Strange, October is always our hottest month and adds to the challenge of a full day's work. Bringing in the animals and the volunteers in three shifts makes it easier for bearing a shorter stint of heat. Yesterday, we were all like sails on a still sea, sensitive to catch every breeze.
The day began with 8 cats. Margit and Cathi came to learn about cat recovery from Minerva. She had everyone in masks carefully cleaning kitty-cat ears. One of the "cats" was a tejon, a badger. He arrived in a kennel with three cats and they were clearly family. For the record, BMA does not endorse having a wild animal for a pet and will no longer be offering services outside of dogs and cats, but we all enjoyed our exotic patient and marveled at how cats and badgers get along so naturally.
Large dogs began arriving at 10 am along with Sandra, Bill and Justine for dog recovery. This is our new protocol and even though we designed it to minimize contact due to COVID 19 it is proving to be a better system. But, there are always things we do not plan - like a female dog showing up in heat in the midst a street-gang of males - how can we say no? That's why we are here! We took in females that were in heat twice during the day, adding them to an already bulging roster.
By 1 o'clock, our surgical team had performed 18 surgeries! Christina arrived with a hot lunch and cold, crispy salad - the whole enchilada, literally! Hard work and good food - there's nothing better!
Back to work, 10 more surgeries and another group of helpers: Leslie and Hiromi and Justine stayed on. Bill came several times during the day just when we needed help. He was our transport and ambulance service - don't send a big, drunk dog home in a wheelbarrow on a cobbled road!
8 cats, 20 dogs later, as the dusk turned to darkness we closed the gate and turned toward our homes in a camaraderie of weariness and contentment. Our reward: a shower, a meal, a pillow, a full heart...
Thank you, beautiful friends - it's an honor to work together!
