Daily Life of a Rescuer

It is time to nominate favorite pet blogs for the 2012 Petties Awards. These awards are sponsored by Dogtime Media and are a prestigious award for pet bloggers. Petties are awarded to the top pet blogs in ten categories and each of the winners receive a $1,000 donation to the animal-related charity of their choice.

This year, each time you nominate a blog, you can also enter your favorite shelter or rescue for a chance to win $10,000.

Please nominate Black and Orange’s blog for Best Cat Blog and Best Cause Related Blog.

To nominate B and O’s blog, go HERE.

Our URL: www.bandocats.org/blog

Shelter Nominations for $10K Pre-Petties Donation Contest: Black and Orange Cat Foundation

You can enter a nomination once a day every day between now and June 29. The shelter or rescue with the most nominations will win a $10,000 donation and the blogs with the most nominations will go to the final round of voting. The winning shelter will be announced July 16. Voting for the nominated blogs will begin later this summer. The winners will be announced in an online ceremony in September.

Thank you so much for your nominations! We appreciate all of you so much!

I am so proud to announce that the blog for Black and Orange Cat Foundation is a finalist, along with blogs for Covered in Cat Hair, The Intrepid Pup, and Rescued Insanity, for Best Blog Writing in the BlogPaws 2012 Nose-to-Nose Pet Blogging and Social Media Awards. I have to thank my sister, Bobbie, for nominating the blog for this award.

Best Blog Writing was one of twelve categories that blogs were being judged in by a panel of distinguished professionals (rather than the normal voting by popularity that we see with many of these contests). Other categories included:

1. Best Blog Design, 2. Best Humor Blog, 3. Best Bark Blog, 4. Best Meow Blog, 5. Best Wiggle Blog, 6. Best New Blog, 7. Best Cause Blog, 8. Best Video on a Blog, 9. Best Photo on a Blog, 10. Best Facebook Design, and 11. Best Twitter Design.

To see all the finalists, go HERE.

If the B and O blog wins in the writing category, I will receive a 5,000-meal donation of Halo Spot’s Stew for the rescue or shelter of my choice, as well as a $100 gift certificate for Halo! Guess you know who will be getting the food donation!

I also received a free pass to the BlogPaws 2012 conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Halo, Purely for Pets and Freekibble.com are the official sponsors of the BlogPaws awards. The winners will be announced on Saturday, June 23, at the red carpet gala ceremony at the BlogPaws conference.

Wish the blog (and me!) luck!

As many of you know, Alley Cat Allies has been working with cat lovers in Canton, Ohio this past year to help stop the trapping and killing of feral cats. The group, and others involved in TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), have been trying to convince City Council to spay and neuter feral cats, rather than killing them.

In their ongoing efforts to help the Canton cats, Alley Cat Allies is sponsoring a two week Spay-a-Thon for all cats, whether they are feral, stray, or owned pets. The Spay-a-Thon will take place at One of a Kind Pets Spay & Neuter Clinic. This event is FREE and will begin on May 30 and run until June 13. If you are a Canton resident and would like more information, call Alley Cat Allies at (855) 264-CATS (2287).

Benjamin's Poor Ear

At the beginning of March, the lady who had helped Exodus (the FIV positive kitty with the broken jaw), sent me an email and a text about another kitty who showed up needing emergency vet care. With her text was the photo above showing Benjamin (aka “Butter”) and his awful looking left ear. I immediately took one look at the picture and arranged to meet her.

Benjamin went to East Hilliard Vet Services to have his ear fixed. Much of the ear was missing and what was still there was very infected. The smell from the carrier was so grotesque, I thought I would gag. It was Benjamin’s poor ear that was giving off the awful smell and I wondered how he had survived.

We are not certain what happened to the ear. We think Benjamin was probably attacked by something that ripped away the top of the ear and then the rest became infected. Whatever happened, it had to have been very traumatic and extremely painful for this little guy.

I thought that Benjamin would end up without an ear after everything was done. There wasn’t much left and what was there was very fragmented and jagged.

But thanks to Dr. Tom and Dr. Chris and a wonderful vet student, Dr. Missy, Benjamin ended up with a very short and stubby ear. His left ear is about half the size of his right ear, but it is shaped like an ear (with a slight curl at the top). We think his new ear makes him look very handsome!

Whatever attacked Benjamin may have nearly taken his ear and also given him FIV, feline immunodeficiency virus. This is the same virus that Exodus had, so perhaps it is being transmitted by another cat at the location where Benjamin and Exodus came from. In any case, both cats from the same place were infected.

Many people (and vets) freak when they hear FIV positive. A lot of shelters automatically euthanize cats that test positive for this virus, because there are so many negative cats that also need homes. But the truth is, FIV positive cats can live very long and healthy lives and the virus is very hard to pass on to other cats. People just need to understand that these cats are also perfectly suited to being adopted and added to their families. There are too many stereotypes that need to be overcome with education.

The virus is only spread through deep bites and these typically only occur between un-neutered male cats. Benjamin is neutered and he is also a very, very docile and gentle cat who is not aggressive in any way. He likes other cats and could be adopted with a negative kitty who was also very laid back and sweet. Two cats that do not fight are not going to pass the disease.

Cats with FIV can also live long lives. While their immune systems may be a bit weaker than other negative kitties, that does not mean they are going to die young or live horrible, sickly lives. They should be kept indoors and treated for any problems that arise, but that is how we want people to treat their cats anyway, whether they are positive or negative for FIV.

There are several nice articles about FIV on the Best Friends web site. You can access those HERE and HERE. You can also read a Fact Sheet about FIV HERE.

Exodus went to Best Friends Animal Society in Utah last October, because I could not find anyone who would look past his FIV status and adopt him. But that was a very special case and I am certain Benjamin can find a home here in Ohio with an open minded person.

Benjamin is a lovely cat. He is dog-like in his personality, following you around and loving a good rubdown and scratch. He is very, very laid back and was a perfect angel during the time he had to be confined to a large dog crate so he could heal. He never made any messes or trashed his cage. He just patiently waited for “stretching time” and his meals and belly rubs. He loves everyone he meets.

Benjamin is only 2-3 years old. He has the wonderful orange tabby personality and has never met a stranger. This sweet, special boy with the tiny ear and the virus many people fear, truly deserves a home where he will never struggle to survive again. Please open your heart and your mind and let Benjamin into your home.

If you would like to adopt Benjamin, please go to our web site, www.bandocats.org and download an adoption application under “How you can help” and “Adopt.” Once you have filled it out, either email it back to us at bandocats@gmail.com or fax it to 614-873-0972.


A few years ago, my husband, Joe, and I were out on a Sunday afternoon cruise around the back roads of Plain City. We ventured across the Darby into Hilliard and saw a posting for an Open House. The house was very upscale (over half a million in price) and since we had a bit of free time (and were nosy about what you got with a giant price tag), we stopped to investigate.

When we arrived, we were the only ones at the open house. The realtor led us on the tour and as we approached the basement, he pointed to a sign on the door that warned of an alligator inside. I thought it was a joke–that perhaps the family dog was named Alligator or someone was being funny to scare friends.

Descending into the well decorated basement, I saw no signs of an alligator–until I approached an opening about the size of a window, but lacking glass. There was another warning about an alligator by the opening, but being me, I poked my head through to look. And nearly died of a heart attack when an alligator, in a cement room the size of a closet, began to leap around below me. I quickly jumped back.

Joe and I once saw a giraffe in a pen on what looked to be a Waco-type compound near Mechanicsburg. But I’d never been so up close and personal with a wild animal in someone’s home.

Why would anyone want to keep an alligator in their basement?

Tim Harrison, wildlife wrangler and rescuer, asks the same thing in his two books about exotic animal captures and rescues he has made in Dayton, Ohio (yes, Dayton, Ohio, which surprisingly has a very large incidence of exotic animal escapes). Why would anyone want to own a cobra or a tiger or any other creature that could instantly kill you?

I picked up Tim’s two books, Wild Times, Tales from Suburban Safaris and Wildlife Warrior, More Tales from Suburban Safaris at Dark Star Books, an independent bookstore in Yellow Springs (which I love, because they have a black cat in residence). I hadn’t intended to purchase the books, but when I opened them up and began reading of Gaboon vipers (a deadly venomous snake with the biggest fangs in all of snakeland) discovered in garages (and played with unknowingly by curious children) and big cats out for neighborhood strolls, I couldn’t put them down.

The books brought to mind my own experience with the alligator in the basement–an animal that I found to be very sad. Living in a dark, concrete environment, the poor creature saw no sunlight and never swam in a swampy heaven.

I also worried about other pets in the gator house–a cat or a dog, who would jump up on the opening I had looked through and perhaps fall into the area with the alligator. They would have no chance at survival. And neither would a curious child–even I leaned in farther than I should have.

The books also reminded me of the horrible carnage of over four dozen exotic animals that occurred in Zanesville last fall when a suicidal owner release monkeys, bears, wolves, and big cats which were then sadly killed by authorities.

Heartbreakingly, most exotic animals bought as “pets” end up with that same fate–a horrible death.

Tim Harrison, the author of the books I ended up buying, has been going into homes for over thirty years, retrieving escaped exotic animals. From his often sad adventures, he has watched the same type of endings come to many of the animals he tries to save–cruel deaths. Many of the animals are in such poor condition (from being abused by owners who don’t know how to care for them) that they must be euthanized. These rescues have made Tim an outspoken advocate for the wild animals who belong in the wild, not sold to the unsuspecting public who keeps them in back bedrooms or makeshift pens, where they can accidentally kill or harm their owners.

In 2001, Tim and a group of police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics started a non-profit called Outreach for Animals to educate people about wildlife and save both human and animal lives.

Tim also recently spoke in support of Senate Bill 310, which would work to end ownership of exotic animals in Ohio. You can read more about this much needed bill HERE.

In one of the most poignant tales in his books, Tim wrote about going undercover at an exotic animal auction in Mount Hope, Ohio. There he witnessed all manner of animals–kangaroos, panthers, bear cubs–being sold to the highest bidder. Many of these poor creatures were so psychologically damaged that they had no chance of being “saved.” Rather, many of them were destined for “canned hunts”–hunts where exotic animals, hand raised by people and not afraid of humans, are released to be killed and displayed as trophies. Many of these animals, as Tim described, are geriatric, blind, or unable to even walk. They are released and killed. A horrible end to a life of tragedy. After living an unnatural life, these sad animals also die in a pathetic, miserable way.

But auctions aren’t the only place to buy these animals. They can be purchased at flea markets, in local newspapers, and online. If you google for a specific type of animal, I guarantee you can find one for sale. On a web site called, Fauna Classifieds, I found several listings for a gaboon viper for sale (remember, they have the largest fangs in all of snakedom and are deadly–yes, please, I’ll have two!).

In his second book, Tim encourages all of us to be Wildlife Warriors, speaking out for these animals that cannot help themselves. It makes me weep to think of all the horrors animals endure at our hands and all the innocent lives that are lost, both animal and human.

I am not just a wildlife warrior or an animal advocate, I am working each day to be a “species savior” (or I hope to be)–and that includes the species known as humans. Hopefully, we will not become extinct from our own disrespect of nature, animals, and our lovely Earth.

Visit Outreach for Animals on Facebook HERE.

To read a review of Wild Times and order your own copy, go HERE. To read about Wildlife Warrior and order a copy, go HERE.

Click on the newspaper article at the top to read more about Tim Harrison and his rescues.

 

It is not often that I am surprised by people’s generosity and kindness–people are so nice that most things no longer amaze me. But something that happened this week did make me think twice about how compassionate people can be–especially children.

I had an email from a former adopter, Carrie, telling me about something very special her daughter, Sofia, had done. The DiNovo family had just recently adopted a second kitty from us after also having adopted one a few years ago. Because of her love of her furry friends (Norm and Marna, the cats, and some special dogs, too), Sofia had decided that, instead of birthday presents for her seventh birthday this year, she wanted her family and friends to instead buy gifts for homeless kitties.

I don’t know many kids who, at age 7, would forego toys and brightly wrapped packages of goodies. But Sofia did. Instead, her friends brought her bags of cat litter, dry cat food, treats, and toys–enough to fill the back of the family’s mini van.

You can see Sofia in the photo above with all the kitty presents she received for her birthday and then donated to Black and Orange.

Sofia told her mom that someday she wants to be an “animal rescuer,” too.

I just want to send a huge thank you out to Miss Sofia for giving up her birthday presents and so generously helping homeless kitties. I also want to wish her a belated Happy 7th Birthday from everyone, especially the kitties, at Black and Orange.

In an email from Tobin Franks, Tobin let me know that the next Canton City Council meeting will be held this Monday, March 12 at 7 pm in the Canton City Council Chambers located at 218 Cleveland Avenue SW in Canton.

Tobin wrote: “As you may already know, the Animal Control Contract is being brought up for a final vote on Monday the 12th. The Council is suspending their normal rules and will go ahead with all three readings to renew the Animal Control Contract through 12/13/2013. The Council is making this decision just days prior to the Alley Cat Allies Town Hall meeting that is planned for Wednesday, March 14. Additionally, the Council is acting before the existing, amended 90-day contract is set to expire. This is a far cry from making a thoughtful, deliberate decision.”

For Canton Residents: Please attend the City Council meeting on Monday, March 12 and speak out against renewing the contract and voice your favor for the non-lethal alternatives being advocated by Alley Cat Allies. Many people already have raised their voices in opposition, but more are needed. Please be at the Canton City Hall by 7 pm to sign in and then speak out for the cats.

Canton Residents are also needed to write “Letters to the Editor” to the Canton Repository. Here is a link to the Letters to the Editor page that you can use to submit online: http://media.cantonrep.com/forms/letter_editor.php

To help you write your letter and have thoughtful speaking points for the Council meeting, take a look at these tips offered by Alley Cat Allies HERE.

A hardcopy petition drive is also being organized and taking place this weekend. If you see the petitioners out in your community, please stop and sign. If you would like to help out with the petitions and can gather signatures, please email Tobin Franks at tdf138@hotmail.com

Read the Alley Cat Allies press release on the Canton cats HERE.

Vivian Opelt is always outdoing herself with the wonderful things she does for cats and for us. She is truly our angel and an angel to the kitties who cross her path.

I first met Vivian through Dr. Kim West when Dr. West worked at Riverside Drive Animal Care Center in Dublin. Vivian helped the staff place cats that had been turned in by owners or found as strays (she still does). Since we were doing the same thing, Dr. West put us in contact with each other and Vivian began helping us find adopters for our abandoned and discarded kitties, too. I remember the very first cat she helped us place was a big, black, gentle giant of a tom cat.

Vivian paid to place ads for our kitties in the community newspapers. She had been doing that for many years for her strays and found a ton of good people that way. Vivian brought several wonderful adopters to us with her ads.

Besides helping us find homes for our cats, Vivian has also sponsored us in golf outings through her employer, The Wendy’s Company, bought our t-shirts for her fellow employees, and donated food, money, and anything else she thought we might need.

In 2010, Vivian was the winner of the Mini Cooper car that we had been raffling off. She not only paid for tickets for the drawing, she also paid for an ad in several community papers to advertise the drawing to increase our donations. We raised almost $9,000 with the raffle. When Vivian won the car, she donated it back to us and we were able to sell it for another $4,000. That was a lot of money to help spay and neuter and provide vet care for cats in need.

In January, Vivian wrote me and said she was signing us up for a Wendy’s Community Ambassador Grant (click on this link and then scroll down the page to read about Vivian). The grant is an employee volunteer recognition program that honors Wendy’s employees for their charitable work, as well as the charitable organization they support. The grant recognizes the spirit of Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, in employees who “give something back.”

At the time she was writing the grant, Vivian’s beloved cat, Phoebe, passed away. Vivian wrote the grant in honor of Phoebe. And Phoebe acted as our guardian angel and helped us. We received the $2500 grant. You can see it below, resting in the paws of a very happy, multi-colored kitty. You can also see Vivian below being honored for her wonderful work for cats.

I’d like to ask each of you to please take the time to “Like” The Wendy’s Company and post a thank you on their Facebook page for their generosity. I’d also ask each of you to eat at least one meal in the next week at a local Wendy’s to show your gratitude for the good work they do within their communities.

Thank you to The Wendy’s Company for honoring Vivian and us with this grant.

Thank you to Vivian for all that she does for cats in the Central Ohio area and for Black and Orange. We love you!

From an email I had from Tobin Franks, Alley Cat Allies will be coming to Canton, Ohio and spending the week of March 12th in the city in hopes of convincing the City Council to embrace Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). As mentioned in previous posts, which you can read HERE and HERE, Canton City Council is trying to decide whether to continue killing feral cats and other wildlife that are trapped by animal control or to move forward to more humane methods.

On Wednesday, March 14, Jeff Dorson from Alley Cat Allies will host a Town Hall Meeting in the McKinley Room at the Stark County District Library, 715 Market Avenue, North in Canton, from 6-7:30 pm. During the meeting, Alley Cat Allies will present a plan to help the City of Canton effectively and humanely control Canton’s feral cat population.

All individuals, advocacy groups, rescues, and city officials are encouraged to attend this very important Town Hall Meeting on March 14. Please round up all your friends and neighbors to attend on behalf of the cats!!

Before March 14, you can also attend several other meetings for the cats.

This first meeting is probably NOT one for cat lovers. It will be Wednesday, February 22, at 4:45 pm in the Caucus Room of the Canton City Hall. This meeting is for Council members and residents who are in SUPPORT of Phil Sedlacko and the current program for animal control.

The next meeting will be the Executive Session held at the next Council meeting at Canton City Hall on February 27 at 7:30 pm. At this meeting Member Barton wants Phil Sedlacko to be present to answer any questions Council members may have for him. This one would be a good meeting to attend, just to hear Mr. Sedlacko speak for himself about what he is doing.

A third meeting will also occur sometime during the week of February 27 with the TNR group, including Tobin Franks, and Council. I’ll let you now more about that meeting once I know a date, time, and location.

Please continue to speak out for Canton’s cats.

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