So here's what's up:

[roane]

We have babiesIt's kitten season at HSHV, and today we had at least 10 tiny tiny kittens come in--bottle babies. They needed foster homes. It's a harsh thing, but while HSHV doesn't euthanize for space, these are kittens that need 24/7 care, and we can't provide that at the shelter. Without foster homes, we can't care for babies this young. And

Comments

[bangping]

Most humane societies or rescues are pretty good about helping you determine BEFORE you adopt whether a particular critter is going to fit into your lifestyle. You can often get an idea by seeing how she reacts to cats, small dogs, squirrels, and other such things when you've got her out on leash. Curiosity, even intense curiosity, is fine, but if she drops into "hunting mode" or seems obsessively focused, that may be indicative of a strong prey drive that could be dangerous for a cat. You can usually get an idea of what she's thinking by watching her body language when she sees a small critter.

This isn't 100%. My Goldie was completely safe with cats, even with tiny, tiny kittens. One of my fondest memories of her is watching her play with two kittens only a couple weeks older than our current babies - they'd just learned to walk and play. They'd pounce her muzzle, and she'd gently flip them. They were the size of her snout, but she was SO gentle with them! However, she chased and killed squirrels and moles every chance she got. She was a better mouser than any of my cats!

If in doubt, call the shelter you're thinking of adopting from and ask. If they're not willing to let you see how your dog does, it may be better to look into a local rescue, who can work with you to determine what's best for your household.