Canuck PetAll about Canadian Pets

I used to do the rescues from Animal Control for a shelter, it is heart breaking having to choose, having to leave so many behind and knowing you can only help so many. What hurts most is that with our local animal control that has rescues ‘pulling’ from it – they don’t have an adoption centre so you know exactly what happens to those little ones left behind.

I have spoken to friends before about my experiences at Animal Control (and don’t get me wrong, the staff there do all they can with limited resources and limited rescue groups or shelters that have space to rescue from them) but not one of them really got it until one came with me one day. She cried that night and she didn’t sleep but she now volunteers for a rescue too.

Beth, from House of the Discarded, recently posted a video from her latest rescue. I don’t know how she does it every day, the occasional time I went was enough for me. But Beth’s video gives you a flavour of just how overwhelming it is there and why people need to take responsibility for their pets and spay and neuter them.

This just shows one of the rooms at Animal Control, there are many more, they are lined up in the hallways, out in the garage – you get the picture

Beth is always in need of foster homes in the GTA as well as adopters if you want to help!

I recently read a reply on a post by House of the Discarded that surprised me. We read a lot of the coverage on Toronto’s new garbage laws as the legislation was debated by City Council but the comment was something I had not thought of (perhaps because we don’t have limits here so I don’t ’see’ the amount of litter we go through – just the hole it burns in my wallet).

Beth, the writer of the blog, was in search of a foster home for a litter of six kittens at a local high kill shelter, and a reply came into her blog that someone was willing to foster, but couldn’t as they were already over their one bag limit of garbage. I don’t know the fate of those kittens, they were not mentioned in subsequent updates so I don’t want to ask (another post I think) .

We were all so caught up in the dumping aspect of the legislation that I didn’t even think about the impact this could have on rescue based groups (most shelters have commercial pickup), despite being involved in animal rescue and on many rescue lists. I hadn’t seen it mentioned but I imagine that it is affecting more than just the person who replied to the post.

Hopefully, someone will supply tags for the rescues to keep doing the great work they do

OK he isn’t ugly, but he isn’t outstandingly handsome and he does have a health issue…

Toronto Cat Rescue is taking part in the Petsmart adoptathon this weekend, but as a foster rescue, don’t overlook those other cats on their website who they do not have space for at Petsmart

The Good (OMG if I had the space, these two are cuties)

Forever/Foster Home needed for these feline friends – they are currently being fostered at Cosmopawlitan Pet Boutique & Spa in Toronto.

Mickey: DSH, brown tabby and white, male, neutered, vaccinated, DOB March 1, 2008.
Minnie: DLH, black and white, female, spayed, vaccinated, DOB June 1, 2006.

Minnie and Mickey were rescued from a shelter together as they are best friends and very bonded – they must be adopted into their forever family together. We are not sure how they ended up there, but they were obviously very loved at one point.

Minnie is a very sweet cat with a wonderful temperament. She loves to have her long hair brushed while she sits contentedly in your lap. Mickey is a very sweet and loving big boy. He can get nervous in new situations and will look to Minnie for reassurance. Mickey’s new family must be willing to go slowly with Mickey until he feels secure. He could also lose a few pounds, so lots of interactive play is a must! These two sweethearts cannot wait to be loved – they will give you double the love and bring double the kitty fun to your home!

The Bad (for bad teeth now removed)

Persian, white, male, neutered, vaccinated, DOb April 1, 2001. Mr. Magoo is a sweet little cat with a big personality. His origins are a bit unknown but that hasn’t stopped him from the best cat he can be. He plays all day and snuggles all night under the blankets! When he isn’t snorting or telling you a story, he likes to follow people around because his curiosity knows no bounds. Mr. Magoo did have to have most of his teeth removed, but his appetite is great for wet food and he is known to sneak some kibble every now and then. Mr. Magoo is very people friendly and can tolerate other cats and dogs but would prefer to be the only man in your life. Once you meet him, you will never be able to get him out of your mind – he is that amazing. Please meet him and see for yourself! Mr. Magoo is ready to be your forever friend.

and The Ugly (as I mentioned, OK he isn’t ugly, but he isn’t outstandingly handsome and he does have a health issue…) – I know there are people out there who fall for the cat who needs them most…

DSH, black, male, neutered, vaccinated, FIV+, DOB February 2007. Baby is an all black boy who is placid, quiet, and happy. He is friendly and likes people – he is always at the door to greet his foster family when they arrive home! Until his caring foster family saved him from the very cold, lonely streets, Baby has not had an easy go at life. He has suffered frostbite on the tip of his little ears, but this is just cosmetic. He is currently in good health and is not on any medications, even though his has tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV+) – Baby is expected to live a long and normal life! FIV is not a highly contagious virus and TCR believes these cats deserve a chance at a normal home like any other. If you have laid back cats at home there should be no concerns of adding a cat-friendly FIV cat such as Baby. For more information / get a better understanding of FIV, please click here. Don’t judge him on his rugged appearance or a blood test, he is a beautiful kitty – inside and out! If you are looking for a very lucky, very affectionate, very deserving kitty to be your loyal companion – please adopt him.

A microchip and grain of rice

As Spring approaches and more animals will be outside, have you microchipped your animal?

Microchips may seem expensive at first glance, but in reality, they are close to the fine you pay if animal control picks up your animal without identification, and the number of cats and dogs that come into shelters where you can tell they have worn a collar but do not have it on when they arrive at the shelter is high.

There are six main microchip companies for the US and Canada, and many pet insurance companies offer a discount to people who have microchipped pets.

24PetWatch™ 866-597-2424 www.24petwatch.com
AKC® CAR 800-252-7894 www.akccar.org
AVID® 800-336-2843
Banfield® 877-LOST-PET
HomeAgain® 888-HOME-AGAIN www.homeagain.com
ResQ™ 877-PET-LINK www.petlink.net

Each company has a different price and some have maintenance fees for the database information, so look into which one suits your needs before getting a microchip implanted.

A microchip is no bigger than a grain of rice, and veterinarians can implant the chips into all kinds of pets — from reptiles and birds to cats and dogs. The device carries a number, and this number is plugged into a database that includes the name and contact information of a pet’s owner.  Only someone with a microchip scanner can obtain the number, your details are not stored on the actual microchip and you can choose to have the microchip company call you if your pet is found rather than release your information to the finders.  A microchip is not a GPS, it relies on someone scanning the animal, which all shelters do when new animals come in.

I have not been in the shelter for several days (trying not to spread my flu bugs around) so anxiously await my end of day adoption updates.  As we get lower in numbers, the long termers tend to go home, for little other reason than there is less choice so despite whatever small issues they may have there is not that cuter cat in the next cage.

Yet one cat still sits there, she has watched 12 year olds go home before her, her own kittens, a cat with litterbox issues, several with kidney disease.  She is healthy, friendly and likes other cats, but she sits there unwanted and now is starting to get depressed and overweight and the only reason we still have her, I can think of, is that she is a black cat.

I guess she is lucky it was us who found her and not animal control, because I know the chances of  a black cat surviving more than a week in the summer months in animal control.  I almost wish we did not have intake dates on their information cards, some people feel sorry for them, but some think there must be something wrong with them to still be there after so long – they do not understand that she spent almost 4 months in a foster home as she gave birth, nursed and weaned 5 kittens and then waited to be spayed.

I hope my little black girl finds her home really soon, we have had an amazing week for adoptions, surpassing last year’s numbers by an amazing amount and over the last few weeks have said goodbye to many of our favourites, the ones that have been with us a while

But it really is her time now, I just hope that someone can see past her depression and realise that inside her is a sweet girl who nuzzles against your neck and just wants a little love.