Winter 2008 - Rainbow Bridge

“Auld Lang Syne.”  I don’t know exactly what it means – I guess I could Google it – but I do know that whenever I hear the tune on New Year's Eve, I always feel like crying.  Sickly sentimental images and sounds of the past year roll around in my head like a video montage with music, alongside my Mother’s ominous words haunting me: “I wonder who is going to die this year.”  She definitely had a penchant for the macabre unlike Pollyanna. 

Sadly, I remember those who were with us and are now gone.  One such loved one is Dyker, our beautiful black happy-go-lucky lab mix, who wandered onto Oasis some eight years ago.  He was spotted moseying up Dyker Road by Oasis co-founder, the late Eddie Rizzo.  No tags, no collar, and apparently not a care in the world, he looked around, sat at Rizzo’s feet, and bit him. 

A gentle soul with a mischievous spirit, Dyker would invariably introduce himself by tasting you.  Not munching out, but more simply, he was taking a delicate taste of an hors d’oeuvre.  He apparently liked Rizzo’s flavor and adopted him on the spot and subsequently adopted the rest of the Oasis staff – I guess they tasted good too. 

He was a beautiful boy who liked solitude, except when there were NYC bagels to be eaten.  I’d always bring a couple of dozen up here with me.  I recall how fast he’d snap out of his slumber when he heard the bag of bagels crumpling open.  Among the other 14 dogs at the Aerie, the manager’s house, he was always the first in line to get his share of the goodies.

By the standards of many animal welfare and some animal rights organizations, poor Dyker would never have stood a chance.  He would have been killed right away and tossed into a dumpster.  Luckily for him, Oasis adheres to true euthanasia standards and policies like that of Best Friends Animal Society and other no-kill-animal-loving groups.  Good ‘ol Dyker – he was such a character.  We all miss him so much.  He lived a full and enriched life at Oasis, and in turn made our lives fuller and richer.  “Thanks, Dyker!  We love you!  And say hello to Rizzo for us.  And I’ll bring the bagels when I get there.” 

There was also Orangina, our gorgeous cat, who was brought to Oasis along with Mango, her boyfriend, who died a couple of years ago.  I’m sure they have been reunited on the other side of Rainbow Bridge and are sharing a candlelight dinner and some fine catnip. 

Then there was James, our lovely and sweet tuxedo critter, along with Jesse, his buddy who lived in my house in Brooklyn (a.k.a. Oasis south).  James was a constant presence on my pillow and helped me have pleasant dreams.  With James, there was no need for sleeping pills because his soft gentle purring was the best soporific this side of a drug store counter.  “James.  Bless you.  And don’t worry, though he misses you, Jesse is doing fine.” 

Oasis also saw the loss of the wonderful and handsome, albeit curmudgeonly, cat named Ghost. We was so named because he appeared one day out of nowhere in the yard at my construction company.  He always walked slowly, and his eyes would stare at you until they pierced your soul.  He knew what you were thinking, and I guess that is why he chose us.  Ghost was then adopted out for several years to a Greenwich Village restaurant where he had first-class accommodations, including a nightly serving of Chef Anton’s haute cuisine, a fitting meal for a noble soul.  He loved lounging in the restaurant’s window for all to see his majestic being.  He was truly a work of art – some even likened him to a Picasso painting.  After the restaurant closed, Ghost developed cancer, and we cared for him until he passed away some two years later.  “Ghost, my son, the Village and Oasis will never be the same without you.”

Sawyer, the blind kitty, undoubtedly can now ‘see’ now that his life on earth has ended.  He’s flying with the angels as is O'Henri, our long-time fatso resident cat.  “O'Henri.  We miss your chubby l'il body, girl.  Thanks for being with us and showing everyone that fat cats are where it’s at.” 

Hillary, our ever so precious pot-bellied pig, succumbed to cancer.  She lived at Oasis along with her boy Ziggy for about 8 ½ years.  She loved the heated barn, and especially loved covering herself up with hay.  Sometimes we did not even know she was there until we noticed the hay “breathing.”  Hillary has been given her wings and can be seen flying past the moon on a clear night followed by the Oasis critters that have also crossed over, including rescued fighting rooster, Macho Camacho.  “The fight is over Macho!”  No mas! No mas!  You’ll always be a champ in our hearts.

We wish to thank our many supporters for being there through thick and thin, and continuing to believe in us and the continued existence of Oasis Sanctuary.

Please help us continue to help the critters.

Thanks to donations from people like you, we are able to provide quality vet treatment, medication, round-the-clock care, daily outdoor exercise, fresh country air.

We hope you’ll continue to support our work and make it possible for us to help the many more disadvantaged, abandoned, abused animals out there in need of care. All donations go directly to their care, treatment and placement in good homes. Please help us help these critters.

You can easily make an online donation, or
Send a check to:
Oasis Sanctuary/FaunaVision
163 Third Avenue, #320
New York, NY 10003

The Critters’ Wish List:
Collars & leashes * Towels * Blankets * Paper towels 
Cleaning products * Kitty litter * Work gloves * Rawhide bones * Lumber  * Office supplies * Power tools * Used furniture

© 2008 Oasis Sanctuary

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