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Vent your frustrations and sorrows about this house
Post away!
Furrever Friends

Subject: China
Author: Jen [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 07:37:33 01/15/03 Wed I took CHINA over last night to the Animal Welfare Association (AWA). He was a bit nervous in the carrier, but not so bad. I kept praying he'd be good for them and not freak out. They took him in the back and that was that. I went back today to work a bit with my friend Dr. Margi (she works at the AWA). So, when I was given the grand tour of the place, she let me peek back to see CHINA. She was telling me how they euthanize biters (totally understandable, but still sad) so, I got a little nervous. CHINA has never bitten before, but who can perdict that cat! She took me to the holding area and CHINA wasn't there. My heart sank!! This story gets better: Since CHINA had already had his vaccines, he was just moved into the catroom instead of having to stay in the holding area. So we went in there and the worker said there were two China's. She showed me to one and there was our beautiful man, CHINA, laying up on his perch. He was in a cage, but it was realy nice! Just cleaned, warm towel down and he had a little shelf/perch for him to lie on. I asked how CHINA was doing and they said he was a little scared still, but no problem. I left saying if he was, to call me. I don't know if we'll find him a home, but I can't think of euthanizing CHINA... I mean, biter or no biter, he's afraid, not aggressive! I better go. DANI & ROO have discovered how to get on the kitchen counters. Take care and thanks for caring! Jen PS- For those that care, MOLLY, one of the farm cats, is pregnant. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
texas -- danny (football), 16:41:24 11/30/06 Thu

Subject: I need Help

Author:
Stephanie (sad)
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 17:33:53 09/13/06 Wed

I need help. I have a eight month old cat "Sampson" who is in desperate need of medical attention. He has not eaten in over 5 days and is contionously vomiting. I have taken him to two vets and spent over $300.00 in the past two days. No one can seem to help us unless we dish out an additional $300.00. I financaly can not afford to pay for any more doctors visits. I love my cat dearly and can not emotionaly sit around and watch my him die. Not only am i attached to him but my five year old son is as well. I was wondering if anyone knew of a place that could help. Please... there has to be some one out there that can help! I could't bare putting him down! which seems to be the next option.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Tang & Rhett
Author: Jen [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 12:29:13 04/07/04 Wed Tang & Rhett are back in the fostering system here at FurrEver Friends. They could no longer be properly cared for where they had been. They are under the care of my �Cat Whisperer� and both are doing incredibly! They�re really coming around and are looking for a new home(s). Tang is in major need of a dental, possibly some extractions, and Rhett may be as well. I�ve been scraping together all the left over donations from last year, but some fresh donations would be a big aid too in case more money is needed than I�m estimating � not to mention for any emergency situations like this in the future. I may not be a non-profit, but 100% of the donations go to the furbabies. Tang and Rhett can be seen on our Petfinder website: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/furreverfriendsnj.html Please consider adopting these furbabies. They�re amazing! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Re: Tang & Rhett -- JenLuckenbach, 16:10:15 08/11/04 Wed

Subject: Hi Everyone!

Author:
Jen
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 13:33:38 10/14/03 Tue

Hi, everyone! So nice to get this forum back up here in the hopes of generating updates & info about these special cats.

For anyone that helped the kitties in any postive way (fostering, adopting, sending donations, good thoughts, etc.), please contact me! I have lost many e-mail addresses over the past year thanks to AOL.

Hope all is well. Take care!!

~Jen~
Founder of FUrrever Friends

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Fosters

Author:
Aimee Erdman
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 10:18:58 10/05/03 Sun

I just discovered this site!I also am a foster to cats,I did do dogs for awhile but with my husband and I both working and my son in grade 13 and daughter away at school there was no one here enough for the dogs.I started fostering about 10 years ago.I now work for my self with placing they cats but we fall in love with them and have a hard time letting them go but we only let good people adopt the.Just because a person comes to meet a cat doesnt mean they get to adopt it.We do home visits a few times and decide from there if they are worthy of one of our babies.Also we dont adopt out any black cats the months of Sept and Oct because of hallowe en and no adoptions the month of Dec as to many people get them as gifts and forget that they grow up eat your house.

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Subject: Lucky & Oscar&Pepper&Sugar&Peanut

Author:
Denise
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 17:12:49 08/08/03 Fri

Looks like nobody posts anything but seems you do still read this. Since I am a foster mom for some of these 50 cats, I will post progress on the kitties I have.

First, I adopted Peanut into my family of kitties his name is now Tigger, he was one of the outside kittens, he has come a long way but is still shy of people all except my daughter so we decided to not stress this poor little fellow out anymore and have him with us in a permanent home. He is doing well.

Next would be Pepper and Sugar. Pepper came to me from another foster home, and I was not able to tame her down to liking people, though she loves other cats so she is now going to be put into an outside colony with her foster sister Sugar, in which Sugar was an outside kitten that was absolutely untouchable to becoming friendly with people, no matter what I tried she just did not like anybody. So it was decided that these two would go free into a colony with one of the other 50 cats Ginger.

Oscar was my favorite. He is still with me but not as touchable as I wish he would be. When he was in his socialization crate he let me pet him and would rub my hand and purr like crazy though still quite afraid of people, he loved his cat treats and would not let me leave the room without giving him one. NOw he is roaming free in my basement and occasionaly comes out and peaks around with his buddy Lucky. He is still waiting for his forever home, with someone who would rather have a cat who they could watch or be a companion for there cat as well. With a little patients, Oscar will learn to trust and I think become a great pet for somebody some day. He just needs time and love.

Mr. Lucky who was the first in the house and the last out of the house is starting to get along great, he is all over the house lets us pet him occasionaly and purrs. He acts like he owns the house sometimes, and it is so great to see him do all the things he does. He never played before and just sat there, now he seems to be much happier and is awaiting his forever home also. He needs to warm up to you and as soon as he does you'll have a friend for life. Well if anyone ever reads this that is the update on my kitties. Take Care and think of adopting or foster for Jen, it is extremely rewarding and very knowledgeable.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: All Safe

Author:
Jen
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 12:18:32 04/23/03 Wed

First let me apologize. I know how many of you follow this and then silly me forgets to post here (what can I say, I'm an email person). :)

The deadline was altered to April 22, 2003. 5 kitties remained in the house. The weekend before the 22, 4 of those 5 were removed and placed into a rescue where another one from the house was already at (so, 5 buddies have been reunited at this rescue in PA). One Tuesday, the 21, the very last kitty, Lucky (the original kitty in the house), was removed. All are out and safe.

Although most are in foster care and rescues, every single one is safely out of that house and in good hands now. We're still trying to trap for the one remaining cat outside as well. Plenty have been adopted, many have been born and some have been lost, but they were all loved.

Everyone can read the stories and check out the pictures at:

www.furreverfriendsrescue.org

I need to send a huge thank you to Carol (there are no words for how wonderful and dedicated you are, Carol). Thank you very much to Jean, Pam & Anita. To all of our foster homes and adopters of these babies, you made them very lucky cats. Your time, understanding, patience and love for these kitties have been so comforting. To the transporters, Kathy with her "meeting point" home and every rescue that came to not only these cats' aid, but to my poor nerves as well, thanks. Thank you to every single person that donated. Your money allowed us to treat these babies (along with saving the 2 moms who would have died without c-sections), your toys are the ones these cats learned to play with, your old sheets are what these kitties can curl up in and you've allowed us to offer the food these cats use to have to fight for. Last, but certainly not least, to every single person that sent well wishes, kept these cats in your prayers and thoughts. Thank you to all of you. You allowed me and the people above to save these cats and complete what seemed like an unbelievable task.

Since November 2002, I've been committed to that house and those cats. To think back on everything I learned: thank those who kept you going, for God's sake, net! Don't chase!, trust only your gut, that cats really can fly when leaping off the stairs at your head, etc... I don't know how I would have done this. At no point think that I worked a lone (like my school schedule would allow it!) or that I deserve credit. There were a lot of people behind me... even with only their words.

Thank you and pat yourselves all on the back. They're all out.

Sincerely,
-Jen Wesh-
Founder of Furrever Friends Animal Rescue
previously Happy Tails Rescue

http://www.furreverfriendsrescue.org/
http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/NJ269.html

"The character and intent of a Man's heart will be known by his treatment of animals. So shall you be known."
"Think it's tough putting on a condom? Try doing it with paws!
Spay and neuter your pets please."

PS- Pray for homes!! :)

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: What happened?
Author: Molly McClellan [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 11:56:14 04/17/03 Thu I'm just wondering what the status of this case is. Did the deadline come and go? What happened to the cats? This is so sad. I realize the owners who do this mean well, but it's so horribly cruel. Even if you do find homes for all of the cats, those are homes that otherwise could have gone to the hundreds/thousands of other homeless kitties. I wish I were in PA so I could help you guys out. I'm in Minnesota. I already have four cats--3 rescued! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Re: What happened? -- Denise, 07:37:54 04/19/03 Sat

Subject: update on Oscar,Sugar and Peanut

Author:
Denise
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 06:00:02 03/31/03 Mon

I am the foster mommy to three of the first outside kitties that were trapped. I have only had these guys for a very short time and they seem to be doing very well with me. I did lose my guy Wink to Feline Leukemia but the other babies kept my hope up on them. Wink was the first one to come around to me and let me pet him and purring and even ate cat treats out of my hand. He was definately my hope of getting the other three ready for there furrever homes. This is my first time ever trying to deal with this many feral cats and I reccomend it to all cat lovers with patients and love. There is so much to learn from these guys. I would like to thank Jen who I say is the most amazing person in this world. She got me through Winks crossing of Rainbow Bridge and help me through any doubts that I had. Through all that she is doing and responding back to my three emails to her a day. I don't know how you do it Jen.
My three guys are comeing around quicker then I thought and may be ready to go to homes sooner then we all thought so anyone out there looking for love give jen or me an email and come see these guys. Even better I recommend take on a few yourself. It is a great experience and you won't regret it. All the love the cats are going to give you in the end will be all worth the while of taking them in. All my guys are vaccinated and spayed/neutered now. Just need to get them loving homes, though I welcome them to stay in mine as long as they need to. Take care and think about bringing a kitty home to love.

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Subject: Good News (and replies)

Author:
Jen
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 20:25:14 03/08/03 Sat

Thank you so much for writing, Lora. That sounds like this guy to a "t" except- the cats are well fed and no one inside had FIV or Feline Leuk. One cat from the house did, sadly, pass from FIP.

50 CATS' OWNER GIVEN ANOTHER 30 DAYS IN THE HOUSE: More time to save these kitties!

If anyone is interseted, check out the "News" page on the website. It is where I've been putting the most recent information about the house.

We've come to a pause in both donations and homes to adopt these cats into. There are wonderful cats looking for homes. We've been working with some for awhile now and they have really come around.

That's about it for now. Take care!

Jen

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Cat Hoarding

Author:
Lora
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 17:15:51 03/07/03 Fri

I just read the "Cat Hell- 50 cats, 1 home" article on the Furrever Furrever Friends Rescue website. The link was forwarded to a group I am in.

First of all, I want to commend the college girl who is involved in this rescue. What a wonderful, caring, and great thing that you are doing for these poor innocent souls. You are literally their savior!

What the hell was this man thinking?!?

It is one thing to do rescue work, but it is entirely a different story to become a cat hoarder!

It is situations like this that give cat rescue workers a bad reputation. Individuals who voluntary involve themselves in cat/feral rescue work or have multiple-cat households are generally looked down by society due to these "cat hoarder" nightmares!

This man was nothing short of a cat hoarder and most, if not all, of the 50 cats will be the poor souls who suffer. Cat hoarders "think" that they are helping the animals by saving them from being relinquished the local animal sheleters, where the cats face being euthanized. However, in actuality, cat hoarders are only making the situation far more worse. Hoarding is a slow, tortuous form of animal abuse.

Cat hoardes are usually elderly, retired individuals who live by themselves and who do not have the financial resources to properly care for the cats.

The cats are never spayed or neutered, thus explaining why there are so many in one tiny house and they do not receive annual (or every third year) vaccination. The lack of vaccinations causes enormous breakout of feline diseases that often lead to death.

When the cats do become ill they usually never receive medical attention and more often than not, the carcass are left inside the house out of fear of being "found out."

Cat hoarders are very particular about their privacy. They fear being discovered by police, animal agency officials, or local neighbors.

Cat hoarders rick being evicted from their homes as well as fined heafty fees; therefore, the hoarder opts not to jeopardize the situation by causing attenting to him/herself while burying the deceased. Fortunately, the pungent animal odors emitting from the house usually gets the neighbors attention and the police are called.

Another sad fact is that most if the cats are starving to death. Along with not having enough finances for spay/neuter, vaccinations, or medical attention, the
necessity of food is also scarce.

In conclusion, yes I am a proud mother of ten cats, but I am a responsible cat guardian. I can financially support my cats, by providing alternations, vaccinations, food/water necessities and ample living space. I see no reason why people cannot have a multiple-cat houshold as long as they do it responsibly. Cat/animal hoarders are not, nor ever will, responsible people!

Lora

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Subject: Update

Author:
Jen
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 12:34:42 02/11/03 Tue

Thanks for writing everyone! Your words and information have been helpful. I just wanted to post a little update here:

Shea is no longer part of Furrever Friends. This was my rescue prior to her and it remains mine. There were problems that could not be worked through.

Mitzy, Thomas and Tux were all adopted into wonderful homes this weekend! Thomas & Tux were adopted by their foster mom, Debbie, who jsut couldn't give them up and had the room to keep them. Mitzy was adopted by the wonderful Cathy, mom to Flinn & King (now Tommy). Mitzy is warming up well in her new home and Tommy & Flinn are apparently little show cats that bath in the sun, rest in cat trees, snuggle up in cat beds and are a wonderful examples to their feline foster siblings (Cathy is involved with Siamese Rescue due to all the Siameses on death row in kill shelters).

This past weekend was the Cat Show at the Pennsauken Expo Center. I passed out a lot of information to people that were interested in helping and passed out my contact information to anyone that might know someone that could help. So, hopefully we'll have some help coming in quickly. I was also able to see a lot of foster parents, get updates from adoptive parents and get in contact with some other rescues.

Save The Animals Foundation was nice enough to give me ten free spay/neuter certificates. So, 10 more kitties we can fix when they have foster homes. They also said I got write and be the spotlight for their March newsletter. So, more help should be on the way.

I think that's about it for now.Take care everyone and let me know if you need anything. Sea yah! :)

Jen

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Gaberiel
Author: Jen [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 12:56:26 01/22/03 Wed Gabe passed away from what his vet believed to be FIP. As a vet tech, I had never really heard of it in the whole 2 years I worked at my hospital... and I had never seen in, So, it didn't even cross my mind. I mean, we tested for FIV & Feline Leukemia, Gabe was negative, so I thought he was in the clear. Not only was this a horrible loss of our's and his family's, but it was a huge wake up call to how awful this house is. Gaberiel would have not run so high of a risk if he had lived in a house with only a few cats, instead of 50, if the place had been more sanitary and maybe even if he had gotten his vaccines. But Gabe did not have those advantages. Heartbroken is the word to use, of course. Fear also for others that might have the corona virus mutate into the FIP virus. It's tough to diagnois, difficult to test for and is uncurable, but there is no need for panic! From reading, it sounds like the mutation (to the FIP virus) is really a freak insident that can be avoided by a good immune system (sanitary living conditions and only a couple of cats kept inside). Please read before you worry. If you suspect your cat (not necessarily one from us, but any cat) has a fever, take them to the vet. It's stated that FIP is one of the leading causes for fevers that don't really have a source. Ask for info on FIP and to look your cat over, especially the mouth. It's so weird... hard to describe the disease actually. It's best to read up on it and this website was the best one I found... and I did a whole lot of reading up on this disease after Gabe's passing. So, check out this website: http://www.vetinfo.com/cencyclopedia/cefip.html Take care and thanks for all your support. Jen PS- If you want to adopt or foster, let us know now!! We're getting desperate. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Re: Gaberiel -- Shelly, 18:51:09 01/30/03 Thu Re: Gaberiel -- Kim, 17:41:54 02/07/03 Fri Re: Gaberiel -- Sharon, 08:08:32 02/11/03 Tue

Subject: Update

Author:
Jen
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 08:55:39 02/03/03 Mon

Feel free to email me about updates because, for the most part, I have an email list that I send out to about what's going on.

We had a huge fiasco with Tang recently that I wasn't sure if I wanted to post because it's upsetting. We pulled her out and she was very pregnant. Wednesday she went into labor early in the morning and after several hours, gave birth to a dead kitten. No "surgeons" were in due to some conference over in PA and we were lucky that one had ended up not going and was coming in to a local clinic.

We rushed Tang over for an emergency c-section (5 hours after the dead kitten was delivered). When opening her up, it was a mess! Her uterus had hooked around, trapped te kittens and they had all died. Because of the dead kittens inside of her, she was septic (poisoned from their rotting bodies). Not to mention, from her uterus being hooked, it had started to tear and she was bleeding all over internally.

They ended up cutting her from rib cage to the bottem of her pelvis to flush all the blood out. $518 later, one cat (Tang) is still alive when she should be dead with her kittens. She was worth every single penny!

You can email me for an update on Tang. We promised Tang that she would stay with her sister Mittens. The two are exceptional together (Tang makes up for Mittens's quiet personality) and deserve the best home... they're still available if anyone is interested.

We're down to about 20 cats in the home and 25 needing foster homes (the 20 in the house and the 5 in tentative foster care).

We only have until March 10 to pull all these cats or else they will be euthanized since the county shelter there has neither the time or room to put all these cats.

We are still desperate for foster homes and furrever homes! Please contact me or Shea if you can help.

Thanks!
Jen

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: What's the latest?
Author: L. [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 16:03:18 01/30/03 Thu I haven't seen any new messages/updates here for a while. I imagine that you have your hands full... but if you get a chance, please let us know how you are doing. It is uplifting to follow your valiant efforts on behalf of these cats. The pictures are great. Someone is a good photographer. Even the black cats look great. All of the cats look beautiful. You have done wonders. I hope that these wonderful creatures get the homes and lives that they deserve. I mentioned the website of your rescue org. on a forum/bulletin board on the Best Friends site. You are probably familiar with that shelter in Utah. It is an amazing place. I was surprised that I hadn't seen any postings from you folks on any of their forums. You may want to consider it, for increased exposure for these kitty cats. Check out bestfriends.org (see, I'm keeping it positive and not even mentioning what I wish upon people who mistreat animals and create situations like this) [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
I'm one of the foster parents..... -- Debbie, 11:11:06 01/31/03 Fri

Subject: Oops
Author: Jen [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 12:59:10 01/22/03 Wed Sorry about me posting two... my computer was being super slow. Sorry again! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: Gaberiel

Author:
Jen
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 12:55:13 01/22/03 Wed

Gabe passed away from what his vet believed to be FIP. As a vet tech, I had never really heard of it in the whole 2 years I worked at my hospital... and I had never seen in, So, it didn't even cross my mind. I mean, we tested for FIV & Feline Leukemia, Gabe was negative, so I thought he was in the clear.

Not only was this a horrible loss of our's and his family's, but it was a huge wake up call to how awful this house is. Gaberiel would have not run so high of a risk if he had lived in a house with only a few cats, instead of 50, if the place had been more sanitary and maybe even if he had gotten his vaccines. But Gabe did not have those advantages.

Heartbroken is the word to use, of course. Fear also for others that might have the corona virus mutate into the FIP virus. It's tough to diagnois, difficult to test for and is uncurable, but there is no need for panic! From reading, it sounds like the mutation (to the FIP virus) is really a freak insident that can be avoided by a good immune system (sanitary living conditions and only a couple of cats kept inside). Please read before you worry.

If you suspect your cat (not necessarily one from us, but any cat) has a fever, take them to the vet. It's stated that FIP is one of the leading causes for fevers that don't really have a source. Ask for info on FIP and to look your cat over, especially the mouth. It's so weird... hard to describe the disease actually.

It's best to read up on it and this website was the best one I found... and I did a whole lot of reading up on this disease after Gabe's passing. So, check out this website:

http://www.vetinfo.com/cencyclopedia/cefip.html

Take care and thanks for all your support.
Jen

PS- If you want to adopt or foster, let us know now!! We're getting desperate.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: site you can visit for petitions- animal protection(Congressional and international)

Author:
shea
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 23:17:16 01/17/03 Fri

http://members.shaw.ca/julie42/petition.html

Guys, this is an official site that lets you sign almost every petition circulating promoting animal rights, here in the states and the horrible things that go on in other countries that you wouldn't even believe was allowed. Wolves,furs, bulls are just some of the species you can give voices to. there are some petitions involving specific prosecutions of people who have committed the sickest of crimes. if you can do nothing else, this takes 30 second to sign one in the cause of your choice. It gives a brief paragraph of the incident, and then you just write your name and your general locale. you don't write your address or anything like that. It's rewarding, I think. Some of the things are being presented before Congress

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Subject: our 50

Author:
Shea
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 23:00:02 01/17/03 Fri

Hi, everyone. It's Shea, FurreverFriends co-owner i.e. Jen's other half.
^In the midst of all this sadness/frustration, we have experienced amazing generousity in this experience. you would not believe the donations we've received-monatary and otherwise. I'm so sorry I can't name everyone who has used paypal, but the money that has poured in is astonishing. We are so very careful to use every cent in the best interest of our pets.- make no mistake about it, they are our silent heros.

*Daleen and her two (will be three in about eight months!) Children and husband. They could not pick between our Big Boy Roy and another cat at Gloucester County Shelter-so they adopted both! They fostered our little Demi, and would have fostered another, but they are instead "fostering" one in the oven! Best wishes to her- an amazing sweet woman, and our condolences to her family for the loss of the other cat, Rascal who passed away almost as shortly as he was adopted. See "Rainbow Bridge" for his obituary.

*Jessica and her mullica hill family who adopted both Gabriel and Angel (get it?) . They kindly asked for our most desperate cats available. If you are familiar with our site, you know Angel was the strangled collar cat, whom we later found out had a gaping hernia during her spay surgery also.some would have been scared off, but... The negligence was sickening, but this family turned out to be their "angels". (it doesn't hurt they live in a beautiful old antique house/refinished barn

*Of course, our Eva- our first foster mom ever. So far she has done Big Boy, Cali and China and is anxiously awaiting her fourth cat to foster. She has three cats of her own, and a big goofy Rotti. This woman is busy keeping up with dance lessons , sports and her hubby and three kids and is prime example of how easy and rewarding it is foster. The more the merrier.

*Lady's foster mom, Bonnie is the pinnacle of patience. She gave Lady a chance and has made her a part of her family for the time being. A few minor adjustments, and Lady got her chance to shine. As you know, German Shepherds are loyal and good guard dogs and Lady is no exception , we've found out.

*Bear's new family in Stockton, New Jersey. To take a dog with heartworms and older age and make a commitment to him meant a lot to me. Can you imagine walking in to deliver this dog to his new family, and having eight wrapped gifts(bows with doggie bones at the ends) and a dog bed ready and waiting for him! Thank you Dee and Guy. (And also Kathy,Arlene and the members of glassboro bible church who donated money for the heartworm treatment($250). Bear's former family of twelve years could not be bothered by Bear's condition and were ready to euthanize him the day I got him- he should have been on Heartworm treatment, and they would ready to kill him after 12 loyal years!)

Marie and P.J. Emma- They not only took our two kittens, but have given so many gifts of litter, the best cat toys and food, beds, anything you can think of to make a cat's life a little better. Their house is cat bliss for their 9 cats!

NICOLE, NICOLE! how can we ever thank you! i owe an extra big hug to this woman. She fostered and vetted a cat, Kong, that later became my own. She was understanding enough to give him back, even though I think it broke her heart. This foster mom goes beyond the call of duty- traveling and literally working with these scared cats for an hour each day, at least-they have their own room in her place in Manayunk! I can't tell you all how much i trust her, and she is another example of how fostering can be the answer.

I wish to thank the Weshes, Jen's parents-especially Doug. He is really an animal's best friend! He has driven to philly and PA multiple times and so many other places(including some help that fixed a blunder of mine)Mrs. Wesh is just a great mom, so protective and helpful. No wonder Jen turned out to be so caring. And Michelle, her sister, is always patient with my frantic voice on the phone!(She got baby Roo outta this deal though!)They have dealt with this cause of ours with so much effort and we could have not done this much without them.

I got to thank my mom ! she is a perpetual foster, and she really wasn't crazy with the idea at first-happy with her own two nasty cats. She insisted her cats would not do well, but contraire! Now she can't imagine life without a cat zoo-there is always a cat to pull into your lap! she just goes to show that some extra food, litter and and a few neck-rubbings a day is enough to save a cat's life in foster. My sisters, too, especially Hollee, who gives up her room for this purpose and is always awakened by cats needing some love in the middle of the night. She is not a fan of cleaning litter boxes either, but picks up my slack.

oh! Michael! (My loving boyfriend and roommate) To be honest, yeah he does most of the cleaning up around here and the feeding too. he loves animals just as much as I do, and i don't think I could be with anyone else who couldn't support me in this.

*ESPECIALLY DR.NORMAN HABER OF CEDARBROOK ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN SICKERVILLE. He gives us rescue rates for vet care and is a generally cheap, cheap, cheap vet! So many times we see veternarians who only see dollar signs and could care less about rescue.

*Dr. Margie, a friend of Jen's who is dedicated to the control of the animal population thru low-cost spay and neuter at the AWA. She has never lost her vision,we love her for that.

*JEAN SMITH , on the board at the AWA, who called us up one day donating countless spays and neuters when she found out about this house. We could not believe our ears, and she has kept her promise. A true hero. we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I really don't know what we would done if she hadn't crossed our path.

Sorry, guys, i know this is not really the forum for this but soon we will have a page of offical thank-yous that are well-deserved. (As you might know, Jen is the sole person behind the website. I can barely type. Without her website persistence and self-teaching, FurreverFriends wouldn't be.)

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Subject: Don't give up hope!

Author:
Nancy Lynn
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Date Posted: 20:15:04 01/09/03 Thu

I received the link to your site via one of my "Beauty and the Beast" (TV show) discussion groups. I want to commend you both for your dedication and compassion for these animals. It's a blessing to see two people care so much for helpless animals in a society that throws away and ignores what they see as 'defective'. I wish I could help- I'm lucky to keep a roof over my own head. I will keep you, all the cats, and your foster and furrever homes in my prayers. Keep us informed as to your progress.

Carry the light...
NL

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Subject: Thank You, Everyone!

Author:
Jen
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Date Posted: 20:00:12 01/08/03 Wed

Thanks, everyone, for your positive up beat!

CHINA was neutered, she turned out to be a he, and will be heading to the AWA (Animal Welfare Association) soon in the hopes that he will find a furrever home more quickly there. They are no kill and get their pets out fairly quick.

MITTENS was also given her vaccines today and spayed. She's been doing much better and will let us pet her whenever we want. She's put on some weight and is looking good, which is great compared to the boney and scabbed cat she was when we first pulled her.

TANG and WILLY have families interested in them and a rescue in P.A. said they'd take in two after we worked to socialize them a bit.

This has been one long and tough road the past few months that we've been working with these cats. It's gotten frustrating to explain the difference between feral/wild cats and these cats that are just scared. I've gotten depressed when I can't remember who we've saved... we use to be so personal with our rescues and now we can't remember a simple name! It's gotten frightening with that damn guy that slaughtered our name on petfinder after we had to bring the police in to pull a cat that he was fostering for us and that he said he was not going to give back. Forgetting names and emails from people that want to help. I go through so many a day and most are junk and because of those, I forget some of the good people. It's been sad to realize that if we don't pull these cats, they will die. And I know I should look at the ones we're saving, but at the ones we've been trying to save and might lose... well, it's just tough...

Thanks so much, everyone! Please realize that you really do keep me going!

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Subject: 2 adopted from this house

Author:
Cathy
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Date Posted: 07:53:02 01/07/03 Tue

Flinn and King are in their Furrever home and are doing great. Even tho these boys were scared when they got here, there was not one hiss, growl or swat. They are great at using the litter box and are real lovebugs. They are integrating well with the rest of the household and are wonderful cats. Given what every cat wants, a litter box, food and love, these are great boys.

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Subject: Keep up the fight

Author:
Jim
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Date Posted: 10:59:44 01/06/03 Mon

Keep up the fight! No, it will never be enough, but it is enough for the ones you are able to save. I'm sure everyone's heard the story of the starfish, but it's worth posting here again, and every rescuer should have this tattooed on the inside of their eyelids for trying times.

______________

The Story of the Starfish

In his book, The Star Thrower, author Loren E. Eisley talks of the early morning when he finds himself with "writers block", he decided to take a walk along a sandy beach where hundreds of starfish had been washed up on the shore overnight.

He noticed a boy picking up the starfish one by one and throwing each back into the ocean.

Observing the boy for a few minutes Eisley asked him "what are you doing?" The boy replied that he was returning the starfish to the sea, otherwise they would die when the burning rays of the sun hit them. He explained that it was worth the effort if only to "help this one."

Eisley left the boy and went home to continue writing, only to find that he could not type a single word. He returned to the beach and spent the rest of the morning helping the boy throw starfish back into the sea.

______________

Keep throwing the starfish!
Jim Lord
Purrfect Match Rescue and Adoptions
Memphis, TN
http://www.purrfectmatchcats.org

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Subject: Good News

Author:
Jen
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Date Posted: 18:58:59 12/23/02 Mon

Mittens is doing much better. She's using the litterbox and doesn't mind you petting her... not even under her chin. She's so darn cute!

We got Munchkin and Mystic out of a shelter we placed them in. They were there for a few weeks and hadn't found a home, so we went to get them for ourselves. Mystic is a little more skiddish than Munchkin, but both are great little kittens and young, at just 14 weeks. They're about as young as you can get.

We caught King and got him over to his new foster mom, Nicole. She had Fliin & Kong, but Shea adopted Kong and gave her King. So, Nicole now has King & Flinn, who are being adopted together. It's great stuff! :)

That's all the good news right now as far as the house goes. Thanks for all your support, everyone!

Jen

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Subject: The Cats
Author: Debbie [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 16:03:44 12/18/02 Wed Ladies - You ARE doing the right thing! You may not be able to rescue them all but you must try to concentrate on the ones you have/will save. I am in your immediate area and will spread the word about your cats. Keep the faith! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Re: The Cats -- Jen, 19:46:05 12/18/02 Wed

Subject: The kitties
Author: Nicole [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 08:57:49 12/16/02 Mon To Shea and Jen. I know you are frustrated and this may not end the way that you would like. I know that you will fight to the end but we need to be prepared. I hope that you will be able to focus on the good you have done. You have done more than most people with your limited means would have the courage to do. You have gotten some of the cats out that really needed to be rescued and have found good homes. This experience of fostering has been my first and it has been positive so you have created a foster mom where once there wasn't one. Until your desperate add i was too afraid to foster so you helped me jump in. It is ok to be angry and to vent i am glad that you created this site. I have never been to the house so i dont know the horrors, but i do know it is therapeutic to vent and process feelings. We do what we can and your successes have been many. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Re: The kitties -- Jen, 12:41:29 12/16/02 Mon

Subject: No Way!

Author:
Jen
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Date Posted: 08:32:53 12/16/02 Mon

No way! That is not life! You're very wrong about both the cats and people.

These cats are housenroken for the most part, are healthy and beautiful... they just don't know what the hell we are. The cats do not run from us in fear once we get them out. They might hide under the toilet or cowar when we go to touch them, but they are yet to try to kill or even hurt us or the children they've been around. You make these cats out to be monsters and that's just ridiculous. I apologize for your experience, but I am not one to bullshit people like that woman did you and you are yet to see these cats or the place they are coming from. The pictures are nothing compared to the house and we are pretty damn thankful that these cats are as good as they are after coming from a place like this!

I think you also under estimate people or at least I hope so. We're working on making these cats "ready made" and "perfect." We're spaying and neutering, testing them, deflea, handling them constandly, hell, going over to that house all the time has made the cats more socialized. Many wonderful people have emerged to offer donations and some have even offered their homes and adopted. The people you described are not people that deserve pets. People that deserve pets love, whatever animal they get, because it is their animal. Besides, no rescue should adopt animals out as decoration and that is how some see purebred, pretty ones, kittens, etc.

Did you look at what you wrote? In several sentences you were able to make my cats and people out to be absolutely horrible monsters. I take offense to that. I have my scratchs from putting these cats into a carrier to rescue (and they have never seen a carrier before), have the odor trapped in my new car, raced around the house trying to get one of these babies, removed that collar from Angel which we had to fight both her and the collar to get it off, heard the stories of the massive Kong taking adventures outside of Shea's bathroom when she wasn't home, how he and Flinn cuddle up to their new foster mom at night and have had cats dash past my head in fear wondering what the hell Shea & I are. Two of these cats running were once Kong & Flinn and they are exceptional cats now. These cats didn't choose to be put in that situation and they are obviously thankful by their personalities when we take them out and start to work with them. Please, do not say such degrating things about my cats until you have walked in my shoes.

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Subject: Life

Author:
Lorena
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Date Posted: 23:51:06 12/15/02 Sun

Jen, dear. Remember what I told you the other night, you can't let this depress you so much. Don't let it get to you like this. I know you are doing all you possibly can; putting up all these web pages, the pictures, the posters, the e-mails. But you know what? It's just not very common in humans to sacrifice something for an animal. If a person was to take one of these cats (which are not socialized or house trained), they know the animal will hiss, scratch, bite, urinate and defecate anywhere, perhaps bring fleas....and most people wouldn't change the way they're living to help a homeless animal because they figure someone else will take the poor thing. Most people think this way: Why bother with an animal who might have some medical problems, who doesn't even come to you for attention, who might scratch and bite the kids, who runs away from you in fear, who makes a mess wherever it goes, who has no specific breed, when you can go to one of numerous petstores and purchase the perfect pet (which will only cost a little more than the adoption fees some shelter charge). I know it's cruel, but people are usually selfish and think of their comodity, not for the animal's best interest. So that's life, Jen. It is very dificult to find the few people who will go out of their way to help an animal in need. One of my cats was given to me as a stray from a rescue group, but I think she was a feral cat. We have had her for over 6 months now, given her love and affection, food, toys, a loving home....and she still hisses/bites/scratches us, she lives hiding, either under a sofa, or in a corner of the living room. The lady who gave her to me told me she just needed a week or 2 to adjust. But it's been longer than that and if anythiing, she's getting worse. So this right here is what people are trying to avoid. I don't have any kids, but imagine if I did. Please Jen, don't let it get to you. That's just how life is, that's why this world isn't in good shape.

Let it be, if a few good people pop up, then great....and if not, don't get depressed, that's just how life is.

Take care sweetie, and if you need anything, you know how to reach me.

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Subject: Venting

Author:
Jen
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Date Posted: 22:56:29 12/15/02 Sun

I made this forum for people just to post away about how they are feeling about the house from hell for cats. It's just plain awful.

I was talking to Nicole today, Flinn and Kong's foster mom. She sends us updates all the time and from that we've learned: Flinn loves his wet food, he has extra toes, they hiss when you come in the room, but will then walk up to greet you and Kong backs down from Flinn. Well, she reported that Flinn was in time out for picking a fight with Kong. Kong found this scrap of wool and it's now his baby. He carries it around everywhere, plays with it and stuck up for himself when Flinn tried to take it away. The thought behind that breaks my heart: the cats in this house have nothing! No toys to play with, room to play with one another, no outside stimulation from strangers that want to pet them... not even something as simple as a scrap of wool to call their own. How absolutely upsetting is that?! It just breaks my heart...

Mittens was placed in a foster home yesterday. She seemed ok. Really cute and obviously needs some work like all those cats in that house. She was a "staircase" cat in that house and wasn't ever far from the stair. Well, at her foster home, she's kept in the spare bedroom. New place, a bedroom, having to find new hiding spots and no other cats around. Well, let's just say she's not adjusting well. She needs a bathroom and someone that will teach her how to use the litterbox. How depressing: a cat that doesn't know how to use a litterbox. It'll only take a few times of placing her in there, but she needs a foster home that has time for that.

That's another thing: we have no foster homes. We've had two new foster homes come forward since all of this. Two! How crazy is this? It's nuts! I mean, this guy is getting weirder and weirder everyday we go to see him and we don't have the homes to place them in to get them out. There are so many cats we can get out of there, but we just don't have the foster or forever homes to put them in. It's really depressing.

The house is just so damn awful as well! I mean, fecal matter is all over the place, dirty litterboxes, food that's down for maybe 10 minutes max, we've never reallt mentioned this, but every time that Shea & I are in there for more than an hour or so, we are horribly ill and have cheat pains for the next 24 hours. Cats in the bookshelves, chimney, stairs, sick, cabinets, etc. I mean, poor Angel walked around with a collar that was growing into her and a hernia the size of a freakin tennis ball! He never even took her to anyone to see what that was. Kittens that are killed by the males who don't want anything but their genes being passed on, in heat cats being trapped in a room with a male, grime all over the place, and no interaction with even a simple toy to toss around.

We've been able to take out 15 - 20 cats with about 4 of them now if foster care, but it just doesn't seem like enough when you see this house. The cats are everywhere and run in fear from us. But that makes sense: these cats see us chase around some cat, grab it however we can, place it screaming in a carrier and then they never see that cat again. I'd be freaked too. I just feel so damn depressed about it... we're trying to do all we can, but that doesn't seem like enough right now. Posters are made & put up, websites are advertizing, requests for foster home and donations are stated in one way or another, we put an optimistic spin on us taking these cats to the guy who keeps giving lame, half-assed reasons on why we shouldn't take/scare the cats and, again, no open foster homes that can help us out. It's just... it rips me apart.

Well, I'm done writing. This is getting me to upseting. Thanks so much.

Jen

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