Great News and (at Long Last) Kudos!

Its taken a few days to learn exactly what happened to the female coyote darted and brought to Animal Control last Thursday.

And it is really good (for a change) to be able to report exceptionally wonderful news!

The coyote was determined to be in good health and was released to someone in the animal field who is highly respected, experienced and expert both in animals, transportation and just about every inch of the five boroughs.

If anyone would know the proper and humane procedures for release of a wild animal and appropriate location, it would be this man (who shall remain nameless here).

The location of the release of the coyote was not divulged to me, nor should it be publicly.

Sadly, coyotes are still very much misunderstood and hated by much of the public and to release sensitive information like that would only bring out those "Not In MY Neighborhood" people or worse, those who would actually do harm to the coyote.

I am grateful to the AC&C for not releasing that information. It would be totally unwise, detrimental or even deadly to the coyote.

And so yes, at long last there is some exciting and truly positive information to report here!

We seem to be slowly but finally moving away from those dreaded and barbaric days of simply killing everything we refuse to understand or learn about.

Kudos to the AC&C and the city of New York on this one! -- PCA


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What Will Become of the Manhattan Coyote?

What awaits the Manhattan coyote captured yesterday morning and brought to the AC&C? The answer unclear as what's on the other side of the bridge.....

On the news last night, they reported that the coyote who was roaming around Tribecca was captured yesterday morning and brought to the Manhattan AC&C.

Considering the current state of our animal shelters, that is not good news at all.

The entire first floor of the two story shelter in Manhattan is still shut down for various cosmetic procedures (like painting) which results in severe lack of cage space and overcrowding on the second floor of the facility. Moreover, the shelter has been running out of basic supplies in recent weeks, such as wet food and (as of last week,) dog leashes.

One is forced to wonder how an animal shelter conducts dog adoptions without something as basic and necessary as temporary dog leashes?

The city and shelter officials always seem to deny any serious or long term problems. "Euthanasia down, adoptions up!" Whatever reported problems or shortages are merely temporary glitches.

But, I personally am beginning to think they would say the same were they captains on the Titanic: "Everything is fine! All problems resolved."

When a coyote named "Hal" was captured and brought to the AC&C several years ago, the entire shelter was in use and there was no shortage of basic supplies. The coyote still died from the stress of being held in an overcrowded facility not meant for wildlife. In fact, the building wasn't created for cats and dogs initially.

Of course the local news tried to put a "positive spin" on yesterday's story. According to the report on ABC, the coyote (after medical evaluation) "will either be released to the wild or sent to a zoo."

Well, let's see what actually happens.

Stay tuned...... PCA

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Urban Coyotes?

(Picture Left: A couple finding serenity in the park last night. Hopefully, the coyote finds his/her way here.)

It was all over the news last night that a coyote was -- and is running around downtown Manhattan.

News cameras captured the scared coyote cringing under a parked car. But, when the cops gave chase, s/he disappeared into thin air. -- Not easy on busy Manhattan streets.

Gotta give it to these creatures. They are wily and they are smart. -- Smarter than most criminals.

Of course I saw a coyote a couple of weeks back in Central Park. Its possible this is the same one, but unlikely.

Speculation was that the coyote might have traveled from New Jersey through the Lincoln Tunnel.

Well, there is no doubt that coyotes move very fast. And they can jump very high too, as I personally witnessed.

Most people interviewed on Manhattan streets seemed pretty cool about having a coyote in their midsts.

Personally, I believe it must be quite terrifying for a wild animal like this to find him/herself in the middle of Manhattan.

But, no more terrifying than being captured and taken to the AC&C (Animal control shelter.).

The last unfortunate coyote captured and forced to spend several days in the overcrowded pound died from apparent stress and panic.

Viewers of the news were told to call 311 or Animal Control if spotting the coyote. But, I certainly didn't -- and wouldn't.

The city obviously has no humane plan for these animals.

Hopefully, the coyote finds his/her way to Central Park.

After all, if Red Tail Hawks can live there, why not a coyote or two?

Coyotes are no more a threat to someone's toy poodle or small child than the hawks.

Coyotes are far more afraid of us than we them.

Yes, I am hoping that the coyote will find his/her way to Central Park.

Maybe, if I am lucky I will be able to get a picture of him/her at some point.

And hopefully, if the coyote is lucky, s/he will find the quiet peace of the park that so many of us humans enjoy. -- PCA

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A Few Nice Runners and a Red Tailed Hawk!

Pictures above: The Red Tail Hawk on the stake-out -- hopefully not for fat Pomeranians! Runners on the bridal path -- or, "Boys Night Out?" My dog, Tina checking out squirrels or new buds on the trees -- the path less traveled.

Since the world of animal rescue has once again turned bleak over the past couple of days with calls to dump or place animals outnumbering adoption inquiries about 5 to 1, I will try to focus attention on the more positive experiences of this period.

One of those was catching sight of a red tailed hawk in Central Park early yesterday evening!

Immediately, I dropped the leashes on my two dogs, Tina and Chance to grab my camera! (Both dogs are now sufficiently trained to stay put when I am snapping pictures.)

Unfortunately, the light was dark and overcast making this kind of photography difficult. Moreover, I had to use the zoom on my simple "point and shoot" camera, which without a tripod, causes some blur.

If these challenges weren't enough, a jogger came running down the path I was on and Puppy Boy suddenly decided to turn into Protective Dog!

Chance (aka "Puppy Boy") started to chase the jogger and nip at the young man's heels!

Embarrassed, I had to corral my wayward "guard dog" and apologize. But, the young fellow was very nice about it -- even to the point of laughing it off.

I guess there are still some nice people in the world.

I then returned to trying to get a couple of shots of the hawk, who, by that time was staring down at the dogs and me, wondering I suppose, what all the commotion was about.

Or, perhaps he was considering my fat Pomeranian as a possible dinner!

I decided to quickly get out of there.

Dusk is one of my favorite times in the park. Most people are leaving, but the runners remain.

Lots of runners in the spring and summer.

That has always seemed a bit strange to me, since one would think the cold weather would be far more pleasant for running. Then again, what do I know about running? Swimming and walking are my "sports." And long walks are something I definitely prefer in the colder weather. Perhaps running however, is different?

The trees are all suddenly starting to sprout buds and tiny leaves now.

Amazing how only last week they were entirely bare!

The park changes from day to day and even from hour to hour, depending on the lighting, weather and season.

But, whatever the day on the calendar, Central Park is always beautiful to me. -- especially when one is lucky to find a swan, a duck, a blue-jay, a cardinal, a raccoon, a coyote or a red tail hawk!

Indeed, one never knows what one will find and see -- even if already having been to the park ten thousand times (as I think I have.)

Always fun to take pictures too -- even if your dog is suddenly chasing a jogger down the path.

Just pray that the runners are nice and have a sense of humor about it. ;) -- PCA

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The Lucky Ones

(Picture Left: "Dina." A dog with seemingly no chance in the world for placement, but who ironically turns out to be "the lucky one.")

The past week has been busy. Several new rescues (and thankfully, two adoptions) over the weekend.)

But, sometimes the most satisfying rescues are those that you don't actually have to rescue and take in. -- The dog or cat fortunate to find his/her forever home without fanfare, advertising or sheltering.

Usually, such animals are the young, fancy little breed dogs for whom some rescues luckily have "waiting homes."

One would not expect to get lucky with a dog like Dina.

Dina is at least ten-years-old and appears as if she has been through the mill for at least nine of those years. She arrived at the shelter as a "stray" with absolutely no history.

What's more Dina is a black Chow. -- a breed we normally don't have "waiting homes" for.

Despite the odds against an older, filthy and disheveled black Chow, one of the shelter volunteers took a shine to Dina.

Evelyne sent me Dina's pictures a few days ago and said the dog was an extremely gentle and sweet soul. "No aggression whatsoever."

I told Evelyne it was extremely unlikely I could pull Dina because we had already taken in several new rescues and the age of Dina was against her, even assuming we could clean up the severely matted and uncared-for Chow.

Still, I kept Dina's image and circumstance in the back of my mind.

One never knew if a miracle could come up.

Late last week, I received a call from Marcia, a long-time Chow lover and a woman who, over the years has adopted several Chows from me.

Marcia has a house and several acres of property in Pennsylvania.

"I see you have several new Chows lately. Jada looks very sweet. Do you need a home for her?" Martia asked.

"Jada is a lovely, older gal. Very sweet and gentle. Currently she is in boarding, so yes she needs a real home and we need the space. Are you interested?"

Marcia was very interested and after speaking a little while longer, it was arranged that she would send her driver in on Sunday to pick up Jada.

But, on Friday, another woman called interested in adopting Jada.

"Christine" already has a younger, neutered male Chow and was interested in a friend for her dog, as well as a second Chow for herself.

She sounded as though she could provide a wonderful home for Jada.

I explained to Christine however, that I already had a home lined up for Jada. I would have to ask Marcia is she would be willing to take a different Chow.

Later that day, I called Marcia and told her about Dina -- the older, messed up Chow still sitting at Animal Control and for whom, there would be no chance for rescue and placement.

Marcia has a special spot in her heart for the older, neglected Chows no one else wants.

In the past, she has adopted senior blind and deaf Chows from me. "Malcolm," was Marcia's first adopted dog from us about 10 years ago. Malcolm was an older, blind Chow who I had in boarding about 8 months and worried would never get adopted.

But, he was lucky to find Marcia and she him. In many ways, Malcolm inspired Marcia's love and devotion towards the breed. She had Malcolm a number of years before the well cherished Chow finally succumbed to cancer.

Currently, Marcia has three Chows from me, including a deaf one. The new dog, whoever it would be, would be her fourth.

I of course, told Marcia about the younger and more robust Chows we had in boarding. But, her heart was already set on either Jada -- or Dina!

"You know me, Patty. I am a sucker for the older ones who have been so neglected and need the love and care. They are usually so happy and grateful for the attention."

I knew well what Marcia was speaking of. It has also been my experience that the older, neglected dogs (or cats) usually turn out to be the most devoted and appreciative. One of my dogs, Chance is a good example of that. Though I only have the 12-year old Pomeranian a couple of years, I truly think Chance would throw himself in front of a train for me.

The following day, (Saturday) Christine adopted Jada and so far things are going very well.

Meanwhile, Marcia was kind enough to switch plans and told her driver to meet at the shelter to pick up Dina.

Although Evelyne had sent several pictures of Dina and warned about the dog's condition, I was not at all prepared for the shock of this dog's truly wretched state!

Dina's dirty matted fur seemed to go in all directions, giving her a somewhat comical appearance.

Dina's hair was completely bare on her tail, making the tail appear more like that on rat than a Chow.

The black Chow was truly pathetic looking. One had to suspect Dina either spent years in a junkyard or roaming the streets as a true "stray."

I said to Lisa, one of the shelter Rescue coordinators, "Certainly no one could have walked this dog on the street without getting reported to the ASPCA for cruelty."

But, despite her abysmal appearance, Dina was nevertheless, everything Evelyne indicated her to be. -- Extremely gentle, affectionate and seemingly thrilled to be getting any attention at all. A truly lovely and cheerful dog in contrast to her dark, dreary and even scary appearance.

Last night, Marcia called to tell me how happy she was Dina. "She's given me at least a dozen kisses since she arrive here. What a sweetie!"

I apologized about Dina's condition, but it didn't bother Marcia at all.

"I have grooming equipment here and do my own grooming. I will bathe and shave her down in a couple of days. Want to give her a little time to settle in. So far, Dina is doing wonderfully. Perfectly mellow around the other dogs and just a total sweetheart!"

Thank God for the rare people like Marcia willing to take in the animals who most need them and for whom, normally there would not be a ghost of a chance to be placed.

But, it is Marcia who considers herself, the lucky one.

As said, sometimes the most gratifying and rewarding rescues are the ones you never have to actually do.

Today, I consider myself the "lucky one."

But, it is really Dina, a lost and pathetic soul, if ever there was one, who is now, the luckiest one of all. -- PCA

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"Bellevue, Here I Come!"

(Picture Left: "Patty." Throwaway Mom whose ticket off the Euth list rode on the particular day of the year -- and her name.)

"Instead of calling you for a dog boarding space, I should be calling Bellevue for a space -- preferably one with padded walls for me."

The above words were spoken a short while ago to Ed, an excellent dog trainer who also runs a boarding kennel in New Jersey. I have often relied on Ed to train and board dogs for us.

Although already boarding two dogs with Ed, I was calling him to take in another.

One, who I had no business pulling off the Euth list today.

Then again how does a second generation Irish woman with the name, Patty turn her back on a dog named "Patty" on (of all days) Saint Patrick's Day?

"I bet the shelter gave her that name at ten O'Clock last night," Ed laughed. "They looked at the calendar."

"Well, sure its pure manipulation," I replied. "But, the dog also has a face that would melt stone. I'm a sucker for this stuff. As said, Bellevue is preparing a padded cell for me."

If I feel somewhat "crazed" over the past few days, it is not just because of the pressures and stress of animals already rescued and in boarding or even those who need rescue, but mostly from the people contacting us over the past week or so.

If I had a dollar for every dump call or plea asking for help, I'd be on my way to the Millionaire's club. If I add into those, the calls from time wasters and assorted loonies, I'd be in competition with Donald Trump or Bill Gates.

Examples?

Caller: "We need to put our cat up for adoption because it doesn't fit into the home anymore."

Me: "Are we talking about a cat or a dress, Sir? What do you mean, 'doesn't fit?'"

Caller: "It doesn't get along with our other cat."

Further conversation with the man revealed the cat was a purebred Abyssinian that the family bought from a breeder three years ago.

Me: "Call up the breeder and ask her to take the cat back. -- She brought the cat into the world, I didn't! "

Caller: "Hm, I didn't think of that."

Why is it that the people who buy animals from breeders call shelters and rescues when they don't want the animals anymore instead of calling the people they actually got the animal from?

Who ever said common sense was common?

There have been numerous calls like that one. But, the worse call was from a woman calling last week to offer foster for a "small dog."

"Cara" lives alone on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, has a good job, previously had a Shih-Tzu for 16 years and sounded like the ideal person to foster a small dog.

As matters turned out, I had just gotten off a call from a desperate woman in the Bronx who needed help in placing a purebred Pug.

"Marina" is a lovely Spanish woman who already has four rescued dogs in her small apartment, three of which are Pitbulls. She called to tell me her neighbors didn't want the family Pug anymore (named, "Brutus") and were leaving the little dog in the building hall way.

I asked Marina to temporarily take the dog in until I could arrange with my vet a boarding space, neutering, shots and whatever other medical attention the dog needed.

I then explained all this to Cara and asked if she would be willing to foster the 7-year-old Pug whom I was told was a very friendly and housebroken dog.

"After the medical attention and neutering, Brutus should be a very adoptable dog," I added.

Cara agreed to foster the little dog and I told her I would call her back as soon as the vetting was taken care of.

Marina meanwhile, did her part to get the Pug away from the neglectful and irresponsible owners and held the dog a few days until my vet had cage space to take the dog in.

Marina was finally able to deliver Brutus to my vet this past Saturday.

With neutering and dentistry scheduled for today, I called Cara to let her know Brutus would be ready for pick-up tomorrow (Thursday.)

"I need to know something," Cara said to me cautiously.

"What is it you need to know?" I asked.

"Does the dog snore?"

"Excuse me? Does the dog snore? Are you kidding? How would I know something like that?"

"I read that sometimes pugs snore. How much does he weigh?"

"I don't know his exact weight. He's a purebred Pug. He's not going to be the size of a Great Dane!"

"Well, I dunno." Cara replied looking obviously to get out her promise.

"Look, Cara, I am quite sure you won't have this dog very long. He's a very adoptable dog."

"Oh, so you don't need a foster then!"

"Yes, we need a foster! My vet needs his cages for sick dogs, not healthy ones. He's not running a boarding kennel!"

Cara abruptly hung up on me.

Infuriated, I called her cell back and got voice mail. I left a message:

"Please don't call other shelters or rescues to waste their time with this kind of nonsense. Animal rescue is serious, life and death business not fun and games!"

A few weeks ago, we had three dogs adopted.

We have quickly replaced those and filled up all boarding spaces -- and then some.

But, it is never the animals who make you crazy in this work.

It's the people.

"Bellevue, here I come!" -- PCA

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The Coming of Flowers

(Picture Left: "Big B" and brother, "Cool." Among early spring drop-offs at Animal Control.)

The worst part about being at capacity in terms of animals either in foster or boarding is that you then have no place for a new rescue.

That is our situation now.

Thus, when getting a call from the shelter the other day about two brother Chows mixes who were just abandoned from a home when their former owners "moved," I had to regretfully say that we could not take the dogs as there was no where to put them.

This is a reality and task that I personally find among the most unpleasant in animal work. -- Having to say, "no."

And yet it is a reality we in rescue work face everyday. -- Either having to ignore the dozens of email "Alerts" sent to us daily of shelter animals needing "urgent rescue" or actually having to say "no" to personal pleas.

I just wish the pleas were made more to the public and the press. I wish owners, when dumping animals in the shelters for things like "moving" or "having a baby" were told the entire truth.

Most people discarding pets leave the shelters with the idea that their dumped cat or dog is immediately getting "adopted to a loving home." This, despite the fact most shelter drop-offs have been neglected for years and are often in poor medical or psychological condition.

It's as if we had a line of potential adopters for animals lined up around the block, (regardless of condition of the cats or dogs) -- like the people lined up applying for jobs these days.

Unfortunately, most of the "lines" regarding animals are those of people waiting to unload their pets at an animal shelter:

"Can't afford." "No Time for." "New boyfriend or roommate allergic," "Landlord won't allow" and of course, the most common excuses, "Having a baby" and "Moving."

In addition to the regular excuses for animals to be abandoned at a shelter, there are also the hardship or owner screw-up reasons, such as illness or death of the owner, evictions and arrests or loss of the cat or dog (pet arrives at shelter as "stray.").

There are in fact, hundreds of reasons why animals end up in shelters. There just aren't so many reasons for people to adopt. -- Other than (hopefully) just wanting to care for an animal and seeking a 4-legged companion.

With these realities in mind, it should come as no surprise that the number of appeals and pleas (whether by email or phone) for animals needing rescue far outnumber adoption inquiries about 100 to 1.

I am only surprised that the shelter "Euth Lists" are not a great deal higher considering these grim imbalances.

The reasons they are not higher is that thankfully, more animals are getting spayed or neutered these days either before getting adopted out by shelters or rescues or in some cases, owners actually get their pets neutered.

Additionally, there are more groups and individuals doing animal rescue these days than in years past.

Unfortunately, that can also result in many animals spending months or even years in overcrowded boarding, foster or "sanctuary" situations.

As noted at the top of this entry, one has to learn and respect the line of capacity and know when to say, "no."

Not everyone in rescue recognizes those things, sadly.

It has been an almost deadly quiet week in terms of serious adoption inquiries. In fact, we haven't had any that seem likely to result in an actual placement of one of our dogs or cats currently in boarding or foster.

On the other hand, I could not even count the number of appeals, pleas and "alerts" that have come via email or phone over the last week alone.

Indeed, the true highlight of this past week was sighting a coyote in Central Park a few nights ago!

I just hope the parks department and Animal Control don't get a hold of him (or her.)

The last coyote, "Hal" captured a few years ago, died in transport by the time the shelter finally found a place for him out of the city. The stress and panic of several days containment in the crowded AC&C was apparently too much for the shy and terrified (of humans) coyote. These animals are surprisingly small and extremely agile.

Indeed, it is pretty scary for most of the domesticated pets dumped everyday at our animal shelters. Imagine what it is for a "wild" animal? Especially a species that has been so persecuted, hated and decimated by humans over the decades.

If the Central Park coyote is smart, he will stay as far away from humans as possible.

Not an easy feat considering we are soon going into spring and summer and the park will thus attract millions of people.

One more reason to dread the coming of spring and summer to New York City -- beautiful and flowery as these seasons may otherwise be. -- PCA

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