Conference misery::feline_v1

	This sounds very good; thanks for typing it in, Kim.

	Does anyone know of such an organization in Southern NH?  Maybe if
	there isn't one, the FELINERS should act as the seed organization
	(no, I don't have the time or energy to do it, but I would certainly
	be interested in helping out).

	Beverly

    
           You brought up an important point.  One need not contribute a
    lot of time, whatever little you have to spare can be of great benefit.
    If everyone could contribute even just a wee bit, just think how much
    better things could be.
           Look how busy you are!  A full time job just raising all your
    loved ones. And still you found some time.
           In my area, the local MSPCA will take volunteers - they even
    have training. Maybe that's a consideration for some who have one in
    their area.  The one in my area claims not to destroy animals, and I've
    never heard or seen any destruction ever happening in the 3 years I've
    been involved.
    
                                 Denise

    And if you don't have the time or aren't close enough distance wise
    to volunteer, you can always donate various items to a shelter.
    I made sure I was put on the mailing list when adopting Nikki, and
    when I come across a "wish list" in their monthly newsletters, I
    show up at the shelter with some of the items in need.
    
    
    /Roberta
    

    Kim,
    
    I first became aware of NARF last year at Tapestry N Talent.  I
    was so impressed by them that I entered some exerpts from their
    newsletter in this file (Note #1533).
    
    I keep meaning to get more involved with them.  I have been sending
    dog and cat supply/food coupons.  Unfortunately, the money situation
    has been tight and I haven't been able to donate the cash I'd like
    to and am not in a position to foster animals.  
    
    Do you attend their monthly meetings?  If so, can you give me an 
    update on when they meet.  I really feel that I need to stop being a 
    spectator and get out there and try to get involved in helping.  Only 
    problem is that once I see those adorable dog/cat furfaces I'm going 
    want to take them all home.
    
    Maybe I can volunteer to help with their pet sitting activities.
    I know they use this to help raise money so that would be something
    worthwhile.
    
    Jan

    NARF is broken down into two division--cats and dogs.  since i can
    do little with dogs right now (I like in a one bedroom-two room
    apt not counting the bathroom), i help out on the cat side.  they
    usually meet once a month at a member's house--i will see what the
    next meeting date is.  what they need lots of help with is
    volunteers--people who can make or take screening calls to place
    cats (to weed out those who a) want to feed kitty to fighting dog
    or even mr. snake b) labs  c) undesirable homes that don't fit into
    first or second category).  NARF insists you spay and if a person
    says they will keep the animal indoors, that right there is a big
    plus (i know a lot of you out there say, let mr. kitty out, but
    the sheer number of wandering cats, neutered or not, plus the amount
    i see lying beside any given road makes me strongly support this).
     indoor only is NOT mandatory--it is greatly preferable.   the
    longetivity and overall health of the cat is taken into consideration
    (and yes, once upon a time, several cats back, i used to let mine
    out too....not intended as a 'flame' just statement of fact).
    
    anyway, most organizations, i am sure, need people power--to make
    a few screening calls, or get info on animals that need to be placed,
    or even to provide some care-taking info for the curious.  people
    who will work at pet fairs, where cats (mainly adult--no one wants
    "old" cats, they aren't cute anymore, tis sad to report) are "shown"
    to the public, in hopes someone will take them home.  they are FREE,
    there is no fee--the only requirement is that the home is caring
    and will fixx the cat so we don't end up seeing miss kitty's prodigny
    down the road.
    
    yes, many animal rescue leagues DO need supplies...toys, bowls,
    food, crates, litter boxes and litter, whatever you can supply.
    
    to do screening calls takes me about maximum 3 hours a week, just
    a bit of my afternoons on weekends.  NARF understands i can do
    more--they don't demand my time.  i personally could never work
    at the pound--the thought of all those handsome animals (like people,
    thre is rarely an ugly animal) just penned up and waiting to be
    put down in three-odd days kills me.  i don't care if it's the most
    maligned "pit bull" in the pound--those animals should belong to
    a caring home, not cooped up.  so that's why i chose to help with
    NARF--no euthanasia (except for the very sick or ravaged or hopeless)
    and no time limit.  they can't do a huge amount, but they placed
    500+ cats last year--that is 500 cats that wouldn't have been placed
    otherwise.
    
    jo, if you wish, you can call that NARF number--it is an answering
    machine and someone will get back to you (one of the directors),
    probably Marlowe or Charlene or maybe Jennifer.  :)  i get to pull
    the screening calls off tonite.
    
                                                            ---kim

    Thanks again Kim.
    
    BTW - I'm Jan...honest...I'm so confused.
    
    Jan Cordes
    
    
    
    P.S.  I'm starting to have an identity crisis.  Yesterday was the
          1st day of Weight Watchers which Jo Ann helps me coordinate.
          My name is Jan Cordes, hers is Jo Ann Cordes Brown...all the
          people who signed in as visitors from another company had
          written in the "who visiting" spot on their badge...
    
      			Jan Cordes Brown
     

    
    
     Thank you for putting this note in Kim.  Your organization sounds
    like a very good one with the right philosophy.  And you're right,
    every little bit helps.  
    
     I know there is a natural leaning toward no kill and I, myself,
    have that leaning.  I know I've heard from various noters that they
    do not know how I could volunteer my time at a shelter that is not
    a no kill.  I believe that that may account for why it is so hard
    to get volunteers for "shelters" as the conception of what the
    volunteer is in for sometimes is greatly exaggerated.  
    
     My advice to anyone out there that wants to volunteer their time
    but only locally has the choice of a "shelter": Before you decide
    that you can't volunteer there for either reasons you've heard or
    because they are not a no kill go in and feel it out yourself. 
    You may find out that the times they do "put down" are for good
    reasons and only in the case of extreme circumstances.  You may
    feel that their policies and compassion make you feel comfortable
    there.  You may see the grief and hurt the staff goes through when
    they do need to make room for the daily influx of new releases and
    strays that are never claimed.  
    
      All I wanted to point out in this reply is that I picked up a
    distaste for any place that is not no-kill.  I do not feel that
    its right to generalize or assume that everything is so cut and
    dry.  You all need to make that decision for yourself and you can't
    until you check out your local shelters.  If you don't like what
    you see then instead of volunteering there make an effort to change
    things so someday maybe you can volunteer there.
    
                                                                kim
    
    **this note is not intended to begin a debate on no kill vs.
    kill.   
    

    re; JAN  
    
    sorry!  i guess i get so used to talking to Jo that i don't double
    check the name...blame Jo it must be HER fault.  ;)
    
    i will send you some info on NARF--the meetings are the third wednesday
    every month, but they haven't set the place yet--they are in member's
    homes.
    
    re: other kim....
    
    i was speaking strictly for myself that i could not bear to work
    at the pound (especially after some things i've heard about our
    local one).  it's not just the kill factor (which is a necessary
    evil, unfortunately), it's some other things and for myself, i just
    couldn't do it.  i do not mean to discourage people from volunteering
    to work ANYWHERE--anything does a bit of good, but i believe the
    difference between your basic pound and an animal rescue league
    is that the pound takes a more passive stance in placing the animals
    (they do not look for homes, they just wait for people to come to
    them), while NARF, for example, actively works to place the dogs
    and cats.  our pound happens to be very strict on placement--you
    need to be the right hand of God to get an animal (this is based
    on people's experiences there, not my own--i have my pets already),
    and the general attitude is that they would rather put down the
    animal than give it a home.  in my own dealings with the personel
    there (i hadd an occassion to call), they came off as "eh, whatever"
    and somewhat lackadasial.   not my style.
    
    however, any animal shelter needs bowls and towels and that sort
    of thing, as well as people to work there.  as the Other Kim said,
    go with your heart.  every little bit helps.
    
                                                         ---kim

    Re: .8
    
    Is this the Santa Clara Valley Humane Society you're talking about?
    I only know a little about it, since I am somewhat geographically
    distant, but I have heard that it is run by people who really don't
    seem to care about animals and are on an ego trip.  I know there was
    an effort to replace part of a clique on the board of directors awhile
    back, but I didn't hear how it turned out?  I also heard they were
    going to stop handling lost animals for the county?  Any info on
    any of this?
    

    re: last.  If it's the one that is on Lafayette (and I think there
    is only one), yup.
    
                                                             ---kim
    

    Re: .10
    
    Curses.  Then this is the second time in about ten years that that
    organization has "gone to the dogs".  There was a major effort a
    number of years ago to get it cleaned up, and it worked for awhile.
    

    At a cat show not too long ago Amelia got a 3rd best cat and I was
    asked to come up and tell her name and her story.  I related the
    story of how she was born in the Napa Valley SPCA.  She and her litter
    mates were adopted by a person that kept them in a cage in front
    of a feed store and would go off on 2-3 day drunks on not check
    on them.  As it turned out person who shows cats and may also be
    a volunteer for the Napa Valley SPCA (can't remember for sure) saw 
    this and took Amelia and her litter mates and found homes for them.
    
    Well there was someone from the Santa Clara Humane Society there
    listening to the story.  Later she approached me and told me she
    didn't appreciate me telling people that Amelia had to be rescued
    from the Humane Society and she went on and on about how bad it
    made them look, etc.  Well I tuned her out the minute her voice 
    took on an edge that hadn't been there when she approached me.  
    I stopped her and informed her of what I actually had said.  I swear 
    the rest of the day I was getting dagger looks from this woman.  
    Didn't exactly make me love the Santa Clara Humane Society.
                   
    Jan