Pets abandoned, and excuses ring hollow

By Mary Esparra For the Times Herald-Record

January 04, 2008

I look into Roxi's eyes, and I don't understand. I pet purring Mickey, and I'm baffled. Bella knows I refuse to move my cramped foot for fear of disturbing her sleep. Her thankful purrs vibrate on my ankle.

I cannot comprehend how people can leave their pets. Animals are abandoned everywhere — on the street, at a shelter, in populated areas, in remote areas, and even in their own vacated homes.

Sure, there are some valid reasons people surrender their pets to shelters: death of the owner, allergies, aggression, finances. But I will never understand how you can tie up your own pet to a tree and leave it alone, scared, hungry and confused. Or how you can care for a colony of feral cats for years, and then not make arrangements for them when you move away. Or how a pet owner can ever move to an apartment that doesn't take pets. (I'm going to get in trouble for that one.)

When I called Humane Society of Port Jervis Manager Bill Lloyd Saturday and asked him to tell me a story of a pet who got left behind, he replied, "I've got 40 of them."

OK, stupid request. All shelter animals were left behind, whether abandoned or surrendered. Here are a few of their stories:

Charlie at Humane Society
of Port Jervis

Charlie, a 3-year-old Akita mix, was surrendered when his owners moved to an apartment that didn't take dogs.

I hate that excuse, and so does Lloyd.

"If the animal was really working out superwell in your household," said Lloyd, "and you really had made a long-term commitment, you would probably break your back trying to find a place that would allow your animal, or you would have a friend or neighbor that's been exposed to this animal and knows how great he is, take him.

"If you look hard enough, and there isn't a problem going on, a certain percentage of owners should be able to find homes on their own."

Charlie is a nice, outgoing dog, said Lloyd.

"He's been here about the longest, and he's a pleasant boy," he said. "He's easy to control and doesn't cause any problems."

Although Charlie is housebroken and will sit and shake hands, he doesn't know other basic commands. He is a bit protective of the children in his family, but will bark only if someone comes near. He won't attack. He needs to be leashed when outside or he will take off. He is neutered, calm and OK with other dogs, but his status with cats is unknown.

Interested adopters can call the shelter at 856-3677 or visit them at 202 Route 209, Port Jervis 12771 or www.pjhs.petfinder.com. Donations welcomed.

Willie at Precious Paws

Willie was a member of a colony of 10 feral cats and kittens in Newburgh two years ago. Precious Paws found loving homes for the four youngest. The rest were spayed/neutered, returned to their "home" and cared for the rescue group. A neighbor who volunteered to take over their care later abandoned the colony. Two were killed on the road. Word got back to Precious Paws' Colleen Bailey that the cats were alone again. A home was found for one, and again, a neighbor stepped in to care for the rest.

After a few months, the neighbor moved. By the time Bailey could get to the colony, shockingly, there was a new cat in the mix. The neighbor left her own cat, Gizmo, behind.

More homes were found for some of the remaining cats. Gizmo and Willie remained.

"Gizmo is an absolutely gorgeous, friendly longhaired calico," said Bailey. She is spayed but has leukemia and will live out her life with other leukemia-positive cats at the rescue.

Willie is a 16-pound orange tabby and white cat with extra toes. He is a nice, friendly boy who is disease-free and has been revaccinated.

"The people that take on a responsibility and leave them behind make me physically ill," said Bailey. "Please be a responsible pet owner — spay/neuter is the only answer."

Interested adopters can call 534-9630 or visit Willie at B&G Pet Supplies in Newburgh or go to www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY330.html. Donations can be sent to Precious Paws, P.O. Box 95, Campbell Hall 10916.

Uncle Sam at Sullivan County SPCA

Uncle Sam is a friendly, loving and polite dog who thrives on sweet talk and petting.

"He could actually be the perfect companion who understands the true meaning of pet ownership and all that entails," said Sullivan County SPCA Vice President Manon Fortier.

I don't understand how someone could tie Uncle Sam along with an elderly terrier mix to a tree in a park in Yulan in September. The two survived thanks to the good Samaritans who rescued them and brought them to the SPCA.

"They were hungry and tired when they first arrived, so our guess is that they were abandoned for quite some time before they were discovered by the two passersby," said Fortier.

Uncle Sam is a 3-year-old Akita-Lab mix who is OK with other dogs and children and pays no attention to cats.

"When someone adopts a pet, that person is assuming responsibility for the care and well-being of that animal for life," said Fortier. "We understand that some unpredictable and unfortunate events can occur in a person's life, and that caring for an animal is no longer possible. It happens. We see it all the time. But the ultimate act of responsibility is to make certain that this pet has a decent place to go to — family member, neighbor or shelter.

"In a disposable society such as ours, it is sickening that some people view loving and trusting pets as disposable goods to be discarded when no longer needed or wanted."

Interested adopters can call 796-3120 or visit the shelter at 104 Rock Hill Drive, Rock Hill 12775 or at www.sullivanspca.com. Donations welcomed.

It IS sickening that "some" people dispose of their pets, but most love them. Most people care and are willing to help those left behind.

I know I will be writing happy updates on Charlie, Willie and Uncle Sam's stories in the coming weeks.

I will never understand, but that's OK. I have faith in the futures of those left behind.

Adopted

As a result of the Pets of the Week page and the big hearts of our readers, these animals are no longer homeless:

Port Jervis: Oscar, Daisey and Miss Ginger

Warwick: Maizie, Chloe, Doug, Jasmine, Brady, Pugsley, Goldie and Archie, Flynn, C.B., Maizie, Amaretto, Aladdin, Dancer, Jewel, Yukon, Pugsley, Goldie, Butternut, Renee Rabbit, Rudolph, Nellie, Cupid, Prancer, Claude and Arielle

Sullivan: J.R., Rachel, Umber, King, Kody, Izzy, Oreo, Vance, Vicky and Sweetie

Blooming Grove: Lopey Lopez No. 3

Precious Paws: Sweetie

Upcoming events

Lasagna dinner, Jan. 20, Drew Methodist Church, Sussex Street, Port Jervis. Seated dining, 3-5 p.m.; takeout, 2-3 p.m., bring your own containers. $8. Benefits Humane Society of Port Jervis. Call 856-6061 or 856-0977 or visit www.pjhumane.org.

Bring lost pets home

Did you find a pet? The Times Herald-Record offers a free classified ad, for up to seven days, to those who find a lost pet. To place an ad, call 343-7000.

Spay/neuter services

The Animal Emergency Fund, Ulster County, 246-6211, for dogs and cats

Friends of Animals, 800-321-7387

Mid-Hudson Animal Aid, 831-4321

Spay USA (referral service with national database of veterinarians and programs, many locally, that issues reduced-rate certificates), 800-248-SPAY

TARA Inc., low-cost spay/neuter of cats only on mobile clinic covers Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties. $50 includes spay/neuter, rabies shot, ear cleaning and nail clipping. Call 754-7100 for appointment.

Help our shelter animals get spayed and neutered by ordering your New York state vanity license plates at www.nydmv.state.ny.us/org.htm and click on Our Best Friends. $20 of your fee goes to the New York state Animal Population Control Fund supplying spay/neuter certificates to animal shelters.

Also check with your local humane society for discounts offered by participating veterinarians.

Shelter Wish List

Shelters depend on the generosity of the community to sustain them. The following items are needed:

Best Friends at Pets Alive: Volunteers, frozen veggies (for our pigs), fresh veggies for our birds, paper towels, laundry detergent, bleach, toilet paper, blankets, bags for Eureka vacuum cleaner, Eureka (not upright) vacuum cleaner, mops, brooms, cleaning supplies, pressure washer, Gatorade, water, wheat germ oil or olive oil, snowplow for the pickup truck, a stove and large parrot toys. Call 386-9738.

Blooming Grove Humane Society: Canned cat food, cat furniture and climbing stands, cat litter, Simple Green, canned dog food, laundry detergent, blankets, bleach, air fresheners, paper towels and volunteers. Inactive cell phones, empty inkjet and toner cartridges (no Epson) are needed to benefit shelter. Drop off during shelter hours. A storage shed to be built or donated also needed. Call 496-6199.

Canine Sanctuary: Volunteers to help with training rescued dogs at training classes, volunteers on the weekends to help exercise and socialize strays, dog treats (biscuits and rawhides) Kongs and tennis balls, kiddie pools to help cool off the dogs, canned cat and dog food and a commercial washer and dryer. Call 534-8414.

Catskill Animal Sanctuary: Monetary donations, salt and mineral blocks, manure rakes, corn husk brooms, triple antibiotic, rolled cotton, vet wrap, cleans towels, chemical free grass seed, Toughbook laptop, extra-large animal carriers, 100 percent recycled copier paper, first class and postcard stamps and gift cards to Accord Feeds & Needs, Barnyard Feeds in Kingston, Staples and Lowes. Call 336-8447.

Cornwall Dog Shelter: Canned or dry food, cleaning supplies. Donations can be mailed to Cornwall Dog Shelter, 183 Main St., Cornwall. Call 534-3301.

Equine Rescue Inc.: Volunteers to groom horses, carrots, apples, feed and supplies that can be purchased at Heritage Feed, Bullville, and left there for pickup by rescue. Call 733-6085.

Equine Rescue Resource Inc.: Hay, monetary donations, volunteers, foster homes, grain and gift certificates to Pine Bush Agway. Email equinerescueresource@hotmail.com or call 744-1728.

Farms for ferals: Trap Neuter Release organizations need farms and other remote properties for relocation of feral cats, those deemed unadoptable to be house pets. All cats are all spayed/neutered and vaccinated and require only food, love and a safe environment to roam. Relocation subject to references and property checks. Call Sylvie Acoulon, Alley Cat Allies, 321-2407; or Precious Paws, 534-9630.

Goshen Humane Society: Digital camera, garbage bags and detergent. Call 294-3984.

Hudson Valley Ferret Rescue: Monetary donations for ferrets awaiting surgery, ferret food, Purina Pro Plan kitten food, ferret litter, Yesterday's News litter, paper towels and a sign, "Hudson Valley Ferret Rescue," to hang outside. Call 713-4360 or visit www.petfinder.org.

Humane Society of Middletown: Urgent need for canned cat food and clay litter. Also needed are bleach, laundry and dish detergent, canned dog food, towels and blankets, pet toys, hard chews for the dogs. Call 361-1861.

Humane Society of Pike County: Volunteers, laundry detergent, garbage bags, paper towels, bleach, dish detergent and canned cat or dog food. Call 570-296-7654.

Humane Society of Port Jervis: Small cat litter pans, nonclumping cat litter, paper towels, bleach, stainless steel pet bowls, collars, leashes, canned or pouch pet food and treats. Donations can be mailed to 202 Route 209, Port Jervis 12771. Call 856-3677.

Humane Society of Walden: Volunteers, quilt-type and wool blankets (not comforters), litter, canned food, dry food, collars, leashes, food bowls, towels, cleaning supplies, paper towels, garbage bags, bleach and laundry detergent. Donation of paving materials and time needed to fill shelter driveway's potholes. Volunteers always welcome and needed. Call 778-5115.

Matt's Cats: Cat litter, KMR formula for kittens, monetary donations. Mail to P.O. Box 10091, Newburgh 12552 or call 564-1658.

Newburgh SCATS: Dog Igloos for cats living at our colonies; volunteer to help trap, transport cats for spay/neuter; foster parents for kittens and cats (food, medical supplied); and volunteers to feed one colony in the Town of Newburgh daily (food supplied). Call Lil, 236-4574.

Newburgh SPCA: Kitty litter, canned food, blankets, monetary donations for spaying fund, paper towels, bleach and toys for our pets. Call 564-6810.

Town of Newburgh Animal Shelter: Kitty litter, canned cat food and canned dog food. Call 561-3344.

Precious Paws: Monetary donations for veterinary care and spay/neuter; foster homes for adult cats and mother cats with nursing kittens; volunteers for humane trapping and transport of strays; Nutro, Eagle, Science Diet dry and canned cat food; Cats Pride clay litter and Feline Pine; bleach; laundry detergent, clean blankets and towels. Donations can be mailed to Precious Paws Inc., P.O. Box 95, Campbell Hall 10916. Call 534-9630.

Oasis Animal Sanctuary: Blankets, towels, cleaning supplies (bleach, Fantastic, 409, paper towels), mops, brooms, large dog collars, leashes, kitty litter, cat house volunteers, canned cat food. Call 482-5161.

Rescue for Life: Labrador Retriever Rescue: Temporary homes, PetSmart gift cards, Frontline and Heartgard. Call 733-5278.

Sullivan SPCA: Fuel oil, good horse hay, canned dog food, dry kitten and puppy food, cat litter, gift cards to Wal-Mart, PetSmart and Petco, monetary donations for veterinary care, laundry detergent, copy paper and volunteers. Call 796-3120.

TARA Inc., The Animal Rights Alliance, operates a low cost feline spay/neuter mobile clinic weekly at sites in Middletown, Monticello and Harriman. Volunteers needed to post fliers and do community outreach. Monetary donations needed to help keep services affordable to those in need. Small bath towels, in good condition, also needed. Call 754-7100.

Warwick Valley Humane Society: Two new two-line telephones; cat litter and feline pine or equivalent; canned ground kitten food; copy paper; small ceramic cat dishes; gas cards; monetary donations to Wildlife Fund, Princess Fund for abused animals, Critical Care Fund for injured/sick homeless animals and The Riley Fund for senior pets special needs. Call 986-2473 or mail donations to Warwick Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 61, Warwick 10990.