JULY 13, 2020
Well, I went to work as usual this morning…
…and SURPRISE! I returned home and made quite a literal stink this evening with 2 sick kittens.
Along with oral meds, treatment for ringworm is a lime sulfur dip and it smells exactly as you might imagine: a grandpa fart. They got their first one upon arrival and hated it as much as everyone else who’s come through here.
They are in kind of rough shape, but they’ve started treatment and will be on the mend before we know it. I have decided to spare them their dignity and not post the wet rat photos.
Everyone, I present Boo and Kirby. (This was so last minute – I don’t yet know who is who )
JULY 19, 2020
This is Tex! He came home yesterday as he was exposed to ringworm. He’s hanging out in his own space while we wait to see if he develops any signs of the itchy fungus.
His face is the result of finding out the treatment.
Everyone wish Tex the best of luck. He’s a sweeeeet, floofy, tiny little kitten with a very loud motor.
JULY 30, 2020
Okay, you guys. You know how I hate to ask for stuff? And you know how I hate to be someone who begs her followers for things?
Well I’m doing it.
When I found out that shelters often have to euthanize for ringworm, it made me very sad. Contrary to the name, ringworm is not a worm but fungi collectively called Dermatophytes that survive on keratin and cause the animal’s hair to fall out, and angry looking red patches on their skin. As it is very contagious, it can spread rapidly in a shelter setting, so shelters and rescues are only able to accept ringworm positive animals if they have a foster willing to take them.
Ringworm is easily treated.
As you might imagine, there aren’t many fosters chomping at the bit to bring ringworm into their homes, but leave it to ol’ Ani to be just a little different.
I need to get set up to properly take care of medicals and streamline my processes as I do a lot of stuff before I go work. Step 1 is establishing an isolation cart. If anyone has ever given a kitten a pill, you might understand why long sleeves are important.
So could I get in on your Goodwill piles? I need the following:
– Old blankets, sheets, rags, towels, washcloths, etc.
– Anything that could be used as PPE and is easily bleached — light robes, long sleeve t-shirts, etc.
– A peds stethoscope in the event anyone has a spare.
– Smallish table that can be bleached (to be used as an exam table for giving meds, taking temps, etc.)
Please let me know if your adventitious Goodwill pile matches my needs list! Here are some pictures of the tiny tigers in captivity. Tonight I collected cultures and we’ll know soon whether they can be set free!
AUGUST 4, 2020
High 5s for Tex as he’s emerged from the depths of quarantine and seems to have skirted the fungus!
He has graduated to the ugliest room in the house and is happy to be there. While in quarantine he got into a lot of mischief and was able to unroll all the TP himself. Looking forward to seeing what kind of kitty trouble he gets in tonight.
AUGUST 21, 2020
Former ringworm siblings Boo (female, left) and Kirby (male, right) are all healed up and have been released from confinement. They’ve moved into the bathroom that Tex once occupied and they couldn’t be happier about it. They’re so happy, it’s hard to get them to sit for a picture.
Both are so playful and full of life. I cannot believe after all we’ve been through together that they’d still purr when I come around, but they do. They’re especially friendly, active, and they like to get in trouble and make messes! I left their kitty carrier on the human toilet and returned to discover these crazy kittens had knocked it into one of the kitty toilets!
As they have been each other’s sole confidant for such a long time, it would make me happy to see them adopted together. But if that doesn’t pan out, I think they’d be happy having a feline friend in their new homes.
Congratulations, my little babies. You graduated from ringworm treatment! Next step: adoption!
Interested parties, please contact me to schedule a meet and greet.
AUGUST 28, 2020
After what probably felt like an eternity living in confinement, getting meds all the time and fart baths every 4 days, spay/neuter, and then recovery, FORMER ringworm kittens, Boo and Kirby are feeling 100% like happy little tigers. They’ve been roaming free upstairs for some time now and they have never stopped loudly celebrating their freedom.
They have a basket at the top of the steps and when I go by in the middle of the night to get a bottle for Pearl, up pops 2 sets of ears and then their little heads. More recently they’ve found great joy and confidence in casually coming down the steps and just laying there to torment Ellen. They think they’re safe behind the baby gate, but little do they know I am the one who put it up.
To my heart’s delight, these siblings have a meet and greet tomorrow to be adopted together! Usually I am not too picky about that sort of thing, but considering the circumstances, I had hoped for this to be their fate.
Cross your fingers and your paws for them tomorrow! I am going to get them “show ready” by trimming their nails and cleaning their ears one last time before departure.
PS don’t judge me by my drywall. The idiots that hung the wallpaper didn’t paint first, but this is still preferred over the fugly floral theme (with matching green trim!) which preceded it.
AUGUST 30, 2020
Rio must have been good luck because Kirby and Boo were adopted yesterday together! It is the best outcome I could have hoped for.
These two kittens would have been euthanized if it weren’t for foster care – a primo example of how fostering saves lives.
Go live it up, my babies! You earned it!
Rio says – “will need new kittens soon, Mom. I love my kittens.”
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
When 50 kittens were about to be unceremoniously and prematurely euthanized, SFC Virginia stepped up and rescued 25 of them from an untimely demise.
It was when they texted me to say that the majority of them had ringworm that I said I just couldn’t take on anyone else until after Rio’s fundraiser.
But it ate at me. I have the knowledge, the space, and the ability to help. And I’m wimping out??
So in the middle of my birthday party, I decided that although thirty five year old Ani might have been a bit trepidatious and downright LAME about the declination, Ani at thirty SIX shall be an upgraded version of the former and make different decisions.
So, everyone say hello to three of the puniest kittens I ever met. It’s pretty bad when you are relieved that it’s ONLY three. Throughout this foster, keep an eye out for all the linens you donated. Pearl has already been peeing on your old towels, and now the kittens are shedding fungal spores on your blankets.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2020
The puny ringworm kittens have left the building. It was a move that I had some mixed feelings about because although all of the kittens were somewhat sick, (in addition to the ringworm) one little guy in particular became VERY sick.
As I have not had any kittens THAT ill, I was a little excited that he’d come to me; they all come to teach. But as my experience has been more with sick puppies, I felt a little like a noob and ready to get some really sick kitten experience.
But when I was asked, I agreed to let them all go to a shelter partner who swooped in to help relieve us of our collective fungal burden.
Not many people want to foster sick animals, and even fewer are chomping at the bit to bring a fungus that THEY could acquire into their homes.
As a gal who’s fostered both puppies and kittens with ringworm, the latter group are easier to keep in isolation.
We have 11 ringworm puppies in our rescue right now, and if no one was beating down the door to help us with the kittens, I knew that the puppies would not have a chance. The kittens had a place to go; the puppies did not.
So today, four of the most foul smelling puppers met their new foster mom. They fought in the crate for the duration of the car ride. This is the first time I’ve ever had to say “knock it off” before the puppies even made it to their foster home.
Might be a long 21 days!
SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
When you have infectious animals, they must be quarantined. It’s just the way it is, and it’s how we contain and eventually eradicate the pathogen(s). It requires regimented, vigorous cleaning and decontamination rituals in the animals’ environment, and a lot of bleach.
Isolation is the pits for everyone, but it sucks less for the foster mom when the confined animals are kittens because they kindly, and with sanitary panache and dignity, use a litter box so the poop remains all in one convenient location.
The logistics of puppy poop patrol, on the other hand, is quite frankly a never ending uphill climb. It gets everywhere.
It’s impossible to adequately clean a bathroom while four puppies, delighted by my presence, swarm me and excitedly jump up, sliding their fungusy paws down my galoshes, wondering if I’ve brought food.
So I had to establish a sick puppy holding tank which is made out of several materials I had in the shed clipped onto an actual playpen. It’s ended up being a great way for them to get out some energy while I clean, and they can eat a meal in there which means a few poops will not even meet my designated spatula.
Despite being extremely gross at the moment, these pups are sweet and so cute, and they’re taking it all in stride. They were feeling so bad about all the messes and out-hygiene’d by the rival kittens that they’ve started pooping only in one spot — a spot which I can clean without even fully entering the room. Let us hope that continues.
I am looking forward to the day they’re all better and I get to set them free, but ringworm recovery is a long haul and we’ve only just begun. These little cuties are going to really need a good home after this!
OCTOBER 16, 2020
Here it is, Friday night in Crazy Town, and due to a little internal communication hiccup, there are currently 10 canines under my roof, and the majority of them are not potty trained.
I have decided that since Ani’s Orphans has thrust itself into the next phase of legitimacy with its first fundraiser, the next logical step is…charts. We need some visual data! And given the current tumultuous state of my Crazy Town, I think now is an appropriate time to share this one.
I would encourage prospective adopters to factor in these metrics when scheduling meet and greets.
OCTOBER 18, 2020
It’s been a busy weekend. I worked an adoption event yesterday, which left me with only today to clean the house and stay on track with my stink chart.
I am typing from the moment of inner peace, in case you’re wondering. Ahhh.
My sweet ringworm babies are getting better and less infectious. They finished their three weeks of oral medication on Friday, and we will probably culture them this week. Today I’ve spent lots of time scrubbing and bleaching and arranging for their upgrade to only partial isolation.
Currently they’re munching on some chicken jerky outside, having no idea of their new spacious abode indoors.
Formally introducing four of the cutest stinkers I’ve ever had the pleasure of dipping! They’re all boys.
OCTOBER 31, 2020
I’m down to just 2 ringworm puppies!
Finch and Wren were cleared for neuter this week, and did not return after their surgery on Friday because Cardinal’s and Sparrow’s cultures were iffy. They will remain in treatment for another week or so.
But they’re bored, and they’ve been good sports about the whole thing, so today we did some leash work and lots of running before the lime dip and decon of their living space.
They were so happy to be out with me, and I was content having them chase me around, letting them being puppies.
NOVEMBER 2, 2020
I am in a love affair with snuffle mats.
The hardest part about having puppies in isolation, for me, is that they’re bored and it wears on my conscience knowing I have fungusy prisoners upstairs just losing their minds with nothing to do. Bored puppies behave poorly and play in poop and get on my nerves, so I try to incorporate stimulating and enriching activities to keep their minds busy.
One of the best things you can do for bored puppies is to put them to work foraging for food. I have big dreams of the elaborate contraptions I would make for this, but a snuffle mat does a stand-up job. They also extend feeding time substantially.
Cardinal and Sparrow enjoyed their work this morning before I left to do mine. They’re on the homestretch now, almost ready to live their lives “on the outside.”
NOVEMBER 3, 2020
My sweet Cardinal has been cleared for take off! He will go in for the ol’ snip-snip on Friday, and then he’ll be looking for his forever home!
He is now taking meet and greets.
Please share if you know anyone who is looking for a wittle pup who is going to remain small.
NOVEMBER 6, 2020
With Cardinal having departed for neuter and adoption, Sparrow is the last of the four (now former) ringworm puppies left in Crazy Town. Both of his cultures are clear, so this morning we all got Mom up brighter and earlier than necessary to throw a “Coming Out” party for Sparrow the sweet face.
He got a bath and one final lime dip before he even had his first meal on the outside, and when I turned him loose, he was bounding with joy. He harbors no resentment for the dull, cramped, and oftentimes tumultuous month he endured while receiving treatment here, and is instead fully embracing his freedom without looking back.
Lenny and Ellen felt that everyone would have a better day if Sparrow joined in the morning walk, and I was happy to oblige as I take personal interest in activities that unite the pack. He did really well.
The Baby Pearl is a hard act to follow, but Rio has determined he quite likes his new friend Sparrow and has been a kind and playful host. I don’t know why anyone would want to sleep in Rio’s bed, which is largely composed of urine, but Sparrow does, and fresh out of quarantine maybe it smells familiar.
I’m feeling content and relieved that another group of ringworm puppies are recovered and back on track for great lives. Cue the weekend decon procedures.
*The fact that Rio is sitting is an indicator of progress in PT!*
NOVEMBER 9, 2020
I crammed so much into this weekend, I didn’t even have time to post about it.
I did lots of dog things — grooming, toenail and anal gland maintenance, ear cleaning, bathing, walking, adventuring, etc., but the main event this weekend was phase 1 and 2 of ringworm decon. I was able to score a used vacuum and steam mop exclusively for use in the hospital, and they saw their first action cleaning the messes left behind by 4 sweet little pups who recovered there.
Those puppies, surely as a token of their love and appreciation for my efforts, began some renovations on their space, but were evicted before they could finish chewing pieces out of every tile on the floor, so I was left to finish what they started.
I don’t know if this is what they envisioned, or that it would float in a real hospital, but it seems perfectly fitting for Crazy Town and I hope I did them proud!
JANUARY 1, 2021
While I know 2020 put a hurtin’ on most of us, I found a lot of joy in thinking of how many animals began waking up with excited curiosity, day after day, as they experienced a shift in the household routine. The humans began arising to the formerly dreaded beepy things and staying in their jammies. The outdoors became the safest place for bipods to be, and with all the family functions and social events getting shut down, dogs the world over found themselves on more walks and adventures, and thus became far more contented than they’d ever been. The social cats took up residence on their subordinates’ keyboards and began living out their purpose supervising Zoom meetings and editing documents. The unsocial cats, well, they found new “hidey holes.”
2020 brought a lot of upgrades to the hospital. Rio is now the proud owner of his very own suction unit, I am equipped to do several more interventions on fading neonatal puppies, and I spent a lot of time working on the bay for my animals in isolation. These guys often don’t get much (if any) time in the limelight as they are typically infectious. When I’m in with them, I am garbed up and can’t easily take pictures “inside the bars.” Plus they usually look pretty rough and I’m trying to spare them their dignity.
Their stories are all similar: they’re here to endure an identical treatment protocol to any other animal in their condition(s.) From a storyteller’s perspective, there just isn’t anything novel to say all the time. “If you’ve covered one lime dip, you’ve covered them all” kind of thing. Their purpose here is to eradicate whatever pathogen is plaguing them so they get to HAVE a story. And just because I’m not writing about them doesn’t mean I’m not trying for them. My former space wasn’t cutting it, especially for larger, long-stays who don’t feel ill. Oral ringworm treatment is three weeks in duration minimum, and the animals deserve decent accommodations.
I also believe that everyone deserves a chance and I don’t think that a nasty bout of skin fungus should warrant a death sentence. Some of you know about my love of creating systems and improving operational efficiency, and with a lot of fungus coming through, it was necessary to do some work on my ringworm system. As of today, the first day of 2021, I am set up so that I can do all routine maintenance without having to enter the hazard area. The only contact I have with them is for meds and lime dips and pets. I can quickly, and without donning much PPE, do all the morning chores in 10 minutes or less without putting any of the healthy animals at risk.
I will continue to tweak, but this is a good day for the isolation ward in Crazy Town. The better my system, the more I can help.
Happy New Year! All my best to you and your pets in 2021!
Here’s a little video tour of isolation.