07/08/13 to 07/14/13

Relocations and In Take

Our Cats after Release

Phone Calls/Emails You Don’t Want to Get

BMG (Bitch – Moan - Groan)

OMG (Oh My God)

Relocations and In Take:   Placed 16 this week with intake at 6: 

3             To an adoption group (Larry, Spots, Angel)

2              Barn in New Fairview (Glen, Smokey)

2          Barn in Cedar Hill (Maggie, Grace)

1          Barn in Pilot Point (Claudia – 9 years old)

2          Barn in Fairview (Miss Ellie, Jock – “The Ewing’s”)

4          Greenville Rescue and also paid for an eye removal

2          Gave cage for family to move 2 feral cats out of state                                                                                                                

I was very careful this week. Each barn placement was insulated with fans and good air flow.     

Our Cats after Release:             

1.      Denison – Lizzie and Dawn were placed here in a workshop/office. Both are still around but being elusive. The litter box is being used and the food is disappearing. This location is AIR CONDITIONED! Smart Cats!           

2.      Desoto – Spite, Gerri, Manny, and Maury were spotted when first released but have not been seen of a couple of days. The barn manager does hear some scattering around the barn and the food is disappearing.    

3.      Pilot Point – Claudia was placed here on Wednesday. Her barn in Burleson had been closed (death in the family, I think) and her “friend” (a large male cat) had passed away. She is now with another large, male gray tabby can plus Alberta and Two who I placed there in April. All are doing well.                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Phone Calls/Emails You Don’t Want to Get: 

A dog rescuer from a small town in Johnson County called this week. 5 female cats showed up and she has been feeding them for many months. Now that all have had kittens (total 25). She recently saw a tape worm on her bed and even thought all the cats are OUTSIDE, she is convinced that these cats have caused the worms. OH SURE! Tapes are passed via fleas. Your dogs have fleas. All these cats are probably going to die now….because…see BMG.         

BMG: 

1.      I am tired of folks laying a guilt trip on me because I cannot take their cats because I am full.  “I will just have to take them to the Humane Society” is the common statement. Hey, you let these cats breed for months and months and now you want them GONE in an instant. They really mean ANIMAL SERVICES (a death sentence) which leads me to another BMG.

2.      Folks do not know the difference between humane society, SPCA, adoption group, and/or animal services. I will try and explain:

a.      Humane society and SPCA are just “names”. There are humane societies and SPCA locations that are kill shelters and some that are no-kill. YOU NEED TO ASK THE QUESTION…KILL or NO-KILL? When you ask about the No-Kill, you have to pay close attention to the language. Sometimes, you will hear 'subtext'. For example, some SPCA locations advertise they are 'No-Kill', but they accept strays. When you ask for the details of the 'No-Kill' policy, it may only be applicable to owner releases.

b.      Adoption groups can be a humane society, a SPCA, an animal rescue league, or whatever. HSUS (Humane Society of the United States), ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and Alley Cat Allies are “national” organizations. All the others are local. If you want help, contact a local organization. 

c.       There is no hierarchy…a local Humane Society does not report to HSUS. The SPCA of Texas does not report to the ASPCA in New York.   

d.      Animal Services are organization run at the “city” level. They are there to take in “lost” cats and dogs and re-unite them with their owners. When an owner is not located, they are euthanized. They take in PETS – and feral cats are not pets. Feral cats, for the most part, are soon euthanized because they cannot be moved to clean a cage or enclosure and they do not have “owners”. 

e.      Some cities now have a registration process for feral colonies or groups of community cats. Dallas has implemented such a process.                                         

3.      ALSO – Folks seem to think if they give money to the ASPCA in New York or HSUS in Washington, DC, then I am COMPLELLED to help them. I get no funding from either of those locations (and why should I!). I just tell them to call New York or Washington and maybe they will send someone to Texas to help them with their cats.                                                                                                                                                                               

OMG:    

Fluffy is a 3-year-old orange and white medium-haired neutered male that came from  Garland. He is in a cage by himself and seemed to be doing well – until last Sunday night when I noticed that his jaw was swollen. Took him into All Care and they removed 5 teeth!  GEEZ! He is much better now and is enjoying all the canned food.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Thanks for following the Barn Cats blog.  See you next week!           Peg