Sunday, September 19, 2021

A new reason to live

TONGUE OUT READY TO GRAB A KITTY
 
Liam loves the 6 tabbies 

Loves to chase

To dream 

To hunt 

If you need any refreshers about what 's been happening

here is the recent blog story link

easy peasy to skim and catch up

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Birthday%202021

 portrait of the Pack

 
and the gathering
 
 

the  hunt

 
 
 

 

for meals

see the 6 gathering top photo

 

LIAM AT SIDE DOOR, TABBIES ON THE OTHER SIDE

Liam is inches away on the other side of the door

when they hear his hard head hit the door they scoot off into different directions

i check that they are safely out of reach and open the door

Liam darts off at full speed on his new bionic leg

does his investigations

sometimes finds a hidden tabby

gives chase and  misses

then happily gallops around the yard in ecstatic exuberant joy

These siblings have given Liam a reason to gallop, sniff, explore, and enjoy new cuisine, now mixed with his own and ours...

he adores cat food, our food

his food and cheese

we believe all these new activities enhance and extend his life

MOM, WHERE ARE THEY? i SAW THEM JUMP RIGHT HERE

and in his 15th year around the sun, Liam has the best life

an indoor cushy home and an outdoor adventure land


woof, woof

Sunday, August 1, 2021

Liam is14

and he made it through

Covid

TPLO surgery

feral cats

lipomas

and 

celebrated

with

his first joyful rollie


in case you missed the story of his injury or would be interested in a refresher 

here is the blog story about it

  https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2021/03/liam-is-injured.html

and the next blog story has his surgery and recovery

 https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4302462737248030380/680207438361533307

both quick easy reads

lots of photos for those time-stressed folks 


and now Liam can do his regular activities

one of which is illustrated in the captioned photostitch following


  "The Lone wolf dies

 but the pack survives"

Game of Thrones

OUR PACK

LIAM AND THE NEUTERED OUTDOOR KITTIES
 


and we are a community now

they are no longer ferals

they permit petting, stroking . holding of their heads and eating from my hand.

Liam, Colin, Tabby Bold, Tabby Bent Ear, Tabby Pink Nose, Tabby Red and Tabby White Foot

I adopted Colin last July. His mother delivered him.  Had him neutered.

Then to my shock during a December 2020 snowstorm kittens tumbled out of Colin's outdoor house I had built. Colin had taken them in.,,I tried not feeding the kitties but Colin brought them every day. Then an anonymous animal activist had them neutered,,,one or two would disappear for a few days and then return with tipped ears...the sign to the world that a cat has been fixed. 

 Thank you to whomever did that.

Liam remains the Leo Lion King

rules the yard and its surroundings

the kittens have given him a new found love of exploring the yard and using his hound sniffing talents

I know this joy enhances his day and adds quality time to his senior life

 


I hope that one day he will love his kitty siblings

until then though

 it is quite a show

Liam sniffs for the kitties

the kitties stalk the birds

and the birds 

peck and dislodge

one another

squirrels scoop up the birdseed

all drink out of the birdbath


Happy 14th Liam


woof. woof

Sunday, May 16, 2021

surgery happened

ABOVE LIAM WAITS FOR HIS SURGERY

and the TPLO surgery happened 4/20/2021 after a month long wait for our traveling surgeon Tony Kahn

Injury occurred on Friday March 19, 2021

here is an explanation of what Liam had

https://www.animalsurgical.com/tplo-surgery-what-to-expect/ 

I did not realize how common and how serious this surgery and surgery is until Liam had to do it.

refresher for those who did not see the injury story and who want a refresher

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2021_03_28_archive.html

Liam severely injured himself chasing our feral kitten Tabby White Foot ripping his ccl and meniscus 

see the tapestry of IG posts from GCVC and our exchanges while Loam rehabbed there 

 
 

 
Paul has slept downstairs since March 20 to be close to Liam
I am already down here so both parents are here
 
 
 FIRST DAY HOME SATURDAY  WITH GIFTS FROM FRIENDS
 
we have blockades on all the furniture 




for two weeks

we did not leave the house together in order to monitor Liam

this even involved missing an in person Friday Night at Crabtrees on his first week home 

Friday April 30 we did Crabtrees's Curbside

A stitched montage of Liam's recuperating

Good Vet report 5/4

Liam hears it

Paul got up from his couch seat and went into the kitchen  

Liam saw an opening and jumped up next to the pile of books that had just been covering the spot

First two photos are Liam's sneaky jumps up

we then waited until he slid down the couch and reinstalled more obstacles

note RBG pillow glaring down third photo


the current situation

a few more weeks

no, not a few more weeks

we succumb

Liam is way too wily 

RBG did NOT do her job..

.Liam embraced her...was mot intimidated...

UPDATE

May 18, 2021

Liam's final checkup...He is a super dog...Doctor Polley GCVC founder and head doctor escorted Liam back out of the office personally and greeted us with our bouncing 13 3/4 year old TPLO surgery survivor and thriver. Liam is doing remarkably well...we are instructed to keep doing what we are doing, Which of course involves undoing the reinstated permissions of couch surfing and long walks and cat chasing.  "Take it slow, don't go crazy. a quote."  says Dr Polley

proud of our quick healing boy. The DNA mix of Doxie, beagle, Irish setter and dalmatian must have propelled his body and mind to get it done

Thank you to all for your support during this unexpected blip in Liam's life

You shared your stories

 sent your love

empathized 

got us through

All of you

woof, woof



Sunday, March 28, 2021

Liam is injured


 Friday night March 19, 2021.. Liam chased one of the kittens at full speed. Tore a ligament in his back left leg. We went to the emergency Vet 0n Saturday
Back story 
We have a neutered outdoor cat Colin. 
see refresher story link here
Colin adopted 4 kittens. They are not yet fixed.  We are careful to keep Liam and the kitties separate but Friday night March 20 Liam spotted one of them and took chase at full throttle. And that’s when he injured himself.
Meet the kitties descending order from the top
 
Colin
Tabby Bent Ear
Tabby White Foot
Tabby Bold 
Tabby Pink Nose
 
 



It was Tabby White Foot he chased. And who got away easily.


early Saturday morning March 20

Liam could not get to his poochie bells which hang on the side doorknob
So he pee'd on the floor
Then he banged his head against the door to wake us up
Paul woke up and carried him out 
 
We called our Vet and were told they were soon closing. It was a Saturday. And Garden City Vet has limited hours on the weekend
They refereed us to VEG 
Veterinary Emergency Group.. a nationwide Urgent pet care network and its closest location was Carle Place
see link following

The emergency vet Dr Robert Gonzalez is the best
caring and kind 
He said that the ligament is really torn off the bone 
Not close to being a benign self repair
Which is why he thinks it has to be repaired surgically 
I was hoping it would reattach with rest
not a chance
our testimonial and their response



Liam is resting 
He can hop on three legs
The pain meds kicked in Saturday night March 20
 
 our regular Vet Dr Polley saw Liam on  Wednesday and Thursday March 24th and 25th
He did blood work to make sure Liam is okay for surgery 
sedated him for X rays
blood work okay
took two days because Liam was traumatized by the attempts at X rays
It seems like surgery is the way to go
Injury severe yet common and easily fixable 
it is a cranial cruciate ligament CCL tear like the ACL in humans
here is some info
If not fixed arthritis may set in and really hobble Liam
The kneecap no longer anchored 
Like 
Bone on bone
leg will wobble as he walks 
Will exacerbate further if he runs 
then transfer to right leg as he puts weight on that to relieve his left leg discomfort
and totally incapacitate him

surgery scheduled for April 20th
visiting surgeon first available then
we are okay with the wait
these doctor visits have been rough for Liam
his anxiety off the charts
 
thank you Doctor Polley and staff for your attention and dedication
comprehensive explanations
caring observations
hopeful outlook 
and obvious love for Liam

we want our Liam dog back and want to ensure he has a chance at some more 
leaping 
running 
jumping years

woof woof

Sunday, February 28, 2021

It's Been a Year

IT'S BEEN A YEAR

MARCH 1 2020

       since I have

 been on the LIRR

since I have

seen NYC as we approach

       since I have

seen my SSA work building as we ride by through Jamaica

since I have

purchased e tickets on my phone  

 since I have

accumulated Fitbit steps as I walk the platform waiting

LIAM RBG THE DIREWOLVES PANDEMIC COUCH POSE


 


and then it was time to head in to NYC 

MASKED

DISTANCED

SOLO

WARY

ANXIOUS

THRILLED

 Liam illustrates Covid positions and activities

reading

puzzling

sleeping

drinking 

thinking


and there it is

my e ticket

the train

the trip

the workplace

the city

see stitched captioned photos following


 Penn Station

Javits

Vessel

e ticket

and the next round of stitched photos

heading back

Glorious

and

Gobsmacked

and 

Grateful

To my friend Jim McGrath

and

FB Covid site volunteers on NYC and Long Island

https://www.facebook.com/groups/874423786675869 

Marty Oppenheim 

Moderator NYC

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316648273038795/permalink/339456507424638?comment_id=339478030755819&notif_id=1614463010852848&notif_t=group_comment&ref=notif

for our vaccines

Paul at Rite Aid (Long Island Covid group)

 and me

at Javits (Jim)

niece Elizabeth at Javits (NYC Covid group)

Liam has had many vaccines

at 

https://gardencityvet.com/

not Covid 

 

Mr Rogers famously said

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”


Fred Rogers

Truth

thank you to the helpers 

they are there

find them

and thank them


Woof, Woof


Update

Vax 2

3/16/2021 

I left a note...with many others

far left, solo

second with my board's group

third with the two boards of thanks

Liam howled in joy


 

and I posted my experience to the NYC FB Covid Volunteers Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316648273038795/permalink/339456507424638?comment_id=339478030755819&notif_id=1614463010852848&notif_t=group_comment&ref=notif 


woof, woof, woof, woof

Sunday, January 31, 2021

In Pandemic all is celebrated

Liam turns 13 1/2 on Monday February 1, 2021

we  are recognizing it in the blog

In the pandemic all events are celebrated...inside the home and many  outside the home

Lawn signs for 

birthdays

 graduations

championships

scholarships 

anniversaries

  births

  moving on

 coming home

  see the following link

https://www.twinstarcu.com/content/how-celebrate-milestones-during-pandemic

car parades

firetrucks

honking

flags

posters



We first did this two years ago at 11 1/2
here is a refresher link
 

https://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/birthday%20half%20feb%202019
 
 
 

         no lawn signs for us but a mutual Leo acknowledgment that every day is a day of importance
Liam keeps his mind off the pandemic with frequent naps and the
licking of the cream off my caramel; nitro brew Starbucks drink, center photo
 


Sunday, November 29, 2020

I Dont Want a Sibling

July 2020

Liam talking

My Mom has been claimed by an outdoor cat.  She has named her Colleen. I have tried to kill Colleen. No luck yet.

I don't want a sibling

 

Mom is extremely allergic to cat dander. Otherwise I guess I would have been a cat.

July 30 2020 

I am the only child. But a cat has crept into my portrait. see collage



August, September, October 2020
 

Carol talking

I wanted to do TNR but due to Covid very few options are available. All of TNR stopped during the pandemic Lockdown

what is TNR?

 https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/how-to-tnr/getting-started/what-is-tnr

Colleen came in July.  brought by her Mother.  Sat under Paul's car.  I fed her,

Here is a link about cats you may see wandering about

https://www.alleycat.org/resources/feral-and-stray-cats-an-important-difference/

and it went on for a few months.

 

Fall arrived and some cold days. I  knew I had to do the right thing and TNR

My Sil Gail lent me a trap

Nov 1 2020

 It was done

T (trap)


Nov 2 2020

N (neuter)

delivery to Garden City Vet

after a bit

the vet calls

seems we have a male cat

and just like that

Colleen 

became

Colin

return home same day

recovery in the ccc 

What is the ccc? Carol's cab cove

 

Liam and Colin in a face-off at the door of the ccc

 

I feel compelled to help. we had a outdoor cat in the nineties. Ginger left an abusive home down the block and chose us. Lived outside for 9 years.  Would not come in as the abuse had occurred inside.  But I do not feel I did enough. I was ignorant. I could have helped her more  The universe has given me a second chance

Colin inside the ccc

 Is Colin feral

The difference between stray and feral cats
While stray and feral cats share some commonalities there is a big difference. Stray cats are socialized to humans – in most cases they were once pets who have either become lost or were, unfortunately, abandoned, while feral cats have had very limited (or no) interactions with humans and have reverted to a wild state. Stray cats may become feral as their contact with humans dwindles or, in a happier scenario, become loving pets again if they are taken in.
 
Feral cats typically fear humans. In most cases, unless they are very young at the time of adoption, they do not enjoy living indoors if someone were to take them in. They do, however, bond with their colony. Although you might wish to rehabilitate a feral cat, if they are not socialized by about 5 months of age, it is almost impossible to turn them around. They are best left to live their lives outside.

ferals don't meow at humans

Colin does

They don't look at you

Colin does

in fact his intense focus on me was what won me over in July

https://petcentral.chewy.com/can-you-domesticate-a-feral-cat/

He is 6 months old.

he will be an outdoor cat. 

Then maybe an indoor cat later on

 he has two houses 

an outdoor in front

an indoor one inside the ccc


Colin has received a gift

  November 16

I began thinking Colin was restless and confined and unhappy

I thought I would release him

November 17 2020

R (release)

I went into the ccc to take out some summer items, Colin got spooked. jumped up to the door top, the screen piece fell towards the outside and in a second he was half in and out. I called him to come down then ran to the outside. He jumped, ran across the yard and disappeared. And so the decision was made.

Colin had been in the ccc for 16 days

November 18 

Colin came back. I tried to entice him back into the ccc with tuna. Came to the door.  I don't want him as a prisoner as he was for 16 days but as a come and go guest who has shelter in bad weather.  He has the outdoor house in front. 

The ccc is better though as I can sit with him and check from the window.

For now I am a dog Mom and Aunt. 

Liam looking. 


I am Colin's Mom as well. Next shirt.

I feel I have fulfilled my promise to Ginger and that the universe is okay with me. I will not give up though.

 Colin now comes to the side door

will not let me touch or pet. But wants me to watch him play and stretch. kinda like kitty porn show


Liam has a brother

for now

modus vivendi

Woof, Woof

Meow Meow