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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

4515.0. ""I FEEL GOOD - I KNEW THAT I WOULD!!"" by SANFAN::FOSSATJU () Tue Apr 02 1991 15:47

    Well, finally after almost 4 years, the last feral in the garden has
    been captured - we finally got Stitch's mom this morning.  This
    evasive, cunning, elusive lady (did I say lady) has been driving us
    crazy for the better part of 3-1/2 years.  We tried every possible
    means to capture her.  During this time she's been having 2 to 3
    litters a year, all of which have been placed - we managed to catch the
    tom 2 months ago and have him nutured - but she still ran wild.
    
    Well, I guess the hunger finally got to her - collectively we decided
    not to feed her (this was really hard but she is really stubborn) and
    early this morning I got a call to come down to the gardens.  Well,
    there was Gordon with a can of cat food in his hand and he seemed to
    think that she was just about ready to give in.  We walked over to the
    benches and put the food down on a paper plate and then distanced
    ourselves a bit.  Out she came, looking thin and tired, slowly walked
    up the food and started to stuff her face.  Gordon put on his heavy
    gloves and walked slowly up to her, she didn't flinch, and he then got
    her by the scruff, placed her in a larger carrier (with the food),
    and closed the door.  He has taken her directly to the vet for
    examination/shots/worming and spaying.
    
    So, as of today, all 15 feral females in the gardens have been taken
    care of + several toms over the years - and boy, does that ever make me
    feel GOOD!!!!!
    
    Giudi
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4515.1Thanks!FRAGLE::PELUSOPAINTS; color your corralTue Apr 02 1991 16:018
    Wow!  congratulations! 
    
    I was starting to get depressed about my project, but knowing others
    have had good luck is a grea tincentive to keep going!
    
    Thanks for the good news!
    
    Michele (& the 20+ soon to be ex-ferals)
4515.2way to go guidi!!!!SANFAN::BALZERMAI am the architect of my life.Tue Apr 02 1991 16:221
    
4515.3POWDML::TAYLORC.Stuart should've married P.Smart!Tue Apr 02 1991 16:476
    YES!!!  Way to go!!!  that's FANTASTIC!!
    
    Congratulations to you!  You certainly are a wonderful person.
    
    Holly and my seven babies
    
4515.4SANFAN::FOSSATJUTue Apr 02 1991 17:1118
    Thanks, but this has been a collective effort involving several people
    over the last 4 years or so.  All together there have been about 5 of
    us working together - some are members of Pets and Pals - who have
    donated time, money and food.  It's a good feeling to know that we
    won't be worrying about where to find her newest nest, kittens in foul
    weather, angry neighbours threatening to throw us out of their back
    yards - this one female did a lot of damage!
    
    Now we just have 4 spayed females who live in the smaller garden -
    and maybe the latest will be able to join them in that peaceful
    surrounding - there is a shelter for them - trees to climb - grass to
    lay in and they are fed every day by one of us.
    
    For all of you with a similar project - don't lose heart, it takes time
    and lots of patience - but when you get that last one taken care of -
    it sure does make it all worth while.
    
    Giudi
4515.5good news!TYGON::WILDEwhy am I not yet a dragon?Tue Apr 02 1991 17:362
bravo to you all!  It is always heartening to hear of a success story like
this.
4515.6Yeah!!!!!!!!!BOOVX2::MANDILETue Apr 02 1991 18:114
    Good job to you all!
    
    Lynne
    
4515.7:-)XNOGOV::LISAGive quiche a chanceWed Apr 03 1991 04:315
    
    Nice work!
    
    Lisa.
    
4515.8WILLEE::MERRITTWed Apr 03 1991 09:2113
    You should feel WONDERFUL!   That's really great what you guys
    did!    You even give me more hope in trying to get close to
    the two ferals I have been feeding on my porch.  It does get
    frustrating at times when you make a little progress (like being
    on the same porch with them) but then the next day some jack%$#
    either scared him or abused him and he's back to being petrified.
    I just want to pick him up and hug him.  After three months I am 
    getting closer to atleast one of them...I patted his head and then 
    he ran...now that's progress!   
    
    Job well done....and all the little strays/ferals thank you too!
    
    Sandy
4515.9...I'm right behind ya!BUFFER::WESTONWed Apr 03 1991 09:4714
    Great for you!
    
    I have about 9 to go, just caught one two weeks ago, Kim is helping me
    when she can.  Hope to catch some this week.  I can grab about 5 of the
    ones that are left.  I have one, prego.  I really need to get her! 
    She, like your older ones, have been putting out litters for years!
    
    I have heart and won't quite till they are all captured.  I will feel
    great for them, to be in a shelter and some/all will be adopted.
    
    Carol
                  Scruffy and the Dudley Road Gang
    
    
4515.10SANFAN::FOSSATJUWed Apr 03 1991 13:0619
    When you get to the point where they let you pet them - then it's just
    about show time.  It takes time and it is soooo frustrating - but what
    worked best for us was to get the real wild ones to the point of
    petting and then start cutting back on the food slowly until we didn't
    feed for quite a few days - hunger wins out and they get into the
    eating so much that they don't mind the petting and that's when we grab
    them and put them in a carrier.  It works better this way if there are
    two of you.
    
    With this last one - whewwww - she avoided everything - no matter how
    hungry she woudln't go near the have-a-heart - I nearly killed myself
    and Gordon with the net (Gordon is 73 years old and not too steady on
    his feet) - Try to get the prego's first - then you don't have to worry
    about kittens and placing them - so you can just concentrate on
    capturing the others.  
    
    Good Luck - I know you'll all be successful!!
    
    Giudi
4515.11CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Thu Apr 04 1991 11:003
    
    That made my day!  Good for you!
    
4515.12She Made It - She's OKSANFAN::FOSSATJUThu Apr 04 1991 13:2010
    I just got a call from Gordon who told me that the kitty is doing fine. 
    She's been checked over and is ok - she's been spayed, vacinated, etc. 
    She'll be kept at the vets for about 4-5 days for observation and rest
    and then we'll return her to the garden - unless she makes a drastic
    change and responds to humanes - but I doubt it - she's a tough one. 
    Now I can say I feel really comfortable about this - as much as a
    nusance as she is/was - she's still StItCh's mom and I'm just happy
    that she's ok.
    
    Giudi
4515.13AIMHI::OFFENThu Apr 04 1991 13:205
    IT MADE MY DAY TOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    
    
4515.14nCSCOA1::MCFARLAND_Dbo knows windows 3.0...?Thu Apr 18 1991 15:167
    giudi...
    
    to you and all the others who are doing so much for these babies--
    bravo!!!
    
    diane, stella & stanley (an ex-stray)