Monthly Archives: September 2011

A new group based out of Sunbury, Ohio has an unforgettable acronym: SNACK. The letters come from the name “Spay/Neuter Abandoned Cats and Kittens.” 

SNACK, Inc. was started by a wonderful set of people who B and O has worked with over the years. In fact, I met with SNACK founders, Greg, Rita, and Debi last December when they were making final plans to set up their non-profit. They wanted to know how Black and Orange did things so they wouldn’t have to re-invent the wheel.

SNACK’s mission is very similar to what we do: “Humanely reduce the overpopulation of homeless cats and kittens by promoting and supporting trap/neuter/return and spay/neuter programs in Central Ohio.”

I am very happy to say that SNACK is now officially a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization within the state of Ohio. They are currently fundraising so they will have the finances to begin helping Central Ohio kitties in need.

They also have a very cool web site: www.snackohio.org

We are overjoyed to have another group in our area working to help kitties in need. Please consider volunteering with SNACK if you are in the Delaware/Sunbury area and are looking for a way to make a difference for stray and feral cats.

Congratulations to a compassionate group of people who are true friends of felines! We have your back if you need us in any way.

Free kittens. Free puppies. Free to a good home. Free. Free. Free.

These notices pop up everywhere. In newspapers. On bulletin boards. On the internet–especially on Craig’s List.

People won’t give away their old junk, holding yard sales to sell their attic and basement “treasures.” Yet, they will give an animal, a living, breathing, feeling creature, to someone, even a stranger who they know nothing about, for free.

I used to see lots of “Free kittens” signs posted in yards or at the end of driveways, especially in the spring as we entered another round of “kitten season.” I don’t see the signs quite so much any more. At first, I thought maybe our spay and neuter efforts were making a difference in our area. But the more I thought about it, I came to realize that the real reason for the decrease in homemade signs attached to mail boxes is because people are so technical now that most of them advertise their free animals to a much larger audience on the internet. Why only catch the attention of a neighbor or the local house wife driving on errands when you can reach out to people all over a metropolitan area or even a large portion of your state?

Where are these good homes the puppies and kittens and other unwanted animals go to? Well, some of these “good homes” are research labs. Known as “bunchers,” there are people who actively acquire as many “free” animals as they can to sell to laboratories. These people make a profit and a living by selling animals into a life of untold misery, suffering, and eventual death.

They are called “bunchers” because they take animals in “bunches.” Most people are only willing to adopt a single animal. But the bunchers are eager to take three kittens, four puppies, or even whole litters (mom included). Usually, it is hard to find anyone who wants the animals, but suddenly there is a person who wants to take them all off your hands. That is when you should be suspicious.

There are other people in the world, too, besides bunchers who acquire free animals. These include people with mental disorders, deviant personalities, and other bizarre behaviors who take free animals for their own purposes. I have dealt endlessly with several people who acquire free animals from Craig’s List when they are in a manic mood. One lady only looks for purebreds–Siamese, Persians, pugs, a Yorkie. When she becomes depressed, she forgets to feed the animals, letting them live in their own filth, reproducing and creating more unwanted animals, until I either remove them from the situation or they die before I am informed.

Some of the people acquire the animals as “food” for their exotic pets–crocodiles, snakes, and other wild animals that require a steady diet that must be provided to them when they are housed in an apartment bathroom and cannot “hunt” on their own.

Some take free animals to become “bait” for fighting dogs. These poor free innocents are used in horrendous ways to teach other animals to fight for their lives.

So how do you make sure a cat or a dog (or even a rat or a bunny) goes to a good home?

Always charge a fee.

We often post cats for people on our Petfinder site. Petfinder.com is a wonderful site that allows rescue groups, shelters, and individuals to post homeless animals for a national audience. Animals cannot be given away on this site. When we post for someone as a “courtesy,” we then screen anyone who applies to adopt the cat, ensuring that the animal will go to a good home. Even after we’ve checked the person out, however, calling their vet and references, I always tell the owner to charge a fee, as well, and even go to the house and visit where their animal will be living.

I learned all of these things about free animals the hard way.  A few years ago, before I was involved in animal rescue, someone dropped off a mother cat and four kittens at my house. I tried various avenues to find homes for them, but with no luck.  Someone advised me to take the kittens to a Columbus pet store.

I cringe now at the thought.  In fact, I can hardly bear to write this.

The pet store sent me next door to the clinic that checked out all their animals.  One of the kittens had a cold in his eye.  Because of this, all of the kittens were deemed too sickly to be taken for sale in the pet store.

If only I had walked out right then.  If only I had taken the kittens and left.

Instead, just as I was headed for the door, one of the ladies in the office stopped me.

“One of the girls who works here wants some kittens for her parents’ farm,” she said.  “Should I call her?”

I nodded my approval.

She went in the back and made a phone call.  She came back out to tell me the girl would take all four kittens for her parents’ barn.

I didn’t ask any questions.  I didn’t get a phone number or name or anything.  I just handed those kittens over to a complete stranger.

At the last minute, I decided to take the kitten with the runny eye home with me.  I was afraid he wouldn’t receive medical treatment for his eye and would go blind.  If I had those worries, why did I give up his sisters?

I saved the runny-eyed kitten’s life.

I feel almost certain that I gave those poor kittens to a buncher.  I can only imagine what kind of horrors they have been subjected to because of my stupidity.

I tried to call back later to check on the kittens, but no one in the office could tell me anything about them.  It was as if those free kittens never existed.

I read Jim Willis’ essay about “Free Kittens” a few months after this happened. In the essay, a litter of free kittens are given to various bad homes.  Some end up in research labs.  Others go to uncaring owners.  But they all end up dying in their “good homes.”  Reaching the gates of heaven, God tells the joyful bundles of fur, “You are finally free, kittens.”

Notice how the placement of a comma changes the whole meaning of “free kittens.”

If you’ve never read Jim Willis’ amazing essay, “Free Kittuns,” please have a tissue ready. You can access it HERE.

The only true way to end the suffering of animals given away for free? Spay and neuter. If there are no unwanted litters then, eventually, we will reach a day when there is a short supply of animals and no one will dare toss them out like discarded garbage. I dream of a day when animals will be so valued that people will gladly pay any price to have that adorable kitten or elderly dog in their life.

I recently had a family who was looking to adopt a female kitten. They wanted someone friendly and loving for a companion for their son. I offered what I thought was the perfect kitty for them–one who loved people, purred when touched, and was going to be an “outside” kitty before we decided to help her find a home. I sent the family to PetSmart to meet Heidi and when I excitedly inquired what they thought, I got this response back:

“We don’t like black cats.”

It didn’t matter about Heidi’s personality, her loving nature, or how well socialized she was even though she came from a bad situation. All that they could see was her color.

Happily, Heidi found a wonderful home with former adopters who were looking for a black cat. They’d always had a black cat in their lives and they knew how hard it was to find homes for black animals. They wanted to help out and adopt a kitten that perhaps others would not want.

I have never understood why people will bypass the friendliest dog or cat just because they are black. But it is a fact that the animals most commonly euthanized in shelters are black. In fact, if you were to look at the cats we have listed on our Petfinder site, you would see that approximately 1/3 of those are black cats. People just overlook them time and again in favor of cats of a different color. Any color. Just not black. I read once that the reason there are so many black cats is because they get along so well with other cats. That feline friendliness leads to more black cats being produced. Black cats are the same with their humans too–loving, easy going, and laid back.

These loving, but unwanted black cats will purr and rub against the staff at kill shelters even as they are being prepared to be euthanized. It makes me sad.

Petfinder knows that some cats and dogs are “less adoptable” and they are celebrating those animals with “Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet” week from September 17-25. Not only are black animals chosen less, but also animals with special needs, those that are older, and cats that have tested FIV positive.

Our poor Exodus! He has a ton of things working against him. Even though he is the nicest cat around, he is black, FIV+, and special needs. Three strikes against him! His special needs label comes from the fact that his jaw was shattered when we first got him. Although it has since been fixed by Dr. Tom Klein, his mouth will never close completely, and he will always need to eat soft food, because his jaw just cannot accommodate hard food. He isn’t the prettiest cat around with his torn ears and tongue sticking out of his mouth, but he is a lover. You can click HERE to see photos of Exodus and read his story.

Petfinder points out some of the pluses of adopting “less adoptable” animals:

Older pets are mellower – you don’t have to worry about your lamp getting knocked over!

Physically challenged pets are often unaffected by their handicap – but you still look like a hero!

“Bad reputation” breeds – you get the chance to prove people wrong with your great dog!

Dark-furred pets make it easy to accessorize – black goes with everything!

Pets with behavioral issues allow you to form a tight bond as you overcome obstacles together!

Big dogs are easier to find when it is time to go to the vet!

So if you are looking to adopt, please consider an animal that perhaps no one else wants. And, although no one else may want that cat or dog, believe me, that cat or dog wants you desperately.

 

I recently received the September 2011 newsletter from the folks at the Humane Society of Madison County. As I had told everyone before, the shelter has acquired property and a building where they will be moving off of State Route 142, about 10 minutes from Plain City (can you read my excitement that they are going to be so close to us?), but in the West Jefferson zip code. Renovations have been going on and they hope to be moved in to their new “digs” very soon. The latest newsletter updated some of the things that are going on with the move.

If you click on the page from the newsletter to the left, you can enlarge it and read about the new shelter and what is going on now.

Additionally, I’ve included the entire newsletter link at the bottom of this posting. The newsletter includes lots of good information and photos of the renovations.

I wanted to include in this posting, however, an invite from shelter director, Betty Peyton, to come take a look at the new building and also help out with some of the renovations on Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18. Below is the information on this volunteer opportunity:

On Saturday, September 17th, starting at 9:00am until ???, we need volunteers at the New Shelter located at 2020 ST RT 142 NE, West Jefferson, just a quarter of a mile south of I-70. Volunteers are needed to help finish up painting, wash windows, clean, build stuff, etc.

On Sunday, September 18th, starting at 10:00am until ???, we will finish up all we can.

We think we may already have folks who can build the playpen wall and shelves in the cat playpen area, but there is plenty more that needs to be done.

We are also looking for folks who can help with the landscaping in the front of the shelter. There are a couple dead bushes and others needed trimmed up. We would LOVE to have some fall plants if possible.

All volunteers are required to fill out a volunteer form which can be done that day. If you are under 18-years-old, a parent or guardian is required to also sign the form. Folks can pick up these volunteer forms at the current old shelter at 1357 ST RT 38 SE, London during open hours of noon to 5pm Monday to Saturday or wait until the day of volunteering and fill out at the new shelter.

Come and be a part of the New HSMC Shelter.

I was also happy to read in the newsletter that Madison County is now doing all their spays and neuters in-house and will eventually move to doing public clinics. Because they are up and running with “Neuterville” for the shelter animals, they do have a wish list of needs. You can read the entire wish list by clicking on the flyer to the right to enlarge it and print it out if you would like. There is also a regular shelter wish list on this page, too.

Please help HSMC in any way you can. Once their public clinics get started, we will be able to send Plain City and Madison County people there to have their cats fixed, as it will be very, very close.

To read the entire September 2011 HSMC newsletter, which features lots of photos of the new shelter, click on the link below to open it in PDF format.

September 2011

This past week has been full of ups and downs. I couldn’t really tell anyone much about the condition of Bowie the Husky, because there were too many unknown factors. But with a text from Dr. West that said, “100% our doggie,” I am free to fill everyone in on the panic we’ve been feeling over our husky girl who fell from the back of a pick-up on to Interstate 70 (you can read Part 1 of her story HERE).

Just a quick synopsis: last Friday, September 2, Dr. Kim West was on her way to the Franklin County Humane Society to pick up a dog who was slated to be euthanized. On her way, she rescued a young husky who was riding in the back of a pick-up truck and was thrown out on to I-70 East. Dr. West took the dog (who she named Bowie) to OSU vet hospital where Bowie’s right front leg was amputated.

That is where we left you hanging and where all our troubles began.

On Monday, Bowie was released from OSU in to foster care with a dear friend, Caroline (several years ago Caroline took in a Plain City dog who was in desperate need of a home and we love her for spoiling “The Moo”). The Chief of Police of Dublin was interested in adopting Bowie. All awesome news for our sweet girl.

However, on Tuesday, things began to go wrong. On Tuesday, we discovered that Bowie’s owners had come looking for her. While, at first, we thought this was a good thing–they had missed her and wanted her back–it quickly became apparent that Bowie’s situation might change for the worse if she returned to her former home.

As you know, we had been fundraising to pay Bowie’s bill, which came to over $2700. With the arrival of the owners, the bill was transferred over to them. We still wanted to help another animal in need, like Bowie, so we planned to donate what we had raised to the Good Samaritan Fund at OSU.

However, while the owners at first said they could make payments, they later backed out.

Bowie, in the meantime, was having a difficult recovery period. Caroline was keeping her in a crate most of the time, allowing her to get out to use the bathroom and to stretch for brief moments. But sometimes, Bowie wasn’t able to get up very well and would have accidents. Caroline was cleaning her up and keeping her quiet and sleeping beside her to make sure she was okay.

The final event came when OSU spoke with one of the owners and told them that even if the bill was wiped away and they did not have to pay it, Bowie would still need a ton of rehabilitation and further vet care. There would be a lot more costs.

The owners could not assume this type of financial responsibility. They also told the vet on the phone that Bowie was an outside dog and they could not keep her in their house to recuperate. Thankfully, they then relinquished ownership of Bowie to OSU.

Dr. West called me with the wonderful news that Bowie was ours! She said OSU wanted to wait twenty-four hours to make sure the owners did not change their mind. So, with the text, “100% our doggie,” I knew Bowie was never returning to her old life.

Bowie still has a rough road ahead of her, but she now has tons of people who will ease her troubles. She is not spayed and she must be tested for heartworm. Dr. West plans to get these things done in the next month when she has healed more. She will need rehabilitation and patience and further care for her injuries.

But as soon as Bowie leaves Caroline and The Moo, she will be going to her new forever home with the Chief of Police of Dublin, where she will get a new name (Harley) and a new life.

Finally, I also want to tell everyone thank you for your care and generosity. We have raised almost $2,000 toward the total vet bill. OSU originally pulled the money for Bowie out of their Good Sam Fund. We did not want to deplete that fund, however, in case another animal needed help in the future and we were not there to fundraise. So we are going to try to pay every penny of Bowie’s bill and allow the money to be there for the Bowies of the future! We could only do that, because of you. Thank you, thank you!

This post is my entry in the BlogPaws Blog Carnival Contest sponsored by BISSELL Homecare, Inc.

When I was a child, my family always had cats. These were the kind of cats I now try to help: un-sterilized, sickly, producing litter after litter of kittens. I cannot remember ever taking one of those cats to the vet for routine care. They passed in and out of our house, getting hit on the road, dying of horrible diseases, skinny, and covered in fleas.

That does not mean that I didn’t love them. I did. I was only a little kid and these were my best friends. I told them my secrets and held their warm, furry faces against me when I was scared or couldn’t sleep. I sobbed when their tiny bodies gave out and we buried them along the fencerow.

After the cat we had while I was in Junior High school disappeared, my family remained animal free until my sister adopted a cat. She and I were both adults by that time and many years had passed since our last feline experience.

Because I had become an “Auntie” to a black kitten named Butler, I soon succumbed to my childhood devotion to cats and decided to personally re-enter the world of purrs and whiskers by adopting a kitten myself in 2001.

I am embarrassed to say that I had never had a cat neutered until I was an adult and brought my cat, Oswald, home from our local humane society. Oswald came to me as many of the cats in my past had: un-neutered and teeming with fleas and parasites. But I vowed that this kitten would not be like my childhood pets and off he went to the vet.

I loved Oswald for all the reasons people adore their companion fuzzballs. I never knew how happy a cat could make someone until this sweet, buff boy came into my life. Oswald slept beside me at night, never leaving my side if I was sick or had a migraine. He greeted me when I came home, helping to ease the stresses of the day. He made me laugh and cheered me up when I was down.

He did cute things that expressed his unique personality like climbing in my suitcase when I was going on trips to make sure my clothes were covered in his hair even if he wasn’t around to do it himself. He then gave me the cold shoulder for the first hour when I returned home from those cat-less trips, quickly forgiving me by jumping in my lap for a rubdown.

Oswald loved me unconditionally (well, as long as I kept the food and treats coming).

But Oswald also did more than the normal animal endearments. He opened my eyes to other cats in need, cats like himself, who had no one except me to help them.

With Oswald’s entrance in my life, I suddenly began to notice the stealthy, hungry cats on our rural road and the second litter of kittens (what happened to the first litter?) that our neighbor’s outside cat was trying to feed, even though she was so small and malnourished she hardly looked larger than a kitten herself.

I began to read up on the best ways to help stray and feral cats. I educated myself on trap-neuter-return (TNR) and I bought my first humane trap.

Like Oswald, I thought, these cats deserved the best lives they could possibly have–maybe not as inside house cats, but certainly fixed and healthy and no longer starving. Who was going to help? Who had helped Oswald? Looking around, I found only our local county shelters working for the cats in our small village.

Because Oswald had come from the Union County Humane Society in Marysville, I began to make regular donations to them as a way to honor this special friend of mine. I progressed from donations to volunteering and then serving on their Board.

Our county humane societies did not have TNR programs in place, however, and I had become very passionate about helping feral cats. So, for a while, I went it alone.

I began by fixing the feral cats along my road, quickly progressing to helping cats at the low income apartments in town, and then realizing that I needed to join forces with others with my same ambitions.

In 2005, I volunteered with a group called CATco (Cat Assistance Team of Central Ohio) and through a PetSmart Charities grant we were able to spay and neuter over 100 cats in a local trailer park. The founder of CATco encouraged me to create a group that would focus upon the cats in Plain City.

In 2006, my sister and I started Black and Orange Cat Foundation (B and O) in honor of the black cat, Butler, and the orange cat, Oswald, who changed our lives. Our mission (and passion) is to spay and neuter stray and feral cats and educate the public about the importance of creating a safe, humane world for felines without much hope.

B and O would not exist without Butler and Oswald.

To say that adopting Oswald brought me happiness is an understatement. This gentle boy not only made my life joyous, he also showed me my purpose and passion in life. Today, the people Black and Orange helps are just like what I used to be. The cats are just like my childhood cats with one exception–they now have someone who not only loves them, but makes their lives better.

In the ten years Oswald has been in my life, I have changed completely from the person I once was. I am proof that educating someone can have an impact on the welfare of all animals. I am proof that one wonderful cat can influence their human to help thousands of other cats. I am also proof that the happiness created by adopting a homeless cat can be spread throughout a community and eventually change the world.

Thank you, Oswald.

On Saturday, September 17, Tremont Center will present the 1st Annual Furry Friend Funday from 10 am to 1 pm. The event is being hosted by Peace for Paws Ohio, a new group that is in the process of receiving their 501 (c) 3 status. To read more about their mission to help homeless animals in Ohio, please visit their web site HERE or their Facebook page HERE.

Our good friend, Caroline Krouse, has been helping her friends at Peace for Paws Ohio organize this big day. Caroline adopted a Plain City dog, Maggie Moo (or just “The Moo” to all her friends), who we adore. We helped Maggie leave a life where she was heartworm positive and living outside to embark on her current spoiled, beloved life with Caroline. We’d try to help Caroline and The Moo with any endeavor, so we wanted to get the word out about this event.

The Furry Friend Funday will feature adoptable dogs, area rescue groups, raffle prizes, a dog/car wash, and tons more fun stuff.

There will also be a dog biscuit eating contest at noon for humans with the chance to win pizza for a year from Donatos. There is a $20 entry fee and contestants will have eight minutes to eat as many dog biscuits as they can. To register for the contest in advance, go HERE.

Additionally, there will be contests for dogs, including “best dressed,” “best dog trick,” “best owner look-a-like,” “best costume,” “best bark, and “best stay.” There is a $2 entry fee per contest and fees can be paid before the start of each contest.

To read more about all of the Funday events, visit the Peace for Paws Ohio Facebook event page HERE.

Tremont Center is located in Upper Arlington across Tremont Road from the Upper Arlington Library. To get directions and a map, please visit the Tremont Center web site HERE.

To enlarge the flyer to print and distribute, please click on it.

On Friday, September 2, our good friend and fellow rescuer, Dr. Kim West, was on her way to the Franklin County Dog Shelter to pull a little chihuahua mix who was slated to be euthanized due to dental disease (Dr. West said the 8-year-old girl only has four teeth left). Ever since rescuing Fruit Bat last year, the chihuahua with the fractured ankles who was left at a bus stop all day until a kind volunteer from Colony Cats rescued her, Dr. West has been a huge advocate for small dogs–finding fosters and homes for them when they are on the brink of euthanasia.

Driving along interstate 70 East on her way to the shelter, Dr. West suddenly saw a dog fly through the air and land on the highway. Dr. West was not directly behind the truck, so she did not see exactly what happened. She only saw an airborne dog and, of course, pulled over to help. A man driving behind the truck stopped, as well. From what he told Dr. West, there were two dogs (one was the husky) riding in an open truck bed. Cars on I-70 typically drive in the 70-75 mile per hour range and this truck was also going that fast. The dogs were trying to balance themselves to keep from falling out. Unfortunately, a semi passed the truck and created a huge gust of wind which caught the husky and threw her over the side.

The truck did not slow down and Dr. West said she doesn’t even know if the people realized the husky was gone. The truck did not return, either. In the panic to rescue the dog, no one got the license number of the truck. I can only imagine how traumatized the other dog must have been when the husky suddenly disappeared.

Several people have asked me if the dog was purposely thrown from the truck by a cruel human. From the account Dr. West was given, it appears that this was just an accident, but obviously one that could have been prevented. Who lets their dogs ride in the back of an open vehicle on the highway when cars are going so, so fast? Unfortunately, it used to be common practice to allow humans to do the same until the dangers of this mode of travel were finally taken into account and it was out-lawed (my husband and I both remember riding in the backs of pick-up trucks as kids). The same type of law needs to be passed for any animal riding freely in the back of an open vehicle. The habit should be banned.

Dr. West said that the way the husky fell out of the truck, she landed squarely on her right front leg and, in essence, amputated the leg herself. Luckily, veins and arteries were only stretched and not completely broken, so the bleeding was not as profuse as it might have been. The leg was dangling, but still attached.

Several concerned people stopped to help the dog and Dr. West said she was worried that one of them was also going to be hit by speeding cars. Her main goal was getting the dog into her car and to OSU Vet Hospital. She said it never even entered her mind to call 911 and get a police officer there to help keep the people safe. She was so focused on the husky that she just went into “save” mode.

Dr. West was on the opposite side of the concrete barrier that separates the highway from the husky. She had to have several people help her lift the husky over the tall barrier so she could get her to her car. This dog was so nice that she allowed them to do all of this to her even while in so much pain. Other dogs might have snapped or growled, because of the trauma, but this sweet girl let them carry her and lift her to safety.

Dr. West said another little girl helped her carry the husky to Dr. West’s waiting Subaru. The poor girl’s pants were loose and kept falling down. She wanted to stop and pull her pants up, but Dr. West said they didn’t have time for that and no one would know who she was anyway. So together they carried the 80 pound husky, with the poor girl mooning most of the drivers on I-70!

After placing the husky in the rear of Dr. West’s hatchback, Dr. West was horrified when the dog leaped into the back seat, leg dangling. The poor dog just wanted to be closer to Dr. West, who reached back and petted her on the ride to the hospital.

Arriving at OSU, Dr. West said the emergency room vet asked what she wanted them to do for the husky. Dr. West shouted, “Save her, of course.” When a good samaritan finds an animal that is that badly injured, most of them do not agree to pay any amount to help the animal recover. The emergency room vet was not used to hearing that. But he obviously did not know Dr. West.

After hearing her impassioned announcement, the startled man said, “Well, then that’s what we will do.”

The husky went in for immediate surgery to have her leg amputated. Dr. West returned home covered in blood, her car also covered in blood, to await the news from OSU.

The very lucky canine made it through the surgery with flying colors. She is a young dog, only about a year old, and very resilient. When Dr. West visited her Saturday night, she was already eating, playing, and even walking on three legs. Yes, you read that right. The now three-legged dog was already up and walking.

I am always so amazed by how quickly animals recover from major traumas. Dr. West is supposed to check on her today, Monday, to see if she can be released from OSU. I have not heard yet if Dr. West has found someone to foster her.

Once the dog was safe, Dr. West was able to think about other things with the husky. She and friends chose the name Bowie for the husky girl. The dog has two different colored eyes like David Bowie. She was wearing a collar, but there was no identification attached and she was not microchipped. Additionally, Dr. West called Franklin County Animal Shelter and checked Pet FBI to see if anyone was missing the husky, but nothing had been reported.

The surgery to help Bowie is probably going to cost about $3,000. That is where we come in. Dr. West has always been our good friend and veterinarian, so we’ve always jumped on board to help her with the rescues who find her. Last year, we helped raise money for Fruit Bat. So this time, we, of course, said we’d help her with Bowie.

If you can make a donation toward Bowie’s surgery, please visit our home page, www.bandocats.org and click on our PayPal button to donate with a credit card. If you donate this way, please just send me an email at bandocats@columbus.rr.com to tell me the donation is for Bowie the husky. Unfortunately, our PayPal donation page does not have a place to put notes about donations.

If you’d prefer not to have fees taken out of your donation through PayPal, you can instead mail a check or money order to Black and Orange Cat Foundation, P. O. Box 126, Plain City, Ohio 43064.

I will keep everyone updated on our fundraising progress and on Bowie on the Black and Orange Cat Foundation Facebook Fan page, which you can access HERE.

At this point, we have raised almost $900 towards this sweet baby’s vet bills.

Just as a postscript in case any of you were worried, Dr. West did go to the shelter yesterday and took the little chihuahua mix to safety. After she saved the husky on Friday, she called Franklin County to tell them she would be delayed and they agreed to hold the little girl until Dr. West could arrive to get her. So an additional happy ending attached to the happy ending of Bowie.

 

On the Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart web site, you can share a happy story about your pet and, by doing so, enter a sweepstakes to win a year’s worth of groceries and a $50,000 donation to a pet charity, courtesy of Purina. Plus, for every tale you share, Kroger will donate $1, up to $25,000, to animal welfare organizations nationwide. 

One of those animal welfare organizations is the Humane Society of Delaware County (HSDC) in Delaware, Ohio. On their events page, HSDC asks everyone to post their story on the Purina Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart Facebook page until November 2, 2011. HSDC will receive $1 for each posting. 

Purina and Kroger will donate $5,000 to HSDC during 2011. The shelter also has a 1 in 20 chance (20 welfare groups are competing) of winning $50,000. The Grand Prize winner of the sweepstakes will help determine which group receives the $50,000 due to their location. Purina and Kroger will decide which group wins the $50,000 based upon the shelter’s proximity to the sweepstakes winner’s city of residence. So for all of us here in Central Ohio who enter, HSDC would be the big winner if we won.

You can find HSDC on Facebook HERE. Their Volunteer Page on Facebook is HERE.

To view all of the animal welfare groups competing for the $50,000, please go HERE

I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that the Humane Society of Delaware County has a barn cat rescue program. This is a newly created program that traps, sterilizes, vaccinates, and re-homes feral, semi-feral, or even friendly cats that just prefer outdoor living to safe places. Sadly, these cats are often the targets of abuse. To find out more about this awesome program, go HERE.

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