Announcements

Nine days ago I wrote about three cats needing to be rescued from Henry County. That day, sadly one of them, named Jill Ann, had a serious stroke and was humanely euthanized. The remaining cats, a fragile, injured dilute calico and a rambunctious and loving tabby stayed behind. Each day that passes, is one day less they have left to live. This clock ticks down for every cat and dog at places like Henry County-that are too overcrowded due to people NOT Spaying or Neutering their animals.

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. Little Calico, injured in her hips. Did she get hit by a car a long time ago? We don't know. We just know she can't walk very well as she is now. She sits most of the time.

My resources are few and far between, but I knew that by sharing the story of these cats, that hopefully someone would either fall in love with them and adopt them or some rescue group would lend them a hand and bust them off of death row.

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. Loves to give love, this tabby reaches to be petted, not to swat at the hand above him.

No one has stepped forward. Who wants to take on an injured cat that will have medical expenses? Who wants another tabby, even if he IS friendly? The siamese or the maine coons or the tiny kittens get out. These guys are the last to be picked for the team.

In some way, I guess I was on target, I just didn't realize who would fall for these two kitties–my very own foster Mama-Maria and my friend and co-hort in rescue-Connie! Maria has been asking me about the Tabby for these past nine days-if someone has rescued him, if we can take him in, where can he go if we DO take him in? It's been tough to say no.

Meanwhile, Connie wants to help the poor injured dilute Calico, but I just don't have a place for her. Now that Bobbi is adopted and with her new family, there IS an opening at Connie's home for fosters and due to the generosity of Carole, the Director of A.I.D., who is willing to open her shelter to BOTH of these cats...we have some good news!

So, as I have said before...I will say again...

BUSTED OUT! THESE TWO LUCKY KITTIES ARE BUSTED OUT OF HENRY COUNTY, AT THE VET and WILL BE IN FOSTER CARE SOON!

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control.No more ID# for this cat. She now has a name: Maria

We don't know what happened to this little dilute's back end. She can't walk well and sits most of the time. We'll give her the best care we can, but we may, too, put a hand out and ask for a few dollars to help pay for the care she needs. She may need a surgery to either correct her problem or amputate one of her legs. We will do everything we can for her now that she is with us and will be coming to Connecticut in two weeks!

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. No more ID# for this cat, too. His name is Pauly.

This little guy is such a love bug that the Kennel Master at Henry has been aching over the idea of having to euthanize him. Happily, she will not have that worry any longer...and now that we're opening up two more cages, maybe two more kitties will get a few more days added onto their countdown clocks?

As always, my hope would be to never have to write these stories, to never have to be sick over the cats we couldn't get to..and there are so many...but we got two, so let's be of good cheer. There will be no day 10 on death row for these babies-they will have Day 1 of their NEW LIFE STARTING TODAY!

P.S. Anyone driving from Georgia, northwards in two weeks? We are gonna need TRANSPORT!

Located in Washington State, 10 year old Pauline, is in need of a home where she can live out the rest of her life. She has about a month or so left before she'll be put down. Her current foster Mom is doing everything she can to find a home for this cat before she, herself moves to Arizona-to a place where she faces for more difficult than just landlord issues. Karen has been trying to do the right thing for Pauline-but it just isn't going to happen without our help.

Here's why-

"There is more to it than just the landlord thing. I have her now isolated in the guest bedroom. One of my permanant cats hates her, so moving with all three into a small mobile home for the winter is just impossible and not a good life for Pauline. Yes, I have put up signs, and ad in the newspaper. I have checked with area Shelters...they all PTS an older cat with CRF, because they are deemed unadoptable. That's why I'm seeking a 'private adoption'."

Her cat Sophie has already viscously attacked Pauline which is why Pauline is isolated.

Here's more about Pauline from her rescuer, Karen:

You've heard of "Perils of Pauline"? Well, that's how I got my present name.

I was certainly in peril when I was found collapsed in the street on a cold rainy day. I weighed only 3 pounds then---I was so hungry !

Still too thin, but now with a full belly, Pauline waits for that special person to give her a forever home.

I have been to the vet, and unfortunately I have kidney failure (CRF). I'm about ten years old, maybe older. I also have reduced range of motion in my hind quarters--probably arthritis. I also have a heart
murmur.

I am front de-clawed and spayed. I'm not a run-way model, just an ordinary brown tabby Manx cross. I have a short kinky tail. I have two dark stripes on each front leg that look like garters !

Who could resist such a sweet face?

I am FIV and FeLV negative. No fleas or ear mites, either. I was once well cared for. I did not do anything wrong, but my previous family has not come for me.

I need a home where I can spend the rest of my days. Perhaps someone who knows about CRF and the care that I will need.

I like to lay in the sun. I will lay on laps and purr. I make a mean batch of biscuits. I'm a nice kitty.

I don't get into trouble and I'm quiet. I do let you know if I'm hungry. After all, I'm making up for lost time. I weigh five + pounds now. My appetite is good ! I'm not a fussy eater and I really like canned food.

I'm OK with other friendly cats, but I don't know about dogs.

I will be put to sleep if a place is not found for me soon.

If you'd like to learn more about how you can adopt Pauline, please contact: ME! (I will get the info to Karen.) info@coveredincathair.com

Can't adopt? Well, spread the word, then! Pauline needs us to let our friends know-especially if they live in Washington state, about this lovely kitty! Let's find her that wonderful, loving home she deserves!

Update on HOPE, the kitten, seriously injured through her stomach and left leg by a fish hook, is...

DOING BETTER! She's responding to antibiotics and the swelling in her leg has gone down. She's not out of the woods, but this is certainly good news.

We're still shy of our goal of raising $600. to help Hope with her Vet bills, but I'm very happy to see so many of you have already offered donations! THANK YOU!

If you would be so kind to let folks know they can donate to HOPE, here, that would be great! Thank you so much! Hope thanks you, too!

Since Sweetwater Creek Animal Clinic does not have a ChipIn widget, one of our readers, our friend, Izzy, suggested I create one.

I'm raising funds to help Hope with her Vet bill. I was told it will be, at least $600, that does not include if she needs her leg amputated. Any donation you make is going to be collected into MY PayPal account. Once the fundraising period ends, whatever money has been collected will go to the clinic in care of Hope. PayPal takes a CUT of every donation, so whatever money is left after their small fee is taken, is what I will personally send to Sweetwater. If we raise the money BEFORE the deadline, then I will cut a check sooner. The money you donate is NOT going to a Non-Profit, so you can't write this off. I want you to know about this, so you can choose to do whatever you feel comfortable doing.

If you wish, you are WELCOME to call Sweetwather Creek at 678-838-7387 and donate directly to them. I'm providing a ChipIn widget just to make it easier to donate.

If I find out they've gotten enough donations, then I will cut the fundraiser short. IF there is any money leftover I will find out if there's a rescue group taking her and I will give the money to them OR I will donate the money over to Barb at Winging Cat Rescue.

If you would be so kind to let folks know they can donate to HOPE, here, that would be great! Thank you so much!

UPDATE: Hope is NOT DOING WELL. She IS at Sweetwater, but the infection in her leg is not improving. She may lose her leg. Her kidney values are poor. They are trying to raise at LEAST $600 for her care but undoubtedly, she will need more than that...she could also use some prayers and good wishes.

WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTO BELOW

A little kitten named Hope is just 3-4 months old. She's languishing from a serious infection due to a traumatic injury. She is HALF the weight she should be for her age. We need to raise funds for her AS SOON AS WE CAN. I don't have a Chip In Widget for them, but they DO ASK FOR DONATIONS TO BE SENT TO:

Sweetwater Creek Animal Clinic

2785 Lee Rd.

Lithia Springs. GA 30122

678-838-7387

From my contact in Georgia, she tells us some background of what happened:

No: 4615 Name: HOPE Age: 3-4 months old

This poor little kitty arrived at the shelter on 8/12 with a large fish hook threaded through her lower stomach and into her upper leg. She was taken to the vet, and it was removed.

Unfortunately, Hope is not eating or drinking and really needs 'round the clock care to help pull her through the trauma of this experience.

We have no idea how this happened to her but it's heartbreaking to see those weak, pleading-for-help eyes, and know that she really needs someone to hand-feed, and give her the time and attention she needs to help raise her low spirits.

If you can help this little girl by providing a FOSTER HOME or are with a RESCUE GROUP THAT CAN PROVIDE CARE for her while she recovers from her injury, please contact:

Pat Hopper - Douglas County Transporterpnh1918@aol.com

Home: 770-577-7743 Cell: 404-725-0393

Please help me spread the word about getting this kitten the funding she needs to survive! I realize that calling a Vet to offer a donation or taking the time to write a check and mail it is a pain in the butt, but this kitten deserves our time and effort. I sure hope you can all pitch in to help this little one!

As always...THANK YOU for spreading the word!

Rest in peace, sweet angel.

Jill had a seizure today. Was it due to her poor body condition? She was skin and bones, after all. She was abandoned by her owner when she moved away. The woman's roomate gave her up to Henry County-just passing off what she considered a problem...an inconvenience...a cost...to the County.

Since Jill was emaciated, it's very likely no one even bothered to feed her for a long time, or fed her food that wasn't appropriate for a cat. Perhaps Jill had an underlying problem that was amplified by lack of nutrition or perhaps Jill was a senior cat. We will never know the cause. We will never know more than she did not recover after her seizure. Since there is no Vet on staff, nor money to get her to a Vet, she was euthanized.

Could she have been saved? I don't honestly know. I know that even in her last day, Betsy remarked that she LOVED this girl and that this pretty tux was very loving right back to her. Is it some comfort to us to know this? I'm not even sure it is.

Anyone who reads this blog, probably loves cats dearly and we would easily agree that this cat, like so many others, is not trash to be tossed to the curb and left to slowly die. She knew love from Betsy and the other volunteers at the Shelter, but their hands are often tied. There is little they can do. They have no money for flea treatments, and barely any for food or litter, how can they afford Vet care that we take for granted?

I'm so sorry to tell you all this sad news after we just enjoyed a happy ending for KoKo-now Sophie, but we all know that this is the fate more often than not, of most cats who are taken to municipal shelters.

...and until we can find a solution, there will be more sad stories to come.

We got lucky with KoKo (now named, Sophie). She got away, when another cat, who was also dumped, was euthanized last night. I don't know if we'll ever be able to get the numbers down to the point where this isn't an issue. Every time I post about cats in need, I think; “we can't save this one...” then somehow, many times, we do or others step forward to help. I don't know if I have the stomach to keep letting you all know about these cats, but I don't know that I would sleep if I just kept the news to myself. I get so many notices about cats in need. It's just heartbreaking.

Cat One: Jill Ann ID# 8/18-3471

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. Jill Ann ID#8/18-3471

From Betsy: “Jill Ann was left behind by a roommate, the remaining roommate turned her in here as a stray. I guess its a good thing, this lovely girl is all matted and you can feel her bones.

She is beyond sweet and wants to snuggle everyone. Please help us spare this great cats life. She did not deserve the hand she was dealt by irresponsible humans!”

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. Jill Ann ID#8/18-3471

Cat Two: ID# 8/18-3310

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. ID# 8/18-3310 (note from robin: I see a “tail light!”)

From Betsy: “This boy is bar far one of our favorites, he is SO funny and playful. He sits up on his fanny like a Meer Kat? and wants only to get petted. He is not swatting at a toy, he was trying to reach our kennel masters hand because she stopped petting him!

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. ID# 8/18-3310

This boy cannot die here, he has so much personality and such a strong will to live. Too bad more people do not visit in person to see these great babies live.......they are all so special.

How sad that more than half die here.

PLEASE change the world for this kitten.”

Cat Three: Injured Dilute Calico ID# 8/18-3468

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. ID# 8/18-3468

From Betsy: “Gorgeous dilute Calico girl seems to have an older injury to her right hip area, the bone protrudes more than on the left side and the thigh has no muscle mass at all. She can walk but does not use the leg much and sits a lot.

©2010 Henry Co. Care & Control. ID# 8/18-3468

We are not vets and cannot really diagnose what is going on here but she is so stinking sweet and just adorable. We could not put her down without making an attempt to post for help.”

**Please Note; When forwarding, crossposting, or re-posting I ask that you leave this message intact exactly as it was written by me. I do not give permission to post my message, part of my message, or my photographs on Craig's List. Thank you for your help and support, and for respecting my wishes.**

Betsy Merchant~

We are very rescue friendly and are more than happy to work with any rescue group as long as the group has a valid Georgia Department of Agriculture license! Any rescue group, whether in or out of state, that takes pets from Georgia shelters, is required, by Georgia law, to have a rescue license issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Animal Protection Division. Having tax exempt status is not the same as a license. For more information on obtaining a license, please call (404) 656-4914.

Contact:

mystiblu@bellsouth.net

Henry County Animal Care and Control

527 Hampton Street

McDonough, Georgia 30253

(770) 288-7401

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/GA67.html

Our Hours:

Monday-Friday: 9 am-4:30 pm

Saturday: 9 am-1 pm

Sunday: Closed

County Observed Holidays: Closed

The shelter is located at 527 Hampton Street in McDonough. We are located south of Atlanta off I-75. Take exit 218 and head east on 20/81 toward McDonough. Our address is 527 Hwy 20/81 East.

For all other information regarding ordinances, county codes, and other functions of Henry County Animal Care and Control please visit www.hcacc.org

---------------------------------------------

Please ReTweet, re-post on Facebook and tell all your friends about these cats THANK YOU! We can make a difference-TOGETHER!

I just heard from Betsy.

No one stepped forward to offer a rescue placement or adoption for KoKo.

Considering all the people who helped get the word out about this kitty, I'm surprised that nothing has come of it so far. I hope someone is planning on helping her, but I hope they move fast. Time is very short. I'll find out how much time is left. It always depends on how many OTHER cats are taken into the Shelter this week and next.

©2010 Photo Courtesy Henry County Care & Control. KoKo waits, hoping for a miracle.

I don't have many resources for placing an adult kitty and I just have me to do fostering. This really tears me up-not being able to do more for her.

I know I can help raise funds to pay for her vetting and transport, but that's about all I can do, other than write about her, ask for help and hope that somewhere out there somebody says, “It's my turn to step up and help out!”

In this case, I hope that someone is you.

A few minutes after I posted this...

KoKo, has THIS WEEK TO GET OUT OF HENRY COUTY-IF SHE DOES NOT GET SICK, FIRST. IF SHE GETS SICK OR IS THERE FOR TOO LONG SHE WILL BE HUMANELY EUTHANIZED.

There's no news about KoKo so far today. Am hoping for an update some time tonight.

In the meantime, I just wanted to say; “Thank You!” to all the people who took time out of their lives to cross-post my swear-word-laden-rant all over the Net. Some of you had to revise my words a bit here and there so your own readers wouldn't blush too much. To me, it makes little difference what is said-as long as we FIND A PLACEMENT or an ADOPTOR for KoKo.

I also wanted to make a comment about YOUR comments. Many of you, like me, were furious about how this cat was treated and many of you spoke of the great lengths you've gone or would go to provide care for your animal friends. It hurts me to know that many of you are struggling and going without, so that your pets can have what they need. That is so noble and compassionate, but too, please DO remember that you need to take care of YOU, as well. It's a tough balancing act these days-with the costs of pet food and good Vet care on the rise, it's a wonder we have any money left over for our own food and healthcare. I wish things were different.

There was also a comment about how I should "write like an adult" and not use profanity in my blog post. Firstly, I have every right to express my thoughts and feelings however I see fit on My Blog. Also, if you read my Blog once in awhile, you know I don't use profanity as a matter of habit, so if I chose to, then you also know I am PASSIONATE about what I'm writing about. I really care about Koko and all the other cats (and dogs) who get dumped by their owners every day and in this situation, I think profanity was appropriate. I also don't want any bad feelings stirred up around here, so next time I'll still write what my heart moves me to write, but I'll put a little warning notice at the beginning so you don't have to worry about being offended.

Next. Let's change the pace here a bit. There's a brand new Spay/Neuter Clinic opening in GEORGIA with a very clever name: Planned PETHood of Georgia! I'm beyond thrilled. This will help so many families do the right thing for their pets and also allow local rescue groups to save money when they get their fosters fixed. Please visit their web site and say hello. They're also on Facebook, so fan them if you'd care to.

I love their Mission statement:

•Provide a solution to the warehousing and euthanasia of homeless pets by offering affordable, accessible spay/neuter services to individuals and animal welfare organizations.

• Promote awareness of pet overpopulation and the beneficial effects of spay/neuter to underserved communities; specifically low-income, non-English speaking, and those with feral cat populations.

• Present a sustainable, expandable model for low-cost spay/neuter, maintaining and improving this model until there are no communities in Georgia without local access to education and services.

• Produce a significant impact on the number of dogs and cats born, sheltered, and killed in Georgia.

If you live in the area, they're having an Open House on August 21, 2010 from 5-9 pm. Visit their web site for more information.

I'm sick and tired of assholes dumping their “problem” cats upon innocent animal shelters, Vets, mom & pop rescue groups. They're all targets for COWARDS, who refuse to STEP UP and DO the RIGHT THING for their animals. Instead, under the cover of darkness, they sneak up to the door of these places, DUMP their dog or cat, then take off. Some times they leave a note. I bet it's to make them feel better for the shitty thing they're about to do. “Well, I'll leave a note so they'll be sure to know I'm DUMPING the cat, not that the cat got left her by some freak accident.”

This afternoon, I was contacted by our friend, Betsy at Henry County Care & Control in McDonough, GA. She had just finished crying. Betsy has been helping rescue animals from Henry County for decades. She's seen it all and more, yet she's still brokenhearted by people's cruelty to animals.

A cat named KoKo, was brought to Henry County via Animal Control. On Saturday, the cat was DUMPED at the doorstep of a local Vet. They weren't even OPEN so the cat sat there for a day in a crate in the blistering heat! Once the Vet found the cat, they called Animal Control and now the poor thing is on Death Row at HCACC. They are full up! They don't have room to add countless animals to their facility.

KoKo is a brown tabby. Nothing exotic. Not a cute little kitten. Just another cat, whose owners are scum of the Earth. Now this cat has a few days left to live. She can compete for the very few available placements with a rescue or hope that some kind soul will adopt her and give her a DECENT home.

Why did the cat get dumped? Was she aggressive? NO! Was she...I don't know. I can't THINK of any reasons why I'd give up my CATS!!!! I would work with them to find out how to fix whatever behaviors they exhibit that bother me-even if they're doing what is natural to them. Sure, it's tough when the cat pees on the floor, or worse, on your clothes or bed, but when you figure out WHY, then it's better not only for you, but for the cat, too.

So KoKo had little cutesy-pie notes in her carrier. If you read them, your head will burn up and explode...okay, maybe not, but you'll certainly see the bullshit from a mile away and your blood pressure will go up for sure!

This so called “family” adopted KoKo when she was a kitten, since they know her birthday. Oh boy, they drove an entire hour and a half to get her, but apparently, when things didn't work out, they couldn't drive a few minutes to a f-ing VET!

Ahh, the good old “we can't afford the Vet” line-another classic. Did you try to TALK to your VET and work something out? I bet if you got off your lazy, selfish ass you might have found out that the Vet would have taken small payments over time or given you a break, but apparently, that long long, exhausting drive must have been the ONLY thing you did to make an effort for your cat. It's just TOO MUCH to ask that you, the caretaker of this animal, decide that the best thing to do is NOT ask ANY local rescue for help, NOT contact ANYONE, just tip toe up to the door of the Vet, like a common thief and dump your cat! SHAME ON YOU!

I love the way the note is written first hand, as though poor KoKo had written the plea for help, herself. Look at the charming little postscripts! How nice to tell the VICTIM (Vet) who found her that she had some shots. You're so (NOT) nice! Who wouldn't just LOVE the person who wrote this CRAP!!!

What a faux-thoughtful letter. What nice handwriting. It must have taken hours of careful preparation to write this CRAP. You're not fooling anyone-COWARD!

Poor KoKo. Scared and dumped in a cage. She has no idea what she did to deserve this fate.

If KoKo really HAD written the note, I think this is what she would have said:

Dear Vet,

--------------------------------------------------------

But wait! There's more! One note was simply not enough! Betsy believes this one was probably written by the same person, but used the hand they don't normally write with so it looks like a kid wrote it. If a kid really DID write this, then their parents should be tossed in JAIL for abuse!

The bullshit parade continues! Maybe if they spent the time it took to write these notes to CALL their VET and work something out, this would not have happened!

“TO WHOEVER WROTE THIS:" YOU SUCK.

Betsy tells me that KoKo has PERFECT litter box habits. She's probably not sick and if she had a behavior issue with the other cats she lived with, that could have been resolved-IF ANYONE HAD BOTHERED TO GET OF THEIR LAZY ASS AND TRY TO HELP THIS CAT.

SO...

WE NEED TO FIND A RESCUE PLACEMENT OR ADOPTER FOR THIS POOR, 2 year old CAT. INFO ON HOW TO HELP HER IS BELOW. As always, go with your heart. If you can't help her out, then help get the word out to everyone you know. Let's show KoKo that not all people SUCK-just the ones she lived with.

PLEASE REFER TO THIS ID# 8/16-3406 when contacting HCC&C.

Nice tabby “M” I see! Lovely girl!

We are very rescue friendly and are more than happy to work with any rescue group as long as the group has a valid Georgia Department of Agriculture license! Any rescue group, whether in or out of state, that takes pets from Georgia shelters, is required, by Georgia law, to have a rescue license issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture's Animal Protection Division. Having tax exempt status is not the same as a license. For more information on obtaining a license, please call (404) 656-4914.

Contact:

mystiblu@bellsouth.net

Henry County Animal Care and Control

527 Hampton Street

McDonough, Georgia 30253

(770) 288-7401

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/GA67.html

Our Hours:

Monday-Friday: 9 am-4:30 pm

Saturday: 9 am-1 pm

Sunday: Closed

County Observed Holidays: Closed

The shelter is located at 527 Hampton Street in McDonough. We are located south of Atlanta off I-75. Take exit 218 and head east on 20/81 toward McDonough. Our address is 527 Hwy 20/81 East.

For all other information regarding ordinances, county codes, and other functions of Henry County Animal Care and Control please visit www.hcacc.org

UPDATE: A number of good people have offered to provide donations to sponsor KoKo if she's given a good foster home or placement at a never-Kill shelter. If you're with a rescue group and can help her, contact me and I'll send donations your way. info@coveredincathair.com