Mr. Boyd (formerly Garfield) update

We had a wonderful weekend with a bittersweet ending! My parents drove to Lexington from Raleigh, NC for a visit. We had a GREAT time! We enjoyed meals at our standard favorites...Ramsey's and El Mariachi and tried some new places....Flag Fork Herb Farm Cafe and Claudia Sanders restaurant (started by Colonel Sanders' wife). Mom and I explored the used bookstore and several flea markets and antique shops on Saturday. We can ALWAYS find some quirky and whimsical treasures. We also had a delightful afternoon at the Talon Winery. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy day...sipping good wine and laughing with the other wine tasters!

As for the bittersweet part.... Mr. Boyd (changed his name from Garfield), the FIV+ kitty that I told you about, headed back to Raleigh yesterday with my parents. He is going to the wonderful no-kill cat shelter where my mom volunteers. I am SO unbelievably grateful for that. I know he will get excellent care and hopefully, the purrfect person will come along quickly and give him a loving home. I am just heartbroken because I loved him with all my heart. In 3 short weeks, he crept so far into my heart. His mannerisms and personality and those precious chipmunk cheeks....too much! I cried and cried yesterday as I loaded him into the car and watched them drive away. Fortunately, I talked to mom and dad twice while they were on the road and they said that Mr. Boyd sat on my mom's lap the whole way except for when he got down to use the litter box :). What a good boy!! They said that he watched the windshield wipers with great fascination and slept quietly the rest of the time.

Thank you to everyone who was concerned about Mr. Boyd! I have thoroughly appreciated the support.



Mr. Boyd's face looks so much better now, but I think he will always have a few battle scars on his sweet nose. He is full of character!


Afternoon at the winery...

A big hearted rabbit...

...wishes you a very Happy May Day! It's a rainy day here and we need it badly, so it's all good :)! Hope you all have a lovely and fun weekend!!

This rabbit is in my Etsy shop and hoping to be adopted soon.


I have changed Garfield's name...it is now Mr. Boyd. A homeless man had named him Garfield which is cute, but it just doesn't fit him. So, Mr. Boyd it is! He is looking SOOO much better already. His scabs have healed, his fur is softer and he is getting rounder by the minute. Here he is lounging under my art table.

TNR, Garfield update and WIPs

Last week was a bit cat crazy....a little more than usual, that is :)! Friday evening, my friend Jane and I headed out for a night of cat trapping at the stockyards and at a nearby warehouse area. After four hours of creeping around in the bushes and all sorts of trickery, we were covered in KFC and tuna and managed to get 5 cats!! It wasn't an easy night, but we met our goal and that is what counts. While we were out there, we also ran across a terrified puppy. Poor thing wouldn't let anyone near him, but he did get plenty of food. The next day, I happened to see a "Lost Dog" sign near my neighborhood which matched his description. I couldn't believe it! Thankfully, long story short, the owner and pup have been reunited!! I am soooo relieved.
As for the cats, they were spayed and neutered on Saturday and are back at their managed colony locations. There were 4 girls and 1 boy, so that's a whole lot of births prevented this spring! One of the girls had an infected uterus so it was especially great that we got her taken care of.

Now, for some really wonderful news!!!!!!! Precious ol' Garfield has a place to go!! I sent out pleas for help to all of my rescue contacts as well as a few no kill shelters that take in FIV+ cats. On Thursday, I heard back from Safe Haven for Cats in Raleigh, NC, and they are happy to make room for him! It is a fantastic shelter. My mom actually volunteers there, so i have had the opportunity to visit their facility a few times. They are always full and save a multitude of cats from death row in animal controls throughout NC, so I am beyond grateful that they are willing to fit Garfield in. I cried and cried with joy when I received their email.

Garfield came home from the vet on Saturday, and I cannot begin to express what an amazing boy he is! I love him to pieces. He was awfully grungy, so the vet techs bathed him on Saturday morning. They said that he just stretched out calmly and let them clean him and "furminate" him. I carried him up to our guest bedroom and put him on the bed. He has been luxuriating ever since. Garfield is so laid back and just wants affection. He has a funny little meow and sort of grunts at me. His life has been incredibly difficult for way too long, and yet he hasn't let it get him down one bit. I am doing my best to shower him with tons of love, kisses, chin scratches and tummy rubs! He appreciates his non-stop meals too...has gained a pound in just one week. Here are a few photos of this handsome, chipmunk cheeked boy! His wounds are healing, so hopefully, i will have some good "after" photos in the next few weeks. (He isn't going to NC until mid May.)





And as for my artwork... these are a few WIPs...ornaments and miscellaneous critters.

Garfield...a sweet ol' lug needing a home!

A dear friend of mine takes care of a large colony at a Wendy's in Lexington. There are about 20 cats there and she has worked tirelessly to get them all spayed and neutered. The Wendy's is near a large, low income apartment complex so there is a constant trickle of new abandoned cats coming into the colony. Garfield is one of those...totally tame and sweet...just down on his luck. He has been living in the colony for awhile, and she was finally able to get him into a carrier last night. She brought him to my house to spend the night, and I was heartbroken after I spent a little time with him. He has cuts and abscesses and old wounds all over his face. His ears are full of mites and his eyes are swollen. He just meowed sadly and wanted to be rubbed and loved. He is not aggressive toward other cats, but was picked on and beat up constantly by the territorial cats. My friend came to get him this morning and took him to our wonderful vet to be neutered and cared for. Unfortunately, he tested positive for FIV. Cats can live long, healthy lives with FIV as long as they are kept inside and properly cared for. So, we are now trying to figure out what to do and hope that we can find him the purrfect person to give him a special, forever home. My amazing friend is willing to sponsor him for the rest of his life by paying for any vet care he needs in the future...what an awesome gift!!!

Garfield is the poster child for what happens to unneutered cats when they are left outside to fend for themselves. It is so sad, unnecessary and just not right! They all deserve so much better. Let's hope that at least this guy gets a happy beginning!