Good News on the Starving Kitty update!
I am pleased to announce that the stray kitty, whom I had taken to calling Iris, was rehomed last night, and had a back-up foster parent. I would like to warmly thank the generosity of the signal boosts, and everyone who helped. She made her new home with the fine family of Kat and Devon. I left with a happy heart, knowing that I had left her in knowledgeable, and loving hands, and perhaps having made a few new friends too. Her new name is Cami, which is a token for how easily she camouflages herself in the color scheme of their new home.
I want to make a special thank you for this occasion to Andi who volunteered as back up foster, Remy who started the donations, and Naamah, for whom without her blog, this connection would not have happened. Thank you!
As a notable addendum, however, I’d like the opportunity to expound on what I learned from this experience. Cami was found in an incredibly rural, impoverished area. I learned, much to my dismay, that the resources in this area are all but nil for rescued animals: there are no TNR programs, scarce low-cost neuter and spay. There are no known rescue groups outside of the Humane Society. When I compare it to the hundreds of rescue groups I can find in Dallas, it really highlights where opportunity is, and where it is not.
I had already taken her to the vet’s office, because I was able to get a free appointment since the vet was not in, and the vet’s assistant was, thus she could do little more than take a look and give her some de-wormer. While I was at the vet, I asked about what help the Humane Society could give in this case, and was told that every animal that was delivered there died, and that their housing rooms were insufficient, and that many of the board members were on the board, not for the sake of animals, but for status. Basically, it was about small town politics. So I took Cami to the Humane Society to scan her for a chip and took the opportunity to ask questions. The supervisor I met was bright, determined, and passionate about the work they were doing, despite it being so grim. What I learned from the supervisor was nothing short of chilling, sad, and desperate.
In short, most the animals brought to a kill-shelter die. We know that, we’ve all heard the statistics. For me, though, she characterized who dies and why, which is the real reason I’m still typing. Her list of the condemned was hard to hear. In short, every pitbull dies, because the chances of them being adopted for fighting rings are too high. Every nursing or pregnant mother dies, because they don’t have the space for their brood. Unweaned animals die. Every feral dies, if it cannot be controlled easily. Now here’s the one that shocked me, and saddens me because it makes so much sense: every pet voluntarily surrendered by the owner dies. The main reason is because surrendered animals will occupy a cage that a stray would otherwise have, a stray that potentially has an owner who wants it back. A discarded pet is an unwanted animal, and the Humane Society does not know why it’s discarded, be it owner resources, behavioral problems, or what. The supervisor was very frank with me about that, and told me that she tells the owners when they bring a surrendered pet what will happen.
I asked about their intake, she told me that they are the only shelter in our county, and receive all the animals from out county, not to mention a large volume of animals from 4 other counties. (Texas has, if I recall, has over 200 counties). This can be as many as 35 animals a day, which is more than they have in holding cages for the 4 day waiting period waiting for a stray to be picked up. The nearest no-kill is one hour away.
I did not ask why they were only opened 4 days a week, from 10:30am to 1pm, then 2-4pm. That’s 18 hours. While I had heard derisive reasons for the short hours from another source, I can’t help but wonder if the real problem is actually funding.
While I was speaking with her I also asked what, given the chance, would she want to have spread as a central message to her organization? The first words to her mouth was “Volunteers.” In short, the staff they have is heavily burdened, and someone able to just socialize with the cats or walk the dogs helps keep the animals from getting kennel-crazed and prolongs their chances in the adoption panel. It even counts as community service, if you need some hours. Unfortunately, few people volunteer, outside of teens beefing up for college admissions, because few people can face the reality of a kill-shelter. After that, she said that the most important thing to do when your pets are lost is to check the local shelters, because having one stray found means one more cage free for another stray or adoptable pet. Lastly, they were not an ‘evil’ organization, hellbent to destroy as many animals possible, just doing the best they can with a situation that is nothing less than tragic.
I know rural Texas isn’t the only area where these scenarios I have described exist. I’m certain that they are reflected time and time again in our country. Since I also foster in Dallas, I enjoy access to low cost treatment and an abundance of rescue activities. For those of us not so lucky, I hope some of this writing is informational, and ultimately helpful. At this time, I personally am looking at it, trying to see what I my personally do to improve the chances of animals in these situations. The best I can do at this time is simply raise awareness, but in the future, I’m hoping to start a foster network, to increase their opportunities. In the meantime, I will write and volunteer.
I want to make a special thank you for this occasion to Andi who volunteered as back up foster, Remy who started the donations, and Naamah, for whom without her blog, this connection would not have happened. Thank you!
As a notable addendum, however, I’d like the opportunity to expound on what I learned from this experience. Cami was found in an incredibly rural, impoverished area. I learned, much to my dismay, that the resources in this area are all but nil for rescued animals: there are no TNR programs, scarce low-cost neuter and spay. There are no known rescue groups outside of the Humane Society. When I compare it to the hundreds of rescue groups I can find in Dallas, it really highlights where opportunity is, and where it is not.
I had already taken her to the vet’s office, because I was able to get a free appointment since the vet was not in, and the vet’s assistant was, thus she could do little more than take a look and give her some de-wormer. While I was at the vet, I asked about what help the Humane Society could give in this case, and was told that every animal that was delivered there died, and that their housing rooms were insufficient, and that many of the board members were on the board, not for the sake of animals, but for status. Basically, it was about small town politics. So I took Cami to the Humane Society to scan her for a chip and took the opportunity to ask questions. The supervisor I met was bright, determined, and passionate about the work they were doing, despite it being so grim. What I learned from the supervisor was nothing short of chilling, sad, and desperate.
In short, most the animals brought to a kill-shelter die. We know that, we’ve all heard the statistics. For me, though, she characterized who dies and why, which is the real reason I’m still typing. Her list of the condemned was hard to hear. In short, every pitbull dies, because the chances of them being adopted for fighting rings are too high. Every nursing or pregnant mother dies, because they don’t have the space for their brood. Unweaned animals die. Every feral dies, if it cannot be controlled easily. Now here’s the one that shocked me, and saddens me because it makes so much sense: every pet voluntarily surrendered by the owner dies. The main reason is because surrendered animals will occupy a cage that a stray would otherwise have, a stray that potentially has an owner who wants it back. A discarded pet is an unwanted animal, and the Humane Society does not know why it’s discarded, be it owner resources, behavioral problems, or what. The supervisor was very frank with me about that, and told me that she tells the owners when they bring a surrendered pet what will happen.
I asked about their intake, she told me that they are the only shelter in our county, and receive all the animals from out county, not to mention a large volume of animals from 4 other counties. (Texas has, if I recall, has over 200 counties). This can be as many as 35 animals a day, which is more than they have in holding cages for the 4 day waiting period waiting for a stray to be picked up. The nearest no-kill is one hour away.
I did not ask why they were only opened 4 days a week, from 10:30am to 1pm, then 2-4pm. That’s 18 hours. While I had heard derisive reasons for the short hours from another source, I can’t help but wonder if the real problem is actually funding.
While I was speaking with her I also asked what, given the chance, would she want to have spread as a central message to her organization? The first words to her mouth was “Volunteers.” In short, the staff they have is heavily burdened, and someone able to just socialize with the cats or walk the dogs helps keep the animals from getting kennel-crazed and prolongs their chances in the adoption panel. It even counts as community service, if you need some hours. Unfortunately, few people volunteer, outside of teens beefing up for college admissions, because few people can face the reality of a kill-shelter. After that, she said that the most important thing to do when your pets are lost is to check the local shelters, because having one stray found means one more cage free for another stray or adoptable pet. Lastly, they were not an ‘evil’ organization, hellbent to destroy as many animals possible, just doing the best they can with a situation that is nothing less than tragic.
I know rural Texas isn’t the only area where these scenarios I have described exist. I’m certain that they are reflected time and time again in our country. Since I also foster in Dallas, I enjoy access to low cost treatment and an abundance of rescue activities. For those of us not so lucky, I hope some of this writing is informational, and ultimately helpful. At this time, I personally am looking at it, trying to see what I my personally do to improve the chances of animals in these situations. The best I can do at this time is simply raise awareness, but in the future, I’m hoping to start a foster network, to increase their opportunities. In the meantime, I will write and volunteer.