Snakes 'n' Critters Animal Sanctuary

Over the Rainbow Bridge

2011-06-03T20:55:00.005-07:00

Howdy Y'all,
It's with a sad emptiness in my heart, as I say goodbye to 3 of our critters who passed over the Rainbow Bridge in the last month and ahalf. Shug, our West African Dwarf goat was the first to pass. Dave went out to do the nightly rounds on the critters when he heard a cry from Shug, different than he had heard before. When he got to her, he knew that she was dyin', so he sat with her, strokin' and givin' her comfort, until she was gone. She was old and crippled with arthritis. Walkin' was hard for her and she had been in pain for years. Her mate, Pappy, had to be euthanized, when he could no longer get up, a few years ago. He had massive tumors and a bad shoulder. they had been mates and she is with him now and no longer sufferin'. I'll remember her as a sweet little goat, who loved to be stroked and her itches scratched. Shug died on the 27th of April.
Next was Paleface, a 7 year old Labradoodle, we had since she was 5 weeks old. A litter was dropped off here, 6 of them, all black and fuzzy. All except Paleface, who's face was a silver white color, the rest of her was black. They were so cute, but at the time, we had our hands full. So when a couple volunteered to foster the puppies for us, we accepted. It went well the first couple of weeks, then they called to say one of the puppies had died and the others were sick. Dave took them to the emergency animal hospital. They had Parvo, all except one, Paleface. They had to be euthanized and Dave brought Paleface home to us. She was a happy puppy and as she grew, the black fur faded, soon she was silver all over. Her fur continued to grow long and she would become matted easily. Last year she weighed about 90 pounds we found out when Dave took her to the vet for a check up, teeth cleaned, nails clipped and her coat shaved down. A few weeks ago, she became ill and was in lots of pain. A trip to the vet, bloodwork done and she was put on antibiotics, cause she had a high WBC count. She seemed better for a few days, then she began to cry with the pain again, yelpin' out, even when asleep. Back to the vet, this time they did x-rays. They could find nothin' wrong. The vet said it possibly was Valley Fever and she was put on more medication, an antifungal and predisone. It seemed to work for a few days, then again she began to cry and yelp with the pain. It was constant from 3:30am til 6:30am. We tried givin' her somethin' for the pain, but it didn't help. She was gettin' worse, so we made the decision to have her euthanized and Dave took her to the vet for the last time. I lit a candle for her and Dave called to tell me it was over. She was gone, on the 27th of May. Dave will pick up her ashes tomorrow, we had her cremated. Her ashes will have a place here with us.
Two days after Paleface was euthanized, after I had gotten up in the mornin', I made the usual rounds to check on the critters and found Squirt, a Bearded Dragon, was dyin'. Layin' in her cage, on her warm rock. I told Dave, he check and yes, she was almost dead then. That afternoon, Dave buried her in our pet cemetary, where some of our other critters are buried. She was a tiny Bearded Dragon, who was born with one foot missin' and probably had other birth defects too. We'd had her for a few years, but she had always been small and sickly. Dave had taken her to the reptile vet a few times for different problems. She would get infections and inflamations real easy. She loved to have her cage in the livin' area, where she could see everythin' that's goin' on and loved to sit on my shoulder.
Two days after Squirt passed away, after we got up in the mornin', Dave was doin' the rounds checkin' on the critters, when he noticed Big Mama, our oldest and largest goldfish was floatin' on top of the water. She was dead. Big Mama was a feeder fish. We had 4 feederfish (goldfish) in a 50 gallon aquarium for a few years, she was about 10 inches long and boss of the tank. She was a beautiful and graceful fish, very active and kept the other goldfish in line. It was fun to sit and watch the fish, a calmin' effect after a long day, with lots of chores. She too, was buried beside Squirt and the others that rest there.
I don't know why the three are gone and so suddenly, after bein' here for years. But I think they are across the Rainbow Bridge, Pappy waitin' for Shug to cross, Merlin there to greet Paleface. Even Squirt's 3 sisters and father would be there for her. Big Mama was a soul too, and I'm sure that other goldfish that we've had would be there to welcome her too. I think there's only loneliness on this side of the Rainbow Bridge. When we rescued them, we gave them more than just a shelter and food, but a home and love. They were part of our weird family.
I know the pain I feel now, will soon pass, but the holes in my heart from their leavin' will stay, as they will always have a part of my heart.
I thank all of y'all, who gave me words of comfort, said prayers for these critters and for us, as we mourn them.
luv, Cougarcrone

Happy Spring Equinox

2011-03-22T19:04:00.003-07:00

It's the end of the day and I sit here to tired to do more work, but it's too early to go to bed. We continue to grow and we continue to get older. We have received an owner surrender, 3 puppies, 8 weeks old, minature dachound-shih tzu mix (designer dogs). They are so cute and lovable, two girls and a boy. We named them Braveheart, Bashful and Beauty. At 10 weeks old, they got into rat poison. It had been there so long, we had completely forgotten about puttin' it behind another cage. Dave rushed 'em to the vet, where they were made to throw up. Only one of them had any of it in it's stomach, but we hadto give all three of 'em vit. K pills every day for 6 weeks. They survived and were pronounced okay by the vet. Soon one began to vomit and wouldn't eat, then another one started gettin' sick. By then the first two were over it, we had nursed them back to health. Beauty, the runt was the sickest. She wouldn't eat or drink water. On the 3rd day, Dave took her to the vet. She said that they had Parvo, but that they were gettin' over it, due to our care. But Beauty had become dehydrated, so the vet gave her some fluids and gave Dave the set up, so I could give her fluids, subcutaneously everyday. Within 2 days, she was back to eatin' and drinkin' fluids again. All was well, finally. Meanwhile we were jugglin' between Dave's fulltime job and my poor health, tryin' to keep up our standard of care with all the other rescues that depended on us so heavily. At 6 months old, Braveheart decided that the girls smelled very good. It was time for neuterin' them. We had wanted to do it when they were younger, but due to the illness and poison, we had to wait until they were clear and healthy again. The next week, all 3 were neutered on the same day. They had to stay in the trailer, unless we went outside with them, so Dave built them a small pen, that they could play in and get some sun and fresh air, without the worry of the bigger dogs, hawks, etc. botherin' them.
But soon they outgrew that too, so we began the swap. Big dogs in, small dogs go out, small dogs come inside and big dogs can go outside. It became a routine and the sanctuary work took over our lives again. It's still that way almost. Thunder, a rescue Newfoundland-rotti mix was only 1 year old and still a puppy too. He became their big brother and playmate, so he could go outside with the puppies, while the other big dogs stayed in the trailer.
When they turned a year old, we had birthday party for them, took pictures and even published it on facebook. It was lots of fun. All the dogs had party hats, cake and frozen yogurt. Now they are a year old and Thunder is 1 1/2 years old. They weigh about 9 lbs and Thunder weighs 120 lbs. They are funny to watch outside playin' and Thunder is so gentle with them. The sanctuary life continues on. We lost Pappy, our west african pigmy goat, one of our bearded dragons, Lucky, one of our iguanas and Jabbar, our arabian horse, who had only been with us a few months. He had a stroke and died immediately. I had bonded to Jabbar so I mourned him for a long time.
A few months ago, we recieved two rescues from a wildlife rescue organization. A Burmese Python, 6 ft. female was in someone's back yard, eatin' a pigeon, when they caught her, so they brought her to us. Then they called about a 7 ft. male boa constrictor, who they also found in someone's yard and of course we took him in too. After the normal vet check, we had to do some cage movin' and swappin' to make room for them. We couldn't turn them away. They were so tame, they had to be someone's pets. Had they escape? Or been abandoned? We'll never know, but they are tame and would have died from the cold, if they had stayed loose and they wouldn't have been euthanized, after they were caught, if we hadn't taken them. Now, they became part of our sanctuary and our family. We named the Burmese Python, Quest. The vet gave her a clean bill of health and said she was 2 years old, but she mites, from bein' in the wild. We named the Boa Constrictor, Mr. Lucky. He also was in good health and was 7 years old. We made room for them in our trailer and our lives, but it has gotten very crowded in here now and financially we became further in debt. We pray for donations daily.
My son, who had been dead now, for 6 years, had left a small travel trailer here. We decided we could add it on to our trailer and enlarge the room for our critters. With the help of a neighbor, we managed to move into position next to our and now we wait. It needs lots of repairs, but we don't have the money. I don't know when we'll be able to work on it, until we began to get donations in to help pay for the repair materials and so we wait and hope and pray.
After updatin' our sanctuary website, I noticed that we had 44 critters now. I don't know how we are gonna manage, but we will, day by day. Without our volunteers, it's gettin' harder and harder to get everythin' done. Maybe there'll be more volunteers in our future, we can only hope.
I went to the Dr. for a checkup and they did lab work again. My kidneys are worse now, my sugar is goin' up and so is my blood pressure. The Dr. feels like I can bring my body back into balance again, homeopathically. I had done it once before. I have gained about 40 lbs too. Seems like the pressure of needin' money and volunteers for the sanctuary is affectin' me mentally and emotionally. I'm takin' it out on my body. I'm kinda down and very tired. I really shouldn't have posted, feelin' like this, but I'm shor that others have felt this way sometimes too. If I can get it together, no, I have to get it together for the sake of the critters that depend on me and for Dave. We just celebrated our 30th anniversary and are still very much in love. Mainly, I have to do this for myself. I will get myself back together and will improve my health physically, mentally and emotionally. I will.
Luv, Cougarcrone
"Character is simply habit long enough continued."– Plutarch

A rough year is coming to an end.

2010-12-20T16:07:00.003-07:00

Howdy Y'all,
It's shor good to be able to be here. It's been a long and rough year. We've lost some critters this year, but gained back more than we'd lost. It's hard when ya lose a critter that has been with ya for years. Even though we know that with the kind of sanctuary we decided to have, it would happen. It's never easy and the hole it leaves inside me hurts real bad. It's like losin' your best friend over and over. But soon another comes to fill that space and with each day, the hurt dims. I never forget a critter that's been here. They stay in my heart forever.
Three months after we recieved the horses, Jabbar, an Arabian died of a stroke. He had only been with us for 3 months. We were told that he had been beaten in the head because he didn't want to get in the trailer, but we still had the ex racehorses and a 35 year old pony. The puppies came a few days later, at 8 weeks old. They have been neutered and are 10 months old now. We lost one of our West African Dwarf goats. He was very old, crippled and full of tumors.
Three weeks ago, we recieved 2 snakes that had been captured from someones' yard. Both are exotic, so I know that they had belonged to someone. Did they just turn them loose, unwanted or did they escape? We'll never know that, but what we do know is that they would have been euthanized if we hadn't taken them. One is a male Boa Constrictor, about 7 years old and around 4 ft. long. We named him Mr. Lucky. The other one, a beautiful female Burmese Python, 2 years old and about 6 ft long. We name her Quest. They are tame and had been a pet at one time.
We lost our volunteers at the begining of summer and with the recession, the donations stopped too. Dave works as much overtime as he can to help with the expenses of caring for special needs critters. We breathe a sigh of relief if we go a month and don't have a vet bill to pay.
Our count stands at 14 dogs, 4 horses, 1 pony, 3 goats, 4 pot-bellied pigs, 1 rooster, 8 fancy doves, 1 monitor, 2 iguanas, 1 bearded dragon, 8 snakes, 1 cockatiel, 1 mustached parrot and a 55 gal tank of gold fish. I think that's all, but I won't swear to it, lol. Dave and I have been taking care of them by ourselves for most of the year. It's been hard, but we refuse to lower our standards of what we think they need.
We don't believe that critters just need shelter, food and water, but they need love, just as much as we do. They need to feel of some worth and we try our hardest to give them the care, love and comfort that they deserve. The background of what has happened to them is horrible and they deserve to have a wonderful lovin' home for the rest of their lifetime. Some have been with us since 1994. Snakewoman, a Kenya Canyon Sand Boa Constrictor is 26 years old now. Smoke, a mixed breed pony thats swayback is 35 years old. Shug, a West African Pigmy goat is over 15 years old. Popcorn, a Florida Kingsnake is 24 years old. He was diagnosed with leukemia 4 years ago and was given 1 year to live.
Some are crippled, some are elderly, some have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Most have been given a death sentence before they came here. How could we not take them in or give them the love and care that they have never had? We can't make up for what's happened to them in the past, but we can try to make the rest of their lives be so much better.
My health has worsen, my energy is low. I still battle with MS, Hepatitis C and Chronic Severe Kidney Disease and at 67 years old, it ain't easy sometimes. The critters need me and I need them, so I keep goin'. My husband is a jewel, a lifesaver for me. He works 16 hours a day, comes home and cleans out the corrals, etc. He fixes my meals and waits on me, when I'm not feelin' well. He's selfless and he loves the critters as much as me. Saving critters from a bad life and givin' them a better one, is our life's passion. No matter how rough it gets or how tired we are, they always come first.
Now, it's Christmas time, Winter Solstice, a time for reviewin' the past year and plannin' the next year. Goin' over what we've learned this year and planin' how we'll make the next year better. A time to be thankful for what we have. We're thankful for havin' each other and all these critters. Peace and love flow throughout our sanctuary. Next week, I'll make new New Years resolutions again. I managed to keep most of the ones I made last year. I know one of them is goin' to be to blog more often! I would have this year, but my laptop crashed and it was a few months before we could get another laptop for me. The sanctuary and I have joined Facebook as of yesterday. I hope and pray that my health will allow me to be online more often.
Merry Christmas and Happy Winter Solstice to y'all. May the holiday season be a good one for ya and the New Year be filled with happiness and love. Now I'm off to bake some dog biscuits and horse treats. Wishin' ya and your critters the best year comin'.
luv, Cougarcrone
"May you have the greatest two gifts of all on these holidays: Someone to love and someone who loves you." John Sinor (1930-1996)

I'm still here and the sanctuary continues on...

2010-04-24T08:36:00.003-07:00

Howdy Y'all,
It's been a quite awhile since I was able to post, a very busy while, with lots of crisis and some chaos. I became weaker for a few months and it was all I could manage, with my husband, Dave's help, to keep the sanctuary goin' with one crisis after another.
The recession has kept our donations down to practically nothin'. We've kept goin' on my husband's salary and any overtime, he can get. The septic tank began to leak and it took Dave and one of Kathy's sons, Brien, weeks, to fix it. At the same time, our washer finally quit, after 25 years of service. We didn't have the money to fix it either, since we had paid what we had to make the repairs on the septic tank. Barbara and her son, Tom, came thru for us again, with a new washer and dryer. I was in shock then elated. I didn't have a dryer before or a brand new anythin'. Dave had to repair the back porch before we could set up the washer and dryer there. He had to put in the wirin' for the dryer before we could use it. Barbara was gracious and offered to do our laundry for us, until the time we were set up and could do our own laundry. She knows how busy we are and how my health is, so when I'm too weak and fatigued, she still does our laundry. Our critters come first and she helps us keep it that way. Kathy and Zac come over every chance they can, to help us with the cleanin' of corrals, pens and the waterers. Even though Kathy's health is as bad as mine, she's out there, helpin' to clean up after the critters too.
Chilly, the border terrier was adopted and now has a "forever home". She's very happy and loved. We also lost a couple more of our critters. Lucky, one of our iguanas was found dead in his cage. We had taken him to the vet a few times and he was on daily medication (shots) and a supplement feedin', cause he was steady losin' weight. I started out, givin' him the feedin' by syringe, but he learned to accept it from a teaspoon. We knew that he had kidney stones, but he still became sicker, until we found him dead in his cage.
Bear, our 10 year old pit bull that we had for 6 years, tore a ligament in her knee. I think it probably happened while she was playin' with a few of the dogs, she had helped us raise as puppies. After a surgery and overnight in the dog hospital, she came home with medications ($700). She had to be kept in her kennel and only let out to relieve herself. Ya could tell that she missed playin' with them and they missed her too. None of them could understand why she had to stay calm, quiet and in a kennel. The vet said to not let her play or jump around for 2 months. It was a hard 2 months on us and her. We would have to move the other dogs, into a separate pen, every time she needed to be out and then vice a versa, several times a day. She's doin' better now. We let her out for longer periods and with another one of the dogs she had raised. We rotate the dogs, she's with, so they can all take turns bein' with her.
We rescued another dog, from a bad situation. The owner had been moved into a nursin' home. The ones that were takin' care of him and 7 other dogs, were abusive and would hit them. He's a pit bull-whippet-beagle mix, neutered male, about 2 years old. He barks almost constantly (like a beagle), is fearful and will nip any man who enters the back, except Dave. He was the one to rescue him, and he was always friendly with Dave. We call him Skyebald, after the mountain that my people lived on, in Alabama. He has an all white pitbull face, white delicate whippet legs, with the rosebud ears of a whippet and a white tipped tail of a beagle. He's been with us now, for almost 6 months and has calmed down alot. He stays in the back, with the backpack and has gotten along with all of them, from the beginnin'. He was thin, when he first came here and ate as much as Thunder, the newfoundland-rotti mix (2 cups am & pm). Now that he has put some weight on, he's slowed down some. Spring is here and we're havin' some hot days, Thunder and Skye are the only two that the heat seems to affect how much they'll eat, less in the mornin' and more at night. We feed all the dogs, horses, pot-bellied pigs, goats and birds, twice a day.
We were really surprised when Squirt, one of our Bearded Dragons, who we thought was a boy for the last couple of years, laid eggs! He's a she!!! Biggin, the other Bearded Dragon, who was Squirt's daddy is also the father of her eggs. Like the doves eggs, Squirt's eggs went to our Timor monitor, Slither. Slither eats meat only, so the eggs are a treat for him, and birth control for those that are layin'.
Our latest rescue, was last week, 4-18-10, when we recieved two horses. A thoroughbred, ex-racehorse, 17 year old geldin' bay and an Arabian, 17 year old geldin'. The thoroughbred, we named Breeze. He's gentle, sweet, to the point of bein' atad pushy. Weight was good, but he hadn't been groomed for a very long time. The Arabian, Jabbar, was very thin, wary but curious. He hadn't been groomed for a long time either. His halter had to be cut off, cause it was so stiff. Dave bought new halters for both of them. They came as a sanctuary transfer from another sanctuary in northern Arizona, so they still had their winter coats. The sanctuary is closin' and has to relocate their animals (dogs, cats and horses). Now we have 4 horses, but more are comin'.
Sunday or Monday, another sanctuary owner has volunteered to make the trip (7 hours up and 7 hours back), with her horse trailer, to pick the other two, at the closin' sanctuary, a thoroughbred mare and a swayback POA pony (Pony of America). Dave is goin' to town today, to pick up supplies needed for our critters, groceries for us, a gate and a stall kit, for the two that are comin'. Adrian, at Castaway Treasures, donated the corral panels for makin' a corral for them, but it'll need a gate and they will need a stall. We don't believe that a shade (ramada) is enough to give horses protection from weather. Today is Dave's only day off, then he starts a 3 day stint of nightshifts, so it's the only time he can get the supplies needed. After his nightshifts, he'll have 3 days off, hopefully to build the stall and put the corral together. We also have some ornamental cactus that needs to be moved, so the ones comin', won't hurt themselves on it. Until then, they'll have to stay in our turn out area. We moved Needles, the goat that stayed in Hope's corral, back into the pen with the other goats. Which we divided into two pens, one for the crippled and old West African Dwarf goats and one for Jet, the Nigerian pigmy and Needles, the minature Alpine/Nubian mix. Jet was herd boss over the Dwarfs and really kinda mean to them. But now we have them separated, the Dwarf goats can be out in the sun and not picked on by Jet. Needles is good for Jet, cause he's younger and gives it back to Jet, when the buttin' begins. Both have horns that curl, so no harm is done, but Jet is findin' out, that he can't intimidate Needles, like he did the Dwarf goats, Pappy & Shug.
We divided Hope's corral into two corrals. We put Reyna, the Paso Fino mare, who's also crippled in one half, Hope is in the other and they share the two horse stall, that Dave built years ago. The new horses that just came in, Breeze and Jabbar are in Reyna's old corral, which also has a two horse stall in it. They aren't separated, cause they get along okay so far. But we were told that the reason that Jabbar is so thin, is because Breeze won't let him eat. Breeze is pushy, so far we've seen to it, that both horses get plenty to eat. Jabbar needs his teeth floated, so he can chew hay better, so I'm givin' him a supplement of soaked hay pellets. They both get carrots and apples, from Kathy and us.
The gal next door, Susan and her husband Kurt, have offered to help us as much as they can. They also have rescued 7 dogs, 2 horses and some chickens. Susan also has RA and both are strugglin' financially. Her small dog, a Shih Tzu mated with a minature Dachshund and had 3 puppies. We'll be takin' them Monday, if possible. They'll be 8 weeks old. We think that at 6 weeks is too early to take them away from the mama. It stunts their ability to socialize with other dogs. Of course, for the last two weeks, we've been swappin' small blankets, one with our frontpack's scent on it, with her puppies scent on it, to get them all used to the smell of the other dogs, that they'll be livin' with. Part of the stuff that Dave will get today, will be field fencin' and T posts, so he can make an outside closed area for the puppies and Kali, our Yorkie-Bichon mix, can stay in, when they are outside, since our other dogs are so large, we are afraid they might get hurt, not out of meanness, but rough play. Small dogs do look like toys to big dogs. Thunder is now a year old and weighs over 100lbs, easily. We have to puppy proof the rooms that the puppies will be allowed in, make them a safe sleepin' spot and a place to hide from the big dogs, when they are tired of playin'. We know that all will get along and maybe Kali will rally. She's been depressed since Salsa, our other small dog, had to be put to sleep. He came down sick and was dead in a week. She's never gotten over it and has no one to be with or play, so she stays by me constantly. At 10 years old, her beautiful black coat has turned gray.
Yesterday, after Kathy, Zac and a new boy, Chris left, Leaway had a seizure! Dave was on his way home from work, but not here yet. I made the other dogs in the trailer (5) go lay down and stay away from him. I sat on the floor beside him and held him until he could get back up. I tried to keep him calm and restin' for the rest of the night. He sleeps in the trailer, with 4 of the dogs. Thunder, bein' so large, goes in the back and sleeps in a kennel, then stays in the front, with the frontpack durin' the day. It was the first time that Leaway has ever had a seizure and he's 6 years old now. I hope he never has another one. We'll watch him closely for awhile.
Dave has to leave now for town and I can't be on the puter or postin' unless he's here. I have other chores to do, laundry, vacuum, kitchen and bathroom to clean, snake and lizard cages to clean and feed and supper to make. I should have some help, Zac and maybe Kathy and Chris might be here. Dave's suppose to pick up the boys on his way back from town and Kathy will come and get them this evenin'. I see a long day ahead, then 3 days of nightshifts, a horse, a pony and puppies comin' soon. I can only do as much as my health will let me, then rest until I get my strength back.
luv, CougarCrone
"All's wellin the end, if you've the patience to wait."

The rescues just keep comin'

2009-10-06T07:51:00.002-07:00

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

2009-06-03T12:49:00.002-07:00

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

2009-05-07T10:02:00.002-07:00

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

2009-04-09T08:32:00.004-07:00

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

2009-03-11T18:12:00.003-07:00

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

2009-02-01T11:27:00.005-07:00

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

2008-11-29T10:44:00.002-07:00

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

An accident and an adoption

2008-11-21T10:39:00.003-07:00

After my last post, my husband,Dave, called me and he was lyin' on the ground. He had a motorcycle accident. He was on his way to work, in the early mornin' hours, while it was still dark and hit a black cow (black angus). He said he tried to swerve, but hit it anyway and flew over the motorcycle. Bein' disabled and not bein' able to drive, all I could do is wait. He called 911 and an ambulance picked him up. The police had his bike towed to town, to their impound. He was at the hospital most of the day. I felt so helpless, sittin' here waitin' and not knowin' what was goin' on. He called around noon, they still weren't quite finished, but he needed to find a way to get home. We live 30 miles from town. He asked me if I knew anyone who could pick him up, and I didn't, so he had to take a taxi, all the way out here.
His bike was totaled, but we hadn't finished payin' for it. Progressive insurance, wouldn't give us the amount that would cover the bike, leavin' us owin' $3000. The bike shop talked Dave into gettin' another new bike and droppin' the $3000 that we owed on the other one. Progressive is sneakier than we thought. So be careful and get "gap insurance", it'll pay off the difference that the insurance won't pay.
He wasn't able to do much the first couple days, but we were blessed. Another sanctuary sent one of their volunteers to help one day. Then we got a call from a teacher and she brought some of her students to help for a day. By the 3rd day, we both went back to handlin' the sanctuary. He did the outside critter (15) and I did the inside ones (27), since his knees were banged up bad and he couldn't squat down. Some of the indoor cages are on the floor. We have struggled, him with his banged up body and me with my health problems.
Yesterday, the teacher came out with 2 boys and the Vice Principal came out to check us out. They helped us and we taught them lots about critters and their care. The Vice Principal saw Lambert, our Red-Slider turtle and fell in love. He called his wife and adopted Lambert right then. He has other turtles (the same kind) and 2 large outdoor ponds for 'em to live in. We don't usually do adoptions, our regulations for adoptions are strict and our critters are usually old or special needs. This is their last home before they die, unless we find a home better than ours for 'em and it has to be a home for life.
The teacher is gonna bring some students out every other week or so to help us for a couple hours. She always brings us a stack of newspapers. We use 'em cleanin' these cages. They are troubled students and we hope we can help 'em too.
Lex, our smallest iguana got loose. I found him next to Lucki's cage (our middle-sized iguana). Since my abilities are limited, I got him with my reachers and kept movin' him towards the door of the other cage. Lex's cage was in the other room, where 7 dogs were, so I didn't wanna carry him thru that, 'sides his cage needed fixin' so he couldn't escape again. About that time, Dave called to say he was on his way home. He thought it was a good idea to just put him in Lucki's cage, since it was right there. Lex is small and fast, so Dave didn't think that Lucki could catch him.
I put Lex in Lucki's cage and Lucki went beserk, head bobbin', tail whippin' and all. But since we didn't think he could catch him, I left the room and sat back in the livin' area. I heard an awful rukus comin' from Lucki's cage and the dogs were all up and barkin'. I went in there and Lucki had Lex by the base of his tail. I picked 'em up, but really didn't know how to separate 'em. Finally after a while Lucki turned loose of Lex, but I still had a hold of Lucki. Lex took off and hid where I couldn't get to him or see him. So I took Lucki and put him in Lex's cage, til Dave came home.
Dave caught Lex and I picked up Lucki, we put each back in their own cages and Dave mended Lex's cage so he couldn't escape again. Lex was bitten very deep, so Dave made an appt for today to have Lex's tail removed. It was deep, it can't be saved. The vet says, he'll grow a new one, but it won't look the same as the rest nor will it be as long or pretty. We feel so bad about it happenin'. If I had known how to make Lucki release Lex, it might not have been so bad, but I didn't know how ya make an iguana open it's mouth. Dave had watched the vet do it before, but hadn't told me and I didn't think to ask. So when he got home after poor Lex had been wounded, he told me how. Duh! Live and learn. I just hate it when I learn by makin' somethin' worse. Now I know how and it won't happen that way again.
But Lex will be okay and his cage is fixed, Dave will bring him home this afternoon. Lucki is calmed down, he has his own personal cage back. Lambert has a new home. Dave's wounds from the accident are almost healed up and things will get back to as normal as it ever is here, lol.
It's gettin' cold at nights and it's hard on our pot-bellied pigs. They are old, past their prime and some crippled. We hold our breath every winter, afraid we'll lose one to the cold. So we ask for donations of old blankets, comforters, etc, for the pigs. They have shelters, but they actually roll up in the blankets to keep warm. A couple are incontinent, cause of their age, so we have to switch blankets daily, so they can air out and dry. We have a couple of nice people send us blankets for the winter. I don't know if it's enough, but we keep hopin' for more. Blankets and newspapers are what we seem to need the most, in order to keep the pigs comfortable and the cages, in here, clean.
I had to go to the doc again, last wednesday. Had some bloodwork done and a couple changes in my prescriptions. It wears me out to go 30 miles to the doc and back, in that old van of ours. So now, I'm havin' to take it easy again and stay down as much as I can. It always racks my back for days after I have to ride in the van or truck and that's all we have. It's Dave's week off, it works out that way, once a month. So I can stay down more and rest more. Seems like he has to go to town for somethin' danged near every day he's off, so I only get 1/2 days of rest at a time.
I went thru my albums at webshots and updated 'em some. Now I have to lay down for a while. Soon it'll be time to feed the birds and start fixin' the evenin' feeds for the critters.
Luv, CougarCrone
"Only you can be yourself. No one else is qualified for the job."

Sanctuary whirlwind

2008-10-18T15:31:00.002-07:00

Where to start? I reckon with the death of a good friend. Buttercup, the 40 year old Draft horse, went down for the last time. It took all mornin' to get a vet out here. When the vet came, she didn't give us any hope. After pain med given, Buttercup was just too worn out to get back up. Her eyes said it's time and the vet euthanized her. I felt like a piece of my heart had been torn out. We had her for 7 years and were quite bonded. But there's no time for mournin', in a sanctuary.
The next priority was to bury her. We tried several backhoe operators, when finally, one agreed to come out and bury her. She had laid there, in her corral, most of the afternoon, before the backhoe operator put her in the ground. She's buried next to Hansome Jack, another wonderful horse, that had died last year.
As soon as Buttercup was buried, Reyna, her companion, began to act up, runnin' franically around her corral, kickin' and callin to her companion. There just was no pacifyin' her. The next day, we did a sanctuary transfer from Castaway Treasures. She sent one of her non-adoptable horses to us. Her name is Lucy. she's out of a caught mustang, in Mexico. She lived a very horrible life at the hands of different owners and wears two brands, one professional and a homemade one. She's a swayback, not so noticeable, after a visit from the chiropractor. She can never be ridden ( as Reyna), has an injured hip and leg. It makes her fall over, if ya lift it to clean her hoof. We'll have to get a farrier out, to show us how to help her, so we can clean her hoof, as we do the other 3 hooves. They used a barbed wire, for a bit, her tongue was nearly cut into and has nerve damage, that makes it hang outta her mouth, most of the time. She's 18, which is about how old Reyna is now. They are in separate corrals, but side by side.
Then more problems, Lucy was not used to goats. We had our Nigerian Pigmy goat in with Buttercup, before she died. So now we had to move Jett, our pigmy goat, with the deadly lookin' horns. We put him in the pen, behind the trailer. He couldn't see the horses from there and began to act up. He was not goin' to be alone. Herd critters must have a companion, in order to thrive.
After a day and a half, of watchin' Jett, pacin', tryin' to get out, etc. We decided that he too, would have to have a companion. After callin' around, we found 2 West African Dwarf goats that needed a home. Dave brought 'em home. One, a billy, we call Papi, is 9 years old (old for a goat), has big horns and limps, havin' arthritis in his shoulder and leg. The doe is 6 years old, no horns and kinda fat. We call her Shug.
Dave took 'em to the vet for their check up (which we do, whenever a new critter comes here). The vet said that they were in good health and wormed 'em for us. When Dave got home with 'em, we trimmed their hooves, which had grown way too long, and put 'em in with Jett. The vet said he wouldn't be able to use anesthesia, in order to neuter Papi, cause of his age. He said it would have to be done the old way (tie 'em and wait for 'em to fall off). I couldn't go with that. No matter what the vet says, it's cruel. I watched critters bein' neutered that way on the farm and it made me sick.
It's also the goats ruttin' season. Since Jett is twice their size, he tends to be the dominant one now. Papi is too crippled to mount and Shug is ready. I looked out the kitchen window. There was Jett mountin' Shug. He's a whether and was neutered after becomin' a billy and fatherin' a kid. Now he still thinks he can and tries, but he's shootin' blanks, so it won't matter. He keeps Papi away from Shug and Papi, old or not is the only potent one. Both Papi and Shug have now joined our pack, but they were never socialized, but kept in a herd. So now, we have to make friends with 'em and win their trust.
I came down sick, after losin' Buttercup, then the stress of findin' companions, which added more critters to our sanctuary. I had some bloodwork done and my doc called to tell me that she was sendin' me a referral to a nephrologist, as I have Chronic Kidney Disease! I got the referral, but haven't made an appt. yet. Instead, I researched it on the Net, found out about the disease and then some homeopathic treatments. I started drinkin' the teas and had to make some changes in my diet and lifestyle. But that was no biggy, I had to do the same thang, when I found out that I had Hepatitis C. I was given a year to live, that was 6 years ago and it's now in remission. Dave made me stay down for weeks, only gettin' up to tend a critter, then right back down. He's been wonderful, workin' fulltime, he's gone 14-15 hours a day and is on a rotatin' shift. Yet, he's managed to tend the outside critters (and a couple of the big cages inside), before he goes to work and after he comes home, gettin' only 3 hours of sleep daily.
I was in lots of pain and foggy minded for weeks, but I kept takin' the teas, vitamins, stickin' with the changes in my diet and lifestyle. And now, today the pain is tolerable and the joint pain is about gone. I thought it was from the Osteo-arthritis, but it wasn't. It was from the CKD and the treatments are workin'! By the time I go to the nephrologist, maybe I'll be okay. I have to work appt's in, with Dave's work schedule, since I can't drive and it has to work in, with the critters schedule. In a sanctuary, everythang is done, inbetween tendin' critters.
Today was Dave's day to work a day shift. He fed the horses and pot-bellied pigs, iguanas and the bearded dragons.
I cleaned Sunshine's cage (Sunshine is an 10 1/2 ft albino Burmese Python thats 2 years old). She kept crusin' her cage, over and over. I carried her to the bathroom and gave her a soak in the tub, but it didn't appease her. Back in the cage, she started cruisin' again. I thawed out a couple of Jumbo rats and fed 'em to her (with forceps). Now, she's in her hidey hole, asleep. We can't seem to keep her full, she's always ready to eat. Reckon that's cause she's still a youngin'.
I went out and gave all the critters, dogs, horses and pigs, some fresh water. I noticed that Reyna had been rollin' and was dirty, so I gave her a bath. Dave got some new horse shampoo, that works with the garden hose and makes it easy to do and it don't take long either.
When I got finished cleanin' out the Bearded dragons cage (they are the nastiest), I was worn out. After bein' down for so long, when Dave left for work, I just wanted to make contact with all the critters and I did. Doin' what was needed, as much as I can, to make it easier on Dave when he gets home. All of our rescues have become pets and I miss 'em, if I don't see, touch and talk to each one. Like a mother hen, I have to check on all, and make shor' that all critters are taken care of and are content.
I really miss it, when I can't get online. Bein' a recluse and homebound from my health problems, the internet has become my other world.
Here, I have the critters, but I need people contact too. I get that from all my cyberfriends and cyberfamily. I have rested enough and yakked way to long for one post. There's always work to be done. It's time to mix up the foods for feedin' dogs, horses, pigs and goats, then cover the bird cages for the night and wait for Dave to call and say he's on his way home. After 27 years of marriage, I miss him so bad, when he's gone. I love him more as the years go by.
luv, CougarCrone
"Life is like an ever-shifting kaleidoscope--a slight change, and all patterns alter." Sharon Salzberg

Popcorn & Freckles goes to the vet.

2008-09-12T17:24:00.002-07:00

The last week has been a whirlwind. We've been cleanin' and gettin' ready for out-of-town visitors.Seems that we worked harder than usual. Dave even took off some vacation time.
He's movin' a travel trailer, to position it next to this trailer. When we have it fixed up, we'll connect the two and have more room for us and critters. More of our critters live in the trailer with us, than outside. So we keep expandin', by addin' on another trailer. It'll take awhile, since windows have to be replaced and a new door put on, etc. But it'll be worth it, when we have it all finished. It was my son's trailer. He lived here for a few years before he was murdered. Maybe connectin' his travel trailer to our trailer, fillin' it with critters and cages, will bring closure to my mournin', as much as it can.
Monday, the 8th, Dave took Burnt Popcorn (a 19 year old Florida Kingsnake, 6 feet long) to the vet. He had developed lumps on his head and neck. It didn't interfer with his eatin', but we worry, so we wanted to be safe and shor'. The vet said that Popcorn had an infection in his lymph nodes. Now we are givin' him an injection of antibiotic, every third day, times 5 shots.That should clear it up, I hope.
The sad news was that Popcorn has Leukemia and has less than a year left to live. He's 19 or more now, eats great and cruises his cage and acts normal. I'll get online and see if I can find any homeopathic way, that I can prolong his life longer, but with quality.
Tuesday, the 9th, Dave took Freckles, one of the dogs (retriver-chow mix, 51/2 years old )to the vet, to have his front left leg checked out. He had a wound on the ankle part, but wouldn't let it heal. So the vet put him on long term antibiotic treatment (capsules,). He has to have it,twice a day. We smear it with peanut butter (a dogs favorite) and he eats it right down. The vet also gave us some salve that's supposed to make him stop lickin' it and openin' it back up. Freckles was one of 5 puppies that had been abandoned in the desert at 5 weeks old. We rescued 'em, but they were and still are too fearful to be adopted out. They are afraid of people, men in particular and somethin' about boots scares 'em. When people come, they just bark, shake, pee,run and hide. They never try to bite. Now, they are friendly with Dave to a point, but I'm the only one that has their trust.
I cleaned cages and Dave cleaned the corrals and pens, company was comin' the next day.
Wednesday, the 10th, we fed, watered and cleaned up the critters cages, corrals & pens, then got ready ourselves. Our friends arrived from PA and we had a great time visitin'. We ate Church's fried chicken, pie&ice cream. We laughed, took pictures of Jodi holdin' Sunshine (the Albino Burmese Python, 10 feet long). Jodi helped me give Popcorn, his shot for the day. But they had to leave, when it was time to feed the critters. Sunshine was eatin' a jumbo rat (dead, frozen, thawed & warmed up) as they left. I have pictures of their visit, up in my album at webshots.
Thursday, the llth, Dave had to take me into town. I had to have some bloodwork done. Now I have to make an appt with the doc, on one of Dave's next day off (I can't drive.)It's for a check up and to get my Rx's filled. After I got home, I did as little as possible and Dave took care of the feedin's.
Today, the 12th, I ain't doin' much better. I have had to stay down, most all day. Dave has takin' care of the critters feedin', cleanin', waterin' and has moved that travel trailer up here, by himself, with a come-along,lots of grit and determination. He has it almost in place now. The critters have had their evenin' feedin'. Popcorn got his 3rd shot today. The birds have their night covers on their cages and all are bedded down for the night. Of course, the 7 dogs that stay in the trailer with us, will require one more time out to wee, then the critters are done for the night and the rest of the time is ours. To bad that by then, we are too worn out and tired to enjoy it, lol. Tomorrow will be Dave's last day off then back to work and I take over the tendin' of critters.
Luv, CougarCrone
"Life is like an ever-shifting kaleidoscope--a slight change, and all patterns alter." Sharon Salzberg

Another day

2008-09-03T13:26:00.002-07:00

I'm so tired it's just another blah day! Dave starts his first day back to work on night shifts. There'll be 4 days of that, before any time off. It started out okay, we got the critters all fed and cages cleaned. Buzz, the iguana; Sunshine the Albino Burmese Python, got soaks in the bathtub. Sunshine shed right in the tub, a first for me. She also pooped in the tub, not a first for me. After she was done, the tub was cleaned and disinfected, then it was Buzz's turn(the biggest iguana) for a soak bath. He had some old shed that hadn't come off his ridge of spikes down his back. I helped relieve him of the old shed and he pooped in the tub. All those pointy things down his back also has to be shed, or they get really stiff and they become like spikes, especially the tail. But if we help 'em with their sheddin', we can make shor' that all is shed. So far it has kept my iguanas from havin' those stiff spikes that can stab ya. I held Buzz and Dave clipped his nails. After his soakin' in the tub, made the nails softer and easier to clip.
As we cleaned the iguanas cages and the Bearded Dragons cages, I held each, while Dave clipped their nails. They were quite docile and gave us no problems.
We had to clip the fur on Kali. It grows so fast. I used a shedder on most of the rest. I think we have 2 left to do. I need Dave to help me do 'em, cause of my disabilities, so those are the things we do, when he's got some time off from work. It takes most my day and all my energy, doin' the critters while Dave works. Housework gets sandwiched inbetween, dependin' on energy levels. We share doin' that too.
Our main entertainment is our TV hooked to satilite. When ya live in a sanctuary, ya can't go anywhere. Ya must stay with the critters, or hire a critter sitter, which we can't afford. It keeps me sane, when he's gone and I am overloaded. It is great for distractin' and keepin' the birds and dogs entertained, when I put it on Animal Planet. It usually runs 24/7, but not today. Today, it was broke, no picture. Dave had to take it to the shop in town (30miles) to be fixed. They said it would be a week. I shor' hope not. I'm not a couch potatoe, but I do watch it alot. I have those earphones so I can hear it, no matter where or what I'm doin'. I can be doin' the poop-scoopin' boogie, in the horses corral and listen to a program on TV, but not for a week. What a challenge! and I love a chalenge and hate gettin' into a rut. I bet I get more done, this week as far as the physical work and less putin'. Without the TV goin', I don't sit down much.

One, of our pigs, Bogie, is goin' downhill, I'm afraid. He's about 17 years old or more now and is lookin' poor. We put him on predisone and hope that will help him put on more weight for the winter. Another pig, Etson, is 18 years old and had an old fracture of his back leg. He's startin' to have problems with it painin' him, so he's gettin' 1/4 of a Bute daily. They all get pig chow, rolled oatmeal, garlic (fights infections), MSM, Vit C, Glucosamine, corn oil, milk, etc. and a children's vitamin for breakfast, plus their meds. For supper they get pig chow, lots of veggies, canned pumpkin (lots of fiber). Somedays they get lots of fruit. They love prickly pears and prickly pear fruit. We have lots of prickly pear and right now, after the monsoons, they are loaded with ripe fruit.
It's afternoon now, I have to fix up all the critters evenin' food, so Dave can help pass it out, when he gets up then he has to leave for work. He takes naps durin' the day, when he works nights. He does what he can around here, before and after he gets home from work. My health continues to decline. The weaker I get, the more that he has to do. We have too many critters for just us to take care of and no volunteers. Reckon that's cause we live 20 miles from town, out in the desert on a dirt road. No one wants to drive that far to volunteer, especially with the price of gas so high. It would be a dream to have someone sit with the critters and us go out to dinner or just to be alone together and renew bonds.
Soon y'all will be able to see all the critters I talk about at my site. As we are workin' on gettin' it updated.
Luv, CougarCrone
"I've always tried to go a step past wherever people expected me to end He." Beverly Sills

The new critter arrived

2008-08-26T18:08:00.002-07:00

Yep, the newest rescue arrived and boy howdy, what a mess! We had no idea about how large the cage was, but it was 6 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet. We were committed and had to make it fit. The Giant Green Iguana is beautiful, a 6 foot male, named Buzz. Healthy and in great shape, we don't usually get rescues like that. Mike had raised it, but could no longer take care of him. He said it became aggressive.
Findin' a place to put the cage required lots of imagination and creativity. We had to get rid of our couch and move our filin' cabinet to the back porch. So with some wranglin', figurin' and movin' cages, we eventually found a place and made it fit. Course, the bird cages were moved to the front area. We had been given, by some very nice people, 2 recliners, not new, but new to us. So as I sit here in a recliner, I have 2 snake cages on one side of me and one snake cage plus 3 bird cages on the other side.

I injured my back, helpin' Dave, movin' these heavy cages around, so I couldn't do much the last few days. Dave also had to work 4 days of day shift (gone 14 hours a day), the next day after I had hurt my back. He's been great, takin' care of as much as he could, so I could try to heal my back. It's much better today.

Buzz hadn't been eatin' good, since he came. I wondered why, so I ask him and a picture flashed in my head "the dogs". We have 7 dogs that live inside with us and they had went into the reptile room to check out the new cage and critter. He was afraid of 'em, he hadn't ever been around dogs before. We do keep that room blocked off from the dogs, usually, but we had been carryin' stuff back and forth. So now the room is blocked off again with a board we use (that we can step over) and he hasn't had to deal with nor see the dogs for 2 days. Today he ate good. I had to get in his cage to clean it and he didn't seem to mind, just watched and listened. I talk to the critters, almost constantly. Even if they don't understand, they enjoy the attention. I think he'll get used to the dogs, birds, lizards and other critters we keep. It'll just take some time, everythang is new to him now and that makes it a threat.
Now, thangs have settled down, my back is better and we're gettin' in a new routine, which we do everytime. Dave just called and is on his way home. I hope we can rest some, even though we have a "to do" list for while he's off work. It's a chance to do some projects around here and it's the only time I can get on the puter. It's been very tense and stressful the last week, with all that was goin' on, so we need to renew our bond and just relax some, even if it's between tendin' the critters.
We were married 27 years in March, so we squable but it doesn't mean anythin', 'cept that we are relievin' our stress and don't have the time for makin' up. We just go on, knowin' that the responsibility of the sanctuary, makes us uptight sometimes, especially, when we get too many thangs goin' at one time.

Have to get the dogs evenin' feedin' ready. I feed 7 in the trailer and 4 in the back yard, in their kennels (they only go in, to eat and to sleep at night). In the trailer we feed Merlin, our oldest. He's rotti-chow-lab mix, a neutered male. We've had Merlin since he was a 6 week old puppy. Dave rescued him, when one of his co-workers was takin' the puppy to the desert to abandon in a mine pit. We've had him for 12 years now. He's not as spry as he was, but he is still one of the pack and doin' okay (as long as he gets his rimadyl for hip displaysia).
Leaway, another 90 pound dog, we rescued as a 6 week old puppy. Or rather my son rescued him as someone threw the puppy out the window of a movin' car. He limped for a couple days then was okay. He's got lab and red heeler mixed with somethin' else, but I don't know what. We've had him for 5 years now and he's my service dog. I trained him to help me here at the sanctuary. With the MS, I have a balance problem and cause of my back, bendin' over ain't so easy. Leaway takes care of me and picks thangs up that I drop or need. He'll stand and let me pull myself up or steady myself. Well that's two of our inside dogs. In the last post, I told y'all about Kali, our tiniest dog (about 4lbs) and now ya know about 2 of our biggest ones, . Keep readin' my posts and ya will know about every critter here.

And off I go, to create a fantastic supper for the dogs. They get their kibbles, mixed with can dog food. I add garlic powder (for control of fleas, mosquitos and ticks) and crushed pineapple (for dogs that eat dog feces, it makes it taste bad). Course Merlin gets his with his Rimadyl and his food supplement (glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin). Most of the critters get special food supplements. As I post, ya will see what all I feed the critters and why.
Luv, CougarCrone
"The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to somebody else. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self." Whitney Young

A new critter today

2008-08-20T14:56:00.002-07:00

Dave got off from work, this mornin', helped feedin' and tendin' critters the he left for town to help Mike break down his iguana cage. They brought it over here and are puttin' it back together. It's 6ftx4ftx4ft, so we had to get rid of our couch, in order to have room for the cage. He and Mike are in there now, re-arrangin' stuff and settin' up the cage.
We'll be takin' Mike's iguana, who's about 5 ft. long and has had his tail broke off, so most of the footage is his body. Wow, a big one and he'll be livin' here with us and our other critters. Mike says that the iguana has gotten mean and his mate doesn't want to deal with him there. We'll take care of him and hopefully improve his disposition, lol. Mike will still have a part in his life. I'll send him updates and pics as I can and he can come to visit him.
While they are in the livin' area, workin' on the cage and makin' everythin' fit. I'm in the bedroom, under the air conditioner, with 7 dogs! Yep, they ain't mean, but so danged friendly that I have to keep 'em outta the way or nuttin' would get done. It took 'em awhile to settle down, cause of someone new bein' here, but now they are quiet and layin' in the cool.

Kali is layin' beside me on the bed. Dave went all the way to Nevada to get her. She's about 4 pounds, a Bichon/Yorkie mix and a runt with some birth defects. She's black, with a white blaze from chin to chest. We have to keep her fur cut short, because of the heat out here and her fur doesn't stop growin' (like our hair does). She's the smallest of the dogs, about 7 years old now and she rules, even though all the other dogs are bigger than her.
I think I'm as anxious as the dogs, to get outta the bedroom (trailer bedroom ain't that big) and see our new critter and how they have made the cage fit in with the others. Gonna miss that couch, at least we'll still have two chairs. Maybe we'll get another one, someday. I'll let y'all know about the new iguana, as soon as I see him.
luv, CougarCrone
"Life is an escalator: You can move forward or backward; you can not remain still." Patricia Russell-McCloud

Welcome Y'all

2008-08-19T20:41:00.005-07:00

It's nighttime and all the critters are sleepin' right now, a good time to start a blog. This will be the daily happenin's in our sanctuary and our life, since we live in the sanctuary and all the critters live with us as pets. The critters come from all areas: abused, abandoned, neglected and some saved from euthanasia. Most are elderly, disabled, special needs, etc. They have a varied nutritional needs with lots of food supplements, vitamins, herbs, etc., because I believe in usin' the natural as much as I can. I do use vets, 4 to be specific, since we have such an array of critters.
I have a website: www.snakesncritters.org/. It's in the process of bein' updated. I have abums here: http://community.webshots.com/user/cougarcrone.
Y'all are welcome to visit and see all the critters.
Well, I''m back. I had to stopped and put the backpack (4 dogs that won't fit in the trailer) in their kennels for the night, with their dog biscuit and cheweez stick. The other 7 dogs live in the trailer with us, goin' in and out when they ask all day long. I'll tell y'all more about the dogs later on.

I'll try to tell ya atad about the critters we have: One 40 year old draft horse (Belgium/Percheron). We've had her for 5 years now. One 16 year old Paso Fino, with a broken pelvis, one 3 year old Nigerian Pigmy goat, 6 Pot-bellied pigs(elderly, some disabled), 11 dogs of various mixed breeds and ages, 8 snakes, red-tailed boa constrictor, rosy boa constrictor, 2 ball pythons, 1 albino burmese python, 1 canyon sand boa constrictor and 1 coachwhip, saved from the wild, 1 Timor Monitor, 4 Bearded Dragons, 3 iguanas, 1 red-slider turtle.
They all have had sad beginnin's but we hope to make their ends happy, comfortable and full of love and we work hard, the two of us, to keep high standards in carin' for 'em. I have made a pet outta every critter that we've rescued or was relinquished to us. We try to keep former owners, updated on the critter, if they want and some even chose to sponsor the critter that they relinquished.
I think we've only adopted out two of our dogs, in 6 years. Adoptions are done very rarely and in special circumstances, as these critters have had it rough and now have a lovin' home for the rest of their lives. We also believe in neuterin' and have all the critters neutered that come to us, with the exception of a few that won't need it.
Please feel free to visit often and keep up on the doin's of our sanctuary and the critters in it. I'll try to keep y'all posted on daily activities, the heart-breakin' stories behind most of the critters, new critters that come to live here and those that pass over the rainbow bridge. Even, the daily challenges, we face runnin' a sanctuary, with my disabilities. The ups and downs of workin' with MS, Hepatitis C, Osteo-arthritis and Osteoporosis. My husband works 12 hour rotatin' shifts, with 2 hours commutin' to and from work. I can't drive, so he has to run errands, get supplies, groceries, feeds, etc., plus he handles the big thangs that I can't. I'll tell y'all about all the situations, he gets me outta, when I fall, make a mess. I reckon ya could say, he is president of our organization and he's also my caregiver. So y'all will probably hear lots about him (Dave). We've been married 27 years and have been rescuin' and givin' home to unwanted critters, ever since we've been together.
Please ask any questions about critters, care, behavior, etc. and I'll answer or find the answer for ya.
Luv, CougarCrone
"Nobody will believe in you unles you believe in yourself." Liberace

Welcome Y'all to my ponderin's and happenin''s at the sanctuary.

2008-08-19T19:15:00.007-07:00

I have a website: www.snakesncritters.org/. It's in the process of bein' updated. I have abums here: http://community.webshots.com/user/cougarcrone.

Y'all are welcome to visit and see all the critters.

Well, I''m back. I had to stopped and put the backpack (4 dogs that won't fit in the trailer) in their kennels for the night, with their dog biscuit and cheweez stick. The other 7 dogs live in the trailer with us, goin' in and out when they ask all day long. I'll tell y'all more about the dogs later on.

I'll try to tell ya atad about the critters we have: A 40 year old draft horse (Belgium/Percheron). We've had her for 5 years now. A 16 year old Paso Fino, with a broken pelvis, a 3 year old Nigerian Pigmy goat, 6 Pot-bellied pigs(elderly, some disabled), 11 dogs of various mixed breeds and ages, 8 snakes, red-tailed boa constrictor, rosy boa constrictor, 2 ball pythons, 1 albino burmese python, a canyon sand boa constrictor and a coachwhip, saved from the wild, 1 Timor Monitor, 4 Bearded Dragons, 2 iguanas, 1 red-slider turtle.

They all have had sad beginnin's but we hope to make their ends happy, comfortable and full of love and we work hard, the two of us, to keep high standards in carin' for 'em. I have made a pet outta every critter that we've rescued or was relinquished to us. We try to keep former owners, updated on the critter, if they want, and some even chose to sponsor the critter that they relinquished.

I think we've only adopted out two of our dogs, in 6 years. Adoptions are done very rarely and in special circumstances, as these critters have had it rough and now have a lovin' home for the rest of their lives. We also believe in neuterin' and have all the critters neutered that come to us, with the exception of a few that won't need it.

Please feel free to visit often and keep up on the doin's of our sanctuary and the critters in it. I'll try to keep y'all posted on daily activities, the heart-breakin' stories behind most of the critters, new critters that come to live here and those that pass over the rainbow bridge. Even, the daily challenges, we face runnin' a sanctuary, with my disabilities. The ups and downs of workin' with MS, Hepatitis C, Osteo-arthritis and Osteoporosis. My husband works 12 hour rotatin' shifts, with 2 hours commutin' to and from work. I can't drive, so he has to run errands, get supplies, groceries, feeds, etc., plus he handles the big thangs that I can't. I'll tell y'all about all the situations, he gets me outta, when I fall, make a mess, etc. I reckon ya could say, he is president of our organization and he's also my caregiver.

Please ask any questions about critters, care, behavior, etc. and I'll answer or find the answer for ya. Check out the other stuff on my blog.

luv, CougarCrone