Remembering the lost and the lonely: companion animals in need

[hyphenate]

I apologize if I am giving myself more weapons for further melancholy this holiday season, but it bothers me that so many animals are being abandoned, lost, or euthanized this holiday, and I know I can do little about it. Last night, though, I came up with a project I am going to do this week or next to give just a little back to those 4 legged children that have seen me through more crap than I ever want to see again.

Last night, I purchased a couple of cat beds that were on sale for my last two furkids for the holiday. I spent a part of the night thinking about all those little guys at the shelter that I couldn't afford to adopt, mostly because I can't afford it. Before I returned home cross country, I had six kits--now, out of those original six, I have only one, and since adopted a friend's kitty when she passed away.

So I thought, hey, I can afford to get two more of those cat beds, and I can donate them to the shelter for two kitties who have no home, who are still lying in a cage with no one to hold them and tell them they are loved. It must be frightening to live like that, and my heart breaks when I think of it. It's not a grandiose gesture, in fact some might call it puny, but it's all I can do right now.

If you love animals as much as I do and if you can afford such a donation, please remember the kitties and the doggies who have no home, and who long for someone to say they love them and give them big hugs.

That's all. Sorry if these thoughts are sad, but there are many sad things in this world, and controlling the pet population is the only way to end all these poor animals' pain and suffering. Until them, we need to take care of the ones thar live and who will die because of callous disregard of their welfare.

[flvegan]

1. What a nice idea and great post.

I'd like to add that if someone doesn't have any extra money for donations, if you have an hour or two a week, consider volunteering at your local shelter. The little bit of time you can spare to give these animals a bit of comfort and socialization goes a very long way at making them not only happy, but infinitely more adoptable.

[luvspeas]

2. that's what I do...

and I have to say it's more for me than it is for them (although I know it helps them lots).

[amborin]

16. 380,000+ dogs, alone, waiting for adoption in so cal! so sad!

[DainBramaged]

3. My charity of choice to honor my beloved Corey

http://www.bigapplebullies.com/

[Contrary1]

4. Also food, old blankets, towels, and bleach

Most shelters don't care what condition the towels and blankets are in...they can still use them.

[jgraz]

5. And don't forget our feathered companions!!

http://www.mickaboo.com

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. A little going your way

so many people forget our feathered children.

[jgraz]

9. Thanks! We've been getting slammed this season

Lots of people deciding that cool conure at the pet store just isn't so cool once you get him home. :(

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. There are days I say taht about Cookie

he is only going on 18 and he can be a handful from time to time.



But hey nandays are a handful. And no, that is not cookie, just a good photo of a nanday. Mine still have baby feet.

He's been getting somewhat cozy with me though since Tuky passed. Oh all the way to head scratchies.

And connie has been a lapel pin... suns can be sweet, but hey... most folks who buy a bird really do not know how to properly raise them.

[jgraz]

11. Damn, you like'em loud

:D

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. They are properly raised

so they are NOT that loud.

When they get out of hand, they get time out... yes it works with three year olds and it works with 18 year old birds.

Cookie will screech to go to sleep and in the morning to get his breakfast. Most of the time they are pretty quiet. Oh and when he wants either food or water. Screech with foot on the proper dish. Hubby jokes that I am a well trained human since I understand them.

[jgraz]

14. I'm used to rescue birds... they usually require some work

Our Jenday is a little feathered smoke alarm.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. You could argue that cookie was a rescue

I bought him many years ago at the swap meet, not kidding. So he has trust issues... he was young so we placed the limits fairly fast. Tuky, I got him from a breeder, bad me... and Connie, we got her at a great place in Hawaii. All were babies so we were able to raise them in a proper way.

But this is why I say when people get birds from the store... they have no clue what they are getting.

and yes looking at the site, but it would not be ethical to bring another bird into this home. They will outlive us, and as is that could be a problem with neighbors, and the CCRs have a pet limit. They were grand fathered since they came home well before those limits were put in place.

[Quantess]

17. Have you seen the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill?

http://www.wildparrotsfilm.com/

[jgraz]

20. Not only have I seen The Wild Parrots, I have four of them living in my home.

The little red-headed guy in my first post is a member of the flock as well.

[Quantess]

21. That's so sweet!

I actually observed some of the wild SF parrots myself, a couple of years before the film came out. I was walking up the stairs that cuts across telegraph hill, the staircase that is shown in the documentary. I moved away from SF in late 2001, so I can only guess there are many more since then.

Edit to add: that's so amazing. Was your bird featured in the film at all? How did you acquire him/her?

[jgraz]

22. The rescue I work with is the first responder for distressed parrots from the SF flock

http://www.mickaboo.com

We take in birds that are found sick or injured, rehab them and then tame them to be cared for by humans. Most of the birds come to us as a result of falls, window collisions or a nasty neuro parasite that causes cerebral-palsy-like symptoms. Almost all of them are too sick or injured to ever go back to the flock, but they're living happy lives as well-fed indoor birds.

Two of the parrots we took in were babies, so they were definitely not in the film. The two older birds might have been, but we think they're still too young to have been in the film. BTW, they're up for adoption if you're interested ;) http://mickaboo.org/our-birds/frame2421.html

[Cleita]

6. Also, our county has a foster care program.

You can be a foster parent for a kitty or doggie until it finds a permanent home.

[tblue37]

7. Shelters need lots of blankets and towels, to line the cold

cages. They must wash them in bleach to prevent the spread of disease, so they don't last long. Instead of buying beds, which cost more and wear out faster if bleach-washed, just buy cheap towels and blankets, or collect lots of old towels and blankets from friends and neighbors.

They also always need paper towels and bleach for cleaning out cages, and they love to get funds donated to provide cat litter.

[G_j]

12. K&R!

thank you!

[kimi]

18. You're absolutely right

Thanks for reminding me.

[hyphenate]

19. A kick for the animals!

Everyone who can donate--even if the value to you is small, is a much valued item to the animals. Please give what you can if you care about them this holiday season!

[Raine]

23. K&R!!!

:dem: & :thumbsup: