Tag: cat rescue

February 17, 2012

Born Free: Feral Cat Drawing #1

"Born Free: Feral Cat Drawing #1" Drawing by BZTAT

As a child, I read all the National Geographic stories about Jane Goodall and her research about chimps in the wild. I read all the James Herriot books, and I was crazy in love with the movie Born Free.

“Born Free” – Written by John Barry

Born free, as free as the wind blows
As free as the grass grows
Born free to follow your heart

Live free and beauty surrounds you
The world still astounds you
Each time you look at a star

Stay free, where no walls divide you
You’re free as the roaring tide
So there’s no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
‘Cause you’re born free

(Stay free, where no walls divide you)
You’re free as the roaring tide
So there’s no need to hide

Born free, and life is worth living
But only worth living
‘Cause you’re born free

I have always loved animals, and I have always been perplexed with the fantasies of wild animals being domesticated, and of domesticated animals living in the wild.

Both fantasies are just that – fantasies. Neither scenario really works well.

Through the convergence of different factors in my life, I have become involved in a rescue effort of the latter scenario – domestic animals unwittingly being thrust into living in the wild, and coping with the resulting consequences. A friend who lives in the country has encountered a feral cat colony developing on her property.The colony is growing, and coming close to getting out of control.

My childhood wonder still exists, and I want to believe that these cats are “Born free, as free as the wind blows, as free as the grass grows…” But wisdom gained through experience tells me different. Domestic breeds are not really made for life in the wild, and feral cats need attention despite their wild nature.

I have agreed to assist my friend with trapping the cats so that they can be spayed/neutered to prevent further overpopulation of feral cats. I am learning about the process of TNR and have been offered traps by a seasoned feral cat rescuer. The process of trapping begins next week. I have already captured 5 kittens and taken them to a shelter for rehab and adoption. The adult cats will be trapped, neutered and returned to their habitat, as they are not good candidates for adoption.

I thought I would share the inspiration from the rescue process via artwork. Each day for the next few weeks, I will feature a drawing of one of the cats and auction it here on my blog. The proceeds will help me have a bit of income to sustain me through the effort (I still have to pay my bills).

I also have a rescue fund set up if you would like to donate to the rescue effort. You can donate via the ChipIn widget in the sidebar. Thank you for your help!

Today’s drawing is of one of the kittens that was taken to the Tuscarawas County Humane Society cat shelter.

Here is the info on today’s drawing:

5″ X7″ Prismacolor Pencil and Marker Drawing on paper by artist BZTAT

Comes with an acid free mat ready for an 8″ x 10″ frame

Leave bids in increments of $5 below in the comments section.

Minimum Bid $40 USD

Shipping: $8 USA $18 International

BUY NOW OPTION: You can buy this piece now for $75 as long as no bids have been made in the comments below. Simply write BUY NOW in the comments and send a payment of $75 + shipping via the ChipIn widget in the right sidebar.

Highest bid at 10:00 pm EST on Sunday 2/19/12 wins the piece.

Winning bidder: make payment of bid + shipping to PayPal to Paypal using email address bztat at bztat.com.

Please allow 4 weeks for USA shipping.

February 18, 2011

February Encore: Okey Drawing to Benefit Feral Cat Rescue

"Okey" Drawing by BZTAT

Today’s February Encore drawing is special. It is special for two reasons.

One is because it is a drawing of my little rescue cat Okey, who is, of course, very special to me. She is special to many others as well, because of the Okey’s Promise movement she has inspired.

The other reason this particular drawing is special is because I am offering the proceeds from its auction to the rescue group that helped me rescue Okey. Cripple Creek Ferals & Friends is currently involved in a major rescue of several feral cats whose situation has worsened in the midst of their rescue.

Volunteers had begun attending to several cats at the home of a couple who had lost control of their population of felines. After the rescue had begun, the house caught fire. The woman was seriously injured. The man had already been placed in a nursing home and was no longer in the home. (Read local news about the fire and cat rescue.)

It appears that the cats that were in the home survived by escaping into the garage that did not burn. Now Cripple Creek Ferals & Friends are tasked with managing, assessing, vetting and finding homes for all these cats. You can follow updates on the cats and learn adopting them at Cripple Creek’s Petfinder page.

Cripple Creek Ferals & Friends is not a large rescue group, but they are top notch, and I have no doubt that they will find a way to give these cats the best. Their leader coached me through Okey’s rescue, and we are both deeply indebted to her. The group needs resources though, and I have agreed to help raise funds for them.

All of the proceeds from this drawing’s auction will go to Cripple Creek Ferals and Friends. You can also donate to their organization separate from the auction by sending money via PayPal to the email address: criplcrkferals@aol.com.

Thanks for your support.

Here’s the info about the drawing:

This auction is now closed.

Approx. 5″ X7″ Prismacolor Pencil Drawing by artist BZTAT

(Drawing is on Bristol Board and pasted onto a colored paper background.)

Comes with an acid free mat ready for an 8″ X 10″ frame

Leave bids in increments of $5 below in the comments section.

Minimum Bid $30 USD

Shipping: $5 USA $15 International

BUY NOW OPTION: You can buy this piece now for $60 as long as no bids have been made in the comments below. Simply write BUY NOW in the comments and send a payment of $60 + shipping via PayPal to bztat at bztat.com.

Highest bid at 11:00 pm EST on Monday 2/21/11 wins the piece.

Winning bidder: send payment of bid + shipping to Paypal using email address: bztat at bztat.com

Please allow 3-4 weeks for USA shipping.

See all the January 2011 A Drawing a Day drawings

July 3, 2010

Little Meow the Parking Lot Kitty

Drawing by BZTAT

Every week I receive hundreds, and yes I do mean hundreds, of requests to help animals in need. As much as I want to, I cannot help them all.

Every now and then, however, a certain animal’s story really touches my heart. That is the case with Little Meow.

Little Meow has lived her entire life in the parking lot of an office park in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She and other cats in the area have been tended to by 2 different women for many years. Most recently, my friend Dorian from Your Daily Cute has fed and given lots of love to Little Meow and her companion Daddy Meow.

Sadly, Daddy Meow became ill and went to the Rainbow Bridge a few weeks ago, leaving Little Meow all alone.

Little Meow has never been by herself before, and Dorian was concerned about her being alone in the parking lot. Furthermore, she was concerned about a new manager in the office park who had indicated a desire to remove her. Dorian decided that it was time to find a permanent home for Little Meow where she could be loved and could give love to someone who needed it from her.

Little Meow was captured yesterday and taken to the vet for a check up. She was given a clean bill of health and is now in a foster home. Because of lease limitations, neither Dorian or the foster family can give her a permanent home, so Dorian is calling out the troops to find her a forever home.

A home in the Fort Lauderdale area would be best for her, but Dorian is willing to help relocate her to another area to find her the best possible home.

I follow Your Daily Cute religiously. It is the one thing that I can count on each day to make me smile. I have followed Little Meow’s story through the Cute for quite awhile, and I just couldn’t ignore her plea for help.

This is one special kitty. She will need some time to adjust to a new home, but she is very socialized despite living in the wild. I am sure that she is going to bring a lot of love to a very special someone who decides to give her a home.

Could that be you? If you are interested, send an email to AdoptLittleMeow@gmail.com. You can read more about her here.

If you adopt her, you will also get a special bonus. The original 4.5″ X 6.5″ drawing pictured above will be yours.

Please help spread the word. Post the link to this post or the post on Your Daily Cute on your Facebook or Twitter, or forward it on in whatever way that you can.

Lets help Little Meow find a home.