So Frustrated...

I just don't understand some people...

Last week we caught a cat in my yard that was in rough shape. We took him to the Vet & he had a micro chip. We returned him to his family & now there are reports of sightings of this cat outside AGAIN! Not only is this bad because he was just outside for months, terribly skinny & major hair loss, but it's like 20 degrees outside! Please don't get a pet if you can't provide basic care for them.

Facebook is a social network that most people use to keep in touch with family & friends. Some on the other hand use it to post nasty things/lies about others. If you have nothing nice to say, then don't speak. It is simply childish & it only makes you look bad. So, I ask this of you...when you are reading facebook posts & you notice someone specifically spreading lies, saying nasty things, slandering someone's name/reputation in their posts, please ask them to stop. It's not cool, it's not funny. It just shouldn't happen. You should want to do the right thing & be kind to others.

So, tonight I set a trap for the cat & continue to check it. I pray he will come back to me. This time I promise to protect him better. As for the other issue, I will NOT let it bother me any more. All I can do is pray people like this will grow up. It's frustrating to have this in my life, but it's only in my life as much as I let it be.

I Am Thankful For...

Well, every year on Thanksgiving I reflect on the good things in life & remember what I am thankful for. This year I will share what I am thankful for with you...

1. Nate - such a smart, wonderful, responsible kid. He never complains & is always helpful.
2. Hannah - smart, beautiful, kind to all. Her love for animals is amazing & she takes very good care of her guinea pig & our cats.
3. Glen -  intelligent, gorgeous, kind hearted, selfless man. His strength inspires me. He makes me want to be a better person. I couldn't get through a single day without my best friend!
4. Cats - Ashley, Sarah, Sam. Ashley is healthy & happy. Sarah has had some minor health issues this year, but is turning the corner & over the last week seems healthier & happier. Sam is our new addition to our cat family this year. He is everything I ever wanted in a cat & has fit into our family unit purrfectly!
5. Puppy - Riley has changed our lives in so many ways (all of them for the better). He brings so much laughter & happiness to us all. I share my life more with him than anyone else (animal or person). We are together pretty much 24/7.
6. Parents & Step Parents - I have so much support & guidance from them all. I know I will never go a day in my life without love because of these four amazing parents.
7. Friends - I can count on one hand my true friends. That sounds like a bad thing, but it's not. I have some rather remarkable people in my life that I am so incredibly thankful to call my friends. If there is one thing I've learned this past year, it's that quality trumps quantity EVERY time. Thank you Emily for always being there for me (night or day) & sometimes chatting for hours. Thank you Christine for bringing my family Brian, making every moment I spend with you happy and for being a true friend in every sense of the word. Thank you Danielle for always cheering me up & for your unconditional support. Thank you Brandee for decades of unconditional love, friendship, support & fun times.

With all I've been through this past year, it could be real easy to focus on the negative forces that be. I WILL look at the positive though because of all the family & friends I have sitting next to me, giving me unconditional love & support. I am so very grateful to each & every one of you. Thank you for being so wonderful!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving & many blessing to come!

Love,
Jaime

Dogs 2009-2010

Whether these dogs stayed in my home for just one night or for months, each of these dogs will always hold a special place in my heart.

My Cats

Ashley is our gray tabby cat that we adopted in 2002 at 6 weeks old from Domestic Cat Rescue. The name Ashley was picked by my friend's daughter. She was born at the Greenville Co-op. Ashley spends all her time upstairs with my son, Nate. Ashley's birthday is 4/20/02. 

Brian a Mainecoon cat, whose name was originally Bry Bry, joined our family in either 2003 or 2004. We got him from a friend of a very good friend of mine, who was moving & could not take him along. Brian was such a handsome cat, from his long hair to his mustache & toupee! Brian was not a lap cat, but he slept with me every night. Brian loved baths so much he would stand on the edge of the tub & use his head to turn the bath water on. There were many occasions when I would hear the tub water running & find him rolling around in the water in the bath tub. When he arrived at our home he was 21 pounds. We got him down to a healthy 14.4 pounds. On 4/16/10 we had to say goodbye to our wonderful boy. Although he was given a clean bill of health at his annual Vet visit on 3/09/10, shortly after developed a large mass in his stomach. We didn't know about it until 4/16/10 when we took him in to his Vet because he was very ill & lost a lot of weight in just a few days. Brian had Lymphoma. The cancer spread very quickly & there was nothing that could be done for our poor boy. We miss him terribly. He was 8 years old & just under 9 pounds when he passed.

Sarah was adopted from Saving Paws in 2006 when she was 3-4 years old. My kids & I went to the rescue to adopt a 6 week old Calico kitten, but Sarah chose us. The rescue said Sarah never interacts with people, but she came right to my kids & rolled around on the floor between them. She is considered a special needs kitty because she had some head trauma due to an accident. The rescue thinks she was a feral cat & may have been hit by a tractor.She has a bald & scarred spot behind her right ear from this. She has a cataract in her right eye, leaving her blind in that eye. Aside from occasionally walking into a wall, she has been a very healthy cat. She has primarily bonded with my boyfriend. Sarah always has to be by him, she even sleeps on his pillow!

Sammy, a 3 year old long haired gray & white Mainecoon/Tortie Calico mix, came into my family in June 2010. We got him from a friend of a very good friend. His family was moving & couldn't take him along. To all of our surprise, he looks & acts quite a lot like our beloved cat, Brian. He is a lap cat, as long as it's my lap! Sam is definitely my cat. He likes baths, is very vocal, has to be the center of attention and LOVES dogs! Sam has helped many of the dogs we fostered learn how to socialize with cats. He has been a wonderful addition to our family.