I never include this kind of propaganda, but the video below totally *rocks* and expresses my sentiments about this "high kill" shelter. I don't always see eye-to-eye with this group, but whomever produced this video was right on the money this time:
Turn on your sound and let's hope the Mayor of this ass-backward city will do something positive for the animals for a change.
I understand that this shelter had a large "kill day" yesterday. No rescues were aware that the cats would be killed on an unusual "vet day" and couldn't rescue any of the little souls in time.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
The Sick Ward
I've been SO sick all week! It happens every year - always the worst time of the year. It's probably just a cold - but holy crap - it's a cold that has really knocked me on my ass for the past 4 days.
I'm not half as sick as the poor souls we recently rescued from the high kill shelter last weekend. Every goddamn time we rescue from that place I throw my hands in the air and say, "I'm *DONE*" But how could I ever say "no" to a volunteer who wants to help one, two or more from there?
The majority of these cats are brought into this shelter healthy. If they don't leave the shelter dead, they usually are brewing some sort of virus or infection. Here's the picture I received this morning from a distraught foster parent who chose "Zeke" a week ago.
Zeke has been to the vets twice in 7 days. He was left at the vets today to be on IV, and get more intensive care. He's going to die unless he receives this care. He stopped eating a week ago - right after rescue. The blood you see in his nose is due to Calici virus - ulcers are all over his tongue.
If I lost my cat and picked it up at this shelter 2 days later (they are able to kill them on day #4) and I got stuck with $1000.00+ vet bills because of a f*cking virus that runs rampant at that shelter, I'd be royally pissed.
Truthfully? I *am* royally pissed. So are the other rescues who want to help the cats at this shelter. I received a lovely donation recently and every dime of it is going to go to help this one cat.
I feel like billing The City for the care of this cat. Ha.
It's been a while since I vented about this shelter. Maybe I was due. We've rescued 30+ cats and kittens in the past 14 days from the low-kill shelter. The majority of them were adopted IMMEDIATELY because they were healthy.
Why can't this shelter stop this constant barrage of sickness? I want to help them. I desperately want to be on their side. I want to be enthusiastic when a volunteer wants to rescue a cat from this facility. There are DOZENS of sweet cats like Zeke in this Animal Services that need rescue. I don't want to walk away because "I can't afford it."
/rant
I'm not half as sick as the poor souls we recently rescued from the high kill shelter last weekend. Every goddamn time we rescue from that place I throw my hands in the air and say, "I'm *DONE*" But how could I ever say "no" to a volunteer who wants to help one, two or more from there?
The majority of these cats are brought into this shelter healthy. If they don't leave the shelter dead, they usually are brewing some sort of virus or infection. Here's the picture I received this morning from a distraught foster parent who chose "Zeke" a week ago.
If I lost my cat and picked it up at this shelter 2 days later (they are able to kill them on day #4) and I got stuck with $1000.00+ vet bills because of a f*cking virus that runs rampant at that shelter, I'd be royally pissed.
Truthfully? I *am* royally pissed. So are the other rescues who want to help the cats at this shelter. I received a lovely donation recently and every dime of it is going to go to help this one cat.
I feel like billing The City for the care of this cat. Ha.
It's been a while since I vented about this shelter. Maybe I was due. We've rescued 30+ cats and kittens in the past 14 days from the low-kill shelter. The majority of them were adopted IMMEDIATELY because they were healthy.
Why can't this shelter stop this constant barrage of sickness? I want to help them. I desperately want to be on their side. I want to be enthusiastic when a volunteer wants to rescue a cat from this facility. There are DOZENS of sweet cats like Zeke in this Animal Services that need rescue. I don't want to walk away because "I can't afford it."
/rant
Monday, December 10, 2012
*Home*
It's definitely been a few days of happiness for me and the rescue! I'm trying to wallow in some rescue happiness while I have it!
After writing about the purebred Bengal named Seamus at the shelter, one of our own foster parents came forward and offered to give Seamus a temporary home. It was obvious to this doting foster parent that Seamus was not just stressed but very depressed. My heart sank whens he told me that she thought that Seamus came to realization that he was never going back home again. God, how I hate hearing that.
But The Seamus' Story wasn't over. A wonderful couple who read my blog came forward and offered to adopt Seamus! They already have a Bengal of similar age and understand all the Bengal idiosyncrasies. My heart soared when they updated the foster Mom that he wasn't hiding and greeted them at the door - totally opposite of what the foster Mom experienced!
Seamus knows he's *home*! Is there any better word than that? Home!
Speaking of awesome adoptions, my own foster kitten "Merry" was adopted within 24 hours of her picture on our website! I hardly got to really know her :)
Merry was my first foster in a long time. Honestly, I think she was probably too young for my house. She promptly tinkled on my new living room rug. (Of course, it's a WHITE RUG - what was I thinking when I bought that stupid thing?) It wasn't her fault. I need a foster cat old enough to make it downstairs to the laundry room litterbox. I don't keep a main floor litterbox.
Our volunteers were back to the high kill shelter on Saturday and rescued 2 adult cats and 2 older kittens and one tiny little 5 week old dude. I laughed when I found out they were ALL tabbies!
I don't think I've stopped smiling :)
After writing about the purebred Bengal named Seamus at the shelter, one of our own foster parents came forward and offered to give Seamus a temporary home. It was obvious to this doting foster parent that Seamus was not just stressed but very depressed. My heart sank whens he told me that she thought that Seamus came to realization that he was never going back home again. God, how I hate hearing that.
But The Seamus' Story wasn't over. A wonderful couple who read my blog came forward and offered to adopt Seamus! They already have a Bengal of similar age and understand all the Bengal idiosyncrasies. My heart soared when they updated the foster Mom that he wasn't hiding and greeted them at the door - totally opposite of what the foster Mom experienced!
Seamus knows he's *home*! Is there any better word than that? Home!
Speaking of awesome adoptions, my own foster kitten "Merry" was adopted within 24 hours of her picture on our website! I hardly got to really know her :)
Merry was my first foster in a long time. Honestly, I think she was probably too young for my house. She promptly tinkled on my new living room rug. (Of course, it's a WHITE RUG - what was I thinking when I bought that stupid thing?) It wasn't her fault. I need a foster cat old enough to make it downstairs to the laundry room litterbox. I don't keep a main floor litterbox.
Our volunteers were back to the high kill shelter on Saturday and rescued 2 adult cats and 2 older kittens and one tiny little 5 week old dude. I laughed when I found out they were ALL tabbies!
I don't think I've stopped smiling :)
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
After the Rescue
As always, it felt sad to be at the shelter yesterday. Although it was a "Vet day" that morning, there were still quite a few cats that were hopeful that their family or a rescue might show up to save their lives. But it's always the EMPTY cages that bother me the most.
It was time for me to pick a foster for myself. We're settled into our new home and the cats seem happy. I may have bitten off more than I could chew with "Merry":
Merry was meowing pitifully in her cage and although I figured she might have a chance at another rescue taking her....why couldn't THAT rescue be ME? She's 10 weeks of perfect cuteness:
I didn't realize it at the time, but the spots on this girl are pretty amazing. She definitely has an attitude and I'm terrified that Sherman might teach her some tricks of the trade.
As promised, I also rescued a sweet Persian that we've named "Feliz":
It never ceases to amaze me what 24 hours worth of love in a foster home can do:
Doesn't that look like THE PERFECT spot for a cat? I feel like getting a cup of tea and curling up with her in that sunny window!
Let's hope they stay healthy...
It was time for me to pick a foster for myself. We're settled into our new home and the cats seem happy. I may have bitten off more than I could chew with "Merry":
As promised, I also rescued a sweet Persian that we've named "Feliz":
It never ceases to amaze me what 24 hours worth of love in a foster home can do:
Let's hope they stay healthy...
Monday, December 03, 2012
Purebred and Hopeless
I was so happy to receive an email from a foster Mom asking me to rescue a specific cat from the "high kill" shelter. Although I don't need an excuse to go, I like knowing that I'm taking somebody that would have no other chance:
I look at her little face and wonder what she's like. Will she be happy to see me? Will she like my little rescue song? Apparently, she's very sweet and everybody really likes her. Poor baby was loaded with fleas when she came in. Of course, she's already sick from the shelter, and Persians don't have it easy when they get an upper respiratory infection. Their stubby noses make it nearly impossible to breathe. Fortunately, she's going to an experienced foster Mom.
At a not-so-high-kill shelter, there's a purebred Bengal that needs help. He's five years old, soooo sweet and handsome:
The shelter contacted me and asked for me to put the word out that this boy needs out of the shelter. Bengals can be a tricky breed and this guy doesn't seem too thrilled with other cats but really seems to like dogs! Go figure! I certainly wouldn't want him to go to somebody who thinks Bengals look "cool". He needs somebody who understands the breed.
I don't know what people are thinking spending copious amounts of money on purebred cats and then dumping them at the shelter. Don't the breeders ask questions of the people who adopt? I suppose reputable breeders do.
People are surprised that purebred cats are at shelters and being killed due to overcrowding. They seem to think that it makes sense that the shelters kill the black ones, or the plain ones. But heaven forbid they kill the purebred cats - the special cats.
I received an email this morning from a woman asking for help with a cat. She's moving TOMORROW into a place that doesn't accept cats. So this guy is going to be homeless tomorrow:
I'm not surprised that this shit happens. People think that pets are disposable. They'll just get another one when they're life "sorts itself out."
In the meantime, that 7 year old tabby guy is killing me. He has no idea that his life is hanging in the balance. He's sitting there all warm and happy in his home and soft carpet. He thinks somebody loves him. Tomorrow he'll be abandoned in a steel cage. I wonder how he'll feel when the door *clangs* shut and he's given food that he's never eaten before.
He'll feel the same way the Persian and Bengal feels. Hopeless.
At a not-so-high-kill shelter, there's a purebred Bengal that needs help. He's five years old, soooo sweet and handsome:
I don't know what people are thinking spending copious amounts of money on purebred cats and then dumping them at the shelter. Don't the breeders ask questions of the people who adopt? I suppose reputable breeders do.
People are surprised that purebred cats are at shelters and being killed due to overcrowding. They seem to think that it makes sense that the shelters kill the black ones, or the plain ones. But heaven forbid they kill the purebred cats - the special cats.
I received an email this morning from a woman asking for help with a cat. She's moving TOMORROW into a place that doesn't accept cats. So this guy is going to be homeless tomorrow:
I'm not surprised that this shit happens. People think that pets are disposable. They'll just get another one when they're life "sorts itself out."
In the meantime, that 7 year old tabby guy is killing me. He has no idea that his life is hanging in the balance. He's sitting there all warm and happy in his home and soft carpet. He thinks somebody loves him. Tomorrow he'll be abandoned in a steel cage. I wonder how he'll feel when the door *clangs* shut and he's given food that he's never eaten before.
He'll feel the same way the Persian and Bengal feels. Hopeless.
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