A CAT IN THE VENTILATION SHAFT

Cats are funny creatures.  Each one has their own personality and their own quirks.  Some are super friendly and cuddly, while others are aloof and independent.  Some are brave and outgoing, while others are very timid and shy.

Lady is a stunning female Maine Coon.  Although she has been with us since birth and has never been exposed to any danger or abuse, she has been extremely timid and shy all her life.  She is very scared of people, gets easily spooked by loud noises or sudden movement and is always looking for a small place to hide.  In addition she hardly ever meows, so when she is hiding, she is very hard to find, unless you know all her hiding places.

Several years ago we moved to a new home.  Moves are usually traumatic to pets, so I decided that, instead of letting them run around the house and get into all sorts of dangerous places, I would put them in one of the upstairs bedroom while I pet-proof my house.  This seemed like a good idea, and for most of our pets it was.  The room had four walls, laminated flooring, no places to crawl into and few peaces of furniture to sit on or hide under, so all in all it seemed like a safe space for all.

This was a newer house, with the air/heating vents built into the floor and beautiful wooden covers on top of the vents to prevent anything from falling in.  The covers were quite heavy…  heavy enough for me to have to lift them with both hands… so I never for a second thought that they could be moved or opened by a cat.

I made several trips in and out of the room bringing things in, and everything seemed OK.  All cats were settling in nicely.  Lady found a spot under a chair and seemed content.  We settled in for the night.

In the morning I opened the door to the room and came in carrying a package that made some noise.  In a split second, right in front of my very eyes, Lady leaped into the air and ran across the room in a panic.  As she ran over the air vent guard, her little nail got into a tiny crack and the cover went flying out of the vent, exposing an opening in the floor.  I screamed as I dropped the package to the floor and leaped to catch Lady before she dove in, but I was not fast enough.  In a matter of seconds Lady disappeared into a hole.

In a panic I called Fire Department, who advised me to call Police, who advised me to call Animal Control, who advised me to call Ventilation/Heating Repair man.  All said there was nothing I could do except a) wait for her to make it down to a place I can open and reach in to get her or b) start breaking down walls…  The bedroom was on the second floor of the house…  She could be ANYWHERE in the house…  This was a long weekend!

For three days I walked around the house knocking on walls, calling out her name and listening to hear if Lady would make any sound.  Finally, when I was almost about to lose my mind, I heard some scratching sounds in the aluminum vent above the closet in the basement.  She made it all the way from the second floor bedroom to the basement, wondering the vent shafts.

I cut a piece out of the bottom of aluminum shaft big enough for me to peak in, shine a flush light and grab her if necessary.  When I looked in, I saw two glowing eyes staring back at me.  However, no matter how much I called her, no matter what I tempted her with, Lady refused to budge.  It seemed like she was actually happy being there.  She finally found a perfect hiding place!

I left some food and water on the floor of the closet and shut the door, hoping that during the night the hunger would overcome her fear and she would jump down to eat.  In the morning the food was gone and Lady was back in the vent shaft.  I have no idea how she managed that!  It took another two days and many different Brainstorming Ideas for me, my son and a friend to try to lure her out of that space.  We finally managed to do so by cutting out another hole located behind her and placing a nuzzle of a vacuum cleaner in there to make a scary noise, while my friend stood with his hands stuck in the original opening I made earlier to catch her as she ran away from a scary noise.  After several attempts we were able to coax her out.  She was so scared that she was in shock and desperately fought back.  Both my friend and I were covered in blood from her bites and scratches, but Lady seemed to be perfectly fine.

After falling down from the second floor of the house all the way to the basement and wondering Ventilation Shafts for over five days she seemed to be in perfect health and not any worse for the wear.  I, on the other hand, did not sleep or eat for five days, lost weight, cried my eyes out and was a nervous wreck.  In addition I had bites and scratches all over my hands, arms and shoulders.

This was a very good lesson for me.  From now on, each new house we enter, all the covers of ventilation vents get immediately fastened to the floor with screws.  No more cat hunting in ventilation shafts for me!

Technorati Tags: animal behaviour, animal care, Animal Empathy, animal health, cats, Milana Vinokur, new house, pet advise, pet proofing your home, Pets, safety, ventilation shafts

Tributes To Our Fallen Pets

Jimmy Stewart is one of my favorite actors. He gave us the Christmas staple It’s a Wonderful Life and who could forget the memorable saying at the end “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings”? To me, that is the Christmas season, family and togetherness. Jimmy was also a wonderful speaker. He read a poem to the audience of the Johnny Carson show many years ago, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUNJjIwlHk8). Entitled Beau, he praised his pet that had just passed away. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the audience, including my own, from watching the video on YouTube.

All of us, as pet lovers, have to say goodbye to them one day. It is a sad fate that they live only a fraction of our lives. But they touch it just as much as one of our friends or family does. Let’s face it; pets are an integral part of our family. I often find that I learn more from my pets then they could possibly benefit from me.

Mourning a pet for many people is mourning the loss of a beloved family member. Many people are nervous on how to react to the death of a pet. Buy a new one immediately? Take a day off of work to recuperate? Or should you consider opening your home to a pet again, in respect to the deceased one?  We all feel so inspired by our pets that some people go to the extreme of throwing a funeral for their deceased dog or cat.

When you lose your pet, after the initial shock of it wears off, it may be in your best interest to pay a tribute to your four-legged friend. Many veterinarians allow you to keep the ashes of your pet, sending you a lovely urn and card to go along with your memory. Other people get their animals’ paw print embedded while they are still alive; a wonderful monumental piece for your memories.

Katherine Adamchick has another creative idea. Katherine has started Kat With Dogs (katwithdogs.com), where she pays the ultimate tribute to your pet, by painting its portrait. That way, you may remember your pet in the better days of his or her life, and have a painted picture to remember the beauty of your beloved animal.

Another excellent suggestion is to write poetry to yourself, or share with others on various pet tribute websites, such as http://www.petmemorialwebsite.com/ where you can submit a picture of your pet and a lengthy description of his or her personality and some better memories.

Ultimately, we all grieve differently. Some of us are more private then others. These are just a few suggestions on how to channel your sadness into a wonderful tribute to your pet. Dogs, cats, birds and other creatures are our friends, confidants, and partners in life. They bring out the best of us, test our patience, and ultimately hold a mirror up to us, to show us that the simplest of lives are usually those that are most fulfilling.

Technorati Tags: Grace Ste.Croix, Jimmy Stewart, Katherine Adamchick, memorials, MY Dog Beau, Pets

The Turtle Lady

Every one of us has a calling in life. We each have a talent that we can offer to the world; perhaps this is our purpose of living. One is blessed if they find out what that talent is and utilize it within their lifetime. Even fewer of us are lucky enough to make a real difference by using this talent. Ila Loetscher, had two amazing talents, and shared both of them with this world.

She had two completely different passions. One could say that Ila spent the first half of her life engaging in her first passion and the second half of her life on the other. The passions themselves cannot be two farther points on a scale. Ila was the first female pilot in Iowa, and paved the way for many female pilots across America. She also is known as the Turtle Lady of South Padre Island in Texas, rescuing hundreds of sea turtles and caring for those that were sick and injured.

The first part of her life was an adventure. Hailing from Iowa, Loetscher had a passion for airplanes. In 1929 she became Iowa’s first female pilot. She kept the company of such famous aviators as Amelia Earhart. Amelia soon called Ila to be a part of the prestigious Ninety-Nines, a group of ninety nine women who aided aspiring female pilots. They offer scholarships for young women. Aspiring pilots can contact the group for support and advice. Loetscher and others showed America that women were capable of flying, and paved the way for women pilots today.

Tragedy struck the Loetscher family in 1955 when Ila’s husband died. The family made the conscious decision to move to South Padre Island in Texas, a hot little town off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

This is where Ila receives her second calling, a love and appreciation for sea turtles. She would rescue Kemps Ridley sea turtle eggs that were endangered and ensured their successful integration into the natural world. Ila then began to protect sick and injured sea turtles. She set up her home to be a sanctuary for these ailing creatures, placing pools across her yard, mimicking their natural habitat. She was nicknamed the “Turtle Lady” by her fans. Her love and admiration for saving the sea turtles and protecting our beautiful environment was inspiring. She went to great lengths to keep these animals safe.

Ila was very humble and probably did not foresee the amount of interest she would generate. She was interviewed by National Geographic and David Letterman to name a few appearances. She has been awarded countless recognitions of her selfless work for the Sea Turtles.

Ila died in 2000 but her legacy lives on in with the many volunteers who have created the Turtle Lady Legacy.

I had the pleasure of meeting the Turtle Lady as a young girl in 1990. She took the time to show my family along with other countless tourists her home and introduce us to her extended family, those beautiful sea turtles. I distinctly remember the turtles reacting to her calls when they were hungry which I thought was incredible. I learned very young how fragile life is, and how you should always give a second chance to sick and injured animals. She really made me realize that our environment is so sacred, and that every decision man makes effects so many organisms in our precious world.

There is no doubt that the recent BP oil spills have affected the sea turtles and the late Ila Loetscher’s work among so many other sea creatures, wild and plant life. Our world is so precious, and it just takes one person and a creative mind to make a significant difference. We should all recognize our talents and pursue them. We can all be like Ila Loetscher, and have multiple dreams and make them all realities and therefore truly make a difference that matters.

Technorati Tags: Ila Loetscher, Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles, talent, talents, Turtle Lady

DIDN’T THEY STINK?

One late spring day I was on my way to work an evening shift, when out of the corner of my eye I noticed something moving on the shoulder of a highway.   As I approached closer I realized that what I was seeing was eight tiny baby skunks, running back and forth around the body of their mother, who was apparently killed earlier by a passing car.

Someone else would probably just keep driving, but I could not leave them there alone, so dangerously close to the highway and speeding vehicles.  I pulled over to the side of the road, got a cardboard box and a blanket from the back seat and got out of the car with hopes of catching the little ones.  I must say I underestimated them.  Even though they were little they moved quite fast.  As soon as they saw me they ran toward tall, thick grass, scattering in all different directions.  Miraculously I was able to catch four of them.  I looked around for the remaining four, but the grass was thick and they hid well.  Reluctantly I left with only four in the box.  That night I found it very difficult to sleep.  All I could think about was the remaining babies and their safety.

First thing following morning I took the four in the box to a local Wildlife Rescue.  I explained to people who worked there that there were four more and advised them that I will be going back to find them.  I asked them to make sure that when I bring the rest of the litter they would keep them together with the ones already in their care.

That evening I went back to the same part of the highway.  The mother’s body was still there and to my greatest disappointment one of the babies was now laying dead next to her.  I searched everywhere for the remaining three, but had no luck finding them.  I went home with a heavy heart.  Once again I had a sleepless night.  All I could think was hungry; scared little creatures, dangerously close to the road and death.

First thing in the morning I was back at the spot.  Thank god there were no more dead bodies.  However, the remaining three were nowhere to be found.  I decided to come back in the evening.

It seemed they came out around the same time, after 6pm.  I thought my chances of seeing them will be better than.  I was right.  When I arrived the remaining three were walking aimlessly around their mother’s body.  When they saw me approach they scattered.  Fortunately I was able to catch two out of three.  They were later reunited with their siblings.  I was happy that the six of them were safe, however I could not stop worrying about the last one.

The next day time seemed to move very slowly.  It seemed like it took forever for the evening to come.  Promptly at 6pm I was back at the spot, but I could not see the last baby anywhere.  Not only that, but now the body of the dead baby was missing as well.  I remember thinking “Who would want to take a body of a dead baby skunk?”.

I was disappointed once again.  As I turned to go back to the car something caught my eye.  It was a tip of a black and white tail amidst a tall, thick grass.  It was not moving.  I held my breath and prepared myself for the worst.  Slowly I approached the spot and parted the grass.  I was afraid of what I might see, however what I did see took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes.

The last tiny baby was sitting in the grass, hugging the body of his dead sibling.  Even as I approached and reached for him, he would not leave his dead sibling alone.  He hissed at me and was prepared to protect his brother to the very end.  It seems that during the night he dragged the body of his dead brother into the grass, away from danger, and than sat there until I arrived protecting him.  He didn’t even try to run away when I picked him up.  He just made a whimpering sound as he looked at his brother one last time before I carried him off to the car.

Next morning as I was surrendering him to Wildlife Rescue my heart was breaking.  This little one truly touched me.  I wanted to keep him, make him safe, protect him, take care of him.  But I knew that this was not what would be best for him.  While I was sad to let him go, I was happy that he was reunited with the rest of his family.  I was happy that seven little skunks were now safe.  It was unfortunate that one out of eight was killed, but I think that saving seven out of eight was a very fortunate thing to do and I will remain forever grateful that I was able to do it.

I will always remember the last little one, who touched my heart in a very special way.  To this day when I remember his little face and think of his loyalty and bravery it brings tears to my eyes.  However, what surprises me the most is when I tell this story to others the question I get asked most often is “Didn’t they stink?”

Technorati Tags: animal care, Animal Empathy, Animals, compassion, love, loyalty, Milana Vinokur, Pets, rescue, skunks, touching, wildlife, wildlife rescue

GOING SQUIRRELY!

As human population grows and expands it takes over and destroys areas previously populated by wild life, often without as much as an offer of a minimal alternative living arrangement for the “Original Land Owners”.

Displaced animals, deprived of their natural hunting grounds, are forced to become scavengers, rummaging through human garbage and destroying man-made gardens.  As a result they are disliked by humans and are considered to be an annoyance.  They are labeled as pests and hunted down by the ones who are responsible for their predicament in the first place.

One such victim of man-manifested problems is a squirrel.  Because squirrels adapt so well, they live amongst humans and thrive, becoming more adapted and less fearful of mankind every day.  Being used to human company also means being around them more often and therefore being more of a focus-point for any perceived damage or mischief.

It is quite unfortunate that we humans have such a negative relationship with these amazingly creative and adaptable creatures.  If just for one moment we could put our biases and misconceptions aside we could see what an amazing zest for life and a sense of humor these little creatures posses.

Few years back while out for a drive I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a dead gray squirrel at the edge of a curb.  Although she lay there not moving, something inside me told me to stop and double-check.  I walked over to the poor creature and to my amazement discovered that she was fully intact and alive.  However, she was in shock.  Laying on the ground, curled up in a little ball with her beautiful tail covering her head she was literally paralyzed with fear.   She could not move even as I picked her up with my hands, carried her to my car and placed her in a little cardboard box.

Fearful that if I take her to an animal shelter she will be put down, I took her to an only vet-clinic I knew that treated exotic pets.  Although they were used to rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters, squirrel was a whole different story.  However, examination showed that, apart from a bruise on a side of her head, physically she seemed to be OK.  They speculated that she might have been just grazed by a passing car, which sent her flying to the edge of the road and into shock.  This probably saved her life by preventing her from running into the middle of traffic.  She did, however, need time to recover, so I decided to keep her until she was well enough to be released.  The vet felt it would be best to give her some precautionary booster/antibiotic shots before sending her home.  I named my little patient Tulip.

Unfortunately, Tulip had severe allergic reaction to the shot.  Her entire body swelled up and broke out in hives.  In addition, the graze on her head must have been a little more severe than we thought, as she had a little difficulty with her balance and coordination.  Her recovery took longer than expected.  By the time she was ready to be released it was December.

I felt her chances of survival were greatly diminished by the fact that she still wasn’t 100% and did not have an opportunity to prepare food and lodging for a long, cold Canadian winter, so I allowed Tulip to stay with us until spring.

While nursing Tulip back to health I tried to handle her as little as possible, so that she doesn’t lose her wild instincts.  She was kept in a big wire cage and taken out only to receive her medicine and get her wounds redressed and disinfected.  However, as time went on, I started noticing that she was watching me constantly from the cage and every time I made an eye contact she would run around the cage, hang upside down from the top by her feet, pick up toys from the bottom of the cage and throw them in the air while swinging.  This made me laugh, which in turn made her more eager to interact.  She would come to the front, grab the bars with her front paws, look intently at me than try to open the lock on the door.

Eventually she figured out how to open that lock and it didn’t matter how much I tried to reinforce it, she would figure out how to open it again.  Once out of the cage she would climb on my shoulder and wrap herself under my chin.  Than she would place her paws on each side of my face and look intensely into my eyes, as if saying “I know you mean me no harm.  Thank you”.  She always made me laugh and after a while I gave up trying to “imprison” her in her cage and let her freely run around my room.  Surprisingly, she was not the slightest bit afraid of my Rottweiler or my cats, and they seemed to accept her as one of their own.  It was quite something to see them all sitting next to each other, eating out of their bowls.

As March weather approached I started leaving the window slightly open so that Tulip will get familiarized with outside smells once again, but she didn’t seem to be interested.  Than one day, early April, I came home to find a hole in my window screen and Tulip gone.  Something (or some squirrel I hope) must have finally caught her eye.

I don’t know what happened to Tulip, but I chose to believe that she found her soul-mate and lived out the rest of her life happy.  I hope I was able to show her that not all humans are cruel, selfish and incapable of loving and respecting other beings.  I hope she understood that I will forever remain grateful to her for teaching me how amazingly intelligent, gentle and playful squirrels truly are.

Thank you Tulip for bringing laughter into my life and for sharing with me your love, your playfulness and your wonderful sense of humor!

Technorati Tags: Animal Empathy, animal health, Animals, appreciation, Beauty, compassion, empathy, energy, healing, humour, injured, Milana Vinokur, Pets, squirrels, universal energy, wellness, wildlife, wildlife rescue

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