I was made aware of a cat hoarding situation in The Bronx of about 40 cats.

The caretaker was not the hoarder, which made her perdicament all the more sad and heroic.

With help from rescues, we successfully removed most of the cats from the apartment.

So, where are we now?

Well, all of the very friendly cats are now out, and either being fostered or adopted (YAY!)

However, there are still eleven cats in the apartment. These cats are less friendly (they don’t bite or scratch, but they also don’t like to be petted…they may just need more, or at least SOME, socialization). And we must find them a home soon as the landlord has given Liz  a month to get them all out.

To be honest, I don’t blame him, in fact, I’m surprised he let them stay this long, as the “aroma” was overwhelming, not to mention the cost of not renovating and renting out the apartment.

In addition, it’s way past time for Liz, the caretaker, to get her life back. Not only does she spend $150 a week on litter/food/etc, but it’s takes her an hour and a half (each way!) to go from her Brooklyn apartment to visit the cats. Imagine doing that every day. Enough is enough.

Okay, so the problem is two-fold…

1 – We have to get them out…

We do have a commitment from our new bestest friend Penny at Community Cats (to whom we already owe a recent debt of gratitude) to take two of them. We also have a commintment from Aslan’s Cat Sanctuary to take a couple if they turn out to be FeLV positive. After that, we’re stuck.

2 – We have to vet them as none of these cats have been vetted…

Not only do they all have dental issues, which have been running about $300 a cat (Yikes!) but three need to be neutered. So, doing the math, we need about $3,300 (and that doesn’t include any intake fees if we have to pay for them at certain sanctuaries).

We need your help… desperately… So, here’s what we’re gonna do.

As you may know, the original owner, Liz Frank, was an artist. She left behind dozens of screen prints, now entrusted to Liz Shaw, who is also The Bronx Cats’ caretaker. Ms. Shaw notes in her blog that she ”knows that Liz would want her artwork out there, and I cannot think of a better way to honor her life than to allow her art to help her cat family find a happy ending. Please be part of our happy ending.”

Just to give you an idea of her artwork, here is a link to a few of her pieces - http://thalomoon.wordpress.com/category/fine-art/

Here’s what we’re gonna do. Any $40 donation to The Bronx Cats (a dollar for each cat!) gets a small screen print, prolly around 4″ X 7″. For $80, we will send you one about 8″ X 11″. For $150, we will send you one of the larger ones. All offers are till supplies last obviously.

Here’s the link - http://stewietotherescue.org/stewie-shop/

Thank you…

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue

And the story of May, a pit bull whose owners were being evicted from their apartment, is a perfect illustration of why Stewie does what we do…

To recap, Erica Daniel of Dolly’s Foundation, which is based in Florida, forwarded me an email from Aida, who lives in New York.

Aida, Rohan (her husband), and their pit bull, May, were about to be evicted from their apartment in Queens. Like so many dog owners, Aida was more concerned with what would become of her pet than herself. 

Aida and Rohan had taken May in when they found her in the garbage, a 6 month-old abandoned puppy.  She is now 5.  Although May is warm and loving with her family, she is slow to warm up to strangers and, like a lot of dogs, she is also leash-reactive.

Rohan and Aida had accepted the possibility that they would have to stay (at least temporarily) in a homeless shelter after eviction. But that left May with nowhere to go, because NYC shelters don’t allow pets. And Aida wasn’t willing to abandon May to an uncertain fate at the NYACC – she knew May’s chances of being adopted would be slim to none.  She was scared that May would be euthanized.  Aida was prepared to live in her car with May, if she had to. The situation looked grim.

It was going to be difficult to find a place for May, and the clock was ticking. The family was due to be evicted on Easter Sunday, and we had just days to find somewhere for May to stay.

At the last minute, I found a kennel to take May. But two hours later – on eviction day! – the kennel called to have her picked up because they didn’t feel they could cope with the by-now very stressed out May.

As a backup plan, we took May to stay with Aida’s mom. But that was a very temporary solution because her apartment building doesn’t allow pit bulls. It was only a matter of time before someone spotted May and turned them in, which could mean that her mother could lose her housing too.

By this time, we were ALL stressed out – Aida, Rohan, and May!!!  I felt an overwhelming sense of responsbility for this family.  The whole reason Stewie to the Rescue was started is because I know firsthand how painful it is to lose a family pet.  I didn’t want to turn my back on them.  I didn’t want them to have to fend for themselves.  And I certainly didn’t want them living in their car. 

And then the most amazing thing happened…

A rescuer who had heard of the story, put me in contact with Claudia Duque, another rescuer. Claudia recommended that I contact Penny Smith-Berk, who runs Northwind Kennels and Community Cats in Bedford, NY. Penny not only has years of  dog handling expertise, but she is passionate about helping people too.

Penny agreed to shelter May.  Northwind Kennels was the perfect place for May to be safe and properly cared for. And now Aida and Rohan had a chance to take a deep breath and try to get their life back on track, without having to worry about their dog.

But this story gets even better…

Aida and Rohan had been looking for work, without luck. Although they were delighted that May was being so well taken care of, they were also sad  that they couldn’t afford the gas to visit her every day.

Then, during a trip to the kennel, they learned from one of the caretakers that there were going to be a couple of job opportunities available. One of the employees was leaving, and that position hadn’t been filled, and a volunteer who received room and board in exchange for work was also leaving.

Seizing this opportunity, Aida immediately asked for a chance for her and Rohan to be considered for these positions. And that’s exactly what happened!  Aida and Rohan and are now living and working in Bedford. 

I received the good news in an email from Aida last week:

“Hi Harris –  I miss talking to you. Am sorry I have not written you or called. I have no phone service out here.

Well, here is the update, May is happy and so am I. I have been working cleaning the cats houses, Its not easy work but, I love it. All my life I always wanted to work with animals and now at 47 yrs old am doing it. You can teach an old dog  new tricks.

What you did for May and myself is something I will never forget. Not only did you save May but also me. You never left me alone even on my worst days. When I needed a friend not only did you listen to my crying problems but you cared about my well being. Thank you, not alone did you save May but you gave me a second chance  to believe in myself.  We can never repay you for all the hard work and countless hours you put into helping May and me reunite. Our first night together was wonderful I held her tight and she never moved her nose from my face. It was our way of saying to each other I miss you and because of you we never have to.

Thank you Harris we love you.

Aida”

Of course, Aida’s email made me really happy, but this happy ending wouldn’t have been possible without Penny. Stewie made a donation to Northwind Kennels, but no amount of money can repay the chance Penny gave this family to survive and be together again.

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue

P.S. You can help us create more happy endings for pets and their people AND get a cool t-shirt as well! Just click here to get your t-shirt.   (Or just donate!) Thanks!

Former hoarding kitty, Elsa, in her new forever home!

As you know, STTR friends, I’ve been trying to help get all the cats from a Bronx hoarding situation placed in new homes. So far, 22 of the cats have been placed in adoption or foster, and…

We just have 15 left to go… and I could sure use some help!

I need someone who has some time to spend several hours locating and co

ntacting sanctuaries by phone to see if they have room to accept some of the remaining cats. 11 of the cats need to be placed in sanctuaries.

The other 4 cats are people-and-cat friendly and need to find a foster home or an adopter. I need your help sharing their FB page to give them as much exposure as possible.

If you help with making calls, please message me on this page. And please share the cats’ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Passionate-Cat-Rescue/236832876404971

Just wanted to give a quick update on Dill the pug. 

He made it through surgery with flying colors, and is doing very well in his new home, where he is finally being treated right and loved. Thanks to all who donated towards his surgery! 

I know, he looks pathetic in the pic below, but I couldn’t resist. He’s like, “Get me out of here! Please?!?” 

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue

ANYWAY, I got an email from now good friend Claudia Duque. The heading was “Can You Help This Person?” I pretty much already knew I was helping before opening it… It was a link to Craigslist for this ad….

PLEASE HELP MICKEY!!! (Queens)

“PLEASE HELP MICKEY! Our Family is asking for Donations to Please help our dog MICKEY. He is an 11 year old chihuahua and has Intervertebral Disc Disease. He is in severe pain and needs medical assisatnce as soon as possible!! The family is in a very bad financial situation. And only has 150 dollars for his medical care. The Vet says he will need Blood work, several Xrays and to be sedated for the Xrays and he will need pain medication. We are going to need an appproximate $400 to $500 dollars more to cover Mickeys medical costs and expenses.. He is a wonderful sweet and loving dog. If any one has it in their heart to help Mickey. We would greatly appreciate any help even 1 dollar. Because every dollar adds up and can help Mickey. Mickey will be recieving his care at the Whitestone Animal Hospital at 149-38 14th Ave Whitestone NewYork 11357. You can call them at 718 767-3396 and send a donation for Mickey . Mickeys full name is Mickey Prieto He is an 11 year old chihuahua. Or you can call me, his owner (Donna) at XXX-XXX-XXXX at any time. Thank you for any help even the smallest amount would be Greatly Appreciated…”

 

Claudia already sent her to Pets for Life, who I believe hooked her up with their low cost vet (Actually, re-reading the email chain, PFL was closed so Claudia took it upon herself to make an appointment with the PFL low cost vet in Queens, letting PFL know that she did so – bravo Claudia!).

Of course Donna still had to come up with the price of the vet, and being on SSI and with her own medical issues, only had $150. She had previously applied to CareCredit several times but was shot down each time. Naturally, Stewie came to the rescue and paid the remainder of the bill (and promised to pay any and all followups).

Here’e the email I received from Donna after visiting the vet, Dr. Kirk…

“Hello , Mr Harris Bloom we just came home. It went very nicely:) The doctor was wonderful. Very kind, Caring, Extremely Smart and Competent . I explained everything to him about Mickeys diagnosis of intervertebral  disc disease and that it had gotten worse, and what his symptoms were now. Especially the pain attacks and pain spasms.

He manually examined him very thoroughly, and gave him an  Xray of his neck and spine. He also did all the necessary blood work. He was very thorough and explained everything .And  really kept costs to a low minimum. His diagnosis was that his intervertebral disc disease had worsened because a disk actually broke in his spine.. (You can feel the bump on Mickeys back.)  But amazingly the body fused it together naturally. But it didn’t fuse evenly ,of course because it wasent done surgically, so that is causing a lot of pain…

Mickey also has severe arthritis of the spine,legs  shoulders,and neck which can cause at times bouts of pain and spasms.  Mickey also has an orthopedic problem with his back legs..But on the the plus side is there is no neurological damage!

It can all be treated with ant-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxing medications, pain medications and supplements for his bones.. Dr kirk gave me all of those medications today. And he also gave me the supplements for Mickey’s bones. And he  also ordered Mickey 3-4 weeks of cage rest. And he also gave Mickey an injection of an anti-inflammatory medication with a pain killer, before we left so Mickey would start to feel better quickly.

With all of this Dr. Kirk said Mickey should be doing quite well and mostly pain free.And he said Mickey has a lot of quality of life. And should have some good years ahead of him:):) He said right now Mickey is just having a flare up. And  everything should be under control within a few weeks. But There always is the remote possibility that I may need a follow up with Mickey, if he doesn’t respond to these medicines. He could possibly need an increase in even this strength or different medications Or if some is wrong and shows up in his blood….

Thank you again Mr. Harris Bloom, for everything… Without your help I never could have brought my Mickey today. And it would have been a nightmare.. Again you are like an Angel of light shinning on what could have been a very dark situation.. Thank you so much , it is greatly appreciated. And Mickey is resting very comfortably right now!! Ready to enjoy some chicken and rice when he gets up:)!!”

I hope that’s the last time I hear from Donna (except to hear how well Mickey is doing!)

Harris Bloom
Stewie to the Rescue

Though I can probably update you May’s situation on Facebook, I’m sure there are hundreds of thousands of readers of this blog that aren’t on Facebook.

When I last wrote, we had found a spot for May (YAY!), but it was only very temporary (BOO!). I had to find a more permanent (at least for a month or two) and fast.

Thankfully, we did. After speaking to ten to fifteen rescue people and calling several possible places, I was put into contact with Penny Smith-Berk, who runs Northwind Kennels.

Northwind Kennels in Bedford, NY

Penny is an incredible woman, she didn’t even want any money to foster May, even though she confided that they are struggling financially. She takes in dogs for free a lot, any of them belonging to women entering domestic violence shelters.

Not only did Stewie send a check for $500 (Northwind is exactly the kind of rescue facility that we want to support) but I am currently looking for a suitable venue in the Beford/Katonah/Mt. Kisco area to put on a comedy night fundraiser for them.

After May was there for only two and a half days, Aida (her owner) went to visit. Here’s what she reported…

“She is having a great time, the staff is very friendly. She is already less mean to other dogs… Thanks you so much so much for all you’ve done. Penny is so nice and understanding… May has changed for the better in only three days. Wow, my baby is a real dog Thank you Stewie to the Rescue and everyone.”

Aida and Ro have been staying with her mom but will be entering a homeless shelter this week. They are still looking for work.

In spite of Penny allowing May to stay for free, Stewie to the Rescue will continue to support Northwind, and specifically May’s residence and rehabilitation. If you want to help, you can donate specifically towards May on our website here.

Thanks…

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue

BTW – I know Penny and Northwind was recommended to me by Claudia Duque, but not sure how I came into contact with Claudia. That’s how it goes in rescue…

As you know if you read THIS, I needed to find May some sort of home by the end of today as her owners were being evicted from the apartment and were going to enter a homeless shelter (where no dogs are allowed).

This was a tough one for me as it’s not usually the kind of situation I get involved in… I don’t find homes (or fosters) for animals I we don’t have the network or know-how (or the time… I have a full time day job, a comedy career, and a wife and baby… hence, I set up my rescue as I did, helping more financially).

Trying to find a foster, I plastered my cry for help on Facebook and privately hit up a few of my rescue friends… at first no one could help. Then, we had a glimmer…

Rescuzilla sent me someone who filled out one of their applications to foster. I spoke to her on the phone… Though she was interested, she seemed hesitant, not knowing whether her landlord would go for it, and worried about how trained May was (quite frankly, she isn’t well trained). I decided not to pursue it with her.

While this was going on, I was speaking to Garo Alexanian, who not only runs the Low Cost Pet Mobile, but is also listed one some page as the contact for low cost boarding in NYC. After speaking to him about it, I was confident that worst comes to worst, we would have a cheap place to board May if a foster didn’t come through….

Skip ahead to last night. I had given up finding a foster home for May (most of the rescues I spoke to did absolutely nothing, other than say they couldn’t help – Thanks you know who you are!). I called the May’s owners to make sure they had proof of May’s vaccinations as I knew Garo’s boarding connections required it. They did and were going to fax it to Garo today. Them I called Garo.

When I mentioned that it looks like we’re going to have to use his place, he said he wasn’t sure a spot would be open. He was busy and had forgotten to call. Actually, not only wasn’t he sure there was room, but he wasn’t even sure it was open, as today is Easter Sunday.

Come again?

I’m not going to get into any more of the conversation cause it doesn’t matter, but needless to say, I wasn’t happy… I hung up with Garo. I was in a panic. What the hell was I gonna do? I promised them I’d find a place for May.

I texted rescues, I wrote them on Facebook, I googled “dog boarding in NYC” – I had to find SOMETHING. The rescues couldn’t help, and I knew it would be tough to find a last second boarding place, especially considering I was two hours from Easter Sunday. Even Pedro’s Top Dog was full!

I woke up Sunday, exhausted, and with a headache. I couldn’t imagine was May’s owners were going though, knowing they were leaving their apartment that day, not knowing where they were going to sleep, AND leaving their beloved May in a strange place (and not knowing where). Josie took our daughter to church, I stayed behind, working on finding somewhere for May.

At about 9:30, I got a call from Garo. He spoke to the boarding place they were open and able to take in May! Yay! A relief surged though me.

At 10 AM, I got a call from May’s owners… Garo was being difficult. He said they may not accept their proof of immunization, as it was just basically a letter stating when May’s NEXT shots were to be administered. And, of course, their vet office was closed for Easter. Shoot…

At about 11 AM, I got a call from Garo. They were going to accept their vet’s letter. YAY!! But, the office closes at 1, and he told me that the owners weren’t near ready to go. I called them. They told me they’d go now. YAY!!

I called the boarding facility, gave them Stewie’s credit card number, paid for two weeks. YAY! and, PHEW!!

Two hours later, I got a call from May’s owner. The boarding facility had deemed May too aggressive, and asked them to pick her up. Shit! As I said, May was a tough dog, and I’m sure she was scared, being away from her owners, in the is strange place. At any rate, I was back at square one.

May’s owner stated that if they had a crate, maybe they could bring her to her mom’s apartment, at least temporarily. No sooner did she say that, that I called PetCo, game them Stewie’s credit card, and told May’s owners that after they got May to go and pick it up.

It’s only a very temporary situation for two reasons…

1 – Her mom lives in the projects where pit bulls aren’t allowed. She will be walked early in the AM and late at night, trying to keep as out of sight as possible…

2 – Her mom has a chihuahua. May is dog aggressive. That’s not a good match.

So, I’m still looking, but at least we found a place for May to rest her head tonight… I’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

We are going to have to board her elsewhere and she’s going to need training, so maybe, we can actually have her fostered.

Stewie will pay for it all, but if anyone wants to help, please donate here…

http://stewietotherescue.org/stewie-shop/

Thanks, from me, May’s owners and May

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue

A couple are getting evicted from their apartment in Ozone Park, Queens at the end of March. They will be moving into a homeless shelter somewhere in the five boroughs. As if that’s not bad enough, they have a pit bull named May, who they’ve had since they found her in the garbage when she was a puppy. As I’m sure you know, you can’t bring dogs into homeless shelters here in NYC.

So May needs a foster home for at least several months, while her family gets back on their feet. Please help me find a good foster for her. She has no other options.

So here’s what we know about May so far:

May is an energetic, playful, 5 year-old pit bull. She is a sweet girl, who likes to play with her toys, and is very loyal to her family.  The best situation for May is to be with an experienced foster, in a home where she is the only dog, and without kids. May does not handle change well and takes a while to warm up to you. I visited a couple of weeks ago. She was very protective at first, but eventually ignored me or brought over a toy to play tug of war with. So she needs to be with someone who is experienced enough to give her the time relax and become adjusted to her new surroundings and people.

Also, because May is likely to be nervous about the changes in her life, I am not comfortable letting her be around children in the home, at least not yet. I think she needs a quiet home, with just one or two adults.

May is also leash reactive to other dogs. This is quite common in dogs and can often be improved with training. Someone with training experience would be ideal for May, but Stewie will pay for training with her foster.

The owners desperately want to be able to visit her, as May is all they have left, so I’m looking for a foster in the four boroughs (SI may be too tough to go to every day)…

We are not only willing to pay for food/toys/training, but would also be open to paying a small stipend for as long as May lives with you  (we don’t know how long that would be but hoping it wouldn’t be more than two months)…

I have contacted Pets for Life… They can’t help (so don’t tell me to contact them)…

Time is running out for May. Please help her. She has nowhere to go but the NYACC shelter and her family will never get her back. If you can help, or know someone else who may be able to, please contact me stewietotherescue@gmail.com. Thanks…

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue

When Rocky got home after surgery, he was lethargic, wasn’t eating at all, peeing and pooping (diarrhea) all over and cried a lot. Christine had to bring him back to the vet. After a few days of IV, meds and hospitalization, he improved enough to go back home.

I’ll let Christine update you about how he’s done since, as she sent me this email the other day…

The results of the biopsy of his testicle does not confirm nor deny it was cancerous. At this time all they could suggest is that I bring him monthly for a rectal exam and a physical to see if any growths appear.
As for now, Rocky is doing very well. Last week after a battle of wills he started eating his ordinary dog food his pooping issue is correcting itself since he is on his usual diet. His urination while sleeping issue is a possible UTI and I am going to get him something for that, otherwise he remains in “protective undergarments” aka diapers when he sleeps.
He was very well behaved and gave me extra love last week when I was not feeling well. Cleo is now more appreciative of Rocky and practically lays on him while he is sleeping.
I can never thank you and your wonderful friends enough for helping me save Rocky’s life. Without your help the doctor would have gone through with his original plan, that was to put Rocky down. Those were the worst seven days of my life. Thank you for giving me so many more days and hopefully years with the best thing that ever happened to me, my Rocky.
If you need any volunteers or help with anything please know I am willing an able to do whatever you ask.
All three of us could never thank you enough. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me with Rocky.
We deeply love you and are grateful that you entered our lives

Unfortunately, Christine is unable to pay the latest vet bill, which came in at $820 (It included a measly 10% discount, which, quite frankly, I didn’t think was enough of a discount given that they knew she couldn’t afford it but whatever, this is why I can’t stand 95% of the vets out there – by the way, this vet was Bay Street Animal Hospital in Staten Island… don’t go there!)

ANYWAY, obviously Stewie isn’t gonna turn our back on Christine… We will help with the bill, even though we’ve already spent more on Rocky than any case (besides the Bronx Cats)… If anyone else wants to chip in, please donate HERE.

Together Again!

Thanks as always,

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue

By now, you should be aware that I recently got involved in a hoarding case, about 40 cats in an apartment in the Bronx. If you aren’t read this. Okay, now you’re caught up…

I’d like to share this a note from the current caretaker, a selfless woman who has given these cats a chance. I wanted to share her thoughts and show how much she, and the original “owner” cared for these cats..

I first met Liz in 2005, when a mutual friend introduced us because she had kittens and I wanted kittens, two to be exact, after a particularly bad break-up. At that time she had an apartment full of cats, but they all seemed healthy and well fed, and her home was clean and bright. There were cases of high-grade holistic cat food stacked up in the hallway, and several bags of natural litter. I could tell we were on the same page as far as cat care. The term “hoarder” had not yet become a “thing”, I just thought she was lucky that she could have so many cats. I remember she walked me back to the subway after I picked out 2 kittens —  I promised that they would be well cared for and loved, and that I would send her pictures and updates regularly, and I did.

One day in March 2011 we were emailing, and I said something about always being late because of my cats (I had four at that time), and she said – “tell me about it, and now I have to pad one side of my bra so I don’t look lopsided because of this big mass I have on the other side”. I called Pat (our mutual friend) and together we got Liz to go to the doctor. They did a biopsy right then and there, that’s how large the tumor was already, and the next day they told her she had breast cancer.

The next week she was sent to Sloan-Kettering for testing. That was the first time I had seen her since I adopted my kittens. I knew enough about her to know that her parents were gone and she was estranged from her sister, and had very little contact with the few cousins, aunt, and uncle that lived in the New York City vicinity. I just told her that she was not alone and I spent the entire day with her, going from test to test, scan to scan; I don’t think we left the hospital until 8 p.m.

The cancer had already spread to her spine and lung, so she did not have any surgery. She was started on chemo. I went with her every week, and then took her out to lunch, and after we would usually go for a walk and shopping at the health food stores she loved…I only missed one week, when I had the flu. During those months of chemo, and lunches, and walking, and shopping, we bonded. She told me all about her life; needless to say, we became very close and dear friends.

During her workup for the breast cancer they found that she had early stage endometrial cancer as well, and she needed to have a hysterectomy. I had wanted to help her with the cats before that, she had several that had never been fixed. At some point after I first met her, or maybe it had already happened, she lost her job and could not find another. She was severely depressed. She had cats that she could not afford to have vetted, and so they started to reproduce, and she had kittens that were growing up and reproducing as well. It must have been a nightmare for her.

She never conveyed any of this to me in the emails, but of course she didn’t yet know me that well. When we became closer during the spa days (we called chemo “spa” to keep it positive), I kept asking her to please let me help get the cats to the Humane Society — now she had Medicaid and they have a free spay/neuter program for people on Medicaid. She didn’t want me to come to her apartment, she was so ashamed of how she lived.

After the surgery she let me come home with her, because she knew she would need help with the cats. Upon entering her apartment I saw the ravages of six years of depression and poverty. The landlord had not done repairs in many years, and would let tenants slide for not paying rent. Liz was one of those tenants, not paying rent because she had no money. She was unable to use the kitchen or bathroom sinks because the pipes underneath were broken. She used the bathtub to wash dishes and clean vegetables. She had the basics of a working refrigerator, stove, tub, and toilet so was able to somehow manage, but life was obviously not easy. The walls and floors were in disrepair and she had very little furniture–only a desk, a bed, a small dresser and some shelves. In addition, the air was toxic and thick from the ammonia odor from the cats. She had been living with it for so long that she did not realize how bad.

Liz continued to do well, so well that I kept joking with her that she would have to fake illness for people to believe she had anything wrong with her. In May of this year the doctor wrote in her chart “Excellent response to treatment!” Six weeks later they found metastatic lesions in her brain, however, and that was the beginning of the end.

I have traveled from Brooklyn to the Bronx every day since June to take care of the cats, and to help her as well when she was home. Once she was hospitalized, bedridden and unable to use the phone, every afternoon I went to Sloan-Kettering to see her and left at night to go to the Bronx to take care of the cats. I was with her when her breathing became labored, and she went into respiratory distress, and then slipped into unconsciousness. I spent the night by her side, but left the next morning to take care of the cats. The nurse said she was doing well and was stable. She looked very peaceful. I was going to come back later, but she passed away a few hours after I left, I think she wanted it that way. Her family did not come.

Liz Frank died 10/27/12, after an 18-month battle with breast cancer, the day before Hurricane Sandy hit us. She left behind over 40 cats and a dear friend

Liz was not the easiest person to deal with, she could be very stubborn and very critical, and she was in denial about many things. She pushed just about everyone away, save for the very few that had shown her some kindness. Her life was filled with difficulties, sexual abuse, abandonment, clinical depression, poverty, a “family” that was not there. She did not have it easy.

But she had beautiful things inside of her too. She had a kindness and gentleness that forgave her stubbornness and critical-ness, and she had a great sense of humor. She was creative and very smart, with a photographic memory. She was a talented artist. She was a strict vegan. She (obviously) adored cats, but she loved all animals, and seems to have had a special place in her heart for butterflies. They are all over her home.

Liz was only 5’1″ tall and 106 lb, but she was very strong. She endured so much for so long. She was needle phobic, very needle phobic. Going to the hospital for IV chemotherapy every week was, to say the least, difficult. But she did it. She was not afraid of dying; she told me so towards the end, when she knew she was.

She was also a hoarder, the part of her that I had to finally admit, as difficult as that was. A little hoarder who collected cats to fill the void of friends and family. These cats were her mother, her father, her brothers, her sisters, and her children; and although she was unable to take care of them properly, she loved them with all her heart.

I am not condoning hoarding, this is a tragedy; and now so many little lives have been affected, including my own. Hoarding is a very complicated issue. I walk through her neighborhood in the Bronx, and see so many strays. Some start to follow me, talk to me, and if I have some food with me I give it to them. It is so hard to walk away, but I know I cannot do anything. I say a prayer and keep walking, and wonder if I lived in such a neighborhood if I could have become the hoarder myself.

Liz started out as a rescuer and caregiver, not just collecting but loving each of them. Some she picked up on the street, some were left on her doorstep, and some were born in her apartment. Once she rescued two kittens from a building where the super decided to leave them in the basement without food or water so they would kill mice and rats. Kittens.

Humans are tribal beings, we are not meant to be alone. If I have learned anything from all of this, it is to embrace and appreciate my family and friends always, to be there for them, and to reach out to them when I am in need. I knew that Liz would not ask for my help, but I saw that she was in desperate need and I gave as much as she would allow. Little by little this unfolded.

As for the cats, when I took over their care in June I changed the type of litter and cleaning products, and the neighbors are no longer complaining. I have been feeding them high grade food that she could not afford when she had no money, and I have been adding extra nutrients, Red Desert Clay, wheatgrass, colloidal silver, DMG, chia seeds, probiotics, and more. I have improved their health, but there are still health issues that need to be addressed, and vetting that I cannot afford to provide unless there is an acute or emergency situation.

I did not know how many cats Liz actually had until I had been caring for them alone for several weeks while she was in the hospital. At first I could not count more than 17 or 18; but as time passed, and they became more and more comfortable with me, little by little they came out of hiding. Many of them did not look healthy to me, but I did not have money for vetting of that many animals. It was overwhelming.

I have spent close to $8000 of my own money, and I don’t have or make a lot of money so this has pretty much wiped me out. I don’t regret it, it was money well spent, because we have finally found wonderful, dedicated, caring, no-kill rescuers. I knew there was help somewhere, it was just a matter of time-money-patience-dedication, not to mention my good friend Janet Sullivan who introduced me to the no-kill movement two years ago, when I rescued one of my three cats from an abusive situation. She found them for me. Thank you, dear friend.

My life has been put on hold. I haven’t taken care of myself since June. I missed my mother’s 75th birthday. I missed my friends’ birthdays. I missed my own birthday. I missed Thanksgiving. I missed Christmas and New Years. I am so exhausted. I fall asleep on the subway all the time, miss my stop, get off, go to the other side, and miss my stop again because I am so tired that I fall asleep again. I shower once a week if I am lucky, if I can find the time.

I have well-meaning friends that cannot understand, why not just call Animal Control and get back my life? I would not be able to live with myself if I did that, I knew there had to be another way. They wonder where I get the strength, the stamina, the patience, the time. This is insanity! I have to say, I think if I were not living this I would probably think the same. When I am in my Brooklyn apartment, looking at the mess of my room that I have no time to clean, feeling the pressure of trying to get all of my work done so that I can get back up to the Bronx at a reasonable hour, wondering what I have forgotten, stressing out over every little thing, it is not easy.

But once I am in the Bronx, and I open the door to apartment 21, the stress fades and the love that is on the other side of that door makes it all worth it, it really does, and it is something that I am not sure I can explain, it is something that you would have to experience. It is a love that has changed me, and I know that one day I will not go back there, and as much as I want my life back, I will miss that love, that amazing, unconditional love. I have never felt closer to God.

Please help Liz get her life back and know these cats are gonna be okay, by donating to The Bronx Cats here.

Liz and Liz, in a photo that was taken at Sloan-Kettering after the doctor told her that she had an “excellent response’, six weeks later she was diagnosed with metastatic brain lesions. Current caretaker Liz is on the right.

Thanks,

Harris Bloom

Founder/President

Stewie to the Rescue