ANIMAL CONNECTION

Archive for the ‘Cats & Kittens’ Category

Florence Thuot, the 81-year-old director of Journeys End Animal Sanctuary. made a silent promise to the 300 handicapped and unwanted animals that found their way to her sanctuary: they would have a home for life.

They’ve been through enough, she says: the dog left in the Ocala National Forest with glaucoma so far advanced his eyes had to be removed; the tabby cat with feline AIDS who plays like a dog; the horse rescued from slaughter. Those who aren’t blind or disabled bear emotional scars from being handed off from home to home or left on the side of a highway.

“When they have experiences like that, they need to be secure for the rest of their lives,” said Thuot.

But with rising costs and donations way down from last year, Thuot often lies awake at night wondering how she can keep her word to her animals. The organization depends solely on donations, which have dropped off about 25 percent year over year, while expenses have risen about 35 percent, according to Karen Galles, a volunteer who handles the books.

Thuot has mortgaged her property twice and frequently transfers part of her Social Security check to the nonprofit’s account. But the monthly contributions regularly fall short of the bills.

To read more about this organization click on this link.

She would love advise on how to raise money or get supplies.  If you can help, please, contact her.  Donations may also be sent to Journey’s End at P.O. Box 220163, Glenwood, FL 32722.  This is her website.

This story touched me because I hope to be alive at this age.  I can’t imagine doing what she is doing!!  This is a hard time for everyone but I know we will all get through it, if we help each other!

Today I got some emails I wanted to share with you.

1. Did you know that November is “Go Vegan” month?

I, honestly, was not exactly sure what vegan meant.  I hear “vegan”, “vegetarian”, raw diet”, etc.  Because of this information,  I learned a lot more about being vegan.  I was aware of Georges Laraque, the NHL player,  who went vegan this summer to bring awareness to animal rights and issues.  I also knew that Portia De Rossi and Ellen Degeneres also became vegan earlier this year.  Until now I never really investigated it.  If you would like to learn more here is one website you can check out.  Vegan month.

2. November is also, National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month.

Today 50 percent of our pets are overweight or obese, which certainly can predispose them to developing diabetes. Both dogs and cats develop the same two types of diabetes seen in humans. The greater majority of dogs develop Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus where the body simply does not produce any insulin.

Most cats, on the other hand, develop Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. In cats the disease is due either to not producing enough insulin or an inability to utilize the insulin that is produced in the body — the same as Type 2 diabetes in humans.

Treating and caring for a diabetic pet takes a huge commitment in both time and dollars.  Initial symptoms of diabetes are excessive thirst and urination, possible sudden weight loss and frequent urinary tract infections. Lack of energy and listlessness also are on the list.

Be sure you take your pet to the vet at least once a year for a full physical.  Make sure it is, and stays, healthy!

3.  Here are some pictures a friend of mine took of some Javelina.. also known as Collared Peccary.   They are so cute I had to share them with you.  He had 14 of these critters come out from under his house a few weeks ago, with a couple of new born babies!!!
If you would like to learn more about these interesting animals just check out this link.

4.  This came from Judy Landers, one of my board members:

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we are working urgently to help stop the intense suffering of turkeys. Their situation is grave. The abuse they endure on factory farms is difficult to even imagine. Farm Sanctuary’s public awareness campaign to expose the hidden horrors of commercial turkey production, combined with our efforts to rescue and provide refuge to the victims of this cruel industry, are having an impact – opening hearts and minds and creating real change. But we need your help to expand our reach even further. Please help END the abuse.

5. ALSO…This Sunday night 60 Minutes will feature an unprecedented exposé on the factory farming of pigs in Australia which has been underpinned by an investigation conducted by Animals Australia.  You can learn more from this link.

6.Denmark is a big shame

The sea is stained in red and it’s not because of the climate effects of nature. It’s because of the cruelty that the human beings (civilised human) kill hundreds of the famous and intelligent Calderon dolphins. This happens every year in Faroe Island in Denmark. In this slaughter the main participants are young teens.
WHY?   To show that they are adults and mature….

In this big celebration, nothing is missing for the fun. Everyone is participating in one way or the other, killing or looking at the cruelty “supporting like a spectator”. Is it necessary to mention that the Calderon dolphin, like all the other species of dolphins, is near extinction and they get close to men to play and interact in a way of PURE friendship . They don’t die instantly; they are cut 1, 2 or 3 times with thick hooks. And at that time the dolphins produce a grim cry extremely compatible with the cry of a new born child. But he suffers and there’s no compassion till this sweet being slowly dies in its own blood.

MAKE THIS ATROCITY STOP NOW!

I took my ferret in for surgery this morning.  I realized, very late last night, I was not sure if she could have food or water?  If so, when do I stop it, or do I?  I got up early and searched the web.  I guess my veterinarian felt I had so much knowledge about ferrets that he didn’t have to remind me about this issue.  He was incorrect.  I found articles telling me that ferrets should eat and drink prior to surgery so they won’t crash.  Ferrets digest food quickly, that is why they eat every 3-4 hours.  I noticed that for other animals the preparations were different.  It seems that for dogs and cats you are not suppose to feed them after 9PM the night before or give them water after midnight.

Other things to consider:

1. Be sure your pet is cleaned because it might be awhile before you will be able to bathe it, clean ears, teeth, trim nails, etc.

2. Don’t let your animal do extensive exercise the day before.  You don’t want them to have sore muscles, they will already be sore from the surgery.

3. Clean the animal’s laundry so they come back to a nice, clean sleeping area.

4. Prepare an area for the animal to recuperate in a safe, quiet area.  They may not be able to climb into their normal area with stitches.

5. Be on time for the veterinarian.  You don’t want undue stress on them or yourself.  Also, don’t have emotional goodbyes.  Animals can pick up on your anxiety, if there is any.  You want them to stay as calm as possible.

I feel it is very important for people to talk with their veterinarians about the preparations that should be made prior to surgery, for their specific animal.  You want to be sure you have a successful surgery and easy recovery.  An example….my veterinarian gives his animals something called a “stress pack”.  It’s a powder and he likes the patient to take this at least 5 days prior to surgery and then after surgery.  He has found that animals using it are a lot stronger for the surgery and recover much faster afterwards.

Once your animal is home be sure to follow post-op instructions.  There may be medications that have to be taken at specific times, the veterinarian might want to see the patient in a certain number of days, etc.  If you have concerns about your animal once you get it home call your veterinarian!!!  They won’t mind and it’s better to be safe than sorry.  You are taking the time, and spending the money, to care for your animal.  Be sure you get the best outcome for them and yourself.

Please let us know your thoughts, comments, etc.

Do some people have connections with animals that are stronger than the ones they have with other humans?

There was an interesting show on ABC’s 20/20 this past Friday.  It got me thinking about this issue.  I know of several people, personally, who feel they have a better connection, and get more love, from their animals than they do with other humans.  Is that because of their personality?  Is it because of the way they were raised?  Are the animals they have are more loyal and loving than people?  What is the answer?

In the world today we seem to be drifting farther and farther apart from the people in our lives, yet we need them more and more.  We have more natural disasters, higher unemployment, higher living expenses, etc.  Are we all becoming so stressed that the connection and unconditional love we get from animals, has become more soothing and needed than other people are?

I know when I am having a hard day, and feel overwhelmed, I put my head next to my sleeping ferret.  I seem to be able to breathe better, and deeper, when I listen to her breathe and heart beating.  It’s like a mini vacation for my inner self.  I can’t explain it other than two spirits connecting somehow.  It has become my stress reliever.  Whenever something happens to her I’m not sure what I will do.  It’s not like I can buy another Bessie (that’s her name).  It’s like being in that “special” relationship.  Physically you can be with someone, but do you really feel deep “love”…the same as when you are really “in love” with someone?    From the outside it looks the same but in your core you know the difference.

Here are a few examples of the women on 20/20.

1. Margot.  She has 3 cats.  These cats are her entire world.  She does admit that she is very lonely and in need of friends.  The relationship with her animals might be to the detriment of finding people to share her life with.

Margot was an adopted child in an overachieving family.  She felt she could never keep up or be good enough.  She works as a receptionist but has longed for more.  She feels she has not achieved what she should have at this time in her life.  The cats love her for who she is and don’t judge her.  These cats are what keep her going, yet she admits, she craves human closeness.  She says people who know her have no idea how lonely she is.  Since the show her three cats died.  One died of feline leukemia.  Another one was killed by a dog that was visiting the apartment — a tragedy which Margot is still reeling from. The third one died of old age.   Now she has two new, energetic cats that she says she’s ecstatic about.

2. Jenny is 36 and a successful, fiercely independent sales agent.  She has her own home and shares it with her family of 16 cats.   She says she had a difficult childhood and it’s been a challenge to have a “normal” relationship so she turned to cats for the comfort and love she needed.  She says she has always wanted to get married and have children.  She still has hope but she is afraid she will end up with more cats and still nobody to share her life with.  She says the best place to meet someone is the dog park.  That won’t work for someone with cats.

3. Diane is 65 and spent most of her career as a high-powered banker. She was forced into an early retirement so she began spending more time on her passion, cats.  Believe it or not Diane has been sharing her home for the pas year with 123 cats.  She wants to save all of the cats that are on the street.  She feeds them, nurses them back to heath and continues to trap more feral cats.  She knows she is getting in over her head but can’t stop.  She knows it’s a risk legally and health wise because she now lives in squalid conditions.  She knows it’s taking a toll on her in many ways.  She wants to stop and go back to the way her life was before saving these cats.  She can’t even see her family that lives out of town because the cats need her.

How do you feel about the connection between humans and animals?  Is there a point when the good feelings from being with animals are a hazard to your life?  Do you think that certain people can live a life with only animals and others can’t?  What about Jane Goodall, she lived with the chimps for all those years.

Statistics show that people who abuse animals are prone to doing the same thing to humans.   If young people are doing this then I would think it only gets worse as they get older if they don’t get help.

I’ve found that animals can actually help a lot of people with all kinds of issues.  There are prisons that now bring in dogs to be trained by the inmates.  The inmates do better, have less depression and are more productive.  The dogs are happy because of the attention.  Many of the dogs are trained for specific tasks and lead productive lives in the “real” world.  Other animals are used in nursing homes and hospice because of the love they comfort they provide to the patient.

Please let us know your thoughts on the issue of animal abuse and how to turn it around.

Another headline:

Good News For Accused Cat Killer Judge Rules Tyler Weinman Can Leave South Florida

MIAMI — The teenager accused of killing cats in his Miami-Dade neighborhood received good news from a judge on Tuesday.  Tyler Weinman, 18, remains on house arrest in his Palmetto Bay home.  Weinman is charged with killing and mutilating cats in Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay.

On Tuesday, the judge ruled that Weinman can travel to Orlando for the Thanksgiving holiday.  He also ruled that Weinman can leave his house to go to the gym.

Many people think this is a travesty of justice.  If you would like to express your displeasure to Judge John W. Thornton about his decision, you may call him at (305) 548-5110 or send mail to:
The Honorable Judge John W. Thornton, Jr.
Criminal Division, Associate Administration Judge, Section CF 15
Miami Dade Circuit Court
Richard E. Gerstein Justice Bldg.
1351 NW 12th Street
Miami, Florida 33125

***Remember the judge’s name come election time.

We have had so many wonderful comments, ideas, etc.  You can view them under “comments”.

As a P.S. to some, please read below.

Here is the article regarding the boy…
A teenager was arrested early Sunday and accused of committing a string of gruesome cat mutilation deaths that had horrified residents of his Miami area community, authorities said.

For the past month, shocked pet owners in the Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay neighborhoods have reported finding more than two dozen cats killed and mutilated. Some of the dead cats were missing fur and appeared to have been cut with a sharp, straight instrument, police said.

Tyler Weinman, 18, was taken into custody early Sunday at a party, police said. Weinman was charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty, 19 counts of improperly disposing of an animal body and four counts of burglary.

Police put the home of one of Weinman’s parents under surveillance several weeks ago after receiving tips from community members, said Miami-Dade Police Department Maj. Julie Miller.

“This terrible time has drawn us together as a community, further emphasizing the importance of knowing our neighbors, communicating with each other, and always staying vigilant to suspicious activities whenever or wherever they may occur in our village,” said Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn.

Weinman was being questioned by police Sunday. It was not clear if he had an attorney. Messages left at phone numbers for his parents were not immediately returned.

In all, the deaths of more than 30 cats were under investigation, but Miller said some of those cats were likely killed by dogs. She said additional arrests might be forthcoming, but she declined to name other suspects.

“I sincerely hope that with his arrest, the residents will feel relieved and their cats will be safe once again,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “It is expected that the vicious crimes that have plagued these communities will not be repeated.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/06/14/2009-06-14_teen_tyler_weinman_arrested_in_.html#ixzz0WqfbmeUZ

Last month the Humane Society Legislative Fund had a contest.  They wanted people to submit ideas for new legislation that involves animals.  They had more than 3,500 entries.  The winner was Cheryl Woodcock.  Her idea was for people to get a tax credit for spaying and neutering their animals.  She felt this would encourage owners to do their part to help with the overpopulation of animals.  The HSLF is working with members of Congress to introduce a new federal bill to promote the spaying and neutering of pets.   If you would like to help here is the link.

What is the impact of spaying or neutering your animal?

Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.

Overpopulation is everywhere

There are so many homeless animals all across the country.  In the U.S. there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. About half of these animals are adopted but the rest have to be euthanized. These are healthy, sweet pets and would have made great companions but there were no homes.

These are not the offspring of homeless “street” animals—these are the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets and even purebreds.

Your own pet could be a shelter animal

Many people believe that their pet’s puppies or kittens would never become homeless shelter animals. But the reality is that every time the dog finds his way under the fence to visit the neighbor’s female dog, or the indoor/outdoor cat comes back home pregnant again, the result is a litter of dogs or cats. Even if they are placed into homes, it is still possible for them to end up in shelters once they become “hard to handle,” or for them to reproduce further and for the next generation of puppies or kittens to wind up homeless.

Not just for dogs and cats

When being conscientious about the pet overpopulation, don’t forget to spay or neuter your rabbit. Rabbits reproduce faster than dogs or cats and often end up in shelters where they must be euthanized. Spaying or neutering rabbits can reduce hormone-driven behavior such as lunging, mounting, spraying and boxing. Spaying females can prevent ovarian, mammary and uterine cancers, which can be prevalent in mature females.

Millions of pet deaths each year are a needless tragedy. By spaying and neutering your pet, you can be an important part of the solution.

What can you do?

Contact your veterinarian or local shelter to see about getting your pet spayed or neutered.  There is also a service called MASU (Mobile Animal Sterilization Unit).  They will come to you.

No matter how you sugar coat it, there is abuse and neglect all around us.  Whether it’s towards an adult, child or animal…abuse is abuse, neglect is neglect.  A couple of days ago a 5 month old girl died in Florida because her parents would not feed her.  She was starved to death.

Awareness of your surroundings, and what you see, is key to stopping abuse and neglect.  There are authorities in your community you can call who will investigate.  It is better to be safe, and maybe save a life, than be sorry.

Here are some facts that I hope will educate people to become more aware of what is going on around them.  You might save a life, human or animal.

1. 98% of Americans consider pets to be companions or members of the family.   For many battered women, pets are sources of comfort providing strong emotional support.

2. Animal abuse and neglect is linked to domestic violence.  Animal cruelty problems are people problems.  When animals are abused, people are at risk. There is a strong link between harming pets, or livestock, and some men’s perpetration of domestic violence. Some men threaten to harm animals, or actually harm them, or kill them as a means of coercion, control and intimidation.  This form of power and control is more likely to occur when women or children have close emotional bonds with their animals.

3. Several studies were conducted on woman in domestic violence shelters.  They show 24% to 80% of the women reported that their male partner had threatened to harm, actually harmed, or killed their animals.  Most of the studies have been conducted in USA and Canada.  In the UK a study reported that nine family pets a week are reported as abused by perpetrators of domestic violence

4. Also, it’s been shown that men who abused their pets were more dangerous and more controlling than men who did not.  These men demonstrated more tactics of power and control including sexual violence, marital rape, emotional violence and stalking compared with men who did not abuse their pets.

Some statistics from different sources:

1. 71% of pet-owning women in shelters reported their abuser injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets.  32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals.

2. 68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. 87% of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75% in the presence of the children.

3. 13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence.

4. Between 25% and 40% of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave.

5. Abusers kill, harm, or threaten children’s pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or to force them to remain silent about abuse.   A lot of these kids turn around and do the same thing to someone else. They do what they are taught and many hope it will keep their own pet safe.

6. It’s been documented that 70% of animal abusers also had records for other crimes.

7. Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a family in trouble.

Trivia:

1. More American households have pets than have children.

2. We spend more money on pet food than on baby food.

3. There are more dogs in the U.S. than people in most countries in Europe – and more cats than dogs.

4. A child growing up in the U.S. is more likely to have a pet than a live-at-home father.

5. Pets live most frequently in homes with children: 64.1% of homes with children under age 6, and 74.8% of homes with children over age 6, have pets.

6. The woman is the primary caregiver in 72.8% of pet-owning households.

7. Battered women have been known to live in their cars with their pets for as long as four months until an opening was available at a pet-friendly safe house. [

If You Need Help

Contact your local humane society, SPCA, animal control agency, or veterinarian to see if they have temporary foster care facilities for pets belonging to battered women.

What You Can Do

1. Have your pets vaccinated against rabies, and license your pets with your town or county: make sure these registrations are in your name to help prove your ownership.

2. Consider and plan for the safety and welfare of your animals. Do not leave pets with your abuser. Be prepared to take your pets with you: many women’s shelters have established “safe haven” foster care programs for the animal victims of domestic violence.

3. Alternatively, arrange temporary shelter for your pets with a veterinarian, family member, trusted friend, or local animal shelter.

If you have suggestions, feedback or information that can help, and you want to share, PLEASE DO!

As the winter season settles in, the chill of the cold air often make us more aware of our joint health problems- the same goes for your pet.  Though commonly bothersome in the winter, joint discomfort can be a year round-pain that affects your pet’s quality of life.

Many of us will take aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol but you should NEVER GIVE THESE TO YOUR PETS.  Over-the-counter pain remedies are hard on animals stomach and intestines and can be fatal to cats and ferrets.  If you think the problem is serious enough for you to consider a pain reliever, it is serious enough to take your pet to your veterinarian.

Joints are areas where bones come together. They are a combination of bone, ligaments, cartilage, and the joint capsule and fluid. If anything damages the cartilage or another structure in the joint then arthritis or deterioration results.

There is no cure for arthritis. Symptoms can be treated, but arthritis is often progressive and gets worse with time.  There are ways to prevent or postpone the onset of your pet’s joint problems, as well as your own.

With weight control and proper diet you can possibly prevent or reduce joint issues.  It is very important that you consider the ingredients in the food you are giving to your animals because the food affects your pets’ joint growth and health.  Keeping your pet slim and trim is important in maintaining your pet’s health. Muscle mass can be controlled by moderate, low –impact exercise like swimming and walking.

Large dog breeds such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and Irish setters are especially susceptible to joint health problems, like hip dysplasia.

Dietary supplements that you take, such as glucosamine and Omega 3 fatty acids, can also help ease your pet’s joint pain.  There is research to show that the dietary supplement glucosamine, which is an important dietary adjunct that supports joint health, increases mobility and decreases pain.  It is not a cure but seems to slow down progression of joint health problems.  Omega 3 fatty acids can also help ease joint pain by reducing inflammation, which happens when joints rub together.  Your veterinarian should be consulted to be sure you are giving the correct dose.

If your pet has more severe joint problems, and more drastic medical attention is needed, there are a variety of treatment options available.

Hip joints that have arthritis can be replaced surgically, like in humans.  There is also pain management with medications such as nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs, joint supplements, and physical rehabilitation.

Always consult your veterinarian regarding food, exercise, supplements and drugs.

Here are a few conditions you might see in your animal…..

Hip & Elbow Dysplasia:

Dysplasia is basically another word for arthritis.  It is a genetically inherited issue that affects mid to large breeds. There can be arthritis symptoms, bone chips and malformed joints.  Most dogs will limp.  Many cats get this as well, especially Maine Coon, Persians, and Chartreux.

Pain in pets that is associated with their elbows tends to be serious.  This is mostly seen in young dogs where there are fragments of bone in the elbow joint.  These are serious conditions that will become worse if they are left untreated.  They can be treated medically with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines for a number of years or immediate attempts can be made to repair the joints surgically. Surgery offers the only hope of slowing or stopping the slow destruction of the joint

These are not conditions that pet owners can diagnose or treat themselves. Specialized x-rays and knowledge are required to detect them.

Arthritis:

Nearly all pets, like nearly all people, develop some degree of arthritis as they age. It is common to see arthritis in dogs over 8, cats over 12 and ferrets over 7. Pets that are unusually large, and those that do not stand vertically on their legs (Bulldogs), are more at risk of developing problems earlier. Signs of arthritis are usually visible on x-rays long before you notice them in you pet. The severity of the damage your veterinarian sees on x-rays may not reflect the amount of pain your pet experiences. Some pets with horrible x-rays do not seem to be in pain and vice versa.

If your pet suffered an injury to a leg joint earlier in life, arthritis may develop in that limb years later. For example, in racing greyhounds, left legs suffer more than right because those legs take a lot of pounding as the dog runs counter-clockwise on the track.

There are things you can do to delay the onset off arthritic pain:

1. Do not allow your pet’s toenails to overgrow.

2. Do not over feed growing pets or allow them to get over weight – their body weight can increase faster than the strength of their bones. This can cause the bones to bow, placing the weight improperly on the joints and cause early arthritis.

3. A moderate amount of daily exercise, like taking walks with your pets will also delay arthritis.

4. Hot tubs, whirlpools and swimming are great for pets that already suffer from arthritis and all the suggestions that apply to people with arthritis, apply to pets as well.

Overgrown or overly short toenails:

These cause limping. Overly long nails are a particular problem in older, less active pets. When these nails break off, they expose the sensitive quick. They quickly become infected and very painful. These nails need to be cut off straight and cauterized in order for them to heal properly. This is a painful procedure. It should be done, professionally, under mild anesthesia.

Very active dogs and dogs housed on concrete will wear their toenails down to the quick. With time, the quick on these nails recede. Once the nails no longer bare weight, they will become pain free.

When your pet’s nails are allowed to overgrow, they twist the joints of the foot that lead to arthritis and pain. Severely overgrown nails need to be clipped off short and cauterized by your veterinarian under a mild anesthetic. Antibiotics are rarely required.

Pets with rear leg pain often carry those legs farther forward than normal. Pets with front leg pain are often reluctant to move. When pets favor a leg over time, the toenails on that limb tend to be longer than on the others.

Limping pets are some of the most frequent visitors to veterinary hospitals. Sometimes an initial physical examination by your veterinarian identifies the cause – but often the cause is not immediately evident.

As you can see, humans and animals have a lot of the same conditions.  If all of us ate better, took supplements and exercised regularly, we would live better, longer, healthier lives.

We look forward to your comments and stories.