Team Orange

Well, we bid adieu to Team Orange last week. They went to another foster home, and I'll be checking to see where they all end up in the weeks ahead. Why did they go to another foster home, you ask? Well, a certain pointy-headed puppy got extremely jealous over all the attention they were getting, and acted out so badly we decided bringing them back was the best course of action.
He crapped in the house.

He tore up the carpeting in the hallway.

He destroyed our futon mattress in two places.

And what was the last straw?

The night he busted out of his LOCKED kennel (which unhappily resides in the kitten room), ate all the kitty litter, ate all the kitten food, peed on the carpet, and took a giant runny shit down the side of my shopvac and onto the floor.

I love Team Orange, but enough was enough. They went right to a new foster home, and Bruin has calmed his wicked ways considerably. I guess taking on four kittens at once was just too much. I hope to foster again in the future, but I'll opt for less kittens, or an older and wiser BruBear.

More Ado About Marley

Poor Miss Marley-O. All these fosters and dogs taking up the attention.

Love you, MO :)

The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee

After the first foster kitten didn't make it, I swore I would NEVER foster again. Ever!

Then, walking through the Stray Cat Room at work, I saw Team Orange. So many of our kittens at work are sick with URI's, and this crew had nary a snuffly nose or gunky eye.

Long story short, they are currently residing in Bruin's kennel for a couple of weeks until they weigh enough to be fixed and put up for adoption.

Go Team Orange!

We'll Miss You, Little Buckaroo...

He never had a name, he was only around for two weeks, but I'll never forget him.

We got an orphaned two week old kitten in at work, and as no one was around to take him home for the night, (he couldn't eat or go to the bathroom on his own), I took him. "Just for the night", and then a foster parent could take him the next day. Well, one night turned into two weeks, and while it was gross throughout (stimulating a cat to poop isn't as cool as it sounds), and heartbreaking at the end, I'm so glad I had him.

Our little bud made himself at home, tried to suckle off the dogs, found nirvana snoozing under shirts in my cleavage, and wobbled around the apartment like an unsteady gray dust bunny. The dogs loved him and quickly learned to "freeze" when he was under foot.


He had bloody diarrhea most of the time, and constant bathing led to a very sore bum for our little friend. He still played and cuddled regardless, although diarrhea turned to bloody diarrhea, and then in the end just blood oozing out. He had medication, but it didn't seem to help. I've been told that such young kittens really need their mothers to survive, that 80% of kittens his age don't make it without the antibodies, nutrition, social training, and emotional support provided by mum. We tried our best, but in the end his little body got cold, and wouldn't warm up again no matter how many warmed blankets we wrapped him in. When he couldn't lift his head, I wrapped him up and lay him on my chest, tucked under my chin. He died in his favorite spot.

I'll miss you, baby.

Reservoir (Loofa) Dogs

I forgot to mention...on our trip away we picked up a four-pack of "Loofa Dogs" for the boys as a "sorry-for-leaving-you-behind" present. If you're a pet person, you've seen these things at the pet store...
They have squeakers in the head and rear-end, and each one has a different tone. They were such a hit that upon receiving them, Bruin commandeered all FOUR toys and joyfully squeaked
his heart out in a little pile of Loofa Dogs until we had to take some away from him so Gryphon could try them out.

Naming them after Reservoir Dogs seemed appropriate, and they are, respectively, called Mr. Red, Mr. Green, Mr. Orange, and Mr. Blue. Sadly, Mr. Blue was killed in action shortly after coming home (aka, a visit from Kira). The others have suffered as well. Mr. Orange no longer has any ears, and Mr. Red is missing his face and half his stuffing. Only Mr. Green prevails. They are so popular around here, we'll have to go out and buy another pack!

Back to Town

Nik and I flew to Thunder Bay for a wedding last week, and stayed with my parents for 5 days.
It was a beautiful wedding, and I got to spend time with a lot of old friends and family.

The furry elements of our family stayed home, however, and got babysat by our good friends down the hall. We expected Bruin to not care that we were gone, because really, a whole FIVE days with Kira? Awesome! We expected Gryphon to be a nervous wreck, and expected Marley to be her usual attention-seeking, bug-eyed self. Well, we were right about the cat.

Gryphon begged for attention, but he had a blast! He wasn't upset in the least. Bruin, on the other hand, screamed so much during the first two nights, Greg and Lesley had to move his kennel back down the hall to our apartment. Can you believe it? Goofy, oblivious Bruin, who tries to get into strangers cars at Bruce Pit, actually missed us.

All is well now that we're home again. My new job means less time spent with the pooches, and Gryphon doesn't like that (he's licked himself a giant hotspot on his foot due to stress), but they're becoming more adjusted to it. Speaking of work, Gryphon is going to be doing his temperament test through the Humane Society to see if he can volunteer in the Brightening Lives program (dogs who visit hospitals and schools). Wish him luck!

Pet me please, Auntie Lesley?

Pleeeeease?

Bruin, destroyer of plushies

They even got in a trip to Bruce Pit! Auntie Lesley (who is clearly insane), took all THREE pups by herself

Hurray for week long playdates!

Hello? Mom? Dad? Anybody?

Digga Dig Dig!

Digging up Bruce Pit, one day at a time...