Yesterday I had a brief yet telling exchange with an employee at the Lorain County (Ohio) Dog Kennel on Facebook.
Rich Kopronica posted on how the LCDK FB page came to be 1 year ago...an idea of his wife's. Sounds simple: put up a FB page, show case your dogs and maybe increase awareness of dogs needing homes.
LCDK dogs are unique...they are usually the abandoned, the unwanted, the abused, scared, lonely and at times the 'banned' (Pit Bulls come to mind). Lorain County Dog Kennel is a 'kill shelter'...those that are not adopted or pulled by rescue groups are euthanized (thankfully not via a gas chamber any longer but through injection). In 2011, prior to their FB page, LCDK was 'losing' (euthanizing) 10-12 dogs per week...or over 500 dogs per year.
Fast forward to July 2012....
The Lorain County Dog Kennel Facebook page has over 1,000 followers. People who look at their page regularly and share their dogs on their own FB page. The dogs are now being seen by rescues all over the country and by people who normally wouldn't think about going to the kennel for a new family pet. People are going to the kennel regularly to check out their dogs and adopt them. Rescues are pulling the dogs and adopting them out to good homes.
In 2012, Lorain County Dog Kennel has euthanized 10 dogs...this year. Not this week, not this month but this year.
I think that is deserving of praise and acknowledgement. Congratulations to the LCDK, their staff and their hardworking volunteers. Well done!!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Moving with cats...
...is almost as hard as getting them in the first place...just shorter.
The Kitty Krew is safely nestled into their new home and adjusting well. The youngest 2 seem to have adjusted quickest, I think because there was no scent of the older 2. But, 2 weeks after the move, everyone is settled in.
Well, they were anyway until a new foster, Fancy, showed up at the door (literally as she was dropped of by Greg Willey instead of me picking her up). There is a fair amount of anxiety and hissing/growling being done. I figure they'll adjust in a few more days and she'll be on the road to her new home within 3 weeks. Fancy was exposed to a virus and needs a safe place to build up her immunity and my crazy home is quieter than the shelter environment. I can already tell this girl is going to be snapped up quickly when she makes it to the adoption floor! She's a beautiful long haired pastel Calico. If we weren't full up on cats here, I might consider her an option. But, she has another human waiting for her, my job is to make sure she's ready for him/her.
The Kitty Krew is safely nestled into their new home and adjusting well. The youngest 2 seem to have adjusted quickest, I think because there was no scent of the older 2. But, 2 weeks after the move, everyone is settled in.
Well, they were anyway until a new foster, Fancy, showed up at the door (literally as she was dropped of by Greg Willey instead of me picking her up). There is a fair amount of anxiety and hissing/growling being done. I figure they'll adjust in a few more days and she'll be on the road to her new home within 3 weeks. Fancy was exposed to a virus and needs a safe place to build up her immunity and my crazy home is quieter than the shelter environment. I can already tell this girl is going to be snapped up quickly when she makes it to the adoption floor! She's a beautiful long haired pastel Calico. If we weren't full up on cats here, I might consider her an option. But, she has another human waiting for her, my job is to make sure she's ready for him/her.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Why do vacations....
end way too soon?
My husband and I just got back from a 7 day cruise with friends. It seemed like it took forever to get here (OK we DID book a year ago...) and it seemed to end in a day.
If you've never been on a cruise (and I hadn't until now), I seriously recommend it. A week away from housework, cooking and, yes, the internet and cell phone, did my brain and body some good. You can get internet on the ship...I'm just too cheap to pay for it!!! The food was awesome, the service perfect. And everyone was so nice! It really is like living in a small town on the ocean.
But, reality eventually rears it's ugly head. From the looks of things, the kitties were not too happy that we left them for 12 days. Alpha kitty may not forgive me for many a day....the baby boy kitty must have given her a difficult time.
My husband and I just got back from a 7 day cruise with friends. It seemed like it took forever to get here (OK we DID book a year ago...) and it seemed to end in a day.
If you've never been on a cruise (and I hadn't until now), I seriously recommend it. A week away from housework, cooking and, yes, the internet and cell phone, did my brain and body some good. You can get internet on the ship...I'm just too cheap to pay for it!!! The food was awesome, the service perfect. And everyone was so nice! It really is like living in a small town on the ocean.
But, reality eventually rears it's ugly head. From the looks of things, the kitties were not too happy that we left them for 12 days. Alpha kitty may not forgive me for many a day....the baby boy kitty must have given her a difficult time.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Some people get it...
Some people get that they are the voice of animals.
On Monday, temperatures reached 91 degrees in NE Ohio. It was a miserable day to be outside much less a car. Yet, someone took their dog to WalMart with them...and proceed to leave the poor dog in the car with the windows open 'a little'. Another shopper called police after about 20 minutes. Fortunately, the dog was still alive.
Owner was arrested and is to appear in court on June 5th.
All I have to say is 'good job' to the person who called and the police. They very well may have saved a life.
As summer begins, NEVER leave your pet in a car on a hot day. Not for 5 minutes. Either leave your pet at home or leave someone in the car with him/her and leave the car running. If you see a pet in a car that looks distressed, please call 911. Please help save lives this summer.
On Monday, temperatures reached 91 degrees in NE Ohio. It was a miserable day to be outside much less a car. Yet, someone took their dog to WalMart with them...and proceed to leave the poor dog in the car with the windows open 'a little'. Another shopper called police after about 20 minutes. Fortunately, the dog was still alive.
Owner was arrested and is to appear in court on June 5th.
All I have to say is 'good job' to the person who called and the police. They very well may have saved a life.
As summer begins, NEVER leave your pet in a car on a hot day. Not for 5 minutes. Either leave your pet at home or leave someone in the car with him/her and leave the car running. If you see a pet in a car that looks distressed, please call 911. Please help save lives this summer.
Friday, May 18, 2012
I'm back....
It's so easy to not blog when your life is chaos. Since last posting, I've healed a broken arm, continued my work at the Friendship APL, started on wedding plans with my daughter, took the 'Introduction to Personal Fabrication' class at Lorain County Community College (a must for every artist in my mind) and bought a new house.
As usual, work at the shelter is never boring. I learn something new every day. Recently I had the opportunity to be with a cat who had to be euthanized due to injuries. In a word, it stunk. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done (except for having my own cat die in my arms and having to euthanize my dog a few years back). In 'honor' of this precious soul I wrote the following update on my Facebook page. Feel free to share it with your friends, your enemies and the neighbor who lets his/her cat roam the neighborhood.
Dear Cat Guardian (and I use the term loosely)
I held your beautiful boy today after he had been hit by a car. He snuggled in and purred while I held him, petted him and spoke kind words to him. I told him what a good boy he was and soon he would be in a better place. I felt his backbone with so little fat and muscle around it and wondered how long ago you threw him out....or moved away and left him.
All to soon I had to lay him on the exam table. He was checked over and determined that he had too many injuries to humanely heal him. I talked to him while the injection was prepared and gently held his paws and cradled his head while he was given the injection to take him to the rainbow bridge. I held him gently and petted him while the injection worked. As he took his last breaths, I closed his eyes and told him I'd see him at the bridge some day. He died purring because he was with someone who loved him, even though I had just met him. I didn't even know his name.
Today I held your cat while he died. While I don't understand why you put him out of your life and in danger, I am grateful for the chance to send him to the rainbow bridge with love.
Night all....and remember to spay and neuter your pets.
As usual, work at the shelter is never boring. I learn something new every day. Recently I had the opportunity to be with a cat who had to be euthanized due to injuries. In a word, it stunk. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done (except for having my own cat die in my arms and having to euthanize my dog a few years back). In 'honor' of this precious soul I wrote the following update on my Facebook page. Feel free to share it with your friends, your enemies and the neighbor who lets his/her cat roam the neighborhood.
Dear Cat Guardian (and I use the term loosely)
I held your beautiful boy today after he had been hit by a car. He snuggled in and purred while I held him, petted him and spoke kind words to him. I told him what a good boy he was and soon he would be in a better place. I felt his backbone with so little fat and muscle around it and wondered how long ago you threw him out....or moved away and left him.
All to soon I had to lay him on the exam table. He was checked over and determined that he had too many injuries to humanely heal him. I talked to him while the injection was prepared and gently held his paws and cradled his head while he was given the injection to take him to the rainbow bridge. I held him gently and petted him while the injection worked. As he took his last breaths, I closed his eyes and told him I'd see him at the bridge some day. He died purring because he was with someone who loved him, even though I had just met him. I didn't even know his name.
Today I held your cat while he died. While I don't understand why you put him out of your life and in danger, I am grateful for the chance to send him to the rainbow bridge with love.
Night all....and remember to spay and neuter your pets.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Belated Merry Christmas
Hope Santa brought everyone what they wanted. I got 3 early gifts: Cat #4, Bonzai; a Keurig, and a broken arm. I said I wanted to slow down for a few weeks. God and my being in a hurry took care of that for me. I go Wednesday to see if it's healed properly or if I get surgery and a pin in it. I'm hoping it's healed so I can start physical therapy and get on the road to healing fully.
My writing and typing abilities are limited...just want to say 'hello' and Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous new year!!
My writing and typing abilities are limited...just want to say 'hello' and Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous new year!!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Mama said there'd be days like this....
and she was too right. Almost nothing went as planned today...sigh....
and to top it all off...it would have been my dad's birthday. I really miss him on days like this.
Planning meeting for November craft show went very well...I do believe this is going to be a decent show for a first year event!!
Tomorrow is a new day...hopefully a better one too!
and to top it all off...it would have been my dad's birthday. I really miss him on days like this.
Planning meeting for November craft show went very well...I do believe this is going to be a decent show for a first year event!!
Tomorrow is a new day...hopefully a better one too!
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