To Kill Or Not To Kill...that is not the question anymore.

We live in a shallow, throw away society. An estimated ten million animals are abandoned to the streets or shelters every year. While some reasons animals are surrendered to a shelter are unavoidable, (life has a way of throwing us curve balls) others can be prevented. People give all kinds of reasons why they surrender their animals, from the tragic to the ridiculous. The latest studies indicate that most homeless pets are abandoned by people in their thirties that are moving, or changing their lifestyles. Every animal that ends up in a shelter or on the streets has a story that involved someone's choice. We need to remember that a pet is for life. And every life is precious.

Five million animals are being killed annually in shelters across the country. The national average is half of all dogs and 70% of cats. In my way of thinking, killing homeless pets is unacceptable. The decision to end an animal's life is an extremely serious one and should be treated as such. We need to stop killing animals just because they have lost their homes, and take euthanasia off the table as our solution to pet overpopulation. There is a huge No-Kill movement gaining momentum across the country where all healthy or treatable animals, including feral cats, are saved. Far too many shelters and even some national animal protection organizations still cling to outmoded, failed policies and rigid shelter protocols instead of embracing no-kill approaches. They lose sight of individual animals and as a result the animal loses it's life.

No Kill requires community involvement. Sterilization is the single most effective way to stop pet overpopulation in it's tracks. Studies have shown that cost and access- not irresponsibility-are the primary reasons people do not alter their pets. Veterinarians are on the front lines when it comes to this issue. They have an enormous impact when they participate in low cost spay and neuter clinics/programs. “Philosophical reasons for not doing it” just doesn't cut it when the leading cause of animal deaths in this country is euthanasia. Ask your vet if he/she participates in these programs. Give your business and support to those vets that do participate.

Become part of the NoKill movement. Get your animals spayed/neutered. Encourage your friends to do the same. Volunteer at spay/neuter clinics. Save the life of an animal by becoming a foster parent.

Ending the killing of healthy and treatable pets means building the programs, facilities, and community involvement necessary to lower birthrates, and increase adoptions. The challenges are great, but not insurmountable. The bottom line is...these animals need to go home... alive.

BABY BOOM 

Kitten season-the time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal shelters across the nation with homeless litters. Although kitten “season” is primarily three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in early summer, and ending in the fall, vets are seeing more and more pregnant cats all throughout the year.  In every community in the nation, there is an over-abundance of unsterilized cats, both owned and unowned. These unwanted cats and kittens, when not left on the street to fend for themselves, often turn up in high volume at the local shelters.

Kitten season presents many challenges for shelter staff and the cats in their care.  Resources already hard to come by-like food, money and space-are often stretched to the limit with the onslaught of these
homeless  little creatures. Typically, the adult cats feel the most immediate effects, as they are often overlooked by potential adopters when kittens are in abundance. Even when people come in to specifically adopt an older cat their heads are often turned by the adorable kittens.

As shelters struggle to accommodate as many cats as possible, the risk of illness also increases. As they reach their capacity, the close quarters cause the cats additional stress, and they begin to spread germs, get sick and the whole population suffers.

The animals aren't the only ones who feel the effects of the stress. The burden carries over to shelter staff and vet services as they attempt to cope with the overwhelming number of cats. Rescue groups and foster families scramble to make room. It is critical that the very young kittens are placed in foster rather than a shelter because of a condition known as “failure to thrive”.  A kitten's odds are greatly diminished when their first days are spent in a shelter.  They NEED a home.

You can make a difference...here's how you can get involved:

1. The easiest way to help reduce the number of unwanted cats and kittens is to spay and neuter your own cat and encourage others to do the same. It makes a huge difference.
2. Help your local shelters. Donate supplies, money, or your time. Contact Missoula Animal Control, The Western Montana Humane Association and AniMeals and find out what's needed most.
3. Care for homeless or feral ( they are homeless descendants of an abandoned pet) cats in your area.
Work with the shelters & feral cat groups to help control your neighborhood's feral and stray cat populations.
4. Become a foster parent.
5. Adopt. Open your home to a new cat or adopt a playmate for your existing pets.

Spaying and neutering our pets and feral cats is simply the most effective way to stop the tragedy of the vast numbers of animals who are born, only to die prematurely, never having a
family to love them. 

FASHION TO DIE FOR

Fur is back ....and the fashion industry should hang its head in shame. There isabsolutely no excuse for using fur for human vanity.  The fur should remain on the animal as God intended. There was a time when women would  not have dared venture out onto the streets wearing fur, for fear of someone throwing paint on them.  But this winter, it seems, this is no longer the case.  Fur is back with a vengeance.  It is everywhere. On pockets, on sweaters, on skirts, on belts, on cuffs and lining collars. What ever happened to “I would rather go naked than wear fur”?

50 million animals are killed for their fur world wide every year. China is the leading source of fur imported into the United States.  An estimated 2 million dogs and cats are being skinned, every year in China, which has a history of cruelty to animals. Yes, you read that right...dogs and cats.  In 1998 the Burlington Coat Factory was found to be selling dog fur-trimmed garments to an unwitting American public, labeled as "Mongolia Dog Fur," one of the many names used for domestic dog fur from China.  In response, the U.S. Congress enacted the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000, which prohibits the import of any dog or cat fur product making it a  Federal offense. On
December 11, 2006,  The Humane Society of the United States accused the Burlington Coat Factory of once again selling coats trimmed with real animal fur. BCF is billing the fur, “faux”.  The hooded, down jackets carry the Baby Phat label. The HSUS is conducting DNA testing on the garments in question.   The garment label says  it's raccoon or coyote from China. The HSUS believes it to be dog or cat fur.  Baby Phat refuses to comment.

Fur is fatal. An animal dies for each fashion item, and that death isn't pretty.  If people realized the incredible cruelty associated with the fur trade, the industry would die overnight.  Do some research.  You will be outraged.
If you like the furry look, go faux. When you buy faux, you save an animal's life.  You can buy faux and real fur from the same rack so be sure to read the label.  If in doubt, DON'T buy it. Synthetic fabrics have eliminated the need for fur apparel.  The R value (how heat retention is measured) of faux fur and real fur is actually about the same. Make the world a better place by using compassion when you choose your fashion. Wear clothing that makes you look good on the outside and feel good on the inside. Boycott fur and save a life.

 Black Dog Syndrome 

“My name is Max. I have been here at the shelter for months now. I am not invisible. I am not hidden in the back. I’m right here in plain sight in the kennel next to the cute dogs, and the puppies, and the small dogs, and the light colored dogs.  People walk by me every day…but no one sees me. I am black. Shelter life is taking its toll on me. I am getting depressed because nobody wants me. Please, please, look at me. Take me home and I promise I’ll be a good boy. I will do my best and try to make you proud. I will be there to greet you when you come home and be your faithful companion till the last beat of my heart. If only you will give me a chance…”

Max’s story is a common one and unfortunately his days are numbered. Most people are not aware of how doomed black dogs are when they are brought to the average animal shelter. They are usually the last, if at all, to be adopted…particularly big black dogs like Labradors or Lab mixes. It is a fact known to most pet store owners and the reason why they stock light colored animals.

Take a walk down kennel row and you’ll see the same dog over and over again. They don’t look exactly alike but the similarities are astounding. They are over 50 pounds, Lab mix, Shepard mix, Rotty mix, Chow mix, black dogs often with a little crest of white or brown on their chest. Most of these dogs never make it out of the shelters they are turned into. They are euthanized in horrifying rates across the country. They are just too ordinary.

If you are thinking about adopting a dog, please don’t overlook black dogs. They will never clash with your furniture and they will always go with that little black dress. 

Black is beautiful….

Unchain your Dog 

All people would agree that the intentional physical abuse of a dog is a terrible thing. Yet there is another cruel practice to which dogs are subjected far more frequently than corporal abuse. It is a form of mistreatment which is also devastating and painful to a dog, yet often fails to be regarded as abuse at all. It is neglect. Because dogs, like human beings, are pack animals, they, like us, need to socialize in order to remain psychologically healthy. Since domestication, however, companion dogs no longer have packs of dogs with which to live. As a result, they consider humans to be their families, and we serve as their surrogate “pack”. Keeping a dog isolated in a back yard results in miserable, lonely dogs who exhibit aberrant behavior and often annoying traits, such as persistent barking and whining. For the dog, the absence of affection and attention is tragic. You couldn't invent a worse punishment than to keep a dog permanently chained.

Imagine being chained to a tree year after year. You watch the back door hoping someone will come out to play with you. No one ever does. Sometimes you get tangled in your chain. You shiver in the winter and pant in the hot summer sun. Eventually you stop barking. You have given up hope.

Some dogs live their entire lives chained outside. Many of these dogs sit, lay, eat, and defecate in the same 10 foot radius. Chained by the neck, they exist without respect, love, exercise, social interaction, and sometimes even basic nourishment. They live as prisoners, yet long to be pets.

If you are concerned about a dog who is chained outside without proper shelter, food or water please contact Missoula Animal Control. Even if the owner's are not violating any laws, the animal control
officer may be able to persuade the dog owner to take steps to improve the situation. In some instances, persuading the owner to give up the dog is the best solution for the animal.
A dog is a social being that should live and sleep inside the house like the rest of the family. To banish a dog to the backyard while the rest of his “family”live, enjoy one another, and sleep inside goes against a dog's most basic instincts. And it is no way to treat man's best friend. Your dog is depending on you to make his life a good one or a terrible one. His fate is in you hands. If you can't give your dog a happy life, should you even have him?

For more information visit www.unchainyourdog.org

 UNCONDITIONAL LOVE 

If you've ever helped take care of a group of feral cats in you neighborhood, you know that it can be one of life's truly rewarding experiences.Feral cats (or alley cats) are not the same as strays. Strays, who once had a home, can usually be rescued and put in a good new home. Ferals, on the other hand, are born on the streets and never connect with people at an early age. They tend to be wary of people and usually cannot adjust to being brought into a home.
People often talk about the unconditional love that our pets have for us. But I'm always especially struck by the unconditional love that's shown to feral cats by the people who care for them.

That's because, unlike your pets at home, a feral cat is never going to show its appreciation by jumping into your lap or purring in your ear. The reward of caring for ferals is simply knowing that you've done good for them. The cats themselves will almost always keep their distance-a bit like the birds and squirrels who come to your bird feeder, the ducks who visit your pond, and other urban wildlife who like to come by but are not pets. But if feral cats are not pets, they are not quite wildlife either. They exist somewhere between the two.

They may have grown up in the urban “wild”, but nature has not equipped them for life on the streets of a modern city. So they are very dependent on the kindness of people. With good care, most ferals can live a decent life. Even without care, they can eke out an existence on their own. Indeed, some of them learn to do very well for themselves.
Of course, there's always a danger that they will get sick or be injured and come to a sticky end. For that reason, certain animal rights organizations hold the view that the “kindest” thing to do for feral cats is to gather them up and kill them-thus sparing them the possibility of present or future suffering. This approach may be well intentioned, but it is, in our view, completely misguided.
Life on earth has never been a bed of roses. It may never be. But no living creature wants to give up. We all have a basic instinct to survive and to live the best life we possibly can-feral cats included.

Once any of us starts undermining an animals' own will to live, we have begun to play God, preemptively deciding who shall live and who shall die. It's understandable that well-meaning people under stress can get into the head space of “Since we can't look after them better, perhaps we should kill them.” But the whole premise is upside down. The real questions is: “Since killing them is obviously wrong, what can we do and how can we work together to help them have a better life?” By agreeing that killing is no longer an acceptable way of helping cats, we automatically commit ourselves to finding new and better options. And, as anyone who has cared for feral cats knows, that's what unconditional love is all about.

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