Rescues from an abandoned warehouse in Albany.

any chickens?

Professor,

What do you profess?

You can't be serious! Do you actually think you're going to place "house cats" in a "good home?" I volunteer at Whiskers and clean the cat cages at Petsmart once a week. Last week there were 11 kittens in 6 cages. The same kittens will be there this week. There are millions of unwanted cats and kittens in the US. Spay and neuter your animals!

Actually it sounds like they're running a breeding kennel with all the animals they're trying to give away. Scotch Mist had another post awhile back giving away cats, dogs, etc. Doesn't sound like much of a life for these poor animals.

It would be better to keep this one asleep for awhile, but here goes anyway. I was very interested in a cat at Petsmart and was turned down because my cats go out of the house. So, instead, he stayed in his cage, still homeless. I was advised that any group associated with the ASPCA would refuse me. So, I remain with only the one cat. He's fat and happy and has a fine life. He goes out for awhile, comes back in, maybe sits on the porch for a while, has a bite, naps, and starts the exhausting cycle all over again. He tells me life is good.

Merry - maybe you could make a home for one of Scotch Mist's cats. They are probably used to roaming outside and just need a good home. I have two shelter cats and like you said, they have to be kept indoors. I promise not to argue about the rest. Love ya.

JP, we'll go to our graves disagreeing on this, but you're a good woman and so am I. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about another cat. Jack is like an entirely different guy since he's been the only cat. Bob was only two-thirds Jack's size but apparently dominated him out of seeking affection. Anyway, I miss having a second guy around but am not clear what to do. It's been a year and change since Bob died and I still haven't decided. (Don't want to move too fast, might hurt myself.) Hence, I didn't want to weigh in on the issue. But you know how it goes, just couldn't help myself.

PS My original point was that it's difficult to sit still while listening to sad tales about homeless pets when I'd been turned down on taking one home. My Bob was 14 when he went to the other side. Sounds like going out once in awhile didn't shorted his life.

I know, Merry, losing a pet is like losing a child. If you can't adopt a shelter pet then why not adopt one that isn't in the shelter. The shelters have strict rules and I know the cat you wanted would have had a good home - but like I said, call Scotch Mist to see if maybe you can adopt one of theirs. I would do that if I needed to. And I agree, seeing those homeless pets waiting to be adopted in the shelters is very heartbreaking.

How do you prevent an inside cat from getting fat and lazy?

Is that "no outdoors" rule new? I adopted my cats from the Saratoga animal shelter in Ballston Spa, and I don't remember them asking that. Granted, that was 11 years ago...

No, actually I understand the county shelters don't have a problem with it. Just any group associated with the ASPCA.

I think one of the reasons so many animals are sitting in rescue cages is because the rules are often times ridiculous with the rescue organization. Obviously, there would be a lot less unwanted animals if people would spay and neuter their pets - but for those pets that are already on this earth - these rescue groups need to lighten up. I understand the strictness with policy so that an animal doesn't end up in a lab for testing. But they can't go outside. They can't go to homes with young children, etc, etc. Meanwhile good homes are being overlooked. As an example - look what's going on with "Ellen". She just wanted that little dog to have a nice home and the rescue group took it back because she "violated" the adoption contract. Everyone knows that Ellen DeGenneres is an animal lover and wouldn't put a pet in danger. So why can't her beautician's children have the pet? Oh yea - because the kids are ages 11 and 12. Silly.

I am with Kathy and Merry. I wanted a dog. A nice small dog. Oh no I needed a fenced in yard. I couldn't just let him out on a long (50 ft leash). They were obnoxious. No wonder there are so many kill shelters. People have no common sense.

First of all i just want a few dam people on here to know that the people on here are far from not having their own dam issues everyone in this dam luther forest have the typical saratoga attitude and that being we are better then everyone else and im perfect" We try to save the cats and other animals from being murdered at these wonderful animal shelters. And im aware that there are older people living in here that read this crap that is posted in here with everyone concerned with everyone else issues but that being said i was just trying to find homes for theses animals so they would have to goto the shelter and be killed. and as for the few wise A**es in here in not a wonder that this whole luther forest isnt just a empty waste of space with houses being sold daily. and as for those wise A**es do you retards not know that with the internet people can do searchs of luther forest and see haw bad the people are in here and then they wont be buying the house thats for sale instead they go else where and then there will only be left you wise A**es left here with no one to thank but yourselves

People have opinions....

I'd say that the people who are willing to put the time, money, and emotional trauma into rescuing animals have reasons for the rules they have.

I can say from experience that it's heartbreaking to nurse an animal back to health, then be promised that it won't be let out, and a week later find out that the new owner couldn't bear the meowing and let the cat out. The cat didn't survive the night.

Yes, there are many people who let their cats out, and the cats come home happily every time and yes, there are people who keep their dogs on leashes in their yards, and Fido is happy. That's the way I grew up.

But I got tired of finding my pets hurt or dead, I got tired of people who would drop off their house pet on the side of the road thinking that it would instantly know how to survive in the wild (c'mon, just becauase our ancesters did the hunting gathering thing doesn't mean you would know what to do if dropped off someplace with no food or water, not to mention a current set of innoculations). Coyotes and Fishercats are becoming braver and preying on pets, some people tell you they have room for a dog and then you find the dogs being chained out in all weather with no shade or shelter.

Not every cat knows how to survive being outside, but I know that a cat will live a healthier, longer life inside. And yes, I know that you can put a dog on a leash, but he'll be much happier if he can run in a yard. Yes, you can go find a barn cat and improve it's life by giving it a warm home to come home to, that's great. I really mean that. And if you know someone who has a dog that's used to being staked out without water or shade, please, please offer to take that dog and give it a better life.

There are many people out there tougher than me. Perhaps, you can also start a rescue group, and place animals as you see fit. But, I have to tell you, when I have already put my heart into rescuing a pet that has been treated like trash, I'm going to try to find it the best home I can, and I hope that you will be honest with me and keep your word.

And hey, :-) anybody out there want to help with my vet bill?

I respect what you do, eb. Although, I don't belong to a rescue organization, I make a substantial donation each year to those who do take care of unwanted animals. And every animal I have ever owned was once an unwanted stray. I have one outdoor cat and one indoor cat that own me. I wish they were both indoor cats. But sometimes, you just can't force it. When I tried, my outdoor cat was so desperate he jumped through the screen of a window. So that's when it became a quality vs quantity of life issue. I worry about him being eaten by foxes, fissures and the like and I never leave him out all night long because that's when the predators prey. But I can't keep him inside. He was bitten by another cat once, and it cost me over $400.00 in vet bills (because a cat will usually abscess after another cat bite). And I tried to keep him inside forever after the bite, but he became depressed and literally threw himself at the door (we kept the windows closed this time). Admittedly, there is a huge benefit to keeping your cat inside. They live longer and you don't incur expensive vet bills. But I know first hand that it's not always possible. Especially, when you are getting a stray who has been outside. Yet, I do still consider myself a responsible pet owner and I truly believe that my cat is much happier living life on his terms than sitting in a cage.

Thank you Kathie,
And thank you for the donations, they are so needed.

And I really do understand. And there are different situations. I've placed a few cats with horsebarns. These were semi-ferals who would now have regular vet care, food and a warm place to sleep. They were cats who were used to being outdoors and had been raised that way.

But I wouldn't want a cat that had been raised as a housepet to go to someone who wanted a cat that they could "put outside."

One of my cats and I have reached a unique compromised, he goes out on "mole patrol" on a harness and leash. He is an incredibly friendly cat and a superb hunter. But he no longer has a couple of internal body parts and has to have 4 meds, twice a day. So, he is on a very restricted diet. And believe me, as he recovered we had some very long and vocal conversations about whether or not I was going to let him out.

But more and more in the area there are cats/small dogs going missing. I've seen wolves in housing developments 3 times now. There was an article in the newspaper not so long ago about a pet owner up in Milton in a development who had two pet cats disappear only to find the remains later, and watched a third get dragged from his yard. You can google the article. The guy's name was Al Woodard.

I guess my main point is that the people who work with the shelters have invested themselves in the well being of these animals and whether I agree or disagree with their rules, I respect their efforts.

Again, for those who feel differently, you can set up your own rescue efforts, or watch the ads in the newspaper, but please do take into account how that animal was living previously.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitey:
How do you prevent an inside cat from getting fat and lazy?

Play time (and lots of it). Having multiple cats helps because they play with each other. We have some bigger cats and some smaller ones -- but none of them gripe about not being let outside and this is mainly because they have outdoorsy things to do.

Play time, lots of stimulation and a chance to run around with the crazy owners.