"I'm Younger Than That Now!"

(Picture Left: "Lady" Who says you can't find older "mutts" new and loving homes?)

Sometimes I think to myself, "The longer I am in rescue, the less I know."

That feeling was born out last night.

A couple of weeks back, I pulled a dog off the shelter Euthanasia list, mostly for sentimental reasons.

"Lady" (as previously described) reminded me of one of my past and very beloved dogs, Fawn.

But, reality was, Lady is a medium sized, "mutt," not particularly gorgeous and she is an older dog -- somewhere between 7 and 9-years-old. She is a little slow on a long walk.

Such dogs are normally, very tough adoptions.

I put Lady in boarding for about a week.

While I delighted in the fact that Lady seemed a very loving, sweet and balanced dog, I had to worry that she could be in boarding a long, long time.

Most people don't even want to hear about dogs or cats who are over 5-years of age.

But, luck was on Lady's side!

A couple of days ago, one of our regular and very reliable, experienced foster people returned from a brief vacation.

Carrie called to tell me she could take a new dog for foster.

But, since Carrie works a full time, demanding job, has two young children, a husband and a couple of cats, obviously we needed to be sure the foster dog would be reasonably OK with all of that and not be too demanding of time and exercise.

I of course, suggested Lady.

Lady is in fact, a "Carrie" kind of dog.

Carrie prefers medium sized dogs to little ones and she seems to have a thing for the so-called "mercy rescues." -- Those animals rescued more for emotional and sentimental reasons than practical considerations.

In fact, one of Carrie's (and her family's) favorite fosters was a larger, older hound mix named Brownie who had neurological problems. The family had Brownie more than four months during which time, we never received even ONE adoption inquiry on him!

But, then one day, a very lovely woman named "Amy" called to offer help with a "difficult to adopt" dog. Amy is a registered nurse who works in the Emergency Room of a hospital and has special empathy for animals with disabilities. She has two rescued cats and a wonderful history with dogs.

I told Amy about Brownie. He was wonderful around cats and a very sweet and easy dog to handle. He could be OK with Amy's long working hours and the fact Amy has a medical background could help with Brownie's neurological challenges and slight case of Arthritis.

Amy originally took Brownie as a "foster/trial adoption" in order to free up Carrie to foster other dogs.

But, much to my surprise, I later found out that one of Carrie's little girls was quite upset about this decision. The family -- and particularly the children -- had grown very attached to Brownie and seemingly figured that they would have the "unadoptable" hound mix forever.

Nevertheless, things worked out well.

Amy has, in fact, fallen in love with Brownie and has decided to permanently adopt him. Brownie loves her other pets and has gained weight and strength while in Amy's expert care.

But, meanwhile, I figured Lady was, in many ways, another Brownie.

A lovely, older dog who despite all her attributes, would nevertheless, be a difficult adoption.

I warned Carrie to be prepared for a long foster.

As expected, Carrie called me the day after bringing Lady home to tell me the dog is "wonderful." -- Great with the cats and her kids. An all round, lovely and easy dog.

OK, so I was right about that part.

But, I was totally wrong about Lady being a "difficult adoption!"

Lady was in fact, adopted last night by a very charming and warm young couple simply seeking a "nice, older dog needing a home."

Carrie and her family only had Lady one day!

Perhaps that is good, because I have the feeling the family would have grown very attached to the lovely lady. This way, we can hopefully rescue another Brownie or Lady who normally are among the first dogs to go down in the animal shelters.

Who wants an older, medium sized "mutt?"

Well, apparently, there are a few good people out there knowledgeable on what often are the really happy and fulfilling adoption choices.

And what do I know about what's an easy or hard adoption?

Apparently, (and at least for the moment, happily) nothing at all! --PCA

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Of Ripped Claws and "Sagging Stomachs" (Reply)

Amby111 Writes: One of the most tragic results of declawing I've witnessed involved a six month old tabby kitten named Cypher. He was adopted from my local "no kill" shelter at the age of eight weeks. His adopter had him declawed and returned him to the shelter several months later for being "too active." Cypher was full of life, playful, and also a biter when he came back to the shelter. He was kept in the basement feral cat room for several weeks before being euthanized for "behavior problems." My feeling is that if the shelter had properly educated the adopter on kitten behavior and perhaps steered her toward an older, less active cat if she wasn't up for dealing with an active kitten, this would not have happened. I also have to wonder if the shelter's liberal adoption process, which doesn't screen adopters for information such as whether or not they intend to declaw, doesn't result in more (traumatized) animals being returned in the long run.

Reply: I agree with you totally that what happened with this kitten was tragic and inexcusable and due, in large part, to him having been declawed. However, I wonder if the shelter adopted Cypher out at 8 weeks as a "one and only" cat?

If so, then I believe that contributed to both, the declawing and his eventual demise in the shelter.

Kittens naturally claw and play bite as part of their development. Unless having another kitten or cat to "roughhouse" with, that behavior will come out on the people or kids in the home.

Too often then, the people either declaw the kitten or dump him/her back in the shelter with the complaint that the kitten is "too aggressive" or too active.

It is up to the shelter to try to educate people (as you wisely suggest) to better choices in adoption -- either TWO kittens or an adult cat.

(And of course, declawing should always be frowned upon. People need to understand that not only is declawing a physical mutilation, but also, and perhaps more importantly, a psychological alteration and trauma, as well. -- A trauma that cannot be reversed.)

Now, in saying people need to be "educated" on animal welfare issues, I realize of course, such ain't easy.

Many people are hard to educate because they don't want to listen to anything. They "want what they want when they want it" and it is very difficult to advise them differently.

Case in point:

Some years back, an 85-year-old woman called us seeking a "little kitten" to adopt.

I of course, tried to advise this senior citizen that a kitten would be a poor choice for her because of the high activity levels of kittens and a solo kitten's tendency to bite and claw their human caregivers.

"Certainly, an adult cat would be far easier and more affectionate and therefore, a much wiser choice!" I said to the woman.

"Oh NO!" the woman said adamantly. "There is no way I would adopt an adult cat!"

"Why not?" I asked her.

"Well, I just don't like the way their stomachs SAG after the cats are spayed!"

Obviously, I wanted to say to this person:

"Well, at 85-years of age, I am sure EVERYTHING sags in YOU!"

But, of course I didn't.

Suffice it to say, there are some people who simply can't be educated.

But then, you (hopefully) don't adopt to them either. -- PCA

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(More) Unrealistic Expectations (Reply)

(Picture Left: Even declawed cats wind up on shelter Euthanasia lists -- like the one here. Sadly, many declaws totally freak out when being dumped in a shelter and often go down for so-called, "behavior.")

SK Dean Writes: My current foster is a sweet and loving declawed cat who initially came to me due to a severe eye injury; possibly kicked in the head, but we'll never know for sure. Although the injury has healed, "Sabrina" has lost the sight in her left eye, which now appears cloudy and somewhat discolored. To make her prospects for adoption even worse, the vet places her age at somewhere between 8-9 years. Although advertised on the shelter website and Petfinder.com, and described as sweet and loving, and a lap-cat who would be ideal for an older person, we have not had a single inquiry into adopting her!

Reply: I presume you emphasized the fact this cat in declawed in your promotions of her, as there are people who seek out a declawed cat. Barbaric as the practice is, it is ironically, often a "selling point" for cats.

But, as you note in the rest of your comment, since the cat is older, that of course detracts from her "adoptbility." That, and any "disability" of course.

As noted last week, as older people will often demand puppies or young, active dogs, those seeking declawed cats often demand kittens or adolescent cats.

Another "demand" that doesn't make any sense.

As I have often said to impossible adopters like these: "Someone isn't going to spend $400.00 to declaw a cat and then dump the cat a couple of months later!"

Declawed cats, when they DO come into shelters or rescue are almost ALWAYS older felines!

Eight or nine years, is, in fact typical of the average declawed cat who arrives at a shelter or rescue.

The other thing that should be noted about declawed cats is that in most cases, they have been psychologically altered by the traumatic act of declawing.

These cats are much more easily threatened and defensive than other cats. They are often uncomfortable around small, active kids and even other pets. Declawed cats seem to know they are "different" and often act accordingly. In having their main line of defense taken away, some declawed cats take to biting when feeling threatened. Others may have problems with the litter box and particularly, gravel litter as it irritates the sensitive paws of a a declawed cat.

You are wise to seek out a mature and quiet home for this cat. Preferably one without other pets.

Unfortunately, as noted, in most cases, seekers of declawed cats expect then to come that way as kittens.

As if the kitten would declaw him or herself!

And to think further that one can mutilate an animal and then expect that there are no consequences or repercussions from that action is equally unrealistic.

I too, have a declawed cat rescued almost two years ago.

"Brandon" is so terrified of other animals and is sometime erratic with the litter box, he too, has proved to be a very difficult, if not impossible adoption.

Personally, I believe declawing should be banned because of its inherit cruelty.

Unfortunately, such law would result in even more cats being dumped in shelters.

Sometimes I think with cats, one cannot win.

But, the "fault" is not with the cats; it's with the people. -- PCA

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An Urgent, but Necessary Plea

(Picture Left: "Goldie" Loving and gentle purebred Cocker Spaniel surrendered to Animal Control when former owners ran into "personal problems." A few days later on the shelter Euthanasia List. Rescued, but now languishing in boarding. This lovely dog in desperate need of responsible adoptive or foster home.)

EXTREMELY URGENT: As our national economy has taken a dramatic downturn in recent months, many thousands more pets are being given up to shelters due to financial and other hardships on owners. Common now among reasons for pet relinquishment is, "cannot afford." Other cats and dogs wind up in shelters when their owners become ill, are forced to move or lose their jobs.

The increase in animal intakes in shelters places burdens on the shelters, who then turn to rescue groups for help.

As a small rescue group working with Animal Control in New York City, we are besieged with constant pleas to save these dogs or those cats.

Unfortunately, rescue groups are also feeling the economic pinch and volunteer downturns.

It has become much harder to find willing volunteers to temporarily foster animals until the pets can be permanently placed. It is much more difficult finding adoptive homes. And it has become far more challenging to raise the necessary monies to support vetting and other care of rescued animals.

The lack of available fosters means rescue groups are forced to board many rescued animals when financially possible. Unfortunately, boarding, particularly over long periods of time becomes financially prohibitive.

Currently, NYCA has 7 wonderful dogs in boarding. Not only is the boarding of animals financially draining, but it is not the best thing for the dogs. Long term cage confinement can cause high stress in many animals resulting in possible later behavioral and adjustment issues.

But, even more than the financial stresses on the organization or possible emotional damages on the animals, there is the very real fact, that once filled in foster homes and boarding spaces, the rescue organization can no longer rescue NEW animals.

When rescue organizations are filled to capacity and cannot take in new animals, that translates into more animals going into city pounds and ultimately dying. City shelters are currently forced to "euthanize" an ever increasing number of loving and healthy cats and dogs simply because homes and rescue cannot be found for them in time.

A rescue organization that cannot "move" its animals either into foster or adoptive homes, cannot continue rescue.

Animal Control shelters who cannot move their animals into adoptive homes or rescue organizations are forced to kill otherwise highly adoptable pets on a daily basis.

Both of the above scenarios are happening RIGHT NOW, every day in New York City.

Shelters and rescues desperately need HELP -- especially help in the forms of responsible adopters and willing volunteer FOSTERS.

Even if you have one pet already, PLEASE consider taking in another on a short term basis until a permanent home can be found for the cat or dog.

In many cases, volunteer fosters can even choose a particular animal to foster.

Challenging times call for those able and willing to step forth to lend a helping hand.

Please call us immediately, if you are able to foster or adopt a needy and loving cat or dog or even just seeking further information:

(212) 427-8273.

Thank You in advance,

New Yorkers for Companion Animals

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(Normal) "Holiday Blues" -- or, Something Else?

(Picture Left: Daisy, momentarily enjoying a belly rub. But, what does the future hold for her?)

These are downright dark and scary times in animal rescue and adoptions.

While we normally expect increases in animal abandonment and drop-offs in adoptions prior to any major holiday, I personally have never witnessed such extremes as we are experiencing now. And I've been in rescue almost 20 years.

There are constant and very desperate email "Alerts" from the shelters and from volunteers working at the shelters. Recent kill lists from the shelters include kittens, purebred cats and even a few small dogs.

We in fact, rescued a very loving, sweet, purebred Cocker Spaniel from the shelter yesterday who was on last week's "Euth list." The shelter simply ran out of space and time to keep Goldie any longer. If loving Cocker Spaniels can end up on a shelter kill list, what does that say for the larger mutts and Shepherd, Pit or Rottie mixes? What does it say for cats?

If I could normally feel confident about being able to place a small, purebred dog with a nice temperament (even when a senior dog), I am not at all confident now.

Even Foxy, our small and extremely loving and well behaved Pomeranian mix has failed to generate any qualified or serious adoption inquiries so far. And we've had Foxy almost a month now.

I'm not sure what exactly is going on.

Is it the normal "pre-holiday" ("I don't want to adopt right now, because I/we will be traveling over the holidays") downturns?

Or, is it something else?

Like, "I don't want to adopt right now because I'm not sure I'll still have a job or a home, six months from now."

I don't know.

I just know that while our abilities to rescue animals decreases due to a lack of fosters, boarding space and adoptions, the pressure on us to do so increases.

We currently have 6 dogs in boarding!

A couple of months ago, we experienced a very brief upsurge in dog adoptions when a number of our foster people elected to adopt their foster dogs. I thought we were finally out of the "summer doldrums."

But, unfortunately, I was wrong. We have been unable to recruit new foster people to replace the ones who adopted.

I try not to worry and fret over this stuff too much as its something we don't have ultimate control over.

We advertise the animals; try to get decent photographs and do nice write-ups and usually with some time, good and qualified homes come through.

And yet, what seemed to work so well in the past, just doesn't seem to be working now.

Yes, I try not to worry and fret too much, but deep down, I am very nervous.

Yesterday, I went to see and walk some of the dogs we have in boarding.

I am particularly concerned about "Daisy" -- the lovely Golden Retriever/Chow mix who was given up from a senior citizen unable to care for the lively, exuberant dog.

I remember the shelter worker telling me Daisy's former owner had requested euthanasia, not wanting her dog to be bounced from home to home or to end up being "warehoused" somewhere.

Have I honored the heartbroken former owner's wishes for her dog by rescuing Daisy? Or, am I in fact, just "warehousing" Daisy as the owner was seeking to avoid?

Daisy is a young, beautiful, vibrant, healthy and chock full of love and energy dog.

But, where to find that family or person who can give Daisy the care and exercise this dog needs?

So far, despite advertising her on three adoption sites, including Petfinders, we haven't had one inquiry on her.

Perhaps, Daisy's former owner knows something I don't.

It seems almost 20 years in animal rescue and placement hasn't taught me anything at all.

And yet, we still keep rescuing........

I guess because its what we "do."

We just can't think or worry too much, about what's waiting around the bend.

But, I am, right now, very, very nervous. -- PCA


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Never To Be a Bird with Severed Wings

It occurred to me on Thanksgiving Day that if I had my choice of doing anything or being with anyone (other than my daughter), I would have chosen exactly has things turned out.

A quiet day with my animals, a couple of phone calls to old friends, a call from my daughter and feeding the ducks in Central Park.

I guess I am not really one for social or traditional gatherings -- though I used to love rock concerts and dance clubs when younger. -- Then again, I guess one can't refer to those kind of events as "traditional gatherings."

I've never liked parties of any kind. And my memories of "family gatherings" usually turned into excuses for some people to drink too much and nurse or rehash old grievances.

I don't think holidays are all they're cracked up to me -- though from my personal vantage point, I appreciate the quiet and temporary peace of the city.

I wondered to myself the other day, if we do, in fact, "choose our own fates" much as we might deny that fact at times?

What is really random and what are our actual choices?

Well, for the poor young man who was trampled to death at Wal*Mart by a mob of savage shoppers, we could sadly say his fate was random. A horrible freak accident brought on by a series of circumstances and events: Poor security planning and anticipation of danger by the store itself and people, who in their frenzy to grab a "bargain" seemed to throw their sense of humanity, order and decency out the window.

But, I think in most cases, baring the unforeseen and random, we choose our own eventual circumstances whether or not we claim to like or appreciate them.

I received a marriage proposal on Thanksgiving Day.

To say I was surprised would be the understatement of the century.

So thrown off guard was I, I was unable to respond with anything discernable.

I probably should have said, "But, you know I am not the marrying kind."

What is "the marrying kind" anyway?

As a kid, I never (like most girls, one supposes) dreamed of being married and having lots of babies. But, I did daydream about great romance.

As an adult, I did experience several great (if not somewhat turbulent) romances.

But, only one brief marriage.

The marriage I went into with great trepidation (like a prisoner going to jail for a life sentence) even though I loved my husband.

Moreover, it was not a case of me being "unhappy" while married. I rather liked it, as a matter of fact.

But, nevertheless, I eventually destroyed the marriage.

There is something about me and marriage that apparently doesn't mix.

Following the blowup of my marriage, I tended to celebrate a kind of wild freedom, telling myself all the while, that I sought and needed a lifelong partner.

Well, the idea of "partner" does appeal to me. The idea of marriage doesn't.

Perhaps some of this is due to the fact that my parents had a rocky marriage that ended in divorce when I was a toddler.

I don't think my Mother ever truly got over the failure of her marriage (perhaps a difficult thing, especially for a woman in the late 1940's and '50s).

My Mother was like a bird with severed wings.

Perhaps on one level, I never wanted to be or become like that.

So, I found myself this past Thanksgiving (like most major holidays) basically alone, but no worse the wear for it.

There is the magic of the telephone which helps to keep my married daughter (living in Utah) and I in touch.

And ironically, this Thanksgiving also brought a marriage proposal from an old friend.

Yes, it is the last thing one would ever expect to hear -- especially at a kind of twilight in one's life.

It raised the age old question:

"What is the marrying kind?"

I don't really know the answer to that question.

I just know, like an old Bob Dylan song:

(Whatever the marrying kind is) "It Ain't Me, Babe."

Never to be, a bird with severed wings. -- PCA

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Anesthesia From the Truth

I find myself this early Thanksgiving morning thinking a little about language.

Yesterday, in an annual ritual, President Bush pardoned two Thanksgiving turkeys.

I wondered to myself about the use of the term "pardon" for this act.

Doesn't the term denote that the recipient has committed some misdeed or crime for which s/he needs or receives the "pardon?"

What crime or misdeed did the birds commit?

And what about the term, "Thanksgiving turkey."

What does that mean?

That the turkey has something to be thankful about? Or, that we bred and raised the turkey to be killed on a specific day?

"Breed to kill." In some ways that seems like an oxymoron. Or, at the very least, a waste of energy and resources. That might be something to consider during these times of supposedly becoming more "green" and forward thinking in how we're using/abusing or conserving the planet.

Of course another misleading term used to describe actions towards animals is "euthanasia" of shelter animals.

Literally, the term means, "humane death."

I'm not sure how "humane" it is to gas animals in many shelters around our country or even if it can be considered humane at all to kill healthy animals for what in many cases, is human convenience.

Is it the dog or cat's fault that his/her former owner(s) "moved," got sick, lost their job or home, became allergic or got a divorce?

Should it be considered "humane" to kill animals for things they had no control over and played no part in?

Every living creature strives to live and is endowed with certain tools for survival, be they fast feet, wings, keen eye sight, hearing, smell or superior intelligence.

And even though cats and dogs are also endowed with basic means for survival, these attributes don't unfortunately help them in animal shelters.

We, as human "predators" have learned how to "control" and overwhelm for our own purposes, those means of survival that cats and dogs naturally possess.

Thus, we are able to kill roughly ten million cats and dogs in shelters each year.

But, we call it "euthanasia." (So-called "mercy killing" for what really are human means and purposes).

I submit that the annual White House ritual of "pardoning" so-called, Thanksgiving turkeys should be referred to as "sparing" of these animals because it is, in essence, sparing them from an otherwise gruesome, human created fate. I also believe the term "Thanksgiving" should be dropped from referring to any turkeys. As the term has no place in designation of species or breed, it therefore has no relevance in description of any living being. There is no such thing as a "Thanksgiving turkey" any more than there are "Easter" or "Passover" humans.

Finally, the term "euthanasia" should not be used to describe the mass killings of viable, healthy animals in shelters for human convenience as it totally debases and in some ways bastardizes the word.

The only ones really being "euthanized" (i.e. "put to sleep") under these circumstances are members of the human public who are being anesthetized from the truth. -- PCA

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