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| Blog
by: Renee Robins, ACO, Owen Sound Animal Shelter |
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------------------- Recent Posts ------------------- |
Sep
30,
2010 _____________________________________________________________________________ |
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| It's
Raining Cats; Surprise Update; I Found Them; The Jig is Up; Failed Foster; Run Rocky Run; Charity BBQ; Challenge; Sweater; Calendar Contest; And The Winners Are!; BBQ at Pet Valu; Update on BBQ at Pet Valu; Rabies Clinic; Celebrate With Us;
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Celebrate With Us - Tomorrow I will wake with a smile on my face. If the pager sings all night, if I gather many homeless, if I am sworn at, peed on, or sprayed by a skunk, it won't matter. I will wake in celebration because tomorrow our baby is two. No it's not a child, a dog or a cat, or any pet, it is something I have worked much harder to achieve, harder to maintain, and has grown to to be pretty darn successful. This is the Surgical room which was born October 1st 2008. I had thought that, this room would help a few more than the 50 a year we could only alter at that time. I never anticipated all that was created, and I jump up and down inside as I announce it ~ 695 ~ This our tally on Monday! We considered doing another five this week just to make it even, and because we can!! (But passed) The biggest thanks to the doc for making this dream an even better reality. And the biggest thanks to you our supporters who keep us going and the lives that have been changed forever thanks to all of you. Smile with me as I remember the hundreds
[ Broker, Bruno, Carebear, Zena, Ivory,
Roy, Will, and the countless animals who were spayed/neutered ] who
went on to live happily ever after. Sep
28,
2010 Rabies Clinic - The Owen Sound Animal Shelter is giving official notice of a rabies clinic to be held on October 16th, 2010 from the hours of 10 am until 3pm at the OSAS facility. This clinic to be held in accordance with CVO guidelines, and with the permission of such. This clinic to be held by a licensed veterinarian, at our Shelter, located at 2125 18th Ave. E. in Owen Sound. Rabies vaccines will be at a cost of $25.00 per pet, or $20.00 per pet when you bring in three or more to be vaccinated. Cash only will be accepted as form of payment. This clinic will only be vaccinating for rabies. This will not include a check up, nor other important vaccines or parasite control. Please see your veterinarian for these important things. Animals
will NOT be vaccinated if they are under age, expecting, immune
compromised or not of good health. Only those animals in good health will receive
a vaccination.
_______________________________________________________________________________________ Sep
27,
2010 Update on BBQ at Pet Valu - The biggest thank you to Pet Valu of Owen Sound, for a successful BBQ and charity event! A great time was had by all, and as expected it was fantastic to spend time with people who love their pets. Thank you to the staff of Pet Valu for their operations of the BBQ, the nail trims, and for the great draw prizes that were assembled and distributed. There were so many who came to the event... There were big ones
Little ones and
A lion
Special thanks to our lion, who attracted the crowd, and for providing the comic relief and to everyone who attended.
In all, a total of $450.00 was raised, which helps us cover two surgery days, which I think is safe to say, is 20 lives saved! A special thanks to Teri for helping in managing the crowd. And a special thank you to you - our supporters - as always, appreciated and you make the job we do better. The winners of the draw are: Ron Elliot - Dog Gift Basket, Mayda Reid - Dog Bed, Jennifer Haw - Scratch Post, Cheryl Bouidreau - Cat Fun String, Judi Trenbeth - Cat Toy, and Aaran Hutten - Cat Gift Bag. Sep
24,
2010 BBQ at
Pet Valu -
Don't
forget that tomorrow from 10 am to 5pm the Shelter and Pet Valu
will be holding a charity BBQ. The BBQ will be at the Owen Sound Pet Valu
and there will be hot dogs and hamburgers available and nail trims for
pets. There will also be dogs and cats attending which are available for
adoption. There will also be free samples of pet food for your pets. All
proceeds from the BBQ go to the Spay/Neuter, Medical Fund. See you
there!!! Sep
22,
2010 And The Winners Are!!! - I want to thank everyone who entered the 5th Annual OSAS Calendar Contest as well as those of you who voted. I just loved all the pictures and I know everyone had fun voting for their favs. Here are the winners [everyone included] from highest votes to lowest. And you know that everyone is a winner to me and will make the OSAS 2011 calendar:
Thanks so much for
everything you do for the animals. I may be contacting you if the picture
you sent is not large enough for the calendar or if the printer has a
problem. I will also let you know when the calendar is ready for purchase.
You all did a fabulous job!!!! Sep
21,
2010 Calendar Contest - As the final hours of our 5th Annual Calendar Contest comes to a close, I am once again thrilled with the submissions and the interest in them. Once again the entries are fantastic and I want them all to win. It seems I know many of the pets entered and those I don't, I feel like I now know after seeing your faces for weeks now. The contest theme for this year was "You Make Me Smile" and as each entry does this for me, knowing each pet entered is loved. Their happy face confirms it! Thank you for sharing!! If you have not yet voted, get those votes in ... it is still anyone's game ... and your vote may choose the winner, please vote for your favs!! Remember
this an important fundraiser as it helps to keep our Spay/Neuter, Medical
facility operating. It is not too late to gain a sponsor spot if you have
a business and you would like to advertise - please contact me at osas@bmts.com.
Good luck to all the entrants, and happy voting to all the others :) We
will begin to tally the votes tomorrow and let you know who the winners
are. Sep
17,
2010 Sweater - Sweater was the star on radio today, she in her near naked goodness. It was a personal pleasure to hear the 'ohhhs and ahhs' from the radio celebs, and to see the open mouthed faces as well. It was unfortunate the listeners could not see her cute 'doo' as well, and I hope they checked her photo out online following the show.
As the number of cats continues to soar inside the Shelter I am pushing people to consider adopting one. And, hey, if a bad hair day brings sympathy I will use it! lol Jamie and I jokingly considered shaving a few more just for the 'awe' effect :) All joking aside a longhaired cat must be properly groomed, as it is part of keeping them well. I sure hope the listeners got this part! I hope Sweater and her homeless friends find great homes fast and hope that if nothing more she with her odd name and fancy coat advertises a very serious cat home needing dilemma. Tis
the season and we brace ourselves yet again for it to pass, but at least
with her help we are still smiling. Sep
15,
2010 Challenge - Today, comes the biggest thank you. This thank you goes to Janice Cleaver, and the Cleaver family. This of course for your support, and for providing homes for pets over the years, but today more so for your generous donation. Ms. Cleaver has donated $600.00 dollars to the Spay/Neuter, Medical Fund, as she knows how important it is to us to keep operating, and knows how much the funds are needed to continue to provide these services to the community. They saved their pocket change for a rainy day, and came up with $600.00 ... they have helped to save 20 or more pets!! Not only did she donate the money to the Shelter, but she also issued a challenge to see if others could try to match this. She challenges you to save your change (much like the pennies for pets) and see if you can beat her donation. :) This is a fantastic idea. Our operations depend on your support, please consider the challenge. Start saving your pennies and spare change today. Please remember those like Broker, and Bruno, and Carebear, Zena, Ivory and Roy who lived because we could operate to save them.
_______________________________________________________________________________________ Sep
14,
2010 Charity BBQ - Tomorrow will be ten days until our charity BBQ, and I need to get you to clear your calendar. This event will be a gathering of people who love their pets, and those pets they love, to share in food, beverages, and treats, all for a great cause. Peti-cures will be available for your beloved four legged friend, goodie bags, and free samples for all. There will be nutrition experts available to ask about your pets diet, and if you have questions on products you can ask those too. Our homeless friends will be visiting in the hopes of finding their new forever homes, so if you're looking, this may be a time to meet a new friend too?? The biggest thanks to
Pet Valu for offering us this opportunity. The money from this BBQ will help us continue to operate our surgical/medical room, which keeps us
ultimately operating at our best. Your purchase of a burger or two can help us save lives! How great is that?
Pencil it in, hope to see you there!! Sep
13,
2010 Run Rocky Run - It is recommended that stray cats come in here in livetraps. This ensures that a person does not get scratched or bitten, that the cat does not run away, and so that the cat can ride safely to the Shelter. This is our best solution to gathering them, and the public is all OK with it. There is only one disadvantage to this method. Sometimes you catch something else. Today, a call came from a frantic man who had captured a raccoon, and needed our help in releasing it. I had promised I would and was gladly off to free it. He was surprised when he met me. "You are going to do this?" I smiled and assured him I had been doing my job for years and it would be OK. As we walked back to the trap he grabbed for a stick, and reminded me the raccoon was large and cranky. As I placed my foot on the edge of the trap to tip it the raccoon grabbed my boot. The gentleman backed up. I used my keys to tip the lever, the raccoon grabbed the leather strap and ripped it with one bite. The gentleman backed up further. I could see the concern in his eyes. He asked "...so what's the plan where will it go?" I must admit I giggled inside as I answered "hopefully not in our direction" (wink wink) as I continued to tip while the raccoon growled, lunged and spit. The gentleman backed up yet again, and said "I am not sure I can do this..." and in seconds the door swung open and Rocky was off and running. As was the gentlemen in the opposite direction. Boy they sure ran fast - both of them. The tears were streaming down my face ... it's really hard to hold a giggle in. I'm there holding an empty
trap, alone and I had a great thought .... I know you would get a kick out
of this moment too! Sep 9,
2010 Failed Foster - He called her Inky, as he explained she as much like an ink blotter where the ink had run dry. Interesting, I thought as she to me looked also quite weathered and warn. She had been with him nearly eight years, and looked nearly twice as old. She had delivered two litters of pups each year, he boasted, since her arrival, and with each had many males. She fed them from herself, with little food to sustain her, living outdoors with minimal shelter.
Inky came to me with six pups, he helped me carry them to the vehicle one by its tail :( and it was clear to me she had been raised a little different than I would have liked her to have been. However, she wagged her tail, offered me her belly, and she was the sweetest thing, throughout our meeting. Inky and her pups having spent time with the doc, having been fostered until adoption, it was now time for her big day. Today Inky was spayed.
As I helped prep her I noted she was much like a sow in shape, one who had nursed many piglets and had her teats dragging. I suppose in 8 years, 16 litters this is much the case.
Now less lumpy, and more the dog she should be, I anticipate a happy and wonderful life for her now. This home with all the comforts there needs to be, and no puppies for her to have to share it with. I believe now she will be Princess Inky, as she has gone to stay with the doc
forever. These things happen when you foster :) Congrats to you both. Sep 8,
2010 The Jig is Up - Yesterday I had my doubts, I knew the story wasn't jiving and I suspected we would hear from you again as you still had all those cats. But I did not think it would be so soon. I had hoped you would merely level with us, admit you had been dishonest, apologize and ask for help. I was prepared to offer you any assistance I could as I am here to help and would have put any past judgments behind me. I did not anticipate a call from another municipality today with a finder claiming the same story. I expected your story to change. As like yesterday, I still have my doubts, and in lieu of the change in your story as to where you found them my doubts have grown. It was mentioned yesterday to you that we had your information (we have surveillance) and we could track you; it seems you may have not been listening. When your name today was that of the name we had yesterday, you were fooling no one. Perhaps you thought another municipality would point you in another unsuspecting set of hands. Sorry, it was us you reached again; we do cover many areas. Let's stop the run
around; let me help you. Those cats need not be shuffled any longer. The jig is up, let me help. Sep 7,
2010 I Found Them - Here's the thing, you came with not one, not two, but many (two adults and a litter of kittens) in boxes, claiming you found them. It's not because it's the end of the month and you told us you were moving - I have my doubts. It's not because you claimed to have found them not today, yet did not call I have suspicions, nor is it because about 3,000 other people have used the "I found them" excuse to then later determine they had not. I do think it's convenient you had boxes while out on a drive, and I think further it was convenient you happened to find them on your way home? This is not why we have doubts. It is actually more simple than that. We are Animal Control Officers. I have been catching creatures daily for about 20 years. I know it takes a certain skill to get a cat in a box, never mind two. I also know that 80-90 percent of the time, one goes in the other jumps out, and standing on the side of the road with no way to contain them you would have lost them. I also know a stray cat won't be caught, as someone who has pulled over thousands of times to turn up only the sight of a cat tucking into the bushes it's not easy without a trap and nearly impossible if you're not trained. So,
please don't feel bad that we have asked you many questions and caused you
some grief, perhaps if you demonstrated your abilities to catch a cat this
way we would put an end to that? I may also offer you a job ;p Sep 3,
2010 Surprise Update - She arrived with pus and goo oozing from her mouth and nose. Terribly thin and missing most of her hair and nasty debris in her ears. I remember noting she was potentially a beautiful Siamese and thought what a shame she had ended up tossed away and became a stray. I did not take her picture, although it would have been a great blog, but I was pretty certain that this cat would not make it out alive, and did not want her pic to remind me. Those that found her asked what the game plan would be, and I remember telling them, the odds were very bad, and it was likely she would not see the weekend. These words I seldom speak, as you know each is given a fighting chance, but a sensitive breed in a stressful environment who was very unlikely to eat as it was, not to mention in her condition, I promised to keep her comfortable and to wait and see.
She surprised me however, as a dish of canned food was quickly gobbled, and her meds taken with ease. One day turned easily into two, and then three. The goop turned to a nasal drip, and her fur began to grow back, and her weight slowly returned. Days turned to weeks, and she became well enough to spay. Her spay brought another great surprise, as we found the root of her troubles, Lilly sporting a golf ball size tumor in the back of her throat was again facing uncertainties [check the blog ...»].
The doc thought it was unlikely the cat would survive the surgery, or even that it could be done, and a decision needed to be made while she lay on the table. Our decision, of course, was to try and keep her comfortable. Once again Lilly surprised me, and came through with flying colours.
Today my girl went home, to a wonderful home where I know I will get many updates, and know she will be loved like family.
This makes her struggle, and our time with her so worthwhile, as a once tossed cat deserves nothing more than to be put on a pedestal.
Sep 2,
2010 It's Raining Cats - Two kittens were dumped on doorstep earlier this week, two left on side of the road a day later, two dumped at a local groomers door, and two found by the river. Five stray kittens from Hanover, and one adult cat. Three strays from Owen Sound. It is still raining cats! I say still, as it seems to have been this way since the snow melted, with a very small break in the down pour. This is frustrating for those with cats looking for homes who must wait a little, frustrating for us who have to keep pushing to have them placed and stressful for the poor cats who must compete with each other to find homes. I am guessing, that since our surgical room first opened we have altered well over 300 cats. [ I must check this out to know for sure ]. This 300 altered cats I would have thought could have slowed things down potentially especially if I include the 500 likely done in years prior. However, it is not. Not one bit! Still I see signs with free kittens posted everywhere, and the internet is full of free to good home ads. Each day cats are tossed on the street, given away or left behind in buildings. They are being tossed out like trash, easily disposed of, as there is just so many, and so few homes. Anyone who is allowing their cat to breed needs to come see me, come sit with me a few hours, see the many homeless here, and the work involved in keeping them well, and stress free. Come answer my phone as persons beg you to help them with their ten and twenty cats. Come see their faces as we tell them we can't possibly take them all. There are low cost options to having your pet fixed, please look into them, I can direct you, and for goodness sakes if you still
can't afford it, please opt for a fixed pet. There are many homeless here, heck take two :) |
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