Time flies! - Blue Bell Foundation for Cats

BlueBell
MEWS
A Publication of :
BERTHA’S HOUSE * The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats
Summer 2012
Time flies! After the 1998 mudslide , we were displaced for 4 years in a building in downtown Laguna.
Ten years ago in Spring 2002, we returned to our canyon home. Some cats reclaimed their prior resting places .
Only a handful of that population remain. However, many more have found their forever home with us.
Our top story is exciting news! More
than a year since the December 2010
rainstorm when floodwater washed
through the property inflicting a heavy
toll, WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL-NEEDS
BUILDING BACK! The destruction left it
uninhabitable and forced the evacuation of our most vulnerable residents to
the upper house. Since our past 2 newsletters, you, dear supporters, have rallied.
You immediately contributed to our fundraising effort, and although we didn’t meet our goal—we needed a considerable
amount for this expensive project—we were extremely fortunate
when someone generously donated the remainder needed in
order for the restoration to begin. Our biggest benefactor is
Richard Anderson. He stopped by one day for a visit. Richard
learned of our financial hardship and bestowed a financial gift to
augment the funds necessary for completion.
In January 2012, reconstruction began. The building was
completely gutted and replaced with new insulation, walls,
copper pipes, electrical system, energy-efficient heating system,
Reconstruction
and floors. A new deep sink is perfect for bathing the cats. The
revamped floor plan provides plenty of community space for cat
trees and beds and spacious new separate enclosures with outdoor terraces for our kitties who need monitoring. Fresh paint
graces the exterior. Except for the original “bones”, we have a
sparkling brand new building.
We thank you all and immensely appreciate your sponsorship
and concern. Lastly, we honor our benevolent friend Richard,
whose charitableness enabled a wonderful outcome to a
traumatic event.
More construction pictures on website slideshow
Demolition
Completion
View pictures of our beautiful kitties, facility, and much more at www.dovecanyon.org/bluebell
Visit www.bluebell.petfinder.org to see our adoptable & recently adopted cats, and information on current events.
MEMORIALS: We bring you our latest passings. All were treasured—all are missed. We remember:
BOY, 17, was already a “senior” kitty when he was admitted in 2004. White with black tabby stripes, he was sweet and humble with soulful eyes—always welcoming with a meow for attention. (You can see and hear him as he ends our video on our website). Boy was one
of our evacuees moved to the upper house. His was hyperthyroid and ended up with kidney disease. Through his demise he had a quiet
dignity. He was the last kitty to pass in 2011 when he died on December 18.
It was a sad start to 2012. Within 3 weeks, we lost 4 kitties, including two kitties who were admitted together. Roofer and Scooter
arrived June 4, 2003, along with their sister, Tuna, who predeceased them.
ROOFER, 20, Grey and white with unusual human-like deep brown eyes, passed unexpectedly Sunday, January 22. Roofer, was the 1st
you would see as you walked in. He would grab your leg to be picked up, and when successful, cling with his paws around your neck.
Nobody could resist. Sickly with hyperthyroidism and kidney failure the last few years, he endured through his decline with the help of fluid
treatments and tons of attention. His seemingly quick death was a blow to us.. He acted normally—having eaten until just before he died—
with none of the usual warning signals of impending death.. until the very end when he started bleeding from his mouth. Then an interesting thing occurred as staff member Joyce relates: “Domino, a female cat who does not like other cats and who has never had a relationship with Roofer, came and crawled into my lap and snuggled her body against Roofer and immediately started purring very loud! She
would nuzzle his head and lick the side of his face as if to comfort him. She stayed there for over 30 minutes until the vet arrived” Most
likely, what claimed our affectionate copper-eyed Roofer was either a cancerous mass in his throat or a bleeding disorder. He passed peacefully in Annie’s
arms, in his room, with all his friends.
Less than 2 weeks later, we lost SCOOTER, 20, on Friday, February 3. She was a beautiful diluted calico. Not exactly a gregarious
gal, she accepted small doses of attention, but let you know when “enough is enough”. She was also moved to the upper house,
which ironically, opened up her personality and she was much more eager for company. As she declined, she became thinner and
more frail. In her last days she lost the use of her back legs, a dire sign. However, Scooter enjoyed turkey and some hardboiled egg
the day before she left us.
MAX aprox. 12-14, was with us for a little over a year. He was a “door dump” having been placed in a box at a local shelter. Max was
anemic, among other health problems which his lab work indicated. Since it was evident was not a strong candidate for adoption there,
we stepped in to provide his final home. He held his own, a few times we thought we were losing him but he would turn around and improve a bit. He started declining late 2011, and struggled, but hung in for a couple months. When it was clear he was beginning to suffer, he was compassionately put to sleep on Thursday, January 26 at 5 PM at his Blue Bell home.
BANDIT, approx. 11, was a feral brown & white tabby who came around 2002. He died with very little warning.
He always appeared very healthy and just several months ago was caught with a lizard tail in his mouth! Cats in general will hide
illness, a defense mechanism to hide weakness, and feral cats in particular are very secretive. In addition, they are extremely hard to
catch and treat. Sometimes the stress of being caught exacerbates a condition. Bandit enjoyed his time on the patio with the other
ferals. The day before staff noticed him weakening and not eating. The next day, February 8, he died. He had a good 10 years with
us, he was happy, and we hope he is still catching those lizards now.
BABY BOW, 17, died March 13. Be-Bow, a beautiful long-haired gray male with spearmint green eyes, came in December 2007. He had
an abusive start to life. Originally he was a stray who lived in a laundromat, where unkind people threw bleach on him when he got
trapped behind the dryers. He was saved by a kind woman who was devoted to him. She would walk him on a leash to Petsmart. Sadly,
she died in her bed with Be-Bow next to her. Her wish was for him to be placed with us. Last year, he developed cancer in his leg, along
with some lung problems. In his final weeks as his condition worsened, he enjoyed being in his box in the sun on the patio. He died
March 13.
SAPPHIRE, died just one week shy of her 20th birthday, April 1, came in 2003. She was a gray Persian, always healthy having never
received medication. She simply lived her long life and died of old age. She purred until the very end. We will miss her cute little
sweaters which she wore after her adorable lion cuts, the last one received just 2 weeks before her death on March 25.
Their deaths were not an anomaly. They all lived very long lives, and for most of them half of it was at Blue Bell. An interesting
footnote about the feline mystique. As mentioned above with Domino, similarly Callie, not exactly Miss Popular with other cats,
was unusually attentive to both Roofer and Scooter in the weeks before their deaths. She would cuddle next to them. We do have our occasional
“angel kitties”, good little souls who comfort their fellow felines during sickness or death. It’s just Callie has never been one of them.
WISH LIST
Heavy Duty Paper Plates
2 Sizes: 6 & 7/8 and 10 & 1/16
Heavy Duty Trash Bags 33 Gallon
New or gently used:
Pillow Cases
Receiving Blankets
Simple Green
Are you interested in a adopting senior kitty? Peggy, 13, our
adorable 3-legged striped brown tabby is available. She’s
an extrovert and could have many more years left. Peggy is
a readmit featured in our Winter 2011 newsletter available
on the website. Check her out!
NEW RESIDENTS: The new year has brought us 5 new kitties! We welcome our new furry friends:
FAR FAR, estimated age 11, was initially a
stray known as “Orange Kitty” and renamed
with the Norwegian word for Grandfather
(Father’s Father). In June 2011, he was
picked up on the street in dire circumstances—he was in the midst of a seizure.
He was rushed to animal urgent care. Whatever happened was harsh.
He had a fractured tail, muscle atrophy, and matted fur. He was mildly
depressed. His physical detected he was diabetic. He lived in a local
shelter from August, 2011. He came to us on January 5. From the
1st moment, Far Far was at home. He was greeted by several volunteers who he responded to immediately with great affection. Since he
needs to be separate due to his diabetes, he has his own apartment, a
huge area in the front of the main house. He is a beautiful, rust colored tabby with amber eyes to match. He can be found lounging in
his is tree or viewing the hills across the way from his window perch.
HARMONY, est. age 8 is a gorgeous Seal Pt.
Himalayan with deep blue eyes. She is very
outgoing and chatty. She loves to play and be
brushed. They are the first residents in our new
lower house, and currently have it all to themselves.
We have designated Harmony & Zena as adoptable, but they must be adopted together as they
are very attached to one another.
FLORA, 9, arrived on March 29 from Canyon Animal Hospital, Blue Bell’s own veterinarian. Flora’s owner was a client of theirs
who died, and after the family could not find
her a home, sought their help. This beauty
has gray and white long fur with amazing
tawny eyes. Flora is easygoing and affable.
She never even needed segregation from
Holidays figure prominently for our next 2 kitties. On Thanksgiving,
2011, ZENA and HARMONY were abandoned together in a box at a the other cats and joined the population immediately. Her favorite
“activity” is lolling on the patio. She is a delight to everyone. She is
local shelter. They were wet and muddy. St. Patrick’s day brought
them the luck of the Irish on March 17 when they were placed with us. also adoptable.
Pretty ZENA, est. age 5, is a petite classic black
kitty. The poor girl was withdrawn and frightened at
the shelter. Likewise upon arrival to Blue Bell, she
was initially very shy, hiding under her sleeping bag.
However, within a week she emerged from her shell
and is literally eating out of our hands.
PET EXPO Held on the weekend of April 20, at the OC
Fairgrounds was a huge success. Thanks to ALL our dedicated volunteers who made posters, sewed blankets,
and manned our booth. Congratulations to our raffle winners—Edwardo Gomez won 1st prize, a cat tree, and Lisa
Furuto won 2nd prize, a deluxe kitty scratcher, which she
donated back to us!
TIGER LILY, est. age 6, came on April 30.
She is a diluted gray and tan tabby, with a
sweet round face. She also adjusted right
away and sits with the other cats and enjoys human interaction. Very demure with
a soft meow, her spot is the 2nd level of a
4-story cat tree in the back room. She, too,
is adoptable.
RUBY’S FUNDRAISER On December 14, 2011, Ruby’s
Diner in the Laguna Hills Mall donated 20% of the meal
cost to us for all who presented the promotional flyer.
Thanks to all of you who stopped by for a delicious meal
and raised money for us. Special thanks to Ruby’s for their
participation!
COSMOS FUNDRAISER
If you missed Ruby’s, on
Tuesday, June 12, Cosmos Italian Kitchen in Aliso Viejo will
be donating 10% of the cost of each meal for those who
Girl Scout Troop 447 who visited in January. The girls sat in bring the Blue Bell flyer with them. If you’re visiting
a big circle in the main room. They played a sweet game Orange County, please join us. You can print the flyer off
where they could only touch the cats who came in the
our website.
circle. Eventually 8 cats came in the circle. The girls lisWhen: Tuesday, June 12 from 4 PM to 9 PM
tened very well and gave Annie a tin of chocolates as a
Dine in, Take out, and Alcohol included
thank you.
HUGS, PURRS & THANKS TO:
Students from Arroyo Vista Elementary school in Rancho
Santa Margarita also visited in January and donated 35
home-made kitty blankets!
Syndy Resler and her son Tyler, visited and took marvelous
pictures while spending quality time with the cats. The
cats really enjoyed their company.
Where: Cosmo’s Italian Kitchen
23411 Aliso Viejo Pkwy #A
Aliso Viejo, CA 92695
949-448-9040
http://www.cosmositaliankitchen.com/
The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats
20982 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-494-1586
Registered Non-Profit 501( C )(3)
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for your online shopping.
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Make checks payable to: The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats
Donations are tax-deductible THANK YOU!
OR DONATE ONLINE VIA OUR WEBSITE
GIFTS OF LOVE
Your tax-deductible donation
helps defray the cost
of food, medicine, and
many various expenses for
the daily care of almost 50
cats.
A “Gift of Love” also pays tribute to the
generous and compassionate nature of a loved
one, whether in memory of a person or pet,
birthday, or holiday.
A card announcing your donation (not
mentioning the amount) is sent to the recipient
of your gift, and you receive acknowledgement
of your contribution.
We are grateful for the goodwill of
our faithful benefactors who donate
supplies, financial support, and your
continuing loving concern.