Our Website & Some Technical Difficulties...

While you can now follow us on Twitter, I'm afraid I screwed something up during today's website update, and now the menu is gone. Please be patient while I try to figure out what happened!

Man, You Smell Funny!

Here's the scene I found this evening as I went out to feed dinner~ no one can believe Ballou is Ballou, since he got a wonderfully scented aloe bath along with his haircut!

A New Summer Hairdo...

For Ballou today ~ lucky guy! He gets a haircut twice a year, and a bath once a month or so, since he can't clean himself. He's pictured above in his "jungle kitty" mode, making sure that he gets his time in front of the camera, but making sure that all who view the picture know that he's quite the great hunter!

Ballou lost his tongue in an accident several years ago, and he eventually wound up here after being adopted and returned. He doesn't realize it's a problem, he just uses his lower teeth to bathe himself, which unfortunately leads to pretty big messes in a long hair coat. We compromised last year by deciding just to keep him body shaved ~ no more brushing that he hates, no more unsanitary mess that I hate!

Meet Kismet!

Kismet joined us a couple of weeks ago. He hails from the Central shelter, where there was concern about upper respiratory infection and a drooling problem that he had. It turns out that the respiratory infection cleared quickly and the drooling ~ well, that's just what he does when he's happy.

And when is he happy? When ever someone is petting him, talking to him, or near him! He is a larger boy, weighing in at 15lbs, with, well, a little extra in the middle. He does like to eat! But, he enjoys humans so much more that he leaves his food for the chance at a lap!

We always change the name of an animal as it comes from the shelter, that is until now. Kismet fits this handsome guy so well, we just decided it should stick! He is living in the Cabana, which now has the nickname "grey tabby manor" since everyone there is a grey tabby to some degree. While Pepper thinks he's cute, she's quick to point out her "queen" status. And the boys are a little intimidated by his size, but all are settling in well together!

Meet Pax!

Pax joined our family a couple of months ago. He (she?) broke his leg in an outdoor aviary. Birds can heal pretty quickly, and by the time the injury was discovered, the leg already began to heal at an almost 90 degree angle. It made him unable to use it, and unable to stay with other birds who would pick on the weakened one. Pax is a beautiful Ring-neck Dove, who lives in a 28"x 42" enclosure situated on the top of Roger rabbit's hotel ~ keeping him up high where he can see everything going on and the dogs can't "play" with him!

Now, you may ask, how do you accomodate a handicapped bird? He has a shallow dish (a plant saucer) for bathing, a carpeted floor, and low dishes for food and drinking water. Not being able to perch poses some challenges. The carpet keeps sores from forming on his legs as he hops around. The plant saucer bathing dish gives him a chance to stay clean without worrying about drowning!

Pax will work with us to teach people that with a little imagination, even special needs birds can have a full life!