Filed under: animal rescue, Blog Hops, cats, events | Tags: adopt a less adoptable pet, Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Challenge, Adopt A Less Adoptable Pet Week, adoptable, animal rescue, be the change, BlogPaws, cats, companion animals, Less adoptable, Petfinder, shady, shaytales, supermodels, TGTB, this good that bad
Something funny is going on around here. It started with my bones. In case I never mentioned it before, I love my bones. These are not just any dog bones, they are a special kind and brand that I have been gnawing on since I was a pup. Even when there were 3 dogs in this house I had them all to myself. That’s because I NEED them and everyone knows it. Mom calls them “security bones” because whenever I am nervous or upset I must have one with me. That means we always have to have them ”on paw”. Lately however, I notice they smell a little funny. They smell a little like…cat. Now they are cow bones to be sure so why would they smell this way?
When confronted Mom finally ‘fessed up. When she goes to the pet store to pick them up, she visits the cat adoption room. There is one cat in particular that she visits and she even plays with him and holds him once in a while! And she is allergic!!! Even though she washes her hands after the smell still gets onto my precious bones. At first this made me a little angry. Sometimes I get jealous of the stuff she does for OTHER animals like with her fancy This Good That Bad fundraising and all, but I calmed down once she showed me the photo below and told me a little more about this homeless cat who is right here in our local shelter in NJ: Woody.
Woody. He looks like a supermodel to us! He is in NJ and looking for a home. Click photo for all his info.
Woody is what some would call a “less adoptable” cat. That’s because “adoptable” is one of those words that has a very layered meaning. In the animal rescue community, we know they are all adoptable…and yet they also know that many will go unadopted. They feel the right family is out there for each dog or cat but recognize there are a lot of obstacles in making those matches. To Mom and people like her, “adoptable” means “cleared the stray waiting period and ready to go to a new home”. To a lot of folks looking to adopt it can be something more specific like “has zero human-perceived faults, is the ideal weight, height and color to fit in any people-home no matter how little time I can spend with him, anywhere in the world.” Huh? Mom explained it to me like this…”less adoptables” are really just the regular pets like any other, just like regular people are. Most of us know that on a certain level. It just has a tendency to get lost when one is flipping through available pets on the pages of Petfinder, I guess.
Let’s say there is maybe a 41-year-old size 10 (on a good day) woman like Mom listed on a web page and looking for a new home. Now Mom has good heart and can cook up a storm but also has some issues; she has to take medicine every day, she is very cranky in the morning, she tends to interrupt people, has frizzy hair with that is going gray…what’s that Mom? Did you say something? Oh yea, sorry. OK, enough of that. Anyway, up against so many other people in the world, those basic human traits alone make Mom “less adoptable”. There is nothing she can do if someone else only sees “adoptable” as a 25-year-old, single woman (also with a good heart) who happens to be a size 4 and who exercises every day, eats only the healthiest food, has perfect hair since birth and remarkable teeth and…. well, you get the idea. Think, “borderline genius-supermodel.” Do these people exist? Yes, they do. Do they deserve a good home and a happy life? Yup, sure do. But so does my Mom! Whether or not you get a forever home and find people to love you should depend on your heart, not your appearance and fears or conditions you may have. When it comes to choosing the people in our lives, there is not much clarification needed. People teach it to their kids from early childhood, you know, “don’t judge a book by its cover” and all that. Why it is different for cats and dogs-and what exactly is the deal with Woody that makes him “less adoptable”?
Woody's back paw. Defect, or part of his charm? That's in the eye of the beholder I suppose, so how do we change that?
He looks fine to me. To hear Mom tell it, he is fine. Better than fine. He is a big ol’ love of a cat; sweet, alert and friendly. Woody is like this despite being dumped in a pet carrier outside the store by his family and stuck in a tiny cage at the adoption center for many months. He still has faith in people and sees them for what is in their heart and mind rather than what they wear or what size or color they are. He has put his faith in people to help him out of this mess and a lot of people are trying to do just that. So why isn’t anyone doing the same for him? Why is no one seeing him as he really is and taking him home? The reason is something Mom did not even notice till the third or fourth time she saw him but anyone who reads his Petfinder listing will know right away…he has a problem with back feet. It does not keep him from getting around at all, he just happens to have been born a little deformed. He has a cat version of “clubfeet” sort of, maybe less severe than that. They show photos of it on his Petfinder page and it appears all it means is that it will be hard to trim his back nails. Oh really? Well he is a CAT after all so I am thinking that goes without saying whether you have a deformity or not, am I right? He has a few other strikes against him too…the basic feline offenses such as being an adult and not a kitten, not enjoying the company of dogs (shocking, I know) and being one of millions who need a home. I think we can agree that none of these factors are his fault. His listing outlines all these precious details about him and it also says he is ”adoptable”. I believe this is a correct statement but based on his long tenure with the shelter he seems to be straddled with the unspoken title of “less adoptable.”
I am a pet store pup. I may have had a controversial start in life but I had a cushy set up for finding a forever home after that. Just knowing that cats and dogs like Woody have to go through this kind of unfair profiling is really upsetting. I am gnawing one of my security bones even as I tap these words. Animals like Woody are not the exceptions; they are more like the rule, sort of…in the same way that brainiac supermodels are the exceptions in the human race and regular people are the rule. Petfinder and BlogPaws are trying to change the rules and win the game. That’s why came together to “Be the Change” for dogs and cats scarrying the “less adoptable” mantle and came up with the idea for “Petfinder’s Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week” That’s kind of like someone taking on the challenge of going through all the magazines and TV shows and putting the supermodel types on the last pages and in the supporting roles far behind the ordinary people. It won’t be easy, so they need our help. From September 19-25 you will find all sorts of blog posts and press about less adoptable pets. Please participate any way you can…share links, feature a pet on your own blog, or better yet adopt or foster one of these “less adoptable” charmers.
One of the biggest differences between people and animals is that they cannot do stuff like this for themselves, The only weapon they have to change a bad situation is to win us over one at a time, like Woody won over Mom. I am here to tell you, that is taking too long. We can’t wait much longer for things to change and this funny business to end. We need you to Be The Change for us.
Note from Shady’s Mom: Don’t let Shady hear this, but our own LoJack was also considered less adoptable. By definition she herself is somewhat is “less adoptable” these days. I can only imagine what a Petfinder listing for either of them would sound like. We’ll have more on that, and a hypothetical Petfinder listing for my very much already adopted pets, on another post later this week and before the end of the Petfinder Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week Challenge .
This is a Blog Hop! 186 entries so far… you’re next!
Filed under: cats | Tags: animal rescue, cats, kitten season, operation fuzzy mice, shadytales, TGTB, this good that bad, tiger
Everything I learned about kitten season, I learned on Twitter.
My dislike for kitten season might not surprise you, seeing as how I am a dog after all. Truth is, I never even knew what it was till last week. One of my Mom’s Twitter pals is the one who said those words last week, causing me to ask my Mom exactly what it was. According to the Humane Society of the United States, “kitten season is the time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal shelters across the nation with homeless litters.” It is really three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in late spring or early summer, and ending in fall.
We try to give cats equal time here, and I actually rather like kittens. As near as I can tell they are sweet and playful and the best time for a dog to show them who is boss is probably at this age. All things being equal if I had to live with a cat I’d vote kitten any day. Lots of people like kittens too, so what is the real problem with kitten season anyway? Sure, proper spay/neuter programs could reduce the populations and lessen the burden but “hate” is kind of a strong word. So why does Mom’s Twitter pal “hate” it so?
She hates it because of Operation Fuzzy Mice, that’s why. Turns out she runs the OFM outreach program for low-income or otherwise struggling pet owners in the Bakersfield California area. She runs it pretty much on her own as far as we can tell and does all she can to get pet owners what they need so they can keep their pets in good health and not surrender them. While she does not have non-profit status yet, she has a core group of donors that aid her in this mission but every year kitten season drains the fund dry. This year she took in a litter of high risk kittens herself to give them the best shot. They were born to pet cat whose owner, a stroke survivor, was in the outreach program with OFM but thought her pet cat was too young to get pregnant and let her go outside. This owner could not handle the kittens and rescuing them was very much outside OFM’s mission but no one else would take them. There was no question that these kittens, who arrived after funds ran out, were in for a harder time but having them with her meant she could do as much for them as possible and as soon as possible. With proper basic vet care delayed, Mom and I followed OFM on Twitter in horror as 4 of these kittens succumbed to basic and/or treatable ailments.
Nymph, before she fell ill.
We started to follow closely when we heard about Tiger, a small kitten who was accidently stepped on in the home where he was born. IV treatment and proper diagnostics arrived too late and made this injury insurmountable. It was heartbreaking to read how he passed away in his rescuer’s arms. His siblings Middy, Nymph and even one named “Survivor” were all weakened by a simple and treatable parasite called giardia and were lost soon after to various complications including one to flea anemia. There are 2 kittens left with OFM, along with responsibility for many pets that are still with their owners but rely on the outreach programs for vet and food costs. That is when we saw the tweet that inspired the title of this post, “Kitten season, I hate you.” They have every reason to feel that way. Not many would have the strength to keep trying, and to make sure these kittens not only get medical care as soon as possible, but that all of them at least get to know love before they pass. As I write this post, OFM is back on Twitter, under an “anipal” persona and taking part in a “pawpawty” fundraiser online to raise money for animal cancer. Even as their own mission and pets suffer, they do not hesitate to support another who needs it.
How YOU can help TGTB to help OFM.
As fate would have it, OFM has been following me and Mom too. Things have been very slow with our This Good That Bad sales and programs this month. We received the one and only request for fundraising assistance this month from none other than Operation Fuzzy Mice and it came after we read about Tiger. Their pending nonprofit status presents a problem with our usual fundraising set up. It didn’t stop us from making a donation though, and it will not stop us from asking you to do the same. Their immediate mission is pretty easy to grasp: “to gain a surplus of funds so sick animals do not have to wait to see the vet.” Even the smallest amounts are appreciated. Please donate to the general veterinary find at http://pledgie.com/campaigns/10967 or visit OFM’s blog online at http://fuzzymice.typepad.com to read more about them—including an upcoming drawing for a custom painting open to all donors. In addition to cash, their wish list includes the following:
Let Shady and her Mom know what you think, they love comments! Author Shady is the proud blogdog for “This Good That Bad“, a company dedicated to helping shelters, animal rescues and other non-profits raise funds with their products. She and her Mom have just unveiled their newest products and a new site to serve this community even better. They also sponsor contests and lend marketing support and advice to groups to help raise funds awareness for their causes on every level.
Filed under: animal rescue, cats | Tags: animal rescue, black cat, black dog syndrome, companion animals, homeless animals, labrador, pet adoption, shady, shadytales, TGTB, this good that bad
“Do you have any small dogs?” When my Mom was in front of PetSmart with the rescue groups on adoption days every week, she heard that question approximately 4,456,782 times. I am a big dog but I sort of “get it”…small is easier for some people. Small dogs have just as much breadth of personality and special needs as larger dogs though. Small alone does not guarantee a good match with a prospective family. Are they cuter? We’ll concede that is in the eye of the beholder…but whether people are driven by small living quarters and small yards or small purses they want to stuff them into, there was always a higher demand for smaller dogs. Sure, sometimes they’d meet a bigger guy standing there and fall in love and forget all about the question. And other times, well, not so much.
Usually Mom and I prefer to post about adopted pets and their happy endings. Occasionally there are less than happy endings that must be mentioned too. Today we’d like to tell you about an ending that is as of yet unwritten. We are talking about a small dog named Ricardo who, based on our experience, should have been adopted by now. He is a Chihuahua mix in a shelter in Maine that was part of a 2 state rescue collaboration. The story got a lot of press and Ricardo was one of many small dogs who landed in Maine last month. As we understand it every one of the other 12 Chihuahuas was adopted, most within days of their arrival. Ricardo should have been long gone based on our personal “small dog” statistics. Instead, he is still waiting for a home weeks after we first heard about him. Why?
Ricardo has traveled from CA to ME and is still waiting for his forever home. How do we get him out of this mess?
Look closely at his photo and enter another factor. This is something we have mentioned but never before posted a specific example: Black Dog Syndrome. The name is sort of misleading, as it is not the black dogs that have the problem; it is the people looking to adopt. Plainly speaking, black dogs (and cats) are overlooked at the shelters. They are the least likely to be adopted and the most likely to be euthanized…period. It is hard to pinpoint a specific reason. It is more likely that it is a combination of things working against us—that’s right I said US because I am a big black dog! Imagine what my chances would be at the shelter? Throw in “senior” and I’d be a recipe for disaster. For now, we’ll just talk color. Here are some of the challenges black dogs of any size or age are up against:
We don’t photograph well. It is hard to show people how adorable we really are on Petfinder or other adoption sites. When scanning thumbnail views, we don’t always “pop”.
Because of the above, we are not seen in movies or on TV as much. This may give the general public the idea that man’s best friend is only available in brown or white.
We are harder to spot in the kennel cages too, as people walk the rows.
For the cats especially, there may some old school superstition working against us.
We often are given intimidating or impersonal names like Midnight, Raven or Shadow. If you don’t know us well, those kinds of names make us sound like loners or sneaky and sometimes even unfriendly. Why do you think Mom shortened my name “Shadow”, to Shady?
Even if you are a person who does not mind a little shedding, odds are your carpet is beige or some other light color. You might see out lovely dark locks as a real eyesore in your home.
We can appear older than we are even as puppies. Worse yet, the very first signs of gray are very visible on us so an adult dog may be perceived as senior. I had a visibly gray muzzle before my 5th birthday.
So where does all this leave Ricardo? Homeless and at risk, that’s where. We cannot explain his predicament fully just as we see no single reason for the thousands upon thousands of friendly, lovable homeless animals of all colors and breeds that are put down every day. Ricardo needs a break, and we hope that someone reading this post will give it to him. This 6 year old neutered male is described as a little shy but curious and real cuddler with many years of love left to give someone. He likes other dogs too. Add the “small dog” factor in and he sounds like a perfect lap dog and friend for a lot of different people types.
If you are not the person for Ricardo you can still find another way to help. If you work with a shelter or rescue, little things can go along way to give the black dogs a better reputation. Call them out visually as much you can with bandanas or outdoor lighting. Educate adopters about the Black Dog Syndrome with signs or literature to make them take a second look. If you are tasked with naming them, give them cheery, popular and classic “best friend” names like Jake or Buddy. If you know of any specific cases of black dog discrimination, start telling them so people can learn from it. Or tell us, and we will tell it for you.
If you are not working with homeless animals directly there are still other ways to make Black Dog Syndrome a thing of the Past. Support the groups dedicated to ending this problem for all kinds of pets like Black Dog Rescue Project or Black Cat Rescue. Last but not least, if you are ready for a new furry friend in your home, pay special attention to the black dogs and cats. Walk up to the adoption staff or send an email before you even glance at any pets there and say “Do you have any black dogs?” Let them introduce you to a hidden treasure–your new best friend!
Let Shady and her Mom know what you think, they love comments! They also still need help with the Facebook Shelter/Rescue Pet Food Giveaway. Join TGTB there and help them hit 500 fans so we can make a donation to fan chosen shelter or rescue. All proceeds from pet adoption T-shirt sales on their site (not already designated to specific fundraisers) go toward purchasing food for this giveaway until it is done.
Filed under: cats | Tags: animal rescue, cat birth defect, cats, pet loss, shady, shadytales, special needs pets, TGTB
Update, September 20, 2010 from Fred’s Mom: “His (Fred’s) heart disease has not progressed at all! His numbers are actually better than the day we took him home from the hospital meaning his medicine is working to keep him stable. Of course we were told he is still a very sick kitty and anything can happen at anytime.” Looks like Fred continues to beat the odds, as we continue to send our prayers to him and his family.
A few weeks ago we learned that 12-year-old Harry was having some health issues, as older cats do, and Diana has been a worried cat Mom ever since. We found out yesterday that 9 month old Fred has also taken ill. It came on suddenly and after a few nights in the vet’s ICU Diana learned that Fred was born with a heart defect. He has extra tissue in his aorta that blocks blood flow and it cannot be repaired. Fred was given 2 years to live. The family is completely devastated. Upon hearing this Mom did what she does, and she set about trying to help them make some sense of it all. I thought she did a really good job, at first anyway. It went something like this:
“I know it is going to be very hard on you but try to think of it this way: maybe you were meant to see Fred thru his journey here, no matter how long or short it is. He is a wonderful kitty and the joy he brings your family may have been his purpose and you have given his life meaning. I know on top of Harry’s illness it must be especially difficult. Love them as long and as well as you can and you will be rewarded with the satisfaction of having helped them go through their trials and aging with grace. This will eventually overshadow any pain after they leave you.”
Mom took a lot of time to come up with those words and she thought she did okay too. Truth is, she missed the mark. Diana’s reply was polite but it took Mom by surprise. The first line said it all.
“It just isn’t fair for Fred to go through this.”
Well, what do you say to that? Of course it isn’t fair. It did not occur to Mom to point that out or sympathize with her on that issue. Diana went on to say how Trixy had 14 years of life and Harry has 12 plus…and Fred is only 9 months old. He will never have those years and they are being robbed of those years with him. So Mom typed back, very simply “No, it isn’t fair at all. I could not agree more.” Brevity is not one of Mom’s strong suits, but there was not anything more to say. It really isn’t fair that Fred was rescued, and his family fell in love with him only to have this happen to all of them so soon.
So what do you so when life isn’t fair? When you have to watch a helpless little creature face this battle and you know how it will probably end? Well, I hope they cry and scream about a while to start with, let it out. They probably didn’t need Mom to tell them to love him as long and as well as they can—they will do that anyway (Seriously Mom, what were you thinking?). I say what this family needs is for us to cry and scream a little with them, too. Please leave a comment and let Diana know in whatever way you’d like that while we will all pray for Fred to beat the odds and have as much time as possible to enjoy life, we also think it isn’t fair for Fred to have to go through this. The family will do what they need to do for Fred at each phase of this. They will do everything possible to keep him well. We’ll keep updating you and we can all support her at every turn with encouragement and wisdom. But just for today, I think a tantrum is in order. Channel the spoiled 6 year-old I know all you mature adults carry deep inside of you and say it with us: NO FAIR NO FAIR NO FAIR!!!
Meet Fred, a little kitten with a big fight on his paws. He won't be alone through it.
From Melissa, Shady’s Mom: Fred is out of ICU and at home with Diana now. He spent today resting. I think Shady has made a great point here. One of the things we love about our animals are their child like qualities, so of course a dog would know when a hissy fit is in order. It’s OK to be mad about Fred’s bad luck. It is not OK for this to happen to good people and good cats. We can help them problem solve and sympathize and do whatever else they need later. We’ll be sending good thoughts every day, and we hope you will too. Thanks in advance for supporting Diana and Fred and letting them know you care.
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Filed under: animal rescue, cats | Tags: animal rescue, cats, homeless animals, Mr. Cat, shady, shadytales
I have only ever seen one cat up close, and even then it was through a glass storm door. That cat was Miss Kitty, who showed up on our doorstep one Thanksgiving morning. This was long before my Mom was involved with rescue at all and well before we adopted LoJack. It was just me and Nikki back then. Mom went out for the paper and found Miss Kitty, a white and orange tabby sitting on our steps (and our paper). In that moment, Mom would begin to learn that life for animals, even in this prosperous suburban community, was anything but simple.
Mom is allergic to cats so she tried to keep her distance but Miss Kitty started rubbing all over her legs right away. She looked a
Mr. Cat, the cat formerly known as "Miss Kitty"
little thin and ragged, and Mom felt really bad because she could not reach down to pet her to say hello. Miss Kitty continued to sun herself on our front steps every morning for about a week. Finally, after seeing what looked like a cut on Miss Kitty’s head, Mom downed some Benadryl and went out there to take a closer look. As soon as Mom sat down on the stoop Miss Kitty climbed in her lap and made herself comfortable. The cut was minor, an old scrape that seemed to be healing, and Mom was hooked on her sweet disposition. She started feeding her and having her coffee with Miss Kitty on the stoop every morning. They just sat and read the mail and watched the cars go by on our busy suburban street until Mom had to leave for work. As they got better acquainted Mom realized that Miss Kitty was in fact, Mr. Cat. So Mr. Cat got his official name and became a fixture for a while. He also totally hogged Mom’s lap time and she really began to wonder if there was a family missing him somewhere. She put an ad in the paper about him and in the meantime found that as long as she kept the petting to a minimum and washed her hands really well afterward, she could have him in her lap without too many side effects. This worried Nikki a little so she made just enough fuss for Mom to be sure there was no way we could ever adopt this cat or bring him in the house. I really liked just watching him once I realized he was never actually going to come in the house or get any closer.
No one answered Mom’s ad but it was pretty clear that Mr. Cat was used to people and was missing his home. As is Mom’s way, she started canvassing the area and asking around about Mr. Cat to see where he might belong. We found out that he did have a home with an elderly woman a few blocks away and the woman had been ill recently. The woman’s adult son was caring for her and turning Mr. Cat outside every time he stopped by to check on her. Mom then started to bring him back each time (after a little quality lap time) but the son never had much to say about it. He did not explain why he treated the cat this way or even say anything at all. He just opened the door and let Mom put Mr. Cat back in. He did seem to know it wasn’t the right thing—but he kept doing it. Mom tried to educate him on flea collars and other basic care that this cat clearly was lacking since his Mom got sick. When he did not do anything about it, Mom took care of that stuff for Mr. Cat too. I guess the son got sick of Mom dropping by and butting in and preaching because as fall turned to winter and then spring, we saw less and less of Mr. Cat. By early summer we never saw him at all.
It was not until early August that Nikki and I caught a whiff of something familiar on the stoop and saw…Mr. Cat was back! We figured he just slipped away for a visit but from then on he was out there every day again. This time when Mom tried to bring him back, no one would answer the door. She started talking to neighbors and together they took care of Mr. Cat and figured out what was going on. No one brought him in their house though; no one wanted to be the one who stole an old woman’s cat. By all accounts she had loved him and treated him well until she fell ill and we hoped they could be reunited. We learned that she loved him so much she refused to leave her house to move anywhere that would not let her bring him—including her son’s home and most nursing facilities. Suddenly the son’s actions made a little more sense—the rumor was that he was trying to convince her cat had run off or that he had found a good home for him so she would move. As weak and cruel as that plan was it was what he thought he should do and my Mom had really messed it up for him! The woman had passed away and now Mr. Cat was turned out for good. The son sold and emptied the house of all its contents including Mr. Cat and moved on. This cleared the way for his unofficial adoption to a family down the street. We used to see him in the window of his new home from time to time and he really plumped up and thrived there. Mom was a little sad to lose her coffee buddy but she knew it was what was best for him. Every once in a while he would show up here to say hello, or maybe thank you. His new family was always close behind, looking for him and happy that he never went any farther than our house.
We don’t see Mr. Cat or those neighbors anymore and by our calculations he has may have passed on to the Rainbow Bridge by now. Mom never really got over the idea that someone would just pack up and move and toss a pet out like that. It was the first lesson in her education about animal rescue. She thought his story was the worst thing she’d ever heard. The animal control officers she called about it early on made her realize that Mr. Cat was better off than most because he had the whole street looking out for him and could avoid the shelter. They made Mom understand that the shelter was a death sentence for most cats and dogs. They also had to give up on the matter sooner than Mom would have liked. They’d issue citations and try to talk to the son but in the end there were always much more pressing cases of neglect and cruelty to deal with. This town has over 100,000 residents and only two animal control officers who rotate shifts. Back then they did not even have a shelter, just leased space in others. It wasn’t their fault. Despite the town’s size and prosperity there just was not enough time or resource to save one little cat.
That’s why Mom and the neighbors had to do it for them. That’s why I have to keep writing this blog. Bad stuff happens and sometimes it isn’t anyone’s job to fix it. Animals always need an advocate of some kind. We can’t speak for ourselves. If you find yourself wondering who is doing something about it—who is going to take in that little kitten or feed the stray cat or bring that dog in off the street– know that the only way to answer the question definitively is by doing something about it yourself. Pay attention and don’t be afraid to get involved. Volunteer, adopt, foster, donate. It’s that simple.
Filed under: animal rescue, cats, dogs | Tags: animal rescue, cats, closure, dogs, golden retriever, kitten, labrador, pet grief, pet loss, shadytales, snow
I am one lucky dog. Two weeks ago my vet appointment was postponed due to the blizzard of the year. I did make it there last week, but now my next vet appointment (for a teeth cleaning) has been postponed again due to—the REAL blizzard of the year. I guess that first one was just a warm up. I don’t like the car, or the vet’s office or anything at all that they do there no matter how much Mom says it is “for my own good”. So this bad weather is pretty convenient for me. I was such a noisy and shaky mess for the last visit the vet suggested we forgo the exam altogether, and just do the blood work. He said he’d examine me while I was asleep for the dental thing. I am not sure what that means—maybe he already sneaked over and checked my breathing and heart rate and all that while I was sleeping? Why can’t he just do the whole exam and shots and blood work that way too? I bet Mom would pay good money for a house call, that’s all I’m sayin’.
This was the first time in a long time I had to go the vet’s by myself. I used to always go with my older sister Nikki and that made things a little better. She is gone now and I know the vet helped her a lot her whole life, but I wish she was here to remind me it will all be ok. Everyone thought Mom would be sad going back there, to the last place she saw our Nikki, with just one dog but I kept her so busy and made such a racket that I don’t think she had time to be sad. At least I hope not.
Nikki would have loved all this snow; she liked it a lot more than I do. LoJack too, he had a big fluffy coat of golden retriever hair to keep him warm. Mom is missing both of them a lot today, every day. I do my best to keep her mind off it, but I miss them too. A few of our friend’s recently adopted cats after losing their beloved pets…you read about two of them here (Fred and Bella) and just a few days ago “Cookie” the kitten was adopted by Bugsy’s the cat’s Mom. She really missed Bugsy after she left her for the Rainbow Bridge. You can see Bugsy and Cookie on our Facebook page.
Mom is happy for them but she is not ready for that yet. Her inbox is still packed with messages from people going through this too—pet loss and grief. It’s different for everyone. If you are (or have) going through this please drops us a comment and let us know how you are doing. We have learned about a lot of places you can go for help. Some of our rescue stories like the one about Jake the dog and LoJack talk about other ways to deal with this, too.
I am not just lucky to have a reprieve on my vet appointments. I am lucky to be here with my family and safe and warm today. I know there are shelter dogs and cats and even dogs and cats living OUTSIDE (I cannot even imagine that!) that have to deal with this snow in a very different way. You know, whether you are missing a pet or just considering a new furry family member, you may think spring or summer is the best time to adopt a dog or cat. I disagree. There is not any better way to brighten your home and wake up your heart in the middle of this cold winter than with a new addition of furry love and fun. Worried about walking them in this weather? Visit some of the smaller or older dogs at the shelter, they will want less exercise (like me, I just run out, do my business and hustle it back in). Do you like winter sports and walks? Go meet a lonely husky or shepherd mix, or even a Labrador. I am an exception, most labs like cold and snow and so do other breeds. If you are not able to open up your home, consider volunteering or fostering with a rescue group—those dogs need walks before and until they find their new homes. I am sure there is dog (or cat) for every home and then some. Let the snow remind us to find the forever homes that need them!
Filed under: animal rescue, cats, pet loss | Tags: animal rescue, bella, foster cats, fred, homeless animals, kitten, labrador, pet adoption, pet loss, shadytales, trixy
Have you heard the term “impulse buy”? That’s what some people called me when Mom brought me home. They said it like it was a bad thing. It’s true that bringing a dog or cat into your life is not something to be taken lightly, but Mom already had pets before and knew what she was getting into. The only thing that was a surprise was exactly what puppy would be next to enter her life. Who says you always regret a reaction to an impulse? Or that you will be 100% content with a decision just because it is preplanned? There are no rules when it comes to family, and that is what I am now.
Handsome Fred, just look at those whiskers!
With the disclaimer about taking the addition of a pet to your family seriously firmly in place above, I will give you another example of chance bringing someone a furry friend at just the right time; my friends Fred and Bella. Fred and Bella were homeless kittens just a few months ago. Fred was born on a farm to a Mom that did not survive long after birth and part of a litter where only one other kitten survived. He ended up in foster care at a vet’s office. Bella is a beautiful young cat who was stray and wandered the streets for who knows how long and no one really knows why.
These two cats crossed paths with Trixy’s family in the midst of a crisis. Trixy was a beloved 14-year-old cat who was slowly succumbing to age and her family was completely absorbed in her care. They saw Fred at that vet’s office week after week when they brought Trixy in, as did so many others and yet still no one stepped up and took him home. Even though the family was sad over Trixy’s prognosis and knew that with her care they could not take on any other responsibilities like a new kitten, they always made time to visit with Fred at the office anyway. They thought he was so cute and playful and could not understand why no one had brought him home yet. Meanwhile, they also started to notice Bella hanging around outside their home occasionally.
By the time the cold weather came, Trixy had to go to the Rainbow Bridge. When dogs and cats go there, it means they can’t be with their families anymore and the families get very sad. Trixy’s Mom, Dad and cat siblings Harry and Tonto were devastated. After hearing about another adoption for Fred that fell through, they suddenly saw him in a new light. They knew that the timing here was not purely coincidental…such a handsome friendly kitten up for adoption in a place full of animal lovers was not merely being overlooked. He was on a silent reserve, just waiting for his family to be ready for him. He knew they’d be back for him, and they were. Fred joined Trixy’s family very soon after they lost her.
Little Bella, safe in her forever home.
Bella, on the other paw, was waiting for Fred. She figured the time to make her move was after he became part of the family. That says a lot about a family, when they adopt a kitten. You know you will be in good hands then. Bella also knows young cats need someone their own age to play with and Harry and Tonto had already grown out of their kitten phase. Sure enough, Bella soon found a warm cat bed in the garage and some food and she was indoors with Fred, Harry and Tonto in no time. This family needed some distraction after losing Trixy and having two new kittens is definitely distracting.
Harry and Tonto have been a little slow to adjust to the new youngsters around the house, but they are coming around and for the time being Bella has Fred for company. Those two will form a bond and be able to age gracefully together in a home with a family that loves them. Their family was relieved of the burden of figuring out what to do next, “should we get a new pet? When should we get a new cat? Is it too soon?” One could even consider that Trixy herself perhaps took part in the plans from the bridge. Her family will have a multi cat population for a good long time now, and won’t be scared of going through what they went through with her again. They will be reminded daily of the good times and will always have fur kids to love them as much as Trixy did. That is probably exactly what Trixy would want for them.
I am not suggesting that everyone go out and adopt the first set of cute puppy eyes or kitty whiskers they see—a pet is not right for everyone’s household. I am just asking that you don’t ignore the signs. Most reasonable, compassionate people with the right intentions and modest means can learn how to care for an animal. If there is one that is tugging at your heartstrings, or maybe has a little baggage to tote, simply do what you do for your fellow humans in the same position when you find them staying in your thoughts– be open to letting them into your life.
12/2010-Fred’s Update: An Un-Fairy Tale.
Like this:
As promised after all my talk about working dogs, today we are giving props to a working class cat. This month’s Reader’s Digest magazine has a story about a very special and formerly homeless cat named Oscar. We are not linking to that story here, though. Oscar trumps the links I sent you about guide dogs a few weeks ago by getting himself written up in a little mag known as the New England Journal of Medicine. That’s right, you heard me. This cat is getting recognition in the medical community for his unique ans previously unheard of skills.
Oscar was never trained for his job. He was adopted for companionship and at first seem ill suited to that job. Turns out he simply had more important work to do. As you can read in the NEJM article below, he managed to make his situation work for him on his own terms. Some may question the benefits of his skill and if you feel that way after reading this please try to get your paws on the RD article (which is more in depth and does not seem to be available online yet) at the library or on the news stand. Then you will understand the difference he has made for so many with his gentle and compassionate gift. Now I’ll let the NEJM do the introduction and tell you what Oscar’s day is like:
Since he was adopted by staff members as a kitten, Oscar the Cat has had an uncanny ability to predict when residents are about to die. Thus far, he has presided over the deaths of more than 25 residents on the third floor of Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, allowing staff members to adequately notify families. Oscar has also provided companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone. For his work, he is highly regarded by the physicians and staff at Steere House and by the families of the residents whom he serves. Read more…
Filed under: cats, dogs, events | Tags: animal rescue, bunny, cats, companion animals, homeless animals, puppy bowl, shadytales, superbowl
As promised, I sat thru my first ever Puppy Bowl today in its entirety. As I was promised, it was pretty adorable and no, no matter how often I checked behind the TV those puppies were not really in my living room. If those pups were homeless before the game, I bet they aren’t anymore. I hope Animal Planet follows up with a “where are they now” type thing for all the animals involved-kitties, bunnies and hamsters too.
I am a dog that likes her lazy Sundays, but I made an exception to do this follow up blog because I was a little disappointed in some of the PB commentary. I think they missed a few opportunities to talk more about the puppies directly. How about a reminder about older dogs in shelters? Or pointing out different breed qualities and the advantages of mixed breeds? I guess I was hoping for more emphasis on adoption. The shelters that participated are on the website, but the credits rolled by so fast there is no hope of catching their names during the broadcast.
I know cute puppies and kitties frolicking on national TV does more good than harm for the animal rescue movement. I just wish they had taken advantage of the opportunity to do even more, to hook the casual channel flipper and reel them in. Make them look in those puppy eyes and understand how many more there are just like them that did not even get out of their crates today.
Filed under: cats, dogs, events | Tags: bunny, dogs, hamsters, pet adoption, puppy bowl, puppy bowl 2010, rabbits, shadytales, superbowl
Today is the 5th annual “Puppy Bowl” on Animal Planet. As I understand it, AP takes inspiration from the “yule log” broadcasts over the holidays and essentially lets rescue and shelter pups run amok in a puppy sized stadium for the event. They include a kitten half time show, bunny cheerleaders and a blimp taking aerial shots that is crewed by hamsters.
Yea, that’s right you heard me, I said hamsters. And cats and bunnies. Being a sporting breed myself, I have to ask; isn’t this just asking for trouble? Dogs, cats, rodents, all in confined space for 2 hours. Sure, there is referee but can he control the potential mayhem? What if the some of the puppies are afraid of loud whistles? What happens to Fido if he goes for a kitty from the sidelines? What does that say to the world about his breed, his species? And who cleans up the poop? Dog piles on every yard line do not make a compelling argument for opening your home to a dog. My Mom is telling me this is a good thing for animals, that the show raises awareness for homeless pets. I am not quite convinced. There is so much that can go so very wrong!
For the first time this year, I’ll be watching closely and researching online too. Does this event raise money for animal companion charities too? Does it make people want to adopt dogs? Look for our live comments via Twitter today—you know, to stay updated in case maybe you have something else to watch today like I don’t know maybe a football game? Leave me a comment here if you are watching too and help me figure out if this whole thing is good, bad or simple humiliation for companion animals everywhere. It’s the Puppy Bowl, as seen by a former puppy! Benevolence or bad news?
