Helping Paws Part 2 - The Caring Cat Lady

Jakey here today with Part Two in our Helping Paws segment of our No Tricks, Just Treats for Shelters event. Today we have the story of a Caring Cat Lady, Miss Marg, from Marg's Animals.

Many of you may have heard that Miss Marg has been ill. She could really use Blogville's help to make sure her "furkids" are fed and taken care of. Please visit Marg HERE to leave your get well wishes and consider visiting her Paypal by pressing HERE to give what you can. Remember, every little bit helps.  

 

With the help of Miss Ann from Zoolatry, we were able to find out just how Miss Marg got started. Through Miss Ann, Marg's good friend Dee forwarded us this beautiful story of Marg and her Animals:

 
Not the Crazy Cat lady.....the Caring Cat Lady!
Margie has spent her whole life in-love with animals.

She graduated college with a degree in horse husbandry, and soon after started working in the industry. She moved around a bit in the early years, learning the tools of her trade; and then settled down and built a barn of her own on a large plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. She began boarding horses, breeding ponies, and teaching youngsters to ride, instilling in them her love of animals.
(She is still in contact with some of her students, 30+ years later. Some even make the 4 hour drive from Charleston to her current place to visit 2 or 3 times a year.)

Up until the past few years, there have always been dogs in Margie's life. She loved the herding dog breeds, and trained them to assist her with the horses. The good thing about working on a large plantation is that there was always plenty of places for dogs to work and play.

When you work in a barn, cats will always be around. She took care of them all, no matter how scruffy or feral. TNR(Trap, Neuter, Release), feeding and vetting, she took care of each one as they wandered in from points unknown. And, of course, once they found this oasis in the cruel world, they never left.

Margie moved to her current location a couple of decades ago, bringing her horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats with her. All those she brought with her have since gone to the Bridge(Ande was the last dog and Missy, the last kitty). Yet the cats in the area still find protection, food and comfort on her property. They wander in, she vets them and gives them names, feeds and watches over them. There is also a feral colony a mile or so down the road overseen by a neighbor that didn't know much about cats, but loved them all the same. He called on her to help him take care of the colony and she has had as many of those cats fixed and vetted as is possible (It's hard to trap cats when you are 80 years old!)

At current count, Margie has 30 cats - 1 from another shelter, 11 came from the feral colony down the street and the rest just wandered in one day, some with their moms. The cats all have their places - 15 live in the house, the rest live on the property. Everyone gets three square meals a day. As tribute to their safety, she has never lost a cat due to anything but old-age or severe illness.



She knows each and every feline intimately. She knows their  mannerisms and likes/dislikes. She knows when someone if off, and takes swift action to get them to the vet. They are her children and she loves them very much. They are very lucky beings to have found such a nurturing home!

The Cats 

House Kitties

Momma Kitty - feral                    Little Bit - shelter

Missy - abandoned                       Maggie - abandoned 

Mahoney - Maggie's daughter     Two Two - feral

Boo - feral colony                        Loo - feral colony

JJ - feral colony                           Salt - feral colony

Pepper - feral colony                   Sissy - feral colony

Suzie - feral colony                     Charlie - feral colony

Rose - feral colony

Outside Kitties

Boyzo - Momma Kitty's kit          Khaki - Momma Kitty's kit

Ohs - Momma Kitty's kit              Tees - Momma Kitty's kit

Black - feral                                  MewMew - Feral

Spot - feral                                    Little Mom - abandoned

Bubba - Little Mom's kit              LGs - Little Mom's kit

Tippy Tail - Little Mom's kit       Whitie - feral 

Pumpkin - feral colony                 Precious - feral colony

Murphy - technically the neighbors, but always at Margies

 We are so very thankful for Marg and her life's work, and to Dee for putting together such a loving tale of Marg's journey,  Again, if you were touched by Marg's story, please consider a donation to help her feed and vet her kitties.  Click HERE to go to her PayPal or HERE to visit Marg's Animal's Blog.

 

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