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Post by safetildecember on Sept 13, 2009 20:27:56 GMT -4
There needs to be a discussion on why the local rescue groups are going out of county to rescue animals. In many of the ads in the newspapers, it says the animals were rescued from Caroline County. It is my understanding that ALL the shelters are full, I am certain that Queen Anne County is full as well. I heard our local Animal Control is in the process of hiring a new director. It is the county commissioners that do the hiring. Let's hope they get a decent person in there, someone that loves animals and has some ( not sure how to spell it ) kahoonas.
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Post by Mike on Sept 14, 2009 18:32:38 GMT -4
I am with you safetilldecember someone I know used to work for a local Animal Rescue Group and they drove to Delaware, Cecil Etc to Rescue Animals, I am for helping animals.. but driving out of county / state to rescue an Animal when the shelters here and full, like you said is a little crazy...also, abuse of donations.
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Post by funnel101 on Sept 14, 2009 18:42:11 GMT -4
I disagree. These animals didn't have a choice where they were found. Why should they be punished? If the shelters can help out of county animals, I think they should.
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Post by bchevy on Sept 14, 2009 19:26:01 GMT -4
I disagree. These animals didn't have a choice where they were found. Why should they be punished? If the shelters can help out of county animals, I think they should. Handle waht you have in-county 1st, and only when you have room to spare should you be going out of county, If your shelter is full, no way should you be travelling to find more, find homes 1st.... You CAN'T save them all. I think out-of-state should be off limits. You can't adopt from a lot of out of state places. |
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Post by - on Sept 14, 2009 20:08:01 GMT -4
Don't mark my words, as I am not aware of the facts, just what I think I know. Firstly, the rescue that I volunteer for rescues from Maryland. Every shelter is given a grant by the state of Maryland, I believe. If they don't they are out of the loop and should file for one. Some shelters have more $ than others therefore their kill rate is much higher. More money, more promotions such as Bay Day,more publicity from grant $ to advertise, more volunteers, more donations, more foster parents. Some rescue groups go to the least paid with the highest kill rate. To save a life. It's a sad story all together. When I helped out at the Seafood Festival, another animal control person from another shelter, and another county came to me, and needs help as well. Just brings tears to ones eyes if you are an animal lover. Rescues can't save the world. And our rescues do the very best possible. One animal at a time is another life saved. For every animal that is adopted from a rescue group, please remember, the new family just saved a life from being euthanized. And what a great feeling. I have met many foster parents with so many at their home, and they cry for happiness when their babies are adopted, that a life is saved from the pups that they brought up. Regardless which animal control our local rescue groups get their cats and dogs. Please remember, that the poor get the first, but every animal in dire need should be at a rescue. If anyone knows of a life saving story, my best suggestion is to contact our local rescue groups personally. And most importantly if you have the time or the space, please foster. You will get no better gratification than knowing that you saved a life, and found a "forever" home for the most deserving family friend.  Thanks for reading, -cg |
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Post by safetildecember on Sept 14, 2009 21:30:49 GMT -4
Well, sad to say you all are missing the point. There is a reason the local rescues do not get the majority of their animals from Queen Anne County Animal Control. If they had their way, I think they would. Something needs to be done and I hope a new director will bring the much needed change to Queen Anne County Animal Control. Killing 60 cats a month is unacceptable, especially for the "reasons" that are documented.
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Post by funnel101 on Sept 15, 2009 12:09:51 GMT -4
Thanks for clarifying, safetildecember.
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Post by carolync on Sept 16, 2009 9:06:21 GMT -4
As a volunteer with the County shelter, I have to put in my two cents.
I'm speaking only for myself, not for the county.
Animal Services is working on being as no-kill of a shelter as possible. Adoptable animals are not put down. For instance, there was a recently adopted pit-bull that had been there for over a year!
While it would be fantastic if local groups could get all their animals from inside the county, if there is an adoptable animal in Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, etc, scheduled to be euthanized, it makes sense to rescue the one whose life is on the line, rather than one who is safe.
In regards to the 60 cat being put down a month, I spoke with animal services last night. Yes, June and July the #'s were that high, in contrast, in January, only 9 were put down, in Feb. 10. But, none were adoptable; these animals were feral, ill, injured, aggressive, or put down at an owner's request.
Remember, the county has no choice in what animals they take in, they have to accept every one that comes in the door; in the perfect world, there would be space, resources and manpower to save and rehabilitate every sick, injured and feral animal that comes in.
Currently there are over 75 kittens and cats at the shelter, so please visit if you're looking for a new feline... adoption fees have been waived again for the month of September.
And, please, spay and neuter your pet!
I'm jumping off my soapbox now...
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Post by safetildecember on Sept 16, 2009 17:56:36 GMT -4
I take issue with what they deem not adoptable. Out of the 60 cats, only one was seen by a vet. They are not qualified to make some of the assessments. They need to make more space for cats.
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Post by - on Sept 16, 2009 18:52:45 GMT -4
Helping out at the Seafood Festival this past weekend, there was a very nice couple that came over to us. Asking how to trap a feral cat. The cat had kittens, and now they are all being fed by this couple. Thankfully a young woman who also volunteers works for the spay now clinic. She was able to give them advice on how to trap, and they are going to bring both cat and kittens to be spayed. This couple loves animals so dearly, that they are going to do this out of their own pocket, in addition to feeding them every evening! What a great story I had heard from them. Very inspirational, and animal lovers through and through. -cg |
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Post by safetildecember on Sept 16, 2009 20:10:37 GMT -4
Most cats that people refer to as feral were really someones pet at one time, they are not true ferals. They can be rehabiliated and once again become loving domesticated members of a family.
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Post by - on Sept 16, 2009 20:52:03 GMT -4
Bottom line, they should spay and neuter their cats, and be responsible owners. Just a thought, maybe if Animal Control can insist if the animal that they give out needs this procedure and do a follow up on the family. If the procedure isn't done then they should have the right to take the animal back.
Period, no questions asked. It's called being a responsible owner, and if they can't step up to the bar they should not be able to adopt. For a free charge I think Animal Control should put this in writing before another adoption is done.
Furthermore, is there a reason that animal control does not spay or neuter before any adoptions Carolyn?
-cg
Just my 2 cents.
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Post by safetildecember on Sept 16, 2009 22:36:51 GMT -4
Most vets will spay or neuter a 2 pound kitten, which is quite young. Any animal up for adoption should be altered before they are adopted, I don't think that is an issue with the Animal Control adoptions. The problem is in pets that do not come from Animal Control that are not altered and other pets that are thrown away. With the economy the way it is, the problem is only getting worse. People move and leave their pets, people drop them off somewhere when they don't want them, people toss them out because they are not house trained or litter trained.
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Post by carolync on Sept 17, 2009 9:49:48 GMT -4
Furthermore, is there a reason that animal control does not spay or neuter before any adoptions Carolyn? -cg Just my 2 cents. CG, As far as I know they are spayed or neutered before they go out, I know the dogs are. Safetildecember, Yes, it would be great if more space could be made, but with the state of the economy, where's the money in the county budget going to come from? Fosters are always needed and welcomed! Unfortunately in animal rescue, some very hard choice have to be made, due in part to irresponsible owners. |
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Post by AquaHolic on Sept 17, 2009 10:00:33 GMT -4
I take issue with what they deem not adoptable. Out of the 60 cats, only one was seen by a vet. They are not qualified to make some of the assessments. They need to make more space for cats. You don't need a vet to tell you that a cat is feral. If a cat is not removed from the wild at a young age...it is probably never going to be adoptable because they are Feral. Have you ever seen a feral cat? they are vicious. I have seen my share of them. In the perfect world the shelter would make more space for the cats...but will it ever be enough space...nope. At the moment Animal control works with all the rescue groups...which at the moment are over flowing with animals to place. If Animal Control gets in bottle baby kittens they are not equipt to handle them as they take a lot of time. I volunteer to bottle feed the kittens. This last kitten I got ended up dieing from an upper respiratory infection. I took it to the vet myself and paid for everything and was not reimbursed although Animal Control told me they would reimburse me. I could not take their money knowing I would be taking away from another animal. Vets cost money...yes Animal Control may get a discount..but it is still cash coming out of a Budget. |
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Post by AquaHolic on Sept 17, 2009 10:06:49 GMT -4
Most cats that people refer to as feral were really someones pet at one time, they are not true ferals. They can be rehabiliated and once again become loving domesticated members of a family. This is not true. Have you seen the Feral Colony that resides at the 4 H park in Centreville...there are close to 100 cats in that colony...I have seen it. Yes while some can be rehabilitated...most Feral cats can not be after they reach a year old. There are many Feral colonies in QA county. There was one colony that lived at matapeake...most of them were White cats. A rescue group went in and started trapping the cats...neutering/spaying them and taking the kittens to place in homes. The rescue group used to go to Matapeake and feed the cats. |
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Post by safetildecember on Sept 17, 2009 14:08:50 GMT -4
I did not say all ferals are adoptable but many or most of the cats people call feral are not true ferals. It is my understanding that someone is still taking care of some of the Matapeake cats. One cat can be responsible for producing over 60,000 cats in it's lifetime. Many "feral" cats were someones pet at one time. Not all ferals are adoptable but I have seen cats that were feral for many years be rescued and they morphed into wonderful, loving housecats.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 15:00:52 GMT -4
Not all ferals are adoptable but I have seen cats that were feral for many years be rescued and they morphed into wonderful, loving housecats. I have to agree with this. I trapped a stray cat in February that had been hanging around our yard after I realized she was injured. I got her cleaned up and spayed and she is one of the most loving cats I have ever had. The vet said she was probably about a year old. Her biggest challenge was being accepted by our 3 other cats, but everything worked out great. |
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Post by AquaHolic on Sept 17, 2009 15:51:02 GMT -4
Not all ferals are adoptable but I have seen cats that were feral for many years be rescued and they morphed into wonderful, loving housecats. I have to agree with this. I trapped a stray cat in February that had been hanging around our yard after I realized she was injured. I got her cleaned up and spayed and she is one of the most loving cats I have ever had. The vet said she was probably about a year old. Her biggest challenge was being accepted by our 3 other cats, but everything worked out great. She was probably not a "feral" cat but what is called a "Semi-Feral". But that is fantastic that she turned out to be so wonderful. Most people have no clue as to what a feral cat is. They are not the cats that are dumped after a human has had them...They are the ones who were born in the wild...had to fight for their food and their place in the colony. They are wild cats. Definitions of semi-feral in relation to cats vary, but essentially describe a domesticated cat that has reverted to the wild (is no longer owned or kept by someone). Semi-feral cats may continue to live in proximity to humans and may be accustomed to their presence. Feral cats on the other hand are generally agreed to be "wild" cats that have never been domesticated. A semi-feral cat that mates and gives birth to a litter will have produced feral offspring. The two kittens I have (which are now 2 years old) were Feral kittens....but they were young enough (5 weeks old is when we caught them on the side of rt 18) to be accepting of humans...although one bonded with our dog and the other to humans. They were most likely from the colony near the 4 H park. |
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Post by safetildecember on Sept 17, 2009 18:05:07 GMT -4
The colony at the 4H Park I am not familiar with but I assume you are correct and they are true ferals. Many of the cats that people call feral that exist in close proximity to residential areas are most likely not true ferals.
And bless your heart Mo for taking in the injured cat. I wish there were more people like you.
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