Monthly Archives: March 2010
Naomi feels much better now that her mouth is healing.I know that many of you received our emails about Naomi’s dental surgeries and also recently got a mailer via snail mail asking you to help with the vet expenses. I wanted to give everyone an update on how our sweet girl is doing since she had the second surgery last week. Dr. Kline called me on Friday, the 26th, and told me that she had done really well and he expected the graft to hold. He used skin from elsewhere in her mouth to cover up the hole in the roof of Naomi’s mouth.
Our bill for Naomi’s second surgery came in right around $1,000, making this girl’s mouth worth about $3,000! But it was all necessary for her to be pain free and able to live a happy, healthy life. We’d put braces on our cats and outfit them with gold teeth if those things would help them have better lives.
I just had an email from Naomi’s foster mom, Kim, and here is what she said about our toothless wonder cat:
“We brought Naomi home Friday afternoon. The soft palate repair went well.
“She is allowed only soft food and is eating two cans a day with just a smidge left over. She began playing with her toys that night- all of her toys, not just the one orange mouse. Again this morning I had to search to find all of her toys and place them in the middle of the room so I can monitor her activity. This thrills me to see she feels like playing.
“She is more outgoing and is greeting me at the door again. I had missed that. She actually comes and gives head bumps to our hands if she thinks we are not doing a very good job of petting her.
“She is just a little feisty when I give her medicine, but still very easy to dose. Her purr sounds different and I have not heard her sneeze or chuff like she did before the graft surgery.
“She is to return for a follow up visit in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile I am to watch for behavioral changes and keep ‘a nose’ on her mouth to be sure the graft is taking. So far the behavior changes I see are all good signs of improved health. I am so happy to see her recover so quickly. Let’s hope the graft does well and she will be pain free.”
Kim also sent over new photos of Naomi today and you can see what a little cuddle bug she is. We are so happy Naomi is recovering so well. We are also thankful for all the donations that have come in for her surgeries. We could not continue to help cats like Naomi without your support. Naomi sends her big gummy grin to all of her fans!
Okay, you can hug me.
I'll snuggle with you, too.
Miracle now that she has had food and love.I just wanted to give everyone some new information on our little Miracle girl. As you can see in the above photo, she looks so much better and healthier than she did when she came to Debbie at the end of February. Miracle was the little orange kitty who was dumped at one of the local metro parks. She has since gained weight, almost doubling in size from 4 pounds to 7! Her weight increase is thanks to lots of love and TLC from Debbie and high calorie kitten food.
Miracle before she gained weight. She weighed only 4 pounds when Debbie first rescued her.
Debbie also took Miracle in to see Dr. West, who discovered that Miss Miracle was front paw declawed. In fact, Dr. West thought the declaw surgery had been done fairly recently. This makes us wonder even more about why someone would get a cat declawed and spayed (she was already fixed) and then go and dump the cat in the woods. Was there foul play at work? Did someone steal someone else’s cat?
Debbie was shook up to find out that Miracle had been left to survive in the park with no claws to defend herself. She called Capital and checked on the Pet FBI web site to see if anyone was missing a declawed orange tabby cat, but found nothing.
Happily, Miracle is now ready to find her forever home. This home will be one that needs and wants a miracle.
Before....
And after....
Who would leave a cat to fend for itself?
Yesterday, Saturday, was our monthly PetSmart adoption event at the PetSmart on Sawmill Road in Columbus. Toward the end of our event one of the pet food vendors, who works in the store, came over to us carrying a giant, fluffy cat.
“Did a cat get out of one of your cages?” he asked.
We did a quick check, but the cat did not look familiar and all of our kitties were safe and secure within their dog crates. The same was true for the cats in the adoption center.
It quickly became apparent that someone had dumped the cat in the store. A visit to the grooming portion of PetSmart, as well as the Pet Hotel, revealed that the cat had not escaped from either place.
After a few words about what we should do with the cat, one of our volunteers took the Maine Coon kitty to Noah’s Ark to have Dr. West evaluate him. We also did our own quick check before he left and found the cat was front declawed.
After he arrived at Noah’s Ark, we found more pieces to our puzzle that just did not fit. First of all, his bladder was enormously enlarged, which frightened the staff at Noah’s Ark, because they were worried he was blocked and unable to urinate. But after providing a litter pan and a few other incentives, the gorgeous male kitty, peed a large volume and allayed their fears. What this meant, however, was that the cat had been holding his urine because he could not find a litter pan. He had been holding his urine so he would not make a mess and because he was so scared.
That changed our idea about when he may have been dumped in the store. If his bladder was so enormous and he had been trying not to pee, he may have been dumped at PetSmart either on Friday or sometime early Saturday or even earlier in the week. He may have crept around the store, hiding under shelving and behind pallets of cat litter, undiscovered until he was brought to our attention.
What we could not figure out, and still can’t, is how someone walked into the store with this large cat and no one saw them just leave him. Perhaps they had him in a cart and abandoned the cart and cat? We probably will never know. But the kitty popped out just before we were getting ready to leave for the day. Thankfully, we were late on our departure or he may have suffered a different fate.
We named the brown and gold Maine Coon, Skylar. A little boy had been visiting our kitties and left a donation for us. As he was leaving, his mom called him Skylar and it seemed like a perfect name for our abandoned kitty.
Skylar, we also learned, is already neutered, is only 1-2 years old, and is very healthy. Why someone would dump a declawed, young, and gorgeous cat is beyond all of us. But we are in the habit of rescuing cats, so, of course, the habits of those who leave their pets behind is a mystery.
Skylar will now go into foster care until we can find him a home where he will be safe and loved the rest of his life. The next time he appears at PetSmart, we hope it will be to get adopted, wiping clean the memory of his abandonment.
Who could leave this beautiful cat behind?
Ruby, one of 22 Himalayans, rescued from an elderly breeder who was not caring for the cats.
I had an email this morning from my friend Cheryl Cochran who rescues purebred cats from shelters and other horrific situations.
Here is what Cheryl wrote (and she sent photos, which you can access at a link later in the post):
“A breeder of Himalayan kittens with dementia could no longer care for her
cats and kittens, several of which were newborns. The woman’s family
wanted the cats out of the house as soon as possible. All vetting was needed
and the family was unable to help with the cats’ removal, vetting, or care.
The cats and kittens were picked up by one of the rescues on Friday, March 19.
Newborn Himalayan kittens in a box at the house they were rescued from.
“Sadly, as of today, two of the newborn kittens died before we were able to
get them out of this home. We did get one kitten we named Boo Boo out safely with her mommy, Ruby. But we were not able to keep the tiny kitten alive.
She died this evening. We took her to our vet and he tried to save her, but the poor,
tiny kitten was only 16 days old and just was not strong enough to fight
the infection she had. The poor thing had pneumonia. The mommy cat, Ruby, had been bred every 4 months, so she was not strong enough herself to support
the kittens. We are sad to say that poor Boo Boo went to heaven tonight.
Bless her little heart. She tried, but was not able to continue to stay here with her mommy.
“Persian Purrbaby Rescue and Hal’s Haven are partnering with another rescue
group in order to handle the vetting and care of so many cats and kittens. All of these organizations are very small and are strictly run by volunteers. They do not have the funds to handle this situation. However, the groups could not stand by and allow these beautiful purebred kittens and cats to be dumped in a pound, or worse.
“All of the cats and kittens needed physicals, testing, vaccinations, flea and
worm treatments, spay or neuter, and grooming. Many are in need of
socialization. Carriers had to be purchased and a van rented just to move
the cats to safety. The costs have, and will, continue to add up quickly,
but the rescue groups needed to act quickly. The original count on the number of cats was 22. There were three newborn kittens at first count, but two died before the cats could be picked up. One cat, who was originally forgotten about, was also added, bringing the total to 21.
One of the cats who was rescued.
“Upon arrival, all were very dirty, most were matted, and several were sick. Those that were old enough and healthy enough have already been spayed or neutered. All have tested negative for feline leukemia, with the adults also negative for FIV and Heartworms. All have been vaccinated, dewormed, treated with Revolution, and microchipped.
“One of the adults (Sabrina) has had over 100 kittens!! She had kittens in
January and is 11 years old. Sabrina had bloodwork before surgery.
While she was being spayed, she also had a dental and three teeth,
including a canine, were pulled. Sabrina did not handle the anesthesia
well and had to be watched closely for 24 hours until she was alert.
“Another adult (Ruby, pictured in the first photo of the blog), we believe, has been bred every four months for at least the last two years. Ruby had kittens in December 2008, July 2009, November 2009, and March 2010. This we know from their registrations. We believe she also had kittens in March 2009. One of her kittens that was born in
November may have to have surgery to repair his rectum. We are unsure if
there was an injury or a birth defect and we have to wait for the swelling
to go down with treatment to find out.
“If you would like to see the pictures of the cats and the environment they
came from you, can see them at: Snapfish, Memphis Himis
“Any donation you can make, large or small, will be so much appreciated and used for the care of these kittens and cats.
“Hal’s Haven has generously agreed to collect donations and start the
vetting through their organization. If you can help, you can send your tax
deductible donation to:
“HAL’S HAVEN, INC., 2108 Wells Landing Road,
Danville, Kentucky, 40422
“Or donate through PayPal by clicking on the
following address which is already specified for this rescue:
Hal’s Haven Paypal
“You can also donate to: PERSIAN PUREBRED & PURRBABY RESCUE, P.O. Box 12395, Columbus, Ohio, 43212.
“Thank you so very much for your concern and generosity. A huge purr is
being sent your way.
Cheryl Cochran
Persian Purebred & Purrbaby Rescue
P. O. Box 12395
Columbus, OH 43212
ccrescue614@yahoo.com
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/OH600.html
Linda Hudman, CPA
President, Hal’s Haven, Inc.
for Orphan Kittens and Displaced Cats
2108 Wells Landing Road
Danville, KY 40422
(859) 319-2056
lhudman@mis.net
www.halshaven.petfinder.com”
A sick kitty with very runny eyes needs help.
Just seeing these cats in the filthy conditions they were living in and how sick they were makes me want to remind everyone that they should always buy from a reputable breeder, whose home they have visited to see the conditions the animals are living in, or adopt from a rescue or a shelter.
Please also don’t ever buy a puppy or a kitten from a pet store such as Petland or Jack’s Aquarium, where you have no clue what kind of environment the animals have come from. Additionally, the animals usually have had very little (if any) vet care and have not been spayed or neutered, leaving that up to the new owner to do and just leading to more unwanted animals being born.
Pet stores such as PetSmart and PETCO actively work with shelters and rescue groups. The animals that are featured in their stores have come from rescues and shelters where they have been vetted and fixed. In fact, PetSmart is making it a policy that within the next two years, all animals in their stores, must be spayed/neutered prior to adoption.
The cute purebred puppies and kittens that you see in places like Petland, more than likely came from a breeder or puppy mill. After viewing the photos in this blog of the cats that were rescued, you can see the horrible conditions that some of these animals come from. I have had people tell me that by buying the puppy or kitten at the pet store, they “rescued” it, but in fact, they just added money to the unsavory breeder’s pocket and made it more than likely that the breeder will continue to produce more animals in horrible situations. Do not buy from pet shops. There are wonderful purebred cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies at rescues and shelters, as this story clearly shows. In fact, 25 percent of the dogs that come into shelters are purebred.
I have also heard stories of people who bought a cat at Jack’s Aquarium for $9.95 on special, because the cute kitten was now getting too big and they needed to get rid of it. The person who bought the cat, who had no vet care and was not spayed, was worried about what would happen to the cat if no one bought it. What does happen to the cats and dogs they cannot sell?
Since this $9.95 cat had not been spayed, the person who bought it also failed to have the surgery done and the cat went on to have two litters of kittens until Black and Orange had the cat spayed.
Please try to support shelters and rescues to find your next best friend. If you must go to a breeder, make sure they are reputable and take good care of their animals.
This poor kitty attests to the fact that you should always check out the breeder and support the work of rescues and shelters.
Many of you may have read the article in The Columbus Dispatch this past Sunday, March 21, entitled, “Third dog warden fired in less than 18 months.” While most of the story focused upon the firing of a well liked dog warden in Pickaway County, the final portion of the article brought up the issue of the Licking County Animal Shelter’s gas chamber. The dog warden in Licking County, Jon Luzio, and Licking County Commissioners routinely get complaints about the use of carbon monoxide and the gas chamber to euthanize animals. As the article stated, the commissioners decided to abandon the gas chamber in favor of lethal injection, a much more humane practice, to euthanize animals in the shelter. They planned to be using lethal injection almost exclusively by April.
However, the gas chamber would still be employed for overly aggressive animals.
The Newark Advocate also reported on the change in the method of euthanization in a March 18 article by Amy Hollow. The article cited increased pressure from the public as the main factor in the commissioners’ decision to phase out the gas chamber. Some of that pressure came in the form of a facebook page and an email campaign that filled the commissioners’ in-boxes with several hundred notes asking them to get rid of the gas chamber.
I received the email on March 17 asking everyone to participate in “Operation Email, Blast the Gas, Thursday, March 18.”
I also had another email just today asking everyone to participate in another email blast tomorrow, Thursday, March 25, due to the fact that the gas chamber, which was supposed to no longer be used, was once again used to euthanize the little dog who is pictured at the beginning of this article. The dog, who had a rescue who had agreed to take her, was deemed “aggressive” even though she was just very scared in the environment she was in.
The rescue group pleaded for her life, saying: “She is just afraid. Please try to get her out of there. Boiled chicken usually works. I’ll work with her when she gets here. Please don’t let her be gassed. Can someone help? I don’t want her to die. Please…”
Before the rescue group in Michigan could save her life, she was placed in the gas chamber.
To read more about this, please visit the Licking County Political Action Committee’s web site: http://www.lickingcountypac.com/
I am asking everyone who reads this blog to take part in the email blast tomorrow. Since just banning the gas chamber has not seemed to work, they are asking that people ask for the gas chamber to be completely removed so it cannot be used at all. From the email I received, here is what you need to do:
Operation E-Mail, Blast the Gas, Thursday, March 25
Who: You and at least 5 or more other people (please copy and paste this and email it to several of your friends so they can participate) need to send emails from your own email accounts.
When: Thursday, March 25 from 8 am to 5 pm
How: Send emails to the Licking County Commissioners asking them to please end the use the gas chamber.
Send to: Tim Bubb, tbubb@lcounty.com, Brad Feightner, bfeightner@lcounty.com, and Doug Smith, dsmith@lcounty.com
Please also add a “bcc” to getridofthegaschamber@gmail.com for each email you send so they can see how many emails were sent.
Do not put anything about the gas chamber in the subject line, but in the body of the email ask the commissioners to please end the suffering of animals through death in the gas chamber. Ask them to completely remove the gas chamber from the Licking County Animal Shelter so it cannot be used again to kill animals. Please send several emails on March 25.
Animals suffer in gas chambers. It is a gruesome and horrible way to die. I first learned about gas chamber use through a book about a dog who actually survived being gassed.
For those of you who may not know, there is an excellent book about the dog who survived the gas chamber in St. Louis. Quentin, a reddish brown mutt, was led into the St. Louis pound’s gas chamber in August 2003. When a shelter worker opened the door at the end of the procedure, the dog was still alive, standing atop the bodies of the six dogs that had been led in with him.
Quentin was subsequently taken in by Randy Grim, the founder of Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Quentin has become the poster pup for ending gas chamber use as a form of euthanasia. Grim went on to write an excellent book about Quentin and the use of gas chambers in animal shelters across the United States. Miracle Dog: How Quentin Survived the Gas Chamber to Speak for Animals on Death Row documents the plight of many shelter animals.
You can read more about Quentin in an excellent National Geographic News article which also explains how the gas chamber works. And to find out more about Quentin, Randy Grim, and Stray Rescue of St. Louis, visit www.strayrescue.org
While Quentin luckily survived the St. Louis gas chamber, the little dog pictured at the beginning of this blog entry did not survive the Licking County Animal Shelter’s gas chamber. Thousands of others over the years have also not made it out alive. Please help to end this cruel practice by taking part in the email campaign on March 25.
Yes, I think this will work nicely. It reads well. Could you fetch my eye glasses, please?
Kristin has been getting a mailer ready to send out telling about Naomi’s dental surgeries for people who may not receive our emailed newsletters. While she was stuffing envelopes, she had a bit of help from Koko. Unfortunately, Koko turned out to be a real slacker and had to be fired from the job. It’s hard on the paws, he complained.
By my left whisker, I do believe my mom did a great job with this. I give it my stamp of approval. One paw up!
Eventually, the job just became too much for him and poor Koko took a break inside the envelope box, which, by the way, makes a very nice bed.
This is my envelope box. Don't even think about taking it away from me.
We want to thank Kristin and Koko for all their hard work to help raise money for Naomi’s surgeries. Koko has also agreed to act as “enforcer” and “hit cat” if anyone fails to make good on their pledge of support. You may wind up in an envelope box, too, if you make Koko mad (and we doubt you will fit in it as well as Koko does).
Each year, for the past 2-3 years, a sweet lady, Leann Davidson, who we helped with kitties, makes us an Easter basket to raffle off. We always display the basket in Plain City Druggist and we get between $100-150 each year with raffle ticket purchases. Leann made us a super basket again this year. She buys all the items for the basket, the basket itself, and then packages it to look pretty and professional. Then she gives it to us and we keep all the money from the raffle.
This year, we’d like to knock Leann’s socks off when we tell her the total we made with the raffle. If you live in Plain City or close by, please stop in Plain City Druggist (across from Der Dutchman Restaurant) Monday to Friday from 9-6 (we close from 1:15-2:15 for lunch) and Saturday from 9-noon to purchase raffle tickets for the basket. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. If you don’t live close enough or can’t make a quick trip out our way, you can also purchase raffle tickets by mailing a donation to us at P. O. Box 126, Plain City, Ohio, 43064. Please indicate with the donation that you would like to purchase Easter basket raffle tickets and I will personally sign you up for the raffle. You can also purchase raffle tickets by donating through PayPal on our web site. Anyone who makes a donation to B and O through PayPal from now until April 1 will automatically be entered in the Easter Basket Raffle.
We will also have the Easter basket and raffle tickets with us next Saturday, March 27, at the PetSmart on Sawmill Road for our monthly adoption event in the store from 12-2. You can stop by and enter the raffle and also meet several of our adoptable kitties.
We are going to use all of the proceeds raised from the Easter Basket Raffle to help pay for Naomi’s dental surgeries. Naomi, just to update everyone, is doing well and has healed from having her teeth pulled. She is supposed to see Dr. Kline this week to determine if she can have the hole in the roof of her mouth fixed. As soon as the second surgery is finished and Naomi has been given a clean bill of health, this sweet girl will be ready to find her forever home. So if you are looking for a great cat who will never ever need her teeth cleaned, Naomi is the girl for you!
Please purchase raffle tickets to win a really cool Easter basket and to help Naomi. We will draw the winner on Good Friday, April 2, to make sure the winner gets the basket in time for Easter. If you live in the Columbus area and you win, we will make arrangements to deliver the basket to you or meet you part way. If you live a bit further out, we’ll also figure out how to meet to get the basket to you if you win.
Thanks again to Leann for helping our kitties.
Is this a litter pan or my very own race car? Beep, Beep!Everyone loved Winston’s new carrier, which is really an older model from the 80’s. This “stylin’ ride” comes complete with roller wheels that allow us to push Winston wherever he needs to go. And since he is a big boy, this keeps us from throwing out our backs when we try to lift him.
Check out these cool old school wheels.
This carrier is actually perfect for Winston, who when he peers out of it, looks as if he is driving his own space ship or litter pan shaped race car. We have Brian to thank for this ultra cool set of wheels. He had it tucked away in storage from the days when his former cat used it and he kindly passed it on to us before he acquired Albert. Although we offered to return it so Albert could have a hip carrier, Brian thought it was more suited for Winston.
And we agree. Although, we are not sure what Winston thinks of the whole experience.
Care to cruise in my hot rod?
I am absolutely thrilled about this! Thanks in large part to Ellen DeGeneres and Halo, Purely for Pets, a company that she co-owns, the Postal Service is producing a series of stamps encouraging people to adopt a shelter or rescue animal. The stamp series is called “Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet,” and will be the post office’s 2010 social awareness stamp set. Along with DeGeneres and Halo, the Postal Service is promoting this campaign called “Stamps to the Rescue.”
The stamps, which feature five dogs and five cats, all of which were adopted from a shelter in New Milford, Connecticut, can be pre-ordered today at the Stamps to the Rescue web site, at usps.com/shop, or by calling 1-800-STAMP24 (1-800-782-6724).
In addition, Halo will be donating a million meals to animal shelters around the country to give these often forgotten animals a “First Class meal.”
Please check out the Stamps to the Rescue site. The very cool web site has information about each of the animals featured on the stamps (all who found wonderful homes) and explains why adoption is so important to end the euthanasia of millions of healthy shelter animals each year. While you are on the site, you can even print out an adoption certificate to commemorate the addition of a new companion to your family. There is even a link from the site to Petfinder to make finding your future companion even easier.
In the past the Postal Service has taken on other social issues such as children’s health, Alzheimer’s, breast cancer awareness, organ and tissue donation, literacy, and philanthropy. They also featured stamps with a puppy and a kitten on them in 2002 to promote “Neuter or Spay.” With this large campaign in place, Ellen, Halo, and the Postal Service will surely educate more people on the need to adopt, stamping out the deaths of thousands of worthy and lovable cats and dogs.
Lucas, an orange tabby, was cold and hungry before he made his way to a shelter. Lucky for him, he got great vet care and a new home!
Chami and her companion, Cody, need a home after their human mom passed away.
Chami, a female cream colored Persian, is willing to take afternoon naps in a pool of sunlight. She doesn’t care much about chasing mice any more or indulging in catnip highs. She doesn’t mind a human mom or dad who are home and underfoot. She’ll guard the bed and keep intruders off the pillows. She’s even up to spending her retirement days lounging on the patio watching the birds or tooling around in an R.V., as long as she’s with someone who loves her.
Cody agrees. His only request is for ample shut eye and quiet time. Other than that, Cody and Chami won’t ask for much.
Cody, who is a silver male Persian, has been with Chami for most of his fifteen years. This distinguished, elderly couple would love to spend the rest of their lives side by side.
That is where you enter their story.
Unfortunately, these senior felines are looking for a new home this late in their lives because their human mom died. The other family members did not want Chami and Cody and took them to their local vet clinic to be euthanized. With death just around the corner, Renee Kelly, founder of The Forgotten Persian Rescue and Friends, whisked the two away to Noah’s Ark Vet Hospital and saved their lives.
Whew…that was close.
Now the two just need a home where they can spend their final years. Both cats are fifteen and Renee realizes that people may balk at adopting cats that are elderly. However, a home is just what they need, because senior cats do not do well in clinic or shelter settings with stress and daily changes.
Because she knows there may be concerns about vet care for two older kitties, Renee has also made a very, very generous offer. For the person who adopts this elegant pair, Noah’s Ark will provide medical care for the rest of the cats’ lives at no charge to the adopter. That’s right. Free vet care for the remainder of Chami and Cody’s lives.
If you are interested in a gentle geriatric pair of kitties, please contact Noah’s Ark Vet Hospital at 614-761-8400 and ask to speak with Renee. She will get the adoption process started. Noah’s Ark is located at 6001 Memorial Drive in Muirfield Village in Dublin.
And remember, Chami and Cody both promise to soak up any stray beams of sunlight and leave warm spots on your sofa cushions! But hey, that’s their job now that they’re retired.
Cody promises he won't climb the curtains or shred the toilet paper.