The Power of One...

Many of you have heard the parable about the starfish on the seashore.  Coming across a young man picking up starfish that had washed up on shore and throwing them back into the sea, a wise man remarked “There are just too many, you can’t save all of them.  Can’t you see that you can’t possibly make a difference?”  At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean.  As it met the water, he said, “I made a difference to that one!”

Each one of us has the capacity to make a difference.  It starts with one...

Our featured cats...

Captain and Tennille -

"Love Will Keep Us Together"





Gulliver's Travels



 Gulliver, this wonderfully affectionate and handsome kitten, is one of the lucky ones. He was part of large colony of cats living behind a home on the Prospect Road. The elderly resident had fed this colony for several years, but now recently widowed and feeling overwhelmed, she sought our help with the situation.

Gulliver is just one of several kittens we found, but he stood out because he appeared to have a nasty case of upper respiratory illness, a common malady in colony cats. He had an eye infection that made it difficult for him to see, and we worried that the condition was so advanced that he would lose his eyesight permanently. Because of a thick nasal discharge, he also had difficulty smelling the tuna and other delectable treats we put out to tempt him into a trap. These conditions, coupled with his obvious lack of energy, made Gulliver an easy prey for predators. Thankfully, he clung close to the backyard shed – he huddled there in a tiny, miserable heap – and the only predator that got him in the end was us. After our efforts to trap him failed, we had surprisingly little difficulty sneaking up on him and corralling him into a carrier.

Since this inauspicious beginning, Gulliver has recovered quickly with the aid of antibiotics and good quality food, and he’s basking in the joys of the many creature comforts and charms of his foster home. His fur reflects this turn of fortune, as it is now luxurious and shiny.

He’s also got some meat on his bones, having put on some solid weight since his capture. He adores those Temptations! Now at about 5 months old, he’s fast becoming a big, strapping fella, busting out all over in good health.

Gulliver has had a great time with the many toys in his foster home and he delights in playing and wrestling with a frisky teenager, Louis (also on our website). In fact, they’ve become quite bonded. Like most colony cats, he’s very comfortable in the company of other cats.

He’s loving and affectionate with humans too, enjoying the petting and sooking he gets on a regular basis. It’s clearly in his nature to be a sweet, mellow and affable little guy.

Now, already neutered, vaccinated, tested for disease and treated for parasites, he's awaiting the next chapter.



Last but not least, Riley

After a frightful ordeal, Riley has fallen into the lap of luxury in our care.  She has managed to insinuate herself into the household, becoming just another one of the creatures that allow me to live with them.  Even though she had a feral beginning, she has made great strides.  She's always underfoot, out and about, but always just tantalizingly out of reach.  I've petted her a few times when she was cornered and couldn't escape, but she's not yet seeking my touch.   She loooooves the other cats in the house, snuggling up to any and all that will allow it.  Still looking for a home...

A Survivor's Tale

Riley had a rough day. 

Scrounging for food, she was picked up in a dumpster and thrown into the back of a compaction garbage truck.  Heaven knows how long she was squished in the truck with little air, but she was eventually dropped unceremoniously onto the sorting floor at the dump.  Staggering to her feet, this kitty then ran headlong into a steel post.  Picking herself up again - disoriented - she tried to make her way to the nearby woods, but she could barely stand up.  She'd walk a few steps, then fall over, lurch back to her feet and try again.  Her rescuer had little difficulty in catching her and putting her into a box for transport to the vet.

We fully expected that Riley would need to be put down.  Although she had no broken bones, she couldn't seem to coordinate her lower limbs.  Her head was shaking as if she had Parkinson's, suggesting a neurological injury.  But - bless her - the vet said "Give her 24 hours" and lo and behold, she rallied.

Riley is a special case - she's feral but her home environment isn't where we picked her up; and we have no idea where she came from originally. Where do we return such a cat? 

We need to find her a home.

Chris' Legacy

Chris, a talented graphic designer, avid cat lover, and faithful friend, bequeathed some money in her will to be used for cats.  To date, this money has gone toward the rescue of 20 cats.

And Chris is still with us.  During a recent bar-b-q fund-raiser, a friend of Chris donated a roll of change that Chris had left behind. And we are using her easel to mount our ca-r-ma sign for each event.   

From your feline friends, thanks Chrissi!

2012 Kickoff!

Meow Movers

Hosted by:
2nd Chance Animal Charity

It's an adoptathon extravaganza

February 11, 2012
10:00AM to 2:30PM

Farrell Hall, Dartmouth, NS

Incoming!

 From our Mailbag....

Dear Pamela,
 
Beau couldn't be better! Anna, Alex, Todd and I just wanted to thank you.  You have given us the greatest gift. Beau is part of our family in a way we could have never imagined. He is a loving, playful, constant companion to our girl cat Belle. They sleep, eat and play together as if they've been together from birth. Beau has brought something special to each of us and we give thanks for him every day. We honestly believe he was sent to us. It's hard to imagine he was once the cat who hid under our beds for nearly the whole first week. He is definitely Daddy's boy. My husband Todd LOVES him and Beau follows him everywhere. Beau plays with the children and lays on each of their beds at night to help tuck them in. He provides constant amusement with his quirkiness.( for instance he tips his water bowl over on the floor before he drinks). I could go on and on!
 
Please be sure to share this with your rescue org. This is a beautiful, happy, healthy animal because of your hard work, compassion and limitless dedication to this wonderful cause.
 
With greatest gratitude,
Karen, Todd, Anna, Alex,Belle and Beau. 

A special gift

ca-r-ma Halifax was delighted and charmed by the generosity and kindness of one little 5-year old girl, who recently donated every penny of the proceeds from her summer lemonade stand to our rescue efforts.  How many of us can say we donated 100% of our income to a cat rescue charity?! 

Her sign says "Roasing money for hurt animals". 

Thank you Emma! The power of one...

Marlowe hanging at the Mall

Look for us at our next mall dates at the ever-generous Halifax Shopping Centre in the New Year.

Our crazy cat ladies!

Be the change you want to see in the world."  Mahatma Ghandi

---

 

Gandhi said, "In a gentle way you can shake the world."

 

Here are some things to think about how to do just that …

 

1. Know that all significant change throughout history has occurred not because of nations, armies, governments and certainly not committees. They happened as a result of the courage and commitment of individuals. People like Joan of Ark, Albert Einstein, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison and Rosa Parks. They might not have done it alone, but they were, without question, the change makers.

 

2. Believe that you have a unique purpose and potential in the world. It's not so much something to create as to be discovered. And it's up to you to discover it. Believe that you can and will make a difference.

 

3. Recognize that everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write, every word you speak-or DON'T speak--counts. Nothing is trivial. The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.

 

4. To be the change you want to see in the world, you don't have to be loud. You don't have to be eloquent. You don't have to be elected. You don't even have to be particularly smart or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed.

 

5. Take personal responsibility. Never think "it's not my job". It's a cop-out to say, "What can I do, I'm only one person." You don't need everyone's cooperation or anyone's permission to make changes. Remember this little gem, "If it's to be, it's up to me."

 

6. Don't get caught up in the how of things. If you're clear on what you want to change and why you want to change it, the how will come. Many significant things have been left undone because someone let the problem solving interfere with the decision-making.

 

7. Don't wait for things to be right in order to begin. Change is messy. Things will never be just right. Follow Teddy Roosevelt's timeless advice, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

 

8. The genesis for change is awareness. We cannot change what we don't acknowledge. Most of the time, we aren't aware of what's wrong or what's not working. We don't see what could be. By becoming more aware, we begin the process of change.

 

9. Take to heart these words from Albert Einstein--arguably one of the smartest change masters who ever lived: "All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge."

 

10. In order for things to change, YOU have to change. We can't change others; we can only change ourselves. However, when WE change, it changes everything. And in doing so, we truly can be the change we want to see in the world.

 

RIP - Jarrett...much loved...