EMMA VS. THE FDMA

Emma is a Tortie. That is, she has black, brown, white and a few orange stripes and the very lively personality of this type of cat. I acquired her due to very unusual circumstances. Her mother, brothers and sisters were rescued from a shelter, and my job was to care for them until they were ready to go to their forever homes. When they arrived, it was an extremely hot September day, so I opened the window. They all settled into my cosy"kitten room" and seemed happy to be there together away from cages and prying eyes. The next morning, while it was still dark, I went into the room to check on them and couldn't find mom. She wasn't with them, on the couch, in the closet.....Then, I looked at the window. She had pushed out the screen, apparently run along the eaves, climbed down a tree and run away! Though several of us searched and called over the next few days, she was never found again.

The dilemma now was: How to feed five hungry little mouths.....Luckily, I had a bottle left from a previous litter and one can of kitten milk. I put calls in to the head of Cause for Paws and my cat-savvy good friend, Carol, and said "Help!" Then, I packed them all up in a carrier and took them to the library, where teams of friends fed them in my office. It was a pretty crazy time....Long story short--I ended up keeping Emma because she became ill and stayed with me for ten weeks, and of course I was very attached to her.

According to the vet, bottle-fed kittens tend to be behavior problems because we humans don't discipline them the way the mother cat does. Emma is very naughty, not bad, just naughty. She climbs curtains, digs at furniture, wakes me up, jumps on the other cats.....but she sure is cute!

When the weather is good, most cats want to be outside. When it's warm I let mine go into the backyard for a while around noon on weekends. They really love running around in the grass. This past Fall, after playing, Emma did not come in. For several days she did not appear. I feared the worst- that the coyotes in the woods had gotten to her since that is always a danger around here. Finally, I went out on the deck , called one last time, and heard a faint "meow" from the top of the trees. She was about 30 feet up and no way was she coming down for me or food.

My gardener said he didn't have a ladder that high. I then called the vet's and they said to call the fire department. I said, "You're kidding". The tech laughed and said,"They really might help." So.....I called and explained who I was and that I was REALLY EMBARASSED. The Chief was really helpful and said he'd send out a detail to my house right away. ( He never even hinted that he knew the old axiom that you never see cat skeletons in trees.) I told the library staff that I was heading for home, and after we laughed a lot, I met three firefighters backing into my neighbor's driveway. How they moved that huge rig so precisely is a mystery to me.....

The backed right up to the tree, and then began moving a huge, moveable ladder (for tall buildings) into place. It reminded me of a scene from the TV show "Rescue Me". One of the guys took Emma's carrier with him on the high platform. Soon it was swinging back down again, and he said, "She bit me right through my glove!" Apparently, the noise had terrified her, and she actually jumped down to the ground as the ladder was descending. Whew! Talk about nine lives. At this point I think Emma has used up about eight of hers. She's confined to the house, and now no longer climbs trees, just curtains. Oh well.....

STATIC GUARD

JK, who is a great reader, in the library a lot, and one of my orphan cat adopters, asked a good question yesterday. (Her mother was concerned that she had been given poor advice by a friend). She wondered " Is it OK to pat your cat during the cold winter since you might administer a shock and hurt them?" Now that is indeed a problem, but there are solutions. We've all walked across the carpet and reached out to a pet (not just cats) and given them a little shock, even seen a spark fly occasionally, particularly in a dim room. One thing to do, of course, is NOT to pat a pet after strolling across the rug! Sit down, wait a minute or so, and then haul them into your lap, perhaps using a brush to interact with all that fur. Another easy solution, according to our Children's Librarian, is to wet your hands in the kitchen sink first (just a little bit). Bottom line: physical interaction with your pet, be it cat, dog, ferret, hamster, is important for its welfare and your happiness. So........during these very cold days, just be a little bit thoughtful and patient. Don't reach and grab-go slowly.....If there should be a tiny shock, it won't hurt anyone-----I promise.

TOOTH "HURTY"

No, not a time of day, but a little laugh about a "sore" topic. My Siamese cat, Tuppy, has been turning his nose up at his kibbles, rather than diving in like his brothers and sisters. Since dry food is best for them, that is all I usually provide. One day recently he even pushed them all out of his bowl onto the floor. I began to be very suspicious at this behavior, and worried about his not eating. So, after he had rejected a few meals, I went to the pantry and found an "emergency" can of Fancy Feast. Well, he practically dove in. That told me that there was nothing wrong with his appetite or tummy, rather it must be a sore mouth. ( Obviously, kibbles would really hurt aching teeth or gums. ) The vet had told me a year ago that Siamese are notorious for bad teeth, and at 10 years old Tuppy was due for some serious problems. He will probably have to have a few taken out, unfortunately, maybe even one fang. .....This leads me to today's lesson: Watch for changes in your pet's behavior. Some injuries are obvious, like a limp or cut, and can be attended to quickly. Others, like Tuppy's, are difficult to diagnose since animals can't "tell us where it hurts". Also, unlike little children, they don't cry to let you know of their discomfort. My rule of thumb is to observe for a day or two. Sometimes the odd behavior: running to the litter box constantly, not eating, sleeping ALL day-not just their usual 15 hours or so, will stop and they'll resume their natural rhythms. Either way a chat with the vet or tech is always reassuring. In order to decide whether or not a visit is needed, they'll ask some questions, so it's up to you to listen carefully to what is unspoken, unmeowed, or unbarked!

TAZ and PEACHES

MB, who is twelve, is sharing her stories with you all...... Our family dog, Taz, earned his name after the Disney character "Taz". Our Taz would always drag my dad's "stuffed Taz" up and down the stairs. He would drag it to the top, and let it drop. Therefore my Dad figured out the perfect name. Wouldn't you know it? We chose Taz!

Our ferret's name used to be Peaches. But then we changed it to Riki Riki. (Yes, two times.) My sister was singing part of a song from a cat commercial. Every time she said "Riki, Riki" our cat would look up. So, we changed her name from Peaches to Riki Riki. The funniest part is that she will NOT respond to just Riki. It has to be Riki Riki.

HOPE THE YELLOW COCKATIEL "Squawk!"

A.H., one of our young patrons, contributed this story........ Hope was a Cockatiel. My sister's name was Sam. She got Hope. Everyone took care of her. She was a yellow Cockatiel with red cheeks. I thought she was the best bird I'd ever had. But one day we had to give her away. I was very sad when she left.

ANGEL AND RUGBY NEED HELP

Today's little refugees may have odd names, but they're very sweet and have had a hard life. They come from a hoarding situation where a man and his wife simply had way too many cats. Cause for Paws worked with them, spaying and neutering all the adults, and placing the many litters of kittens that they had produced. (There were so many, as a matter of fact, that three mom-cats looked after them all helter-skelter. The babies simply crawled to the nearest one for a "milk-shake") A & R were two left over, and have been taken in by one of our rescue families. They need a new home, however, because the resident cat does not like them at all. Because of this, the two sisters must stay in a small room. They have each other for company, but need to get out and stretch their "eight" legs after months in such tiny quarters. They are quiet, laid-back, and friendly. Do you know anyone who might like some new friends-great companions on those long winter nights? Call Cause for Paws at" 508-758-9202.

THE DAY I GOT MY DOG

Bitsy Lonergan, who is 10, wrote this story for our blog.

This story is dedicated to my dog RUSTY.

It was a dreary January afternoon about 3:30 on a Wednesday. It had been about 2 years since our black lab Chuckles had died. After school Maura and I wanted to go to the library but my mom said we had to make a stop at home first. We went home and when we walked in we saw my dad with his arms around a small object. I didn't think it was a big deal it's probably just a box or something. When I saw my grandma with the video camera, I knew something was up. I ran around the room and stopped where my dad was sitting. Just as I thought in his arms was a tiny puppy. I started to jump for joy, but I stayed quiet because I knew the puppy was scared. I sat down and my Dad handed me the tiny puppy. When Maura saw the puppy she exclaimed"O MY GOSH!!!" and wanted a turn next, same with Fiona. He was so light I could lift him over my head and carry him around that way. We decided to name him Rusty. It was a good name for a golden retriever and his coat is the color of rust.

To this day Rusty is a happy healthy dog and is very energetic. he loves to play, but hates to swim. His favorite thing to get, is a belly rub. The definition of a dog is a man's best friend. That means to me that he will always be there for me, and I will be there for him. His is one of my very best friends.

LOONEY TUNES AND "MERRY" MELODIES

Today's story comes from Shay, the daughter of our Circulation Supervisor Donna. She wants to tell you about her Sheltie, Merry. First of all, you should know that Merry loves to come to the library because she always gets treats (from behind the desk....) When she's outside, her favorite thing to do is to chase squirrels. ( S. says, she never catches any, however.) For some reason, she likes to eat the snow-and we have plenty of it right now! She even likes to play Frisbee and football on the ice with her Dad. At home, our little Sheltie sleeps, watches TV with me, and begs for food a lot. "One time I left some ravioli out while I went in my room, and she jumped up on the table and ate it." ( This was amazing when you know how short her legs are . Shelties' legs are small in proportion to their bodies)..... When I lived in Newport, we had twelve horses. Merry used to herd them, which is what her ancestors used to do. Right now, Merry is my Best Friend and I love her a lot!!!!!!!

GOT MILK?

People ask from time to time if it's OK to feed their cat milk. Of course we all know that for the first four weeks of life or so kittens feed on nothing else--from their mother. At about that time, they begin to have a bigger appetite, so we introduce them to kitten kibbles. (In the wild, the mother probably brought home small prey for them to begin eating, much as the mother lion does. I have noticed that my moms begin to leave them alone more at about this time, and it is thought that this type of behavior reflects her original hunting routine.) Usually, the biggest in the litter sticks his/her head in the unfamiliar bowl, makes a mess, and manages to get a piece or two where it belongs. Soon, though, the other follow suit, and its a madhouse of flying kibbles-I put down mats......Gradually, the mother allows them to feed from her less and less, jumping up on furniture, or leaving the room. The kittens become accustomed to a solid food diet between 5 and 8 weeks. It is tempting at this point to want to put down a bowl of milk or cream to wash down all that dry stuff--not a good idea. Cow's milk is not at all like a cat's, so the little ones may suffer from digestive problems, especially diarrhea. I know that in many story books the cats do drink the stuff, but not in real life. A bowl of water is all that is needed placed right next to the dry food. They WILL drink it eventually. Note: When they're older they do love a little bit of non-dairy creamer, if you use it in your coffee. My guess is that it tastes rich, like cream. One caution, though. They quickly learn that the sound of coffee percolating=creamer, and come running and meowing.......

"MEMORY" ---CATS

I've been rehearsing a lot of Andrew Lloyd Webber's songs lately, so had that title on my mind when I saw Socks hiding behind the potted plants in my bay window yesterday. I was remembering just how many of her predecessors had done just that. Of course I was happy that she was there because, as a new rescue, she had been hiding in her room for over a week. Amazingly, she had found the courage to navigate her way downstairs, through the living room's perils of resident cats snoozing and playing, and into the kitchen. Apparently, Socks had made it to her new sunning place safe and sound, and was now peering out at the snowy woods from her hiding place behind fronds and leaves. Later, in the evening, I heard a scuffle in the dining room and discovered that she had pried open a door in the bottom of the hutch , finding a refuge inside where she could relax among the place mats and tablecloths. I realized that this is one imaginative, rescourceful cat, that's for sure! Luckily, it is much too cold for the little guys to venture outside, but once the temperature goes up, I have a feeling Socks is going to make a beeline for the door and escape into the Great Unknown-----not if I can help it!

BOOTIES-NOT JUST FOR WUSSES

I saw an interview the other day with the head of emergency services at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. The veterinarian was talking about the dangers of this extremely cold, damp weather in relation to our pets. Cats should simply not be allowed out--period. The perils are myriad-buried in snow, trapped in trees, injured by ice----lost forever. Dogs present different kinds of problems since they do have to be walked (if not let out in back yards). Most owners who let little dogs out briefly keep one eye on them, so presumably they do not disappear into snow drifts. However, from my experience, most dog owners attempt to walk their critters along badly shovelled sidewalks, or by the side of the road. All of this is hazardous for both man and beast, but there is a particular problem which should be addressed--that of injured FEET. The vet said that all four of them should be inspected after every venture out. Not only do icy particles and rock salt become imbedded in the pads and between the toes, but there may be cuts from these small sharp objects. I have not seen any dogs around here wearing booties, but I'd like to suggest that someone start a trend. The dogs that do wear them are mighty tough, hearty guys-for example those running the Iditerod in Alaska. (As a matter of fact, racers must stop at pre-determined spots along the route and have vets check the dogs' feet to be sure they are not injured). The other famous use of booties was at Ground Zero after the 9-11 attacks. Those brave rescue and cadaver dogs developed serious, debilitating foot problems due to the shards of glass and hot metal they were walking on. A wonderful story emerged of a woman in Minnesota who made booties for dogs in her bitterly cold climate. She got volunteers together to make thousands of these foot-savers for the brave animals helping at such a desperate time. Sooo---if you add these items to your pooch's wardrobe, you are not imitating Paris Hilton, that is, unless you add a diamond necklace or cashmere sweater!

PET TALES

Come on into the library and tell us all about your favorite pet! A big basket, labelled "Pet Tales" sits on the front desk. Nearby are pens and cards for you to use. The most unusual stories will be published right on this blog for everyone on the internet to read and enjoy. The staff jumped right in with stories of their own. From Peg: I never received the name picked by my parents because my brother got there first, naming his cat "Katherine". Margaret, it had to be......Her brother also insisted on calling the family's big English Sheep Dog-"Sunny Gool" . No Halloween creature (ghoul) he. Rather, he was named after a place regarded as great fun, requiring no sharing of toys with a kid sister-- Sunday School....... Our Children's Librarian Rosemary wrote of her pets, named after flowers--Lily and Snappy. Lily, a tiny Papillon, visits the library often, and even has her own card! Snappy, for Snapdragon, was aptly named, it would seem, because she was a very beautiful cat, but had a "dark" side. We all were sorry when we heard that she had crossed that famous Rainbow Bridge, and was put to rest very appropriately in the family garden.....More stories to come from our patrons who love their pets,

"CESAR" SALAD

Did you know that you could email Cesar Millan, of Animal Planet fame, and ask him questions about dog behavior? One of our patrons asked me to do just that this morning and we did. I just googled "Cesar Millan" and up popped his website which had an interactive contact center. There is a space to describe your problem with your pet and ask for help. Hopefully, he'll email you back relatively soon. Today's dilemma had to do with the difficulty of restraining a Boxer while out walking, a definite problem since Marion has a leash law. Obviously, all animals would like to run free and enjoy the great outdoors, but even cats should not be allowed to do so since the coyotes are just waiting to pounce....

BAGHDAD PUPS

One of our staff members, who formerly served in the Navy, brought me an article from a magazine about bringing canine friends home from war zones. It describes how soldiers take care of local homeless dogs, and find that providing for their everyday wants, from food to affection, helps them deal with the terrible stresses experienced while fighting and living in constant danger. A new organization, "Operation Baghdad Pups", run by the SPCA International, helps ship these loving comrades back home. Their website is: http://www.baghdadpups.com/.

You may have seen human interest stories on the evening news about these rescues, often accompanied by tearful reunions in crowded airport settings like LAX or O'Hare. One such tale was made into a book, which we have at the library, "From Baghdad with Love", by Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman. this heartwarming story is filled with photos of the officer and his comrades in full battle dress , the little dog Lava right in the midst of them all. As the author states, he may have rescued the dog physcially from a life of certain starvation or injury, but he was rescued right back from the emotional toll that fighting took on him. It was not an easily-accomplished journey with miles of redtape, but now they both live happily in California, part of a happy. loving family.

PUSS IN BOOKS

I've taken today's title from a fascinating documentary that we have at the library about cats in libraries. It was filmed long before "Dewey" became a best seller and the cinematographer went all over the country to see how cats enhanced patrons' experiences with books. There were many buildings with felines lounging on circulation desks, and sitting with kids who were reading with great enthusiasm. Obviously, the "allergy controversy" had to be explored, too, on the negative side. It was found that there were few towns that objected to a pet living with the town's books, but occasionally there was great objection and the librarians simply too the cat home. One side story of interest to me concerned the mascots of the huge Baker and Taylor Company, which for years supplied most libraries with their books. These two Scottish Folds graced all correspondence , catalogs, etc. and soon became iconic. Since the breed is somewhat rare, we all were fascinated with their charm--round heads and bodies with flat ears...... As a member of SF Rescue myself I can attest to both their beauty and gentle personalities. Mine-Fiona Macdougall and Robert the Bruce-were driven up here from New Jersey. I learned of their plight-highly allergic little children-from an internet alert. A breeder whom I knew was part of the effort and vouched for me as a good candidate for adoption. Susan agreed to drive part-way with the little guys. So, the owner drove the first leg to Connecticut, and then she drove to Sturbridge where a friend and I met her. The guys were very quiet until we got home . Robbie settled in, but Fi---well she managed to get into an opening for pipes in my daughter's closet. Thought we were going to have to tear out the wall......lured her up and out with food. Now my little red guy is happy anywhere you put him, and Fi ,at 5 whole pounds, bosses everyone with a tiny, kind of whiney voice, looking like a little white snowman. (If you're interested in breed rescue, go on-line, there are many listed. You will have to register and be vouched for by your vet, but these organizations really do amazing work, pulling cats out of shelters). Mutt cats are great too! Don't forget them!

SOCKS-NO, NOT THE ONE THAT LIVED IN THE WH

The other day, a library patron approached me in Uncle Jon's Coffee Shop and asked if the "lost kitten" flyer on the bulletin board referred to one of mine. I immediately went to see what it said. A Good Samaritan had apparently rescued a small cat from a tree on Green Street and was hoping to find its owner. I was reminded of a posting from Best Friends Animal Society about what to do in just such a situation. First of all, they say, look for a tag or microchip. Obviously, most dogs have collars and tags, which makes it fairly easy to contact an owner (unless the collar is lost), but cats do not. If it's a weekday, most veterinarians can scan for a chip which many cat/dog owners now have imbedded for just such an emergency. Calling the local Animal Control Center (in Marion the police dispatcher may handle this) and describing the animal can be very effective as many owners call there first and leave information. Leaving your name at a shelter or all local veterinarians also helps since owners might check in there, also. Yet another approach is to contact local newspapers which usually give free ad space, so you could post an ad as "found". If, for the present, you must surrender the animal to a shelter, you can claim" last rights". This gives you adoption privileges if the animal is not claimed within a given time period and would be put down. (You will want to keep in contact with them, however, because sometimes the animal is euthanized in spite of your original interest. ) Sadly, this happened to my daughter. Yup, the duck saver---nothing escapes her...........All of this is a lead-in to my story about SOCKSIE. She's about one year old, black with white booties -pretty and petite. Currently, she's in foster care at my house, waiting for a Forever Home. Having just outgrown the baby stage herself, she was left at a shelter, pregnant at six months old. (This is what happens when owners do not have their pets spayed or neutered between 4 and 6 months of age, unfortunately.) She was apparently not developed enough to produce healthy kittens, and sadly all 5 died. I think little S. probably was really not aware really of what happened to her, and once she felt more like herself, just got on with the somewhat boring life of a shelter cat. No one stepped forward to adopt her, however, so she now is learning to trust people as caregivers who provide warmth, food and safety, but also teach her how to play, too. She, like much younger kittens, is learning that balls and catnip mice and the red laser light pen are just for fun. It's OK just to be happy--that's her only job right now. Mine is to find her a wonderful family who will make up for a very grim beginning and allow her to grow into her own funny little self, which is emerging more and more each day.......She is listed on www. petfinder.com as "Mamma Mia" at Cause for Paws-Mattapoisett.

DUCK AND COVER

This tale came from my daughter in Chicago ........ Erica, even though she is in graduate school, and very busy, often drove North of the city to a nursing home to visit with her grandmother on Sunday afternoons. On one such occasion, as she was crossing the parking lot, she was surprised by the sight of a mother duck, followed by a line of ducklings, coming towards her from the pond nearby. Smiling to herself, she went inside and spent a few hours trying to cheer up Grandma Polly and relieve her loneliness a bit. As she went to get back in her car, she noticed that the mother duck was now frantically waddling around a large rain drain in the parking lot. Worse, there seemed to be a smaller number of ducklings. She quickly went over, having done the calculation of mother+ducklings+sewer, as a sum that did not bode well. Luckily, she had on jeans, so she lay down on the pavement and peered into the grate. Sure enough, she could see a duckling inside on a projecting pipe. (I should mention that Erica is a social worker, so of course had to immediately go into rescue mode. ) She managed to pull, in spite of its wiggling, one little critter out. Then, she realized that the numbers still did not add up. Reaching down once again, she did retrieve several more, but she feared other babies were still trapped. Her cell phone came in handy at this point, as it occurred to her to call the nursing home, just across the lot, and ask for help from the maintenance staff. She said she was never so happy as when she saw two big, strong men coming towards her, who were able to use crowbars to pry up the grate. Soon, all the little guys were back with their mom, heading once again to the pond....... Now you know where that expression "circling the drain" comes from!

SHELTER FROM THE STORM

Today I am thinking about the many cats and dogs turned into our over-crowded shelters. The MSPCA reported that there was a 45% increase in pets dropped off this year. We know that most of these "surrenders' were the result of the housing crisis. Many families had to down-size, perhaps renting in no-pet homes, or move in with relatives in already crowded situations. An alarming impediment to a safe drop-off is that many shelters require a "take-in" fee for as much as $50. It doesn't take an economist to figure out that if an individual, who may have lost his job, or a family abandoning their homestead, had an extra $50, they might not be leaving a pet behind. Rescuers have been overwhelmed with stories of pets left behind in yards or on porches. The latest horror tales are about dogs apparently dropped off in state parks. It's not clear if former owners believe they will be found by campers and fed, or if they actually think they'll hunt for food. A similar fate often awaits cats, who are thrown from cars "out in the country". The presumption is that they can hunt for small rodents and survive on their own. As a friend of mine, who has rescued many desperate animals, said, "They would have been better off left with a can-opener since that's the only way they know food has been provided."......So.....If you yourself, or a neighbor, stranger or friend, mentions a dilemma with a pet, try to get in touch with local rescue groups which may have suggestions as to temporary care. Many are listed on http://www.petfinder.com/. No-kill shelters are full. Community-based organizations have strict guidelines as to how long they can keep animals, as we all know. At least, if you must use a shelter, provide all medical information with your pet. That way, a potential owner will feel more assured that the pet is ready to be adopted. It will give your special critter a fighting chance to end up in a loving home...... ( Cause for Paws is the group I work with in Mattapoisett. You can contact them at Petfinder or at 508-758-9202.)

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT

I've been writing about cats, dogs and goats so far, but, as promised, this is a "paws and CLAWS" blog. .....There are so many informative, funny, and wonderfully readable books about birds that I thought I'd devote this entry to them. An older, but immensely warm-hearted, title is "That Quail Robert" by Margaret Stanger. Taking place on Cape Cod, it tells the tale of her actually raising a wild quail in her home. The bird was so tame that it slept in one of her hats and visited with everyone who came to her house....A more recent title is "Wesley the owl", another befriending of a seemingly wild bird.....Irene Pepperberg's "Alex and me" takes a relationship with a feathered creature to a whole new level. She has been involved in very complex language and comprehension studies with Alex and other African Grey Parrots. Over the years she became emotionally attached to him and she writes of her struggle to keep perspective on the ground-breaking work they were doing. Pepperberg mentions the sign language studies which had been done with Koko, the gorilla. Scientists had no idea that parrots could use language skills to an even more complex degree, way beyond naming objects, and solving problems, to actually expressing ideas. Her descriptions of Alex's conversations are fascinating and charming. The only sad note is that she wishes she could have treated him more like a pet and shown more affection. Reading her narrative, though, the two really did become friends on some levels as they worked together re-formulating the way we think about the intelligence of the creatures who share our world...... I'll end with a final book recommendation. To be published soon: Temple Grandin's "Animals make us human-creating the best life for animals". Call the library for suggestions ----we have lots of great reads about the furred and feathered world out there!

BILLY THE KID

This story came to me from a friend in North Carolina. He's a retired professor living in a big city, but grew up in the very rural area of Platte, North Dakota. Of necessity most of the animals worked alongside the farm crew, but occasionally one could just be a pal ...... I love his description of this colorful goat who was his great companion.. ........Billy had a harness and was supposed to pull a wagon. He was not very good at it and I never really enjoyed riding with him. Usually, as soon as he was attached, he would jump a fence so he would end up with his legs up in the air on one side, with the wagon on the other. He would bleat pitifully until someone freed him. "Stubborn as a goat". He was a great playmate, though, joining me in games of "king of the mountain" pushing each other off my parent's bed. (We re-made it over and over and they never found out!)...... I also remember that Billy loved cherries and would stand way up on his hind legs to pluck them from our trees. After he had a mouth-full, he would lie down and eat them all, leaving a small pile of pits as the only evidence of his theft. These memories of a simpler time are 60 years old, but still bring a smile.......

A NEW LEASH ON LIFE

While traveling to a family reunion this past Christmas, my daughter and I stopped at a coffee shop. While waiting in line, I saw two men come in together, one of whom was accompanied by a Black Labrador Retriever with a special harness that he was gripping tightly. The man walked easily, with assurance, so I really wasn't sure whether or not he was blind. I commented to Erica, once we were back in the car, that I thought it helped if assistance dogs wore some kind of insignia stating that they were "working". I worried that if people did not know that the dog was on duty that they might approach and try petting or talking to the animal. Seeing Eye dogs are trained to ignore such overtures and pay strict attention to the person in their charge. This can be confusing, especially to children, who are merely being friendly and curious. ( Parents need to be aware of this and explain the role of these wonderful animals, giving the gift of freedom to go out into the world safely.) ..... We had a charming dog in the library a few summers ago who sat right down with his mistress at the card catalog. He wore a bright orange vest with "Deaf Assistance"on it. All the patrons smiled at the two of them, one looking up books to read, and the other alert to any danger or difficulty that she might not be aware of. The woman's husband said, as they left, that they were heading to their boat in the harbor. I've never forgotten the wonderful picture of this lively threesome heading back out to sea.

EXIT 20 IS LUCKY FOR MASON

For many years I have been working in local communities to help rescue pets, especially cats. Gradually, this work has begun to overlap with my library duties to the point that sometimes I can't tell them apart. When I realized that librarian Vicki Myron's library/cat tale "Dewey" was sitting on top of the New York Times Best Seller List, I thought maybe it was time to tell some stories of my own. Let's start with a rescue from last summer. Marion is a lively place from June to September, with a doubling of population. The library reflects this, especially increasing its use by children, all busily taking part in our creative programs. Picture the front desk lined with adults and kids, all checking out books and films, two librarians trying to keep up with it all. All of a sudden a tiny kitten is deposited in the midst of piles of returned books, tapes, etc. It appeared, seemingly, out of thin air. Then, my custodian, Donna said over the hubbub, "We found him by the exit from 195-he'd been thrown out of a car". This 1 pound little critter proceeded to wend his way among the hands reaching out, listening to all the "oohs" and "aahs". Several patrons said they might be interested in adopting him. One young lady stood out, though, as being sincere in making a life-long commitment to taking him. R. consulted with her parents, summer residents, and the next day little, soon-to-be-named Mason, went home with them. When the family comes to Marion on holidays and vacations, we check in. He leads a very cosy life, that's for sure, and is sophisticated enough to have seen and listened to R all the way from Singapore, where she was living this past Fall, via computer. Mason sure has come a long way.......

WORDS OF WISDOM

Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". I would add to this that it all begins with YOU. Of course all of us cannot have pet(s) at home. Family members may have allergies, or we may live in a small house or apartment. There are many things you CAN do, however. You can volunteer at a local shelter. Donate food or money to help out. Pet sit for neighbors who must go out of town. (Cats especially are always happier in their own homes.)...... Become aware of issues you can influence such as the recent vote against racing greyhounds. (Lots of adoption opportunities there since the dogs make wonderful pets and live as ultimate couch potatoes). Bring children to the library to read books about pets-how to choose and care for them, for example. Often, I will bring in cats for a hands-on program at either our story-times or at the natural history museum upstairs...... Get involved if you see an animal being mistreated. Call your local animal control officer, or speak up yourself, if you feel comfortable. Remember that cruelty to pets is indicative of very serious underlying psychological problems. Early intervention by authorities may not only save the animal's life, but the young (or old) person's as well. Respect for the creatures who share this planet starts with the very young. Books, audiotapes, and movies, such as the wonderful new "Marley and me" or "Tale of Desperaux" can't help but urge all of us to share in the enjoyment of our four-footed and winged companions along the way.....