The rescues just keep comin'

Howdy Y'all,
It's taken me a long time to get here, with all the usual crisis, . First, let me clarify on Thunder, we thought he was a rotti puppy. Later as he began to grow, we noticed that at 6 months old, he was already bigger than Leaway, our biggest dog (85 pounds). Hmm, it got me to checkin' the other breeds. He had webbed paws, so I started there, makin' comparisons. To the best of our limited knowledge, we think that he is a rotti-newfoundland mix! Now, he's around 7 1/2 to 8 months old and he is enormous and still growin' fast and is beginnin' to be taller than our 5 1/2 year old, Leaway. He is learnin' commands, housetrained, does some cute tricks and is about 88 pounds now.
Even though we are more crowded than ever (in our trailer), they all seem to manage together as a pack, with different mixed breeds, different sizes, etc and we've learned to love the new ones just as much. Chilly, the border terrier mix, tries to rule the pack, but Kali, our 4 pound yorkie-bichon mix has that title already. It's fun to watch the interactions, their antics, keeps me goin' with a smile, most of the time.
Carbon, the labmix, found a new "forever" home, with a nice family, a large fenced in yard, a pool and two minature dachounds to play with. The children play with her lots, and take her for runs, with a bicycle. We were glad she found a better home, where she wouldn't have to deal with a dozen other dogs, that we have here.
Within a week of Thunder's rescue, the same man asked us to take his young nigerian goat, female, so she came here and we named her jewel.
After she jumped her fence, and the pack went after her, we knew that we would have to rehome her quick. Shelby, the owner of Hoofs n Horns sanctuary took her to her home. Now she lives with other goats and is a special pet to Shelby. We were glad that we could find her a place so soon. Shelby is a angel and cares very much. She has also rescued and takes care of lots of animals too.
Still no donations came and the horses needed to have their teeth floated and their hooves trimmed. I was told by one vet that it would be $250 per horse! I almost fainted. I called Adrian, the owner of another sanctuary of horses and dogs and told her the problem. I was so afraid that we would have to give up the horses if we couldn't get their problems taken care. Bein' an understandin' sweet friend, she is havin' her farrier do our two horses and she's payin' for it. She also sent us a donation of money, at a time when we didn't know how we could buy feed, we were broke. I cried with relief and happiness, that we could now buy food for the critters, this month.
Adrian has owned and managed her sanctuary for 40 years and has helped other sanctuaries that she hears about that's in need. Her sanctuary is called Castaway Treasures. Again it's a "last home for life" sanctuary, as is ours and Mary's at Ironwood Pig Sanctuary. We are all smaller, not as well known about, as some other shelters, but there's a big need for a "last home for life", since not all can be adopted and shouldn't have to die, to "make room".

It never stops. Less than a week after that, he calls again and asked us to come get his fancy ring-neck doves and a peacock. Dave built a outside cage, where they could fly and was off to rescue 'em. He brought 17 doves back and a young male peacock. After a few days, they still hadn't settled down and we counted, now we were down to 14 doves. The peacock was eatin' the doves, as they flew to the ground to eat. This would never do, so we found a home for the peacock, where he would have more room to wander and do what peacocks do. He would have other peacocks to relate too. Within days, the doves began to settle down and quit tryin' to escape every time the door was opened. Now they talk to us, when we are out there, with their laughs and coos. Some even try to nest, but we don't want to make more, so we remove the eggs, which become food for other critters here and the doves don't seem to care at all.
He called again to ask us to take in, a 240 pound farm hog, not full grown. But we had no availible pen and no donations had came in, so we tried to have them foster the hog, until we could rescue it. Dave carried food over for it and we checked with other sanctuarys to see if they could donate some pig panels, we would make a pen for it. As time kept gettin' longer, the owner's family became impatient and wouldn't wait any longer. Soon the hog was gone and we heard they had a big barbeque. It hurt and is disheartenin', but with out donations, we don't have the funds to rescue all the critters that need it. We continue to do as much as we can.
Zac's grandmother needed a home for her rooster, who had gotten too big for the pen and there weren't enough hens to keep him happy, lol. So Dave built another pen, inside of Neevis and Willy's pen (two of our pot-bellied pigs) and Hopper, the big red rooster, came to live with us. Neevis and Willy lay by Hopper's pen, in the shade. Hopper seems delighted with his new friends and neighbors (the doves on one side and Neevis and Willy right there). He watches all the action of the sanctuary and announces his presence everyday. He flies to the ground and struts, cluckin' to the pigs. Sometimes I hear 'em grunt back. He's no longer ill tempered, but calmly accepts the sanctuary as his home.
We've met some lovely people, who rescued a goat that had wandered into their yard. It was hurt and had a prickly pear cactus across it. They rescued it and brought it to us. He's a cute goat, black, with a splash of white and didn't look like either of the other kind that we had here. Since then, we found out that he had escaped from bein' slaughtered. After pickin' out stickers for the day, we let him loose in part of our sanctuary that was fenced off.
We use that part for exercisin' the horses and the other goats, Jett, Papi and Shug get to go there and graze/browse. The new goat, immediately tangled with the cactus again and again. So after another round or two of pickin' out stickers, Zac named him Needles and we moved him into the corral with Hope, the swayback mustang mare. She accepted him and Reyna, our crippled paso fino mare watched from the next corral. Soon he was goin' into both corrals (the corrals link together), and cleanin' up spilled hay, etc. Needles had become a companion and a go-between for both the old mares, but still would run from us. We did find out that he is a minature alpine-nubian mix goat. I reckon that slaughter goats don't have to be purebreds.
Barbara and her son Tom, have been very generous and paid to have him neutered and checked out by the vet. After the neuterin', which was done the old farm way, he was traumatized for a few days. The vet said he was about 1 1/2 years old and too old for anesthesia. Even though we knew better, it had been done and there wasn't anythin' we could do about it. Now, a week or so later, he's startin' to come up for pets and treats, which is great. He'll live his life in the sanctuary, as the others do that we rescue. We are the critters "last home for life", unless we can find a better home and a bond between the person and critter, we won't adopt 'em out.
Since then, Barbara has become another of our sanctuary's angels and stays involved in the sanctuary doings, helpin' us any way she can. She gives me moral support, as do a few other angels and it keeps me tryin' harder to do better and to not let my diseases and disabilities get the best of me.
Our star volunteer, Zac (14 years old) has helped us every day that he could get here, since school ended and now that school has started, he still comes to help, after school, when he can. He donates part of money that he gets for doin' other work. His grandmother, Kathy is another angel. Even though there's quite a few miles between us, she is here, if I need anythin' and drives Zac back and forth as she can.
Lex, our smallest iguana (with the broken tail) was becomin' too big for his cage and started tryin' to get out all the time. Since we absolutely didn't have room for a larger cage in here, my wonderful husband, Dave built a cage on top of Lex's cage, then cut an openin' between 'em. So now Lex has an two-story cage. The lower cage contains his water, his hidey-hole (a box home) and a ladder leadin' into the top cage. The top cage has places for him to sun, see all the action in the trailer and the two other iguanas, who live on the other side. We put his food there, so he'll get exercise, goin' between the two.
Einstein, our 15 year old monk parrot, died in my arms (it took him 6 hours). We couldn't find a vet who would help him immediately. Femali, our last female bearded dragon died. We found her dead in the cage, but have no idea why she died. Etson, one of our oldest pot-bellied pigs, also expired this year, also Merlin, our 15 year old rotti-chow mix. It's been painful and sad, but another rescue always comes and the sun always shines again. I think we have over 45 critters now and that's about all we can handle and take good care of, until the phone rings and we hear of another critter in need. How do ya say no, when ya feel their pain and know their need?
My health remains about the same, but no worse. I was told last year, in september that I would have about 6 months to live, if I didn't do treatments. I continued to research and find homeopathic ways to help my kidneys and liver and I'm still here and still doin' as much as I'm able to keep our sanctuary up to the standards we set years ago. I seem to have more problems with the doctors than I do, with my health problems, lol. They don't seem to understand why I wouldn't do all these tests, medications and treatments, but then I don't understand why they are the way they are either, . At 66 years of age, I know my body, better than they do and I do all I can to take care of it. But my husband and our sanctuary are my life and I want the quality not quanity in the years that I live now. Without Dave, it would be impossible for me to manage the sanctuary. He has done so much and continues to be my caretaker and best friend. In March, we'll have been married for 29 years and doin' rescue and shelter for 25 years. He's my light and love.
I know I haven't caught up on all that's been happenin' here, but as much as I can for now. I'll be addin' pictures, my cybersister, Sue, who does my website, will get it updated as she can.
Since meetin' other people, who care and are willin' to be a part of the sanctuary, in any way they can, I am able to renew my strength and resolution to keep this sanctuary goin' as long as I can and keep hopin' to meet others, who would like to become a part of a sanctuary, that is for critters with special needs, elderly, etc and who need a "last home" that is a comfortable place, with lots of love.
Luv, CougarCrone
"Very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts." Sy Wise

Strays in the desert and an unwanted puppy

Howdy Y'all,
It's been hectic here lately. Linda's daughter found two stray female dogs and rescued them. It was so nice of them to take in the strays, wash and feed them. Dave picked 'em up at Linda's. A 1 1/2 year old female black lab mix and a 2 1/2 year old female brown & black terrier-chihuahua mix. Both had been in the desert for weeks and were tick infested, had cactus stickers every where. They were filthy and smelly, very emaciated and dehydrated and very very confused.
We named the black labmix, Carbon, cause in the sunlight, she's not true black, but has a brown under tone. She is a needy dog, always crowdin' in for attention. We named the brown terrier-chihuahua mix, Chilly, after a cartoon penguin, I watched as a youngin'. Chilly is mischievious, atad sneaky and loves to play.
Both had littered, probably 2 or 3 times, but no pups were found.
Linda, a good friend, paid for the initial vet visit. Both dogs were negative for heart worms. The vet treated Carbon's ears, they were infected from the ticks and gave 'em both, a flea & tick dip. They both have to take medication for tick fever, preventively. I'm so grateful to her for rescuin' the poor dogs and for helpin' us with the expense.
I was proud of our pack and the way that they accepted the newcomers. Even though, it would mean that our livin' area just got more crowded.
About 3 days later, we were called to come pick up a dog, that was terrorizin' his owner, the owner's family and attackin' the owner's goat. So Dave brought the dog to the sanctuary. It was a 3 month old male rotti pup, not big enough nor old enough to terrorize. But a happy jolly puppy, dirty, emaciated, confused and neglected. He was hand and foot shy. He is so sweet and tries really hard to please. We named him Thunder and his feet are enormous! He'll have a home for life with us and fills the spot left when Merlin died.
We now have a dozen dogs, eight, weighin' 4lbs-95lbs, which live in the trailer with us. I was surprised at how well our pack is balanced, but not surprised that more needed to be rescued. We have a total of 38 critters that live here and were rescued.
All 3 of the new dogs were neutered and vaccinated. Carbon and Chilly are ready for a "forever" home. They are leash trained, house trained and know some commands. Thunder will be a permanent member of the sanctuary. We need donations to help with the costs, so we can help other critters here that need to see a vet.
As for my health, its about the same or maybe atad better, but my energy level is very low. It's been so busy with the new dogs, gettin' all settled down, teachin' the rules of the home and socializin' them, that I couldn't take the time to post, but that's a part of what a sanctuary is all about and I love it.
Thanks to Linda for goin' outta her way to help a helpless critter. Even though school is over, Linda and her daughter still volunteer at the sanctuary as often as they can. We are so grateful and hope to meet others, that feel as we do.
Now, I have to clean cages and do the laundry. Tomorrow is a big day, with Linda and daughter comin' to help, maybe we can catch up some.
luv, CougarCrone
"We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts." Madeleine L'Engle

Another crosses the Rainbow Bridge

A week or two ago, Merlin had to be euthanized. The hardest thing to do. Merlin, for those that don't know, was a rotti-chow-gsd mix. Dave had rescued him, when he watch someone throw him in a mine pit, in the desert. He was about 2 months old. That was back in '95 and he had been here with us, ever since. He never knew hunger,abuse, neglect, etc. He truly had a home for his lifetime.
When he got older, I noticed he would stay by me, try to help me. He needed a job and I became it. He became my service dog. If I fell, he would come and stand, so I could pull myself up. One time when I fell back into a prickly pear, he had to pull me out, then let me prop on him, while he got me back to the trailer. If I got dizzy, he would lean so I could steady myself on him. He love to play "fetch the ball", in the trailer. It was too much work to chase a ball outside, lol. It was funny, he would come very close, then throw the ball back at us. I taught him to take care of the gate, cause I couldn't walk that far, so I would put the key to the gate on his collar and he would take it to the gate, so the gate could be unlocked. Then when they left, he went with them and brought the key back to me. He was the alpha to our other dogs, at the time and our pack was balanced and calm.
He just kept breakin' down as he got older, just like I have. He had been on Rimadyl, ever since he was diagnosed with Mastcell cancer, 7 years ago. He developed hip dysplasia, and then arthritis. Catarcts began formin' on his eyes and his hearin' was gettin' worse. We noticed that all he was doin' was eatin', goin' outside to relieve himself of urine and then come in and lay back down. He had become incontinent of bm, his back end was becomin' numb. Sometimes, I would have to help him up, by liftin' his backend. Soon it was just too much for him and we knew it was time. He was 13 1/2 years old. Which is a long life for his breed and weight (90lbs). We had him cremated.
We were heartsore, as he left a hole in our lives, but the others were there and we all grieved together. A week later, Dave picked up Merlin's ashes and brought him home for the last time. He now rests, with our other critters, who have passed on, still here with us. He'll remain in our memory and our heart.
Leaway, a 6 week old pup that my son had rescued, when it was thrown from a movin' car. Has stepped up and fills Merlin's job. Now, at 5 years old, he is about 95lbs, a lab-red heeler-gsd mix and smart. He takes care of me and does my biddin'. He picks up what I drop, gets what I point at for me. He retrieves all the dogs dishes and the pigs dishes when they are done eatin' and brings 'em to me. He even will take things back and forth between Dave and me. He grieved for Merlin too. As Merlin had played daddy to him, teachin' him doggie stuff. He's a good alpha too and our pack is settlin' back down after the loss.
Dave had to take a week of his vacation. I was gettin' overwhelmed and weaker. We still have Linda and her students. She is a jewel. They have been such a big help to me and the critters. Next week will be the end of the school season. Linda and her daughter will still come to help us. A friendship has begun to grow.
We have someone helpin' us now and then, when they can, but for most of the time, it's just Dave and me here with the critters, livin' life and lovin' it. It's hard to explain the joy, satisfaction and fun it is, to live in a sanctuary. They are all pets too. We have 38 critters now.
My health continues to go up and down and I try to roll with it. I have to rest lots more now, but the pain is less. I still do homeopathic treatment for my liver and my kidneys. I meditate and try to stay positive. I read self help type books (audible ones, my eyes are too bad) and have lots to keep me busy. I've changed my diet to one of chicken, fish, vegetables, fruits, etc. I try to get to sleep early. I might as well, I'm brain dead by 4pm.
I heard from some cybersisters this week and it did perk me up. I felt great the rest of the day, more energy, better mood and attitude. So it is important to keep friends and be social. Funny thing for someone my age to learn, after 30 years of bein' a hermit & recluse. Just my animals were good enough and still are. But I need that stimulation, that ya can't get, unless bein' social. Hmmm, who says an old dog can't learn new tricks. I have known my cybersisters for years, and we are all more than friends, but true sisters now.
Dave has to go to town and run some errands. So I'll try to do some research, then I'll have to curl up in the recliner (don't have a couch or I would lay down)and watch cookin' shows and documentaries. Maybe doze off and on, inbetween tendin' critters needs, until Dave gets home.
I truly wish y'all could have known Merlin, he was the one dog, ya find in a lifetime, that matches personality. Gotta get the noon feedin's done, before Dave leaves. Leaway has almost mastered takin' the key to the gate and back.
luv, CougarCrone
"Much unhappiness results from our inability to remember the nice things that happen to us." W.N. Rieger

Trapped in the trailer and a sad time

Howdy Y'all,
That's what is happenin' now. We have a backhoe here right now, doin' some diggin' for us, so all the dogs have to be inside the trailer. If they are in here, I have to be or they would tear up the trailer. Dave is goin' back and forth 'tween here and where the backhoe is workin', tryin' to keep on both,lol. It's a nice trapped, cause I get to sit in the recliner, get on the puter, as much as my energy will allow, then watch tv and keep the critters calm and settled down, until they can go outside. We have to do this about every few years, cause of a wash that runs thru the property. It would flood when it rains, if we don't do it.
Dave is off work for a week. It only happens once a month. For now, they have him on straight day shift, so I have less help than I did before, when he was here more (thanks to the night shift). But we both like the idea that the shift doesn't change every week and Dave gets more sleep.

It's also a sad time, as we have lost one of our pot-bellied pigs this week. Etson died Monday. We knew it was a matter of time, as he had been ailin' for a couple years. He was old, but the years we had him were filled with love and lots of goodies. He was smart and did some tricks and was loved very much. The loss of a critter is the hardest to bear, when doin' a sanctuary. But we knew we would be lettin' ourselves open for heartache, when we decided to make it a sanctuary for elderly and special needs too. They are the ones that are euthanized, because they are more work and more expensive to take care of, since they require more vet trips, medications, treatments, etc.
My health continues to go up and down like a yo-yo. I have days with more energy and some with no energy at all. But at least, I feel like I'm up more and doin' more than before, which should mean that I'm gettin' better. I know I'll never get well, but it gives me more time, I hope. I had my sonagram on my kidneys. The Nephrologist called about a week later. She said she sees a nodule on my right kidney and is schedulin' me for a C-scan, grrr! I just really hate when I have to leave here and go to town for anythin', let alone, go to the doctor's office or have lab test and diagnostic test, etc. Dave says I'm barn sour. A term used on horses, that stay in the barn for so long, that they don't wanna leave it. Reckon that's me too, but they have been my life for 25 years. Bein' a recluse and likin' critters better than people (sorry, not that I don't like some people, just like critters better). I've been that way, ever since I came back from Nam.
We have been busy for the last month, with critter stuff and I have been down alot. We had someone come out and they trimmed all the pot-bellied pigs feet and shortened the tusks of our two neutered male pigs. We had the farrier out and he trimmed the horses hooves, 2 trips to the vet and now the backhoe stuff. Considerin' doctorin' Etson and havin' to go to the Drs. myself a few times this month, plus Dave bein' on dayshift, it has been so hectic for me. I had to do most of all the critter stuff by myself. Dave would try to finish up what I couldn't when he got home, but that isn't til 'tween 7:30-8pm. There's not much he could do then and the critters weren't gettin' to see him often enough. They were used to the old schedule. When he worked nights, they would see him and he could help some before he left for work in the afternoon. But day shift is great for other reasons. He said it might change back to swing shift again,soon. Shift work does pay more and that would help the critters, since we seldom get a donation. We'll see which way it goes and trust that we'll handle it somehow.
We are still blest with Linda. She faithfully brings out a couple students, for a couple of hours once a week. It doesn't sound like much, but when ya haven't had any volunteers and then ya get one, it's wonderful. We live in the sanctuary, our walls are lined with cages,and another row stacked on top of the cages (for our reptiles-snakes, iguanas, birds, fish, monitor). Every room but one (the bedroom)has cages in it. And the 2 little dogs, sleep with us, the other 5 dogs sleep around the bed and in the hallway. Our trailer is only 10x55 with a small 8x4 add-on (full of cages). So it's quite crowded if anyone comes, especially if Dave and I are here. But Linda and the youngins adapted right to it. The youngin's do some clean-up work for 1 1/2 hours, then they come in and learn about the reptiles, get to hold a snake or touch a bearded dragon. They also are willin' to help me clean out a reptile's cage.
I usually, keep workin' too. Shelter/sanctuary work is never done and there's never a period where there's nuttin' to do. If everythin' was cleaned, the critters need groomin', feedin' and there's always trainin'. The youngin's love to wash the horses and dogs, since we have one of those rapid wash products that only take 3 minutes to do the job completely. They help me give the horses and goats their noon meal of a flake of hay, before they leave. They get a kick outta givin' the goats their hay, cause we break up the hay and put small piles here and there, all over their pen. It gives 'em somethin' to do, makes it take longer for them to consume all of it and it keeps Jett, the dominant one, from not lettin' the others eat. He can't protect every pile, .
Well, the backhoe work is almost finished. Dave has to go to town and pick up my manual wheel chair. It had to have new tires. Hopefully, if some donations come in, I'll be able to use some of our money to get my electric wheel chair fixed. I really need it sometimes, but it's gonna cost more. Most of our money, goes to the critters and my medications and we live on what's left. They come first with us and I have high standards about what they need and how they are cared for.
Dave is lettin' the bachoe man out the gate now, everythin' is done. Now, we go back to the usual schedule. Dave will come in, the dogs will go outside for awhile. They are in and out all day long, just like youngin's, . Then, he'll feed the iguanas and dragons, eat somethin' and go to town. I'll eat somethin' and lay curled in the recliner and rest, maybe doze. The birds and dogs take a nap with me everyday and have for years. From 12noon (after the horses and goats have their hay)til 3pm is their quiet time. Now, I'm ready to lay in the recliner (have no couch, too crowded with cages)and rest. It takes me hours to do a post and uses up my energy. So I have to rest and build up more so I can deal with the evenin' round of feedin' doctorin' and beddin' the critters down for the night. I like to check all the critters when I get up and before I go to bed at night, to make shor' that every critter is comfortable for the night.
I miss Etson and have a hole in my heart, but it'll heal and another critter in need will come to fill that hole. I'm grateful that I had time with Etson and got to know him. I will put him up in webshots, in my memorial album for past critters.
luv, CougarCrone
"True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by." E.S. Bouton

Almost Spring in the desert

Howdy Y'all,
My health continues to decline and I continue to get weaker, but I'm still here and doin', . Dave just finished four days of dayshift yesterday and I had to handle the sanctuary. Today I had to go back to the doc's for a check up and to get a Rx refilled. My last lab results showed about the same as before. I have to go on a lo-fat diet too. Reckon I'll have to go online and research for one.
Popcorn is still doin' okay (for a snake with leukemia). The lumps on his neck are gettin' larger. We'll contact the vet and get a Rx for some medication for him and I'll have to give him shots for awhile. Hopefully they'll go down again. He's still eatin' good.
Freckles, the one with the sore above his paw, is still havin' problems with it. Dave took him to the vet again and she gave us an antibiotic and some new medicine too. Hopefully this will work. I hope I can rake his fur tomorrow, cause it's startin' to get some mats. Bein' a retriever-chow mix, he has a double coat, thick and long. I need to shed him before it starts gettin' hot here.
The farrier is suppose to come out tomorrow and trim Reyna and Lucy's hooves. Lucy couldn't lift her hind foot, to be trimmed, the last time the farrier was here. He showed Dave some chiropratic movements for him to do that would realign her back. He's been doin' them and now she can raise both hind hooves to be trimmed or cleaned out.
Linda still brings a couple students and whoever, out here, once a week for a couple hours. It doesn't sound like much, but just that little gives us some kind of break. One of the students that she had brought out here, came back, on the weekend, with his mother and some family members.We enjoyed havin' them out. What's more important, the critters enjoyed the attention and they need all the socializin' that they can get. Eventually maybe someone will know who we are and what we do, and wanna help us.
Dave's gone to the store and I have to put the back pack (of 4) in their kennels for the night. Bring the other 7 inside, to sleep. I'm gonna cheat on my diet and told Dave to bring me some junk food while he was at the store. I know I shouldn't, but after the last couple weeks, I need some comfort food.
Dave has the week off (once aweek), so I hope to get lots of stuff done. It's also our 28th anniversary on the 15th and he'll be here that day. He'll probably make me stay down and rest, most of the time. At least when he's here to see what I'm doin', lol.
Well, the dogs outside are raisin' a rukus, wantin' to come in, so I'll stop and let 'em in. They have me well trained.
luv, CougarCrone
"Be life long or short, it's completeness depends on what it was lived for." David Starr

Our plea for help was heard

Howdy Y'all,
It's been so long since I was able to post at all that I don't know where to start. I was diagnosed with severe (stage 4) Chronic Kidney Disease in Sept. I kept gettin' sicker and sicker. I went online and looked it up. Immediately, I began homeopathic treatment, before I would see the Nephrologist. Since then, I have been faithfully changin' my lifestyle and diet, drinkin' my herbal teas (uva ursi heals the kidneys), etc. I began to feel better, but weak and lack of energy.
I could tend the critters inside, but wasn't up to walkin' the acre to tend the outside ones and my outside scooter is broke. I was sorta lost durin' the holiday season. It came and went, I was just a spectator. In January, I begin to feel better, able to do more. I even was able to cook a meal, 3 times (haven't cooked in years, Dave has too). But I tend to overdo it, when I feel better and I did, so I was down for 2 days, for every one day that I was up and active.
Last week I went to see the Nephrologist and I'm now in stage 3, it has dropped a stage. I assume that it was due to the homeopathic treatments, changes in diet, etc. I have meditated for years and still meditate for an hour a day. I have 3 months before I see her again, so everyone who reads this "think stage 2". I would love it, if I could put this into remission too, like I did with the Hepatitis C.
Critter report: It's been quite cold here in the desert and we just got thru our winter monsoon (rains for about 3 weeks). It was a mess for atad. The 7 dogs that live in the trailer with us, were in and out, trackin' in wet sand and mud for days.
We have spoiled every critter that we've rescued. We even let the dogs sit in our chairs, when we ain't usin' 'em. The two small ones, Kali and Salsa, sleep in bed with us, a couple of the big ones sleep beside our bed, etc. So when it rains, we have wet sand everywhere, includin' the bed linens. Shor makes more work, but it's worth it.
Yesterday, Linda, a teacher, was kind enough to bring her husband and youngin's out here to help us. They washed out and filled all the waterers for the outside critters and gave the two horses a bath. Her daughter and son helped me with cleanin' the bearded dragons cage and a couple of the snake cages. It was a big help, since it was Dave's only day off and he had to go to town and buy supplies and run errand. There's no way,all of that would have gotten done without her and family. She is so thoughtful and kind.
Dave is workin' a 3 day run of night-shifts, so she volunteered to come out Monday and bring a few students to help us for a few hours. We feel blest to have someone to help us. It's been so long that just Dave and I had to tend 'em all. At that time we had 45 critters. Right now, we have 38 critters. We've lost another bearded dragon to the cold, even though they are housed inside with us. We only have space heaters to warm the trailer (one per room)in the winter) and it's an old trailer (1963) so lots of drafts.
Lex, the littlest and youngest iguana had gotten his tail bitten off by Lucki, a larger iguana, when Lex got in his cage. Happy to say, it's growin' back finally. Dave gave him a nice long soak in the tub, while I cleaned out his cage.His tail is growin' back. Now he's a happy camper.
Four of the snakes shed, in the last two days. All the skins shed, were intact except one. I gave 'em to Linda's daughter. When I was in Nam (yep, I'm a vet), I learned that puttin' a snake's shedded skin over a doorway, would bring luck. I think that's what she'll do with it. I also learned in Nam to keep goldfish. They believe that goldfish will keep your house positive, by absorbin' all the negativity. And when they are full of negativity, they die and should be replaced. We had some goldfish live 11 years and get a foot long, before they died. We now have a 50 gal. tank with goldfish in it. We try to keep our place positive and comfortable for the critters and us.
The dogs need their rabies shots. They are long overdue, but with the vet bills, we just can't afford it right now. Especially since we have eleven dogs that need it.
Some of the guys that Dave works with at the mine, have been laid off and they have put a freeze on hirin'. Dave has worked there for 4 years. Please pray that he doesn't get laid off and that I don't get sicker, because we don't get donations much and we won't be able to feed the critters if he doesn't work.
Right now, that's our main concern. If I don't get better and soon, we'll have to place some of the critters or close the sanctuary completely and that would kill me. I live for these critters and without 'em, I don't know what I would do.
We are now waitin' for a new rescue to come. A ball python, needs a new home and we said yes, we would take it. How do ya say no to a critter that isn't wanted, abused, neglected or abandoned? I can't, one look at their eyes and I see their pain, then I have to take 'em.
The hardest part of runnin' a sanctuary ain't the work, the fact we can't go anywhere for over 3-4 hours, the feedin', trainin', doctorin', etc. The hardest part is when they die. I get so attached to 'em and give 'em all the love that I can. When they leave, I have a hole in my heart, where they were.
Have to lay down and rest some, so I can get the evenin' food ready for the critters, then it'll be time for Dave to wake up and get ready for work. When he's on night shift, I don't get very much sleep. I'll be back, soon as I can.
luv, CougarCrone
"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself." Anna Quindlen

Storms in the desert

It's been hard to get back to post. Dave had to take a couple critters to the vet and is back to work now that he's all healed up from the accident. He bought another and is still ridin' a motorcycle to work. I'm disabled and can't drive. It scares me to think of what could happen to him and what would happen to me and all these critters that depend on him.
The teacher and vice principal came out again and brought more students to help. Just a couple hours, but any help is appreciated and needed, and we really are enjoyin' their company and so do the critters. They are the nicest people and the students are great. I hope it continues for a long time.
Our monsoon season has started, with storm cells comin' thru every day. So we have to go out and do what we can when it ain't rainin' and when it's rainin', we work in the trailer on the critter cages, etc.
It's also startin' to get cold at night. Daytime is usually nice, if it's not stormin' but nights are gettin' colder. Bogie and Etson, our two oldest pot-bellied pigs are havin' a hard time keepin' warm. They are both on predisone and have incontinence. It makes it hard to keep their shelters and blankets dry. They roll up in the blankets, while inside the shelters. But their blankets are so wet by mornin' that we have to air them out and rake out their shelters, keepin' the carpet doors, open so that the ground can dry, before nightfall. They are past the normal ages for pigs, so we live day by day, tryin' to keep 'em comfortable. The other pot-bellied pigs are doin' better, even though a couple are also past their prime.
Durin' the storm yesterday, the little goats (one pigmy and 2 dwarfs)were gettin' wet and Dave wasn't home. So I went out in the rain and fixed 'em a shelter best I could. There was only one that didn't have a shelter, that was Pappi, the oldest (a west african dwarf goat). He's got a bad shoulder and leg and can't get around too well. By the time I got him under the shelter, the rain stopped and the sun came out and I was a soggy excuse. Go figure,huh?
Today, Dave has to work a night shift. We've got all fed and watered, so he can take a nap before work. I'll have to be on duty tonight, and bed the critters down.
I wish y'all could come out and visit.
Well after a long heated discussion with Dave about a critter, I'm totally worn out. He just doesn't see how much it drains me of energy and he loves to argue. Now, I don't even member what I wanted to post and tell y'all about.
So now I'll have to lay down awhile, before I'll have the energy to groom one of the dogs and clean a couple cages.
Luv, CougarCrone
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." Louisa May Alcott