Meanwhile, Back to the Normal World.....

(Picture Left: Me, the day we rescued Simba [to my left] from Animal Control a few weeks ago. The black Chow mix is Morris rescued and adopted several months ago. Photo credit: Francis Golassi -- also the adopter of both dogs.)

If some are wondering why I haven't been writing lately about rescue or adoptions, its because June is generally the slowest time of the year for animal adoptions. Its the time when most people are planning summer vacations or at minimum, July 4th getaways.

We were lucky to get a few adoptions in May (including one dog, Fawn who had been in boarding at least six months). But, new dogs were rescued to take the place of those adopted either from foster or boarding.

So, we are once again at capacity.

So far, June has been a total bust with the exception of a lovely Chow rescued (Simba) who was later adopted by her foster people.

In fact, I wouldn't know the phone was working except for the daily calls to either give up animals or place strays.

One of these calls a couple of days ago was from a woman who adopted a Chow mix named, "Chloe" from us five years ago.

"Jennifer" now claims to be "moving in a week" and needs to return the dog. Chloe is now almost ten years old.

"You just decided today that you are moving in a week?" I asked, obviously upset with the call.

"I couldn't find your number," was the reply.

But, Jennifer miraculously finds my number a week before she moves to a "no pet" situation?

It is amazing the way people think we have homes lined up for ten-year-old, mixed breed dogs.

But, that has a lot to do with the public messages that have been going out via the media and newsletters from the larger organizations cheerfully claiming we are going to be "no kill" in five years. Of course that message has recently been modified: "We are not going to be killing animals for population control!"

What, one wonders, does that mean?

If a dog like Chloe goes to Animal Control and ends up being destroyed, that is not for "population control." Its because the adoptive homes are almost impossible to find for medium sized, senior animals.

But, this is a common reason for killings in our shelters. In addition to the the fact that most cats and dogs get sick in our municipal pounds and the "illnesses" then provide the justification for killing. (This, despite the fact most of the "illnesses" are treatable Upper Respiratory Infections --i.e. colds).

I asked Jennifer to immediately email me some pictures of Chloe so I could put out emergency quests for placement on the Internet.

"I am calling you from the street and don't have paper to write down your email address," Jennifer told me.

"Well, then can you call me later and I will give it to you?" I asked.

"Sure."

That phone call was two days ago and I have yet to hear back from Jennifer.

I tried calling her and leaving a message.

"Please send me the pictures as time is quickly running out."

I will most likely hear back from Jennifer the actual day she moves.

So no, I haven't been writing a whole lot lately about either the situation in our shelters (grim) or the equally grim circumstances for most rescues.

Later in the day, I will take my dogs to Central Park to check up on the goose family or the Mama duck in Harlem Meer with her ten newborn ducklings.

Its highly unlikely Mama duck still has ten.

Life and nature can be cruel -- and that's without oil spills. --PCA

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