Animal Fostering...the hardest job you'll ever love!

Well, maybe there are other difficult jobs that you'll love but, for today, animal fostering is my hard job.

I've fostered 7 animals this year, all but one was here just 2-3 days.  Little Man was here for 6 weeks.  Today he went back to the shelter so he could be neutered and placed for adoption.  Coming home to no hissing, growling and the patter of little kitty feet was hard.  I would have loved to keep him but I have a special need senior cat and 3 other cats to be concerned about. 

Sigh...At least I'll get to see him when I'm at the shelter until he has a home.  But it's odd to eat a meal without my toes being nibbled on!!

The 'Free to Great Home' cat event

Yes, you did read free.  We don't want anyone to think that FAPL thinks the cats in our care are 'worthless'.  We actually believe they are priceless!!

However, reality has made the staff at FAPL make some difficult decisions.  Currently, FAPL has around 300 cats and kittens in their care and more coming every week.  The facility is set up for 125-150 cats and that is a number that is manageable for care and socialization.  The staff and volunteers are overwhelmed and sad that they cannot give the care our cats deserve.  So, to help them out, we're giving away any cat 7 months and older for free (donations are accepted!) on Friday 7/22 and Saturday 7/23.  Kittens are just $25.  All are spayed or neutered and come in all sizes, colors, ages and personalities.  The shelter is open for adoptions both days from 11 am - 4 pm.  Please stop by and meet your new best friend!!  You'll be glad you did.

More great kids!!

I love kids...really.  I just don't like the attitudes some of them have.  But, luckily, some great kids keep getting dropped in my path.

Today it was 9 year old cousins.  They set up a lemonade stand to raise money to help the Friendship APL.  They raised $84 --selling lemonade.  That's a lot of lemonade.

Thank you to these two girls and their desire to help others.  I hope other kids will take their lead and do something for someone else just because they can!!

It's raining cats....

Well, not exactly.  It just seems that way. 
Currently, FAPL has more cats than they can handle.  Seriously...without a dedicated staff of paid employees and volunteers, we'd probably end up being investigated by...well...FAPL (since we are the humane officers in the county).

Seriously though...if you're looking for a great cat, Friday and Saturday are your lucky days.  We'll be having a special 'Free to Great Home' event.  Every cat in the the shelter over 6 months old will be free.  Each cat comes spayed or neutered and has had at least the first of their basic shots.  Some are even declawed if you want one of those.  And with the number of cats available, you'll be sure to find the purrfect cat for you!!

Visit FAPL to see pictures of the great cats we have available!! 

Che Che update

Little Che Che is physically fine as reported in today's Morning Journal.
I imagine it will take a few weeks for him to get over his experience!

Abuse of animals rears it's ugly head again

I was a little late reading the paper this morning.  Part of me wishes I had not read it at all.  But I did...and I'm sickened and saddened.

The Morning Journal had not 1 but TWO different stories of animals being harmed:  one was a cat that was found a cat hung by an electric cord.  The second was the report of a group of kids torturing a lost chihuahua.  The owner was located and retrieved her dog and took it to the vet.  Hopefully the dog will be OK physically but the long term affects on his mental well being may be the most harmed.

For those of you saying 'it's just a cat', or 'it's just a dog', or 'it's just kids being kids', it's not.  The leap from animal abuse, torture and killing to domestic violence, child abuse, serial killings and even murder at the hands of children has been studied by the FBI, other law enforcement agencies and researchers.  A study by North Eastern University and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Animals found that people who abused animals as a child or adult were FIVE times more likely to abuse humans than those who did not.  Numerous notorious killers (Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, and Albert Disalvo aka the Boston Strangler) were known to had been linked to animal abuse as children (for further reading and where I gathered this information go here).

Next time you see a child hurting an animal, get involved.  If it's your child, get him/her into counseling to find out why and stop the cycle.  If it's a child you don't know well or at all, call the police.  Provide as much information as possible to help the police identify them.  You will not only help the abused animal but also stop the cycle of abuse by getting involved.

Swiss cheese brain...

It's a complaint that a friend had earlier today.  Unfortunately, it describes me all too often.

I have Fibromyalgia.  Yeah, I don't 'look' sick and often don't sound sick.  I was told yesterday at church that I had such an 'upbeat attitude' about it.  My response was "it doesn't make me feel better to be cranky and nasty about it so I might as well grin and laugh about it'.  And, most days I can do that.  Then the fog sets in and I forget 90% of what I wanted to say or do.  I've also found there is a code between the families of fibro-sufferers and others with fibro.  The answer they give to 'where is your spouse, mother, aunt, etc' is 'they're having a rough day' or 'they're having a not so good day'.  And we understand exactly what that means.

So, when you have someone tell you they have fibro, don't expect them to look sick.  If they tell you they're having a bad day, ask if you can help somehow (if you mean it).  If they tell you they're having a good day, celebrate it with a smile.  Those celebratory smiles can go a long way and are remembered on the bad days.