Conference misery::feline_v1

    Well, it just so happens I was at the Humane Society in Nashua today to
    find a cat, not a kitten.  While there, one little boy was adopting a
    cat, another girl was bringing a bunny home with her, and a couple came
    in to adopt a dog.  A bunch of other people were in viewing the
    animals.  In fact, the parking lot was packed!

    Now, on the sorry subject, the Abbysinian that I was there to see was
    in the back in quarantine (they do this with all new animals, just to
    be on the safe side).  She was a real sweetie.  Her tag read that the
    owners had moved.  So many other animals in the back room had similar
    excuses, pathetic as they may be....  If I were to move across the
    country, I would take my cat with me before I brought my bed or any
    other items of importance!!!  I'm happy to say my priorities are in the
    right order, or at least the people reading this file will likely
    agree!  :^)
    
    Perhaps Mike can fill you in on what happens to the animals?

    Re -1
    
    Did you take the Aby? I have one and he would HATE to be in a cage,
    they are so full of life!
    
    
    Lisa.
    

    No Lisa, I didn't take her cause she was going home with one of the
    workers from the Humane Society, where she would be kept in a cage for
    2 weeks until she got over her cold...  
    
    I'll be returning from vacation right around the same time, so it would
    work out well.  Assuming my vet thinks it is ok to have another pet
    around my sick Persian, I would like to take her home with me!
    
    What a combination they would make!  One large, round white Persian and
    a skinny, lean, beige Aby named Jake.  Reminds me of that tv show "Jake
    and the Fat Man".  :^)  :^)    Wonder why her previous owners called
    her Jake?  Such an awful name for such a cutie!

    I just got a brand new baby kitten, but I had good reason. I already
    have a kitty, she's a year old & I didn't want a kitty that would
    be bigger or dominant. This was Tabitha's place first & Callie will
    have to get used t the idea that, for now, Tabitha is the BOSS! BTW-->
    THEY LOVE LOVE LOVE EACH OHER!! (Mom is very excited about it!)
    
    RE: What happens to them--->WHen I was searching the shelters & vets
    in the area, the Animal Rescue League of Worcester (MA), had free
    kittens, w/o shots or anything. I was sort of looking for a $30 kitty
    w/ shots, feluk test, the whole 9 yards. (I ended up getting a freebie
    anyway, cuz I couldn't pass the little darlin' up!) But never the less,
    I wasn't interested in the kitties at the ARL @ worc, so I asked, "will
    they be destroyed if they're not adopted?" The woman said, "Oh,no...
    they'll be adopted." I felt a  little better when I hung up, but still
    wondered if they'd even told me the truth....maybe they DO destroy them
    & just don't offer that info on the phone. I guess that animal rights
    activists could frown upon that (not that I don't) & give the shelter a 
    hard time, which I'm SURE they don't want. After all, shelters are in 
    operation, usually out of compassion for the animals & to give them a 
    life better than they would have running around the streets & multiply-
    ing like crazy. This would look REAL bad if people were picketting
    them!
    
    I just hope they were being up front w/ me, but I'll never know for
    sure. I hear that depending on the town/state you live in, that the
    dog officer may be you'r worst option & should be considered your last.
    I'm sure there are some tho, that are very kind hearted.
    
    It's a shame that not everybody is careful & conscious about [their]
    animals. We wouldn't have the trouble we do today (w/ over population,
    disease, starvation, etc) if they were! I've been pretty short on cash
    these days, but as soon as I have my new kitty squared away w/ the
    necessities, I'll be making a donation...a donation that wouldn't be 
    necessary if EACH of us did their part!
    
    Doesn't it just burn you up when ya think about it?! and you can't just
    ignore it! ...sheesh!
    
    Bonnie

    
    	re: .0
    
    	I'm a volunteer at the Humane Society in Nashua and I can tell
    	you that they do not destroy any animal unless it is very
    	unhealthy.  Sometimes if an animal has been there a long time
    	and doesn't look like it will get adopted, the director, Michelle
    	takes them home with her.  At last count I think she has 13-15
    	cats and a number of dogs also.  She is a fabulous lady.  One
    	of our fellow FELINErs here, Mike Philbrook, is the President
    	of the shelter.  We need/want to expand because of the extra
    	towns that the shelter has had to take on.
    
    	And I know what you mean by their faces.  When I first started
    	volunteering and we had our bingo meetings at the shelter, I
    	told myself I would not go in back to the adoption and quarantine
    	rooms cuz I couldn't bear to see all of them in cages and I'd
    	want to take them all home.  Well once they hear voices they
    	just meow and meow and I just couldn't stand it any longer.
    	So I got back there every time I'm there.  I pet them, bring
    	them treats and stuff but they all look so sad when I leave.
    	My husband and I did end up adopting a siamese kitten (we had
    	3 adult cats already and they don't adjust well to other adults
    	being brought in) and she's wonderful.
    
    	Thank you for the concern but I can assure you that the animals
    	are treated with lots of TLC and do not get euthanised after
    	a 5 day period.
    
    	JJ
    

>> Does the Humane center destroy them within 5 days of not being placed?
   
    We have no such policy. We will keep animals for as long as they're
    healthy and we have the werewithall to care for them. Unfortunately, 
    however, there are incidences that force us to euthanize from time 
    to time. If we're full and simply cannot hold another animal, we will 
    thin out from the least healthy/desirable of the population. Sad but 
    true. Euthanasia is the absolute last resort for us but we're practical 
    people and know it has to be done.
    
    Last year our shelter took in 4,300 animals! There simply are not
    enough homes to take all of those animals. Read the last reply in note
    4002 for some sobering statistics on homeless animals in this country.
    
    Our shelter is currently working on a Capital Campaign to raise
    $2.5 million to fund the expansion of the building. We need more space
    to house more animals and need to construct a controlled environment
    that will contain airborne diseases so we can stop these diseases from 
    spreading throughout the population.
    
    For you feline lovers, we are now doing FeLeuk testing on every cat we
    take in -- this is currently costing us about $800/month. We'd love to
    have some help bearing that cost!
    
>>I believe they could use donations too, I have given, but never thought
 >>   to consider that DEC may match.  Does anyone know?
   
    Boy can we use donations! The economy is causing us some real problems.
    The numbers of animals that are released to us is on the rise but
    donations are dropping off sharply. We're doing all we can to increase
    revenue, but everyone's broke.
    
    If anyone wants to help, donations ARE matched by Digital (the shelter
    even has matching gift forms on the front desk!). Also, we have a
    number of fundraising activities coming up this year where you can show
    your support (I'll post the list of events in note 4002 today). Also,
    for a $30 annual donation you can be a member of the society and
    receive our newsletter, Animail. And soon we'll have a membership
    program for our 24 hour Animal Rescue service. And all donations are
    tax deductible. By the way, we accept VISA and Mastercard, too.
    
    Thanks for your support!
    Mike Philbrook,                       
    President, Humane Society of SHC

    Thanks Mike & Judy!
    
    It's good to know there are people like you who care about our little
    furfaces SO much! It gives me warm & fuzzy feeling inside!
    
    Thanks again,
    Bonnie
    

    
    	Bonnie,
    
    	Makes me warm and fuzzy too.  'specially when I get the occasion
    	to visit 'me all.  =)
    
    	JJ
    
    	PS...did you meet Bernie the Rescue Dog while there?  She's
    	a peach!
    

    
    	Ooops!  the PS was directed toward the basenoter, not
    	Bonnie....
    
    	eesh!
    

    re: euthanasia - Those of us who are animal lovers (and activists too)
    understand the sad necessity of euthanasia for unwanted animals.  The
    alternatives are far worse.  I'd much rather see an animal die
    painlessly and peacefully than to see it starve to death, freeze to
    death, be tortured to death by cruel humans, torn to death by animals
    or die slowly from wounds of being hit by a car.  I'd also much rather
    see an animal euthanized than turned over to a research lab!
    
    So I don't think you'll find us animal lovers out there picketing
    the shelters who must resort to this sad alternatives.  I don't blame
    the shelters...I blame neglectful and irresponsible humans!
    
    Nancy DC