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November 16, 2008 at 01:10:31
TNR-The Grey Twins and the Black Prince by Suzana Megles Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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This morning I went down to my partially renovated basement which has Bringing food down this morning, I was glad to see both Penny and Patrick mobile. Penny was wary of me though because she didn't want to be enclosed in a cage again. I had taken her on a "journey" twice already in a cage and each time she fought the incarceration tooth and nails. The first time I took her to a low cost spaying vet near by- we came back the same evening! The vet had become angry and upset with me when I told him that I wrote a letter to the editor of our community newspaper re the irresponsible people in my environs who let their cats roam unaltered and kittens have been appearing -Penny and Patrick having been two of them. He sadly knew what would happen in my town - the "shelter" people would come out and hunt them down and kill them. He wouldn't use the gentler euphemism - "put them to sleep" and indeed, for someone who cares about cat lives - there should be kindler alternatives. And of course, TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) is one. And then what he did next astounded me. He put Penny back in the cage and told me to go somewhere else! Aside from being unprofessional, he was also very unkind. I had a hard time getting Penny in the cage and for the first time ever I had to grab her by the scruff of her neck to get her in. Ditto -Patrick but failing to click the gate door properly, he burst out and I couldn't catch him again. I also had to ask a friend to take Penny and me to the vet because he wanted the cats in at 5:30 in the evening. While it was still light then, coming back I knew I would have difficulty with these old eyes driving at night. 
been the home of some 35+ cats over the last 30 years. I was eager to see how Penny and Patrick- two feral grey twin cats were doing after being altered by the APL of Cleveland at the nominal price of $40 each. I was so very grateful for that since I am hurting financially like so many of us and couldn't afford the $300 my friend Jan of New Jersey said she paid for ONE in a traditional animal hospital setting!
Even though I paid Monica to drive me there as I am less than a stellar driver, this was a huge saving for my deflated wallet! Monica was a dear to do this for us as she is forever cleaning homes --trying to keep the bodies and souls together of herself, her four children, a cat and a dog.
Before this unsavory incident, this vet had helped me trap "Prince" a beautiful black cat who seemed to be feral. The doctor had set two traps on my porch and I called him the next day telling him that we had captured him. He came by and took Prince- still in the cage to his hospital. He called me the next day telling me that he had to operate on Prince's mouth because there was a growth there. He would keep him till week's end to give him medicine and to monitor his mouth. When he brought him back, he suggested I release him. He said he felt that Prince was mean because he bit his assistant. Maybe, but I would imagine he bit because he was hurting. Nevertheless, at week's end, Prince was released and I would continue to feed and medicate him for the following week. Thank God- it seems Prince will be well and would produce no more babies!
The vet had placed two traps on my porch. Sunday morning I found someone else in the trap but it was not a cat. It was an oppossum. I feel sorry for these creatures as I do all living beings, but sadly they seem not to have a place of safety and refuge with us any more. I called the doctor to see if I could open the cage to let him out and he said -no. He would come around and release him. If I opened the cage, he might bite me and then he would have to cut his head off to determine if he was rabid. He was released unharmed and I would like him to know that he is welcome to enjoy any food and water I place on the porch.
So now I had to turn to the APL for Penny and Patrick. Marta of APL was very kind and explained that I would have to bring the 2 cats in on Thursday or Friday by 8:30 in the morning and then they would have to be picked up the same day between 3:30 and 4. I was to bring a can of food for each of them.
Because of Monica's hectic schedule, we were late for both appointments but Marta was kind and understanding. Finally picking them up, I was so relieved to see them both eating from the can of shredded salmon in the cage with them and Patrick's was gone enroute home. Although groggy - Penny was still trying to finish hers when I let her out of the cage at home.
I hope anyone reading this will understand the importance of altering your
cats (and dogs). Even though I did not allow my indoor cats to go outside, of course they still needed to be altered and were. I am proud to say that none of my cats or dogs ever gave birth. It is a terrible fallacy to think that children should be exposed to the "miracle of birth" --unless you follow up with the horrors of death so many of these animals experience -- freezing to death, dying of thirst, being struck by an automobile, etc. I will never forget the one morning seeing a tiny black kitten crushed by the curb. Someone should bear responsibility for this, but sadly I doubt they ever will or even worse -care.
Please have a heart and neuter or spay both your cats and dogs. People who love their companion animals can do no less.
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
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| 9 comments |
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$75 million offered to further non-surgical sterilization
This is more of an addendum than comment but the news must be uplifting for those who know that so much suffering to both cats and dogs may one day-- if not completely irradicated - at least significantly reduced. After I posted my article, I received Animal people which featured this announcement re the money incentive. Merritt Clifton wrote: "The headline item at the mid-October 2008 Spay USA national conference was the $75 million incentive package offered by Found Animal Foundation founder Gary K. Michelson, M.D., to encourage the development of nonsurgical dog and cat contraception." You might say that for once - serious money is being dedicated to whom many of us consider our best friends. May an effective immunocontraceptive or chemosterilant for dogs and cats be realized. As all good things - this will not happen overnight, but I pray that it will one day. If it can be developed for cats and dogs - then it can hopefully be developed for other animals- who because of overpopulation, are usually gunned down. I know I would like to see it used for the free roaming horses of the West. The BLM always claims there are too many and culling them was never humane in my judgment. I believe they were sold at auction - many of them bought for the slaughterhouses and the tables of rich Europeans. Because of their size, slaughtering was and is trumatic and painful. by Suzana Megles (66 articles, 0 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 367 comments [48 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 5:25:44 AM  (0+)
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The Grey Twins and the Black Prince
Suzana, Reading your personal story of "hands on" help offered to abandoned homeless cats, despite the obstacles thrown in your path, certainly should encourage other good souls in what is an often a lonely and frustrating endeavour. What a pity, for the feral cats and the people who want to help them - - that there are so few choices but to take care of this overwhelming problem, one at a time- yourself. Kudos for your diligence, sacrifices. You may be a one-woman "army", but what an inspiration as to what one brave woman/human can accomplish, "one, or in your case, three at a time". by Netanya Nathan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 63 comments [22 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 9:20:09 AM (0+)
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Reply: The grey twins....
Thank you Netanya. As always so kind and considerate in your views. I know that you too would do the same should you find any feral cats in your environs. by Suzana Megles (66 articles, 0 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 367 comments [48 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 11:30:32 AM (0+)
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TNR
I'm commenting for my Florida friend Joan who I have known for years. She just recently went on line and admits subscribing to this site was a little daunting. So, I'm copying her e-mail to me: "Just read your excellent article. Many years ago my girlfriend and I TNR'd 200 cats in the downtown area. We had an understanding vet. That's a thing of the past now. I found a very wild female cat in my yard a few years ago and called all over town to get her spayed. I was willing to pay the full price, but they wouldn't handle a feral cat. Finally, I found a vet who's secretary happened to remember my name from the past and she asked her vet to spay her. It was $200. Well worth it. He agreed it would be a one trip deal. No pre- appointment shots. Dissolving stitches. I released her after 3 days back into the yard. Then as the 4th of July approached, I thought my neighbors would be shooting off fireworks and she might panic and run, so I got her into the house, closed the door and the rest is history. She's in my lap as I type this." Thanx Joan for sharing this remarkable story of TNR-ing 200 cats! by Suzana Megles (66 articles, 0 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 367 comments [48 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Nov 16, 2008 at 4:59:36 PM (0+)
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Angels without wings
Being an animal rescue person myself, I know the challenges and agony which you have described in rescuing and trying to find homes for unwanted animals. It breaks my heart to see so many feral kittens suffering in my neighbourhood and no one seems to care. I have rescued a few and fed large numbers but more needs to be done by those who have pets and those with the resources to help this cause. We are guardians and protectors of the animals and the earth we share with them. So many of us have forgotten that sacred covenant of trust. Thanks you for writing this article and the work you have done - truly there are angels without wings who walk this earth. by Fleur (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 9:29:15 AM (0+)
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Reply: angels....
Fleur - What a beautiful comment - much appreciated and of course it takes one to know one. God bless. by Suzana Megles (66 articles, 0 quicklinks, 22 diaries, 367 comments [48 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 9:32:23 AM (0+)
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Reply: More articles like this one
We need more detailed and uplifting articles like this one to inspire and guide others on the importance of animal welfare. Very few people speak for helpless creatures and people like Suzana Megles are the only real voices they will ever have in this world. Well done Suzana and hooray for all the other foot soldiers who are fighting to help those precious creatures who cannot help themselves. by Fleur (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 at 3:13:31 PM (0+)
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Reply: The most important thing
TNR - trap , neuter and return is an idea whose time has come. I would like to see more people and animal welfare organisations taking this approach into consideration given the constraints we all face with the economic downturn and limited resources. Thank you Suzana for reminding us of this option. by Fleur (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 at 3:25:55 PM (0+)
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Angels without wings
Being an animal rescue person myself, I know the challenges and agony which you have described in rescuing and trying to find homes for unwanted animals. It breaks my heart to see so many feral kittens suffering in my neighbourhood and no one seems to care. I have rescued a few and fed large numbers but more needs to be done by those who have pets and those with the resources to help this cause. We are guardians and protectors of the animals and the earth we share with them. So many of us have forgotten that sacred covenant of trust. Thanks you for writing this article and the work you have done - truly there are angels without wings who walk this earth. by Fleur (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Monday, Nov 17, 2008 at 9:31:59 AM (0+)
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