daily dose of dogs (aka cats with your coffee)

A Visit from Tiny Dancer

This won’t be a long post.  But it was so cute I had to share.  You’ve read about the tiny squirrel that came to me for help.  Older Daughter never names the wildlife, but she called this little gal Tiny Dancer.  A while back I told you that Tiny Dancer had moved to an outdoor enclosure.  Recently, she was released – healthy and strong.  And then on two different occasions this past week, she came for a visit.  Older got a picture both times.  SO cute and so nice to know that she is back in the wild where she needs to be. 

 

 

♥♥

These Two

Today I’m going to share a special relationship that exists in my home.  This little post won’t be about the Wishers.  But it’s still about two little rescued souls.  Rolly is one of my dogs; he was found as a tiny puppy on the back of a garbage truck, tied up in a trash bag.  Butterscotch is a kitten who had been thrown from a vehicle as far as we can figure.  Rolly has been here for years.  Butterscotch has only been here a little more than a year and a half.

 

Baby Rolly

 

 

Baby Butterscotch

 

 

For some reason, Butterscotch adopted herself to Rolly when she became one of our own.  It’s an odd relationship.  Rolly canine.  Butterscotch feline.  Rolly is getting up in years.  Butterscotch is very young.  But they are definitely bonded.  And I want to share some pictures with you today because sometimes when I see them together I can hardly stand it – THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OH, these two!  Too cute for words which is why I did it in pictures.

 

Before I close, here are some gifts that Winnie’s Wish received this past week.

 

June – THANK YOU.

 

You all know that Andrea does wonderful things for Winnie’s Wish.  She has her famous auctions, but she also does commission work for anyone who wants one (or many) of her items.  She recently did some commission work (two huge puffy beds for one person and one of her crocheted scarves for someone else).  With the money she made for these items (and with her and Greg’s famous “rounding up”)  Andrea sent these gifts to Winnie’s Wish.

 

 

Andrea – THANK YOU.

 

 

Wildlife Wednesday – Spring Reminder

I wrote about this last Spring.  And now it’s time to remind everybody NOT to “rescue” baby bunnies or fawns unless or until you know the mom is absolutely gone for good.

Please tell your friends and family – DO NOT remove baby bunnies from their nest.  Mom doesn’t show up for many hours at a time, but she WILL show up.  Bunnies need mother’s milk; formula cannot replace mother’s milk for bunnies.  So unless a person KNOWS that the mom rabbit was killed, the babies should be left in the nest if discovered.  Occasionally a wildlife rehabber can keep a baby bunny alive.  But more times than not, they do not survive without mother’s milk. 

 

 

 

Nearly the same situation is true for fawns.  Mom leaves her fawn(s) bedded down while she moves around.  Many people find a fawn and when they don’t see a mom nearby they assume the baby has been abandoned.  There are definitely times when fawns need rescuing, but there are lots and lots of times when concerned folks take these babies from their moms without knowing it.  If you have questions about a situation, contact a local wildlife rehabber.  ALL wildlife babies are better off with their parents.  Of course, there are situations when the mom has been killed and those babies DO need to be taken to a wildlife rehabber.

 

Obviously not fawns, but enjoying some grass RIGHT in my yard the other evening.

 

Happy Spring!

 

 

Spring?

This is how our weekend started here in Southern Illinois.

 

 

The only Wisher who ventured out back to see what I was doing in this Winter weather.

 

The snow was only about an inch, but the wind chill temperature Saturday morning was 7 degrees.  March 11.  When I took note of the date (because of the weather), I realized that March 11^th is my blogoversary.   I started blogging on March 11, 2010.  Long time ago.  So much has changed, and yet the basics have remained the same.  I’m still in love with animals and will do just about anything to save them.

Speaking of saving animals, my attempts to catch Ben - Brother of the Elusive Neo (and elusive himself) have been temporarily suspended.  Last week a very large raccoon found his way into my trap.  Husband discovered him in the middle of the night.  This isn’t the first time my trap was filled with raccoon (although it doesn’t happen very often).   The problem this time is that the raccoon decided not to wait to be released.  While trying to escape the trap he bent the inside workings.   Husband will try to repair my trap, but if it can’t be done I’ll be needing to get a new one.

Things are going well with Neo . . . slowly.  He is less and less afraid of me.   I mentioned that I have been petting him with the sleeve of my heavy coat.  A supporter of Winnie’s Wish, June, read this and sent these.

 

They extend.  You can make them long and then reach in and stroke the feral kitty without sustaining injury (smile).  Neo has not yet let me pet him with this, but he absolutely loves to play with it.  So I attempt to stroke him with the little rake end, and he grabs it and bites it and kind of tosses it around.  It is clearly a playful act he is engaging in.  Very cute.  Eventually I hope he allows me to “pet” him with it, but in the meantime we are enjoying the interaction.

 

 

June - THANK YOU.

 

Here is a wonderful gift from Alyssa who adopted Wisher Bobo.  She reports that he is healthy and happy!  I LOVE updates about Wishers!

 

Alyssa – THANK YOU.

 

I’ll be back tomorrow for a Wildlife Wednesday - a post I've done before and needs to be shared every Spring. 

 

Spring

Well, it’s been hard to think about writing a blog post while Russia invades Ukraine.  Obviously, I write about animals.  And I’ve always felt that even during bad times, it’s OK to write about the little creatures in my care.  It’s nice to focus on an animal being rescued or getting a home or even just doing something cute.  But I’ve really struggled with writing anything at all while the people of Ukraine are fighting for THEIR country. 

There has been no sign of the cat I’ve been trying to trap recently.  I realize I probably wouldn’t even know he exists if not for those paw prints in the snow a few weeks back.   You might remember that Older Daughter did get a glimpse of this cat near our dumpster, and she said he looked just like Neo.  Andrea suggested this guy be named Ben – Brother of Elusive Neo.  I think that sounds like a grand name for this guy.  At least with Spring on the way, life will be a little easier for him until I (hopefully) can get him.  Now all fingers crossed that Ben ends up in my care.

Neo and I continue to make VERY slow progress.  I have been trying to touch him without stressing him too much.  When I’m wearing my heavy coat, I put my arm into his cage and attempt to quietly and calmly pet down his back.  Each and every time I do this, he smacks my arm with a front paw & claw, and he bites my coat.  But this bite cannot be classified as aggressive – he is definitely not trying to do me any damage, but just wants to scare me away I believe.  He is safe and warm and he is now friends with the other two cats who live in his room.  I’d love to have a relationship with Neo someday, but if that never happens it will be OK.  I do have a couple of Wishers I cannot touch and may never be able to.  As long as all of the Wishers, regardless of status, are happy and safe, I will be happy, too.

 

The hope of Spring.

 

See you soon.