| As the former proprietor of a 'home for wayward pet-animals' [NOT
what I started out to be...], my solution to the population problem
evolved over time.
What worked for me was a combination of a sympathethic vet, marginal
support from the Humane Society, and 'Samurai Grandma.'
Adult animals were put out of production as soon as I could manage
it. The vet & I had a discount/credit arrangement for all animals
excluding my permanent residents. When people adopting any animal
offered funds, I directed them to the vet's 'Johnston Fund.'
My largest problem was the influx of kittens and puppies. The local
Humane Society was quite small and cramped for space and, while
it wasn't their desired choice, routinely destroyed whole litters
during the busiest seasons. They were quite happy to have the
abandoned litters show up on MY doorstep [I can't prove it, but
I think some of those boxes of kittens CAME from the H.S. staff...],
and provided numerous discount coupons for sterilisation by local
or near-local vets. These I sent off with adoped babies and prayed
that the folks would use them.
The 'Samurai Grandma' came into the picture when her grandson brought
her out to adopt a companion [my vet had referred them]. She was
very particular in her wants -- 'an older gentleman tiger cat with
good voice that had really lived' -- I had three rangeing in apparent
age from 6 to 9 and she took them all! Anyway, she was utterly
appalled by the kittens and puppies and saw my dilemma over follow
through.
She told me that if I would provide her with a monthly list of adoptees
and the vet's name on the certificate that went with it, that she
would follow-up with the vets and the adoptive parents. She also
found little ways of raising funds which were put on deposit with
my vet.
When I moved up to New Hampshire, she was very active in placing
the last of my transients and kept up the spay/neuter activism until
her death three years later. Her grandson then took out an ad in
the local paper stated that there were X number of prepaid spay/neuter
procedures to be had and to contact him for the details.
[Everyone benefited. She was proud and happy to have found something
worthwhile that a woman in her late eighties could do. The vet
had much repeat business. I had peace of mind. And lots of folks
got new friends that wouldn't produce unwanted complications]
Now after rambling on for all this time, I guess my point is to
explore all avenues and make the best use of what comes your way.
Ann
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