Rant about Halloween "safetly"

[Tina B and crew]

I saw on a FB post about someone making sure they brought their black cats inside well before dark on Halloween to make sure they were safe. I did reply to them that there was only one way to keep your cats safe, and that was to have them INDOOR ONLY at all times, not just on Halloween night. Why don't people get this? What if they can't find them before dark? I get so tired of seeing all the cats darting across the road out here too. We have been hearing a lot of coyotes lately, and close by too. The thought of a cat being out there with all the human created danger is bad enough, but to have to face packs of coyotes as well? Just a few weeks ago I had to stop, pick up a dead cat out of the middle of the road, and bring it home to bury it. Like Traci with her neighbors I am so tired of people who just don't care enough. All of our shelters and rescue places are full to the brim because people don't spay/neuter, don't keep them indoors, and in general don't care enough. I still get very angry when I think of what happened with Lucy. How could anyone stuff two cats in a box and just leave them at a door that has a sign that says in big, bold letters "DELIVERY: DO NOT LEAVE PACKAGES AT THIS DOOR, WE DO NOT CHECK IT ON A REGULAR BASIS" Just think how long she could have been out there? Thankfully someone DID see it, and thankfully she and her baby were no worse for the wear. Thankfully someone at least dropped her at a vet's office, but still....ugh!!

Ok...rant over...

[momPaws]

Good rant.

[Traci]

Sigh, I know just what you're saying, Tina, it makes me soooooooooo mad. The same applies here, signs on doors stating no drop-offs, yet employees find them all the time. My guess is idiots who let their pets have litters, don't want to face up to it, and sneak around being cowards and taking the easy way out. Heaven forbid they'd have to hear an earful from an employee, or worse, learn about how to take care of your pet properly.

Personally, I think some humans should be spayed and neutered.

It amazes me how stupid people can be. As if there is no other danger beyond a Halloween holiday. For ANY cat.

[momPaws]

Traci...

Personally, I think some humans should be spayed and neutered.

That is so funny!

[Tina B and crew]

Of course when I reposted on FB about cats being kept indoors only my cousin, who is a known dis-liker of cats (and a dog lover), replies. "I totally agree" and went into a rant about his neighbor's cats using his other neighbor's garden as a litter box, scratching his car hood etc., and that he was going to start trapping them and taking them to animal control. While I see his complaint as valid, I have a problem with his solution knowing that AC will often euthanize adult cats without question, especially if they have no tags or microchips, because they have no room to house them. It is such a dilemma! How do you punish the "owners" without punishing the cat itself. The truth is, where I live, dogs are much more of a problem running loose and causing problem. My neighbor's dogs, while they are in a fence, bark incessantly at every thing that moves. I stepped out of my car in the dark the other night and was immediately greeted with the strong odor of fresh dog droppings. I have chased more dogs out of my yard that I care to count. I have had so many near misses with dogs in the road, because they don't move. I have had dogs run along side my car snapping at my car. I have not had near as many incidents with cats. I usually see them scurry quickly across the road, but it breaks my heart when I see it.

Oh...I guess I should add the horses are also a problem here because our idiot neighbors lease the property next door to someone who has horses and doesn't live close by. The fence is a joke, is down in several places, and we have almost weekly incidents with horses grazing in our yard. One time there were a total of 6 horses out here. AC can't or won't do a thing.

[Traci]

There should be a city or county ordinance that states the consequences (warnings and fines) for uncontained livestock, even if the horses are pets. The reason being is because uncontained livestock are a public concern when they are loose on roads or streets.

Every cat-hater uses the line "pooping in my yard (or garden)", yet I seriously doubt that's the case at all in many cases. They can't come up with anything original so that's the common excuse.

I think people who complain about animals and their natural instincts that might-interfere-with-that-just-too-perfect-human, must live awful, miserable lives.

There's a small dog who lives about a half mile from here that barks incessantly. But I don't think he barks just because he can, I think it is because he is left alone all day, and doesn't get the attention he deserves.

Not that you shouldn't be annoyed with barking dogs in the neighborhood, we all do, and mostly it's probably because the owners don't give one hoot about anyone or themselves, least of all their dogs.

[Tina B and crew]

Sheesh...the cat haters have no qualms about expressing their opinion though! Someone just posted on FB that the great thing about dogs was that they were there for you and happy to see you no matter what. I replied.."and cats too!" to which another friend replies "you can keep your cats, I don't like them much and I'm allergic"....well duh...why wouldn't I keep my cats??!! Adoption is for life and I sure as hell am not going to give them to some dolt who doesn't like them!

I'm in some mood....sheesh. I'm just so sick of the negative attitudes toward cats while we are all expected to love dogs because it's the American thing to do. Well guess what? My cats don't poop in anyone's yard, don't slobber on your hand, won't jump up on you and knock you down, will never slam their nose into your crotch, don't make loud, excessive noises...And why is it that they think having a dog on a leash means that leash can be 20 feet long and there is nothing wrong with having it wrap around someone's legs and trip them? One day I almost hit a guys dog because he didn't have control of it on one of those retractable leashes and it darted into the road! I keep my cats in my home at all times so they are NEVER around people unless they come to my home. Even my vet is feline only, so no cat haters even need be exposed to my cats at all. I like dogs, I like dogs a lot. I won't share my home for one because cats suit my personality and lifestyle best. All of the behaviors I mentioned are not the fault of the dog, but the fault of irresponsible people who just don't care and shouldn't have pets.

[Traci]

I'm in a mood too, Tina.

That "allergy" is also an old excuse, sooooooo old. While there are legitimate allergy sufferers out there, not many actually get tested for other offenders, mostly inside their own homes. I can't count the number of times I've seen on petfinder "had to give up due to allergies", what a cop-out! Worse, the rescue groups don't have a clue and won't bother to educate or suggest the owner get tested, as a means to KEEP THE CAT IN THE HOME.

[Tina B and crew]

Yea...I was thinking the same thing when she said she was allergic. What's worse is I don't know this person from Eve...she's a friend of a friend who I have never met, never will meet, and personally don't care to meet. So why bother with the comment? I was commenting to MY friend, not her! Sheesh!

On a happy note...kind of - an online friend of mine just donated an item for an auction to benefit a rescue shelter, and she did so in the Willow's name. I was so touched that she wanted to do this. She wanted me to send her a photo of Willow and a note about her, so I did. She told me the stories of some of the cats in this shelter. One was a cat that was blind so the "owners" stuffed it in a box and dropped it off at the place with a note. Come to find out the cat wasn't blind but its lower eyelashes were turned in and causing it to keep its eyes shut! His condition has been corrected and he's now doing great. Another black cat there had been caught and abused by some kids to the point that he ended up with a broken jaw. How can humans, who are suppose to be HUMANE, do this?? And what kind of parents do kids like this have that they are not taught respect for all living creatures? Ugh, it makes me sick!

[k9Karen]

Allergies are definitely treatable. My brother B has a documented (yes he was tested) horrendous allergy to cats. This allergy is so bad it has landed him in the hospital twice because he went to someone's house when he didn't know they had cats. My other brother K has cats. B takes his prescribed medication before going to K's house, and he has no problems while there or any time afterward. When I was allergy tested - I told the tech who was doing the tests that I hoped I didn't come up allergic to animals, especially dogs, but if I did I wasn't getting rid of my dogs. She said I wasn't the only one who had told her that about their animals. Fortunately, although I'm allergic to most molds, grasses, and trees, I'm not allergic to any animals. So, allergy is another one of lifes obstacles that you can overcome.