Balancing Compassion and Reality

Summers at the SPCA are challenging.  We have more dogs running at large than any other time of year and we have an unmanageable number of stray and unwanted cats.  How does one cope?

Our staff is full of compassionate and caring animal lovers.  Why else would they work for low wages with great emotional strain?  So it becomes a daily battle to walk the line of compassionate care for both the animals and the individuals who we deal with.

It can be difficult when faced with individuals with unrealistic expectations.  I have many answers go through my head when people call or come to the shelter.  here a a few examples I have been faced with and the thoughts I had.

You don't want your 12 year old cat anymore because it isn't getting along with the rest of the cats?  Did you take it to a vet?  Don't want to spend the money? And you want us to find a new home for your cat?  Is that fair to a 12 year old cat?  Our shelter is completely full.  If you bring in a 12 year old cat it will be euthanized.  Is that your first choice?

Your dog jumps on you and your visitors and you can't deal with it any more.  Did you try a dog training class?  You don't have the time?  Then you shouldn't have a dog because there is some work required.

Your five year old child will not take care of the guinea pig.  Does your five year old cook her own meals and wash her own laundry?  If not, can you really expect a five year old to take care of a living creature without adult supervision?

Should This Dog Go Back to the Owner?

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Luckily for this dog, she was picked up by SPCA staff because she was found running at large.  We were shocked by her appearance.  Every rib, her hip bones, and her spine were clearly visible.  Her teats were enlarged and our original thought was that she had been nursing puppies.  The picture on the left was the day of her arrival, she weighed 37.2 pounds.

Imagine our surprise when the owner came to claim her.  When I refused to hand over the dog, he said that she had three week old puppies.  I asked him to bring in the puppies and when he balked, I told him that I would return the puppies if he brought them in.  There were nine pups! And they were not big bellied and roley polley.

After one week, this dog gained five pounds while still nursing nine puppies!  After one more week she was up to 49.6 pounds.  See the picture on the right.  Her body has filled out and she is full of milk for her puppies.

Now all we have to do is file cruelty charges and hope that the judge agrees that this owner should not have his dog and puppies back.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Scavenger Walk

Saturday, September 14th is our annual walk.  This year we added a scavenger hunt to add a fun twist to our event.  Individuals can pre-register before the event.  The $20.13 pre-registration fee will get you an official Scavenger Hunt list and a tie-dyed scavenger hunt T-shirt. 

Plus there are great prizes to be one.  Every registered walker will have a chance to win a Kindle Fire.  Chances are earned for every scavenger item found, and for every $50 in pledges.  There a wonderful gift certificates from area businesses.  And for the individual who donates the most pledges, ($1,000 minimum to qualify), they will win a trip for two to Las Vegas.

Hope to see you there!

Cats are Curious

It always amazes me when cats know when a door, normally closed to them, opens.  Here are two of our house cats enjoying the fish swimming around the tank.  We specifically placed the fish in a separate room so they wouldn't be bothered by the cats.  However, the door to the room was propped open and it took less than ten seconds for the cats to realize that, and find the fish tank.

A cat's natural curiosity can sometimes get them into trouble but in this case, I think it is the fish that might have experienced trouble if the cats had not been removed.

People Can Be Cruel

This cat was found inside this carrier which was placed in a garbage bag and left in a dumpster!  Other than urine burns on his belly, he was in pretty good shape and is a very nice cat.  We would love to find the idoiot that did this to unfortunate Garfield.  His rhinestone collar was attached to the handle and a message of "Free cat  good home good cat Garfield". 

I'm so happy that he was found alive.  He deserves a good home with people who will love and care for him.  He is neutered and front declawed.

Support for Spaying and Neutering

http://www.banfield.com/Veterinary-Professionals/Home/

Above is a link to a study by Banfield Pet Hospital.  They have extensive statistics to support the health benefits of spaying and neutering.  There are many pet owners who do not believe in the sterilization of their pets.  For years animal shelters have supported spaying and neutering.  Shelter workers are on the front line of the problems associated with pet over population.  Now we have current ammunition to show that spaying and neutering has health benefits for your pet.  My favorite benefit is longevity.  You'll see when you read the study.

Crazy Cat

I had a bowl on my desk ready to return home.  Josie decided that it was an excellent place to take a nap.  Despite the fact that there is a soft comfortable bed on the desk placed there especially for 'cat naps'.  Josie manages to finds the strangest places to sleep.  We have also found her on the lower tier of a two tiered in box. 

Cats do manage to find strange places to sleep.  We have had calls about cats stuck behind walls, up in trees, in muffler pipes, down in sewers and drain pipes.  No wonder they get nine lives!