I am an Animal Rescuer

I am an Animal Rescuer
Annette King-Tucker
Wild Heart Ranch Wildlife Rescue
Claremore, Ok

My job is to assist God's creatures
I was born with the drive to fulfill their needs
I take in helpless, unwanted, homeless creatures
without planning or selection
I have bought dog food with my last dime
I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand
I have hugged someone vicious and afraid
I have fallen in love a thousand times
And I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body too many times to count
I have Animal Friends and friends who have animal friends
I don't often use the word "pet"
I notice those lost at the road side
And my heart aches
I will hand raise a field mouse
And make friends with a vulture
I know of no creature unworthy of my time
I want to live forever if there aren't animals in Heaven
But I believe there are
Why would God make something so perfect and leave it behind
Some may think we are master of the animals
But the animals have mastered themselves
Something people still haven't learned
War and Abuse make me hurt for the world
But a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for mankind
We are a quiet but determined army
And we are making a difference every day
There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan
nothing more rewarding than saving a life
No higher recognition than watching them thrive
There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play
who only days ago, was too weak to eat
By the love of those who I've been privileged to rescue
I have been rescued
I know what true unconditional love really is
for I've seen it shining in the eyes of so many
Grateful for so little
I am an Animal Rescuer
My work is never done
My home is never quiet
My wallet is always empty
But my heart is always full

Tuna?

Oops lol someone really likes tuna, I had just opened the can and hear "Meow!" and here comes Princess, prancing over, rubbing up to my legs, begging for a bit.

What a darling! I'll have more pictures and perhaps a video of her playing with the other cats up next week.

Update on Princess

Princess is such a doll. We really enjoy having her. Mike and I were discussing adopting her ourselves but again, we can't have that many. She's a great cat though and I just love brushing her fur. It's so soft.

She's starting to jump up into the cat tree. I really need to get another. :)

Pics of the Pretty Princess

Oh she was such a doll today! She just wanted to play and play and cuddle. Too adorable.

I was leaving for work after playing with her and she rolled on to her back and chirpped at me. I had to get a couple pictures. It was too cute.

A few facts about kittens

If you're looking to adopt/buy a kitten, please make sure they're at least 8 weeks old. If the person you're getting them from says any younger, do not take the kitten. They need to stay with the mother cat until that age, otherwise they'll have behavioral issues. Plus, they get to nurse longer, which is better for their overall health.

You can introduce kittens to soft (can) food at 4 weeks old, some will take to it instantly, others may take longer. Usually, at 8 weeks old, they're still nursing but able to eat hard food.

Make sure the food you're feeding them is made for kittens. It has the nutrients kittens need, where as adult food doesn't.

Our vicious foster cat

Rest in Peace Delilah

Rest in Peace Delilah

(picture is Delilah and her mom Lilith)


04/03/2006 - 11/06/2008

Feral Cat Colony needs your help!

Los Angeles Country supervisor Don Knabe (knabe.com) has ordered the trapping and inevitable killing of stray and feral cats at Rancho Los Amigos, a County-owned property. A few people have complained of fleas and feces so the County Supervisor's office has declared that all cats must go even though the cats have been there for 50 years.
The cats will be trapped and under the Hayden Law, held for a certain amount of time at the Los Angeles County ("Downey") shelter until they can be killed.
The Downey shelter claims they have "barns" to relocate some of the 100+ cats but this cannot be feasible. The Downey shelter's record of adopting out friendly cats is abysmal.
Rancho Los Amigos is located next to the Downey shelter where cats have been known to get out. There is a cat right now on the Rancho property who has a on pink paper collar from the Downey shelter. People also dump their cats on the Rancho property because it is next to a shelter.
County Supervisor Knabe's office is lying and saying that a local rescue and TNR group, Fail Safe for Felines has not done a good job. They site fleas and feces. Feces is picked up daily by caregivers and fleas are a part of life. They live in the ground and are on opossums, raccoons, squirrels, etc. yet the cats are blamed.
Additionally Knabe's office thinks that this "problem" will go away with some trapping. New cats will come into this area to fill the vacuum. In fact, Fail Safe for Felines has done the right thing; fixing the feral cats and also placing over 100 friendly cats into forever homes. They are committed to being good citizens and advocates for the cats and clean up daily while monitoring the feeding stations.
Animal Control officers trapped a lactating female on the night of Saturday Oct 25, 2008 and would not release her to feed her kittens She is still on the shelter as I write this. Humane practice would be to fix her immediately and release her within 12 hours to get back to her kittens.
PLEASE CALL 213-974-4444 and Fax 213-626-6941 County Supervisor Knabe's office politely telling him his plan will fail and that TNR is the only permanent, humane solution. Ask that Los Angeles County accept progressive and successful trap/neuter/return programs and work with rescue groups, not trap and kill cats.
Knabe's office will tell you to call Animal Control. Please do not accept this. ANIMAL CONTROL HAS NO CONTROL. THEY ARE ONLY TAKING ORDERS FROM THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR. Additionally, the shelter is giving misinformation and do not believe their rhetoric.
It is not the duty of Fail Safe for Felines to take on the cats as they have but they have done so in a community-minded and compassionate manner.
Please call during business hours and fax any time. Please be polite but firm. We need to keep the pressure up for County to again meet with activists and save the cats.
For detailed information and rebuttal to animal control's inaccuracies please to go http://ranchocats.blogspot.com/
This blog will be updated daily.
Please contact us at info@straycatalliance.org after you have contacted County Supervisor Knabe's office so that we can keep track of correspondence.

The Felines Friend

I'm creating this to keep a record of the cats found and rescued by us this year.

In 2008 we have found/rescued 4 cats

August:
Black DSH male is found. He's emancipated and has a crushed paw, right back. He's been neutered. Living with us.


September:
A female white calico, feral, is found injured. Attempts to trap/capture her fail. Hasn't been seen since September 30th. Assumed unaltered.

October:
tiger stripped DSH male kitten is found crying under a truck. He's fine besides a runny eye. Unaltered. Owner is found 4 days later.



November:
Black manx female is rescued after being neglected and abused. In good condition besides being slightly underweight and matted/dirty fur. She's up for adoption right now. Front declawed and spayed.