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fuzziesngreys
10-24-2004, 10:34 PM
I just joined a couple days ago. As my name implies, I have 2 big loves in my life-ferrets(often known as fuzzies in the ferret lover world) and Greyhounds. Sadly, right now I'm without either. I'm a vet tech student, and my housing situation only allows one dog. I just lost my sweet ferret last month on September 21st after a long and valient fight with cancer. He was definatly my heartchild!

Currently I have 5 furkids. My dog is the only one that's living with me, my mom is holding my cats until I can have them back.

My dog is my princess. She's a 4 1/2 year old English Springer Spaniel named Kristi May who adopted me from an animal shelter shortly after I lost my blue heeler, Taz. She suffered a hard start in life with an abusive hunter who didn't know the first thing about teaching a dog to hunt! He thought beating her and starving her would make her a better hunting dog! Then he dumped her in a shelter when she wasn't learning fast enough for him. She wouldn't respond to anything but me there, and I wasn't ready. I worked with her and got her adopted. She was returned 2 days later accused of being a "cat killer". She had picked up thier kitten and carried it around the house-she thought it was her baby, if she wanted to hurt it, she would have! But any dog accused of that is euthanized at this shelter. I wouldn't hear of it, so they pulled a few strings and Kristi came home with me, and I've never looked back!

My cats are Patch, Sweet Cheeks, Shay, and Gracie.

Patch is my old lady at 9 1/2 years old that I adopted in 1995. She was rescued as a tiny little kitten being given away infront of a store-I didn't want to see her go to a home that wouldn't give her proper care so she came home with me. I'd lost my old cat a couple months prior and really missed having a cat around.

Sweet Cheeks was an abandoned kitten Patch took in and loved as her own. She turned 7 in June

Shay was my shelter rescue. The vet thinks she's either all or mostly Abyssinian, but I don't care. She was going to be euthanized there just because her original owner didn't care enough about her to have her spayed and she was pregnant. The shelter didn't want to be bothered with kittens, so she came home with me. She only had 2 beautiful kittens that I had neutered and placed in a home together. That was the plan with Shay as well, but obviously that never happened. She was about 3 according to the vet when I adopted her 2 years ago, so she's about 5 now.

Gracie is the baby, she's only 1. She was dumped on my doorstep on Thanksgiving Day last year. She's a beautiful baby-A medium hair blue and cream tortie, and the sweetest little girl I've ever met! She's full of kisses, nose butts, and cuddles.

I also have 3 furkids waiting for me across the bridge, Taz the blue heeler, Sandy the terrier mix, Half Mask the calico cat, and my heartchild, Peek-a-boo Bandit the ferret.

Taz was an abused dog I rescued from life on a 4' chain. He was my first dog and I loved him dearly. He worshiped the ground I walked on following me everywhere, never more then 4' away fro me if he had a choice. Sadly, his abuse and neglect of his first 2 years had a lasting effect on Taz and no behaviorist could cure his aggression problem. If anyone but me got near him, he'd go into attack mode. Finally I had to make the hardest decision of my life and let a young healthy dog cross the bridge on July 10, 2001, before something tragic happened. Life wearing a muzzle 24/7 even at home(he never even warmed up to my family in the 6 months he was with me!) was no way to spend the rest of his life, and I knew it was only a matter of time before by some fluke he got out of my room, or out of the house, and seriously injured someone. He already had taken a chunk out of my brother's lip that required stitches when he didn't think about letting him out to play with him(my brother was 18 at the time).I hope I never have to euthanize a young healthy animal because of a humans neglect again!!!

Sandy was a "present" from my mom. She brought him home from the shelter the same day I euthanized Taz. The shelter tried to talk her out of it saying he was "to old" to make a good pet, but she wouldn't listen. At first I didn't want anything to do with him, but he quickly won me over. He was perfect in every way. From day one there was never one thing chewed, never one accident to clean up, he never did anything wrong! He was wonderful. He went everywhere with us.....except for that one dreadful day in February when my dad wouldn't allow it, and Sandy had to stay with someone while we went out of town. Sadly, they didn't follow our instructions and warnings, and Sandy got away and tried to come home. After wondering the streets for 3 days, we got the call nobody ever wants to get from the vet saying Sandy had been hit by a car. He said every effort had been made to save him but he was to far gone. He left this earth on February 11th, 2002.

Half Mask was my first cat. She grew up with me. She as the only cat I ever had who would never come inside. She hated it, we tried many times but she just wouldn't have it, her self appointed spot was outside watching over the farm animals(we raised chickens, turkeys, pheasant, chucker, and a number or other birds). I found her dead on the side yard, she tried so hard to make it back to the patio where we often sat and snuggled, but she didn't quite make it. I was only 12, and my heart broke. Her jaw was totally seperated-the right top met the bottom left :( We aren't sure if she was hit by a car or kicked by a horse or what. It definatly taught me a lesson on the dangers of outside cats! She left me in body on May 17, 1995, but her spirit will never leave.

Peek-a-boo Bandit was the once in a lifetime pet that you connect with heart and soul. I have never had the level of attatchment with any other animal in my lifetime that I had with my sweet Boo. Even when we where appart, we knew when the other was stressed or not feeling well. Nobody had to tell us anything, we knew. I rescued him from a young gentlemen who I honestly believe did his best, but Boo was in bad shape. He was fed a really poor diet that was putting him in renal failure, his cage was in sore need of cleaning, and he was so starved for attention! The vets didn't think he'd make it long, but he proved them wrong time and time again. I had him for just over 6 years, and he was already 3 1/2 when I got him. That's a ripe old age for a ferret. Cancer finally took him from me, but his legacy will always live on. I promised him before he crossed that whenever there is a ferret in my home, at least one will be a special needs ferret. Boo was special, I miss him daily. The bond we shared was so strong that I doubt I'll ever get that with another ferret, but I plan to keep my promise and adopt another special needs ferret when I'm ready to have a ferret in my home again.

catfancier
10-24-2004, 10:59 PM
Welcome to Pet Talk - it sounds like you have had wonderful and sad experiences with a number of different animals, but no doubt you wouldn't have it any other way!
I hope you share more with us all and enjoy being a member.
I too am about to finish studying a Certificate in Vet Nursing, and I am trying to find a job at a clinic here in New Zealand so I can get the practical experience.

I am owned by 2 cats - Tiger (a moggy) and Masar (a Siamese) - both adopted, 4 lop rabbits - Basil, Bung, Holly and Hannah, 2 budgies (no names, 1 boy and 1 girl), and 3 shubunkin goldfish. I grew up with Jack (black and white moggy, RB 14/5/01, aged 16), and Sophie (tortiseshell and white), about to turn 20 on the 1/12/04, ie, 1 Dec 04!
Also over the rainbow bridge are: Danny, Parta, Lancelot and Galahad (all budgies), as well as my first boy budgie. Missing are Joey (cockatiel) and my first girl budgie. My mum is owned by two cockatiels, Popcorn and Candyfloss, as well as Sophie.
I hope your studies are going well - I'd love to know more about what a Vet Tech learns about, so please share with me (or us!) your thoughts on the course/s and the curriculum, topics covered etc.

guster girl
10-25-2004, 01:13 AM
Welcome to Pet Talk! Love the stories! You've had some incredible pets in your life. :)

davidpizzica
10-25-2004, 02:59 AM
Fuzziesngrays, welcome to Pet Talk! I'm david p and I live in Pittsburgh, Pa. I'm owned by Nikki, a beautiful tuxedo kitty, and Daisy, a wonderful tortoiseshell kitty.( who is curled up beside me right now!) I volunteer with Cat Sense, a cat rescue organization in Pittsburgh. Both of my two kitties are rescues. When My siamese Thai went to the Rainbow Bridge at the age of 22, I went looking for another companion. Cat Sense was having an adopyion day at Petco, and there I saw Nikki. They kept telling me that she was so shy and wouldn't respond to anyone, until I came along. She was abused and her former "owner" (I use the term loosely) just kept feeding her until she got fat and never groomed her or even gave her the care she needed. Nikki chose me that day! Then after I had Nikki for a while, I decided to adopt Daisy, Now she was kicked around as a kitten (literally!) and now both have a FOREVER home with me. If i want to adopt again, I would aoopt an older cat, because it seemsthat everone wants a kitten, and alot of older ones get overlooked. Sorry I got long winded!

catfancier
10-25-2004, 03:09 AM
I couldn't agree with you more, david p! I volunteer at the Cats Protection League (see the siggy) in Wellington, (they have a no kill policy), and they don't keep young kittens there, they are usually able to find foster homes for them until they are old enough. The youngest residents there at the moment are about 10 months old (and they're adorable!). However, it's quite sad when we do get phone calls from some people and I overhear the other volunteers speaking to them saying that we don't have very young kittens at the shelter. It seems like all people want is the novelty of something cute, small and helpless. When I go to get another cat (or two, or three, or the 5 I currently have my eye on!), they will most probably be adults. The only way I would have kittens is if they needed a home more than someone else - I wouldn't choose a kitten just because it's a kitten. (But now I've made myself feel bad for saying that!)

davidpizzica
10-25-2004, 04:39 AM
Catfancier, I wonder what kind of future these older cats have outside of putting them to sleep? In my opinion they make the best companions, Since I'm a bachelor and live alone, I love the companionship of these two! If I were to adopt again, I would adopt another older/abused cat.

catfancier
10-25-2004, 04:54 AM
I hope that the older cats have excellent futures - there are heaps of benefits to having older cats, such as not needing to litter train or house train them, they usually come desexed - the CPL have a policy of desexing any cat that comes to them entire - older cats have already developed their 'catonalities', so they won't have sudden demeanour changes... what you see is what you get, but with a little time, even the most skittish, aggressive or shy cat can be taught to trust, and the thing I have found most rewarding with Tiger is the challenge that it took to get from not being able to touch her to her sleeping literally on top of me when I go to bed. It is so refreshing and rewarding to gain an animal's trust in that way.

All the cats at the shelter are very well looked after, they receive veterinary attention when it is needed, at a discounted rate due to the fact that the shelter is a charitable organisation, they get plenty of food, water and cuddles, and litter/bedding/food and water is checked and changed daily. As much as the volunteers love doing this for the cats, we would much rather see them go to furever homes than stay for long periods at the shelter. I can't fault what the shelter does, if I was a cat in need of help, I would try and find my way there.
Check out the website if you haven't been - all those sweet faces!

GraciesMommy
10-25-2004, 05:31 AM
Welcome to PT....I have a Gracie too...only she is a 5 month old(today) yorkie poo~

aly
10-25-2004, 09:59 AM
WELCOME TO PET TALK!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your furkids. Thank you so much for taking the time to thoughtfully type that out. What a wonderful introduction post! I am so glad you are here. I really hope you like it and continue to post. I'd love to see pictures of your babies!

My name is Alyson, but I also go by Aly. I currently have 2 dogs and 2 cats of my own, along with 6 foster cats and a foster dog. I love ferrets, but have never had one. I'm just waiting until the right time. My house is a bit full right now!

LW_Aussies4me
10-25-2004, 02:10 PM
Hi Lydia! Welcome as you know I just joined here to from GT! But I think you can figure out who I am! haha ;)

puppyluvs
10-25-2004, 05:10 PM
Welcome to PT

fuzziesngreys
10-26-2004, 01:17 PM
Originally posted by catfancier
Welcome to Pet Talk - it sounds like you have had wonderful and sad experiences with a number of different animals, but no doubt you wouldn't have it any other way!
I hope you share more with us all and enjoy being a member.
I too am about to finish studying a Certificate in Vet Nursing, and I am trying to find a job at a clinic here in New Zealand so I can get the practical experience.
Well, it's probably different in New Zealand then it is in the US, but I can tell you everything I know :) E-mail me privatly and we can talk, I doubt everyone on here wants the nitty gritty of the vet tech program LOL

Thank you all for your warm welcome!