According to the Robesonian Online, the Robeson Board of Commissioners and animal advocates have come to an agreement that Robeson County will no longer use the heart stick as a method of euthanasia, but switch to the more humane intravenous method of murdering perfectly healthy animals.

Perfectly healthy animals - murdered

Let’s Adopt! USA applauds the first step in the right direction as a interim solution.

However, we would like to see Robeson County working closer with the local Humane Society and the community to create the first NC NO-KILL municipal animal shelter.

This can be achieved by educating the public and holding free spay/neuter clinics at least twice a year.

We strongly recommend that the Robesonian Newspaper will use its resources to be a main supporter of such events, by offering free advertising space for sponsoring businesses and participating Veterinarians.

Veterinarians should also be offered a local tax incentive for every animal they altered under a county wide spay/neuter voucher system.

See Portland, Oregon based POPPA as a wonderful example on how it can work.

Please spread the word and help Robeson to become a truly humane county!

BE The Change!

Misha

!IMPORTANT ACTION CALL!

Please e-mail the officials listed in this note about your concerns of the bad conditions at the Robeson County Shelter.
Please be courteous, yet firm. It is important to bring your point across without threatening any council members or shelter staff. We are all angry and frustrated and we must find solutions that will change this shelter for good and the better.
The meeting is Thursday at 6:30 pm EDT so email must be sent asap..
Please attend this city Council meeting if you are local! This is an important event for the animals of Robeson County animal “shelter”.
Thank You!
Misha Dee
Let’s Adopt! USA

http://us.myletsadopt.com

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=205025950458

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There is a meeting at the Board of Commissions at Robeson on Thursday to discus the requests of animal advocates for improvements at Robeson..

Please email the county manager,county commissioners and local legislator and ask them for the following to be introduced..

The meeting is TOMORROW Thursday at 6:30 pm EDT so email must be sent asap..

ACT & SHARE immediately!

Easy COPY AND PASTE E-Mail…

Addresses:

Ken.Windley@co.robeson.nc.us
Ricky.Harris@co.robeson.nc.us
Rod.Jenkins@co.robeson.nc.us
william.smith@robeson.nc.gov
noahwoods5746891@aol.com
hubertsealey@bellsouth.net
cummingsr.psrc@robeson.k12.nc.us
Garland.Pierce@ncleg.net

Subject:
Robeson County Animal Shelter Meeting

Letter:
Dear County Manager, County Commissioners and Local Legislator,

During your meeting regarding the Robeson County Animal Shelter on Thursday April 22nd at 6:30 pm EDT, I am asking for the following to be introduced…

1. Video/Web cameras throughout the shelter. Allowing viewing of the whole shelter 24/7 (similar to the cameras at Memphis Animal Shelter in TN).

2. Animal cruelty at the hands of the staffs comes to a complete end. Including Handling and Compassion Training.

3. ALL Adopters must have a Valid ID and fill out ALL paper work properly and completely.

4. Work to adopt seized dogs considered to be potential fighting dogs and bait dogs.

5. You must have at least one new Animal Advocate/Rescuer Coordinator on staff FULL TIME to assist with adoption and handle proper paperwork.

6. Implement a NEW Fostering program.

7. Use Community Service Workers and Non Violent Offenders to help, for their hours they must repay the county as Community Service.

8. Vet Care and Initial Assessment of ALL animals entering the shelter. With special care given to ALL injured or sick animals, versus putting them down right then and there.

9. Community Education Program in ALL Area Schools.

10. Shelter involvement in a Low Cost or FULL Supported of Spay and Neuter Program.

Thank You for your direct attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, Your State]

The following is a compilation of advice from Alley Cat Alliance, and my own experience as an active rescuer and “kitten wrangler” for over 16 years.
My specialty is neonatal orphans, who are THE most fragile, require the most care, but getting them through the first 14 days is also incredibly rewarding.

I have fostered over 700 kittens/cats,a few dogs & pups over the years – most of them were tiny orphans, special needs, geriatric or hospice cases.. Not all babies survived, due to either disease, injuries, or were eaten alive by parasites, and it was too late by the time they came to me.
Those were the toughest cases, and losing any of these babies is never easy – I won’t lie.
I’ve said many times I can’t do it anymore – yet when the call comes in about another baby with eyes still closed…. I’m the first to say YES.
So, here are some important tips on what to do when you find kittens.

First things first.
When you find a litter of kittens or an orphan, make sure to check whether there’s a mother around. Assess the situation and see whether the kittens are in distress. If they are exposed to heat, rain or wind then they have likely been abandoned. However, if they seem content, watch the area for a while from the distance to see whether the mother has only left to hunt for food. She should return as soon as she feels it’s safe to approach. Therefore it’s important that you keep a good distance from the “nest”.
If the mother hasn’t shown up after a few hours, it is probably a good idea to take the kitten(s) inside.

Now What?

Don’t panic!

· Determine The Kitten’s Age:

- Under one week: (3-8 oz) Eyes are shut, ears are folded down, and kittens are unable to walk. They can purr and make tiny noises. The umbilical cord may still be visible.

kitten less than one week old

1- 2 weeks old

- Three weeks: (7.5-14.5 oz) Eyes fully open and ears are open and standing up. Kittens will start to respond to noises and movement. The first wobbly steps are taken and baby teeth start to come in.

2 - 3 weeks old

- Four-five weeks: (8-16.75 oz) Running, playing, digging, and pouncing occur often. Kittens will start to wean and will be able to lap up formula, eat soft food, and use the litter box by themselves. Eyes have fully changed from blue to their adult color.

5 -6 week old "trinity of trouble"

- Eight weeks: (2 lbs) Kittens look like little versions of full grown cats.
This is the best age at which to begin the socialization process.

Matangi - with Uma, one of my special needs kittens. She had a hole in her diaphragm with her intestines growing through it. She passed away the day after her surgery.

· Ask for Help:
Depending on the kitten’s age: If you have a neonatal, contact local veterinary clinics and no-kill shelters to ask if they have a nursing mother cat or experienced volunteers available to bottle-feed the kittens. People have had a lot of success having mother cats “adopt” more kittens. This can go either way, as some shelters are more concerned about passing diseases by mixing litters. I personally see the survival of the kittens as most important, and will take orphans at any time.
· Foster:
There’s a good chance you will have to foster the kitten(s) for some time, before you can get them into a no-kill shelter/rescue.
Please do NOT surrender them to a city shelter OR the Humane Society, as they will be euthanized.

Most larger shelters will not accept kittens that are not eating on their own. The municipal shelters (a.k.a. city pound) will, because they HAVE to by law, however THEY WILL KILL THEM!!

orphaned kittens under 3 weeks are routinely killed at our city shelters. Organizations such as the HS or SPCA refuse to take them.

We will talk about the numbers games of so-called no kill shelters at another time.
· Heat and Bedding: Kittens can easily become chilled and can actually die from chilling within a short time frame. Be sure that from the moment you find them, the kittens are kept constantly warm. Continually keep an eye out for signs of chilling (i.e., kittens are listless and feel cool to the touch). If you have nothing else on hand, use your own body heat to warm up a cold kitten, and rub gently to aide circulation. It is important to note that kittens cannot control their own body temperature until they are at least three-weeks-old. Do not bottle feed until kittens have warmed up completely.

At home, provide kittens with a soft nest (like a box or kitty bed) with a heating pad or other warming device. Completely cover it with a blanket or towel, and make sure that kittens can move away from the heat if they want. Change the bedding daily or as needed when accidents occur.

Chilling can occur after a kitten becomes wet.Never submerge kittens in water. If you need to wash them, wash only certain parts or use a moist wash cloth. Be sure to always fully dry them with a hair dryer (on low) and towel.

· Food: Never feed kittens cow’s milk—this causes diarrhea. Feed only kitten formula, such as KMR, which can be purchased at most pet supply stores. Use kitten bottles to feed, as they are designed specifically with a kitten in mind.If you have an option for nipples, the elongated nipples are easier to use. Follow the directions of the bottle manufacturer for bottle preparation. You may have to make your own holes in the nipple with a sterilized pin or razor; be sure you do this correctly so that the kitten replacement milk drips out slowly when the bottle is turned upside down. I found the elongated nipples the easiest to use for the smaller kittens.  If you can’t find those, then use a pin to puncture a hole AND then use a razor or pair of small scissors to cut an X into the top. Do NOT cut off the top – just slice it. If you have a very young kitten, stop by your vet, and ask them for a couple of 3cc/ml or 5cc/ml syringes. They will work as very well for those tiny kittens.

bottle feeder

Sterilize the bottles before using. Wash your hands before and after each feeding.

This Emergency Kitten Formula can be made at home:
It should only be used in emergencies, and should not replace kitten formula completely.
8 oz. can (unsweetened) regular evaporated milk
1 beaten egg yolk
2 TB Karo syrup
Mix all ingredients well and strain. Warm before serving. Keep refrigerated.

·Proper Feeding: Hold or place kittens on their stomachs and arch the bottle so less air gets in (do not feed kittens on their backs). Always warm the kitten replacement milk and test it on your wrist to be sure it is warm but not hot.
Remember, do not feed chilled kittens.

· Feeding Schedule: Feeding should occur every two hours around the clock for kittens one week or younger.
You can reduce feeding to every three to four hours at two weeks and from then on, most kittens can be fed about two to three times daily with a wet food/formula mixture. Follow the guidelines on the formula label for how much to feed. Kittens will usually stop nursing when full.

If you are having trouble getting a kitten to “latch” onto the bottle, try pulling on the nipple when they start to suck, this will encourage her to suck harder and latch on. You can also try moving the nipple back and forth in the kitten’s mouth.

If your kitten is too ill to suck on a bottle, you may have to use other methods such as tube feeding. Consult a veterinarian before attempting this yourself, as you might cause serious harm to the kitten if the tube is not inserted properly.

Weaning occurs around four to five weeks of age. Mix formula with wet food so kittens can begin to lap it up, or put the mixture in a bottle. Then mix with dry food and begin providing water.

· After feeding: As long as kittens are eating formula, you must burp them. Put them on your shoulder or on their stomachs and pat them gently until you feel them burp. Kitten formula is sticky, so be sure to clean kittens after feeding with a warm, damp washcloth.
· Elimination: Kittens under four weeks must be stimulated in order to go to the bathroom after each feeding. Usually a mother cat would lick her kittens, but you can use a warm, moist cotton ball to gently rub the kittens’ anal area to stimulate urination and defecation. Completely solid feces usually will not form while kittens are drinking formula. Start litter training at four weeks. Use a small litter box with non-clumping litter. Show kittens the litter box and put in a used cotton ball, and this should do the trick.
· Weight: Kittens should double their weight each week of their life. It’s a good idea to weigh the kitten and record its progress daily. Alley Cat Allies offers a wonderful PDF for download, which I highly recommend to print out, as it includes additional vital information on caring for your kittens, as well as feeding schedules, weight/health charts to keep track of any changes.
· Health Concerns:
Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) – Though this is common in kittens, you should not ignore it. If heavy yellow discharge develops or the kitten has trouble breathing or eating, see a veterinarian immediately. A mild URI can be cleared up by simply wiping away discharge with a warm, wet cloth and keeping kittens in a warm, damp environment.

Fleas – Fleas on a very small kitten can cause anemia. First, pick fleas off with a flea comb. For a bad infestation, you can bathe the kitten in warm water to get rid of fleas, since using topical flea treatment can make small kittens ill. Remember, never submerge kittens fully in water. If giving a bath be careful of chilling – dry kittens thoroughly with a warm towel or hair dryer on low, then place on a heating pad. No shampoos or topical treatment should be used in kittens six weeks or younger.

Parasites/Diarrhea – Any drastic change in stool consistency can mean trouble. Parasites can often cause diarrhea, strange looking stool, and dehydration. If you notice any unusual signs, your kittens should be seen by a veterinarian.
Intestinal parasites are normal in kittens and therefore they  should be wormed with at the age of 4 weeks and again at 6 weeks. First FVRCP vaccine should be administered at the age of 6 weeks, with 2 more boosters every 3-4 weeks after that. If you’re lucky your kittens will be accepted by a no-kill shelter by this time.
· Rehoming: If you decide to re-home the kitten(s) yourself, please screen the homes carefully, ask for an adoption fee (can be a donation to a rescue of your choice), and supply the adopter with a spay/neuter voucher, to be used within 4 weeks of adopting the kitten. Contact your local no-kill or feral cat organization for low/no cost spay/neuter clinics in your area and have the kittens fixed before you adopt them out.



Resources:

Alley Cat Allies Neo Natal Handbook (PDF)(right click to save link): Must Have for any new foster of neo natals. Lots of wonderful tips, forms, schedules, etc.

Kittens For Dummies byDusty Rainbolt: Great Beginner’s Book. The author spends great detail on examining kitten poop, which may sound excessive, but trust me, this information will come in handy.

The Cornell Book of Cats: The Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten – for the advanced and brave foster

The Pill Book Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat by Kate Roby and Lenny Southam: essential for any rescuer.

Feel free to post any questions or suggestions.

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What? WHAT?? We weren't doing nuffin'

Post your questions to this blog or mail me at misha@myletsadopt.com

BE The Change

Misha

April 20, 2010   //   kittens, no-kill, rescue, Spay/Neuter, volunteers   //   4 Comments   //   Tags: adoption, disease, emergency formular for kittens, feeding, feral, feral cat, feral kittens, foster kittens, kitten baby, kitten care, kitten feeding schedule, neo natal, neonatal, no kill shelter, no-kill, number scam, orphaned kittens, orphans, parasites, pet bottle, runt, uri

In case you missed it…

On the evening of the 8 of April Let’s Adopt! received a most generous offer. Altruism in its purest form.

The offer came from our friend Leonard Coy, a businessman based in Byron Bay (Australia) that is also deeply involved in the running the Soi Dog Foundation, our Thai partner.

I’ll toss out a challenge here…

I will match your contribution (dollar for dollar, euro to euro whatever) up to a total of $100. What does that mean? If you contribute $10, your contribution DOUBLES to $20. Let me know if you make a contribution as a result of this post( leonard@soidog.org and I will donate in kind)

This is a great opportunity for Let’s Adopt! to raise some needed funds towards the rescue of our animals. It is the kind of offer that happens very rarely and when it does it is practically exclusively linked to corporate charities.

It is also a great opportunity for reflection… people from around the world are rallying on behalf of Turkish dogs and Let’s Adopt!, an organization that started in Turkey. Why would a businessman from Australia want to help our Turkish dogs? The answer is clear to most of us, because ANIMALS DON’T HAVE NATIONALITIES. The entire world understand this very simple fact, unfortunately many  so-called-animal lovers in this country believe a Turkish dog must die in Turkish soil. This attitude is born out of paranoia, lack of education and an extremely narrow perception of the world. No intelligent person could think this way. Many Turkish animal lovers do, and it is very sad.

It is bittersweet to see that this international support is somewhat not corresponded by Turkish support. Still, we accept the situation as it is and we rely on our members to make a difference. How we wish Turkish businessmen/businesswomen and normal citizens followed this example and came up with their own initiatives to help our animals.

So, feel free to contribute to our Chipin today, and drop an email to Leonard@soidog.org.   Let’s not make his generous offer be in vain.

The  Simba Fund is located on our blog and here : 

Let’s Adopt Simba Fund

Take up Leonard’s challenge today! Show the world you care!

UPDATE April 10th, 2010
————————————-

Dear Friends,
thanks to each of you for responding to Leonard Coyne’s challenge, and your kind contribution to the Let’s Adopt! Simba Fund.

When sending Leonard your receipt, perhaps add a quick note to Leonard thanking him for his incredible generosity…
I am overcome with joy knowing how many of you answered the call, and came through for our animals.
As you might know, Let’s Adopt! is a global 100% volunteer funded organization and every single cent goes into our rescue and rehabilitation efforts. We are always in great need of help, be it volunteers, fosters, adopters, transport, admin or yes, monetary support, so we can pay for care and transport of animals.

Thank You!

Thank You for BEing The Change!

Misha Dee
Let’s Adopt! USA
misha@myletsadopt.com

See a bit of yourself in this video?

Welcome Home!

Join the Let’s Adopt! USA network on Facebook

add yourself to the regional volunteer/activist network
in the discussion area:  http://bit.ly/LA_volunteer

Invite/Share/RT – we need to grow as an organization to be ready to cover the US.

Invite/Share/RT...it only takes a few clicks

Donate a couple of clicks to this great cause, and share this post on your FB/Twitter pages.

BE The Change

~Misha

Today’s blog is actually inspired and for the greater part written by one of my dear teachers.

Please read it with an open mind, read it again with your mind inspired, and then read it again, with your heart ready to spring into action.

Cruelty is an infectious disease and one must strictly guard oneself against it. Some students seem to have this peculiar infection and they somehow gradually dominate the others. Probably they feel it is very manly, for their elders are often cruel in their words, in their attitudes, in their gestures, in their pride. This cruelty exists in the world. The responsibility of the student and please remember with what significance we are using that word – is to avoid any form of cruelty.

Once many years ago I was invited to talk at a school in California and as I entered the school a boy of ten or so was passing me with a large bird, caught in a trap, whose legs were broken.

I stopped and looked at the boy without saying a word. His face expressed fear and when I finished the talk and came out the boy – a stranger – came up to me with tears in his eyes and said, ”Sir, it will never happen again.” He was afraid that I would tell the headmaster and there would be a scene about it and as I didn’t say a word to either the boy or the headmaster about the cruel incident, his awareness of the terrible thing he had done made him realize the enormity of the act.

It is important to be aware of one’s own activities and if there is affection then cruelty has no place in our life at any time. In western countries you see the birds carefully nurtured and later in the season shot for sport and then eaten. The cruelty of hunting, killing small animals, has become part of our civilization, like war, like torture, and the acts of terrorists and kidnappers.

Dogs tortured to death for consumption in Korea

In our intimate personal relationships there is also a great deal of cruelty, anger, hurting each other. The world has become a dangerous place in which to live and in our schools any form of coercion, threat, anger must be totally and completely avoided for all these harden the heart and mind, and affection cannot co-exist with cruelty.

You understand, as a student, how important it is to realize that any form of cruelty not only hardens your heart but perverts your thinking, distorts your actions. The mind, like the heart, is a delicate instrument, sensitive and very capable, and when cruelty and oppression touch it then there is a hardening of the self. Affection, love, has no centre as the self.

Now having read this and having understood so far what is said, what will you do about it? You have studied what has been said, you are learning the content of these words; what then is your action? Your response is not merely to study and learn but also to act. Most of us know and are aware of all the implications of cruelty and of what it actually does both outwardly and inwardly, and leave it at that without doing anything about it – thinking one thing and doing just the opposite. This not only breeds a great deal of conflict but also hypocrisy.

Most students do not like to be hypocrites; they like to look at facts but they do not always act. So the responsibility of the student is to see the facts about cruelty and without any persuasion or cajoling understand what is implied and do something about it. The doing is perhaps a greater responsibility. People generally live with ideas and beliefs totally unrelated to their daily life and so this naturally becomes hypocrisy.

So don’t be a hypocrite – which doesn’t mean you must be rude, aggressive or overly critical. When there is affection there is inevitably courtesy without hypocrisy.

What is the responsibility of the teacher who has studied, learned, and acts toward the student? Cruelty has many forms. A look, a gesture, a sharp remark, and above all comparison. Our whole educational system is based on comparison. A is better than B and so B must conform to or imitate A. This in essence is cruelty, and ultimately its expression is examinations; so what is the responsibility of the educator who sees the truth of this?

How will he teach any subject without reward and punishment, knowing that there must be some kind of report indicating the capacity of the student? Can the teacher do this? Is it compatible with affection? If the central reality of affection is there, has comparison any place at all? Can the teacher eliminate in himself the pain of comparison?

Our whole civilization is based on hierarchical comparison both outwardly and inwardly which denies the sense of deep affection. Can we eliminate from our minds the better, the more, the stupid, the clever, this whole comparative thinking? If the teacher has understood the pain of comparison what is his responsibility in his teaching and in his action? A person who has really grasped the significance of the pain of comparison is acting from intelligence.

[Jiddu Krishnamurti - Letters to Schools Volume One 15th February, 1980]

Teachers & Students alike….

BE The Change

Make that one phone call to report animal cruelty, help a neighbor out, who struggles with feeding their animals in this economy, make contributions to those organizations that work so hard on bringing change. Become part of the solution by volunteering your time, knowledge and resources.

Let’s Adopt! USA needs YOU – yes YOU …help us in our quest to save animals, but also to spread the word, educate the members of your community about no-kill.

Become a leader in your own community.

Visit our Facebook Group and sign up as a volunteer in the discussion area.

Let’s make some noise for the voiceless out there.

Let’s stop the brutal killings, sanctified by your city leaders, funded by your tax dollars,

Let’s put tougher laws on animal cruelty, hoarders, breeders.

Let’s DO SOMETHING.

The apathy of many people is mind-boggling to me. We have grown numb to the pictures of death row animals, mutilated, abused, sick, dying…

here today ….gone tomorrow….. until the next load arrives.

Help Us, Help THEM!

BE The Change!

Misha