~ LiL' aBBey'S aTTiC - aRT DoLLS By TRaCi PayNTeR ~

Toil, Toil, Boil, and Bubble...

So how do you save a life?

Even a small wee one...

A life that may not seem worth the time or effort by the heartless...

A life that some may say "Not my thing", "Not my responsibility", "Something I cannot do"...and if those are the excuses not to save a life, well, they are quite simply STUPID and and UNTRUE.

You know how to save a life? 
Big or small, young and old, animal or human??? YOU JUST DO IT - DO IT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO PERIOD. Your right, all cannot be saved BUT you can do your part and that is the reward, THAT YOU DID WHAT YOU COULD - YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT TO SAVE A LIFE...

I've saved numerous abandoned animals all my life - since I was a kid - doesn't take much but effort and love.

In one year - no exaggeration - I was able to save 200 animals (dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, birds, and rabbits); either I located owners of lost animals, find new owners for abandoned ones, or took sick and dying animals that were abandoned to die in the orange groves to the Animal Shelter.

200+ -, not kidding - it happened the same year the housing market crashed. Apparently so did the souls of these pathetic lowlifes who tossed their pets to the side of the road. The area in which these animals were abandoned is filled with numerous predators - small and big - but all deadly to pets not confined to a safe haven/home/yard. Owls, falcons, and coyotes.

So lets get back to my true story on saving another life...

So this past Saturday, at 5am, I was awoken to screaming - like a cat shrieking. All my cats are inside at night, and 1 in the garage - so I was unsure what to think. I grabbed my flip flops and flashlight, ran out front and listened to hear the noise again. Walked down the street, into the orange grove across from me, walked into the tree nursery, calling KITTY KITTY KITTY - and waited for a response - heard nothing.

Returned to my front door and there are 2 of my cats, Chunky Monkey and Snickerdoodle,both crouched down and looking out the bottom corner of the door intently. I called out KITTY KITTY and lo and behold I heard a faint response. Looked down behind a ceramic Jack-O-Lantern, and there shivering was a little ball of grey fur, eyes huge looking up at me fearful and hopeful at the same time. 

Went into 'Mommie' mode and grabbed the fur ball which turned out to be 7-8 week old kitten. I screamed for my daughter to come out, she did, told her to hold it close to her under a blanket to warm the kitten - and then I took off again for over an hour in search for more abandoned babies - by foot and truck. Sadly, if there was more than 1, I found nothing.

Got this little one washed and feed - checked her out and she is in good health (yes, she's a she!). She's a beautiful kitten - white/cream/grey-silver colored, with silver stripes. 

Due to being found at Halloween time - we found it fitting to name her BOO...!

 BOO in my Yankee Candle Haunted House !!!

Relaxing on my giant stuffed Jack-O-Lantern!

Now - your right - you can't keep all the animals you find. But there are numerous things you can do. Become involved with your local Humane Society, local vets, and other Animal Fostering Groups and find out ways how and where you can help. Many Fostering Groups can place animals in forever homes IF they find individuals to help foster animals temporarily.

When you find sick and dying animals, take them to the pound - it sounds cruel - but it is not. Your doing what is right to help the animal NOT to suffer - is it better for them to be put down and to avoid not only the suffering from dying but not to be abandoned and wandering, starving and being attacked by other animals. Your doing the responsible thing unlike their pathetic "owners" who are to cowardly to do whats right. We have had to put many of our pets down due to cancer or old ago/shutting down - and we stay with them right to the end. It is very sad, we are heart broken - but it is the right thing to period - OUR PETS ARE FAMILY, nothing less.

So - yes BOO is a new member of our family - she's spunky, happy and safe...

And all because...

I chose to save a life!