Dear Friends,
last month I asked whether, we as a community could save 100 animals this summer.

What has happened since…

I’ve met Mary Ann, a wonderful lady from NC.She saved several cats from a property, who’s owner threatened repeatedly

Using cats for target practice for procreating? An oxymoronic situation considering who's doing the shootin'

to just use the cats  for target practice.
Mary Ann and her patient husband set up traps, and over the course of a week were able to catch all of them.

trapped kitty - ready to be spayed

All have been altered, vaccinated and an older kitty is being treated for a couple of fighting wounds.
Stay tuned for Mary Ann’s story…..

a new lease on life instead of a never ending cycle of kittens

Then there is Daniela, who literally took us up on our challenge the very next day. She lives in Atlanta, went to a high kill shelter in Rome, GA and saved a beautiful English shepherd mix from death row.

Daniela named him Borgo, after a district in Rome.

Borgo on Death Row at the Rome, GA animal pound

Within days Borgo came down with the kennel cough. Daniela spent hours taking him to the vet, treating him, comforting him.

After several baths, a trip to the groomer, lots of love, vaccinations and finally getting neutered – Borgo is ready to move to his new home, which is already waiting for him in Indiana.
Unfortunately, Daniela is a poor student, with a minimum wage job on the side and has exhausted her resources.

She needs help with transport and/or shipping Borgo to Indiana. Please contact Daniela if you can help. dragomirovad@yahoo.com

What about the challenge?

We are a community of over 2000 members in the US. I think we can do better. Daniela, a student, with a minimum wage job, living in a small apartment has proven that there’s always a way to save a life.

Borgo and his personal angel, Daniela

Every life is worth saving. No matter how old or broken an animal is. We owe it to them to make things right.
If we don’t intervene, who will?
What can WE – as a community, as individuals do this coming month?

Step ONE: sign up as a volunteer with us.
if you can’t volunteer please consider supporting us via the Simba Fund.
100 cents of each dollar go to the care of our animals, and funding of special rescue operations. Let’s Adopt! does not have any overhead, because we are ALL volunteers.
This sets us apart from any other big organization.

• Send me your stories and pictures of the animals you saved.
• Sign up to volunteer for us. We are looking for volunteers in ALL 50 States and also in Canada RIGHT NOW.

Shoot me an email with your information:

• Name
• Location
• Volunteer Interest

Let’s make this summer one to remember…

Let's Adopt! Summer Of Luuuuv 2010

The summer we saved 100 animals - TOGETHER!

BE The Change
~Misha

You’re reading this because you’re probably a member of Let’s Adopt!
I applaud you for joining our networks.

Now I want to ask you to join our tribe, by becoming an active member of our operations, to join our tribe!
We are of course animal lovers, but we are activists first. Which means, that we love all the cute pictures of pups and kitties. However, there are too many cute pups and kitties dying in our so-called shelters and by the hands of abusers and breeders every single day.
We must act – NOW!

I am often disillusioned by what I see, especially on the web.
Horrendous abuse, crush videos, starved animals, scared animals going crazy in their kennels at the pound.
I have seen many of these cases in my work as an activist and rescuer. The 1-day-old kittens I raised with an eyedropper or feeding tube, just to see them succumb to a simple upper respiratory infection. The kittens that were exposed to FIP, and ultimately died because their intestines and organs literally liquefied inside of them.

However there were hundreds that were a joy to foster and raised to be strong enough to be adopted. There are many, many success stories, which by far outweigh the bad experiences.
Now I want YOU to experience the feeling of saving a life and what an impact you alone can make in your community.
I want YOU to reach out to your local pound and rescue a dog or a cat.

Rescue an animal from death row - TODAY!

Become its caretaker and angel.
We will then rally as a network to adopt the animal into a new home.

adopting an animal will complete any family

Our adoption criteria are strict, yet very simple.

• the adopter has at least one other animal

• the animal will live indoors only! Not in the yard, not on a tie-out, not in a garage, or a barn. It will live indoors as part of the adopters family.

• the animal will be fed a raw diet only. Your animal will be healthier, you will be happier, and you’ll save money in the long run, on cost of food and vet bills. More info can be found at http://rawlearning.com

• We do not apply an adoption fee. One can’t buy any Let’s Adopt! dog or cat.

• We believe that adopting an animal is a privilege, not mercy.

• The adopter will create a Facebook album with photos of the animal with its new family and updates.

These are our adoption rules in a nutshell.
Do you think you can handle it?
Have you been thinking of how in the world can you make a difference at these overcrowded pounds? Well, here is your chance to put your action where your heart is.

• Pull an animal.

• Then take it home, let it settle in,

let the dog or cat settle down for a few days

• take pictures and post it on the Let’s Adopt! USA page,

• Include all details you have about the animal:
• Age, temper, likes, dislikes, history (stray, dumped by owner, etc)

• We’ll campaign to get the animals adopted.

Do you realize that you will be saving TWO lives at once.
Not only will you be taking the one dog off death row, but another one will have a better chance, because there’s new cage space. And hopefully, you’ll inspire friends and family to do the same all over the country.
Perhaps concentrate on high kill facilities such as many municipal facilities in the South, from Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas – some pounds have a 90 (that’s NINETY) % kill rate.
Here’s where you can make a big difference.
There are many small groups that are willing to help you pull an animal and organize transport.
I will be listing some of these groups and links soon.
For now – please search your heart and decide whether you can open your home to a rescue this summer. I know you can and want to.

Let us help you figure out how and make it a reality. For the animals and for you.

We can potentially save hundreds of animals this summer. Are you with us?

Got Foster Dog?

Let’s start saving lives – one dog, one cat at the time.

BE The Change
Misha Dee

Read more »

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

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.

Join our Facebook network and share pictures.

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   //   Spay/Neuter, kittens, no-kill, rescue, 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

I stopped by a pet supply store the other day to fit “Ouzo” for a harness.

As we were browsing the store, tackling all the junk food barrels, which are strategically placed on snout level….all over sudden, in an otherwise fairly quiet store, a  big ruckus errupted…

..“ohhhhh” and “aaaah” *pupppppy!!!!…

Not just a puppy – it was a purebred chocolate Labrador Retriever pup, fresh from the breeder.

I just stood there for a moment, in disbelief – numb – thinking of all the cute puppies that were being murdered today in death camps around the country.
And here was this guy standing in front of me…beaming like a young father holding his first born.

We made eye contact – he smiled – waiting for me to chime into the “ohhhh & aaaahhhh” choir.

Instead I asked him: “Did you get him from a breeder?”

He blushed, looked at me like a young boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar…. “yeeeaah”

I just rolled my eyes, turned around and walked away with my GORGEOUS, PERFECT THREE-LEGGED UNIQUE Chilean Lava Hound.…..

It would have been pointless trying to educate him about the importance of spaying and neutering, why we should adopt and not buy from breeders..

he KNEW…and did it anyway.

That evening, I went online to check out Petfinder, and there are over 1000 chocolate labs waiting for a home RIGHT NOW…..

Granted, not all of them are purebred labs, but the point is that there are rescues for every single breed out there, and that each and everyone of us has a responsibility to stop this insanity of breeding pets for profit. It begins with the hamster for your kids, the cute little baby bunnies you give your children on Easter and to the shelter by Whitsun.

BE The Change…

~Misha & Ouzo

Happy Spay Day From Let's Adopt! USA

Today is Spay Day…

and I would like to remind you about the importance of fixing your pets.

Here are some quick facts to remember:

One unfixed tom cat can produce THOUSANDS of kittens.

One unfixed cat can (and will) have two litters per year.

Kittens reach sexual maturity as early as at the age of 5 months.

Once a cat has given birth, she can go back into heat within 48 HOURS! As a foster volunteer veteran I have watched this happen (in disbelief) many, many times.

Contact your local animal services or do a quick online search for low cost spay/neuter in your metro area, and do the responsible thing.

Fix your animals. Do YOUR part to end the suffering of thousands of animals born each year, just to rot in pounds, being abused or starve to death before they can even open their eyes.

Thanks, and remember….

Spread The Word!

…Be The Change

~Misha

This two-level feral cat house was built by a volunteer at Ohio Alleycat Resource. We purchased it to support OAR and to give our feral cats a warm, safe place to enjoy their cat naps.

I heard over the weekend that there was snow on the ground in 49 out of 50 states, and this made me think about the feral cats who are outside trying to stay warm and find food.

I’m sure you don’t need the reminder, but you might find this list of 20 reasons to keep your cats indoors useful in educating others about why it’s irresponsible to allow their cats to roam outdoors.

Feral cats are the offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of pet owners’ abandonment or failure to spay and neuter their animals. Feral cat colonies can be found behind shopping areas or businesses, in alleys, parks, abandoned buildings, and rural areas.

We found a feral cat colony living under our house a few months ago, and that’s how we met Charlotte, Frida, and a few other cats who are still feral. Charlotte was still a kitten when we caught her, so we moved her inside immediately after spaying her. Frida was quite fierce with us before we trapped and spayed her, but after we did that, she changed her personality completely and decided she wanted to be an indoor lap cat. So that she is! We believe Frida and Charlotte are mother and daughter, so we are pleased that they can remain together.

Charlotte stayed in our bathroom for a couple of weeks after she was spayed so that we could socialize her and allow her to adjust to her new home.

So what’s the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat?

A stray cat:

• may be vocal
• may approach you and may approach food as soon as you put it down
• may look unkempt or poorly groomed
• may be seen at all hours of the day

A feral cat:

• will be silent
• will not approach you and will wait for you to move away before approaching food
• will appear groomed
• is generally nocturnal

Caring for a feral cat colony begins with spaying and neutering all the members of the colony. It works!

One pair of breeding cats, which can have two or more litters per year, can produce 420,000 offspring over a seven-year period.

Always seek the advice of your local cat rescue. They often will lend you humane box traps and offer low-cost or free spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats, and many of them also maintain feral cat food banks to help you offset the costs of caring for feral cats.

Here are some instructions for trapping feral cats.

These companies sell humane box traps:

Tomahawk Live Trap Co.
PO Box 323
Tomahawk, Wisconsin 54487
800.272.8727
http://www.livetrap.com/

ACES (Animal Care Equipment & Services, Inc.)
P.O. Box 3275
Crestline, California 92325
800.338.ACES
http://www.animal-care.com/

Heart of the Earth Marketing
205 High Street
Fruitdale, South Dakota 57742
P: 800.526.1644
F: 605.892.0154
http://www.animal-traps.com/

Lucy came from the streets of Turkey to join Frida and Charlotte.

Once your colony is spayed and neutered, there is still much more you can do!

Ally Cat Allies, the nation’s feral cat advocacy organization, provides some great tips on how to care for feral cat colonies.

You can also provide a feral cat shelter.

If you have a feral cat organization near you, they might have feral cat houses for sale. But you can also make them yourself with a few inexpensive supplies. You can even search Craig’s List, FreeCycle, and your local junkyards for free materials to use.

This multi-part video gives instructions for how to make very inexpensive cat shelters.

Here’s a print-out which explains how to make a feral cat shelter, and here’s another set of plans for an inexpensive feral cat shelter.

Alley Cat Allies offers instructions on how to construct an array of wonderful shelters for feral cats. You can use styrofoam boxes, plastic tubs, an old garden shed, or even old truck camper covers.

Fresh, dry straw (not hay) is the best lining material for your feral cat shelter. Don’t put blankets or towels inside because they can freeze and will not keep the cats nearly as warm.

Feral cats also need food and water.

Providing a feeding station for them is a very kind thing to do, and Alley Cat Allies provides a great set of instructions for how to build one.

I’m not an engineer and am pretty hopeless when it comes to construction. Some of you might be the same way. But that’s no reason to be deterred from helping cats. Gather some friends together, and help each other build feral cat houses and feeding stations. Or contact your local feral cat organization to see if they can help you or put you in touch with others interested in doing the same thing.

Bella is a stray cat we met while trapping the feral colony we found. She lived with us until she found her forever home with two other cats and a wonderful couple who are both nurses at our local children's hospital.

It can be tricky to provide fresh water for cats during the winter, but here are some tips to help prevent the water from freezing:

• Use deep, narrow bowls.
• Keep the bowls in a sunny place.
• Refill the bowls with hot water.
• Add a small pinch of sugar to each bowl when you refill it.
• Purchase heated electric bowls.

If you keep your colony on a regular feeding schedule, they will be ready to eat and drink when you bring out their food and water which means that the water will be consumed before it has time to freeze.

National Feral Cat Day is October 16, but we must care for our feral cats every single day of the year.

Thank you for doing your part.

Esmeralda, a Let's Adopt! dog from Turkey, found her forever family and some wonderful new canine siblings overseas.

We’ve been talking a lot this week about animals in Bali, Turkey, and other places. Today I’ve got some ideas that might hit a bit closer to home.

Here are three ideas for ways to show your love for animals this Valentine’s Day weekend…

1. Make a rescue kit for your car so that you’re prepared next time you find an animal in need. I keep a big bag of items in my trunk, and virtually everything in there came from discount stores like Big Lots. I always watch for sales and have been known to buy every collar in stock! Even if I don’t need it in my trunk, there’s always a local rescue that does. You don’t need to spend much money at all; in fact, you probably already have most of the items you need.

This list should get you started:

• cell phone
• phone numbers for local animal control, local ASPCA and Humane Society, local rescue group(s), and local wildlife rescue group(s)
• phone number and directions to your nearest 24-hour emergency vet
• cat carrier or cardboard box (Cat cardboard boxes are quite inexpensive and can be found at rescues, pet shops, and vet clinics.)
• collars (a small one for cats and one for dogs that adjusts to a wide range of sizes)
• leashes (heavy enough to hold a large dog)
• heavy blanket and towels
• large bottle of clean water
• bowls for food and water (I use inexpensive plastic ones.)
• several cans of tuna, sardines, or anything that smells good to an animal
• animal first aid kit (the basics: gauze rolls, adhesive/first aid tape, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic cream, tweezers, and scissors)
• roll of paper towels and a bottle of cleaning spray (for any clean-up jobs)
• flashlight
• pair of heavy duty working gloves (to protect your hands and forearms from scratches or bites while trying to pick up an injured animal)

For more detailed information about pet first aid and emergencies, refer to my earlier blog post on this topic.

This Let's Adopt! kitten is one of three brothers who were lucky enough to find a home together!

2. Don’t forget that the 16th annual Spay Day is around the corner. It falls on February 23rd this year, and it’s all about spaying and neutering pets as well as feral cats.

You can put in your zip code to find out about Spay Day events in your local area. Why not help raise awareness in your community this weekend by publicizing some of these events by word of mouth, by using local blogs, or even by putting up posters? Many people might not know about low-cost spay/neuter options, but if we spread the word far and wide, more people might go ahead and spay or neuter their pets.

And if you’re up for a bit of fun…

There’s still time to enter the Spay Day online photo contest which helps raise funds for the Humane Society and helps make events like Spay Day possible.

There are some pretty fabulous prizes up for grabs!

Here are some resources to help with low-cost spay/neuter any day of the year:

• Love That Cat List of Spay/Neuter Resources
• SPAY/USA (not the same as Spay Day)
• Spay Alabama: 1-866-9-SPAY-AL or www.spayalabama.org
• Spay California: 1-866-PET-SPAY or www.spaycalifornia.org
• Spay Colorado: 1-877-654-SPAY or www.spaycolorado.org
• Spay Florida: 1-888-SPAY-FL or www.spayflorida.org
• Indiana Spay/Neuter Alliance: 1-866-957-SPAY or www.spayneuterindiana.org
• Spay Maine: 1-800-367-1317 or www.spaymaine.org
• Spay Massachusetts: 1-888-495-SPAY
• Spay Michigan: 1-888-5-SPAY-HELP orwww.allaboutanimalsrescue.org
• Mississippi Spay & Neuter: 1-866-901-SPAY or www.msspan.org
• Spay Ohio: 1-877-644-6446 (4 to 8 pm) or www.spayohio.org
• SPAY/TEXAS: 1-877-TEX-SPAY or www.spaytexas.org
• Vermont Companion Animal Neutering: 802-223-0034 or www.vt-can.org
• Spay Washington: 1-877-4-SPAY-WA or www.spaywa.org
• Spay Wisconsin: 1-877-510-PETS or animalfriendlywi.org/spaywi
• Kentucky: http://www.kycentral.org/spayneuter.htm

another Turkish puppy who found a forever home overseas thanks to Let's Adopt!

3. Get registered with a rescue transport coordinator so that you can help by driving animals from shelters to rescues. This can take as little as an hour or an hour and a half of your time as you form part of a chain to move dogs and cats from Alabama to Maine or from South Carolina to North Dakota. There’s even one transport this weekend going from Bowling Green, Kentucky, all the way up to Prescott in Ontario, Canada, and they still desperately need drivers on a few of the legs. If you’re anywhere in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, or Ontario, Canada, and could help drive a leg on Saturday or Sunday, please check the run sheet and contact the coordinator, Lucy, at lmoye0617@sbcglobal.net .

This is a huge two-day effort to move about 20 dogs out of an extremely high-kill shelter in western Kentucky, and they need all the help they can get!

Here’s one great list of transport coordinators, but check with your local shelters and rescues to find out which transport coordinators assist them. Then get yourself registered and watch for weekend runs through your area. In many cases, your mileage will even be tax-deductible!

In the same spirit, get registered with your local shelter or rescue as a foster home. Unfortunately, there is always an influx of pregnant animals and babies every Spring. Getting registered now will save precious time when your help is needed.

Harley is another Let's Adopt! beauty from Turkey who found her forever home (and a new pair of glasses!) overseas.

And one last thing…

The USA Network will be running the 2010 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday. The show is sponsored by Pedigree.

I don’t even need to tell you how many animals there are in our pounds across America.

So why on earth do people keep breeding animals?

Well…

Dog shows such as this one are not helping in any way. In fact, Westminster decides each year to recognize “new” breeds which only encourages a ton of breeding in the lead-up to this recognition and in the fall-out afterwards as people decide they, too, want to own one of these “rare new breeds.”

Take a moment to tell the Westminster Kennel Club, the USA Network, and Pedigree what you think about dog shows. Let them know that you don’t value a purebred dog any more than a mixed breed one. Tell them that you would rather see sponsorship of and programming about the truly important issues in animal welfare. Why not suggest they sponsor or run programming about low-cost spay/neuter programs? Tell them about Spay Day 2010, and let them know that the breeding encouraged by groups like Westminster is part of the problem.

Ask them if they saw the study about how unaware most people are of the pet overpopulation in America, and ask them if they are doing their part to raise awareness and prevent 4 million animals from being killed in our shelters each year.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Help save one.

While you’re here, don’t forget to join the Facebook group of Let’s Adopt! (USA).

Sterilizing pets is not a priority for new owners.

Check out this article.

The survey cited in this article is the first large-scale effort to quantify the actions and perceptions of pet owners and non-owners relating to spay/neuter, pet overpopulation, and adoption of pets from shelters and rescue organizations.

Educating people about animal welfare must be one of our top priorities. Legislation is also key, but the national survey in this article reveals 3 important facts:

1. “Despite campaigns encouraging sterilization to reduce pet overpopulation, and despite expanding options for low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, nearly half of people who have acquired unsterilized pets in the last year haven’t fixed them.”

2. “Many pet owners are unaware of the scope of overpopulation: 62 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds and 47 percent of 55-plus respondents estimated shelters euthanize fewer than 1 million animals annually; 28 percent put the euthanasia number at 100,000 or less.” In fact, the Humane Society of the United States estimates that 4 million animals are killed in our shelters each year. And that number could be on the low end because there is no national system for tracking the amount of animals that are killed in our shelters.

3. “Southerners and the under-35 set are the least likely to sterilize their pets. … 42 percent of people who recently got a pet did no prior research, formal or informal.”

And we all know what happens when people don’t spay and neuter their pets…

Grace, a Sheltie mix, and her seven puppies made it out of a high-kill shelter in Memphis, Tennessee, at the last minute two days ago thanks to two very dedicated rescuers, Holly and Jill. One of Grace’s puppies was just too weak and died last night while in foster care.

Grace and her puppies will be up for adoption soon. Applications can be made by emailing Jill at dogscats6@yahoo.com .

And you can contribute to the enormous costs of caring for this momma and her babies by contacting their vet:

Dyer County Animal Hospital
410 Hwy 51 ByPass W
Dyersburg, TN 38024

731-285-2043

vet clinic contacts: Jessica Harrison & Amy Campbell

one of Bali's magnificent beaches

Who wouldn’t like to be whisked away to Bali just in time for Valentine’s Day and right in the middle of our winter?

It is indeed a beautiful island, but its dogs and cats are suffering greatly.

A kind tourist offers water to a thirsty Bali dog on one of the island's beaches.

The Indonesian island of Bali is just over 2,000 square miles in size. The island has a population of about 4 million people and approximately 600,000 dogs, down from an estimated one million ten years ago thanks to a population management program.

Today we have an interview with Paula Hodgson, co-founder of the Bali Street Dog Fund (BSDF), which raises funds for the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA). Paula has some great information to share with us and some insight on TNR amongst the street dog population on Bali. She also has all the details on how you could take a volunteer vacation to help Bali’s street dogs.

BAWA is a not-for-profit charity registered in Indonesia. The organization’s aim is to relieve the suffering, control the population, and improve the health of Bali‘s street dogs through medical care, spay/neutering, street-feeding, puppy adoption, and education of school children.

BAWA currently has an experienced team of 7 Indonesian vets, who have been supported in the past by vets from Veterinarians Beyond Borders and by vets and vet nurses from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. BAWA’s vets are supported every day by a local dedicated team of nurses and helpers.

The BAWA street teams work outside in the central gathering place called the "banjar" in each village they visit.

BAWA’s street teams led by Indonesian veterinarians travel daily into villages and set up mobile operating stations to conduct up to 40 sterilizations per day. Some of the dogs they sterilize are brought in by their owners, but most are street dogs who are caught in nets and immobilized immediately before a vet sedates them for surgery. The mobile team remains in a village until 60-70% of its dogs have been sterilized. While the dogs are still sedated after their surgery, the vets place a small mark on one of their ears to enable easy identification.

BAWA’s clinic just outside Ubud offers free sterilization of pets belonging to any Indonesian family who can not afford to pay.

The organization operates under a no-kill philosophy and only euthanizes animals (by injection) when the organization’s veterinarians believe that the animal is suffering entirely too much and has no chance of making a recovery.

BAWA and its American founder Janice Girardi were featured in the September/October 2009 issue of The Bark magazine. Stay tuned for a future interview with Janice!

What’s a Bali dog anyway?

Bali dogs are unique. A 2004 genetics study by the University of California, Davis revealed that they were probably established in Bali 12,000 years ago when it became isolated from Java. They are the most genetically diverse dogs in the world. Their closest relatives are the Chow Chow, Australian Dingo, and the Akita. Until recently there has been no influence by European breeds.

BAWA is funded 100% through donations.

Paula is going to tell us how they accomplish this feat.

Paula holding a sick and injured Bali puppy.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your furry family.

I am an ex-pat New Zealander who has lived in Australia for 20 years, and I work as a medical secretary.  I have always been an avid animal lover and was heavily involved with anti-vivisection groups whilst in New Zealand. I had six cats and one dog growing up. I knew from the time I was very small that I was destined to be involved in animal welfare.

My furry family consisted of 4 gorgeous cats. Pumpkin, my eldest, was two weeks old when I found her in a drain. I hand raised her on a bottle until she was six weeks old.  She was born to feral parents, and even though she was domesticated she never lost that feral streak which I found to be an endearing part of her personality. Six weeks after I got Pumpkin, I took in a white cat with blue eyes who was profoundly deaf. Chantelle and Pumpkin became inseparable, but sadly Chantelle died at 12 months of age due to a bee sting. Nine months after losing her, I found myself saying “yes” to two beautiful 6-week-old kittens who had been dumped in a rubbish bin.  My family of one suddenly became a fantastic trio of tortoiseshells: Pumpkin, Apples, and Dusty. Dusty passed away aged 13 in 2006, and Pumpkin passed away aged 16 in 2008. Apples is now 16 and a diabetic. I cherish each day she is with me.

the divine Miss Apples enjoying some time outside

2. Why Bali? How often do you go to Bali?

Why Bali is a question I am often asked, and I say, “Why not?” I became involved in this cause when my closest friend Natasha came back from Bali and asked me to help the dogs in Bali. She became distressed each time she went there, and on a visit in 1999, she found a vet who was trying to help the street dogs. She came home determined to try and do something, and in September 1999, Natasha and I founded the Bali Street Dog Fund (Australia).

I try and go to Bali at least once a year, but due to unforeseen circumstances with my health and my cat Apples’ health, I have not been to Bali for 2.5 years. Even so, I am in daily contact with BAWA (Bali Animal Welfare Association) via email.

3. Tell us some of the things you do in Australia to help raise awareness and money for BAWA? What works?

Raising awareness for a charity can be difficult at times, but you must take every opportunity that arises to let people know about your work. A good website is the first step followed by brochures and business cards, word of mouth, and merchandise. Creating a database of supporters is essential, and putting out a newsletter once or twice a year is a good way to raise more awareness and to bring in donations.

BSDF holds a “Bali Nights” fundraising auction every year to raise money for the BAWA spay/neuter van and the animal welfare education program in the schools. Having great merchandise works wonders. I hand make greeting cards (everyday and Christmas) depicting gorgeous puppies and adult dogs from Bali, and those cards are one of our best sellers. Everyone who receives one of those cards gets our contact information and website on the back of the card, so that helps to bring in additional donations. A full range of merchandise is displayed on our website so that people can purchase it all year round and not just at our fundraiser.

4. Are there any Bali dogs in Australia? Do any of the dogs ever get adopted by families outside Bali?

There is one Bali dog living in Australia. Her name is Nessa, and you can see her story on our website.

It is extremely expensive to bring a Bali dog back to Australia due to the amount of quarantine required. Dogs from Bali have to go to Singapore for nine months before they are allowed into Australia. When Nessa came to Australia 5 years ago, the cost was $10,000. I imagine it would be much more now.

Sometimes dogs go to the USA, Holland, or Belgium after being adopted by families there, but currently NO dogs are allowed out of Bali due to the presence of rabies. Janice and everyone at BAWA are working to eradicate rabies from the island and to vaccinate and protect the island’s dogs during this time.

5. Are there any particular BAWA accomplishments that you would like to share with us?

BAWA has achieved a lot in the three years they have been operating. In 2008, they put Bali‘s only 24-hour animal ambulance on the road which was desperately needed, and it is kept busy every day. Ideally, another ambulance to cover other parts of the island is required. Unfortunately, BAWA does not have the funding available to make this happen, and BSDF only manages to raise enough money each year to fund the spay/neuter and education programs. At present, the 24-hour ambulance and the 24-hour vet clinic are both funded entirely by Janice Girardi, the organization’s founder. BAWA also launched the “Bali Idol” competition which is a puppy adoption competition within the schools. The success of this program has been phenomenal.

Village children are often very curious when the BAWA team arrives to spay and neuter dogs. They are supervised, of course, but the staff do allow the children to come close to the dogs. This is a great learning opportunity for the children, many of whom have never even touched a dog.

The biggest and latest accomplishment is hosting a Rabies Seminar just two weeks ago. Janice has worked tirelessly since rabies was first found in Bali in November 2008 and since the government started massacring the dogs in a misinformed attempt to eradicate rabies. Bali’s governor ordered that the island be eradicated of all street dogs and called on villagers to exterminate strays themselves. Dogs were poisoned and shot much to the horror of many tourists and even island residents, some of whose pets were also killed.

Janice and her amazing staff have never given up with their campaign to get the government to vaccinate not eradicate. The seminar was attended by experts from the World Health Organization, prominent veterinarians, and members of the Balinese Government, and it was made clear that culling will not work. Now it’s up to the Indonesian government to listen to all the expert recommendations and move forward in managing the situation.

6. What’s the biggest challenge you face in trying to raise funds for BAWA?

The biggest challenge is trying to get goods donated for our annual fundraising auction. All involved in the fund spend hours contacting companies asking for donations. It is always sad to be told, “No, your charity does not fall into the worthy cause category,” but we never give up. We just cross that organization off the list, and send out a letter to someone else. A lot of people will not donate to “overseas” charities, especially for animals. In the 10 years that the Fund has been going, we have come up against a lot of opposition as to why we help the dogs and not the people. As I always point out, there are plenty of charities for children in Bali but not for the animals. They have as much right to life as a human.

Paula holds a Bali puppy with terrible skin problems. Unfortunately, such skin problems are common among the puppies on Bali.

7. Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to help animals overseas?

My advice is to follow your heart. Don’t be put off by what people think or say. Animals are just as deserving as we are. I would definitely look into the charity you are thinking of helping to make sure they are above board, i.e. a registered charity that has been established for a while.

Last year, I was contacted by a Bali Street Dog Fund supporter who wanted to help a charity in Jamaica. She was uncertain of the charity’s authenticity, so I did some research on the Internet for her. In the end, they were a genuine charity, but it does pay to check organizations out.

If people want to volunteer for an overseas charity, again research the charity and establish a good email rapport with the organization before booking your ticket!

8. Anything else you would like to share with us?

BAWA desperately needs donations to continue its amazing work. That’s why I do what I do! We keep our operational costs as low as humanly possibly by capitalizing on the efforts of a small army of human volunteers.

You can make donations directly on BAWA’s website via the PayPal link, and for everyone in America, you can also donate by mailing a check to: BAWA; C/O Janice Girardi; 12407 Torrey Pines Drive; Auburn, CA 95602.

BAWA needs to keep its current ambulance on the road and fund another. BSDF would like to raise more funds to extend the spay/neuter and education programs across the island so that we can make a lasting impact on the status of animals on the island.

Another ambulance and spay/neuter van would be a dream come true so that BAWA teams could travel to other areas of Bali where the dogs currently receive no help. The western and northern parts of the island are quite remote, and BAWA has not been able to begin work there yet. Bali is over 2,000 square miles in size, so it’s almost impossible to reach out to the entire island with only one ambulance and one spay/neuter van.

The BAWA Animal Ambulance responds to calls from around the island 24 hours a day to assist dogs and cats in need.

Bali is pretty far away for most of us, but there are still ways we can help the island’s street dogs.

You can sign this petition requesting the Indonesian Government to create an effective law against cruelty to dogs. Every day in Bali. dogs are poisoned or stolen, often for meat. Others are starved, beaten, or neglected.

There are currently no laws whatsoever to protect the animals of Bali. BAWA works proactively to educate children in the correct treatment of companion animals and provides free medical care to street dogs and dogs owned by Balinese people, including sterilization, ambulance services, and a rescue program.

Without effective animal welfare laws, BAWA is handicapped.

Would you be interested in helping BAWA in Bali?

Volunteer vets and vet nurses as well as non-veterinary volunteers are needed to help at the clinic. Flight volunteers are also needed sometimes to carry supplies to Bali with their excess luggage allowances. (Customs letters and all paperwork are supplied though such documentation is rarely requested by the Balinese officials upon arrival.)

If you are planning a holiday to Bali and would like to offer a couple of days or even a week of your holiday to help at the clinic, please contact BAWA by emailing bawabali@aol.com . Please note that to volunteer at BAWA, you must be able to pay your own airfare and support yourself whilst in Bali. It is also essential you have your rabies shots and an up-to-date tetanus vaccination.

I enjoyed spending time in the vet clinic - especially in the bottom level which has an adoption center with lots of indoor and outdoor room for the puppies to play.

I volunteered with the Bali Street Dog Fund during the time I lived in Australia and have been lucky enough to carry medical supplies to Bali and to spend time with the BAWA street teams. These amazing people net and spay/neuter the street dogs every day. I can assure you that any time you spend volunteering with them will only serve to enrich your holiday. It’s the sort of experience you’ll never forget.

Also, for those of you who are wondering about the cats on Bali, BAWA does help them as well. The vet clinic outside Ubud desexes and adopts out cats and kittens in addition to dogs and puppies. The majority of the group’s work is with dogs, but cats are never turned away!

Don’t forget that Let’s Adopt! is always in need of flight volunteers to transport animals from Turkey to their forever families in places like Canada, Germany, and the United States. Turkey makes for an amazing vacation, so if you ever decide to go, please get in touch with Let’s Adopt! founder Viktor Larkhill (viktor@myletsadopt.com) to offer your time as a flight volunteer. This good deed will cost you nothing at all!

Also…

Genny, one of the dogs Let’s Adopt! has rescued in Turkey, has come down with distemper over the weekend and is in need of our support. Please read about her here, and email Viktor (viktor@myletsadopt.com) if you are able to help with Genny’s medical costs and those of the dogs she has been in contact with the past two weeks.

Have you ever volunteered overseas with animals? Please tell us about your experiences and your organizations. Let’s Adopt! members can be found all over the globe, and many of us travel a great deal. It’s always wonderful to have meaningful experiences and meet other animal lovers while on the road!