COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL AUGUST 9, 2017
Max gives the terms "Take-out Dinner," "Fast Food," and "Din-
ner on the Run" new meanings! Max, a six-year-old neutered male,
is smarter than most cats and as you can see by the photo of him
nesting in a bird feeder, he hopes to also outsmart birds!
Max is lucky to be alive because he was found abandoned on a
country road as a kitten.
After work Kay was focused on driving home along the long,
winding country road. She was anxious to get started on her ranch
chores with their 100 beef cows and calves. Out of the corner of
her eye, she spotted something beside the tall, wild grass on the
highway's shoulder.
"I stopped, backed up, and there was a kitten!" explains a shocked
Kay. "I mean in the middle of nowhere! There were no houses for
several miles. I was instantly angry. Someone had cruelly dropped
him off to starve. This nightmare often happens out here. People
drop off cats in farming areas assuming a farm can support them.
We can't!
Times have changed; many of the farms in our area are owned by
residents who are retired, unemployed, or on assistance. They are
struggling to pay their taxes. Many no longer have animals or can
just barely support their remaining animals. There is no way they
can be fi nancially responsible or burdened with another pet. Barn
cats are often left fending for themselves. And here was another
one needing a human's help."
Kay climbed out of her truck, walked toward the kitten, and a
whole new version of the game of hide-and-seek began. "He ran
and hid, crouching down in the tall grass.
Luckily for the kitten, I was faster and more determined than
he was. Imagine someone leaving this helpless baby to starve! I
caught him, and then saw three more kittens. Try as I might, I could
not catch them. I even went back the next day, but I could not fi nd
them. The kittens were probably some other animal's late-night
snack. Thinking of them still haunts me today.
When I climbed back into the car, I lay the kitten on my chest
up by my neck. He cuddled and I talked to him on the drive home.
Maybe this has something to do with his habit of still thinking he
should fi t up there today.
When I fi rst arrived home with him as a kitten, we were already
7A
'maxed out' on pets, so we named him Max. He is a full-grown cat
now but when I am in my favorite chair, he still loves curling up and
sleeping on my shoulder and he is now far too big! He also loves
sleeping on the computer's mouse pad. Somehow that seems fi tting.
My husband admits that Max is on the spoiled side. But so are
we. When we ask for a kiss, Max gives us his Eskimo-kitty version
and rubs his cold, wet nose on the tip of our nose.
After we've been away from the ranch all afternoon, Max comes
running over to us just like a dog, and he acts like he really missed
us. We have seven other cats, and none of them has ever done this.
Because they are cats, we don't expect they ever will either," laughs
Kay.
Last winter, a beautiful orange tom cat mysteriously arrived at
Kay and Andy's ranch. Another case of dumping. None of their
neighbors has cats. This makes one wonder about the intelligence
of humans. How much education will it take for us to learn that
neutering or spaying are so necessary and that dumping is so inhu-
mane?
TIPS
When no longer able to care for a pet relinquish it to an animal
shelter.
During hot spells place water bowls outside for wild and lost pets.
Hot pavement burns dogs' paws. Place your hand palm up on the
sidewalk or road. If it is too hot to leave your hand down, then it
will also burn a pet's paws.
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Volunteers needed
WOE’s Heritage Fair needs volunteers to help
with the organization’s 85th lumberjack show on
August 18 through August 20. To volunteer, con-
tact Ken at (541) 658-9230.
Concerts in the Park
Concerts in the Park will resume after last
week’s cancellation due to heat warnings. The
Huckleberrys will perform Wednesday from 6:30
p.m. to 8 p.m. in Bohemia park. Free of charge.
Jaw Harp Festival
North American Jaw Harpists Meet and Greet
will take place on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Axe
and Fiddle. No charge. The following night, the
jaw harp festival will take place at the armory
from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Afternoon workshops
available. Performances begin 5 p.m. Friday and
6 p.m. on Saturday.
The Good Doctor
Cottage Theatre’s latest play, The Good Doctor
will continue showing Friday and Saturday at 8
p.m. and Sunday at 2:30. The play is a series of
sketches narrated by “The Writer.” Tickets avail-
able at Cottage Theatre and online at cottagethe-
atre.org. $25 for adults and $15 for children ages
six through 18.
Emergency Fair
An emergency preparedness fair will be held
at Cottage Theatre on Saturday, August 12 from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Features prizes, emergency ve-
hicle display, LifeFlight helicopter, information-
al booths, exhibits and more. Food by Big Stuff
BBQ.
Yoga event
The Hanuman Project and Friends Kirtan music
event is Thursday August 17 from 7:30-9:30
P.M. at Crescent Moon Yoga in Cottage Grove
Cottage Theatre presents
2017
August 11—27
819 E. Main St.
Upcoming events at Delight
Anime Club - Saturdays, Aug 5 & 19; 4:30 p.m.
Artwalk - Friday, Aug 25 from 6-8 p.m.
Board Games Tuesdays 6-8 pm
Dungeons & Dragons Saturdays 12 to 4:30 p.m.
Pokemon Tuesdays 3-5 p.m.
Role Playing Games Thursdays 3:30-8 p.m.
Yu-Gi-Oh Wednesdays 3-5 p.m.
Museum
Current Cottage Grove Museum exhibit: Chris-
tening gowns from the late 19th and early 20th
centuries through Labor Day with the Buster Kea-
ton, The General move exhibit continuing.
BMD BBQ
Bohemia Mining Days sponsors and volunteers
are invited to a thank you BBQ on Friday at 6
p.m. in Coiner Park. Please RSVP by Wednes-
day, August 9 by contacting Cindy Weeldreyer at
(541) 942-4493.
Humane Society sale
The Cottage Grove Humane Society will be
hosting a Name Your Price sale on Friday from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Hall at
826 W. Main St. Clearance, all reasonable offers
accepted. Proceeds to go to animals in the Cottage
Grove community.
South Valley Farmer's Market
The South Valley Farmer's Market will be open
at the corner of Main St. and 7th St. from 4 p.m.
to 7 p.m. on Thursday. Eat fresh, buy local, fresh,
organic produce, starts, eggs, meat, baked goods
and homemade crafts.
City Council
The city council will meet at city hall on Mon-
day, August 14 at 7 p.m. after taking a break
during the Eugene Symphony performance in
July. The agenda will be available on the city's
website.
You Can Help
Cottage
Grove
Kids!
Comical Russian tales infused with American wit
Volunteer as a
Court Appointed
Special Advocate
By Neil Simon and Anton Chekhov
Directed by Kory Weimer
Sponsored by:
A rewarding, professional volunteer opportunity
in 10-15 hours a month helping Cottage Grove
foster children to stay safe and healthy.
Cottage Grove training begins this fall,
with applications due by August 11th.
Tickets available online, by phone, or at the door one hour before performance
Visit www.casa-lane.org.
Thursday−Saturday 8:00 pm; Sunday 2:30 pm. $25 Adult, $15 Youth (age 6−18)
A powerful voice
for abused kids
541-942-8001 • 700 Village Drive • Cottage Grove
www.cottagetheatre.org