The felines in our house

I have been trying to find a new home for my two cats for a couple of months. I hate to do it, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to care for them and give them the attention they deserve. When we still had puppies, Eliot spent most of the daylight hours sleeping. She loves to look out the window, but didn’t even do that. Harley started playing with the puppies when the number decreased to two. They are both urinating on the newspaper I was putting down for the puppies. I have to keep putting down the newspaper because of the cats. They still use the litterbox, but this new habit is making me nuts. Harley jumps up on me at the most inconvenient times and often scratches me. It’s a problem because I am allergic to their saliva and I have to take benedryl once or twice a day. Eliot is very demanding when she wants attention. She will get on my desk and push her head under my hand while I am trying to use the mouse. I just think the situation is not fair to them and would like to find someone who has more time for them.

In spite of my trying to get a new home for my cats, we have a “new“ cat in the house. My daughter-in-law’s parents have sold their home and don’t want to keep their cat in the camper they are using for living quarters until they build a new house. His name is “Not What”. It is very unusual and comes from a comment made by my DIL’s stepdad when she and her mother brought the cat home. He looked at the cat and said “that is not what I sent you to Walmart to buy”. The funny thing is that he is very attached to What. He is living upstairs with my son and DIL. They made room for him in my son’s office/studio. I went in to look for him last night and had to follow the rustling noises. He was on top of a bookcase. Fortunately What already knows me, so we had a very nice greeting. My Yorkie views the cat as something to bark at and looks for it every time she is upstairs. What is suppose to be with us until my DIL's parents have built their house. Of course my DIL is hoping they will decide to leave What here with us.

Beware of Internet scams

Last year I was taken by a person who advertised Yorkie puppies on the Internet. I learned the hard way how to spot the phony ads. What follows is my correspondence involving one of these ads. They do need to be read in reverse order.

Notice that when I started to shy away from the transaction, "the Pastor" offered to share the shipping cost with me. That way he would have gotten at least half of the money he was after. If I hear from him again, it will be to wail about how I have wronged him.

Please be wary of ads on the Internet. I use it to advertise my pups, but I insist that people visit my home to see the puppies, I will not ask for funds to be wired and I will not ship puppies.

*************************
From: Marta Rawlings [mrawlin3@comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 10:39 PM
To: 'Pastor Jacob Seraile'
Subject: RE: Yorkie puppy

Dear Pastor,

I lie just as well as you do. My daughter-in-law received the same email from Dr. Martin when she inquired about an English Bulldog. I only hope that I can unmask scammers like you and educate people so that they are not taken in by the lies. I am doing everything I can to warn people about wiring funds especially out of the country. However, you may not even be in Africa. Of course you refused the money order; that would have been mail fraud.

I was taken by someone like you just once. He also claimed to be a man of the cloth.

Marta

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From: Pastor Jacob Seraile [mailto:pastorjseraile@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:24 PM
To: Marta Rawlings
Subject: RE: Yorkie puppy

I am still awaiting your response marta.

Marta Rawlings wrote:

Dear Pastor,

Thank you for trusting me. I need to discuss this with my husband. I will email you with our decision in the next 24 hours.

Marta

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From: Pastor Jacob Seraile [mailto:pastorjseraile@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 5:45 PM
To: Marta Rawlings
Subject: RE: Yorkie puppy

Marta,

I am God fearing and cant take people money for pleasure, I am looking for the best for my baby and no more, I would have love to do other form of payment with you in order to feel secure but here in west Africa,paypal,money order or other forms are not yet set up here.

I think the only thing I can do now to let you know that am God sent to you is by sharing the trust between ourselves,I mean I can only give you the chance of paying half of the money now while I will also add half to it to complete the shipment and you will balance me with the rest money when you recieve the baby.

I hope that works,let me know so that we can proceed.

Thanks and God Bless You

Marta Rawlings wrote:

Dear Pastor Seraile,

I am just a little concerned. I have been hearing on the news that people are being taken advantage of when they wire money by Western Union. Would a US Postal Money order or PayPal work? It would make me more comfortable.

Marta

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From: Pastor Jacob Seraile [mailto:pastorjseraile@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 5:27 PM
To: Marta Rawlings
Subject: RE: Yorkie puppy

Marta,

I am very excited that you have a playmate for my baby,I want you to know that the baby will be coming with all paper works and particularly custom clearance to allow her to re enter the state back with out going into quarantine, She will be fine on the trip in God's name that I believe,I have prayed over that several times and God has finally answered my prayer.

She will be coming by airline which is the best way of getting her back to the state,Rearding the payment, You will be sending the payment by western union.

Let me read from you on your full mailing address and the nearest Airport to your home for the delivery.

Thanks and God Bless You.

Marta Rawlings wrote:

Thank you for responding so quickly. I have a female Yorkie, Raina, who is 1 ½ years old. I want to get a playmate for her. Raina is an inside dog, but does have a fenced yard to play in. I live in the Atlanta suburbs on 3 acres of land.

How would shipping be handled? I would be worried about shipping a puppy. Are you sure it is safe? Are there any quarantine requirements for the dogs to re-enter the US? How do I send payment to you?

I am very excited. I would love to be able to give your puppies a home and let Raina have playmates.

Marta

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From: Pastor Jacob Seraile [mailto:pastorjseraile@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 5:07 PM
To: Marta Rawlings
Subject: Re: Yorkie puppy

Hello Marta,

First of all, I must thank my living Lord that I found an intending parent for my babies, I also give thanks to the breeder that directed you
to me.

I`m giving them out for adoption. They are 3months currently and Akc registered all their shots are up to date.They are $400 each shipping included the two are $800.I got relocated to west africa recently and could not take care of the babies anymore. I want a great home for them because they are my real babies.
The weather here is not conducive for them that is why I want to get them out as soon as possible and I will be very happy if you will be one to take them as your babies.I have a male and his name is Harry while the female name is Kelly they are both very good with kids and love to play alot this is one of their many charact

I never wanted to sell them but the weather here in West Africa is not helping matter at all. If you are interested kindly get back to me with your full maling address.such as your full name.address and phone number asap so that the babies can be on their way to their new home as soon as their shipping arrangement is concluded! Kelly have good attitude and she love playing with toy while Harry always jealous. They love eating biscuit, Beaf and Milk. Always listen to my attention. They do attend pet school. They listen to this languaage. Come,Go, Eat ETC .... I would be happy if you can help me to continue their schooling if they get to your lovely home.I have already make some gifts for the new parent of my babies.I will be making use of the agent that shipped them into west africa.

Get back to asap to tell more of your apartment where you going to keep my babies indoor or outdoor? I will always remember you in my daily prayers.

God Bless You

Marta Rawlings wrote:

Pastor,

I received your name from a Dr. James Martin. I am very interested in obtaining a female Yorkie puppy. Please let me know if you have one available.

Marta

From: martins [drjamesmartins2@myway.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 2:51 PM
To: mrawlin3@comcast.net
Subject: RE: Lead From Your Listing (AKC YORKIE PUPPY)
Hello,
You are a bit late, I just sold the babies you saw on the ads. But you can contact one of my buyers that bought puppies from me. he is Pastor Jacob Seraile, he just contacted me that he is now in West Africa posted by his church and he went there with the two puppies he recently bought from me. According to him, his commitment with the God's work did not give him the needed time he needs to be with the puppies, and he needs a caring parent who can adopt the babies back to the state asap.

Below is his email address, contact him and request
for the puppies he needs a parent for. he will be
very happy if he knows you are from me.

Write Pastor Jacob Seraile on: pastorjseraile@yahoo.com

Get back to me when you adopt the babies

Little Man has a home!

The last puppy left last night. I had to let him go, I was getting too attached. I felt really silly sitting at the computer crying. I even had this irrational urge to call the man who bought Little Man and tell him to bring my puppy back. I need to enjoy the quiet while there aren’t any puppies in residence. The Cavies should be mating soon, so there will be puppies again. It will probably be spring before Raina is ready to breed again. Hamburger should be coming into season too. We plan on breeding her with a Shih Tzu. It should be an interesting mix.

Another puppy goes home

One of our male Yorkies got a home today. The very nice woman who fell in love with him is lucky enough to have a boss who will let her leave during the day to get a puppy.


The only one left is the little male. He is tiny, but he is bossy! A little dog with a giant voice, he will sit right in front of me and bark until I pay attention to him. This one needs someone who will either let him walk all over them or they will straighten him out on who is really the boss. I’m hoping he will sleep by himself tonight. If he cries, I’m throwing Raina into the pen with him. I will only let him push me just so far!


I just wish it would have been apparent that he was going to be teacup size from the beginning. We have had a lot of people call wanting teacups and we told them we didn’t have any. Hopefully we will get more inquiries from people wanting teacups.


I keep waiting for Mim to come into heat. Merlin is ready for it at a moments notice. I can’t wait for the next bunch of puppies. I’ve had fun raising these babies. I got really good at making “puppy soup”. I get to have the fun of having puppies, but then they move on to their permanent homes. I’ve met some very nice people and that has been part of the fun.

Scam Alert-please don't get taken

The old saying goes “a fool and his money are soon parted”. I got scammed last year trying to buy a Yorkshire Terrier puppy on the Internet. I learned the hard way never to wire money. There is no recourse to you as the victim as there would be if it were a credit card transaction. That is why I will not ask for money to be wired to me and I will not ship my puppies.

Tonight I received a call through the Relay system. It is used by hearing-impaired people to communicate by telephone. An operator speaks for them and types responses back. From that call I received an email address of a person supposedly interested in one of my puppies. When I got the return email the person is out-of-state and they will send me a money order or certified check. The payment would be in excess of the amount needed to pay for the puppy and shipping. The remaining amount I was to return to the purchaser by Western Union. Chances are the money order or check would be a phony. In the end, I would have been on the hook for the funds.

These people pull stuff like this just because they can. We just have to be smarter and question what seems too good to be true. Don’t wire money to anyone except family and never cash a money order or check for a stranger. There is another old saying: “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me”. I just hope that I have made at least one person more wary.

One of our puppies gets a home

Last night our beautiful Cocker Spaniel puppy got her own family. I cried a little when they left. The couple who bought her have a Yorkie already. When they saw that our Cocker Spaniel was raised by a Yorkie, they thought she was perfect for them. This is why we got into breeding. I am proud that we could offer someone a healthy, well-socialized puppy.


Missing the Cocker, I put all three Yorkie puppies up on my bed to play. Wouldn’t you know it, the minute I let my guard down one of them wet on the comforter. I should have remembered how many times I washed my bedding when Raina and Penny were puppies. No more puppies on the bed!


They look so adorable and innocent right now napping together on a blanket on the floor. When they get going and playing like wild dogs, it sounds like something from the movie “Gremlins”. They love Harley the cat. They think she should play with them like a dog and she wants them to play like cats. Eliot just hides from them or hisses if they manage to corner her. It’s a good thing Eliot has learned to jump so far. She can make it from her bed to the food and the litter box without setting a foot on the floor. She is slinking by me right now to get to the window while the puppies are napping. If they wake up before she decides to leave the window, she will just have to stay there for a while.


It looks like Mim, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is coming into heat. We won’t have to worry about breeding her. Merlin is with her constantly. I have already volunteered to take Mim in my room when she is due. I loved the birth of the puppies and caring for them and their mother. Raina will be upset with me since she will have to move upstairs while Mim and the puppies are with me.


Once Mim is in heat, Hamburger and Kitty Cat will probably come into heat too. Kitty is too young to breed now. We are considering a Boston Terrier-Shih Tzu mix with Hamburger. We are all still smarting from the problems that Penny had. We don’t want the same thing to happen with Hamburger. I think I would call that mix a “Bo-Tzu”. We will have to see what other names we can come up with.