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Gryph

@lfgryph.com

18K followers 240 following 4.8K posts

Minnesotan in SC, daughter of Yooper. Sisu. Bi. ADHD. She/her. Writer. Early 40's. Animal shelter worker. TNR. Many cats. :) Links: https://linktr.ee/gryph42 Cat Sanctuary wishlist: https://throne.com/sarahgryph

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · Mar 2

Hello! I'm Sarah (Gryph) and I work in an animal shelter. My partner and I own four cats, used to have a dog, and we TNR in our neighborhood. This account is mostly cat pics, as self care and because that is the candle I hold in the darkness. ❤️ Also occasional gaming and book talk. 🙂

I (blond, white woman in my early 40's; wearing glasses with blue/purple frames) am holding a semi feral kitten (Chessie) in one arm as I take a selfie of us. The kitten is black and white tuxedo, ear tipped, and about three months old. She is very alert, but has loose, comfy body language with one front leg just hanging. She's partially snuggled into the light grey sweatshirt I'm wearing. Behind me is an empty shelter cat kennel.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 38m

Piercing retainers in! 10/11 anyway, I'm not swapping my nose ring until after I wash my face. My ears are puffy and super cranky with me, it wasn't fun, and I'm not looking forward to swapping everything back - but at least the hard part with a time limit is done. 👍 (My ears are always sensitive.)

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 2h

I want to "like" this multiple times, perfect response. 😄

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 2h

I'm so glad you found him!!! ❤️

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 2h

Hamlet has claimed his lap for the day. He might have to come with me to the MRI, I don't make the rules, lol.

Ear tipped black cat is thoroughly curled up in my lap, as I sit at my computer. He is clutching one of my legs with one front arm/paw.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 11h

I am selling jam to a mini giraffe. Teddy's Haven: Early Access GOTY 2025. 😆

Video game screenshot from a first person POV character standing behind a wooden counter in a shop that looks like it belongs in a fantasy RPG. There's produce displayed on the far wall, with a small giraffe browsing. At the counter is another small giraffe who is buying three jars of bright blue jam. A few human shoppers dressed as adventurers are shopping as well.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 18h

I struggle with this bc I was taught s'...but when I learned that either can be correct s's makes more sense to me. It's a singular person, even if the name ends in "s." But I understand both.

Reposted by Gryph

Nash @radiodeadair.com · 19h

Rescue worker said the squirrel was a girl, and that she's seen them hurt worse.

Little thing was squirming and making noise again when I dropped her off, so that's probably good.

I'ma eat I'ma go sleep

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 20h

Baby seems SO SMALL to me, but I'm also used to baby kitten sizes, not baby squirrel sizes. I'm glad we were able to reach a wildlife rescue, and glad someone was willing to drive around on a holiday to pick up an injured baby. And not just ours, we were on a list. ❤️

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 20h

We've had the little one on a warmed rice sock since Nash found him and woke me up this morning, and gave him/her some warmed Gatorade at the advice of the volunteer we spoke to. Fingers crossed! (Never feed baby wildlife unless told by a professional, you can actually make things worse.)

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 20h

We've been babysitting an injured squirrel until a wildlife rescue could pick the little guy up. (Usually you want to reunite babies, but this one is hurt.) Nash is on his way to hand off baby, who was still hanging in there when he left. ❤️ These are the folks picking up: keeperofthewild.org/donate/

Nash @radiodeadair.com · 1d

I know we've been postponing RDA a lot, but we might need to again this week. I'm not sure yet.

It depends on this little guy.

A very small and very young baby squirrel, held in a blue washcloth.

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Reposted by Gryph

Crits For Cats, Inc. Cat Rescue @crits4cats.bsky.social · 21h

Archie, formerly Jorts Junior/JJ, was totally shut down and untrusting of humans after being surrendered at 4 months old. Look at this amazing, sweet and loving boy now!!

Ghost Herc & Möther @cosmicvulture.bsky.social · 21h

🚨folks…Archie just jumped up and made himself comfortable in my arms for the very first time. I’m crying, and obviously screaming internally. I have been waiting for this moment 😭💗🥹 @crits4cats.bsky.social

Orange tabby cat looking comfy in my arms

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

Precious little girl who came in yesterday. She looks sad in this pic, but she's okay. ❤️ Little mini Lumi except not so round, lol.

Little torbie/calico kitten sitting up in a shelter transfer cage. She has a sad look on her face, but it's just the way she looks in the shot.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

*Like, in the interim, they moved to a place that doesn't allow pets. Not that the original move was to a no pets place.

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

You're fine and I got that gist from you. ❤️ Or sometimes they've moved to a place that doesn't allow pets, which sucks.

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

*rolls eyes* I'm generally pretty open to discourse and will try to talk things through but if you start sniping at other people in my comments I'm going to block. 🤷 I don't have the time or patience to do otherwise.

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

As a sidenote that's also why a lot of shelters recommend physically looking for your pet even if it's chipped. It's a small chance of failure, but it happens. And if it migrates it can be easy to miss in a scan. We once found a microchip in a dog's toe, which definitely could have been missed.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

I'm not aware of a brand that would "expire." If they get old enough they can fail though, and they can migrate within the body so it's worth having a vet re-scan regularly. And you need to keep your info up to date through the microchip company. But I'm unaware of any that "expire."

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

Why assume the person is neglectful if you don't have any evidence of that though? Like, why would that be the first assumption? Especially for someone who goes to the shelter to reclaim as soon as the pet is found? It's such a weird assumption to make from the post I made.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

I say this as someone who works in sheltering and has seen some terrible things. If I thought assuming the worst in people was accurate or best for the animals I would do that. But what I find repeatedly is that assuming the worst just makes me miserable and most of the time isn't even the truth.

Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

So of course be careful, of course having animals securely contained/leashed is best! But when we assume the worst in people, it can prevent loved pets from being reunited for mistakes that weren't always even made by the owner themselves.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

Since it's coming up in the comments now - yes, there are situations where a very loved pet goes missing during a move. Moves are scary, there's a lot going on, movers/family/friends make mistakes, and people have differing resources to go back later. Even looking doesn't always guarantee finding.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

The owner was nearly in tears when he showed up, he was so happy she was finally found and still okay. ❤️ He was trying to figure out why he hadn't been able to find her when he looked. My guess is someone might have taken her in and never had her checked for a chip, but you never know.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

Like I said above, working in a shelter I see many different situations. Such as the elderly owner whose family moved her. Kitty escaped in the process and owner didn't have the resources to go back and look. Assuming the worst can prevent pets from being reunited with people who DO care very much.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

That's why I'm sad when people bring us "abandoned" pets without even checking to see if the original owner is actually looking for them. Assuming the worst can prevent pets from reuniting with their families.

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Gryph @lfgryph.com · 1d

Working in a shelter, I've seen situations where the person was, as an example, elderly. Kitty escaped while family was moving them and they didn't have the resources to go back and look. There are 100% situations I have seen with my own eyes where bad things happen with a truly loving owner.

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