Alyssa and I had to saw a tree down to save Junior, who somehow got out of the house and was treed by our yard dogs.  I call the outside dogs "yard dogs" as in "junk yard dogs" because they aren't very nice to strangers...or to cats.

Junior is one tiny cat, just about a mouthful for Midas (an otherwise lovely, loving dog...he just hates cats).  All six of the outside dogs were milling about the base of the tree, and Junior was about 16 feet above the ground.

While Alyssa held a belayed cable looped around the tree to keep it from falling, I sawed at the tree until it split and fell.  Junior was terrified, but once we got her inside, she was much happier. 

After all the excitement, I spent the next few hours in bed from angina.  I am back up and moving around again, but dang, the cats have been rough on me today.

Yup, that's right.  A Kitty Piss Fire.  Cali pissed on the power strip right next to my computer and blew out the power to half the house.  I am not quite sure why she pissed on the power strip, but she sure caused some fireworks when she did.  Luckily, I was right here, and threw an old towel over the socket and put out the fire.

Alyssa and I have strung up all sorts of extension cords, etc, to get us back online.  My computer is acting up and so is our server, but at least they are working at a minimal level.  Some stuff will have to wait until Ronald gets home.  He doesn't know that a cat pissed on a power strip and caused all this trouble.  I am not sure I want to tell him.

Oh well, we are back up and operating, and that is the main thing.

Edward Pinales, 33, took 10 week old kittens and slammed them into a concrete culvert to kill them.  Four kittens and two cats were confiscated from Mr. Pinales, the two adults had to be put down due to extreme feral behavior. 

Mr. Pinales also threatened the neighbor who turned him in for his vicious behavior; for that he received five years probation.  Mr. Pinales is a reputed gang member.

I don't believe Pinales' gang membership had anything to do with his jail sentence, I believe that Texans are getting sick of people who abuse defenseless baby animals.

I rarely list cases as grotesque as this one.  The description of the injuries this puppy suffered is horrific enough:

Her jaws were rubber-banded shut over her maggot-infested tongue, which later was partially amputated. Her mouth also rotted and she is losing parts of her lips. Miracle can be fed only liquids through an IV.

A back leg is broken, as is the hip joint on the other leg. A front leg has a shattered elbow. Miracle will need surgery and rehabilitation if she survives, which is not yet assured.

Miracle needs help for her health care and she needs justice.

As most of you know, we have been through this hell ourselves with H.I.K. Wayne.  Wayne has grown up to be a wonderful, loving, intelligent, and forgiving cat.  We have always been intensely grateful for the help we received since November of 2004 which helped with his medical costs.  At that time, we thought his care would cost us around $500; the final amount ran to about $2000.  Wayne has thrived, despite partial skinning that took place slowly over two days, puncture wounds through his abdomen, peritonitis, and a skull fracture probably due to a hammer blow (probably meant to kill him after his two days of torture).

If Wayne can make it, this puppy can too.

If any of you reading live in Florida and can help with information or if you live anywhere and can help with a donation, here are the citations from the news story--

TO HELP MIRACLE:

Information and money are sought after the torture of the puppy known as Miracle. She is being treated at the Crystal Springs Veterinary Clinic, which can be reached at (813) 788-4511. The clinic is asking donors to send checks in care of the clinic to P.O. Box 818, Crystal Springs, FL, 33524. Anyone with information about what happened to the puppy is asked to call the Pasco County Sheriff's Office toll-free at 1-800-706-2488 or contact Pasco County Animal Services at (352) 521-5194, (813) 929-1212 or (727) 834-3216. For information about the reward, contact Jo-Dan Auto Sales at (727) 846-0446 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.