Wordless Wednesday

Unfreaking believable

One of my Facebook friends shared this link
Council firm on cat stance

It is a story about animal control in North Cowichan and how they refused to fund lethal injections for cats and to keep killing them by gas. I'm not going to use the work 'euthanize' because I believe what they are doing is not euthanasia, it is killing. These are mostly feral and stray cats. I guess the North Cowichan council believes they can kill off the feral cat population. Killing feral cats is not the solution - TNR (trap, neuter & return) is the only humane and effective method of controlling feral cat population.

How much money was at issue? $5,000 per year. Yup, just $5,000.

Makes me sick to know that in this great country of Canada, we continue to treat animals so poorly during their lives, and when animal control people decide that a cat has to die for lack of a home (or because it is feral) we commit a cruel act against these animals by gassing them. Just search the Internet for what it is like for an animal to be gassed.

I am reminded of a quote by Mohandas Gandhi "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Disappointed in the news media

The Girl Guides in BC host a camp every 3 years - Spirit of Adventure Rendezvou (SOAR). It is happening right now - actually wrapping up tomorrow.

About 3 weeks ago, when the Boy Scouts in BC held their Pacific Jamboree (PJ), at least one major news station attended the camp, and aired a story on it.

So far, nothing on the SOAR '11 camp. The camp is being held in Aggasiz - not really that far from the TV stations as opposed to the Scout camp that happens on the Sunshine Coast.

I have nothing against the Scouts BTW - this is about the news media. I have tried all week to suppress thoughts like "girls aren't newsworthy" but can't anymore.

One of the main themes of the Girl Guides is Girl Empowerment. What a fabulous concept! As the mother of two girls (well one young adult and one teenager), I have taught them that they are important, they can do anything they set their minds to, the sky is the limit. My parents taught me these things - especially my father.

Anyway, I am just disappointed that none of the major news stations in Vancouver thought 1400 girls were important enough to feature on the news.

A quiet week

It's going to be a quiet week around the house :(

The girl is off to camp for a week and the boy has no one to argue with :)

I miss communication with my daughter though. She could not take any electronics to the camp. Of course, she could have snuck the phone & ipod in her stuff but she said she didn't want to lose them. I'm thinking she also didn't want to get caught with them.  Hope she is having a good time.

Should Shelters Give Away Cats?

In Winnigpeg today, the Humane Society is giving away cats. That's right - free adoptions. First of all it must be great for a rescue/shelter to have so much money that they can vet and care for a cat for weeks or months, and then when they adopt it out - get nothing in return!

The cost of caring for a kitten for 8 to 10 weeks in rescue far exceeds the average $175 adoption fee.  The spay/neuter alone is usually $80, then there is shots, dewormers, food, litter.

Of course, some people want a pet cat, but cannot afford the adoption fee. A concern for rescues in this case is how can they afford proper food and vet care for the cat then. What happens when the cat gets sick?

My concern is that giving away cats for free reinforces a commonly held belief that cats have no value. This belief that cats have no value is evidenced by the vast numbers of cats that are surrendered at shelters or worse, dumped and abandoned by their human guardians.

For me, my cats (and all pets) have value. That value is usually not monetary - how do you put a price on headbutts and purrs when you arrive home after a hard day at work?

Found this poem today

I adopted your cat today.

The one you left at the pound.

The one you had for ten years

And no longer wanted around.

I adopted your cat today.

Do you know he's lost weight?

Do you know he's scared and depressed?

And has lost all faith?

I adopted your cat today.

He had fleas and a cold,

But don't worry none.

You've unburdened your load.

I adopted your cat today.

Were you having a baby or moving away?

Did you suddenly develop allergies?

Or was there no reason he couldn't stay?

I adopted your cat today.

He doesn't play or eat much.

He's very depressed,

But he will learn again to trust.

I adopted your cat today

And here he will stay.

He's found his forever home

And a warm bed to lay.

I adopted your cat today

And I will give him all that he could need.

Patience, love, security, and understanding.

Hopefully he will forget your selfish deed.

Anon.

100 Cats & Kittens in seven days??

Just learned that the rescue I volunteer with - Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association (VOKRA) http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/ has taken in 100 cats & kittens in the past week!

Now we are in need of foster homes and donations to provide food & litter for these little ones and their mommas.

People really need to spay & neuter their animals! 100 in a week - they would likely have been euthanized if VOKRA didn't take them.