Mutts & Mitts, Inc.

An Update on BUSTER

2011-03-03T23:55:00.000-08:00

For those of you interested, Buster was placed in an emergency foster home for a few weeks (huge thanks to AMY!!!) and is now in a foster home strongly considering adopting him. He is an amazing little guy. His Demodex has almost entirely healed and his eyes are bright!

BUSTER with Amy...

BUSTER at the park...he's the one on the ground acting all submissive.

Rescuing BUSTER

2011-01-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

Mutts & Mitts is trying to place this sweet, sweet boy from NC by this weekend, or next at the latest!

Seeking placement in NYC area OR Rochester-Buffalo, NY area.

Currently, a transport exists from NC to NYC for him to jump on for this weekend (Sat, 1/29). Since we currently operate out of upstate NY, we would like to get him up here eventually. But for now (or for the long term) we need to place him in the NYC area!! Please crosspost this to anyone you think might be interested. We have several volunteers in the NYC area to assist. We could use a temporary short-term foster and arrange a transport to get him upstate within a couple of weeks.

BUSTER's story, as originally written, is below. He is currently doing better, on meds. Please note that Demodex is very manageable and treatable and NOT contagious to other animals. He could be placed with another dog as he is also very friendly. Here is our ChipIn page to help with Buster's veterinary and transport costs, so please also send this to friend's who could offer support!! http://muttsandmitts.chipin.com/buster

"It is bad enough being a stray in Bladen County, NC......farmers shoot at you when you try to wander up to the humans you love, food is scarce, other strays snap at you......it is LONELY and SCARY......especially for a throwaway 5 month old puppy like sweet BUSTER. But now imagine that the stray puppy has severe DEMODEX....so bad, in fact, that he can no longer open his eyes due to infection and he has NO HAIR. And it is FREEZING outside!!!!! Frankly, I do not even know how this sad little baby has survived the last few weeks. It is simply unimaginable that after all little Buster has been through, that he will now have to be euthanized due to lack of space at the Bladen County Shelter in Elizabethtown, NC.

PLEASE save this little boy. His short puppy life has been cruel and scary. You can change that by adopting/fostering.The vet does not believe that Buster's eyesight has been permanently damaged....he just needs treament."

HAPPY NEW YEAR from Mutts & Mitts!!!

2011-01-01T17:17:00.001-08:00

ANNOUNCEMENT: Mutts & Mitts will be operating out of Buffalo, NY in the near future!!

2010-08-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

This month, the director of MMOB, is moving to Buffalo, NY to begin studies which will lead to Veterinary school! It is an exciting time and I invite anyone interested in fostering in either Brooklyn or Buffalo to get and or stay in touch! The rescue is not closing, but we will be slowing down just a little to accomodate the changes.

Happy Fall to all!!

P&G Recalls Specific Canned Cat Foods Due to Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

2010-06-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

P&G Recalls Specific Canned Cat Foods Due to Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Seeking a loving FOSTER or ADOPTIVE Home for Franny & Coalie (mother & son), either together or apart.

2010-05-16T01:45:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Both Franny & Coalie have been ADOPTED!!

This mom & son duo were returned to MMOB in a rather strange way. Their adopter disappeared shortly after adopting them and we were distraught about not knowing how things were going. Then a few weeks ago, they both were "dumped" at a shelter. We are hoping to find them a home together but are willing to separate them as well.
If you are interested in FOSTERING or ADOPTING either, please contact us at muttsandmitts@gmail.com

Franny's Story:

FRANNY is a gorgeous white kitty with brown tabby markings who was originally found in the Bronx pregnant in October of 2008. She ended up at the kill-shelter, where she had her 6 kittens in a small cage. Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn rescued Franny & her kittens from the shelter a few days after she gave birth and placed them in foster care. In January of 2009, Franny and one of her kittens, Coalie, were adopted by someone in NJ. But then the adopter went off the radar and we could not track down him down for months. But thankfully a few weeks ago, they were both turned into a shelter and we are now searching for much better, permanent homes for them.

Franny is approximately 3 years old. She is a GREAT mom, and could be fostered or adopted with or without her son Coalie. It is URGENT that we get her in a foster home for now at least. She is back in a shelter where she is stuck in a cage all day. Franny is a very affectionate cat. When she was in her first foster, Franny loved her kittens and her fosters equally. She always took time out to hang with her human companions. She is a little love machine, purring all the time!

Coalie's Story:
COALIE was originally born in a cage at the kill-shelter. His mom, Franny (See our separate ad for Franny) was found pregnant in the Bronx in October of 2008. She ended up at the kill-shelter, where she had her 6 kittens in a small cage, one of which was Coalie. Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn rescued Coalie, his mom & her other kittens from the shelter a few days after she gave birth. They were placed in foster care and then in January of 2009, Coalie & Franny were adopted by someone in NJ. But the adopter went off the radar soon after and we could not track down him down for months. But thankfully a few weeks ago, both Coalie & Franny were turned into a shelter and we are now searching for FOSTER homes and then much better, permanent, ADOPTIVE homes for them.
Coalie is a sweet mushy kitten. His original foster mom taught him (or perhaps just allowed him) to crawl up her arm to sit in the crook of her neck. And he would just hang out there, like a koala bear on a tree. He was the snuggle bug of his litter. We only have one current pic of him and the other three are from his kitten days. As you can see he has grown into a handsome little guy. His black coat is medium length and has ash undertones. This little guy would make a great little friend and new family member for anyone who adores cuddly cats!

Coalie is now 1 year and 7 months old. Coalie could be fostered or adopted with or without his momma Franny.

Introducing BROOKLYN: We have a NEW GORGEOUS AmStaff Mix Among Us...Needs Adopter!!!

2009-11-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

ADOPTED!!!!

Brooklyn is a big, sweet, white pit mix with brindle spots and one blue eye. She is between 2-3 years old. Brooklyn is gentle and mellow with people and is good with children also. However Brooklyn would need to be the ONLY pet because she doesn't get along well with other animals, most likely due to her sad history. She lunges and barks at other dogs on the street. Nevertheless she's a snuggle-bug, loves being close to wherever you are and loves sleeping in the bed. She walks well on a leash, comes when she's called, knows sit and is working on stay. Brooklyn has zero food aggression and you can take her food away without any problems.

Brooklyn was found in February tied to a street sign on a deserted street in a bad neighborhood in Brooklyn (hence the name). She was very skinny, starved, scared, had numerous gaping wounds and what looked like a burn on her paw. She has several scars, especially on her face and neck, presumably from being used to fight. It is also very evident that she was used for breeding and the vet determined that when she was found, she had recently born a litter. We suspect that she was just thrown away after she had puppies. Thankfully now Brooklyn looks like a different dog, healthy at a good weight and joyous.

Brooklyn really stole the heart of the woman who found her, but she feels she just doesn’t have the time a dog deserves. Brooklyn has definitely had a hard life thus far, but she's a survivor and hasn't lost her sweetness. She was vaccinated in February and then saw the vet again once in august for a minor incidental urinary tract infection. Brooklyn is completely house-trained. Before being adopted she will be spayed and get a microchip. She comes with her with a crate, a good leash, and bowls.

If you are interested in Brooklyn, please call April at 917-270-3841 or email: muttsandmitts@optonline.net There is a $200 fee to adopt.

Sweet Rosalie, Good Times Never Seemed So Good!

2009-11-12T16:23:00.000-08:00

ADOPTED

About a week ago, I received a phone call about a stray white cat found in Long Island. The people who found her in their yard could not keep her since they already have two cats. But they vowed to take care of her until I could find either a foster or adopter. And they named her Rosalie.

Our sweet Rosalie is a white cat with gray markings and a very affectionate personality. Rosalie definitely lived with a family at some point...we know this not only because of her disposition but because, to our dismay, she is also declawed. Rosalie's new caretakers took her to the vet and had her vaccinated while I started the search for an adopter. After she went to the vet we got the unfortunate news that she MIGHT have FeLV (Feline leukemia virus). This of course made us all the more nervous about the prospect of finding her an adopter. FeLV cats have a compromised immune system and are therefore more susceptible to illness. They also should not be integrated with non-FeLV cats because they can transmit the disease. But to our shock and delight a wonderful candidate came forward. I fully disclosed Rosalie's possible health status and sent her an informational link on FeLV so she could make an educated decision. And then I crossed all my fingers and toes, as well as Rosalie's...

The next email I received went like this:

I very much would like to meet and adopt Rosalie. FeLV does sound scary, especially since she may be suceptible to other diseases and may die early. But I would love her and take care of her. She just looks so precious. And maybe, like you said, she is okay after all. Hopefully.

I was ecstatic and gave Rosalie's current caretakers the good news! We were all thrilled. And of course, our candidate's ap was beautiful and her reference checks were smooth sailing. Rosalie goes to her new home on Saturday!

*We will be rechecking Rosalie at the vet next week to determine if she is indeed FeLV positive (as well as to schedule her spay). Her original test showed that she is FIV- (Feline Immunodeficiency virus) and tested a "light positive" for FeLV. *

A Happy Update on a Once-troubled Pittie, Blue-Nosed Mittsy

2009-11-04T09:28:00.000-08:00

Mittsy, now known as Kilo, was rescued by MMOB from the kill-shelter in November of last year. She was quite the handful at 6 months and several potential adopters who met her turned their backs on her because she was not going to be an "easy" dog. Some of the things one person said about her included that she hid behind her foster parents when someone new came to meet her, she snapped at hands and jumped up on everyone, she did not listen to commands such as sit or stay and was easily distracted, she constantly pulled on her leash and was generally mistrustful. Considering Mittsy was picked up as a young stray in Brooklyn, most of this was true but not surprising...

On the 14th of August, Mittsy's luck turned around. She was adopted by a wonderful couple in PA who regularly send me updates. Below is her most recent update and it made me so happy for our lovely Mittsy and for all the misunderstood pitties in the world I thought I'd post it! She also sent the pic here...

Update: 11/3/09

She has been doing amazing so far! The three of us drove to my parent's house in Rochester, then across Canada, and stayed with friends in Michigan that have three dogs. She did a great job traveling and staying in new places. At home she's doing awesome! We have added a couple of new rules, and she has picked them up really quickly. She's not allowed in the kitchen, and when people food comes out, she goes to lay on her bed until we're finished and we've put everything away.

She is definitely getting more disciplined mentally, where she can resist the urge to do what she wants, and follow our commands. On our walks, she is learning to be calm around other dogs and children.

When someone comes towards us with a stroller, we move into the grass, and she lays down until they pass. Everyone raves about how well- behaved she is, and yesterday a woman asked where we take obedience classes!! Halloween was a excellent opportunity to practice with her. We were upstairs in the living room, and when the doorbell would ring, she would let out half a bark, and run down to the door. She stood there looking out the window, but not barking, at the kids. I would tell her to move back to the the family room, lay down, and stay. Every time, she stayed right there until after I had given out candy, shut the door, and told her she could get up. You were really right about her potential to be a great dog!!

Hooray for Grandpa!!!

2009-11-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Grandpa, renamed Yoda, has been ADOPTED!!

One of Mutts & Mitts most wonderful dogs, Grandpa, has finally received a long-awaited opportunity! As of tomorrow, Wednesday, he will be moved from boarding into his first foster home!! We are so excited for him. He has been stuck in a boarding facility upstate for months, just one more example of how the economic crisis has affected the rescue world. But finally his story is making a turn! He will have the wonderful opportunity to be seen by people in his foster's neighborhood when he is walked in his "Adopt Me" vest, and more easily met by interested adopters.

Thank you to Grandpa's new foster, Juancarlos!!!
And now we can look forward to better pictures that will truly do Grandpa justice!
Stay tuned!

Dogs in NEED of FOSTER or ADOPTER!!

2009-08-12T22:17:00.001-07:00

We have several dogs that need new a FOSTER or ADOPTER immediately...please check them out below and pass on to everyone who might be interested or who may know other dog lovers!...

LACY: Stuck in Boarding http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?tmpl=public_base&pet_id=2431955

MITTSY: Must find New Foster by Fri, 8/14!! http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?tmpl=public_base&pet_id=2431822

GRANDPA: Stuck in Boarding http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?tmpl=public_base&pet_id=2380856

DEBO: Must find New Foster by Sun, 8/16!! http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?tmpl=public_base&pet_id=2564601

SUSIE: Stuck in Boarding http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?tmpl=public_base&pet_id=2243048

RED: Must find New Foster Immediately http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?tmpl=public_base&pet_id=2078823

MANNY MCGEE: Stuck in Boarding http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?tmpl=public_base&pet_id=1990230

Spring Fling Success

2009-05-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

Our first SPRING FLING was a nice success...

It was a glorified stoop sale afterall...

We brought in $500!!

And we plan to do a few more over the next few months, so stay tuned!

A huge thanks to everyone who donated items...and to Daisy Dudley & Nate Grandner for volunteering with me all weekend!!

OUR SPRING FLING STOOP SALE MAY 9th!!!

2009-05-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn is holding its first SPRING FLING Stoop Sale!!

SATURDAY May 9th...Noon-6P

Underhill Avenue & Bergen Street

in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

ALL proceeds will be used to support our DOGS & CATS who need special vet care or are in boarding at the moment awaiting their own FUREVER HOME!

And we NEED YOUR THROW-AWAYS…

Here’s what we’re looking for: (All Items must be in good enough condition to wear or use and not need any major repairs)

*Clothing of any size and shape*

*Shoes*

*Accessories (Bags, Jewelry, Belts, etc)

*Books (of course)*

*Houseware Items*

*Electronics*

*Office Supplies*

*Linens, Towels, Blankets*

*Small Pieces of Furniture (Stools, Tables, Chairs, etc)

And anything else you think might sell. Please PASS this ALONG to others. The SPRING FLING Stoop Sale will take place in Prospect Heights Date, Time & Place TBA! Please contact April Biggs at muttsandmitts@optonline.net if you have items you’d like to DONATE!!

Our Mascot, LADY OINK, DESPERATELY Needs a FOSTER so she can leave NYC Vet Specialists!!

2008-12-15T02:44:00.000-08:00

LADY has been ADOPTED by her foster's family!!! She is now living in CA and happy as a clam. She will always be one of our most cherished!!

A few weeks weeks ago, a precious dog who has now been named LADY OINK for her unbelievably sweet disposition and cute little snorting sound when she's licking you, under horrible circumstances ended up at the Brooklyn kill-shelter with a snapped front leg. After seeing specialists it was determined she had to have the leg amputated! She took it like a champ but had to go back to the hospital because she was crying out. She has been at the hospital for nearly two weeks while they tried to determine what was causing her to cry out. She is finally on a cocktail of anxiety and nerve pain meds to help ease her. But now that she is ready to go home, she has nowhere to go! Her crying out has dimished almost to nothing over the past week. Now she lets out a slight whimper every once in a while. We can guarantee you she will love you to pieces. Could you be the one to give her a FOSTER or ADOPTIVE home while she heals?

LADY OINK is a sweet sweet AmStaff mix (she looks and acts like part-manatee!) who loves people and other dogs. She is a 4 year old true angel of a dog. As you can see in the pics below, she is so loving! LADY OINK can get around very well on her three legs-we think she was without use of the leg which was amputated for some time. It would be best for her if we could place her with a foster or adopter who has an elevator building, lives on the ground floor or is strong enough to carry her up a flight or two. She was on the euthanization list before we rescued her and is going to be interviewed in a feature for the ACC, so she is already a star!

We want to get her into a warm home for the holidays!!

To see LADY OINK on video, see our adoptapet link: http://www.adoptapet.com/cgi-bin/public/petsearch.cgi/pet_details?pet_id=1952698

If interested in FOSTERING or ADOPTING LADY OINK please contact April NOW at 917-270-3841 or muttsandmitts@optonline.net

Adoptions in the month of August!!!

2008-09-09T00:15:00.000-07:00

We have some great things to announce!!

In the month of August, we found adopters for a few of our animals:

Kisser, after being in foster since March, was ADOPTED by her foster mom, Jesse! Way to sucker her Kisser!

Bird Louise, previously known as Gemma, was ADOPTED by a wonderful chick in the East Village named Amy. It was love at first sight according to Amy, Bird's foster mom Brooke and even Bird confirmed it!!

Lil Charlie, one of our most trying cases, was ADOPTED by a great family (and by family I mean a husband, wife, 4 yr old daughter, 2 other cats, a dog and a ferret) and is coming around to all of the love in the house! We thought we might not be able to "turn" him as he had been feral for so long, but I took him into my home and strictly followed the advice of a good friend who often deals with ferals (shout out to Sonia!), and Charlie became a sweet mush of a kitty! It was tough to let him go!!

And we say goodbye to an old friend...

2008-08-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

Goodbye PRINCESS...

Unfortunately we lost one of our precious rescues, Princess, today.

Princess was an amazingly sweet Rottie mix who was rescued from the pound at an elderly age. She remained with her adopters until the moment she passed. I am so grateful for those people who welcome senior pets into their hearts. In this case, Princess's family had less than a year with her and they don't regret a thing as heartbreaking as it was to let her go in the end.

Thank you Fran & Joe for all the love you gave her!! We will all miss her sweet and simple beauty!

We Got Our EIN Tax Id # & an Official MMOB Account!!

2008-07-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Step by step, we grow and become a more official animal rescue entity!

Due to our recent incorporation, this week we received our official EIN tax id #! As a result, we were able to open up a bank account in our name! Now we can accept donations in the form of checks!! All of our previous donations had to go through a paypal account. These funds have now been moved into our MMOB account!

Soon to come: a PO Box...

Beautiful Gemma

2008-07-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

UPDATE on Gemma....she is now named BIRD LOUISE and was ADOPTED by a wonderful woman in the East Village!! She has been showered with blessings and her adopter feels she is the greatest gift of her life!

Well, we pulled our first dog from the ACC this week after recieving our New Hope status!

INTRODUCING GEMMA:

Gemma is a gorgeous lovess of a dog. She is a 3 year old white pit mix, with 2 blue eyes and an angelic personality to match. There is not a soul she doesn’t get along with. Gemma is in a foster home with a Cocker Spaniel mix named Rocco (as you will see in the pics) who is her new best friend. From the moment Gemma met Rocco she was gentle and knew exactly how to play with a creature smaller than her. Some children on the block easily befriended her as well. In the dog run she is a perfect example of the kind of dog who thrives there. And she has the cutest woof when she’s trying to talk to you!

Gemma is gentle and playful, rolls over to give you her belly. She loves toys and never destroys anything when home alone. We would love to adopt her out to a home in which there is another dog, but that is not a must should the right person come along. Although we rescued Gemma from the pound where she may soon have been euthanized, she shows no signs of a shelter dog—she is a resilient one!

If you are interested in meeting this special dog, please email us!!
As with all animals pulled from the ACC, Gemma is up to date on shots, has been spayed and is microchipped. She is a very smart dog who repsonds very well to training and is housetrained.

Please Pardon Our Appearance...

2008-07-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

As you may notice we are trying to redesign the top of our page.
Please pardon our appearance while we work out the kinks!!

NEW HOPE PARTNER!!

2008-07-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday of this week, 7/16/08, Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn, Inc. became an official member of the ACC's New Hope Program.

This means we participate with the ACC, aka the "pound", to pull animals off their euthanasia list and place them into foster or adoptive homes. It is a wonderful program that benefits everyone involved: the ACC is assisted with its overwhelming inflow of animals; as a rescue we benefit from the low costs of their vetting and spay/neuter program; and most of all, the animals we remove are saved from near certain death. Mutts & Mitts is ecstatic to have taken this step in our development!

And the more foster & adoptive homes we have, the more animals we can rescue! Please consider becoming a foster or adoptive parent for our organization.

Finally we are INCORPORATED

2008-07-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

Friends and Colleagues,

As of June 26th, 2008,

Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn, Inc. is officially INCORPORATED with the State of New York!!

Next, we apply for our 501(c)3 with the IRS!

Thank you for all your support!

The Results of Our Outdoor Adoption Event!

2008-05-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Well folks...location is what it's all about and we attempted to try a location which was off the beaten path. And we were not successful at reaching the people!! The space itself was worth the try and we did generate some interest in our organization! Luckily I tried to prepare myself for this possibility and only had one animal, Kisser, out there who needed a foster by the end of the day. The others, Bucket, Reisa, Mittens and BJ, all had a warm place to go back to for the week.

I am looking for a new space, preferably in PARK SLOPE because that is the location that gets the most foot traffic. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!!!

I also want to thank my amazing volunteers who came out and made the day so much easier to swallow for me and the critters!!!

Jennifer Ashley
Kate Barkume
Max Copeland
Amber Galeo
Anand Krishnan

Antoinett Ross
Lyvett Velasquez

I'd also like to thank Stacey from Red Lipstick for offering us her beautiful studio space!

OUR FIRST ADOPTION EVENT this SATURDAY!!!

2008-05-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

Fellow animal lovers & folks interested in fostering and volunteering…

ANNOUNCING . . .

MUTTS & MITTS OF BROOKLYN will be holding its FIRST outdoor adoption & foster event this SATURDAY, MAY 24th from NOON-6P.

LOCATION: 651 Bergen Street, right behind Barrette Bar, on the corner of Vanderbilt. (Brooklyn, Prospect Heights)
DATE & TIME: Saturday, May 24th, Noon to 6P

All of Mutts & Mitts cats & dogs are homeless animals from the Brooklyn community. We will have on display several sweet and adorable cats and dogs who are in dire need of foster and adoption. If you do not know what fostering entails, please see details below.

***
We are also seeking VOLUNTEERS, people to TRANSPORT animals and a few extra SUPPLIES for the event. If you are interested in volunteering or can donate or allow us to borrow for the weekend the following, please be in touch right away!

SUPPLIES we need:
Crates—Small dog crates to use for the cats

Folding Tables
Leashes & Collars
Blankets & Towels
Bowls
Cat Food

Fostering for MMOB: Fostering a rescue animal is both a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the companionship of an animal without making a lifelong commitment and to provide shelter and love for an animal in dire need. It is FREE to foster although since we are a new rescue organization and not yet eligible for state funding, we greatly appreciate if fosters are able to provide food and litter in the case of cats. All medical care is provided for by MMOB!

Adopting from MMOB: Adopting a rescue animal is a rewarding experience for both the animal and the adopter. You will know you have helped save the life of an animal who might have otherwise been euthanized. There is an adoption fee of $100 for a cat & $200 for a dog. These are necessary fees to cover the expenses of each animal’s care while with MMOB. Most animals cost us above and beyond that amount. Each animal has been provided with vet care which includes spay/neutering, current vaccinations and microchipping.

We hope to see you there! And please pass this along to anyone you know who may be interested in fostering or adopting, volunteering, posting it on their blogs/websites/listservs/etc, or simply passing it along themselves!!

Be sure to check out the photos on the blog & our 1-800-save-a-pet page to see who will be at our event, as well as join our myspace page too!!

http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/shelter74775-pets.html

http://www.myspace.com/muttsandmitts

MMOB's Plea for Emergency Funds

2008-05-15T20:23:00.001-07:00

Currently MMOB has a few animals that are in urgent need of care. We would deeply appreciate your donations to provide them with the care they need.

One of these guys is Trinket, also known as Ito. He is 1 of 4 kittens who were found in a friend's backyard. We pulled him into foster immediately because he was having tremors and we felt he would not make it there much longer. This was in April. At that time, the vet diagnosed him with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a disorder that makes him wobble about a bit. To see a cat with CH, please check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJQG6V1MOVY

Trinket has been a healthy little kitten since then. Jumping about and eating like a champ. He loves to sleep in the crook of his foster's neck. Absolutely adorable.

But on May 6th, Trinket's foster mom woke up to find him limp and non-responsive. We rushed him to Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group in Brooklyn. They put him on fluids and prophylactic antibiotics for toxoplasmosis. We picked him up the next day and took him home with no real diagnosis. Trinket came home a little more wobbly and weak, but with spirit intact. He seemed to be doing well on the antibiotics for a couple of days. But then on May 9th he had 2 seizures. We rushed back to the vet where they admitted him again for monitoring. They suspected it was the toxoplasmosis causing the seizures, although his tests came back negative (sometimes one's body may not have antibodies yet even though the body has the infection) so they sent him home again on the same meds. They also cautioned us that there could be a head trauma, or "structural problem", meaning that this may not clear up. When he got home that evening, he had two more seizures. We took him back to the vet and she decided to put him on Phenyl Barbitol, an anti-convulsive med.

Ever since then, he has been stable and returned to his goofy ways. We are very optimistic and return to the vet in a week to see what needs to be done next to ensure his health.

All in all, though Trinket's vet bills rose to $1500. That is how much was made at the fundraiser alone! And that is just one animal of the many we are responsible for...

Please consider making a donation to MMOB at this time--we survive on your help at this time especially since we are in the process of becoming a 501(c)3 and will only have access to public funding once that process is complete.

In Gratitude,
April Biggs,
Executive Director

A Successful Fundraiser

2008-04-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

An enormous THANK YOU to all who attended Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn’s First Fundraiser!

We are extremely grateful to Memories Out of the Box for hosting our event. Please consider being a patron of their services and shoppe: http://www.memoriesoutofthebox.biz/

By the end of the evening, we made $1500. Every penny of the funds raised will go to the care of MMOB’s animals and the operations of the organization!

Our event could not have been successful without the silent auction donations & raffle items of the following persons and businesses:

Elizabeth Lamb, certified Holistic Health Counselor
Ophra Wolf, Thai Massage Therapist & Pilates Instructor, http://www.forceandflow.com/
Angela Velasquez, Artist
Gary Rabinowitz, DDS, http://toothsavvy.com/
Sharon Gleiberman, Pooch Academy, http://www.poochacademy.com/services.html
Teddy, http://www.shopteddy.com/
Flirt, http://www.flirt-brooklyn.com/
Chanterelle, http://www.chanterellenyc.com/
Lumiere
Accessory Resource Gallery
Fermented Grapes, http://www.fermentedgrapes.net/
Firefly, http://www.fireflychildrensboutique.com/
Pawtrait Gallery, Susan Berkowitz
Buttercups Pawtiserrie, http://www.buttercupspaw.com/
The Chocolate Room
Cocoa Bar
Yogasana , http://www.yogasanacenter.com/
Hooti Couture, http://www.hooticouture.com/

& for the donations of wine, cheese and dessert:

Women For Winesense, http://www.womenforwinesense.org/

Fermented Grapes
Eric Pakurar
Formaggio of the Essex Street Market
Cousin Johns, Bakery

& the energy and time of the following:

Antoinett Ross, Jennifer Bell, Jennifer O’Brien, Anand Krishnan, Michelle Waites, April Holder & Flora Fair

Our First Fundraiser this Friday, April 25th

2008-04-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCING!

… the first fundraiser of

MUTTS & MITTS OF BROOKLYN, INC

Our brand-new animal rescue organization would be thrilled to have you join us for wine, cheese and readings by contemporary Brooklyn authors!

DATE: April 25th, 2008
TIME: 7pm
COST: $20 Suggested Donation At The Door
LOCATION: Memories Out Of The Box, 633 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn, Ny 11238
FOR: The Ongoing Operations Of Mutts & Mitts Of Brooklyn, Inc.

Dress Will Be Dressy Casual

A local and unique retail store, Memories out of the Box, has generously offered to host our fundraiser! In addition to the delicacies of wine, cheese and poetry, we are featuring an opportunity to participate in a fabulous silent auction or donate to one of MMOB’s specific animals in need. We are still taking items for our Silent Auction. Please contact April Biggs with items to donate! All proceeds from this event are tax-deductible and will go towards the support of Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn, Inc.

Special Thanks to

Jessica Oldham of Slope Street Cats

Memories Out of the Box, a Brooklyn-based retail store that specializes in moving customers’ photos and memorabilia out of their dusty boxes and back into their lives.

To learn more about our current projects and future plans, please check out our blog at: http://www.muttsandmitts.blogspot.com/.

For more information, please contact:
April Biggs, Executive Director, Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn
347-405-8659 / muttsandmitts@optonline.net

The State sucks!!

2008-04-22T02:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, folks so just thought i would share a frustration along the way.
When I was a kid all of handles for the toilets were made by someone named "Briggs". And when I was a kid if someone had to mispronounce my name, they added that damn "R" to it. Well, the state govt is no exception!

I sent off my name reservation and Certificate of Incorporation ap a couple of weeks ago. Friday, I received my receipt and my response regarding my COI. My name was spelled wrong on my name reservation: Mutts Mitts of Brooklyn was reserved under April Briggs. So, my COI stated that someone else had reserved that name!! Aaah!

I called the Division of Corporations and it is easy enough to resolve through the mail but it means that this Friday I will not yet be able to announce that we are incorporated with the state! Erg!

Venting done...

Updates, Updates

2008-04-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

Since last I wrote to update the blog, much has happened.

First, I sent off my Certificate of incorporation to the state. Once I receive the receipt, I can open a bank account specifically for MMOB! I will also then be able to apply for my tax exempt ID and become a 501(c)3 through the IRS.

MMOB's Board of Directors has been created and I'd like to acknowledge the members in advance for their generous efforts towards this endeavor:

Jennifer Bell
Anand Krishnan
Jennifer O'Brien
Jessica Oldham
Michelle Waites
Sonia Zjawinski

I have been busy creating the forms for fosters and adoptions, making sure they are a thorough and effective screening tool. I have already been fielding several calls and situations which require fosters and adopters, especially in partnership with Slope Street Cats, a local TNR resource for the community. MMOB is set up on 1-800-Save-A-Pet to list our adoptable animals. In progress are my applications with the NYC Mayor's Alliance, PetFinder, the ACC's New Hope Program, 1-800-Petmeds, among other similar organizations.

Our first fundraiser has been scheduled for April 25th, 2008! Invitation to be posted soon!

Thank you to all for keeping us on your radar!!

Introducing Kisser: MMOB's first foster kitty!!

2008-04-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I drove to the Brooklyn Animal Care & Control to pick up Kisser, a small framed black kitty. She is a year old and very friendly.

When I put her in the car, she was crying in the cardboard box carrier they provide. So, I pulled her out and sat her in my lap. Driving with a cat in your lap is a feat but it seems to relax some of the frightened critters. I took her staraight to one of our first foster moms, Regan, who immediately took to her. The next day I came by and discovered Kisser was hiding under the bed. So, we brought her out into the living area and closed the bedroom and bathroom doors so she could not hide. Sometimes this is necessary with the skiddish cats so they can acclimate more easily. Feral cats are "turned" usually by keeping them in a bathroom until they are ready for more human contact but Kisser was is not feral.

Since then she has grown very comfy of her little basket-bed and goes there to cue Regan when she wants some loving!

OUR MISSION

2008-03-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn, Inc.'s Mission:

To rescue, rehabilitate and find foster and permanent loving homes for stray and unwanted cats and dogs in NYC’s five boroughs. We also participate in NYC’s Animal Care & Control New Hope program, through which we rescue several animals each month off of the euthanasia list.

A Newborn Kitten Dilemma

2008-03-21T23:27:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

To catch everyone up, a few months ago a good friend and animal ally, Sonia Zjawinski, brought me into the fold of an awesome TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) group, Slope Street Cats (SSC), who needed a sister organization to help out with their adoptions. I was planning to open a rescue and this was a perfectly timed opportunity to receive guidance and support and provide something in exchange.

Since then, I have put together the paperwork for incorporating with the state, and chosen and reserved the name, Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn, Inc.

This week I received a call from a woman named Donna who had found a momma cat and 5 newborn kittens (less than a day old) in her backyard. 2 of the litter were already deceased and the momma cat had taken one of the surviving kittens to a new location when she caught sight of Donna's German Shep! Donna was afraid that the remaining 2 kittens might be in danger of freezing to death out in the cold, so she brought them inside and put them on a warm blanket. I am not yet a kitten expert so I thought we had made the right choice. I then consulted with several volunteers from SSC and they informed me that the kittens had very little chance of thriving without their momma's milk and needed to be put back out to see if the momma cat would come back for them. So Donna did this and we waited. Meanwhile, I was put in contact with cat rescuer named Rosey who was fostering another momma cat and litter of kittens. As a last resort, Rosey offered to try to integrate these two orphan kittens into the little family she was fostering. Once a few hours had passed and the temp dropped we decided to try Rosey's idea. Luckily the momma cat at Rosey's accepted the new kittens. The newborn kittens are fighting to feed against 4 other 2 week old kittens but they are holding their own,biting and kicking when necessary!

There are small miracles.

And the winner is ...

2008-03-11T00:03:00.000-07:00

Mutts & Mitts of Brooklyn

Thank you to all who voted, whether or on the blog or by sending me an email...

I'll be in touch as things progress.

Today I reserved the name above with the state of NY.

Later this week I will send off my Certificate of Incorporation.

Woof the Vote!!!

2008-03-06T16:31:00.001-08:00

Ok, folks...I am creating a FINAL poll for you to log your vote. This will be your last chance to cuff me to a sappy name for my rescue!
It should be relatively easy since I have opened it up to non-blog users. The poll closes Saturday at midnight, 3/8/08.

Here are the ideas and their proposed sticking points (listed alphabetically, except for the last one added late):

1. April & the Puppycats -
origins: this name was suggested by my friend Tom, who likes to imagine me as a cartoon rock chick, ie Josie and the Pussycats;
pros: good to have April as first word because it will be seen quickly on listing sites; fun & unique name
cons: not sure I want to use my first name

2. Brooklyn's Orphaned Companion Animals (BOCA) -
origins: rip on Sonia's original suggestion (Little Orphaned Animals)
pros: good to have Brooklyn as first word because it will be seen quickly on listing sites
cons; might be too boring and people might think it's in Boca Raton

3 Brooklyn’s Rescued Puppycats -
origins: Tom
pros/cons: similar to above options

4. Mutts and Mitts of Brooklyn (MMOB) -
origins: Me
pros: has a great anacronym; clearly references animals
cons: might not be unique enough, found only these refs below when i googled it:

Mittens and Mutts Rescue in Alabama: http://www.mittensandmutts.com/
Mutts & Mittens / pet product: http://www.muttsandmittens.com/
Mutts and Mittens / shelter in Singapore: http://www.petsfanatics.com/forum/t1200-volunteers-needed-for-mutts-and-mittens-a-animal-shelter.html

5. Smitten Orphaned Animal Rescue (SOAR) of Brooklyn -
origins: rip on Sonia
pros: has a great anacronym; references command-Stay; references rescue
cons: too long?; too cutsey?; "S" far down in listings

6. Assisi Animal Rescue of Brooklyn -
origins: chatting with Anand about the rescue titled "Friends of Bukowski", and we thought of St. Francis of Assisi
pros: "A" will put high in listings, references a Saint-can't go too wrong with that
cons: some people might be like, "Who/Where's Assisi", Answer: italy

Happy Voting,
April

What's in a Name?

2008-02-27T13:40:00.000-08:00

Hello all....

So I tried posting a poll but realized it just was too soon for that. So if you might, I'd love for you to come back in a few days to visit again and vote in the New Name Poll I will have compiled by then.

For now, PLEASE throw in your name by posting a comment.

Things to consider:
-the name needs to evoke both dogs and cats
-the name should reference Brooklyn, as in "of Brooklyn", etc

Our current suggestions to riff off of are:

Mutts and Mitts of Brooklyn (aka MMOB)
Little Orphaned Animals (credit goes to Sonia)
Rescued Mutts Biggs and Small (credit goes to Sonia)
Furry Oasis (credit goes to Pops Biggs)
April & the Puppycats (credit goes to Tommy)

Happy Commenting!!!
April

What We Will Be Doing:

2008-02-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

So, if you don't already know, here's what we intend:

-To develop a solid foster network for cats and dogs primarily in Brooklyn but possibly extending to other NYC boroughs

-To adopt out the animals in foster care through weekly outdoor adoption events, online listing sites and other viable methods

-To provide for the veterinarian bills for stray cats and dogs from the community, including spaying / neutering, vaccinations, licensing and micro-chipping for cats and dogs

-To provide food and supplies to all foster program participants

-To participate with the local ACC in moving animals out of the shelters and into foster or adoptive homes

-To educate the community at large about the importance of spaying & neutering cats and dogs

-To develop a volunteer base to assist certain aspects of the rescue group, including student volunteers who may receive credit for their participation