Sunday, April 26, 2015



Blog 04/20/15 to 04/26/15  

REMINDER:  Barn Cat Bash, June 7th, 5:30 pm 
Bistecca in Highland Village, TX     $45 per person
Reservations Required
972-315-2875 or info@barncats.org for an invitation
Silent/Live Auctions, Buffet Dinner, Endless Wine! 

Relocations and In Take
Our Cats after Release
Bad Calls/Emails:  10-Year Old Orange Tabby DISCARDED!   
BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan):  Family Throws Out Cats
OMG (Oh My God):  Carlos in Weatherford     
Auction Preview

Relocations and In Take:   Placed 18 this week with intake at 6.    
5          Barn in Copper Canyon (Ginger, Greta, Glenda, Gavin, Grayson)
3          Barn in Copper Canyon (Moxie, Misty, Beau)
1          Garage in Argyle (Chelsea)
9          Bonham Rescue

Our Cats after Release:   Picked up in 7 locations this week. 
1.      Avalon:  Moxie, Gail, Alice, and George were placed in this barn.  They are hanging out under a nearby shed.  The property owner is going to put in a cat door there.  Hay is stored in that shed. 
2.      Frost:  This cattle ranch received Bright Eyes, Pretty Girl, Hope, Daddy Cat, Fred, and Barney.  The property owner was not around and we did not get to see any of the cats. 
3.      Frost:  Kirk, Kevin, and Kelli (all from Keller) have gone to live in this barn in Frost.
4.      Celina:  Taffy, Licorice, and Hunter were placed in Celina in a barn that is attached to the property’s owner’s home.  Hunter has not been seen but the other two are together in a second barn on the property. 
5.      Fairview:  Samantha and Steve went to this shed/workshop.  The litter box had “new stuff” in it, so they are still around. 
6.      Wills Point:  Felix, Abner, and Rena went to this barn storage area.  All are still around and “taking care of business” for the property owner. 
7.      Nemo:  Hoot and Meeko went to this barn in Nemo.  There was “stuff” in the litter box overnight so they are still there.    

Out of all these cats we did not see anyone this week.  The Nemo location had really bad weather over Sunday night…tornado near Glen Rose which is in the same county.  I exchanged text messages with the property owner and everyone is OK there!    

Bad Calls/EMAILS:  10-Year-Old Orange Tabby DISCARDED!
This is unbelievable:  This couple’s pet was brought to Arlington, TX so the wife’s mom could keep him safe pending return of the military couple stateside.  This was between October and December of last year – 2014.  He is 10-years-old and very sweet.  SO – WHAT KIND OF EVIL PERSON TAKES A BELOVED CAT, SAYS THEY WILL CARE FOR IT, THEN TURNS IT INTO A SHELTER OR WORSE DUMPS IT SOMEWHERE?  Barn Cats did not receive a 10-year-old orange tabby during that time frame from anyone.  The cat had 2 microchips:  one person and one military.  Every shelter, vet clinic, and adoption group has a microchip scanner or access to one.  I hope they find him but it is not looking good at this point.  I hope that mom ROTS IN HELL!

UPDATE:  She turned the cat into Arlington Animal Services and they released him to a local adoption group.  BUT – AAS will not tell the original owner what group took the cat.  They are making her do a freedom of information request to the city.  GEEZ!   I hope they discover that the cat was adopted by a loving family and is doing well somewhere…but I still hope the mom ROTS IN HELL!   
                                                                                                            
BMG:  Family Throws Out Cats
An elderly person passed away in the Dallas area and Feral Friends received a call to rescue the cats.  There are 5.  The family could find 4 and just tossed them outside to fend for themselves.  The 5th one is still in the house.  Barn Cats will take them next week after the vet work is completed.  Feral Friends will be handling the actual rescue.  These 5 cats were obviously important to the person that passed away but the family just does not care.  Another reason to HATE PEOPLE!  

OMG:  Carlos in Weatherford
A couple of years ago we placed two cats in a barn in Weatherford.  Carlos is still around and is now spending some of his time in the main house.  Carlos is a medium-haired black cage – very personable guy.  He is doing well…
Auction Preview
All of the Barn Cat auctions always have lots of cat and dog-themed items.  These are two hanging bird feeders – one cat and one dog.  They are really cute, I think. 


                          
“Thanks” for following the Barn Cats Blog.  See you all next week.      Peg


Sunday, April 19, 2015



Blog 04/13/15 to 04/19/15  

REMINDER:  Barn Cat Bash, June 7th, 5:30 pm 
Bistecca in Highland Village, TX     $45 per person
Reservations Required
972-315-2875 or info@barncats.org for an invitation
Silent/Live Auctions, Buffet Dinner, Endless Wine! 

Relocations and In Take
Our Cats after Release
Bad Calls/Emails:  13-Year Old Un-Spayed Feral Female       
BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan):  Potential Eviction 
OMG (Oh My God):  Abandoned Mansion      
Auction Preview

Relocations and In Take:   Placed 31 this week with intake at 5.    
9          Adopt Group (2 moms with 7 older kittens)
4          Barn in Gunter (August, Amber, Smokey, Rudy)
3          Garage in Plano (Minnie, Meow-Meow, Little One)
9          Barn in Barry (Candy, Crystal, Miranda, Amy Victoria, Sheila, Alice, Sam Ted)
1          Garage in Celina (Clover)
1          Garage in Sanger (Sally)
2          Barn in Pilot Point (Sedona, Terosa)
2          Backyard Cat House in Southlake (Donny, Danny)

Our Cats after Release:   Picked up in Celina where Bubbles and Hoshi were relo’ed.  They are not seeing them but the rats are gone and the food is disappearing.  They are there – just not visible.     

Bad Calls/EMAILS:  13-Year Old Un-Spayed Feral Female
Someone has had a feral cat in their home for 13 years and never had her to a vet.  Now she is moving and cannot take the cat.  SO – I am concerned because this cat had never had any shots.  The cat is going to be tested, spayed, and given shots this week or next week.  Barn Cats will get her for the cat room and just let her live out her days there.  GOOD GRIEF!     
                                                                                                            
BMG:  Potential Eviction
I received a call from a mentally challenged guy in Fort Worth.  He had taken in two female cats that had given birth to a total on 7 kittens who are now about 3 to 4 months old.  His apartment has a 2-pet limit but had let him come in with 3.  Now he had 9 additional for a total of 12 in a one-bedroom apartment.  The manager said “Get rid of the 9 or move.”  We were lucky enough to get all 9 into the SPCA which is the only organization with enough room to take in 9 at any one time.  It is a great opportunity for those cats.  There were VERY socialized and none were sick.  We picked them up in Fort Worth and then headed East to Dallas.   It could not have been better.    

OMG:  Abandoned Mansion
This garage is connected to an abandoned MANSION where a “hoarder” lived for many years.  A local family has purchased the property and is in the process of restoring it.  There were MANY RODENTS that had destroyed the plaster on the walls, etc.  The new owner gave Nancy and I the “grand tour”.  There is a beautiful library in the front all with newly refinished dark wood.  This property certainly fell into the right hands and will soon be FABULOUS once again.  Plus, now Minnie, Meow-Meow, and Little One will be there to keep off more of the nasty critters.   

Auction Preview
There will be a whole section of Texas-themed items.  We have a bird house and feeder made of Texas license plates and two items made of barbed wire:  a cross and a star (has names of folks that registered that particular type of barbed wire and dates of registry):
 
 

  
“Thanks” for following the Barn Cats Blog.  See you all next week.      Peg
 


Sunday, April 12, 2015



Blog 04/06/15 to 04/12/15  

REMINDER:  Barn Cat Bash, June 7th, 5:30 pm 
Bistecca in Highland Village, TX     $45 per person
Reservations Required
972-315-2875 or info@barncats.org for an invitation
Silent/Live Auctions, Buffet Dinner, Endless Wine! 

Relocations and In Take
Our Cats after Release
Bad Calls/Emails:   No Good Deed…
BMG (Bitch/Moan/Groan):  Guilt Trip      
OMG (Oh My God):  Website Redesign     
Auction Preview

Relocations and In Take:   Placed 9 this week with intake at 9.    
6          Adopt Group (mom with 4 older kittens, Chester)
2          Barn in Leonard (Chika, Verde)
1          Bonham Rescue

Our Cats after Release:   Nothing to pick up this week.   

Bad Calls/EMAILS:  No Good Deed…
No good deed goes unpunished!”  I guy called on Monday saying he needed to place 2 cats and one was at the spay/neuter clinic NOW.  I said I could take the cat that afternoon when he picked it up from the clinic but it will need a negative test for feline leukemia and a distemper shot.  The good news is that I got his phone number.  Nancy and I prepared cages for the cats coming in today as we were preparing a fundraising letter and doing some extensive “spring cleaning” in the garage and sheds.  Well – about 4:30 pm the 3 came in from Gainesville and then about 6 pm another cat came in from Fort Worth.  At 7:30, I realized that I was still waiting for that guy and his cat.  SO – I called him and (guess what) he decided it was too much money for the test and extra shot and he decided to keep the cat.  GOT IT!  I am waiting for you and the cat and MANY HOURS AGO you decided not to bring it.  He just called this morning – I said I would take the cat – changed his mind but DID NOT LET ME KNOW!   Geez!

                                                                                            
BMG:  Guilt Trip 
I think a local rescuer is trying to make me feel guilt because I will not take on the expense of doing the testing and distemper shots for cats she wants to come to Barn Cats.  The requirements have been the same for many, many years:  Negative test for feline leukemia, spayed/neutered, rabies shot and distemper shot.  The cats should come to Barn Cats with this done.  We placed 761 cats last year…you need to do 8.  OK?  Either get it done (which I said I could take 4 this week) or I cannot help you.  Sorry for the cats!   

OMG:  Website Redesign
I have been trying to get our Barn Cats, Inc. website redone for about 3 years. 
1.      Asked the person that originally did the design – not in that business any longer.
2.      Went to a company – would not return my calls.
3.      Asked a volunteer/friend – never got off the ground.
4.      FINALLY:  Traded the work for our doing a fundraiser for his animal organization.  This last adventure has been almost a year in the making – BUT IT IS DONE as of Tuesday, 4/7/2015 – WOW!  
Check it out:  www.barncats.org – proud of the new look.  Now the BLOG is available from the website and the US GROUPS LIST (now OTHER BARN CAT GROUPS) is finally updated!   THANK YOU, ROB!  

Auction Preview
This auction will have an artsy flare.  I have gotten many lovely cat and dog related works of art including some photos on canvas from Africa, some prints from Buenos Aries, and some custom clocks from a gallery in Orlando.  I will feature the clocks next week.  Here are some of the cat art samples:  




     

“Thanks” for following the Barn Cats Blog.  See you all next week.          Peg