part. Zag
lost his right rear leg. The other 3 legged cat we had (Zig) was missing
his front leg on the same side. I have been wondering which will be more 
difficult for the Cat to adjust to missing. My feeling is the back legs 
are more difficult to do without because of jumping but so far ths guy seems
to be adjusting quite well and he certainly has a good appetite. Does 
anyone have any thoughts, knowledge or advice on this?

Thank you to all who have sent checks. Your support in helping to pay
for Zag's surgery and your caring and encouragement have been very maningful
and appreciated by Linda and I and Zag wishes to extend his thank you for
caring. I have given him a few days to start to adjust to his new situation
and family but will submit him to picture taking in the next few days! I have
the addresses of all who have sent them and will be sending you pictures 
next week.

I can't overstate how much your caring has meant to us. When Ziggy lost his 
leg I had not yet met my wife. She was the only one who felt she should have
the surgery for him. All her friends, neighbors, and relatives told her she
was crazy to "do that to the poor cat". While she was unwavering in her 
decision I know it bothered her to seemingly have everyone against her. Your
support and encouragment has meant so much to both of us. 

All out animals mean so much to us and Zag will always be special. This is the
second marriage for both of us and we have 4 children from our prior marriages
that all live with us. When we got married we had 3 cats between the two of us
plus one that lived under my wife's porch ( he would not come in the house and
would only let Linda and eventually me near him). In late '87 we adopted a 4th
cat. Last year all 3 of the original cats died. Frosty had health problems and 
was unable to control his bodily functions, Marvin (named for the Marvin Hagler
because as a kitten he was a real "tough guy". He was 10 weeks old and picking 
on Frosty, my adult cat. He really turned out to be a Lover not a fighter) died
in July after 7 operations while fightiong cancer for 2 years. I could do a 
whole note on this Cat and will if there is interest. The day he died was 2 days
before we left on vacation. The day we returned from vacation Ziggy, the 3 
legged cat, died of a blood clot which blocked the circulation to his rear 
legs. We have since adopted Maxine who is 1 year old today (adorable), Amanda
who is a double pawed grey tabby cat and is about 3, Alex who is also a grey 
tabby is 4, and Pumpkin who is a beautiful Orange and White with big eyes is
3. The senior member of our Feline group is Garfield who is a 16 lb Orange
and White cat. The people we got him from took him in as a stray but the vet
estimates he is now about 4. In addition we have 2 dogs, a Labrador mix who is
4, and a Greyhound we just adopted in February who "didn't run fast enough".
For this "crime" he was 2 days away from Execution when rescued by Greyhound
Pets of America. He is 2 years old and is a wonderful pet. This guy literally
had to learn how to live in a domestic enviroment, in some ways he was a 
puppy. I'll stop here because I'm getting off on a tangent but suffice to 
say I consider treatment of Greyhounds as racing dogs to be animal cruelty.

I will update Zag's condition later in the week. 

Tom

    Another check is in the mail.
    
    	-Nancy

    ....and yet another donation is on it's way.
    
    P. 
    

    
    Dear tom and linda,
    
    Re: will the loss of a back leg will be more traumatic than the
    loss of a front leg.
    
    I've worked for vet's and have my Associates Degree in Animal Science
    Veterinary Technology.  I've seen a lot of three legged animals
    and it doesn't seem to make much difference.  Animals have an amazing
    capacity to accept what ever happens to them and to adapt easily
    and happily as long as they have humans to love and support them
    in their trials.  I've seen it over and over again, the love and
    help of humans will make a difference every time.  Those animals
    that got abandoned or who's owners felt repulsed by their "damaged"
    pets had a much harded time adjusting than those who's humans were
    more understanding.  
    
    Bless you and your family for saving a life!!
    
    Hope Zag is feline better,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    

    How lucky you are to have all these wonderful animals.  Please do tell us
    about Marvin if you are up to it.
    

                   <<< NOTES$:[NOTES$LIBRARY]FELINE.NOTE;1 >>>
                               -< Meower Power >-
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Note 2404.27                     Strayed Too Far                        27 of 28
FSHQA2::RWAXMAN "A Cat Makes a Purrfect Friend"       0 lines   2-MAY-1989 11:41
                           -< Add mine to the list >-
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    Tom - I mailed my check to your home yesterday.
    
    
    /Roberta
    

    update to previous vaxmail........be the lookout for a check.
    How I would love to have many animals....but one member of the
    family thinks "one" is just fine.  Since the little guy we have
    is such a delight (and well behaved..for a curious cat), I smother
    this one with much love.  
    
    Our best to you and the kids, (2 legged, 3 legged, and 4 legged
    variety).
    
    Karen (and Jasper)
    

The picture taking session was last night for Zag. He also met the Dogs 
for the first time. All in all an exciting night for a recovering kitty.
He is doing very well. Pictures will be sent our next week.

Zag says Hi to all his Digital friends.

Tom

Hello everyone. Zag had his stitches out last night and the Dr. said he is
doing fine. He forsees no problems for him. He seems to be compensating
well and the Dr. expects his remaining rear leg will become quite strong
to help compenasate even more. Zag is able to jump up and down to/from
something at the level of a couch or window sill (That way he can get in
some Bird-Watching time). He is a wonderful pet. He is very friendly and 
just loves attention.

Tom

    
    
         just wanted to let you know that even though i'm late (thank
    god for big overtime checks :^) it's going in the mail tomorrow
    morning.  i'm sure you've already paid your bill but i'm sure that
    bill bit into other parts of your budget.  i'm glad to hear how
    well zag is doing :^).  
    
                                                       kim

    Count me in too... I'll have a check in the mail for you this
    weekend (just catching up to this note - I've been busy).
    
    I guess it's my way of repaying some of the other feliners who
    contributed to Mocha's care before I adopted her last December!
    
    take care,
    Pam

Zag is doing very well. He seems to be adjusting to his handicap quite well.
One thing he has to learn though is he can't jump quite as far or as high
yet as he used to. Maybe in time as his remainging rear leg gains strength 
to compensate for the missing leg. He is feeling fine though and has become
quite playful. He has been friendly from the start and loves attention. 

Tom

    Tom, appreciate both cards we have received keeping updated on Zag's
    progress, but WHERE ARE THE PICTURES!!!!!
    
    Best wishes, Chuck
    

I apolagize to all for the delay in getting the pictures out. They
will be out this week.

Tom

    OH GOODIE GOODIE GOODIE GOODIE GOODIE GOODIE GOODIE GOODIE GOODIE!!!!
    
      Nancy DC
    

    I know it's been a long time since this note has been written it, but
    reading all of this has brought back some WONDERFUL memories of my
    family's cat ... Fluffy!  She was a beautiful long-haired black cat
    that got out of the house one day and didn't return for almost two
    weeks.  We had accepted that she was lost for good, when one day she
    turned up on our front door step!  
    
    She had gotten her right rear foot caught in one of those DAMN leg traps 
    and must have been rescued by someone.  She appeared to have been fed 
    during the time she was gone 'cause she wasn't skinny and sickly.  The
    only thing wrong with her was her foot.  It was swollen to the size of
    a baseball!  We immediately rushed her to the vet and he had to
    amputate the leg. (gangreen) (sp?)
    
    She did just great when she came home.  She adjusted to the missing leg
    almost immediately.  This beautiful cat lived for another 10 years!
    
    I still miss her!
    
    Signed, 
    
    Kelley & Underfoot & Jellybean