We had a dog returned to the shelter today because she killed a cat. This is apparently the third time she's been returned, and the second for attacking a small animal (she also tore a good chunk out of a little, fluffy, yorkie mix. The owner said the yorkie started it.) We also had a cat returned to the shelter for the first time. He apparently scratched an 8 year old. Typical cat scratch, nothing grody, the kid even came in and showed us.
The dog is back on the adoption floor waiting for a new home. The cat, however, was euthanized. Pretty looking, young golden retrievers get all the second chances in the world, but boring looking black and white cats barely even get one.
This is not me saying the dog didn't deserve another chance. Honestly? It is blantantly clear that after that scuffle with the yorkie, people should have been wary of adopting that dog into a home with cats when she had never been around cats before. If she had been a pit bull, though? dead.
And I am a little put off at how easily cats are killed. I am put off by people who work nearly exclusively with the dogs scoffing at me when I get overzealous about saving a cat because "It's just a cat. There are so many." I know this is all the nature of the beast that is called "pet overpopulation," and I know this is not exclusive to the shelter I work for. I know it's everywhere, and it's just something I'm going to have to deal with...and I do. It's just a little sad sometimes.

When I walked in today, an adoption councilor said "You have one day with the kittens in blablabla kennel" so I went to check them out. They're tailless cats with extra toes, there's two of them. Only one is really tailless. Their owners wanted to breed cats with extra toes and no tails because they thought they could sell them for a lot of money. They were upset when they ended up with two kittens, one solid black kitten with extra toes and no tail, the other is black and white and was born with the extra toes, but a normal tail. They tried selling them, but no one would pay. No one wanted a black cat, and the other wasn't interesting....so they cut off half of his tail. It still didn't work, so they came to the shelter.
I got them to come around a little, but both were clearly traumatized. I hope they came around enough.
After working with them for a bit, I ran into the recently returned cat eater and two of the staff dog trainers. I stopped to pet her and one of them said "She's such a sweet dog, but she's so active. She really does need a special kind of owner, doesn't she?" and I agreed and said "You know, I'd love a dog with this kind of energy. She would be so much fun to work with...but, you know, I have cats."and the other trainer responded with "Oh, she likes cats, I'll tell you what!" which was followed by lots of laughing. I was not amused. Someone adopted a dog from our shelter only to bring it home and watch it maul their cat. That says something huge. That sends out a terrible message about adopting. That poor cat didn't actually have to die. That poor dog didn't actually have to go through another home like that. Chances are, those people won't be adopting a shelter dog again any time soon. I did not make that call and send that dog home with those people...but I am embarrassed that it happened.

Maybe I was over reacting.

I will always love and admire you for your love for animals, I share it. But I cannot ever finish reading your blogs. They make me too sad. There have got to be good times too otherwise I don't think you would be able to keep at it.
Maybe you're one of those angel types that can take all that suffering and keep going. From what I do know of you, wouldn't surprise me one bit...

Read your story. I love the way you tread all those animals. I love animals as well and I perfectly understand the feeling you're expressing here....animals become a friend, a good friend and it hurts like like hell when something bad happens to them. Thet're just like kids I guess I've seen so many cute cat pics you posted but unfortunetly I live in Holland so....
Keep up the good work for the animals they 'll need you badly !!

just love your story.
love my pets, i would do anything for them...

once my dog (that is small one) was attacked by another dog (much much bigger) and i went immediately to save him, so the other dog attacked me, because i was protecting my dog the best that i could. When my brother, sister, mother, and cousin saw me, they run to help me.

I ended up with my back bleeding, and my hand as well. My dog didn't have a scratch.

Some people that saw said to me "are you crazy? you should let them alone.. is just a dog! now you're hurt"

I felt that those people are just stupid. Once you have a dog (or a cat or whatever), they became part of your life, a friend, and a really good one.

And you're cats are just beautiful!

bye!
Nali

Hi again, thanks for the link.
I managed to get tickets to that, WOW! But I am extremely nervous, so far away from home. But I invited my 16 year-old niece (Kayla), so she can kick me in the pants when I need it, ha. Oh yeah, you'd be proud of her, she quit her job at Subway to work at the humane society in Winnipeg, MB. She has her university courses planned out, all involving the helping of animals in some sort.

Stay the course
this ship is set to sail
through all the rough seas
...will come back for more

Peace oot, eh!
S.R.

Hi again!
could you tell me what Pet Aid 2007 is, I am not too up to date on things, thanks a bunch.

Scotty

I saw your account thru a friend of mine's... and looked and posted the previous comment... and your username seemed strangely familiar... and then I looked on my account and saw your comment. Oh, i'm so smart.

I was just reading your why I'm a fan story... what a great story. I really love kind of sad stories... not emo kid stories, but just kind of sad stories. (billy's confessions about being abused I strangely loved - so depressing, but wonderful stories. my family's very selfish, mostly my mom... it's a thing where I love them but I hate them at the same time... and they love me but they are very unkind...)

anyways... I also saw your comment on Billy's page about the ped aid thing... I am going to that (mostly because it's the easiest way for me to see SP - I live in Alaska) but it really does make me feel even better that it's a pet aid thing. I'm not much of a cat person (as a kid I never really knew any cats) but I love my doggies, and my daddy loves them probably as much as he loves me. haha. my mother always says that she wants to come back in her next life as one of my dad's dogs. well I think that's enough blabbering. ta-ta!

-innosense

Yes, you do! More folks should in this world.
I've been burned so many times by leading with heart, that when something does go right or success does find me, I go "whoa, umm...what do I do now?", haha. But it's a feeling that cannot be described, only experienced. I read a quote that said 'the best way to overcome hardluck is hard work'. I like to think that all hard work pays off in some form, even if the results of our efforts are not met, what we expected or hoped for.

I can't believe I forgot 'Hello Kitty Kat', and I call myself a fan, haha.

peace, enjoy the blue skies...

Hi catchowder,
I've seen your many pics from the shelter, hopefully our friends can find some new homes. One day when I buy a house, I would love to get some pets.
My former co-worker's family runs the animal shelter here in Brandon. Keith (co-worker) worked weekends volunteering at the shelter and some of the stories he would tell us ranged from heartwarming to heartbreaking.
I just wanted to say hi and remind you that you have a good heart and we thank-you for that, (and that alot of people could not do what you do, it takes alot of strength)

Do the cats have a favorite song, 'Purrfect' maybe?
All dogs favorite CD is Mellon Collie
and they could have David Tree Sloth (from Van Halen) sing

bye,
ScottyArr