Pet Food

http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/784/Patrick06.html

Now this is a very interesting article about pet food done by a Harvard student in 2006 labeled "Deconstructing the Regulatory Façade: Why Confused Consumers Feed their Pets Ring Dings and Krispy Kremes"

Bet you never considered the food you were feeding could be equated to Ring Dings did ya?  (well unless you've actually been reading this blog and read up on pet food in the past)

See, it isn't just me who thinks dry food = cookies :)

oh yea, and in case you want more references...

http://www.catinfo.org
http://www.feline-nutrition.org
http://www.felineoutreach.org/Education.html
http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm
http://www.felinenutrition.net/
http://rawfedkitty.org/

not amused with blogger

not quite sure what I am going to do at this point.  Blogger recently announced it is no longer going to support FTP. 

Why does this bother me?? I mean if I hosted with blogger wouldn't everything be much more seamless?? well yes, but then none of my work - my images, my writings, my stories, etc would be on server space I own (ok, that I rent) it would be part of THEIR stuff and I wouldn't have access to it.

But does that matter?  really?  I mean how many times have I gone looking for images in my own server space?  on this blog almost never.  The few times I have looked for past history, I have done it through blogger's archive info.

I have really resisted being hosted on their servers, and I now have to decide if I want to continue with blogger and move everything over there?  or do I want to switch blogging services (OMG even the thought of that is overwhelming) and continue to host it myself?

I don't have all that much time to decide..   I am leaning towards going along with blogger, but let me reitterate, I am NOT amused..

*shakes head*

I got a free sample from *name of cat food sample people removed*, and in the brochure, it says "The cat can unfortunately not be credited with instinctively knowing what is good for it"

Seriously?  I suppose an adult cat that has been fed lower quality foods regularly will have a craving for those foods - much as I have cravings for cookies.  But if you have ever offered a kitten dry food, canned food or meat, they'll go for the meat every single time.  They more often then not growl and run off with their prized food.  Even now Skippy still hoards pieces of meat when I put chunks down.  Growling, running off.. MINE!!

They know.  They have just gotten used to the "junk", and are very resistant to change..

food choices, vaccine choices and declawing

Warning rant coming...

Ok, so most of you know by now that I am fairly passionate about certain things regarding kitties.  I think all cats should be fed a canned or preferably raw diet, I think that vaccines should be studied carefully and questioned, that cats should not be allowed to roam freely outside, and I think declawing is inhumane.

But what you might or might not get is that while *I* believe these things, I want you to believe what you are going to believe after reading the information out there.  I know full well it can be confusing, because your vet whom you are supposed to be able to trust to tell you the best medical information for your pet may or may not be the best source.  After all, they do have a financial stake in getting you in the office and selling you the food they sell and having you partake in their services.  Do I think all vets are "corrupt" absolutely not.  Do I think they honestly think that they are doing what is your best interest....I hope most of them are.  I honestly hope that most of them are spouting information that is proven to be against what I (and many other people and vets) believe because they truly think they are giving out appropriate information and the financial incentive is just a bonus.  After all if you go to school and a major pet food company sponsors your nutrition classes, you tend think the college agrees with the information being taught, so there for they have some reputation with the students and when they go and set up shop they are courted once again by these companies to sell their food that they have been taught is good, and hey look you make money too.  I mean they MUST know what they are doing, after all they have been in business for YEARS and make TONS of money.. right?

What I don't understand is why these students who are taught that cats are obligate carnivores believe that cats should be eating food that is mostly plant material..

but I'm digressing..

I belong to several message boards out there for cats.  One being generic pet owners.. the Tom Dick and Harry-s of the world who generally believe what their vets tell them is the absolute truth, and there is no need to question it (most but not all)  Another is a board for a cat illness.  These owners have learned first hand that vets can be fallible, but also still hold a healthy respect for their abilities.  The last I'm going to mention is a holistic group who have almost no respect for vets and traditional medicine.  They admit that there is a need for vet, but that you should question EVERYTHING and they generally believe that all the dogma of veterinary medicine is just that and should be avoided if possible.  I do learn things from each group, which I love, but getting either group on the polar opposites to listen to anything that is outside of what they believe is like pulling teeth.

The generic group (oh these are horrible names, so please forgive my attempt to keep things generalized) doesn't want to hear about vaccine protocols, and that there might be some question if you even need to give them every three as is the current recommendation. They are dead set on "you need to follow my vet's recommendation or you are anti-whateveritiswearetalkingabout.  Declawing posts set off a mail storm of hate mail - even if all you want to do is get the information (hey, tell me about declawing... it sucks man, and you suck for even thinking it!!)  You should have seen the furry of posts about a cat going outside.. it was almost shameful.  While I am the poster child for indoor, clawed, raw fed kitties, my intention is always to post information so the owner can make informed decisions.  I do my best to never insult or defame anyone.  Occasionally tempers are short, and stuff is taken the wrong way - especially if the OP does not include all the information  (My cat is sick and I can't afford to take it to the vet...me: well you could try this or this, but you could be making things worse, if you honestly can not scrape the money together, and the organizations out there to help can't help, then maybe you should consider rehoming the kitty so you can be in a better financial situation...  HOW COULD YOU SUGGEST I DON"T LOVE MY CAT AND AREN'T WILLING TO DO EVERYTHING TO FIX IT, I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO SAID PROBLEM... me: um.. ok, but you didn't say that originally...)

the group of cat owners who are in the middle - those fighting a particular illness are generally the most grounded owners.  They are a little militant about some things, but for the most part, owners who are willing to go above and beyond and treat a pet for a long term illness are people who are willing to listen to different opinions and have the ability to open their minds to other options.  I mean after all they did turn to the *internet* for help caring for their pets.. :)  They can come off a little strong when dealing with owners of newly diagnosed cats (hey, listen to me, what your vet who studied medicine for years is wrong, and I whom you have never met knows what is best for your and your cat!!  ok for the most part that is true, as most often these pet owners have been there and done that and fallen prey to vet mistakes, but when you say it like that who is going to listen to you?)

The holistic group is really interesting.  They can have a circular logic.  I  have seen them say in one post that you can't correlate what happens in humans with what happens in cats, but then turn around and say in a different post that there are things that happen in humans so we must be careful in cats.  (same with dogs).  They are quite extreme in their beliefs that all vaccines are bad - that you should avoid them at all costs.  That dry food is completely inappropriate and has NO place in a cat's diet, and that there is NEVER an excuse for declawing (ok, most people hold that.. )  They have also said flea infestations are a result of an improper diet.

I know I have failed from time to time to present the information I believe to be true in an objective POV, but I hope I have never made anyone feel bad for their past choices.  What is done is done.  All we can hope is that we can learn from one another and move on from here.

FYI

You absolutely do not need to believe what I believe in order for me to believe you are a good pet owner.  For me to think you are a good pet owner, you just need to keep asking the questions.. and want what is best for YOUR kitty..

*my intent here is not to insult any one particular person/group.  Just to talk about the differences of opinions out there, and to rant about why some people feel that discussion is inappropriate.  I was a Tom Dick/Harry pet owner.. and two of my cats blocked from urinary crystals, and one became diabetic.  It was discussion and research that helped me learn how to keep my cats in the best health I believe to be possible - even if that is contrary to what my vet might suggest..

YAHOO!!!

http://winnfelinehealth.blogspot.com/2009/08/potential-treatment-for-fip.html

Potential Treatment for FIP!

wow!

arrgh

well apparently I can't host my own blog and use blogger functionality. How frustrating (and why is there no spell check on this new dashboard??)


I want a cute blog.. not this bland plain thing, but I can't seem to get it right.
*this* is what I WANT the blog to look like (although the kitty image is a little big)


Ok that isn't true, I want a really cute adorable blog, not a plain blog with just one image at the top, but I like the functionality of the gadgets on the side. I suppose I could do a cname entry in my host and point to the blogger website, but I do really like the idea of hosting everything myself.
*headdesk*

Feral vs Stray

Ok, this has bugged me for a while, and chances are I've already ranted about it on this blog somewhere. But someone just recently posted that they adopted a "feral" cat. and the cat is friendly and loving.

Ok.. two types of cats. Feral and stray.


Strays and Feral cats are so different that they almost seem like two completely different types of animals. I have known shy stray cats that open up after a day or two or a week. Getting a feral cat to open up is like .. well I haven't yet seen it happen, so I'm not quite sure what it is like.

If you can touch it and love on it, it is not feral.

for more information

I'll see if I can't get a video of Sun soon. Another difference I've seen between feral and scared stray cats is that stay cats will give you warning. They understand the ability to signal to a human. Sun does not react until she actually lashes out at me. Neither did my previous feral mom..

excuse me?

from Wellness Pet foods

Cats do not adjust water intake based on their diet, and have reduced total water intake when fed dry foods only. Pet owners should encourage cats to drink water and have an adequate fluid intake daily.

Um.. ok, lets break this down.

Cats do not adjust water intake based on their diet so cats have a low thirst drive, and won't drink more if they are eating a low moisture diet.. yes, true.
and have a reduced water intake when fed dry foods only. yup. Dry food can lead to chronic dehydration.. totally.
Pet owners should encourage cats to drink water um.. how? Seriously? how do you get a cat to drink water that has a low thirst drive and as you just said do not adjust water intake based on their diet

So in other words, they are telling you that dry food is not appropriate foods for your cats to eat, but since they still sell it and they still want people to buy it they are trying to create themselves an out?? seems so contradictory to me. If you know cats need water, then why are you selling a product that doesn't contain it and will cause cats to need to do something they aren't willing to do (aka adjust water intake based on their diet)

*shakes head*

there will always be dry food, and I don't think that is a bad thing. I do believe that there is a place for dry food in a cat's diet(not every cat, just cats in general), just as there is a place for McDonald's food in a human diet (again not everyone, but humans in general) or ice cream or cookies..

*head bang desk*

I swear one of these days I'm going to stop fostering. I love the challenge of taking care of neo-natal kittens, of sick kittens and kitties, I love watching them learn and grow, and teaching them about the world..

but the down side of dealing with the shelter sometimes really just causes me to go off the deep end.

It's mostly me. most reasonable people wouldn't have an issue with this (yes, I'm calling myself unreasonable - but hey at least I know it) but I care.. (ok I care too much)

I got a call yesterday about Benny. She's been vomiting. ooh.. big surprise. She was bored at my house and hyper grooming. she was brought over to the adoption center and stuck in a small little cage.. so I'm sure she was bored. while I was never officially asked, it very much sounded like they wanted me to take her back. I can't, as the room she was in is being used, and frankly she needs more than I can give her. Find her another foster home where she can interact with the people.. this is what she needs (short of finding her a home) Not to mention, if you are concerned about her blood sugars, YOU TEST HER!! um.. you have all the equiptment, and it isn't that hard.. I showed you how.. *sigh* I'm ranting. yes.. I know. I know testing is a new skill set, and I know it is intimidating for people who arent used to it..

*sigh*

then I tried to talk to them about Fleurp too. She's got puss in her ears and it has got to be running down the back of her throat because she swallows hard / makes vomiting motions sometimes. Her breathing is very hard. I don't believe it is a simple uri because she's active, eating, and shows no outward sign of illness (other than the heavy nasal breathing) I believe she's got a growth or something in her nasal passage or sinus cavety, and it is creating puss, and it is coming out her ears. Antibiotics helped the first time, and I believe they'll help her again this time (which is what they wanted me to do) but I do not believe it will remove the underlying cause of her issue. Once her round of antibiotics are done, it will come back. I want to be proactive. I want them to take her to someone who can look up her nose or in her ear and find out what is causing the puss.. but.. $$ is always an issue with a public (heck even a private) shelter, and antibiotics are cheap. specialists are expensive.

so all this stress (and the stress of dealing with sick kittens) caused me to have a pretty horrid dream last night (warning, it is horrid, so if you want to stop reading now that's ok) I had a large fish tank, and I bought three inch gold fish. I put them in the tank, keeping two out in a separate area. One of the two I kept separate wasn't doing well - a black and white fish - so I put it in the tank with the others. Soon afterwards the fish all started to die. the little black and white fish died near the pole for the water filtration system. I looked again, and the fish turned into a little black and white kitten (that looked like Happiness) with it's paws wrapped around the pole. I looked again, and the fish all turned into kittens. the one remaining fish/kitten was ok, but I was freaking out, and woke up before I did anything with it. I feared Happy had died over night, but she was ok. I guess I was just stressed that I wasn't getting my way with the shelter - which I need to learn to relax about. These kitties are not going to die because we do things the way the shelter wants and not the way I want. It really is ok.. *big deep breath* but I want them my way!!! rant rant rant

It helps to rant here.. sometiems I know I want the moon and it isn't available. and until I see that I'm asking for the moon.. I can't be that objective. I'll probably end up asking for the moon eventually, but I don't need to be there now.

I need to be flogged

*hangs head in shame*

I know this thought is wrong, so very very wrong on so many different levels, but I can't keep myself from thinking it.

What if Noddy and Goo mated? would I start a race of super small kittens? I mean goodness sakes, they are four months old and two pounds!!

Now, besides the fact that super small kitties would probably have a very hard time coming to term with a litter.. and besides the fact that they are brother and sister... I am anti-breeding!!!

but OMG they would make really cute kittens..

*hangs head again*

let the flogging begin

do your kittens free roam? are they neutered?

if yes to the first or no to the second then bitch slap yourself for me.

This morning I was driving into work and saw a dead kitten in the middle of the other lane. I know that there are people who enjoy running over dead animals, and this kitten looked recently hit, so I did a u-turn and pulled over to get the kitten out of the side of the road.

I had nothing in my car to help me *makes mental note to put something in the car* so I had to scruff the kitten and grab some fur near it's tail to get it off the road. I laid it gently in the fallen leaves on the side of the road. It was near a house. I thought of knocking on the door, but it was early, and if it was their cat, they would find it soon enough.

This little gray kitten couldn't have been more than four months old. It was recently hit because it was warm. I believe it was owned, because it was quite heavy for its size. (aka it hasn't missed a meal)

there was a pool of blood in the road, and the poor kitten's eye was knocked out of its head. Fortunately for me it was still attached, cause honestly I think I would have lost it if I had seen it roll away.

I'm sorry for the graphic nature of this post. I assume most people who visit my blog are cat lovers and abhor this kind of imagry. Hell I abhor it and I had to deal with it.

Not that this would have been any easier if it was an adult cat. I know. I moved one of those off the road several years ago. but something about this little bit of a kitten losing it's life just kills me. No kitten that young should be free roaming. I can only hope it's owners didn't know it was out. that somehow it escaped..

But I know there are owners out there who think nothing of letting younglings run free. They think it is their nature - like squirrels or woodchucks - to be able to run around in the wild. heck, I used to be one of those people. Now I know what comes of a lot of cats that free roam. I think the risk is just too high.

The risk is just too high.

Ok, vent over. I am sorry if you have a kitty that is an outdoor kitty that can not be kept inside. I know that pain. the first kitty I adopted once I was on my own was semi feral. He wanted to be outside in the worst way. He was distructive to get outside. silly thing was once he was outside if we shut the door he freaked and wanted back in. We sat with him to let him know that we would always let him back in. and yes, years later we lost him to the great outdoors. the kitty I owned growing up was an indoor-outdoor cat, and he was lucky to live to a ripe ol age... but he too knew the sting of getting hit by car. fortunately he was smarter for the experience, and not killed, because he was VERY leary of the road after that. Those kitties that already go outside, transitioning them to indoor only can be very hard if not impossible. It is the kittens that don't ever need to know about outside. they can live full happy indoor lives. and usually if you get them past that first initial desire to explore the new and interesting world out there, then they almost never want to actually go out there. Look and be amused by the wind and the birds .. aka cat tv.. yes.. but explore the unknown.. *shudder* I tried to leash train my kitties, but I had missed that critical window of opportunity where new was exciting and not scary and overwhelming. they all freaked at being outside.

alright, I'm rambling. I guess I'm trying to justify my outrage and apease those who let their cats outside. *shrug* I'm allowed to be outraged and angry. I have kitten blood on my shoe.

Celebracats

Ok, you've all seen the news stories on particular cats who went through some sort of tragidy, and made it on the news. I'm pretty sure I've blogged about it, and I know I've said it as much as makes me want to pitch kitties off roofs to find them homes. I'll do the jail time if it will bring some attention to all the homeless cats. (cause it isn't like there is much jail time for doing such a thing anyway)

so I just read
a follow up on the 44lb cat.

and the first comment sickened me. junipurr a worker at the shelter said:
Regardless, the cat's fame brought a very miniscule amount of cat adoptions to our shelter. This particular article is one of the only ones that stressed the urgency of homes for shelter cats, not only for our shelter, but for all shelters. This is so incredibly unfortunate. As this article mentioned, out of the hundreds of applications for Prince Chunk, not one person even considered adopting another one of our pudgy or fit kitties. How absurd! Instead of focusing on this unhealthily overweight famous feline, the media should be promoting adoptions of the hundreds of other homeless cats.

seriously? these people only wanted the 44lb cat? wouldn't look at another? arrgh.

So my new plan *feel free to steal this idea and pass it around, implement if you want* is that when ever you have celebra-cats, you do a lottery. Adopt a cat from the shelter, and you can put your name in to adopt the one that made it on the news. Sounds like a win win situation doesn't it? :)

yea, I see the flaws in it.. no, I'm not going to mention them cause my bitterness will show through.

Getting along no longer necessary

This is a very sad post. Sorry.

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night Thursday night and just knew something was wrong. I went down to check on the kittens, and found the kitten I had introduced you to was having a very hard time breathing. I sat up with her most of the night, and tried to get her to eat, and tried to help her to breathe. After a couple of hours, I had to go back to bed. at four am I crawled back up to bed leaving the kit with her mom hoping that things would be ok. In the morning she was still breathing hard, and was turning blue. I rubbed her to get her going, and brought her to the shelter to get help. She went to a vet, and was diagnosed with pneumonia. I tried, but several hours later things were worse. She was cold, and breathing even slower. I tried to get mom involved, but she really wasn't interested in helping out. At 4:30 (after lots of involvement in between that I'm not posting about)I found her dead. completely devastating.

I could go on ranting about the horridness of the pet over population, and how this never should have happened in the first place, how the shelter is full, how there are too many cats and not enough homes, and how it is irresponsible for these cats to be allowed to stay in cages etc.. but I just don't have the heart. I'm broken. It takes a lot to rescue cats and know you can't save them all and still do it. and when you lose one so quickly, and there being nothing you can do.. ok, when I lose one so quickly and there is nothing I can do, I'm at a loss.

My last set of fosters went up for adoption today too. The tabby got adopted to an older woman who wanted a really spunky kitten to get along with her yr old cat and her GSD. She also adopted another yr old cat from the shelter at the same time. Hopefully things will go well.

My favorite of the tigers got adopted to another older woman who I think is a perfect fit. She said she was going to call her Mellow :)

Luna (aka Elle) couldn't be adopted today. I took her out of the cage when I got there, and found she had a HUGE hernia where her spay occurred. Something happened. It happened with the last set of mine that went to the same pet hospital. I wrote an email to the manager to let her know. I want to take it up with the vet, but I'm assuming it is not my place to do so. Makes me very unhappy though. later in the afternoon when I decided to go home, I took Luna out of the cage again to say good bye, and found that she had a HUGE bruise under the hernia. *sigh* I feel so bad leaving her there, but I don't think bringing her here would have been in her best interest either.

all too many times when I am dealing with rescue, I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall. I see them moving mountains in other areas, but when I advocate for something I'm put off. Just makes it hard.

I do have that second mother and her kit. they seem to be doing ok. Mom's third eyelid won't fully go down, but it hasn't since she gave birth.. she also seems to be blowing snot bubbles too, so I'll be keeping a good eye on her.. Got to love my web cam :)

Why do I do this to myself??

Every single time I go to craigslist.org into the pets section, I leave wanting to beat someone silly. EVERY SINGLE TIME!! tonight's posts were just over the top

Male Mittens and Female Sophie both spayed and neutured. Declawed in front only, Going away for summer need good home ASAP. They are 4 years old and I want to keep them together. They love kids and never scratch us! See pictures and you will fall in love....

Please help so they get the love they deserve.

you are going away for the summer so you are rehoming your cats?? OMG really?? then yes, absolutely these cats deserve some love!! arrgh

and
Trying to save two cat's lives!

My step mother has been taking care of my sister’s cats for about 5 years now. They are Jack and Sophie, I have pictures of them (see attached). Unfortunately due to her travel schedules she is no longer able to take care of them. She knows they will not thrive in a shelter situation so she feels that the only fair thing to do would be to euthanize them if she can’t find homes for them. ( I know, I know! The date she has set is August 1 so this is time sensitive) :/ *kitties descriptions edited out

OMG.. they won't thrive being dead either!! at least give these poor kitties a chance!

I could rant on and on, but chances are if you are reading this blog you are ranting yourself.. no need to add to it :)

PSA

HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website

Yet another thing that bothers me

Boston Woman Might Adopt Miracle Cat

A cat in California was stuck up a tree for several days. It jumped out as they were trying to rescue it and fell six stories. It survived, then hid in a car engine. They got him out and brought him to a shelter, and now according to Inside Edition has gotten hundreds of calls to adopt him.

Now this is a plain ol black cat. The only thing special about him is that he was on TV.

and you know the hundreds of people who called in to adopt Lucky aren't going to adopt just any ol cat.. they want the celebr-cat.

How sad. Apparently there are hundreds of homes who could take a cat, and they won't. These cats just die because they weren't on tv..

ALMOST (can I emphasise that more??) makes me want to chuck kitties out windows..

Rant

Ok, here's another rant from me.

I was reading a newsletter from another local shelter in my general area. It like my own shelter is what is known in the industry as "open admission" shelters.

This newsletter had several articles referring to it's open admission status because quite often they are asked if they are a "no kill" shelter.

People who are not into rescue (ok, and some that are) are all into "no kill" shelters because they think they are better. No risk of little fluffy being killed right??

Well.. ok, that is some what true.. but not completely.

Lets get into the facts about shelters.

Shelters are there to HELP the pet over population that is absolutely a result of ignorant humans. Because of the general belief that pets can fend for themselves, or that pets should have litters, or that brother and sisters won't mate, or their "absolutely positively always indoor pet" couldn't possibly escape (you have no idea what a pet in heat is like) there are now billions of homeless pets in this country alone. no, that isn't a typo. Billions. Thousands are being put to sleep each and every day in this country. and then there are the thousands that die with out ever seeing a human. It is shameful.

so what is John or Jane Doe supposed to do when they have a little fluffy they can't take care of? Well first of all they shouldn't have taken in a pet if they couldn't care for it. Unlike children, there is no government welfare to help families out to take care of pets. Since pets (in the eyes of the law) are property, if you can't afford one, you shouldn't get one. Period. It is harsh of me to say, and I know if I weren't in a place financially to have a pet I would be devastated. (but then again I know about my local shelter's fostering program, so I'd probably be a part of that regardless)


Anyway.. I'm digressing. This fluffy has to go somewhere.. doesn't it? What are your options?? well you could list it in the paper or on craigslist to try to find a home for it. You can try to pawn it off on family and friends. You could try to find a "no kill' shelter for it. You could find somewhere and just set it free and hope it finds a home, or you can take it to an 'open admission' shelter.. yes.. they have dubiously earned the rep of "kill shelter" due to no kill shelters.

Lets go through these options. posting to find a home. Well, who is going to come and get your fluffy? well maybe you'll luck out and you'll find a nice person who lives in a nice home who has lots of resources to take care of your pet. But honestly, they probably have either gotten their pets from a breeder, or the shelter, or they know people who know people.. there aren't a lot of nice people looking on craigslist or on the paper. There is a better chance that it is a home just like the one it is leaving. Someone who can't afford the adoption fee from a shelter and wants a 'free' pet because they honestly can't afford it. well now the pet is back in the same situation, and there is a darn good chance that if it becomes sick or injured, the owners are going to be tossing it out or listing it on craigslist (that pet section is just so sad some days). now.. those are the good options. There is a darn good chance that the person who is coming to get your pet is going to lie to you, and lie big. Either they are a reseller to labs, or for other not so scrupulous options. Don't think it happens? get your head out of the sand. Where do you think they get animals for 'animal testing'? you think they go through the hassle of breeding them for this? They buy them from people who go out and get 'free' pets. Talk about pure profit for these people. And all it takes is a little lie. It is completely heart breaking.

So.. you try to pawn them off on friends and family. Doesn't that make you the popular one??

Ok, so that isn't sounding as good. No Kill shelters are always touted as the best place to take pets. and in theory no kill shelters are a good place. However, because they are not 'open admission' shelters, they simply stop accepting animals when they don't have room. so good luck finding a no kill shelter who can actually take an animal. Now say you do find one who can. How do you know they really are an honest to goodness shelter and not a woman hoarding pets?? What kind of conditions are the pets in? do they get lavished attention or set to languish in an over crowded room and fed what ever food is available? lets say you luck out, and you find an honest to goodness no kill shelter who cares about the animals, and lavishes attention on them, and will keep them till they find a home. Sound great doesn't it? well where are these pets kept. It is a rare shelter that keeps pets in a home like environment. Chances are they are in a cage of some sort. Can you imagine spending months if not years in a small cage? is that REALLY in fluffy's best interest?? Maybe fluffy gets lucky, it is a good facility, they socialize often, etc, but as I've said, that is rare.

So you think if you set it free somewhere it will survive just fine? doubt it. When I moved into an apartment as a newly wed, I saw a small little kitten on the stoop. I listened to my DH tell me not to feed it or pay attention to it cause it would never leave. I wish I hadn't.. because several months later I ran into that kitten again as a young adult. thin, matted, and smelling of the local dumpster, the kitty was on its last leg. I brought it in and tried to nurse it back to health, but again I was ignorant. The kitty had felv, and was dying. She just got worse and worse, and eventually I had to have her put down. The bite out of my budget for a kitty that wasn't even mine was devastating, but I could not let that kitten suffer any more. So many pets die on the streets either from disease, from starvation, at the hands of bigger predator animals or being hit by cars, or killed for the amusement of some sick and twisted human. Unless you specifically hand over the care of your pet to a specific individual, you risk your pet being a homeless statistic.

So then that leaves "open admission" shelters. Your generic county shelter/pound. Now I will admit, there are a LOT of badly run pounds. I won't even dignify calling them a shelter. They take pets in, hold them for any required by law length of time, then put the animals down. But even that is a fate better than being left to die on the street, or being put into a testing facility. Heck, even being in a home that won't treat a simple illness is (to me) a worse fate. So many times I see people posting on line looking for info on their pet's health saying "I can't afford a vet". Um.. a pet isn't a toaster. It can not wait for you to have money to go to the vet. Just like children they need to go to a dr when they are sick. it can not wait, and to do so is to cause pain and suffering to the pet and in many communities is it actually against the law. So even in the worst possible scenario of bringing a pet to an open admission shelter and it being put down, often that is the preferable solution to possible options for the pet. Sounds mean? sounds cruel? Well I'm not going to disagree. I want perfect homes for each and every fluffy out there, but there aren't. I'm a realist. I know that the options for a lot of pets are horrid. I know I wouldn't want to live my life out in a cage.

However, a lot of 'open admission' shelters have evolved and do amazing incredible work with the minuscule funds they get. Life saving treatment, behaviour modification, training, fostering, socialization. A lot of "open admission" shelters have adoption rates that rival 'no kill' shelters. The staff care (probably too much at times) and work very hard to find the right pets for the right people so they stay in their new homes. They screen adopters to make sure they are aware of the responsibility of owning a pet, and can deal with emergencies as well as every day care.

to me "no kill" shelters have their place and are a great resource. But deep down my heart is with the 'open admission' shelters. They have to take each and every pet that comes in. They have to see the very worst of humanity. The cat who was put in a carrier then sent it down to the local incinerator. The batch of kittens in a box thrown in the river. the dog dragged behind a car. just to mention a few. And they keep going back. they keep trying to save the next one that walks in the door.

I've often been told I should go to work at the shelter. I wish I could. I wish my soul was that strong. It is not. I'd be constantly have to be held back from hauling off and hitting someone. I'd constantly be crying over the one that was brought in that was too far gone to be saved. I watch Animal Cop shows on Animal Planet and am constantly amazed these people not only don't just haul off and hit people, they don't even berate them for being idiots. I don't have that kind of restraint (can you tell from this post?? :D)

I hope everyone who takes a minute to read this to send a letter of thanks to their local shelter for all they do for the homeless animals of the community. Even those that have a high euthanizing rate are keeping these pets from dying horrible deaths on the street. better yet, write a nice letter of thanks to your local letter to the editor.. let the community know how much shelters do for us, and the pets that can't speak for themselves..

This just made me cry

Diana Bardsley wiped tears from her eyes as she recalled taking food off her plate to feed her beloved spaniel Hunter and two Siamese cats.

now this (and several others cited in the article) restores my faith in humanity.. and makes me want to help..

Only problem is, I'm only one person.. I do what I can, where I can.. Throwing starfish in the ocean.. one at a time..

Please.. donate to food banks and shelters..

The shelter

I love my local shelter. Please remember that when reading this post. Because I love my local shelter, it irritates me when I feel like I'm hitting my head against a wall when it comes to helping them out and getting things done not only for the staff but the animals.

We had the 6th annual kitten shower yesterday. It was a nice time, but once again (like last year) 75% of the donations and sales came from the staff and volunteers. we had a few girl scout troops stop by with some impressive donations - one group of five brownies brought in over 500 lbs of supplies! - however the total amount of donations was just over 1000

Why such a disappointing year? a lot of people were tryingn to blame it on the grand opening of a huge new store about 45 minutes away. Thinking the draw was that big.

Granted, that was a huge draw for a lot of people, but that was not the issue. the issue was that they didn't tell people about it.

they put out a post card, and a few flyers around town.. but that was pretty much all the advertising I saw. *shrug*

I have to give a little leeway here, because a lot of the staff this year is new. We have a new program coordinator, a new volunteer coordinator, and a new ... shoot.. I forgot her title.. and I'm sure this was foisted upon them. And sadly too many of the long time volunteers have been backing away from helping out because of the history of their suggestions not being listened to, and what help they do give seems to not be appreciated. I know I have to back away from time to time because I get overwhelmed with the huge wall they have built around their "policies and proceedures" that can not be tamered with.

Hopefully we can get some better lines of communications going this year, next year we'll advertise the living crap out of this event.

another issue of the day was when one of these new staff memebers stood on the far sid of the room I was in and made a very condesending pronouncement. It was rude, and completely unnecessary. I've been with the shelter for a freakingly long time (I think its been 15 years) and knew what I was doing, and what was going on.

What is even more annoying is that this woman then tried to blame the pronouncement on another staff member - one who has been there even longer than I have. She's a sweet woman who is probably my mother's age. but because she's quirky and just a little different she's often the one blamed or accused, or shunned or put off or put apon. I hate that she isn't treated well. She is the only reason I'm actually still with the shelter. I remember my first day going in to volunteer. At the time there was no formal program, and the volunteer coordinator at the time was very judemental and dismissive. When I walked in the door I had no idea where to go and what to do, and felt ignored. I was about to leave and never go back when my friend called out to me and gave me a job to do and befriended me. While she is a little quirky, she's friendly, and the shelter needs more of that! everywhere needs more than that.

Fortunately things are much better. That VC is gone, so is the manager at the time who wasn't much better. I still wish for more improvement, but I have to remember that they are an organization dependant on donations, and while their budget is quite impressive, they do have a very impressive list of expenses when it comes to the animals.

I just wish ... well I suppose it doesn't really matter what I wish. They are of great help to the abandoned companion animals of the communities, and do great things with in the constraints that they have. and most of the changes I want cost money. I must remember to appreciate them for what they are with in their limitations, and while I don't think it is wrong to wish for more, I have to remember that more does not come easily.. and it's hard. I want to make a good thing better, and I can't.

Please, neuter your pets, and donate to your local shelter!

we intrupt your daily kitten fun

for a post on dogs..

my co-worker brings his boston to work, and he's outside barking at people, and it reminded me of something that happened with family recently.

The Christmas before last, our cousins decided to get a dog. They emailed me and asked me about dogs (I guess being in the rescue field, they assumed I'd be a dog person too) they said they wanted a chow puppy.

I tried. I emailed them and said don't get a puppy.. puppies are a LOT of work, get a rescue, get a rescue that has had time with people so you'll KNOW the personality, invest the time in the dog before you pick one out so you know what your getting.. and if you get a puppy, get to know the owners, get to know the puppy, invest your time in the dog before you get the dog (see a pattern here?)

Well did they listen to one single word I said? no. They wanted a chow puppy under the tree for Christmas (don't get me started) and that is what they did.

I told them and told them they needed to get that dog into obedience classes. I think they went to some, but these people both work full time (she works odd swing shift hours to boot) and have a young son. So this dog is pretty much untrained, as are the owners (the owners need the training to relate to the dog just as much if not more than the dog needs it to relate to the people) and is unsocial, over protective and aggressive (a chow? aggressive? really??) and the people who come into his life, come into his home and know nothing about dogs.

As a result, the dog has bit a few people. Most recently my DH's sister. pretty badly on the hand.

Now, is this the dogs fault, yes, but only about 1% his fault. He's a dog, he's being a dog, and doing dog things. 95% the owners fault, and about 4% the bite-ie (aka the person who was bit) The owners of the dog should have had the dog in training, and should be able to control the dog and make him feel comfortable in his home so he doesn't feel he has to protect it. The bite-ie should have known not to give an aggressive and agitated dog her palm down hand.. *shrug*

annoying thing is, most of my DH's family that has dogs all say the same thing, "If I knew then what I know now, I probably wouldn't have this dog"

Wasn't like I didn't tell them.

Wasn't like someone didn't tell them.

But these types of owners - who get dogs because they are cute, or because they want something from the dog (like security) - but don't want to invest any time or energy or effort in training the dog, really irritate me. (and frankly the people who sell these type of people dogs irritate me even more! cause they do know better, and they don't care, they just want the all mighty $$)

cause you end up with "bad dogs" - although what you really have are bad owners.. Even though I really like my cousins..

I can rant if I want to

Sigh

I'm sorry for yet another rant. I'm sure I've said all this in the past, but sometimes it really bugs me and gets to me and I need to get it out before it breaks me.

Being in rescue/fostering you become painfully aware of the shortage of funds for saving pets. you also become painfully aware that you simply can not save them all, and even if some miracle happened and you had money to save them all, you will never find homes for them all. There are millions of homeless pets out there and simply not enough homes.

So when I see a rescue group trying to raise more than a few hundred dollars to save a pet, it just gets my hackles up.

I totally understand the desire to want to save a pet. An owned pet I have absolutely no problem with. What you do with your money for your pet is up to you. but when a rescue - who has only so many funds - and only so many times it can go to the well of resources it has to raise those funds - wants to come up with over three thousand dollars to save a puppy that has parvo, I just cringe. Another rescue group put out the call to raise several hundred dollars (close to a thousand if I remember correctly) to get a cat life saving surgery.

By going out on a limb for these pets, how many others are they not going to be able to take in or treat fully because they are going to be low on funds? a thousand dollars can go a long way to help save healthy pets that are out on the street...

sigh

And what the heck, since I'm ranting, I have to say I'm a little annoyed with my own shelter. I do give them major kudos and a wide birth when it comes to being annoyed with them because I know they are doing a LOT with the little resources they have. Licorice went in on Thursday to be shaved. Communication was not 100% and I did not get him in on time to have him done that night. I was asked to come in at night, and I work till six and have told them this many a time, and even though I was quick in getting there, there wasn't enough time. SO he spent the night and someone was to get to him on Friday. No one did. I left a note to have them call me on Saturday when he was done, never got the call. I hated leaving him there, but I can't make them call me. Got a call at 3 pm on Sunday saying they were going to get to him then, and I could come and get him. *sigh* poor boy. He's really off because of his experience. Hid for a couple of hours after coming back, and even after he started coming out he was very reluctant to have me touch him. Hopefully we'll get past this right quick.

Then there is Reese. Because I thought Licorice was lonely, I offered to take another cat to help keep him company. I was told Reese is diabetic. two and a half years old, had a UTI, figured out that she was diabetic, a diet change didn't help, so they put her on insulin. Well I took her. THey weren't testing her before giving her a shot. I am out of strips on my own meter for Em, and I know how expensive they are, so I went to the clinic I go to (who I donated two meters to when Em died for future diabetics) who diagnosed Reese. I asked for a little more information on her, since I was given so little. Well my vet really didn't want to give it to me. Wants foster parents to go through the shelter - which I did. But you got all the info on her that I got - not nearly enough for my tastes.

Well I took the meter home, tested her that night, got a 74! No insulin for her. in the morning got another reading under 100. still no insulin. next morning, and tonight.. damn good thing I refused to treat with out testing, cause insulin with that low of a number probably would have killed her. Mad at the shelter for not testing, mad at clinic for not talking to me about her, and just generally all around steamed at the situation.

Also kinda bothered by the lack of communication by my vet. I understand that he doesn't want me to tell him how to treat a pet I don't own - which some foster parents can be prone to do.. all I wanted was information I should be able to get but the shelter isn't prone to keep. another thing that bothers me is that he wouldn't come out and see me when I stopped in to get meter. He rarely stops out to see me when I stop by. I'm starting to feel that he doesn't really want me as a client. Granted I can be a strong advocate for my pets, and I like to know more than the average pet owner.. but I don't see where that is a bad thing. I hate to switch vets, as I like my vet, I like him a lot.. but I can't stand feeling like I am a bother - which I am very much starting to feel like when I go there. I very much wanted to be employeed by this vet as well. When I talked to him about it before he opened his clinic, I asked him point blank if he could ever see him hiring me. I asked him to be honest because it wouldn't change my feeling, but I didn't want false hope. He said he would be interested, but he had some prior obligations, and he didn't know if he'd have the funds any time soon. Well he ended up hiring another women we worked with - which I don't have a problem with as I really like the woman and she NEEDED the job. but all this off putting behaviour - which maybe I'm projecting - just makes me feel like he really should have said no to me in the first place.

so do I change vets (Eli needs a dental) and loose any small amount of hope of him ever hiring me, do I change vets simply because I can't stand feeling this way, or do I just hold off doing anything for now (Eli really could use a dental but isn't in any pain) and let sleeping dogs lie for now till this feeling passes? maybe I'm just obnoxiously insecure... which is kinda true... self esteem has never been my strong point (although I'm sure a few people would be surprised to hear it)

sigh

I'm grumpy, Im tired, and I feel like Im fighting to get up stream and not getting anywhere..

Patience is at the Vet

Not sure if I mentioned she was getting weird scabs showing up and disappearing, but leaving behind a patch of missing fur. very bizarre, that it all happens with in a day or two. Brought to shelter last night to show them, and they kept her and brought her to the vet today.. probably won't know what it is, but they'll probably want to do a culture for ringworm - which I won't get back for a couple of days.

bunnies are growing like weeds.. they need to get back to the shelter soon too..

Made cat food over the weekend.. 40lbs of it again. Just posting to keep track of how long it is lasting :)

~*warning - rant*~
I visit a couple of different message boards on line. One having nothing to do with animal rescue had a post about rescuing feral cats.. The woman was so very proud she helped to rescue a cat with FIV and mange, and how they had it spayed and are trying to find it a home.

Now this is noble and all, and if there weren't THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of healthy friendly cats who don't have homes in this country - many of which are being put down simply because there aren't enough funds (it cost money to spay this cat and treat it for mange) or space for them to wait out new homes - not to mention not enough new homes for them all. (I have six, I've done my part thank you)

I just wanted to shout "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!" but I know it wouldn't be well received - and I'm pretty sure it isn't going to be well received on this board either, but it's mine and I can say what I want :)

I want to rescue them all, but I know it isn't fesable, nor wise to even try. Already neutered, or in a home that loves the cat, that's one thing, but to try to save this stray just hurts... because I know all the wonderful healthy cats out there... (ok not personally, but I know some of them personally)

Sigh