By now most if not all animal lovers know about the infamous Mary Bale, dubbed the “Cat Woman”. She tossed a sweet tabby cat named Lola into a trash bin. Apparently she has now lost her job at a bank where she has worked for many years. The video below has gone viral on the internet over the incident. Leave it up to the Brits to inject some humor. There even is a fake Twitter account, @CatBinLady which has been created. And yes there is a Facebook page as well, Cat Lady should do time in a bin.
The most important message in all of this is that animal cruelty of any form is wrong and inappropriate behavior. So please be vigilant in observing such acts and immediately report it to your local rescue or shelter. PLEASENOTE that the @CatBinLady Twitter account’s web address is the RSPCA. They along with the SPCA do incredible work to support and protect animals…..MANY THANKS!
No this is not a budding romance. It is quite the opposite for my Princess, Miss Mia and her trips to the vet. Every year during her annual visit I have to trudge out her crate a few days in advance. She will circle around it through the course of that time, peaking in for a moment then scurrying away. She is very much aware when it is time for that visit….sigh. Out comes the towel for my protection while some very exorcist like sounds start emitting from that adorable mouth.
When we do arrive at the vet the examining room is in lock down mode, while the vet and her assistant prepare to remove Mia from her crate. I sometimes think she would much prefer a bath rather than a vet visit.
Well not really…… Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance is distributing dime sized condoms as a lark. Marketing genius I think. And a great way to promote the continual need for spaying and neutering of cats nationwide. Their “Beat the Heat” campaign is intended to promote The Feline Fix.
The Alliance celebrated it’s first anniversary on July 15th. Happy Birthday! With the assistance of generous donors they are the largest high quality, high volume spay/neuter cat clinic in Denver. And can offer low cost spay/neuter cat surgeries.
It will knock $5 off its surgery fees ($35 for tame cats, $20 for feral cats) for “cat guardians” who mention “Beat The Heat” when making a reservation at 303-202-3516 or www.rmaca.org.
With economic downturn adding to crisis of shelter overcrowding the euthanasia rate has more than doubled across the country.
Meet Oscar the Bionic Cat. Oscar lost both his hind paws in a farming accident in England. And he might have been subjected to getting around with a wheeled attachment or worse. But Noel Fitzpatrick, a neuro-orthopedic veterinary surgeon came to his rescue. He developed weight-bearing bone implants which gave Oscar a new lease on life.
The metal implants are custom designed and fastened directly to Oscar’s ankle bones, inside his fuzzy little legs. They jut out directly through the skin and fur with prosthetic paws attached to the ends of the implants.
“The real revolution with Oscar is [that] we have put a piece of metal and a flange into which skin grows into an extremely tight bone,” Fitzpatrick told BBC News.
“We have managed to get the bone and skin to grow into the implant and we have developed an ‘exoprosthesis’ that allows this implant to work as a see-saw on the bottom of an animal’s limbs to give him effectively normal gait.”
When I first read about Oscar and his new hind paws late last week I thought science was really pushing the envelope. How could a cat or any animal for that matter have the right quality of life? But after viewing this video Oscar seems to be getting along just fine. Hip, hip hoorah to Dr. Fitzpatrick and congrats to Oscar! May you live another nine lives…..
There has been much focus and deservedly so on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. But there are other communities that are being impacted by weather with hurricanes, tornados, wildfires and floods. Most recently the flooding in Nashville, Tennessee. Countless animals have been displaced being found wandering the streets, and in desperate need of homes. A spate of urgent requests for pet adoptions have been the end result.
To lessen the trauma of losing a pet and likelihood of pets seeking new homes BEFORE a DISASTER:
Prepare. Get a pet emergency supply kit, including food, water, medicines and medical records, first aid kit, collar with ID tag, leash or harness, crate or pet carrier and sanitation items.
Microchip: Make sure your pet is micro-chipped so that it may be easily identified. Keep registration up to date, and include emergency number of friend or relative that does not live in the immediate area.
Plan: What will you do in an emergency? Create a plan to get away and develop a buddy system.
Stay informed: Know about the types of emergencies.
DURING a DISASTER:
Make sure your pet is inside well before storm begins. And do not leave a pet chained outside.
Keep pet by your side to reassure them.
Never tranquilize a pet. It will be inhibited from using it’s natural survival instincts.
If you are instructed to evacuate do not leave pets behind.
Re-orient dog to home by walking it on a leash. For both cats and dogs familiar scents may no longer exist.
Be aware of downed power lines, debris and reptiles.
Contact your local animal control office if a pet is missing to find out where lost animals can be recovered. Bring a recent picture of your pet, tattoo number or microchip number.
Do not let your pet eat food or drink water that might have been contaminated.
Pet behavior might change after the trauma of a disaster. Report any changes in behavior to your veterinarian.
DISASTER AFTERMATH:
After a natural disaster, displaced people and companion animals face many dangers. There are many hazardous, life-threatening situations for helpless strays and displaced pets.
Disorientation, panic and stress, and leads dogs and cats seeking refuge into hazardous situations when there are no longer familiar landmarks or scents.
Floodwaters contaminated with waste and bacteria can cause intestinal parasites and gastroenteritis.
Animals trying to swim in floodwaters can quickly become exhausted and drown.
Displaced dogs and cats are frightened, lost, thirsty and very hungry and do not understand that they should steer clear of standing water and any food they may find.
Some of you folks might remember the good fortune of this dog being rescued from river earlier in the year. He was certainly fortunate but there are so many animals around the country struggling to survive after being displaced from their families. Please do take preventative measures and plan in advance for not only your safety and well being but your pets as well.
Not sure that I was as mature as Ciara at 12 years old. She is certainly a role model for other kids her age and for us adults too. As with anyone who has a pet, Ciara had the good fortune to grow up with a Golden Retriever, named Dakota. When Dakota passed there was an incredible void in her life. Instead of withdrawing after losing Dakota she volunteered at a local golden retriever rescue, Rescue a Golden, of Arizona.
But Ciara’s passion for animals did not stop there. She started a non-profit charity called Pennies For Pups.
“Pennies For Pups was founded to help raise awareness, money, medication and food for sick, injured and abandoned dogs in local animal shelters and foster care.”
Through Pennies for Pups she has established:
Annual weekly fundraiser at her school, Desert Arroyo Middle School.
Annual Book Sale and Dog show
Annual Four-Legged Food Drive
Yikes…..all at the ripe young age of 12! She most certainly is “a voice for the “bark” less”. Think she has a lot of MOXIE too…..”energy, nerve, courage & spirit!”
PeTA has enlisted the help of “Octomom”, Nadya Suleman to help promote spay & neutering of pets to pet owners. For $5,000 and a month’s supply of veggie dogs and veggie burgers she will place the above noted ad on her front lawn in La Habra, California, at 11 a.m today.
Already the ad has garnered attention from major media outlets for free; CNN, NBC, AOL News, E! Online, USA Today, and the New York Post. With “kitten season” now underway it seems that this current focus on “Octomom” is well deserved.
Animal Birth Control
Up to 8 million dogs and cats inhabit shelters annually. At least half of these animals are euthanized.
25% of animals at shelters are purebreds.
Female dogs and cats in heat have to fend off male animals without much success.
Spaying and neutering is a life saver for overall health and well being of your dog or cat.
Spaying and neutering puppies and kittens is cost effective.
With so many animals in need of good homes adoption is a life saver.
Following is video of above noted PeTA ad being unveiled. Must say listening to paparazzi is very annoying.
Nothing like a visual aide to “drive home” the point regarding deplorable conditions at puppy mills. Speaking of baseball analogies, Tony LaRussa manager of the St. Louis Cardinals joined the board of the Puppy Mills Reform Committee, created by Missourians For the Protection of Dogs group. He has been a long time advocate for animal welfare. The group is funded by the Humane Society and is looking to establish new regulations on dog breeders within the state. And to make “puppy mill cruelty” a crime advocating for creation of the “Puppy Mills Cruelty Prevention Act”.
Missouri has THE highest concentration of puppy mills. These businesses bring in tax free cash sales annually. With new regulations the hope is for:
adequate shelter, food and veterinary care
improved living conditions and space for exercise
minimize animals living on the streets
limit breeding of cats and dogs to 50 per facility
It is always great to know of a sports celebrity who is helping to improve the welfare of animals. All too often we hear more about those who do not. Thank you, Tony LaRussa for the incredible work you do on behalf of animals!
Are you ready to open your home to a new, furry family member? If you plan to adopt, choosing a rescue group is just as important as choosing your next pet. Consider this: When you enter into an adoption contract, you are legally bound by its rules for the life of your animal. As with any long-term relationship, it is best to start off on the right foot.
Examine Your Needs
The first step is to honestly assess your situation. Think about “a day in the life” of your perspective pet. How will you manage vet care, exercise, obedience, etc.? Do you have a fenced dog yard? Will you leash walk? Will your cat be indoors or have outdoor access?
While my husband and I more than meet the typical adoption criteria, our 2 dog doors pose an interesting issue for cats. Knowing that many agencies require adopted cats to remain indoors, we could not promise ours wouldn’t learn a way out. Cats are smart. Cats are crafty. And cats are persistent. Realistically, rapid-fire water blasts rarely deter instinctive quests for the natural environment.
Find a Contractual Match
The next step is to research your local rescue organizations for a good fit. Understanding your contractual responsibilities will expedite your connection with the new friend you are meant to have.
We found an amazing cattery with an truly holistic approach. Respecting the life that each cat has previously known, indoor cats seek indoor adopters, barn cats from bad situations seek responsible barn owners, and so on. This seemed like the place for us.
Find Your Perfect Pet
Once you find the perfect place, it’s time to choose your new friend. If you still have questions, find somebody in the know. Then find your new friend.
Although I assumed this organization was a good fit, I explained our circumstances to the woman in charge. She appreciated our honest concerns and happily accepted our application. Because we were all on the same page, our adoption experience was perfectly positive.
Let the Love Fest Begin
I am proud to introduce you to our new boys, Jackson and Jed. You can see their heartwarming adoption day in the video below. We sincerely wish you the same success and incredible joy that we’ve experienced through this process. The love these animals give is well worth the little bit of investigative work it takes to place the right one in the right situation.
This month of May is Pet Cancer Awareness month. And who better to lead the fight against pet cancer than Betty White, long time champion of animal rights and welfare. A hero to many people including yours truly.
Petco and Blue Buffalo have smartly enlisted Miss White to be front person in leading the charge to raise money for research. Their goal is to raise $1,000,000 all of which will go to the Morris Animal Foundation.
Cancer is THE most health related cause of death in pets. Some signs to look for:
About 1 in 3 dogs die of cancer, about the same rate as people. Some breeds, however, are more susceptible than others. Here are the breeds with highest to lowest incidences of cancer. (Average life expectancy shown in parentheses.)
