Abandoned Cats Find New Lives

I recently told you about the efforts volunteers at The Marshmallow Foundation made to help abandoned cats in a local trailer park survive the bitterly cold temperatures outside.  We built insulated shelters for them, and one of our volunteers (Connie) brought food and water almost every day, which was kept from freezing with heated dog bowls.  Wet food especially was critical for them, since they desperately needed the calories to survive.  Marshmallow took 5 of them when they could, and pleas were sent statewide for help from rescues.

It's been a bad winter for cats, and shelters are full to the brim everywhere, but Connie kept networking on social media trying to help these cats, while also raising funds for them.  Miracle of miracles, the Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society posted on Facebook that they needed cats for their adoption floor, and did anyone know where they could get some?  Luckily, Connie jumped on that opportunity, and soon made arrangements to pick up as many of the remaining cats she could, added those to the 5 at Marshmallow, and arranged transport.

The manager at the shelter in Mankato fell in love with the cats immediately; they were, as we knew, perfectly tame, and very lovable.  And today someone else fell in love; the first of the trailer park cats was adopted.

Connie is an employee at The Marshmallow Foundation.  The reason why I call her a volunteer is because all of the time she spent building shelters, delivering shelters, feeding cats, buying supplies, transporting, fundraising and networking was on her own time.  The employees there are all like that; its not just a job for them, it's a vocation.  And I think you'll find that at most shelters.

So on Caring Hearts Day, will you consider supporting an organization that can't even raise enough funds to be included in Caring Hearts Day?  You're not just giving money to a charitable organization; you're letting unpaid volunteers know that their work doesn't go unnoticed.  You're giving them the "wind beneath their wings" to try to soar higher and higher to ensure that no homeless, abandoned animal leaves this world without being loved and cared for.

 

Helping Cats Survive Winter

The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes was recently contacted by an owner in a local trailer park.  His part of the park was being shut down, and residents were leaving their cats behind.  He had been feeding nine cats, but was getting desperate.  He was already living without water, food was expensive, and the landlord had told him to get rid of the cats.

The sad reality of shelters throughout the state is that they are full to overflowing.  So we knew we couldn't immediately scoop them up, get them vetted, spayed and neutered and ready for adoption.  But the weather forecast called for -50 wind chill in the next couple of day, so we had to do something.

Volunteers sprung into action, Googling how to build cat shelters and gathering supplies.  7 heavy duty totes with lids were purchased, along with styrofoam sheets for insulation, and probably the most valuable thing; mylar insulation.  You know, the stuff you wrap around water heaters to keep them from freezing.  Mylar is used for emergency blankets to keep warm, reflecting body heat very effectively.

A wonderful volunteer offered her kitchen as a build station.  Here's what we did.

We measured the length, width, and depth of the totes, and cut styrofoam to cover the bottom, sides, and top.  We covered the bottom and top pieces with the mylar, and circled the inside of the tote with more mylar.  First layer was styrofoam, second layer was mylar insulation.  We cut a six inch hold on one side of the tote and corresponding styrofoam and mylar, and covered the rough edges of the hole with duct tape.  We had a bale of straw, which we stuffed inside the tote, between the tote wall and styrofoam, and then filled the inside with lots of straw for the cats to burrow in.  Then they mylar covered styrofoam lid goes on, followed finally by the tote lid.

On location, we put the totes with the hole facing a wall so that it would make it harder for predators to get into.  And to anyone passing by, it just looks like totes lined up, not cat shelters.  Two heated bowls and several gallons of water toted in completed the set-up.  We had some wet cat food, which is very important in the winter since it provides the necessary calories and fat to help them survive.  The cats were climbing into the shelters as soon as we arrived, so we knew we were successful.

In the meantime, we'll continue to hunt for rescue.  Its obvious these were once people's pets; several have collars, and I was able to pick up and cuddle a couple too, before I was forced to seek shelter myself with frostbit fingers and toes.

[caption id="attachment_298" align="alignnone" width="300"] Bottom styrofoam wraped in mylar and 2 end pieces cut[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_300" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Remaining styrofoam pieces added, sides wrapped in mylar[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_303" align="alignleft" width="169"] Top styrofoam wrapped, entrance cut, and tote lid on[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_296" align="aligncenter" width="300"] On site with shelters, food, water, and straw[/caption]

Justice for Millie

Millie is a 14 week old Bluetick Coonhound puppy that was slammed to the floor multiple times into her own feces simply because she went potty inside the house.  Her back leg was broken so badly local vets couldn't fix it.  After being stabilized, she was transported by Marshmallow Foundation volunteers to the University of Minnesota, where she underwent surgery to repair the break.  More volunteers went to transport her back to Detroit Lakes, where she is now resting comfortably in a foster home.

This incident was witnessed, and the police were called.  The alleged perpetrator was arrested, made bond, and has a hearing scheduled for early next week.

Good news, right?  Maybe.  Animal abuse cases are rarely prosecuted, simply because there are often no witnesses, or the witnesses are intimidated by the perpetrator so they don't report it.  And if they are prosecuted, the offenders are given a warning or small fine.  Some states only treat it as a felony if it's the first animal abuse offense.

And here's a statistic that should concern everyone: Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.  

Help us help Millie and ensure that justice is served.

1. Donate to Millie's care here.


2. Call the prosecutor in this case and tell her that animal abuse should not be tolerated in our community.  Her name is Jennifer R.J. Knutson, Assistant Becker County Attorney, at 218-847-6590


3. Contact your local officials and your state legislators and demand that animal cruelty be treated as the serious crime it is.


4. Volunteer for your local animal shelter.  If your heart can't take the daily contact with the animals, volunteer to transport to vet appointments or to other rescues.  Millie wouldn't have gotten to Minneapolis without caring people who were willing to go the extra mile (pun intended).

It starts with one person.  And together, we can change the world, or at least change our community.  For Millie.

 

White and Privileged

I have white privilege.  If I get stopped for speeding, it's likely I'll get a warning.  If I step into a crowded elevator, people won't back away from me, unless I forgot to shower that morning.  If I walk into a liquor store with a hoodie on, no one asks me to put the hood down so the security cameras can see my face.  When I walk down a sidewalk, people won't cross the street to walk on the other side.

When people see me, they don't assume that I'm a troublemaker.  I could have the most vile of views, and yet if I showed up to march in support of my hatred, I'd not only get a permit, when violence arises, people would blame the protesters and not me.

I don't worry about being pulled aside at the airport and being subjected to extra "security" measures.   No one will forcibly drag me from an airplane.  I don't worry about random gunfire killing me in my living room.

White lives have always mattered in a country built around the concept that all people were created equal.  White Christian lives matter even more.

So yes, I am white and I am privileged.  And I am ashamed.  People like Peter Tefft of Fargo do not represent me.  I don't want to make America hate again; we've had too much of that already.  I want to live in a country where my life matters just as much as anyone else.  Anyone else.  No exceptions, period.

 

 

 

Death to Lutherans

Got your attention, didn't I.  After this week's horrific events in Charlottesville, VA, I've been seeing posts on Facebook and Twitter saying that the counter-protesters are as much to blame as the neo-nazis, white supremacists, and fascists in attendance.

Yes, there was a valid permit to march.  And yes, there were counter protesters that fought back physically.  But putting these groups of people in the same box is sickening.

Is it because the protesters were chanting "death to Jews" that you feel that both sides are to blame?  You're not a Jew, you're not African American, or Latino, or Muslim, or any of those things.

So let me ask you this.  What if they chanted "death to Lutherans" and came to Detroit Lakes to spew their hate speech?  If you stood on the beach with your own signs telling the haters to go home, and an anti-Lutheran drove his car into your line of folks, would you still think that both sides were equally to blame?  Because the Lutherans were yelling too, and spitting, and I think I even saw one throw a punch.

The KKK originally thought that Catholics were in the same category as blacks and Jews.  Did you miss that part of history?  Look it up.  Catholics aren't to blame for the cross burnings are they?  What about the lynchings?

And just because you're not one of the groups they hate now doesn't mean you won't be someday.  The nazis hated more than just the Jews.  You know from school history about the 6 million Jews murdered, right?  The Jews were just one of the groups the nazis hated.  Estimates of between 11 and 20 million people were murdered by this "hate group".   Read here for some statistics.

Martin Niemöller was a Protestant pastor that spoke up against the nazis.  He was one of the counter protesters.  He spent the last 7 years of nazi rule in a concentration camp.

Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Why a Dog Park Is Important

I recently read a letter in the the Detroit Lakes paper from a couple that bemoaned the fact that the city was (finally) going to build a dog park.  They didn't like the park near them, and didn't want to drive or walk to the city park so that their kids could play ball.

So let me tell you why a dog park is good - for humans.

1. At dog parks, pets serve as a safe way to meet new people and engage in conversation.  Normally shy, socially awkward  people come to life when talking about their dog.


2. You learn a lot about people based on how they treat their dog and how their dog interacts with people and other dogs.  Kids can learn ways to better train their dog (adults too) simply by interacting with experienced dog owners.


3. Dog parks provide a place for owners to get information about local veterinarians, groomers, shelters, and more.  Let your dog run and play and network!


4. Relationships made at the park are oftentimes extended outside the park.  It's a community of like-minded people, and you might find that you have more in common than being a dog lover.

So the advice I would give to the family opposing the dog park is this. Get a dog.  And bring the whole family for an afternoon at the park.  You might just enjoy yourself!

No Judgement Here

Animal rescue is stressful.  It's full of long days, with joy sprinkled in among the heartbreak.  Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can't save that precious life.  Sometimes you can, but your Facebook feed is full of comments about how everyone else would do it differently.  Or with judgment on the humans that caused the misery to begin with.

Yesterday, a family surrendered a 5 year old dog because he was "sick".  They downplayed the illness, so the shelter thought that it was something simple, like worms perhaps.  The family couldn't afford medical care for Sheba, so they brought her to The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes.

It was soon apparent that Sheba was much more seriously ill.  Large blood clots were coming out of her rear, and she was vomiting.  And the smell was horrendous.

The Marshmallow Foundation is in a rural area, where the closest after hours emergency hospital is in Fargo.  But emergency services are very expensive, and the shelter is barely hanging on with donations as it is.  Luckily, a group of dedicated folks got a local Vet to see Sheba after hours, and she's being treated for rat poison and heartworm.

When the shelter manager asked the rescue community for help and advice, some responses were helpful.  Some were not.  All sorts of judgement creeped into the comments; everything from what Vet she should be taken to, to "you know she's dying, right?".

And of course, it's hard not to judge the family that surrendered her.  It's very hard.  But in the moment, Sheba needed immediate care, so my hero, the shelter manager, gently reminded someone on Facebook that we needed to focus on what we could do rather than judging the humans.

This morning I read a post about dogs and puppies frozen to the ground in the Turtle Mountain reservation; the rescue folks there, instead of getting badly needed help, got all sorts of judgement.  I thought it worthwhile to quote some passages here.

"This is not a reservation problem. This is not a native problem. This is a geographical economic problem. We are the second poorest county in the state and have the highest jobless rate. It's hard for people to find work when there are not enough jobs. Our nearest big city is 2 hours away. When affordable vet care isn't available, how do people get their dogs spayed or neutered? When they don't get spayed or neutered, they breed, and continue to do so."

"For those that choose to criticize or complain, that is your right. All I ask is that before you do, please look in the mirror and ask what you have done to help the problem."

So our constant plea for donations and volunteers is because we don't have the same resources as larger communities.  Please withhold your judgement.  The job is hard enough.  "There but for the grace of God" is a phrase I repeat to myself often.

And despite the lack of resources, Sheba was not left to die.  Sheba was not euthanized because the shelter couldn't afford to treat her.  The shelter manager didn't go home after 8 hours and assume someone else was taking care of it. That is the beauty of a small rural community.  People band together to help.

For updates on Sheba and more ways you can help, like and follow us on Facebook or go to the website to donate or see the adorable dogs and cats ready for adoption.  Our next fundraiser, Hairball,  is at Zorbaz in DL on April 2nd 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm if you want to have some fun while donating to a good cause.  If you can't make Hairball, dress up in your best Bonnets and Bowties and come watch the Kentucky Derby at The Speak Easy in DL.

Woof You Be Mine?: Local Animal Shelter Residents Have Lots of Love to Give | Detroit Lakes Online

Source: Woof you be mine?: Local animal shelter residents have lots of love to give | Detroit Lakes Online

I was interviewed by the Detroit Lakes Forum last weekend about volunteering and animal adoption.  Meagan did a great job on the article, which highlights the need for volunteers as well as potential adopters.

The kitten in the photo is Luther, and he will likely come live with me if he's not claimed by his owner soon!

Here's a link to the article.

Trump – Best Thing That Ever Happened to Us?

It's no secret I'm not a Trump supporter.  Even if I was a conservative (I'm not), I would abhor his character.  As a frequent world traveler for work, I hear what other countries say about us; how we've become a laughing stock at best, and isolationists on the brink of nuclear war at worst.

But today, as I watched the hundreds upon thousands of people worldwide march in solidarity, peacefully, with love and grace, I felt hope.  Not because they were marching, but because they were awake and paying attention.  If this movement continues, perhaps people will start to believe that they too can make a difference.

This change isn't easy.  It isn't comfortable.  Friends you've known for years unfriend you because of your views.  Things get heated; fake news is treated as gospel if it fits your idea of how things are.

Today, while millions marched, Trump visited the CIA.  In front of a wall with stars signifying men and women who died in service of our country, Trump first praised Fox News.  Then he said how much he liked the Intelligence community, claiming that he was never against them, and nobody loved them more than Donald J. Trump.  The rest of his speech he spent talking about the dishonest media, and how reports of the low attendance at his inauguration were untrue.  And how many times he's been on the cover of Time.

This was day one.  Meanwhile, North Korea is planning to test us.  Meanwhile, ISIS is watching.  But let's focus instead on the HUGE crowds The Donald saw - had to have been 1.5 million cheering him on.

And Trump tweeted while Washington burned.

 

 

 

The Christmas Controversy

You've all seen them - the posts on Facebook that proclaim the right to say Merry Christmas.  The same posts that say that we're not allowed to say Merry Christmas anymore, but have to instead say Happy Holidays.  The outrage!

Oh please.  There is no one stopping you from saying Merry Christmas if you want, and no one that will judge you for doing so.  Get over yourself!

If you want to put Christ back in Christmas, great!  Do it!  Instead of celebrating what began as a pagan holiday anyway to celebrate the winter solstice, give to your church.  Instead of spending thousands of dollars on gifts for your kids, buy blankets and coats and distribute them to the homeless living on the streets.  Instead of spending hours in the kitchen cooking that turkey, spend the day volunteering at a woman's crisis shelter.

THAT's what Christ would do, not proclaim in angry memes that he's not allowed to say Merry Christmas in this politically correct world.  And by the way, Christ was Jewish.  So Happy Hannukah.

 

Cats and Kids Don’t Always Mix

You see that cute little kitten at the shelter and can't resist.  Visions of Kitty growing up with your kids dance in your head, and look forward to years and years of playtime and cuddles.

And then reality hits.  Your two year old can't resist grabbing the kitten by the tail.  Your four year old gets scratched or even bit because they just wanted to pet Kitty's tummy.  Your ten year old that promised to take care of Kitty every day leaves the litterbox until it's overflowing, and you end up feeding the cat instead.

Kitty isn't so cute and playful anymore.  Kitty has started destroying the furniture and peeing in the bed.  So you return the cat to the shelter thinking that you got a bad deal.

That's the nightmare scenario, and unfortunately, it happens all too often at The Marshmallow Foundation.  You can't say we didn't warn you, and try to teach you how to introduce Kitty to your kiddo and to the other pets successfully.  We told you to put Kitty in a small room by herself for a few days to let her decompress, and to slowly introduce her to the family over a two week period.  We told you how to work with your child to respect Kitty and how to recognize when she's had enough.

The problem isn't Kitty.  It's you.  Yes, look in the mirror and see who is responsible for this mess.  Having a pet is a great teaching moment for your kids.  You can teach them respect for all living creatures, and teach them responsibility.  But it doesn't happen just by plopping Kitty in the living room and walking away.  You need to invest some intense time with Kitty and your kiddo to be successful.  You need to teach that two year old that pulling an animal's tail is not alright.   If you do it right, you will achieve your vision of a lifetime of cuddles and unconditional love.  If you do it wrong, we have to try once again to find a home for Kitty, and this time it's a lot harder because Kitty has "behavioral issues".

So please don't adopt an animal unless you're willing to be a parent first.  Your kids learn the important stuff at home, like how to be kind.  How to show compassion.  Respect.  Be the parent you're meant to be.

 

A Day in the Life of a Pound Dog

The Marshmallow Foundation is, in addition to being an animal shelter, a city pound.  What's the difference, you ask?

While both take in homeless dogs and cats, a pound is compelled to take those animals when brought in by city or county officials.  They pay a small amount for the services we offer.  Here's one example of a dog that was brought in this week.

6:30 pm - a dog is brought in as a stray.  The dog is logged into the system and assigned a unique ID and a name.

6:35 pm - the dog is scanned for a microchip; a valuable tool in finding its owner, but only if it was registered.  Most animals going through the pound/shelter system to be adopted out are microchipped, and the new owner is given the information on how to register.  Sadly, most owners never get around to it.  In this case, the dog has a microchip, and is registered to a shelter in Northwest Minnesota.

6:55 pm - the one and only employee working at night sends a Facebook group message to other kennel staff and volunteers, along with a picture of the dog and details about where the dog was found.

7:00 pm - the microchip info is sent to a volunteer who happens to live in the Northwest Minnesota area, and she immediately reaches out to the shelter where the chip is registered.

8:03 pm - the shelter in Northwest Minnesota confirms that this was their dog...adopted out in 2010.  The immediately attempt to contact the owner.

8:13 pm - the owner is found!  She had just moved to the Detroit Lakes area and didn't know that we were the city pound.  She'd been posting lost dog notices on Facebook rummage sale sites to no avail.  She tells us that she will be in first thing in the morning with proof of vaccination and license for the dog.

This story had a happy ending; I wish that they all did.  Sadly, imagine if the dog had not been microchipped and sat in our pound in quarantine for a week or 10 days.  The owner, who couldn't afford veterinary care for their animal, never got them spayed/neutered, nor did they think they needed rabies shots.  So we, as a representative of the city we service, must take the dog to the Vet for its rabies shot before we can legally release the animal.  Even if we can get an appointment with short notice, that's an extra day in the shelter.  There's a $20 boarding charge per day, which barely covers the cost of keeping the dog.  And depending on what city brought him in, there could be a fine assessed by the city that we must collect in addition to a license.

So now, with charges over $200, the owner says that they can't afford to get their dog.  They go on Facebook, including public group sites and say that we are holding his dog hostage for the money.  They claim that no effort was made to find them right away.  Sometimes they even threaten legal action.

Being able to afford an animal doesn't just mean buying them dog food, just as owning a car doesn't just mean being able to afford the gas.  The workers and volunteers at The Marshmallow Foundation really care about your animal, and really, really, want it to find a good home.  That Facebook group message chat chimes all day, every day, sometimes until late into the night.

So please, spay or neuter your pets, microchip them even if you think they'll never run away, and register that microchip.  We'd all cheer for just one day where Facebook remained silent.

 

 

Pippi’s Miracle

Pippi is a cat that was brought to The Marshmallow Foundation in late August in really bad shape.  She was painfully skinny, and the shelter suspected that she had been hit by a car.  Knowing that the shelter doesn't have the funds for expensive emergency treatment, we reached out to Cat's Cradle, a rescue and shelter in Fargo.  They immediately got her to the emergency vet, who confirmed that indeed, Pippi had likely been hit by a car.  Her hip and leg was severely broken, and it was doubtful that the hip fracture could be fixed.

As with all street cats brought in, Pippi was checked to make sure she was pregnant.  The Vet said that she wasn't, which was a good thing, since she'd never be able to deliver with her injuries.

So Pippi was brought in for surgery, and her leg was repaired.  Her hip was already healing, so it was decided to leave it as it was.  Pippi was sent to a foster home to recuperate, and passed her two week post-op check with flying colors.

And then, a month after her accident, she was brought back to the emergency Vet, who discovered a full term, live kitten inside her.  How that kitten survived the trauma of the accident, surgery, and X-Rays is a wonder.  An emergency C-section was done, after which the kitten had to be resuscitated.  But the kitten made it!

That's a miracle in itself, but it doesn't end there.  A few days after Pippi gave birth, two orphaned kittens the same age as Pippi's kitten were brought in.  Pippi has now become the adopted mother of two more kittens, and the entire family is doing well.

Money was raised for the orthopedic surgery, but the emergency C-section cost Cat's Cradle another $2000.  If you'd like to help with Pippi's care, donations can be made here.

Lifetime Commitment

Before you adopt that adorable, fuzzy, little ball of energy from the shelter, you need to ask yourself one question first.

Are you willing to take care of this living creature for the rest of their life?

If not, please, please, don't adopt.  Get a fish.  Or better yet, buy a plant.  Preferable an artificial one.

Volunteering at The Marshmallow Foundation, I get to witness first hand so many wonderful success stories of our animals going to loving homes.  And I also experience the heartbreak of an owner surrender.

Yes, there are those elderly folks that get moved into nursing homes and their family is unwilling to take care of Fido or Fluffy.  I'm not talking about those; I'm talking about the ones that bring an animal back they adopted 24, 48, or 72 hours before from us.  In the last couple of months, here's what I've experienced:

• I'm bringing this cat back after having her less than 24 hours because she wanted to sleep with me and I couldn't sleep all night.  She was too affectionate.  And I want my money back.


• This cat fights with my other cat too much.  Did I separate them for up to two weeks to ensure a successful acclimation?  No, why would I?  Yes, I know you told me to.  Come get her.  I live two hours away and I'm too lazy to bring her back myself.


• This dog that you just spayed that I adopted yesterday has a break in her stitches.  You didn't tell me that I'd have to pay for medical care.  You can have her back, but when you fix her all up and can guarantee that she's healthy and won't ever have an issue again, I'd like to re-adopt her.  Oh, and I want my money back.


• I found this dog, and really like her and want to keep her, but she has some sort of skin issue, so you can have her.  (It was mange, and very cheap to treat).

A kitten can live more than 20 years.  And a dog more than 15.  Are you prepared to spend thousands of dollars for an unexpected injury or illness?  Can you afford the healthy food that will extend the animal's life?  Are you ready for old age, when incontinence can become an issue?  And finally, will you be prepared to hold that animal in your arms as they take their last breath on this earth?  If you answer no to any of these questions, please don't adopt.  My fellow volunteers and shelter workers thank you.

Things My Mother Taught Me (Or I Wish She Did)

1. A little cream cheese makes mashed potatoes creamy and even more delicious


2. If your sunny side up eggs are burning around the edges but slimy around the yolk, add a few drops of water to the pan and stick a cover on it to steam.


3. There's an easier way to put on a duvet cover.


4. The best scrambled eggs don't start in a hot fry pan.  Start in a cold sauce pan with a good dash of pepper.  Put on medium heat whisking constantly until the curds start to form.  Take it off the heat for a few seconds, still stirring.  Put it back on the heat, take it off, and repeat until you start to hear a sizzle.  Immediately remove from heat, add salt and crumbled goat cheese (optional).  Garnish with fresh chives.  The sizzle part is important; eggs continue to cook after they're removed from the heat, and overcooked eggs are awful.  I give Gordon Ramsay credit for this one!


5. Unless you have very thin fine hair, there is no reason to wash your hair every day.  It strips the natural oil from your scalp.  My hair always looks better the day after I washed it.  I aim for twice a week max unless I'm desperate to wash the campfire smoke out of my hair.


6. Stay interested in everything!  When I see people my age that refuse to text, Facebook, or do anything remotely technology related, they appear old before their time.


7. You're never too old to learn something new.  I recently taught myself to sew, and have completed a quilted table runner and a baby quilt.


8. Try it even if you think you don't like it.  Tastes change.  What you hated as a child/teenager/20 year old might be your favorite now.  I thought I hated blue cheese as a kid (never actually tried it; the thought of moldy cheese was just too much).  As a 50 something, I was served a salad in a dark room and exclaimed with delight to my neighbor, "what is this?"  You guessed it - blue cheese dressing.


9. Instead of wasting time whining about something being broken, learn to fix it yourself.  YouTube is great for quick fixes for everything from a broken coffee machine to rusty door hinges.  I get tired of being on hold for help with computer issues, so I've gotten pretty good at troubleshooting myself.


10. The past isn't real, and neither is the future.  So live in the present moment, be grateful for what you have, and love without expectations.

Gratitude Isn't Always Easy

I'm big on gratitude; I think that taking a little time every day or several times a day to be thankful does a lot of things, including relaxing your body, making you more present, and keeping you in a more positive state of mind.

Some days it's hard to feel grateful; yesterday was one of those days.  Delilah, my one year old cat, had to be put to sleep.  Her kidneys failed her, and although we spent a week on intensive treatment, we couldn't help her.

Delilah spent almost a year at the animal shelter in a cage, let out only once a day for a few minutes.  I had adopted her sister Maggie, and her other siblings had been adopted many months before.  When I volunteered there and let her out, she would cling to me with all her might and rub her face frantically on my cheek.  I coined the term "aggressively affectionate" for her, since I'd walk out with marks on my shoulders from her claws digging in to me.  But I couldn't adopt her because I had a terminally ill kitten (Meep) at home.

When Meep died in March, I brought Delilah home.  She fit right in with the rest of the kittens, and after a couple of weeks didn't cling to desperately to me.  Last week her health declined rapidly, and after 2 days hospitalized, a week of me giving her subcutaneous fluids and meds, and praying, she didn't get any better, but instead got worse.  So I had to make the decision to end her suffering.

I had also injured my back Saturday, so I was in physical pain as well as emotional pain.  So I had to think hard about what to grateful for.  Saturday I received a card at the shelter that had sat on someone's desk since March.  A lady in Minneapolis had read this blog about Meep's death and wanted to express her sadness.  I was grateful.  Last week a friend in Minneapolis read my frantic Facebook posts about Delilah and sent me a check for $100 (which will be donated to The Marshmallow Foundation.  Their antique washing machine has finally quit working, and there's a used washing machine on Craigslist that we're trying to buy, for, you guessed it - $100.

Maggie, Leo, and Fancy are all healthy and happy.  I am grateful.  And I am grateful for Delilah, who taught me that loves sometimes means saying goodbye.

 

The Case for "Paw-ternity" Leave

It's no secret that mandatory maternity and paternity leave is a big deal in the US, at least if you listen to the political debates.  I believe that Moms and Dads should be able to not only bond with their child at birth, but should be able to take them to dentist appointments and the doctor without having to sacrifice pay.

As a lifelong unmarried, childless woman, I've often been the one that worked the holidays so that others could spend time with their family.  I can work after hours and on weekends when others need to take care of their kiddos.  And that's okay with me - I don't begrudge folks with families; I'm happier without.

But when I have to take my cherished cat to the Vet, or need to bond with my new adopted kitten, or am grieving the loss of my pet, I want the same consideration as the Mom of a human.  "It's not like it's a human being" is not a welcome phrase.  My cats are more important to me than most humans; just like you, I celebrate their achievements, smile with delight over the cute things they do, and sigh with frustration when they break stuff (and they break a lot of stuff).

The United Kingdom has mandatory paid maternity and paternity leave.  And almost 1 in 20 pet owners also get a benefit known as Paw-ternity leave.  It ranges from a few hours to three weeks paid leave.  New Zealand is also offering this benefit in many companies.

What do you think?  Are we the new minority?  Let's march on Washington and demand our crazy cat lady rights!

Cat People Are Smarter Than Dog People, New Study Shows

SAN FRANCISCO — "Dog people" and "cat people" really do have different personalities, according to a new study.

Source: Cat People Are Smarter Than Dog People, New Study Shows

Why Your Cat Scratches Everything In Sight

No, she's not preparing to eat you.

And no, I don't think you should declaw your cat.

Source: Why Your Cat Scratches Everything In Sight

Bonnets and Bowties

Saturday, May 7th, is the 142nd "greatest two minutes in sports", also known as the Kentucky Derby.  Women wear their finest hats (the bigger the better), and men dress in their finest spring attire.  Mint Juleps are the drink of the day, and everyone cheers for their favorite horse to win.

The Speak Easy in Detroit Lakes is planning to celebrate in a big way, with southern specialities such as fried chicken and biscuits with honey butter, pecan pie, and of course Mint Juleps to wash it all down with.  And even better, it's a fundraiser for my favorite place, The Marshmallow Foundation, a local animal shelter for dogs and cats.  A $25 ticket gets you in to watch the Derby on the biggest screen in town, plus there will be all sorts of raffles, and silent auctions to bid on.  And of course, there's a prize for the best bonnet and the best bowtie!

As a preview, Michael Mercil, owner of the Speak Easy, invited us to his home, where Lakes TV3 filmed his cooking show, The Easy Gourmet. Our episode will run all week starting Monday, and if you don't get Lakes TV3, you can watch the episode online.  We wore our bonnets to mark the occasion, and had a blast filming the show.  The best part?  We got to eat the food after filming stopped!

So if you're in the Lakes area May 7th, why not combine a good time with a good cause?  Let's all enjoy the Kentucky Derby lakes style!