The Artemis Project Helping Homeless Animals in NYC Summer Newsletter 2011
IN THIS ISSUE: Grey Boy
Pg. 1
Jeanette
Pg. 2
Spot
Pg. 2
Adoptable Animals
Pg. 3
Donation Form
Pg. 4
Your support has made the difference for many animals since the Artemis Project began in 2001. We work exclusively with Lincoln Square Veterinary Hospital (LSVH) at 140 W. 67th St.in Manhattan. By donating to Artemis, you have helped to bring joy to many people and a fresh start for many stray and abused animals. Thank you for your kindness. Artemis recently lost three good friends. Their owners reminisced and shared stories of their lives together. I want to pass them along to you. These stories aren’t sad. They are life-affirming. They are testaments to the animal/human bond. Dorian Rence
Grey Boy Photo by Peg Breen
Many Decembers ago, Grey Boy was a young, scrawny stray cat. My neighbor, Peg, had fed him over the summer. Now that winter was descending, Peg took him in. Grey Boy thrived with Peg and her cat, Bibbs. The scrawny stray grew and grew. Life was sweet. It was so sweet Peg decided to adopt another cat. She came to Artemis and met Charlotte. Something clicked and Peg took her home. Something also clicked for Charlotte when she met Grey Boy. They say opposites attract. Charlotte was very petite. Grey Boy went on for acres and acres. Charlotte was instantly smitten. They cuddled and groomed one another. Under Grey Boy’s loving gaze, the painfully shy Charlotte became Miss Charlotte B. Honeybun. Grey Boy was a blessing to the house. Each morning he jumped onto the bed, put a paw on each of Peg’s shoulders and gently massaged Peg awake. It was a delightful way to begin the day.
Grey Boy
Grey Boy lived life to the fullest. He loved his food. All Peg’s efforts to slim him down were in vain. He eventually tipped the scales at twenty-six pounds.
Grey Boy’s size called for special measures. Peg got the world’s largest litter box. When Grey Box tried to use a normal box, it was like trying to park an RV in a New York City parking space.
With Miss Charlotte, who loved him
This summer, Grey Boy became lethargic. Charlotte groomed him but he didn’t reciprocate. Peg took him for tests. The news wasn’t good. Grey Boy had a tumor. Grey Boy passed a few weeks ago. Peg tells me Charlotte and Bibbs have recently gotten very clingy. As for Peg, she is grateful for having shared her life with such a sweet and gentle giant. Grey Boy loved everyone. He was larger than life.
Photo by Peg Breen
Page 2
Jeanette Jeanette and J.J. began their life together in Michigan. When J.J. came to seek her fortune as an actress in the Big City, Jeanette was a calm and steady presence. When J.J. despaired after romantic break-ups, Jeanette commiserated over empty cartons of Ben and Jerry’s. And when J.J. finally met Mr. Right, Jeanette faced a challenge. Chris was not only allergic to cats, he was adamantly opposed to cats. Jeanette had to win Chris over. She began a PR offensive. She used all her feline wiles. Jeanette gave Chris head-butts, wrapped herself lovingly around his legs and shamelessly licked any exposed flesh. Chris wilted before the onslaught. In the end, Jeanette succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. Chris and J.J. eventually presided over a household of three cats and one dog. However, Jeanette never lost her special place in J.J.’s heart. The past sixteen years of J.J.’s life has been a roller-coaster of ups and downs, new people and new places. Jeanette was a constant and loving presence. She will be missed.
Spot It was Memorial Day. Emily sat in front of an open cage at LSVH. Her beloved cat Spot lay inside. Although Spot had been sick for weeks, she’d taken a sudden and dramatic turn for the worse. Emily knew it was time to say good-bye. I sat with Emily while Spot quietly rested her head on Emily’s hand. Emily wept. “I’ve called my daughter Rachel in Florida. She’s trying to make it up here in time to say good-bye. You see, Rachel and Spot grew up together.” I listened as Emily told her story. “I was working at a vet clinic in the Village. Someone left a kitten overnight on the doorstep. It was in horrible shape—emaciated, infected and one eye hung out of its socket. There wasn’t much hope. However, one of the vets said, ‘At least she’ll have a name. We’ll call her Spot.’” “Spot surprised everyone. She had real spunk. She got better. I wanted to take her home but Rachel had to want her, too.” “When Rachel met Spot, she was horrified. Spot still looked scary to a five-year old. I tried to explain to Rachel how sick Spot had been. Now that she was better, Spot needed a place to play and be a kitten. Rachel agreed to take Spot home for a trial visit.” “After we brought her home it wasn’t long before Rachel was begging to keep her.”
Emily smiled as she remembered their life together. “Living with a one-eyed cat isn’t a big deal. Sure, sometimes Spot ran into walls but she got used to it and so did we.” “We couldn’t believe how much Spot loved vegetables. Steamed broccoli was her favorite. I can see her dragging a stalk down the hallway. We always celebrated her birthday with a shrimp and broccoli dinner.” “Spot always slept with me. That is, unless Rachel was getting sick. Rachel could seem totally fine to me, yet whenever Spot went to sleep with her, I knew she was getting sick. Spot was never wrong.” It was getting late and I had to play a concert. I left Emily to her sad vigil. I found out later that Rachel had indeed made it back to say good-bye before Spot was peacefully released.
Adoptable Animals
Page 3
Delilah is still affectionate, still energetic, still beautiful. She has no way of knowing that her owner didn't want her anymore, in fact preferred a kitten to the little girl who had shared her life for 14 years. So the petite, pretty-colored calico explores her new surroundings, responds to pets and hugs, eyes other cats indifferently. If sometimes she retreats to a corner of her cage, well, life has treated her less than kindly lately. She always greets a new round of attention with renewed enthusiasm. Delilah deserves a lifetime commitment in her home to come: if your heart is open, she will walk in! Henry is sweet and happy-go-lucky. He's had a bump in the road during his golden years because his family had to change their living arrangement and he couldn't move into the new digs. Henry is a 9-year-old Maltese. He is wee-wee pad trained, sociable (he lived with a companion dog), and he likes walks. He is in good health, but his sight is limited and he needs eye ointment for dry eyes. LuckEight-year-old Gabby recently lost the ily, he does well with medication. If you are only owner she had ever known, due to looking for a sweet, little friend, contact us the onset of allergies. But this pretty about Henry. grey chatterbox with intense green Life on the outside is tough and young eyes didn't stay depressed for long. In Skittles obviously fell in with bad comone short week she had charmed evepany: he came to us with a bone-deep ryone she came in contact with. She is gash in his "elbow." Now safe, secure a purring, head-butting, licking loveand fully mended, the handsome young bug who craves attention yet likes to cat is ready to take on the hearts of more explore on her own—and doesn't let a nurturing companions. He's affectionate dog or two faze her! And she is, of and full of fun, with a whole lot of enercourse, an avid conversationalist. gy to burn. A little of the street tough Please consider making Gabby's midlingers while the sweet lover-boy steadily life crisis the best thing that ever hapemerges; being in a good home with hupened to both of you. man playmates is just what Skittles needs. Are you his safe haven?
Delilah
Henry
Skittles
Sebastian is our wild child: a very handsome blue-eyed blonde of about one who is seriously playful. He likes his pets and just enough touch time, then he’s off on a tear again, ever the manic kitten, well into adolescence! But to see him is to love him, and the person who is willing to wait out his crazy kid stage, give him security and help calm him down will have a friend for life.
Sebastian
Gabby
Homeless Orion was turned in by a police officer and we thought the superaffectionate marmalade cat would be somebody’s baby in no time. Unfortunately, he came with a bite wound on his neck and Department of Health regulations stipulate a six-month quarantine. We can visit, we can talk, but we can’t touch! (With our hands, that is; petting sticks and backscratchers must suffice.) So this dear mush gets our safeguarded attention, as he rolls over and meows loudly and reaches for contact. There is no doubt at all that this cat will make one of the best companions ever, and when it's time in September for him to receive visitors we'll put the word out. We expect a line!
Orion
E-mail artemisproject@peoplepc.com to find out more about these animals.
The Artemis Project 318 West 77th Street, #1B New York, NY 10024
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Find us on the web at www.artemis.petfinder.com
People sometimes ask me why I want to help the animals when people are in so much need. I think about stories like Peg’s, J.J.’s, and Emily’s. Animals enrich the tapestry of our lives. Artemis isn't just about the animals, it's about people, too. Your gifts to the Artemis Project provide food, medical care, and shelter for Artemis animals. Visit our online donation page or mail in your donation. Either way you give, every dollar provides our animals a chance to live to the fullest. Thank you. Visit: http://bit.ly/ArtemisDonation or http://bit.ly/ArtemisOnlineDonations (Facebook) Donations are 100% tax-deductible. We are grateful for your support. If you prefer to mail your gift, please mail this page along with your check to: The Artemis Project 318 West 77th Street, #1B New York, NY 10024 Enclosed is my gift of:
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Please email artemisproject@peoplepc.com if you are interested in our adoptable animals!