Nine Lives of Norton

Hello,

~First things first..................I need everyone to PLEASE keep an open eye to new and changing medical information being posted. With new kittens coming so often & the URI now spreading like a blanket of fog over London. Signs are being posted every day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please remember to bring your reading glasses, and pay attention to each and every cage you open. Each and every cage you open, got it? There will be a test. Please keep an eye for sheets being posted on cages, doors, countertops, bathroom, windows, floor, back door, laundry,,,,,,,,,,,,Everywhere you go before you touch anything look for a posted sheet with information on how to handle what your about to do!!!! I am not kidding here! I am also asking parents to please DO NOT let your kids remove any kittens/ cats from there cages!! This URI is way out of control, if you do not know what I mean take a look at Lana and your 7 kittens in the Q room on the end near the back side door. Those poor things can not breathe, smell or eat, because they are so stuffed up and they have to be syringe feed. That could KILL them. Yes URI can kill cats and kittens! Don't get me wrong, you are doing a good job. But we need to tighten down the buckles now! NO KITTENS CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF CAGES Until further notice, thank you!

Please know we are only looking out for the health of the kitties! No matter what you do WASH YOUR HANDS! Turn on the water as warm/hot as you can stand it, apply soap, work soap into a lather of 30 seconds, yes 30 seconds count it out you will see it is far longer then you every thought you needed to scrub your hands. But that is the way to properly clean your hands. Now after each cage you HAVE TO DO THIS! warm water, lather soap for 30 seconds, rinse extra good, then if you feel the need you can sanitize but after washing properly if is not really necessary. See the sanitizer companies take advantage of the situation of people not washing properly so now they are making a fortune. Ok now that is over, I want everyone to please ask all the question you have about any of this situation, the more information you have the better off you and all the kitties will be. Also if you have any concern of transferring this virus to your kitties at home or any other questions/concerns, please ask Kim or Cindi they are happy to help.

~ I am sure by now everyone has heard about our wonderful boy Roscoe B. Socks. On May 18, Roscoe passed away from the complications of an URI virus. Due to his underlying health issues and despite all the medical and supportive care he received, he was unable to fight off the severe secondary infections that can accompany the URI virus. We will miss him terribly, for although we did not have him long, many of us loved him very deeply. Cindi, Medical Director.

~ Everyone please be aware, vacation time is apon us, We all deserve time and space for ourselves. So at this time I will be calling on those of you who have alittle flexibility to help fill in while people are away enjoying themselves knowing the kitties are being well taken care of. I will give as much notice as I can for shifts that need fill ins. I truly appreciate the extra help from everyone in this crazy time. I will post days that need people as soon as I get them. So keep an open eye for emails and at the shelter I will post "Help Needed" on xxx day, etc. I will post that on the fridge at the shelter. Thank you

~Currently I am reviewing new applications, I am looking for people for the following days: Friday AM, Every other Sunday AM (June 12, 26 and so on) Every other Saturday AM (June 11,25 and so on), Wednesday PM. Please if you feel your shift is short on help let me know I will add it to the list, this makes it easier when I am talking with new volunteers.Also starting June 5 Sunday Am (then every other) will need help, Lisa & Izzy are unable to continue this shift. If you are interested to help those Sunday AM shifts please let me know. Starting Tuesday June 28 there will be NO ONE on this Tuesday night shift. Laura will be taking the summer off, So if any one is interested to work on this shift starting June 28 please let me know. Days that need help due to people needing that shift off are as follow: Thursday June 16 PM, Friday June 17 PM, Saturday June 18 to do help with adoptions all day, Monday June 20 PM, Thursday June 30 PM, Sunday July 3 PM, Monday July 4 PM these shifts only need 1 or 2 people. I will post all those days with a sign in, on the counter, Thank you. This is what I have so far. If you have days you are not available please let me know I will add them to the post.

~ OK I was asked by the Board to please mention a few things:

 #1 There is to be NO changing or moving of cages or kitties. Kitties are placed in a specific order for good reason, not just for the color scheme. In the Big Room kitties and cages are open and all over and in and out of each others cages, That is ok. They are healthy. But that does not mean you can move there cages. They need to be where they are. Thank you

 #2 All new Kittens and Cats that come in are NOT to be handled by anyone but Cindi. Also Cindi is the only one who can authorize any cats/kittens coming in at all. Please do not just bring in cats/kittens that you or someone you know  may have found or owns, that is not acceptable. Cindi has to test all kitties that come in. Only she will approve there admittance. Please understand we would love to rescue all of them, but sometimes we have to say no. If you or someone you know has kitties to be surrendered please talk with Cindi first!! Again, only she can approve they admittance.   Thank you 

~ At this time I still do not have new applications from everyone, The time is drawing near for the next step in my attempt to get everyone signed off on the insurance waiver that is apart of the new application. The next step is going to cause problems for the rest of the people on your shift, You will not be aloud in the building!!!! So I recommend everyone please ask each other if they have filled out a new application, Because if they have not you will be short handed on your shift due to there inability to pay attention and your inability to cover your own butt, if you do not want to be left alone to clean everything please ask each other to do so now!!! The date I am setting for all applications turned in is June 10, That is more then enough time. PLease be aware you may be alone, after June 10, if you do not ask everyone on your shift. Thank you.

~ Attention everyone on the "Medical Team" there seems to be some misunderstanding here. I need to know who is apart of the "Medical Team" I need all those medical team people to please respond I have a few important questions for you!!!!!!!!!!! Please reply now! Thank you

~ I am going to set a date for our first Bi-Annual Deep Cleaning Event! Yes I know this really sounds like fun! I am asking for only adults for this events, Sorry kids! I need everyone involved to take care of the job at hand and not be worrying what your kids are getting into! Sorry! You need time for yourself too. Also it will keep us on track and it should not take too long. I am starting with a Sunday date  June 26 11am til finished. Please let me know if you can make it. I will post a sheet on the counter to sign your name! I will make this a fun time I promise, I will spring for Lunch. Is pizza good! Thank you

~ Ok Kitty updates: We had 2 adoptions Saturday, One of the kittens near the fridge, The girl Michelle. and one of the older kitties in the Q Room the Calico in with the 2 others Shianna, Shenna, Something like that I can not remember there names, I have trouble with people names, I think we should give fun names like Lock, Stock and Barrel or Eene, Mene, Myne and Moe or what about Mother, Maiden and Crone Now I would be able to remember them no problem. Anywho 2 where adopted. That is great. But we have at least 5 litters of kittens that are not ready yet, due to either URI and/or they are not old enough. I think it is around 19 kittens. Maybe we should have a "KItten Madness Sale" That would be fun.

  +Several kitties have URI: Potato, Puppy, Lana and her 7 kittens, Sadie is starting to show signs, but I hope not. The 2 black kittens in the front, Trevor and Terrier, the 4 kittens in the back, North, South, East and West (G, I wonder who named them?).

  +Abu has been put in with her house mate, Cheyenne and Austin in the medical room, they are all doing great in there. I truly want to let Austin have the run of that room. He is such a good kid, I love him. Maybe when we are not so full.

  +Has everyone seen Frosty he is so stinkin cute with his puff tip tail, He feels like a fuzzy peach. I love him, He is another one that I would like to let run, he will make a good house kitty(with the right person, of course) I think he needs a be free and he will be good!

  +Mia and Whitey are having some issues. Whitey's eye is looking very crusty again, and Mia does not seem myself. I would like to let them run the halls but I do not want to add to there issue. I feel so bad. I will find out what is the issue with Whitey's eye, I think it is chronic. and I will find out what is up with Mia I think something was posted about a fever, I will keep you posted, when I get the scoop.

 + Ewee and Eliza were spay a few days ago, have you seen Ewee with her skirt pulled up to her neck. She is so damn sweet, I could squeeze her head.

 + Jelly bean is starting to look like her furry self again, although she did look cute with the lion cut. 

  +Please be careful with Bandit in the back, she may seem lovely, but she is alittle nuts too. She will let you pet her only once or twice then she will let you know that is enough, be careful. 

  +Unfortunately the 4 kittens in the back North, South, East and West are FIV positive, But because they are young enough they may be able to grow out of it. They are so cute, I love them. Cindi will test them again in a few mouths to see how they are doing with that, I will keep you posted.

 +The 2 kittens near the fridge, Mitchell and Michael have some diarrhea issues, they are on meds for that, Please do not give them ID food it only makes things worse. I think they are starting to do better. Mitchell has been adopted but can not go home until he is pooping right. Maybe we can put Michael in with another litter (when they are healthy) so he is not alone.

~ Now I would like to send out a giant THANK YOU to everyone involved with the Reach the Beach event and the Yard Sale event, With your help we raised just under $3000 total from both events, yes just under $3000 That is Electric! That is Magnanimous! That is Overwhelming! You people are the best! Lets do that again soon! Not the 2am part but the almost $3000 part. We will be having another Yard Sale so please keep cleaning out those closets and don't forget about the shed, you don't even use that stuff anymore. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell people you don't know. We can do this!

~ Wednesday June 1 there will be a Fundraising Meeting at 6:30pm, all are invited.

~ I want to send out a few Happy Birthdays!    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Catherine Bechtel May 31, Lauren Fagan June 10, Frances Shirley June 11

    Celebrate like it's nobody's business!  Don't be chicken try something different! Enjoy yourself to the fullest!  Call me if you need bail! hahahahaha

~ I will be updating all the posting in the shelter soon, remember that is what we went over at the meeting. I will have a posting for daily cleaning, cage cleaning procedure, weekly cleaning, inventory specs for all supplies, updating the phone list, and I will start interviewing volunteers to be spotlighted in The Scratching Post. This is a get to know your follow volunteer section.

 ~ OK this is all for now I will send a short follow up in a few days(i hope) have info about the kitties and some other things that I am sure I have forgot. Thank you for your support, I really love this form of communication, I think it is fun! ......................Meow for now, Lisa