NoTail Missing black cat without a tail, lost pet, lost cat    07/01/04 Thursday Finalized almost 4000 postcards with picture and info to print and mail by tomorrow. So tired, no search today. 07/02/04 Friday KFWB news station turned me down for an announcement or advertisement. It would be too costly and they would feel bad about taking my money was their excuse. Website updates. Late at night out driving around looking for NoTail. C gone for the long weekend. Looked for Covina City Hall Engineering Department to get a storm drain map next week 07/03/04 Saturday San Gabriel Valley Humane Society called me (I was surprised), if I am still looking and whether they should keep the flyer up. Of course! Glendora Animal Control, left new flyer, they insured me that they are very diligent in trying to match lost pets. My vet, left new flyer. ACSBP, Maricella had forgotten to check the record of the euthanized animals from last week, when we didn’t check the animals in the cages. She checked right away and found no match. I brought some treats for the staff, another bribe. Today I had to check all cats, so many kittens, mom and her babies, just days old, so many ferals, even friendly ones too, a Chihuahua with 3 tiny, tiny puppies, no NoTail. Walked out crying for them. Pomona Valley Humane Society, checked all their cats, again, mom with their tiny babies. Ferals all destined to die! Back to Covina, drove around for 2 hours, spread chicken liver in a quiet area and waited one more hour. Bought another box of 1200 staples for the staple gun. We already used up one. 07/04/04 Sunday Drove around the area for two hours at dusk. Will the fireworks scare him out? Someone called at 8 pm while I checked the school for the hundreds time, he received the postcard and wanted to know whether this is an advertisement for petfinders.com or a legitimate search for a lot pet? I said absolutely! He asked if this is really my cat and I said yes. He told me he lived in the area and that there are many pet lovers living there. He will put the word out. Talked to my dear friend and neighbor about the storm drains. She told me that the lower elevation drains have a backflow prevention valve made of steel, that opens only outwards. He would not be able to get through and would have to go back through the pipe. I fear so much that he went into the drain in a move to hide instantly. He can go in there but he can not get out! 07/05/04 Monday Three hours in the morning storm drain search. Followed the inaccessible channels from bridge to bridge for several miles southwest and one mile northeast of the apartments. Trying to get a feel for the layout. Have to go to City Hall and look at a storm drain map. They will laugh at me! Called his name into the big dark and scary tunnels. Kept calling into the huge tunnel at the west end of Wingate Park beneath Grand Avenue. My voice echoed in the tunnel until all of a sudden I heard this awful inhuman screech. It almost sounded like metal on metal, but not quite like it and it stopped after a few seconds. I got really scared and ran up the embankment towards the parking lot. Should I tell the City? Left a flyer on every storm drain gate for the maintenance crew to see. Replaced some other flyers. Got oil change on San Bernardino Avenue just west of Grand Avenue and the tunnel and asked them for NoTail and left a flyer. Finally finished updating this document. Donated $50 to Best Friends No Kill Shelter in Utah in NoTail’s name and asked them for advice. At night saw a shooting star in the northwestern sky - a free wish? 07/06/04 Tuesday At 5 pm, after receiving the postcard, a caller reported a black cat near his garage that he had been feeding since a year. It was an intact, black male and without a tail north of Glendora Avenue and Covina Boulevard. May have to take a look at that cat. Called Leo, the engineer at Covina City Hall. He didn’t laugh when I finally told him that I am looking for my lost cat. He just wanted to know why I am asking for the storm drain layout. In the evening I went there in person and we looked at the map. The storm drain south of the apartment is not connected to the one in Kahler Russell Park except where they come together in a large channel west on Badillo. It would be possible to go into the storm drain and walk first west and then northeast to the park… and the entire walk would be safe. Leo was not concerned at all with the terrible screech I heard yesterday. Left a flyer at the Police Department board in the lobby. And the nice lady at the Diner west of the Unocal even put the flyer up in the door herself. Went there after a caller reported, she saw a black cat by the train tracks behind the diner a week ago. She couldn’t see if it had a tail. The diner is across the street from the west park entrance. Another lady from Glendora and Cypress Avenues called midday, she saw a new black cat on her yard shed. But while on the phone, she approached the cat and it had a tail! A couple from Edgecomb called just to tell me that they received my postcard and they will be on the lookout. C received a call from someone that drives to Pasadena 13 miles away and she saw a scrawny black cat without a tail at California and Magnolia Avenues just north of South Pasadena. That just cant be that he would be able to go there, although he would be scrawny by now. But, no, it cant be, it is too far…. Do I have to go to the Pasadena Shelter??? (I hate going there. Years ago I picked up 6 beautiful gray and tabby kittens from a girl in Long Beach and took them to that shelter. A day later I called to find out what would happen to them and they said that they will most likely be put to sleep. I rushed back there instantly to pick them all up. I did find homes for all of them.... Before that I brought in an opposum with a broken jaw from a street in Long Beach, thinking they could help it. But they put it to sleep.) I then received the last call for the day from someone reporting an animal in one of those blue mail boxes at the corner of Edna and Grandview. That was yesterday morning and the Sheriff and ACSBP was there trying to get it out. I will try to find out what happened. Covina Police Department didn't know anything about it. But they allowed me to post a flyer in their lobby. I appreciated that. Later that night C and I went back to the storm drains and tunnels in Kahler Russell Park. Called his name, but there was nothing, no scary sound this time either. I received two very nice emails through this website from concerned people wishing me luck. And a very heartfelt message from Human Touch Pet Rescue in Covina. It made me cry. The volunteer said they want to put a link to this website on theirs. There are some other people out there, that care as much as I do. 07/07/04 Wednesday 7:40 am, a caller reported seeing a black cat for the third time in over a week in Kahler Russell Park, close to the Glendora Avenue side. And the last time just this morning. He couldn't tell, whether it had a tail. But it was black and rather large. Large does not fit his description but we have to stake out the park for a confirmed sighting. It is possible for him to have taken cover at the park, perfect place and connected via the storm drain system. And we were just there last night. Immediately called my dear neighbor to keep a double eye out when she drives by there every morning to the school. Not a word from Best Friends in Utah yet... beginning to doubt that they care. And they were always very good at returning emails right away. The Groverdale couple called again at 1:30 pm and said they have my cat. Didn't realize at first it was them and they made my heart stop. They now said that it was a neutered black cat without a tail and they were feeding it right now. They wanted to call me back later, so I could take a look at it. Still waiting to verify this sighting. But if they have been feeding this cat since over a year it is obviously not NoTail. ACSBP is putting all ferals, that I saw Saturday, to sleep on Friday. So we have another day. They have four business days. Not six by the way! I went to Pomona Valley Humane Society. Checked all DOAs and there was no match even close. But sadly 18 litters of two to five kittens in four weeks on the list... I asked one of the staff members for help, I think she was a volunteer. She was even German like me, but she was extremely unfriendly and ignored more than half of my questions. Didn't even look at me. I left a flyer with the feral cat handler David, and he was a lot more helpful. He has not seen a cat without a tail. Office staff insured me that I have seen the entire list. I hope they are right. And a note regarding Petclub.org, I never saw any of their faxes. What did I hire them for and pay $39? If you are planning on using their service - it is pointless. If they indeed send a fax, it would be placed in the lost animal binder and no one ever looks at it again. The least the animal handlers. Don't waste your money there! Back from Pomona I drove around again and then spend two hours in the Park. Asked a couple of boys and they replied, "you are the one with the cat?" Later a small kitten, maybe two months old, came running up to me with his tail held high. What a black little cutie this one is. So friendly, he seemed in good health and very happy. I let him be. After I left C went to the park at 10 pm and after ten minutes he saw a dark cat with a tail. All hopes I had all day long shattered yet again! I will keep looking. 07/08/04 Thursday Weeks ago I even recorded feeding my cats, opening cans, and them meowing, intending to play it back while walking around. But it sounded so bad that it would scare any cat away. Back to ACSBP. C was there already to look at the animals. I talked to Maricella, she is very helpfull now every time we come in. Followed up on 8 dead animal entries, all negative. Asked her about the animal in the mailbox and after questioning staff she found out that it was a cat but it was gone when an officer arrived. Asked her about Petclub.org and she never heard of it. She was not aware of any faxes from an organization like that! On to next door West Covina Pet Hospital, where ACSBP sometimes takes injured animals. They already had my flyer on the wall and it really stands out. I replaced it with a new flyer and thanked them. C went to the park later that night, but didn't see anything. At 8 pm I receveived a call for a sighting. The callers reported a black cat without a tail and long hair by the hospital between San Bernardino, Third Street and Cottage in Covina. They have seen it several times and wondered if the reward is for catching it or just finding it. I assured them it is just for finding it. They don't have to catch it. They will call me back when they see it again. C went to this sighting later that night, but couldn't see any cat. 07/09/04 Friday 6:30 at the hospital, drove all surrounding streets many times, spotted not a single cat. Then to the park, no cats. Three helicopters were flying around and made too much noise. At night posted flyers on the streets at the hospital and on all major intersections around C's apartment. Stopped at park and did see the black cat with a tail clearly. So upset and disappointed! Drove to the west end of the park and saw a cat without a tail. A big neutered male with a stub and friendly too. Best Friends did reply with some info. I also posted a message on their Forum and received many heartfelt replies from there, some with very good links about lost pets. Lots to read. Human Touch Pet Rescue posted NoTail on their front page. Thank you very much! The catsite.com posted an SOS for NoTail. We thank the catsite also. 07/10/04 Saturday I needed the day off, running on empty! Orchid show in Santa Barbara and then relaxing on the beach for 5 hours! But I did feel guilty the entire day. Received one call from a woman in Covina that just received the postcard. She was looking at a black cat in her yard and while she talked to me the cat ran away and it had a tail... Saw a message last night through this website. The postcards are still coming in. This special person promised to match the reward if he finds NoTail and donate it to the shelter with the most needs. I was very touched! C went to the ACSBP, found a huge orange cat we hope will get adopted. 07/11/04 Sunday Double efforts today. 6:00 am at C's place, checked the rows of apartments again (saw a sick crow, called ACSBP, they pick up a lot there and they all have West Nile Virus), checked flyers, checked park, saw the black cat with the tail again. Called his name. Within minutes of us being there and then walking back by the flyer on the post, someone came by (man on a bike was the only person there?)and ripped the flyer in half and threw it on the ground. Must I comment on this? I better keep my mouth shut! Of course now he will have to work much harder to take the flyer down! Drove back and forth. Went to the hospital, talked to a very nice lady who has 6 indoor cats. She just rescued two dogs this morning. She didn't want to take them to ACSBP. They are in her backyard and she is looking for the owner. She hasn't seen NoTail. Drove the next street down, College Street, my dentist's street, and there was the cat without a tail with a buddy. 1.5 miles west of C's apartment. It did have long hair, as reported by the two callers a few days ago. Him and another cat are being fed in front of a doctor's office. Another dead end, but I thank the callers for being so observant and calling us. Drove 1.5 miles north of the apartments. The man that called me earlier this week about a cat without a tail was watering his lawn. I thought this was him and approached him, apologizing for popping in like that, it wasn't even 9 am on a Sunday morning yet. He said it was okay and showed me where he feeds the cat and even a video he took. But it wasn't 100 per cent clear or close enough to say for sure. I left him a trap, showed him how it works and thanked him. It almost looks like NoTail, but he said the cat has been there since 8 months or so. Then of couse it can't be NoTail. Back to the south and then I approached a woman that is familiar with the area. I asked her about NoTail and she said she has seen a black cat without a tail about three times in the past 6 weeks. Just Friday night at 2 am her boyfriend and her boyfriend threw some chicken towards it and the black cat without a tail grabbed it and ran away, very scared. That does sound like NoTail. I immediately had my hopes up! Of course and was sure that we will catch him tonight. When I told her about the flyer, she put her hands over her mouth and said "Oh My God!" She was in tears then. So was I. I asked her again if she was sure and she said yes. I asked her to keep her eyes open. Full of hopes, we had breakfast and discussed a trapping strategy. Then I went home to sleep and C went to work. When I returned at night, someone threw pebbles at my car as I was driving through Wanamaker. That was mean! Set two traps at 10 pm! Prayed! 07/12/04 Monday C didn't call me at 3:30 when he picked up one of the traps. I was so disappointed. That meant NoTail wasn't in it. Barely slept. The trap was empty. The other one had a calico cat, he let go. It didn't eat the sardines, so he left the trap. When I arrived at 6 am there was an oppossum in it. I let it go, it ate the sardines. So disappointed. I felt that this was the day of seeing NoTail again! Later in the morning, a caller saw the flyer at Monrovia Animal Hospital. She just saw a cat without a tail, but it had a stub. That was near Peck Road and Live Oak, too far, most likely. Another caller in the afternoon saw a black cat near the hospital in Covina. She will try to take a closer look and then call back. After that the nice man 1.5 miles north of the apartments called, that he caught the cat without a tail in the trap I lend him Sunday morning. C was already in Covina, so I send him there. but of course we already knew that it was not NoTail. He let him go. Later I dropped off some cat food and a bottle of wine and thanked him for his effort. Visited the couple that saw - maybe - NoTail Saturday 2 am. Left some cat food and tuna with them and pictures. Will go to see them every day now. At night couldn't set two traps, too many guys around. So we just set one and hoped. Some flyers on the big intersections were removed today by the City I suppose. 07/13/04 Tuesday No call from C means no NoTail in the trap. But I feel better today, got solid 5 hours of sleep and ready to go at it again tonight. He left the trap at 3:30 and when I arrived at 6 am, it was still empty. Not even an oppossum today. How do we make a kitty buffet without ants getting to it? Flyer at the post by ACSBP still there! Every animal control officer that leaves the shelter sees the flyer! By the way, the 18 litters I saw in the dead animal record of the Pomona Shelter were all put to sleep. In one month! In between all this I still have to be in the office about 50 hours a week and drive over 12 hours to and from work a week, take care of my other 6 cats, who are seriously neglected, and the house, which is still a mess. There must be a break coming soon. He is still alive, I know it! Asked the person again where exactly he saw NoTail that night. And it was much too close to Grand Avenue.... Set the traps in same place again at night. 07/14/04 Wednesday Woke at 4:15 and no call from C. How much longer can he stay alive? Nothing in both traps by 3:30 am and still nothing at 6:15 when I got there. At noon I received a call from a very nice lady to remind me to go to San Gabriel Valley Humane Society (SGVHA). She lost her cat for a week once and someone brought it there. She got her cat back, so fortunate, one day later and it would have been put to sleep. She was crying on the phone and I with her. I then called SGVHS and spoke to Jane again. She was very nice, remembered me of course, the donation worked... And she assured me that she alerted all drivers and they will call me if anything shows up. Later I received a call from LA County Animal Control Administrative Headquartes located next to my office in Long Beach. Shirley asked if I found NoTail yet? They just now got to processing my letter I mailed how many weeks ago, when I mailed to all vets and shelters? She will make copies and send them to all LA County shelters. They all have one already but another reminder can't hurt, specially not coming from headquarters. I was surprised to get a call from them at all. Trouble at work, they all told me to move the cat food somewhere else because of roaches. So I did. I have been feeding four cats there since almost two years. The mother of "Peanut", whom I adopted in October 2002, and three other strays, mother of "Tomato" (made my neighbor adopt him), "Pretty Girl" and "Grumpy". I trapped and fixed about ten cats there and these four remained. Tomato was easy to trap, even though he was still a kitten. Peanut was near death, sucked dry by over 500 fleas (yes, I counted the first and second day cleaning!), suffering from acute blood shortness, malnourishment, and temporary paralysis of his back legs. He was only five or six weeks old when his mother brought him to the window just a foot outside my office. There I heard him cry and safed him. Management wanted to catch them all and take them to the pound to be killed. I paid for all the expenses and vet bills. No one ever said a word to me. No one cares! C went to ACSBP, there were two entries of injured cats picked up in La Puente last week, the only questionable records. Will follow up on those. Much too far, but still. 10 pm, set the traps with favorite cat food this time. Spread hair tufts from Fuzzy all over, bits of cheese and cat nip. NoTail loves cat nip. Went to bed hopeful. 07/15/04 Thursday And awoke desperate again. No call, no NoTail, nothing in the traps, cheese untouched except by ants. Waiting for Friday to be there all night. Need to see him myself. Please let him be there.... Approached a couple that walks the park every morning, they haven't seen him. Called West Covina Pet Hospital, Amar Glen Animal Hospital, and San Gabriel Valley Emergency Pet Hospital. They are all under cotract with LA County Animal Control to accept and treat injured animals. The two cats from La Puente were a female and a kitten. Poor souls. No NoTail. Theresa, Christina, and Debbie insured me that they will notify us asap should he come through their doors. And they have a flyer on their boards. Received a call about a black cat without a tail between Barranca and Second Avenue, but the caller didn't say the east-west street. Have to call him back. He too was not interested in the reward but just wanted me to have my cat back. Thank you! Send an email to an animal communicator and she got right back to me... Set the traps again last night, but I think we have to move them somewhere else. Leaving there I drove down Edna Street and found an entire feral cat colony, friendly ferals and one striking bengal striped tabby, lots of blacks with tails and kittens. Then I saw the trap with a note "Trap/Neuter Program" but no name or number. There was a kitten in the trap. Would the person of the program please call me? I would like to talk to you. The business across west of Grand Avenue has a sign noting that they video survey their property. Would they have it still on video or tape over? Need to contact them. My friends daughter lost her dog out of their yard this afternoon. I gave them advice what to do... Will this ever stop??? 07/16/04 Friday C had an oppossum in the trap, I had nothing. Again! The couple walked by and told they hadn't seen him. The other trap with the kitten was gone. I was glad, because it was so exposed. Work really does get in the way these days! I am researching as much as I can on the internet and spend half my days with that. Contacted a pet communicator through one of the websites. Told her the background story and withhin a very short time, before noon today she got back to me with the most amazing message from my NoTail. He is where I suspected him, he is alive and okay, but wants to come home. And I want him to come home! I will post the rest of the amazing message later, after he is home. You have to read it. I was in tears and had to walk out of the office for a while. My neighbor stopped in the park a week ago and just sat there to see if she would get a glimpse of him, but no cat at all. Called the person back from yesterday to verify the address again in Covina. I had emailed Electra from Petdetectives earlier and she called back at 9 pm. I didn't have time and told her I will call back. Combed Fuzzy to get a bunch of her hair, distributed it later in the bushes. 6 pm set four traps. Slept one hour, back to the parking lot at 2:30 am, put out chicken on the ground, and we waited. C fell asleep and I watched. Couldn't avert my eyes from every corner where he was reportedly seen. At 3 am the cops showed up to ask if all was okay. That was comforting... At 4 am the big cat with the stub smelled two bushes intently with Fuzzy's hair, it smelled the chicken too but didn't eat it. Jumped effortlessly back over the wall where it came from. At 5 am a black cat crossed the road from the west. My heart stopped. But it had a tail and it made it across. He only smelled the same bushes and left again. We saw him the next morning outside Costa's Diner. That must be the cat reported by a caller awhile back. Another cat sighting verified! 07/17/04 Saturday At 6 am we checked the traps. Trap #1 had the black cat seen three times by a caller. It was grayish too and pretty. Another mystery sighting solved. Trap #2 was closed and untouched - strange!. Trap #3 was untouched as well but open, and #4 had ants in it, the paper touched the rim of the bowl. Have to be more careful setting them. Breakfast, discussion on how to proceed, cleaned house, slept for one and a half hours. C went to the Shelter in Baldwin Park and Pomona. Nothing there. Electra called back, but again I was in a hurry to pick up C. We set all four traps again in the same places. But this time went home to get four and a half hours sleep. I was seeing stars already and NoTail was concerned that I am not getting enough sleep, which is right! Before we could go, C received a call from a teenager or so it sounded, that our cat is under their car and he was yelling at his friend not to drive over him. I suggest, these pranksters keep their jokes to themselves. We will not be fooled by them! We know our cat better! They called back and hung up. Then we saw a huge racoon. My second in the "wild" since I came here from Germany. 07/18/04 Sunday 6 am back out there to collect NoTail and the traps. But no luck, I was so hoping and praying. Trap #1 had an orange cat DLH, the one we saw the first time there, weeks ago. #2 had ants in the bowl, too hastily set!, #3 was untouched and open, and #4 was open and the bowl licked clean. What is up with that? This is the first time, this trap was pointed into the thicket instead of outward. Who or what can lick the bowl clean and not trip the trap??? Any suggestions please? Breakfast at 8 am, I never eat breakfast so early! Flyer is still up in the diner. Thank you very much! Car wash, a SUV nearly ran over a pigeon, I thought he really did, but only stradled it. I yelled and by the time I recovered from the shock, a man walked over to the pigeon between the cars and pushed it to the side of the building where he picked it up. He then went to the repair shop and got a box for it. While he again waited for his nice car to be waxed, I walked over to him and thanked him for saving the pigeon. For once I didn't have to do it! You have no idea how glad I was about that! Rested the afternoon and passed out in the sun again. 8 pm back to set the traps. Only two traps tonight because I can carry only two in the car. Were very careful in setting them. Had to wait forever for people to leave the area first. Saw a three month old kitten with a collar and a bell in the parking lot. Where was its person to let it out at night? Exhausted to bed. 07/19/04 Monday Got up still exhausted. 6 am to collect traps, #1 was licked clean and open (???), #2 had a little 4 months old orange tabby in it, we have never seen before. #2 is now working well with visitors, where it was empty before. But who is eating the tasty cat food and sardines without stepping on the plate??? Now this is a BIG mystery. 9 am call from a volunteer at the ACSBP. She reported seeing a black cat that looks exactly like NoTail at the shelter on June 3rd. But she said it was rather big and friendly. I can't imagine NoTail being friendly with anyone. She found my story on the Best Friends Network and looked at the pics on this website. She is very sure it was him. And she said they keep the animals for 5 business days. Maricella is telling us stuff that is not true. She left the shelter around 1 pm that day and I arrived around 4 pm. I did not see a black cat without a tail. She gave me some names there to talk to more effectively than the counter staff. I am sceptic, but still... An hour later at 10 am I received a call from a girl that just saw my flyer at Petsmart. She reported a black cat without a tail in her and her neighbors driveway. I will get more information on both these sightings.. Oh, one more thing, I left a very stinky sock by the trap locations for the day. We have been wearing our clothes for a week at a time to enhance our scent... forgot to mention that every time. Got to try everything - right! Called Jeff Richards at ACSBP to look into this cat. Drove there after work to speak to him myself. I had seen him there many times but never talked to him. We went to Building #9, the adoptables and he told me, that there is nothing matching in the inventory. All adopted records are purged every day and not easily accessible. This cat may have been adopted that day, meaning it could have been a neutered male, otherwise they fix the animals before adoption and hold them for longer. They can't cross check any records, so it may take a few days to find out how old this cat was, male or female, fixed and no tail at all. I will not rest until I know about this cat. I also called the girl back and told her to look at the pics on this website. But her grandmother already told me that this cat seems to have a little stub for a tail, and he looked grayish laying in the sun in the driveway. And that is not NoTail. She wants a dachshund and couldn't find one at SGVHS. I told her where else to go including Best Friends. I hope she can adopt one. Set the traps in the evening again. Socks still there, still stinky... 07/20/04 Tuesday Every day races by too fast! Trap #1 had a juvenile gray oppossum and so did #2, a black oppossum. They are very messy. Drove around Badillo, Second Avenue, and Barranca for the sighting of a cat without a tail called in late last week. But saw none. Went there every day since, so did C. Jeff from ACSBP also said that Covina is the worst place to take a cat. They have a cat problem, he told me. Well, we knew this after the first day of search! Researching more information on animal profilers and communicators on the internet. Ordered a high resolution aerial photograph of the area. In the process of getting a detailed profile on NoTail to narrow search areas. Bought rodent food at Petsmart on Azusa Avenue to keep the oppossums out of the traps and hung a flyer there. Set two traps at night with cat food and a sardine treat on top. Got a call for a sighting on Bonnie Cove Avenue with possibly a half inch stub. Met the nice little older lady that takes care of the feral colony on Edna Place. Not the same that traps them. She made friends with one of the strays a while back and wanted to take him home. Before she could do that, she found him dead in the street. That is heartbreaking and I was very saddened for her and the stray. She burried him in her backyard. In the parking lot at the shopping center I saw the white cat again, the Starbucks people told me about weeks ago. I was there not three minutes at 9:30 pm and I saw it. Why can I find nearly all cats that people tell me about but not NoTail??? On my way home I saw a racoon enter a storm drain. That's a first! Then I had a very juvenile black oppossum in my bird feeder... 07/21/04 Wednesday A cat didn't make it through the night again. A pretty tabby was dead in the street in Glendora Avenue by the park. So sorry! I hope it wasn't my fault. Trap #1 was empty and untouched. Trap #2 had the racoon in it. Now I saw three racoons in 5 days! He was real mad and I let him go. At 8:30 am I received a call for the black fluffy cat with an inch stub on College and 3rd Street that so many people already reported. I wish it was NoTail! I wish I had won the lottery to end the suffering of all the strays. But all that money wouldn't bring my NoTail back. Called the girl back with the sighting a mile and a half northeast, the cat looks more grayish than NoTail. Will check further. The air photo still hasn't come through yet. Called Covina Street Division and Parks & Recreation Department again. They remembered nothing but took info down. Visited Los Angeles County Animal Control Headquarters next door to my office. Talked to the executive assistant. He will have IT person search adopted animal records for July 3rd. Contacted profiler and communicator again. C and I visited ACSBP, no match in the DOA list, no match in the cages. Tried to talk to one volunteer, but she obviously did not want to talk to me. Our flyer is still up on the telephone post outside the shelter for all to see. Set both traps again in the area where he most likely might be and perhaps was seen several times. Talked to the gas station attendant again. He was very apprehensive about taking the flyer and he has to ask the manager first for permission. Broke down on the way home, overwhelmed by feelings of guilt for allowing NoTail to be taken from his home and causing this terrible and scary situation for him. 07/22/04 Thursday The homeless person wasn't near trap #2 anymore since Monday, I was glad. But both were empty and untouched. We scared everyone away. Except the orange cat I already trapped this week, he just approached the same trap when I arrived. Received an email from Animal Control that they never had a cat matching NoTails' description at the shelter.... Contacted animal profiler and communicator. Set the traps at night with tuna this time, no cat food and sardines. 07/23/04 Friday Sure enough, it was the food that wasn't attractive enough. This time we had a repeat offender in Trap #2, the gray-black cat. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the black fur in the cage! Trap #2 had a white and brown tabby, mad and growling at me. I always have to make a u-turn to check out each black item on the road. This morning one was a black plastic bag and the other on Grand Avenue was a poor skunk. Drove through the Barranca, Second Street area to look for a sighting. Still trying to get a colored aerial photo from a supplier. Guess I shouldn't have told them I am looking for a missing cat? It has been 8 weeks today since I found out that NoTail is missing. It is a long time, I know, but many cats are recovered after missing even longer. I called an animal communicator and another cat without a tail answered her, it was not NoTail. He did not respond and that is not a good sign. She said Fuzzy is still grieving and can only say "He's gone, he's gone, he's gone". Then another animal communicator told me to look in a cul-de-sac close by and NoTail was not there either. But I spoke to owners of 5 out of the 7 homes there. One of them a cat lover too with 5 strays he took in. He will keep his eyes open and his neighbors too. Got home with a flat tire and there was no trapping this night. Was in deep despair. 07/24/04 Saturday I feel he is not alive anymore now. But I have been wrong with other things too that I felt. We drove by the house too far east for the sighting of a grayish black without a tail. The cat wasn't there and we saw that it is just too far. Visited Pomona and San Gabriel Valley Humane Societies, and Baldwin Park. Only one gray was left, the other twin was adopted and this one was now very sad and not playful at all anymore. They should have gone together. Such a beautiful pair! Maricella offered to check the adoption records for July 3rd for the sighting before we come back next time. 7 pm back in the park to speak to the animal communicator. She told me that NoTail can hear me but not see me and where to put the traps tonight. 07/25/04 Sunday At 6 am there was only a young oppossum in one trap and nothing in the other 20 feet away. We drove around for two hours, saw so many cats out, put up flyers again where people had taken them down. Walked the school grounds to the south and south east. Found the third penny heads up and a desert rose crystal behind a trailer. Wonder why it was left there? Set the traps again that night on both ends of the park with tuna. I saw three new cats, but none of them went into the traps. A mother with a collar and an older kitten in the parking lot. Where did they come from? Received the report from the cat profiler. There is a 65% probability that he is still out there living among the strays either still in the apartment complex or the park. Spend a lot of time driving all over the neighborhood this night, saw so many cats... 07/26/04 Monday I picked up trap #1 and C #2, both where untouched. Is there still anything left in the park to trap? An older lady called me in the afternoon, she received the postcard and wondered if this is a good way to search if one of her animals got lost. I told her it is, it gets peoples attention, but it is not cheap! Started calling all the vets in the area to remind them that NoTail is still missing. Most still had the flyer, others had thrown it away. Prepared for the kitty buffet close by the apartment. Set trap only in #1 spot, there was a young Rottweiler girl in the other parking lot. Someone left her there I am sure. I called animal control but don't know if they got her. She was very pretty and playful. 07/27/04 Tuesday Got more sleep last night for the first time in weeks. C called that #1 was empty again. Before 8 am I got a call from someone who reported the cat in the park a while ago and today he told me about the cat by the hospital. We already saw this long haired cat with a stub... Would the other animals that live across from C, Puppy/Doggy, Mimi, or Morris, know anything, know what happened? At night we put out trap #1 and #2, sprayed area for food second time behind garage in prep for kitty buffet. Started calling all vets within 10 miles to remind them that we are still looking for NoTail. Faxed the flyer to a bunch of them late at night. 07/28/04 Wednesday In the morning we picked up the traps empty and untouched. Nothing anymore. Where is the mystery animal that took the food and left the traps open? Or was it a person? In the morning, a woman called from close by, she lost her 4 months old kitten with a powder puff tail. She was very distraught and I tried to advice her what to do. Called more vets while driving to jobsites today, called LA Times to start advertising there as well. Later in Baldwin Park, talked to Leila and waived the reward money in cash in front of her and an animal handler. Maybe this will get their attention? Maricella wasn't in, she wanted to check the adopted animal records for me by today... One of the gray twins is still there. That made me very sad, he really should have gone with his brother. He was sad again today. Started the kitty buffet behind garages with new ant proof bowls. Set out trap not in the ravine this time but in the bush and faxed more flyers to vets. 07/29/04 Thursday Nothing in the trap in the park, but lots of food eaten out of the bowl behind garages. A volunteer from the Agoura Animal Shelter called to ask if the flyer should stay up and she repeated to hope that I find him. She had called before. Called Baldwin Park in the morning to see if the Sergeant is in. Need to speak to him regarding the cat seen by the volunteer, that looked like NoTail. Another caller wanted to know if I found NoTail yet. She was very distraught that I didn't. She said he is so beautiful! At 4 pm I was at the shelter but the person in charge had left for the day. Will try again on Saturday. Had the kitty buffet in the patio, behind the garages, at the west end of garages, and in the park this night. And set a trap in the bushes of the park. Called the SGV Tribune to request the letters of the lost ad to be much bigger and bold. Got my girlfriend to finally trap the cat that has been living in her mom's backyard for so many years giving birth to litter after litter. She was fixed today, Yippieh! Small triumphs in an otherwise mad cat world. 07/30/04 Friday C picked up the trap, empty and untouched. Food behind garages was mostly eaten. Received a call from Glendora again regarding the kitten without a tail, that she has. She is looking for a good home for it. But just because this kitten doesn't have a tail, does not substitute for NoTail. Nothing can substitute him, he is unique and will never be repeated. Not because he has no tail, but because he has so many other traits and such special love for me. Called two more vets to make sure they have the flyer. I am putting all my hopes now into the cat without a tail from the pound, can they track it down??? The volunteer said it was large, all black, and had no tail, and looked like his pictures... Hoping.... All hopes shattered again, in talking further to the volunteer it turns out that this cat at the pound was very large, bigger than a Main Coon and about 18 pounds, but it had no tail at all. NoTail was 13 pounds when he left. In desperation I contacted three animal communicators. But they were all off for the weekend. We did our nightly routine, the kitty buffet in four places and the trap in the park with tuna. Drove around for three hours, round and round the block... Besides a bunch of other stray cats again, we saw an owl and a skunk at the school to the south. 07/31/04 Saturday The cat with the collar I had seen before was in the trap this morning. The food at the east end of the park was barely touched. We saw the orange cat cross the road there last night. The chicken I spread out wasn't touched. Strange. The food behind the garages and in the patio is being eaten a lot. At 10:30 we were at the shelter and I spoke with someone in charge about the tailless cat that was seen there. Unfortunately, he was only able to tell me about the spay/neuter records for July 6th, not the adopted animal records for July 3rd. And there was no black cat listed. What happened to this cat at the shelter? No one else seems to know about it. I have to take time off from work again and come back on Tuesday morning. Then C had to inquire about two very friendly adult cats. They were scheduled to be put to sleep today. I did not need to know this and that was the drop that spilled the bucket today. I had seen these cats and petted them. Both are 3 year old females and very friendly. One looks like Fuzzy, the other is a pretty gray. The owners gave them up and lazily dropped them at the shelter knowing that they will be killed. My heart goes out for them. I hope it won't hurt and they won't know. They are so sweet. C went to the Pomona Shelter today, there was nothing of course. Pics 1 Pics 2 Pics 3 Resources Communicators, Psychics Comments Fliers Map My Other Cats Epilogue