The sad fact is the stray and unwanted pet population is booming, and it can be very difficult to find a shelter or rescue with resources readily available to care for your pet. Most times, there's simply no more room at the inn. We hear time and again "You can't take one tiny kitten?" What most people don't understand is every tiny kitten that comes in needs to be quarantined until it is deemed healthy. That means dedicating a cage to that kitten, sometimes for several days. In addition, we are required to hold all animals for 10 days before they can be made available for adoption. Space at NO KILL shelters is almost always full. We care for the pets that come to us until they find a family. Often this can take weeks or even months. There's always room at the pound, but at what cost? The animal you place there is on death row unless someone adopts it quickly.
If you've found a pet, contact the local pounds and shelters, Police Department and local Veterinary Offices and ask if anyone has reported a loss. Leave contact information! Many times I've received a "found" call only to get the frantic "lost" call just minutes later. (And PLEASE tell them if you've placed the animal in a pound!)
If the animal is obviously a stray, BE CAREFUL! Trying to help is the noble and kind thing to do, but being bitten or clawed can lead to serious health problems! If the animal seems at all dangerous, call your local Animal Control and let the professionals do their job. If the animal seems calm and somewhat friendly, by all means try to gradually win his trust. Offering fresh food and clean water, accompanied by a soothing voice and gentle manner, sometimes over several days, can work wonders. Remember to stand BACK!
Now that you find yourself with a new pet, decide what you need to do quickly. If you can keep him, GREAT! Take your new furkid to the Vet for a thorough checkup, vaccines, deworming and altering. If you can't keep him, open your phone book. Call all the local shelters and rescues and get your name on as many waiting lists as possible. Surf the web. Look in the major search engines for Animal Shelters, Humane Societies, Pet Rescue etc. There are thousands of sites that provide listings for virtually every type of Animal Assistance. Ask your friends to ask their friends if anyone would like a pet! E-mail me a photo and description with contact information and I'll add him to my directory (Long Island residents only, please.) If you've exhausted all options and can't hold the animal, there is the pound. I have had to go to them myself, but I continue to try and find a safe place for the animal. I check in every day and if the animal isn't claimed or adopted, I put in a "Do Not Kill" order and go back and "adopt" him myself. Always by this time, I HAVE found a safe spot for him elsewhere. (Sometimes even I can't get a cage at "my own" place!)
Above all, PLEASE remember to support your local shelter! They depend on your tax deductible donations to help the furkids 365 days a year, and strive to be there when you need them.
 Questions? Comments? Suggestions?  Email Peg Here! |
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