Feral Paws Rescue

 

 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can read her message and she isn't going to give up her fight to be back with Vigil the only person she loves so much and longs to be back with!

 

 

 

The Story of  Ms. Samples is such a heart breaking story.  One that will pull at your heart! I hope you will read the story of Ms. Samples and her life with Vigil. To understand why we must get Ms. Samples and Vigil back together again. It's a story that even the one's that don't like cats will have  there heart strings pulled at as well. 

 

        I got to know of Ms. Samples back in 2000. When I started working on getting a  TNR program at Avenal State Prison.  I was working at the time at the California Feline Foundation.  Now currently retired from the California Feline Foundation. In 2000 I began getting many phone calls and so many letters about what was going on at the prison with the feral cats on grounds.  From Employee's working at the prison, Inmate families, Letters from Inmates. Many citizens from the area.  So many phone calls and letters were coming in on what was going on at the Prison.  I began to look into what was really going on at the prison.  I was stocked when I was able to enter the prison grounds and go to this area. I found the story's being told to me about the treatment of these feral cats on grounds. Was TRUE! 

     At the time staff feared to talk to me on prison grounds for the fact if they said any thing they could lose their job!  Inmates on grounds feared of getting written up and getting more time added to their sentence if they spoke to me on grounds.  Of course acting Warden Kathy Mendoza-Powers was replaced very fast with a new Warden Mr. Huskey.  When the story came out about the cats at Avenal State Prison being starved to death under and building. It was in the media, newspapers like wild fire.  About  the orders of the acting Warden at the time Kathy Mendoza-Powers. When several staff from the California Feline Foundation were allowed under this building, It was horrible in what we found.  So many dead cats under this building with the only way out from under this building sealed up not allowing the cats to get out. But to die a horrible death. Kathy Mendoza-Powers was removed from acting warden and given  the title of Chief Deputy Warden at Avenal State Prison. The new Warden taken over  Mr. Huskey  was very supportive of starting the TNR program at the prison for the feral cats. 

    As I came on grounds quite often checking on the cats and allowed to work with staff that was volunteering there free time to help in getting the  TNR program started. I was being told  about a Inmate Vigil and his cat called Ms. Samples. It was a story that I found to be very interesting. I asked to met with Vigil and see this special cat called Ms. Samples that I kept hearing about. All I had to do is ask staff or inmates that walked by me at the time. If they knew of Ms. Samples?  Every one knew of Ms. Samples and Vigil. They called Ms. Samples the "Queen of yard"

   When I got to met with Vigil I found his story about Ms. Samples his cat to be so heart touching. All that Vigil kept asking me at the time was please get Ms. Samples spayed.  Vigil didn't want her to have any more kittens. He feared for her health with having so many kittens all the time. I stood their watching Vigil hold Ms. Samples in his arms and the bond between these two was unreal. One that would pull at anyone heart strings. He was begging us to get her spayed.  As the TNR program began at Avenal State Prison the story grew about Vigil and Ms. Samples. The media came out and interviewed Vigil about his relationship with Ms. Samples.  It was printed in several newspapers.

    Ms. Samples was the first cat to be TNR at Avenal State Prison!  Ms Samples was then taken off grounds once a year to get her updated shots and to be looked over by a vet. All reports always came back she was a very healthy FAT cat!  Vigil would be given copies of the vet reports. Vigil always followed what every the vet wanted in care for Ms. Samples.  Like she "needed to stop eating junk food and go on a diet!"  For over the past six years I have always remained up dated. On how Vigil and Ms. Samples was doing. Even though I am retired from the California Feline Foundation I have remained apart of the TNR program at Avenal State Prison. Went on many tours after the TNR program was in place.

      When I was told that Ms. Samples was being removed from the prison grounds. My heart felt for Vigil.  Ms Samples was this young man's life support for many years since she was a kitten. Vigil being a lifer this was his life caring for Ms. Samples.  She was some thing he could call his own and care for.

      Then I informed about  Kathy Mendoza-Powers was acting warden again and stopped the TNR program and wanted all the cats on grounds to be trapped and  killed. I then began to fight and get the TNR program reinstated!  But Ms. Samples now placed in a foster home with loving caretakers Must be placed back with Vigil !   Ms Samples went though a deep depression after being removed. Several Vets all feared that  it was going to be heath related issues with how depressed she came and withdrawn from life. She was just given up the will to live. Still to this day Ms. Samples isn't the same cat as she was with Vigil.  Ms Samples is very withdrawn from any human affection.  Not active like she was in the past with Vigil. They have been apart since March 2006!  Life isn't the same for Ms. Samples! Her heart only belongs to her special friend Vigil!

 

                                                               

A Cat's Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray this cushy life to keep.
I pray for toys that look like mice,
And sofa cushions, soft and nice.
I pray for gourmet kitty snacks,
And someone nice to scratch my back,
For windowsills all warm and bright,
For shadows to explore at night.
I pray I'll always stay real cool
And keep the secret feline rule -
To NEVER tell a human that
The world is really ruled by CATS!
 

 "A BARBED WIRED LOVE PEOM"

She likes her milk in the morning

        Low fat and cold

Tuna mixed with cat food inside

     her private bowl.

She'll arch her back against any

         man's leg

        shamelessly

           purring                                   

to be pleased. Quite the flirt is our Ms. Samples 

When she's not scratching at  us 

      for her food

    Yet to fall in love

with young Ms Samples

For within her chest

beats a monogamous

heart that meows only for

         lifer Lou

Lifer Lou and Ms Samples, they get

   along so well that privately

I call them "Brother rubbing hands and Sister Happy Tail"            

          Man and beast

         Convict and furball

       Peacefully at one with nature.

       The joy of their companionship

is living testament to the greatness of God's labor,

        and if love can touch the heart of

                   Lifer Lou

a man with every right to be bitter and angry,

          then perhaps if I get a cat

                      of my own

       the same might happen to me                                 

                   After all,

God Knows how many nights I've found

myself wishfully thinking how much better

I'd feel if I could get a hold of a cat

                  like our

              Ms. Samples.

 

By Inmate Animal, Avenal State Prison                                

                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

This was Ms Samples with her caretaker Vigil  for over six years at Avenal State Prison a very happy and fat cat!  Was given so much care and love every day by Vigil. In February of 2006. When Acting Warden Kathy Mendoza-Powers wanted all cats on prison grounds to be tapped and killed.  Vigil feared for Ms. Samples life and asked to have her placed into a home. In March of 2006 Ms. Samples was removed from prison grounds and placed into a foster care home. In hopes of returning her to Vigil. That is were she belongs is with Vigil not in a foster care home. The bond between these two is so heart touching. When Ms. Samples was removed from prison grounds Vigil went and got Ms. Samples and held her in his arms so tight and trying to keep back the tears broke down and began to cry. While other staff and inmates watching began to cry as well. Vigil then said Good-Bye and placed her into a carrier. Ms. Sample watched Vigil walk away from the carrier and crying. Ms. Samples yelled out to him in a meowwwwwwwww that was just heart breaking. Vigil kept walking away not able to look back at the carrier that held his Ms. Samples.............

THIS IS MS. SAMPLES NOW FIGHTING TO GET BACK WITH VIGIL!

 

Now  Ms. Samples fights to be back with Vigil with her face on a picket sign reading "Miss Samples was a constant companion of Inmate Vigil for the past 6 years. However, he requested that she be removed from the prison because he feared for her safety!"  Ms. Samples isn't given up hope to be back with Vigil.  That is were she belongs not in a foster care home. At least with the picket sign Ms Samples lets her heart be heard!

 

 

Ms. Samples Story    By: Louie Vigil     Saturday February 16, 2002

 

     I first met this little kitten named Ms. Samples three years and some months ago. Actually! How this story began with my life and Ms. Samples. It was Ms. Samples brother we met first at the Indian Lodge at Avenal State Prison. I named him Tumble Weed.   Because he would come take the baloney from my hand and leave, Just like a tumble weed blowing in the wind. He was only about 6 weeks old at the time. This is what amazed us all. But! what amaze us even more was the fact that he was taken the food we gave him to Ms. Samples a cute little black/white kittens that didn't trust us enough to come and get her food on her own. Also was another kitten later came to be known as Scratches was like Ms. Samples to scared to come and get her own food as well. So they sent Tumble Weed to come and get food to share with them.

   Anyway it was sometime later I got a job working at the Indian Lodge.  I got to know Scratches after getting to be friends with Tumble Weed. Scratches began to come and get her own food as well. But she got her name because every time she came to get her food she would scratch us while we handed her the baloney we would save from our sack lunches given to us. Ms Samples would stand back and wait for Tumble Weed and Scratches to bring the food back to her and share.  Tumble Weed and Scratches were both solid black cats. But that is normal at the prison for you only see black/white, solid black, solid gray,.gray/white cats on grounds.  Several weeks went by in this same pattern and time Tumble Weed and Scratches would show up and get their hand out. While Ms. Samples stood back at a distance watching.

   As time went on. I was going to get to know this cute black/white kitten so scared to come up to me and get her hand out. Then out of the blue one day Ms. Samples came up to get her own hand out of baloney. She was so cute and would  hiss at me. When I went to hand her the baloney she would bite me. Oh did that hurt when she would do that. But I was willing to deal with the pain. Just to be her friend. As time went on  I got to know Ms. Samples really well. This little ball of fur I think she thought it was funny to bite me. But believe me it wasn't funny at all at my end. It really hurt. The other guys I worked with would laugh at me every time I would be bit! Telling me you will never make friends with Ms. Samples. I began to think that the reason for me getting bit all the time. Was that I was doing some thing wrong in given her the baloney.  So it was up to me to make Ms. Samples believe I was her friend and wasn't going to hurt her. I just had to make friends with this little ball of fur.  I wanted to pick her up and just hold her. Touch her fur. Make her my very own pet. Being a lifer that is very special to have a pet like Ms. Samples something you can care for and call your very own. Some thing that depends on you to take care of them.

   All and all over time. Things were getting better between Ms. Samples and I. Then I totally blew it. I got into some trouble and went to the hole. A lock up unit called Ag-Seg that is located a far distance from where Ms. Samples was at. I couldn't leave the cell I was locked up in. Nor could I get any food to Ms. Samples. It was just driving me crazy knowing that this little fur ball was so far away and I couldn't get any food to her. Let alone make sure she was safe. Weeks went by and all I would think of was this little ball of fur.

   Then I got released from Ag-Seg I went back to facility four. The area that Ms. Samples lived at. When I got back to the yard. I began to hear the horrible stories about all the cats/kittens that had been killed. My heart was broken. I just had to get back to the area of Ms. Samples so I could see if she was ok. I went and asked for a job in work change that area I could at least check to see if I could find Ms. Samples. Finally my luck changes I got the job in work change.

    Things were looking up because I knew deep down that Ms. Samples wasn't one of the cats/kittens that were killed or starved to death. If Ms Samples just could hear my voice calling her. Ms Samples would come to me. I just knew she would come if only she knew I was back. Every night I would go out behind work change and call Ms. Samples yelling out her name for weeks I did this. I was beginning to lose hope of her every coming back to me. I was trying to expect she must of died with all the other cats/kittens. Not even Tumble Weed or Stratches showed up. It wasn't looking very good at this point.

   The Correctional Officer I worked for at the time. Asked me "why are you always calling the name Ms. Samples standing out in the rain?" I explained to him about the story of Ms. Samples the little fur ball that had my heart strings. I told him I just have to find her. I have to know she is still alive. Three more weeks went bye and no Ms. Samples. It was poring down the rain and the Correctional Office came outside and told me you need to come inside your all wet from the rain. Your going to get sick. I called one more time for Ms. Samples and turned to walk away. The Correctional Office told me " Hey turn around is that the black/white kittens you are calling standing behind you?"  I turned around and looked. Tears came to my eyes. I ran over to her and I couldn't believe it Ms. Samples never before let me touch her. She let me pick her up.  I wonder if Ms. Samples knew I was crying with tears dripping down on her back. She looked up at me with eyes so bright and sparkles from them.  I took her inside of work change and dried her off. I told her before I set her back out side of work change. Ms. Samples I will never leave you again. I will take care of you and keep you safe. It was such a special moment in my life. To know Ms. Samples survived. But sadly to say I never seen Tumble Weed or Stratchs again. For all I know they must of died when all the other cats/kittens were being killed at the prison.

   As time went on Ms. Samples would come to me every day for her dinner. Then she began to follow me to my housing unit. Ms. Samples staff would say would sit outside the building door all night and wait for me to come out for breakfast. I would bring her something for the dinning hall after breakfast.  I would sit on the yard during the evening and hold her. On cold days I would rap her up in my jacket. The Correctional Officer's would tell me I was crazy given the cat my jacket. I didn't care I just wanted to keep her warm. I couldn't lose her again.  But now my worse fear was that Ms. Samples would get killed by ones that were killing the cats/kittens on grounds. To try and get rid of all the cats/kittens.

   Then I heard of a officer that was trying to get a problem together at the prison to save the cats/kittens from being killed.  I tried to get in touch with this officer. But couldn't get word to them about Ms. Samples. Then I heard in the year of 2000 that they were going to start a program called TNR at the prison to save the cats/kittens.  I just had to get in touch with this officer. To find out what TNR means. Then one day another officer got in touch with the officer doing this thing called TNR program for the cats/kittens on grounds. The officer came over to my housing unit and talked to me. They explained what TNR means. I begged this officer to please take Ms. Samples out and get her fixed.

    Oh my God! The officer showed up with a cat carrier and picked up Ms. Samples. I feared that many be I wouldn't get Ms. Samples back. Was this officer being truthful with me. Two days went by no Ms. Samples. I thought that was it. They killed her. Then on the third day the officer showed up with a cat carrier and asked me if I wanted to take Ms. Samples out of the carrier. Once again tears fill from my eyes. I went over and took Ms. Samples out of the carrier. Again I wonder if Ms. Samples knew I was crying tears on her back. I just hugged Ms Samples so hard. I  was so excited that I had her back. From that day on we were always together every chance I had to be with her. Ms. Samples is what helps me make it every day in prison. Something to care for and to call my very own. Ms. Samples is so special to me. She is my life in prison. I am in prison for life and Ms. Samples gives me a reason to wake up every morning. I will never get into trouble again for I wouldn't want to every leave her alone like I once did. By the way Ms. Samples was the first cat to be TNR at the prison.

   If your wondering how Ms. Samples got her name. While I was locked up in Ag-Seg she lived on grasshoppers. The other guys told me they would see her biting them like as if she was sampling them. So I called her Ms. Samples. My little ball of fur. By the way she still bite's when I feed her. I think she thinks it funny.  But I don't care. I love her!

 

Just click on the link about at top of page in the area's of

                    San Francisco Chronicle  Or Alley Cats

you will go to other areas to read more about them The story of Vigil & Ms. Samples keeps growing every day.  At a informational picket in the town of Avenal for the Avenal Prison Cat's of course Ms. Samples was one of the cats on a picket sign