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Big adoption successes in Boulder and Kansas City
By David S. Greene
September 7, 2010
Not one but two shelters reported blockbuster weeks placing pets as unofficial summer drew to a close. The Humane Society of Boulder, Colo., enjoyed its second largest adoption day ever this past Friday, when they placed 106 cats and dogs. From the Denver Post:
The line of people waiting to adopt gathered even before the doors opened this morning for a free cat and kitten adoption special event.
Most of today’s 106 adoptions were cats, but 16 dogs were also adopted.
The organization’s largest adoption day on record was on Aug. 1, which was the first day they ever offered free adoptions for cats and kittens and were able to place 117 animals.
Meanwhile, in Johnson County, Kansas (outside Kansas City), adoption fees were waived for cats, and lo and behold, adoptions doubled. The Kansas City Star tells us a summer promotion was such a hit, they decided to extend the deadline, and….
Shelter officials said the summer promotion successfully gave adopters an extra incentive to take in adult cats — often the last to be adopted at animal shelters.
“It’s a good way for us to get them into homes quickly so they’re not staying in the shelter too long,” said Animal Haven spokeswoman Lindsay Haake.The campaign allowed the shelter to bring in new adopters and free up space to save more animals.
“We pulled about 28 cats from a hoarding situation in western Kansas,” Haake said. “If the space wasn’t there we wouldn’t have been able to help out as easily.”
You know what that’s called, gang? Communities coming together.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the tracks….while I just highlighted what works, Nathan Winograd lambasted PETA for what doesn’t, namely disregarding all pretense of common sense and ignoring the reality of the no kill movement’s success.
Attention: Dog and cat killers. Ingrid Newkirk of PETA would like to protect you, shield you, promote you, and defend you. There is only one criterion: call yourself an animal shelter. It doesn’t matter if you kill in the face of readily available lifesaving alternatives.
Why should it? They do the same, every single day.
It doesn’t matter if you neglect and abuse them before you kill them. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feed them, it doesn’t matter if you allow puppies to drown in drains, and it doesn’t even matter if you beat them to death. PETA will champion your cause.
Of all the bloggers I read on a regular basis, few writers can match Nathan’s withering scorn when he’s on a roll.
My pet is lost — how can I get her back? One in three pets will get lost at some point in their lives. I know from personal experience the dread and horror in the pit of your stomach when you realize a pet is lost out there in the big, scary world. AOL’s Paw Nation gives us 10 invaluable tips on increasing the odds of getting the beloved dog or cat back safely and quickly. Take it from me, when you’re frantic and thinking the worst, what you really need is to be calm and think creatively. For that eventuality, perhaps you should print the column and keep it somewhere safe.
The First Dog’s summer vacation: Bo Obama had a better summer than I did, because Bo got to play on Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Maine, and, well, I didn’t. Cami and Harry would like to point out that Bo’s front yard is also much nicer than theirs. True enough.
Anyway, Bo was kind enough to send us pictures of his summer vacation through our pals at People Pets. My favorite picture in the slideshow shows Bo marching down the front stairs of Air Force One. I presume he didn’t need to salute.
Our conflicted relationship with animals: In discussing Hal Herzog’s new book “Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat“, Kerry Lauerman of Salon asks questions worth pondering — we’re easily angered by videos of cats being “binned” in England and puppies thrown off a bridge, yet, our relationships with and views toward animals are less than straightforward. It’s a thought-provoking interview, and made me ponder why we think what we think.
It takes two to boogie: You’re going to love this video of Snowball the dancing cockatoo from Best in Flock, and you’re also going to start shimmying in your seat. It’s ok. I did, too.
Since it’s a holiday week, I’ll see you day after tomorrow with the next wrap.
I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories. Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.
Photo credits: Adoption kitty, Chris Oberholtz/The Kansas City Star. First Dog Bo on AF1, Cliff Owen/AP.
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I remember a long time ago, my cat ended up missing, I looked everywhere and could not find her. I was frantic, afraid she got outside. Bawling, I called my sister to come help find her. We were outside, everywhere calling her..for hours! I had visions of her out in the great wild outdoors, terrible things about to happen to her..maybe even an eagle scooped her up. They need to add one more place to look on that list. It turns out I had no idea that some cats are able to crawl under the covers of a bed that is made, without making so much as a ripple in the covers. And I think of the hours we spent trying to find her, while she laid under the covers and not once even bothered to come out to see what all the ruckus was all about.
Comment by Sandi K — September 7, 2010 @ 7:43 am
And I think of the hours we spent trying to find her, while she laid under the covers and not once even bothered to come out to see what all the ruckus was all about.
Comment by Sandi K — September 7, 2010
Makes perfect sense, if you’re a cat. She didn’t need anything, so there was no need to do anything except nap, was there? :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 7, 2010 @ 7:50 am
LOL Gina, Im pretty sure our neighbors must have thought someone died…out there calling the cat and bawling at the same time. Come to think of it, if I was a cat, I wouldnt come to that kind of behavior either, lol
Comment by Sandi K — September 7, 2010 @ 8:34 am
And it wasnt only that she didnt make a ripple in the covers, it was like she had melded to the mattress, there wasnt even a discernable lump you could see. Its amazing.
Comment by Sandi K — September 7, 2010 @ 8:37 am
Cats are magic!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 7, 2010 @ 8:39 am
Protect yourself, your dog walkers, and dogs from outdoor shocks or electrocution.
HOW TO SLAY AN INVISIBLE DANGER.
Blair Sorrel, Founder
http://www.StreetZaps.com
Contact voltage is a chronic hidden hazard that can readily victimize an unsuspecting dog, walker, or both. No dog lover could possibly observe a more horrifying scene than witnessing his beloved pet instantaneously maimed or tragically electrocuted. When you exercise your pooch, please exercise greater prudence. Common outdoor electrical and metal fixtures may shock or even kill your vulnerable dog. And depending upon the current, the walker will be bitten and like poor Aric Roman, suffer permanently. But you can, indeed, self-protect.
Just start to adopt this simple strategy — EYEBALL THE BLOCK, AND AVOID A SHOCK. Take a few seconds and make your trajectory toward generally safer, free standing, non-conductive surfaces, ie., plastic, wood, cardboard. Intuit your dog’s cues and if it’s resistant, change directions. Work site perimeters may be live so try to elude them. If necessary, switch sides of the street or your hands when leading to skirt hazards. If you traverse the same route, you may memorize locations of potential dangers. Carry your pooch when in doubt. Consider indoor restroom products like PottyPark when external conditions are chancy or RopeNGo’s hardware-free leash and harness. And don’t rely on dog booties as a palliative as they will actually put your pet at even greater risk since the dog can’t tell you they’re leaking! To learn to more, please see StreetZaps. A safer walk is yours year round if you are willing to open to your eyes and mind to it.
Comment by Blair Sorrel — December 23, 2010 @ 12:20 pm