We're killing
too many cats each year! 4-15million cats and dogs are destroyed at shelters each year
in the United States -- over 120,000 in Los Angeles County
alone!!! The costs for housing, killing, and disposing of the bodies of these
animals is between $65-$110 per animal, or between $260 million and
$1.65 billion annually... between $7.8 and $13.2 million in LA County!!This includes the unwanted, sick, and injured.
Not included are the unwanted pets taken to a veterinarian's office to be euthanized.
At least 70% of all cats entering a shelter
are healthy animals in LA County. Approximately 1 in 6 PTS are un-weaned and
just require bottle feeding to survive. Most adults are rarely adopted. Many animals destroyed are adoptable,
8-16 week old kittens! There are just more cats born each year than there
are homes. The basic supply and demand is out of balance.
How can we change this?
Education, funding,
and involvement from the public will make a difference. California
state law now requires that ALL Shelters & Non Profit Humane groups
alter all animals prior to adoptions. Spaying and neutering of
animals will reduce the numbers destroyed by reducing the numbers
of animals born. It costs less to spay & neuter an animal than
it does to have it euthanized at a shelter!
Funding:
Money to offset spay
& neuter costs is available if needed in many areas. Check these
pages for who gives what:
'Low Cost' Veterinarians are helping:
When spaying and neutering
is more affordable, more animals are altered. Check these pages for
what vets charge in your area. Lists include prices and cities of
these vet clinics. Although the prices are for cats, vets
who do low cost for cats generally charge low cost for dogs:
About
Humane Groups:
Most are all-volunteer
organizations. These groups rely on help from volunteers. Can you
offer 2-4 days a month to help these groups and shelters? Or, can
you drive pets to vets to be altered?
"Never doubt
that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Adopting
a New Pet? Do you have room in your life for
another pet? If so, you should consider adopting an animal from a humane organization
or shelter, rather than from a breeder.
Where to Find a New
Pet? Animals from Animal Control Shelters
aren't all kept until they are adopted, but are subject to being 'bumped'
if space is needed. They can not close their doors when full. You are
doing a great deed in rescuing a pet by adopting from an Animal Control Shelter.
Trapping
Feral Cats & Caring For Young Orphaned Kittens: Many cats have been abandoned by
their owners, and have not been altered. These cats have litters of kittens,
who, if not handled by humans, become feral or wild cats. Kittens under 8-9
weeks of age can be tamed and placed. Kittens under 5 weeks will need to
be hand fed. The adults need to be altered and returned, providing the location
is safe for the cat. This is called TNR, or Trap-Neuter-Return.
Orphaned Kittens and how to care for themorphaned kittens are kittens taken
from, or abandoned by, mom cats before they are weaned. Bottle feeding kittens
can be rewarding. These kittens have a different bond to humans (they think
we are their moms.)
"The greatness
of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Gandhi
Other Aspects of Rescue: Early Spay & Neuter Informationall shelters and humane groups in California now must alter
their animals prior to adoption. The law went into effect on January 1, 2000.
This is an attempt to reduce the population of animals. Cats and dogs can
be safely altered as young as 8 weeks of age.
Cult
Sacrifice DaysThese days were given
to me in the early 90's by the Los Angeles Police Department as days cats
are sacrificed. Indoor cats are not subjected to being stolen for sacrifice,
so you may wish to keep your indoor/outdoor cats inside before and on these
days.
Good Rescue: This is important if you
decide to pitch in. A 'seasoned' rescuer will teach you about rescue
if you get involved with a group, but you should know some basics
when you get started:
"I hold that the more helpless a creature,
the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man."
Gandhi
Other
Pages of Interest:
Cat Links
- great list of other web sites,
listed by category. Over 110 sites of interest including diseases,
cat care, behavior, legislation, feral cat info, flea control, pet
loss, how to build cat trees and cat humor.
Dog
info - in case you
are not into cats... some local groups with informative web
sites.
The 12 Days of Christmas Rescue -
for those who desire
to do long-term rescue, for those who have been doing rescue for much
too long, or for those who have been asking year after year for the
group, A.R.A., [Animal Rescue Anonymous] to be formed... take
a break and entertain yourself with this page.
Awards
- Check out the awards my
site has won. Thanks to all of you for your nice comments! I have
split them into several pages so not to slow you down while they download.
