Tales & Tails of New York

 

Ubermom111 Writes: So,  many animals end up discarded - like old toys.  
Except animals are not toys. They are living beings.
If only the people who bring the Fluffies and Fido's into their home would teach their children and themselves that this is a 12 year or more committment, that animals, like children, require constant care - both emotional and physical.
However, somehow even parenting of children seems to have fallen by the wayside.  How can we expect current society to care for the animals, when it falls so short of caring for its children?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jmuhjacat Writes: Just think for a moment how some of us, anyway, feel when we are addressed disrespectfully and/or with profanity and/or insulting, denigrating terms.  I, for one, get really, really angry.  I don't like it.  Neither do I like people referring to those I love as objects, "pets", or someTHING to be "owned".  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CDonian Writes:  Because it's damned scary to see the Q&As/comments on some dog/animal sites -- things in the general vein of:
"Is it OK if my dog goes outside only on Saturdays?"
"Why isn't my TrendyTinyTeacup PitPoo housetrained yet? I've had her for three days."
"My poodle is nine months old. When should he be groomed?"
"Can I use a suitcase as a dog carrier?" (!)
Plus the morons who refuse to have their dogs vaccinated; claim that spaying/neutering "cause" cancer; want to raise their dogs as Orthodox Vegans; scrub tear-stains with clorox or hair bleach; regard leash-laws as blatant Stalinism; or barely see the dog -- since Spot spends 70 hrs/week in day care or home alone, and is walked only by paid walkers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for the idiots who can't figure that a dog needs to be taken out more than once or twice a week, that is so common, I don't know that it needs further elaboration as I've written of it so many times here. 

 

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(Picture Above:  Star -- Abandoned after 8 years in a family. No excuse necessary.)

CDonian Writes:  I know too much about others' "bad lessons."
My first dog was a shelter mutt who'd been dumped -- after 7 years with one family -- due to a kid's alleged "allergies." My mother _insisted_ that we adopt her, specifically because the dog was unfairly treated, and looked very, very depressed. She was a great dog, and lived to _extreme_ old age

Reply:  I hope everyone takes the time to read your entire comments, because they perfectly mirror EVERY rescuer's experiences and thoughts a thousand fold -- including and certainly mine.

Yesterday, we picked up from the shelter, "Star" (pictured above).  Star was dumped at the shelter about a week ago with the excuse:

"Owned 8 years."

What exactly does that mean?

"We've done our thing with Star and now we're done."  "It's too much trouble to walk the dog now."

It's amazing how many people abandon cats and dogs and don't even bother to come up with an excuse.

Apparently, it is perfectly acceptable to aquire and keep a cat or dog for one, five or eight years and then decide, "Well, that's it.  This is no longer fun for conveniet for us.  Fluffy or Max has to go."

Poor Star.

After being in a family since a puppy, she of course became very depressed and confused in the shelter.

Abandoned, stressed and depressed animals are far more vulnerable to getting sick in a shelte situation. I believe the mind and body are inexorably linked. No matter how clean the shelter or caring the care, the majority of shelter cats and dogs are easy targets for whatever "bugs" are floating around.  Their immune systems are taxed, weakened and quickly depleated.  Their anxious minds are in disarray, wondering, in most cases, what happened to their people and when are they coming back? What happened to their home?  What happened to their life?  

Crowded shelter conditions don't help. -- And what animal shelter isn't  constantly packed to the rims?

So, Star, like so many others, developed Kennel Cough and then landed on the Euth list, despite her gentle, loving and sweet temperament.  There was "No more room in the sick ward."

I noted Star's sad face on the list the other day and quickly called to pull her off.

Fortunately, for us, Zowie (rescued only last week) is already being adopted today.

Carrie, (Zoe's foster person) immediately agreed to take Star even though as of now, she still has Zowie.

"Don't worry, Patty!" Carrie said yesterday.  "I have an extra bedroom. Star can stay there for  now." (We obviously didn't want to mix the sick dog, Star with the healthy one, Zowie.)

So, yesterday, I met Carrie at the shelter where she came on her lunch hour from work to pick up Star.

After Carrie and Star left, I remained at the shelter for a while.  Two of the volunteers begged my help in trying to save a very sweet "Throwaway Mama" Pit bull named, "Nana." And I also looked at some small dogs, as I can potentially foster one right now.  The small dog ward was also completely packed.  I meant to only take one, but put rescue memos on both, a Maltese and a Shih-Tzu.  I believe I can get a foster for the extra dog.

We also have a rescue memo on a beautiful and totally lovely, purebred German Shepherd dog who, like Star ended up on the Euth list the other day for Kennel Cough.  "Bosie" had been in a home 6 years.  But, apparently the owner recently became ill and could no longer care for the dog.

Bosie is already advertised on the Internet seeking foster or adoption.

But, the couple of calls on her have been awful.

One person wants the dog "for my 16-year-old son." (I guess this one didn't read the blog entry from the other day.")  I didn't bother to call her back.  Another man called yesterday, inquiring on Bosie for his friend.

The man's "friend" is an 85-year-old woman who recently gave up a 9-month-old, breeder-bought German Shepherd because the dog "was too much for her."

"I don't know what kind of 'breeder' sells a German Shepherd puppy to an 85-year-old woman, but certainly anyone with half a brain would KNOW this placement wouldn't work! What were these people thinking?" I asked the man. 

"Well, we're thinking now that my friend would do better with an older Shepherd, like Bosie.  She always had Shepherds when she was younger."

"First of all, Bosie is only 6-years-old.  She's not geriatric." I replied. "Secondly, your friend is not a young woman anymore.  German Shepherds need lots of stimulation and exercise.  That is true whether they are 9-month-old puppies or 6-year-old adults.  Your friend needs to look for a smaller, less active and yes, older dog.  But, since she is 85, some backup needs to be in place, should the woman get sick or unable to care for the dog.  You have to consider the animal's needs as well as your friend's."

The man finally saw reason and agreed with my points.  The question is, will his friend?

We could go on and on with the wrong reasons people acquire animals, wrong choices and placements, and failures to anticipate the future.

You touched on many in your two very knowledgeable and insightful comments. I have tried to touch on some throughout the couple of years of this blog.

But, the truth is that even a book the length of "War and Peace" wouldn't get to ALL the reasons animals end up in shelters or abandoned near highways or on rooftops or in empty apartments/houses.

What does all that say about us as the "superior species?"

What does it say about so-called, "progress?"

For dogs like Star or the ones you write about, they are the lucky ones.

But, it is hard not to think of the millions of cats and dogs "falling through the cracks" every year.  The ones we never see or hear about.

The one dying in junk lots, suffering from neglect in uncaring homes, spending their "lives" tied up in backyards or bloodied, battered and discarded in the fight rings.

It goes on and on.......

And still, I keep saying over and over again:

"WE NEED TO PRORITIZE HUMANE EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS! --By the time they (humans) grow up, it is, for the most part, too late."

 Last night, Carrie called to inform me of the obvious.

Yes, Star is a lovely, sweet dog. -- Even good with Carrie's two cats. 

But, Star is barely eating or drinking anything.   She sometimes trembles when Carrie walks in the room.

"It's warm in my apartment," Carrie said questionly. "Do you think she could possibly be cold?"

"The trembling probably has more to do with her being in a new place and being scared," I answered.  "After all, Star spent 8 years in a different home with different people and a different dynamic.  All of this -- the Brooklyn shelter, then being transported to the Manhattan shelter and finally to you, is probably terrifying to her.  She's wondering what happened to her life?"

"I see your point," Carrie answered, sounding somewhat relieved. 

"Maybe its time, Carrie to call the Chinese restaurant and order some eggrolls!" I added with a laugh.

When these abandoned animals "shut down" from depression, anxiety and stress, we in rescue have to try everything.

Even Chinese eggrolls. -- PCA

                           

 

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A few days ago, I wrote about Zowie (pictured above), the dog who was dumped at the shelter with the complaint that she "snapped" when being punished for soiling in the house.  The owners only walked her once a day.

 

Since being rescued this past Friday, Zowie has shown herself to be the "perfect dog" in her foster home.

 

According to Carrie, Zoe's foster person, the lovely Chow mix is totally housebroken (if walked twice a day), extremely sweet and friendly with everyone, great with other animals -- including cats and good in the apartment.

 

"I don't know how anyone could have abandoned this dog!" Carrie said last night. "She's a total doll!"

 

So, what was the real problem in the original home?

 

It might have been one of those situations when a family acquires a pet with the expectation that "the kids will take care of it." They essentially adopt a dog because Junior or Jane has been "wanting" or pestering them for a dog, but the parents themselves are not part of that desire or commitment.

 

But, as anyone familiar with the responsibilities of parenting knows, children cannot truly be relied upon to take on full responsibilities for walking dogs or cleaning out cat litterboxes -- especially when they have not previously been witness to the proper care of a pet.

 

Children learn responsibility from observing and absorbing from the parents

 

Unfortunately, if children witness parents "punishing" an animal for natural mistakes, (instead of walking the dog), the children are learning a very wrong lesson.  Moreover, when children witness parents dumping a pet at the shelter, rather than addressing a problem they "learn" two things:

 

1-- Seek to "get rid of" or escape from problems, rather than deal with them.

 

2-- Don't love or become too attached to other members of the household because, (if animals) they will not stay.

 

In my view, these are all the wrong lessons for a child to learn.

 

Of course, I don't know for sure, if the above was what truly happened in the home with Zowie.

 

But, the pieces are adding up.

 

We know that Zowie came from a home that contained both children and cats ("Loves children and cats").

 

We know she "snapped" when being "punished" for housebreaking mistakes.

 

We know Zowie was only walked once a day (all of this information coming from former owners).

 

We also know from the matted condition of her coat, Zowie wasn't brushed on a regular basis or properly cared for.

 

One can speculate from all this information that the real responsibility for caring for Zowie was most likely dumped upon the children in the home.

 

When the children failed to live up to unrealistic expectations (as did the dog), "punishment" for the kids was getting rid of their pet.

 

Unfortunately, I have seen this kind of scenario too many times when in the lobby of the city shelter and observing people abandoning the family cat or dog, with their kids right beside them.

 

Those times the child is clearly upset or crying, the parent will say, "But, remember you promised to walk Max or clean out Fluffy's litter box and you didn't!" 

 

We in fact, took in a cat from such a home many years ago.

 

I can still remember the Mother cruelly admonishing her ten-year-old son for his "failures" to run home from school and take care of "his" cat.

 

All I could do in that situation was try to comfort the weeping, young boy and assure him that the cat would be adopted to a good home.  There was no reasoning with his Mother.

 

Zowie is now in a loving and caring foster home and I trust she will be a fairly easy and quick adoption based upon her gentle, loving temperament.

 

But, I worry about the children in Zowie's former home.

 

I worry of the troubling "lessons" they have learned.

 

Unless exposed to humane education in school or through other sources, they will most likely grow up to repeat the errors of the parents.

 

It is a vicious circle and one of the main reasons we can never really get to the goal of "no kill" in shelters throughout our country:

 

Too many children growing up with too many "wrong lessons." -- PCA

 

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I remember when I was a kid, my Mom had a small collection of 78 and 45 RPM records that I liked to play.

 

One of my favorites was, "The Theme from Moulin Rouge" by (I believe) Percy Faith.

 

So it was, perhaps, no surprise that when noting the 1952 movie and biography of famous French painter, Toulouse LeTrec (sic?) was going to be shown on Turner Movie Classics TV this past Saturday, I made special plan to watch it.

 

And wow, what a great movie it was!  (Not to be confused with the more recent "Moulin Rouge" starring Nicole Kidman which, to me, was awful, boring and confusing).

 

Shot in a type of cinematography reminiscent of 19th century paintings, the 1952 Moulin Rouge was both beautiful to watch, as well as it contained stellar acting performances, (particularly by Mel Ferrer in the title role) and profound, deep and almost poetic dialogue.

 

While the original intent was to watch the movie, while also tending to small tasks around my home, I instead, sat glued to the TV screen.  I dared not turn my head away for fear of missing insightful dialogue,  the gaiety of French "can can" dance and song, glimpses of famous Le Trec paintings or nuances in human to human drama.

 

So, as the song from this movie was one of my favorites as a kid,  the movie itself moves into the category of top personal favorites of all time.

 

Other favorites in that group?

 

 

Of course there are no new movies in that group.  That's because I never go to movies (or rent) and to be honest, there haven't been too many modern movies I've wanted to see.

 

Moreover, the last time I made an effort to see movies recommended to me, I hated them.

 

"Braveheart" was sheer torture to sit through (I guess I don't like Mel Gibson). And "Lawrence of Arabia" wasn't much better (though Peter O'Toole was quite handsome to look at).  Both of these films should have told me that the person recommending them and myself didn't really have too much in common.

 

One of my biggest complaints about newer movies is that, unless one is seeing some deliberate slap stick comedy, most modern dramas are so heavy, morose and pondering in their "drama," one feels leaden after watching them.   There is little (if anything) in the way of lightness or diversion to offset the serious themes or messages of the movies.

 

An example of that is the Oscar winner of this past year, "Atonement."

 

Set against the background of WW2, this story of ill fated love due to the repercussions of injurious lie by another, is beautiful and well acted, but crushingly heavy.

 

There is nothing of lightness, music, nuance or charm to add depth to either the characters or the story.  The message (consequences of lies, even when unintended, being ultimately more injurious to the teller, than the victims) is driven home with a sledgehammer, rather than some subtle moment of recognition or experience in the main character's life.

 

Contrast that to most of the movies cited above which blend humorous, light or tender moments into their otherwise serious themes.   Such is more "real life" to me.

 

"Road to Perdition" for example, depicts the life of a small time gangster of the 1920's seeking retribution against those responsible for the gangland hits on his wife and daughter.  The movie is unquestionably violent.  However, the tender and deep relationship between Father and young son, in addition to the exquisite, haunting music and scenery of the film offsets the otherwise violent, vindictive theme.  Tom Hanks was brilliant in this film, displaying amazing, but subtle depth and complexity of character.  I personally think it's his greatest role.

 

Speaking of the contrasts, tragedies and complexities of real life, after "Moulin Rouge" completed, I tuned in to watch the finish of the Kentucky Derby.

 

The favorite, "Big Brown" was crossing the finish line with the filly, "Eight Bells" a few lengths behind.

 

The crowd was cheering and the winning owners and trainer, hugging each other in ecstasy!

 

But, then the cameras switched to show a downed horse on the track.

 

"Eight Bells" had collapsed shortly after completing the race in second place.

 

She apparently broke two ankles and was "euthanized" on the spot.

 

Talk about feeling "leaden."  I personally felt like a 2000 LB weight suddenly descended on my shoulders.

 

 

Now, how could the crowd continuing cheering and how could trophy's be given in the light of such unspeakable (and to my mind, preventable)  tragedy?

 

Once the numbness and shock settled in me, it was enhanced by anger.

 

I immediately called, NBC to voice strong complaint about the superficial and callous "coverage" of this horror.

 

Would sports announcers and the network have been so dismissive had the tragic, ill fated, young, filly actually won the Derby?

 

Eight Bells only "lost" by 5 lengths.

 

But, the real "losers" here should be the racing industry itself.

 

Just two years ago, Derby winner, "Barbaros" later broke down in the Belmont and though attempts were made to save him, he too, eventually had to be "euthanized."

 

Maybe its past time that a movie was produced exposing many of the abuses in the horse racing industry.

 

And sure it could show those who "love" the horses and maybe it could show some light, tender or exciting moments.

 

But, there is ultimately drama, tragedy and deep exploitation under that so-called, glorified "run for the roses."

 

What happened on Saturday should never, ever happen again.

 

The unjustifiable and prematuredeaths of these horses (and so many others) should not be in vain.

 

Demand change!  --PCA

 

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In this world of constant animal abandonment and the supposed need to kill millions of pets in shelters every year because homes don't exist for them, it is both ironic and frustrating to occasionally run into those situations where two parties want the same dog (or cat).

 

A few weeks back, we rescued a small and particularly delightful Chihuahua/Pug mix named, "Molly" (pictured above).  Molly ended up in the pound after someone abandoned her at a police station claiming that they found her as a "stray."  Police then brought Molly to the shelter.

 

Molly went to one of our foster homes, where reports back on her were nothing but positive.

 

Molly's foster person, Florence informed me that Molly was totally housebroken, very gentle and affectionate and extremely "easy" and well behaved.

 

Both Florence and I wondered how anyone could have abandoned such a sweet and trusting dog?  We speculated that something might have happened to the owner (illness or death) and that someone else, relative or neighbor dumped Molly as the police station.  Molly wasn't the kind of dog who would "run away" from her person and thus become a "stray."

 

Almost as soon as she was advertised for adoption, I began getting adoption inquiries on Molly.

 

Most were flaky.

 

One woman, in fact, rudely hung up on me when I simply asked of her experience with dogs.

 

"Can you tell me of your experience with dogs?"    CLICK!

 

Hm, the woman must have murdered her last dog and didn't want to talk about it.

 

Another woman told me she was seeking a little dog who was "paper trained" because she didn't like the idea of having to walk a dog -- especially in cold or hot weather.

 

"Ma'am if you want an animal you don't have to walk, please get a cat," I advised. "There isn't a dog alive who doesn't look forward to going out for walks.  Walks are the highlights of their lives. Walks are what dogs live for."

 

At least two people actually went to meet Molly.  But, one woman complained that Molly "walked funny." And the other one was indecisive.  "I am not sure and need to think about it."

 

I told Florence that one of the frustrating things when dealing with small dogs is that many of the people who want them are perfectionists who seem to regard animals as cute little objects rather than animals.

 

"It's not like fostering Chows," I added. (Florence's previous foster was a Chow who was adopted to wonderful people from New Hampshire.)  "Chow lovers are animal lovers.  Small dog people are just small dog people. -- One even suspects some of them of being small minded."

 

Perhaps because she wasn't enjoying the adoption inquiries being forwarded to her (or some of the things I said about them) or because she was simply getting very personally attached to Molly, Florence began to toy with the idea of adopting Molly herself.

 

Florence called last week to discuss the possibility with me.

 

The problem was that Florence has to travel a great deal for her job.  Who would mind Molly when Florence had to leave on a regular basis for days at a time?

 

I told Florence that most dog boarding or pet services were expensive.  Boarding too, can be emotionally hard on some dogs as it usually involves keeping the dogs in cages.  I didn't say "yes" or "no" to the possibility of Florence adopting Molly. (She represented a very responsible and loving home for a dog.) This was a decision she had to make for herself depending on her resources and options.

 

For the time being however, Molly was still up for adoption.

 

This past week, we received a very good inquiry on Molly.  A middle aged couple from Pennsylvania who recently lost a very loved, senior Chihuahua mix after a long bout with chronic illness and debilitation.  Keith and Kathy had seen their elderly pet through kidney disease and crippling arthritis.  In her last months, they had carried the little dog everywhere with them and were devastated by her eventual loss.

 

The conversation with Keith, the husband was particularly pleasant, right down to the political happenings of the day.

 

"By the way, " I said, "I really like how your state voted in the primary last week!"

 

"Oh, yeah," Keith replied. "My wife and I were big Hillary supporters.  She has the experience, you know. This guy, Obama?  What's really known about him?  Not even one term in the Senate!"

 

"Exactly my thoughts," I concurred. "Seems he started running for President one hour after he hit the Congress. I'm surprised the media doesn't make more of that."

 

I really liked Keith and his wife and highly recommended them to Florence.

 

For her part, Florence also liked the couple.  Keith and his wife made an appointment with us to come in today and most likely adopt Molly.

 

But, on Thursday evening, Florence called to inform me that she couldn't part with Molly and wanted to adopt the little Chihuahua mix herself.

 

Florence had been able to secure pet sitting arrangements during times of travel with a close and reliable friend who has actually done pet sitting in the past.

 

Of course this meant having to call the people who had their heart set on Molly and cancel the adoption appointment. -- Something I didn't look forward to doing.

 

I decided to call Keith and Kathy last night around 8PM, when they were both likely to be home.

 

But, Keith called me around 7:30 last night to confirm today's appointment.

 

It was hard to break the news to him that Molly was being adopted by his foster person.

 

Like most rescue organizations, we have the policy that foster people have first option to adopt when they choose to do so.

 

The couple was obviously very disappointed, but gracious.  I tried to interest them in other dogs and even offered to seek a similar dog to Molly for them.

 

But, its always hard to interest people in other animals when their heart is already set on one.

 

It was not an easy conversation.

 

I'm still hoping to perhaps find another dog (like Molly) for Keith and his wife, the next time I go to the shelter.

One really hates to lose good homes like these knowing there are so many dogs out there who need them.

 

Its just such a strange irony -- and frustrating -- when running into those situations when two good parties want the same animal.

 

That should be our problem every day, shouldn't it? -- PCA

 

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(Picture Above:  Sheba and her dedicated foster person, Carrie)

 

 

 

 

The above conversation took place between Carrie, one of our wonderful dog foster people and me about two weeks ago, shortly after Carrie took in Sheba, a very friendly, but emaciated Belgian Shepherd rescued from the Brooklyn shelter.

 

Sheba came out of the shelter quite sick with a bad Kennel Cough.  Additionally, she was very underweight from apparently not being fed properly in a former home.

 

Carrie had called me the previous day with concern, when first getting Sheba.

 

"Gee, Patty, this dog is so skinny and so weak!  She could barely climb the two flights of stairs in my building.  I offered her several types of dog food, but she's not eating anything.  What should I do?"

 

"Well, she probably can't smell anything with the Kennel Cough," I replied, trying to hide my worry. "Try offering her some human food.  Cheese, eggs, meat. Anything, really.  You know its possible too, Sheba was fed table scraps in the former home.  A lot of times dogs used to table food, won't touch dog food."

 

"Well, I'm willing to try anything," Carrie said. "She's so emaciated, she's scary looking. But, she's a really sweet dog. She gives tons of kisses and is good with my two cats.  She's housebroken, too."

 

"Well, let me know how its going," I advised Carrie.  "If you can't get Sheba to eat anything, we will have to send her to our vet."

 

The next day Carrie called to tell me the good news. -- That is, if hearing that a dog is wolfing down egg rolls is good news.

 

But, it wasn't just the egg roll.  Carrie was also feeding Sheba, chicken and other tidbits. The dog was finally and thankfully eating!

 

A few days later, Sheba began eating dog food.  She quickly gained weight and strength.  In fact, in two short weeks, Sheba went from 48 lbs to just over 60lbs! 

 

Yesterday, Sheba was adopted by a very caring young woman who grew up with a similar type of Shepherd dog in Ohio. 

 

"Bonnie" lives near a park in Brooklyn, has a flexible work schedule, two cats and has desires for a dog she can run with.

 

Sheba is a youngish Shepherd (about 2 to 3 years-old) who will need plenty of exercise and stimulus.

 

I suggested to Bonnie that Sheba might make a great Frisbee dog with the dog's love for toys and ability to jump.

 

In fact, Sheba impressed me as the kind of dog who would do great on a farm or agility trials.  She has beautiful confirmation, a fabulous temperament and desires to learn.

 

. Meanwhile, Carrie, (Sheba's dedicated foster person) is preparing to take in another dog.

 

Hopefully, they have sent Zoe (a Collie/Chow mix) into Manhattan from the Brooklyn shelter.

 

Fosters barely have time to exhale between new rescues -- and making sure to have enough eggrolls on hand!  -- PCA

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Jmuhjacat Writes:  However, in the wake of a huge rescue operation out in the Nevada desert, members of and volunteers for Best Friends have had some excellent success working with extremely frightened cats who exhibit all the signs of having been feral and over time, learn to "come in from the cold" (or heat, in this case) in response to regular food, clean water, medical care, and love and patience.  Just as human beings respond negatively to abuse, neglect, fear, stress, and deprivation, so do cats; and conversely, just as humans thrive in caring, loving, comfortable, healthy circumstances, so do cats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In the previous entry today, I alluded to the difficulty of trying to socialize adult, feral cats.

 

Attempting to reverse the natural fears and cautions that are necessary for these animals' survival in the wild is extremely difficult unless the cats are rescued as small kittens -- preferably BEFORE 8 weeks of age.

 

About a year ago, I rescued a young, adult feral cat, named, "Maria." (Pictured above).

 

I was in the shelter lobby when a woman dropped off Maria in a humane trap.

 

The frightened, lost look on the then, pregnant cat's face in addition to the woman's seeming callousness when dumping her off, compelled me to put the "Rescue Memo" on Maria, despite knowing how difficult (or, really impossible) it is to transform a feral, adult cat to one who is trusting and "adoptable."

 

Following the abortion/spay of the one-year-old cat, I picked up Maria from the shelter and brought her home.

 

I placed her in a cage for purposes of trying to socialize her, but despite making some gains with Maria over several weeks time, I could not seem to get past a certain point in "trust" and eventually gave her free reign in my home.

 

It was not an option to keep Maria in a cage forever.

 

Over the months that followed, I was occasionally able to get a hand on Maria and pet her -- particularly when she came out of the various corners that she stayed to eat.

 

She responded with pleasure to the petting, but retained a certain "skittishness" and lack of trust in terms of ever approaching me for attention.

 

Maria is a painfully shy and timid cat.  Almost everything spooks her -- including the more confident, assertive and sometimes, downright aggressive cats in my home.

 

"Hillary" (rescued as a feral kitten when she was about 3-months old) particularly has evolved to become the top cat in my home in terms of boldness, confidence and dominance despite her being one of the youngest cats here, (almost a year-old now).

 

As much as I have come to cherish and adore Hillary with regard to her affection, quirkiness, confidence and playfulness with me, she is, however, a bit of a tyrant with the more timid cats in my home.

 

In recent weeks, Hillary had taken to bullying, chasing and even beating up on Maria.

 

All the "progress" I had henceforth made with Maria in terms of gaining her trust and instilling any kind of confidence quickly went down the tubes.

 

For the past couple of months or so, Maria took to hiding under my couch most of the time.  Even those times she ventured out to eat or use the litter box, she was getting viciously attacked by Hillary.

 

I needed to do something.

 

Last week, I managed to corner Maria in my bedroom, squeeze her into a carrier and place her once again, in the cage.

 

It was more for her protection and safety, than attempts to socialize her.

 

Each time I go to the cage to feed Maria or clean the space, I first spend about 5 to 10 minutes petting, stroking and talking to Maria in a gentle voice.

 

She truly loves the petting and purrs loudly.  Then, at other times, something spooks Maria and the old cautiousness and fear returns and she backs off.

 

It breaks my heart to realize that under all the early ingrained fears and timidity lives a gentle, loving soul who, otherwise would have thrived on human attention and affection had Maria only been rescued as a small kitten.

 

The difference between rescuing Hillary at 12 or 13 weeks of age and Maria at more than a year old, is, in fact, a lifetime in terms of adjustment and trust.

 

Earlier, I said that feral kittens are best rescued BEFORE 8-weeks of age.  Although fairly easy to socialize feral kittens as old as 3 or 4 months, they usually attach only to their rescuers and remain very fearful of other humans or rescuers.

 

Rescued before 8 weeks of age, the kittens can almost always be tamed and made "adoptable" to other people.

 

Hillary, for example, (rescued at 3 or 4 months) though extremely loving and outgoing with me, hides when other people come to my home.  Her seeming "boldness, confidence and leadership" in her "colony" being replaced by old fears and distrust of outside forces.

 

One of the things I have learned in working with so many feral cats and kittens over the years is how very critical early environment and upbringing is, for all animals -- and people (as written of in the previous entry).

 

The reason adult, feral cats almost always have to be trapped, neutered and returned, is because the "job" of trying to socialize (i.e. "change") them enough for any kind of "adoptability" is all but impossible.

 

I learned that a few months ago with "Muffy," the one adult feral cat (about 4 or 5 years of age at the time she was humanely trapped in the yards in back of my apartment building and spayed) I was forced to return to her original environment.

 

Even after spending several months in a cage, I was not able to touch or handle Muffy at all.  She currently rules the yards in back of my apartment building where apparently she has spent her entire life and has no desire to leave.

 

"Old ways die hard," as they say.

 

In seeking to know or "predict" how animal or human will act, look to early environment, raising and at least with humans, who (persons of influence) they have acquired most of their core values and beliefs from -- this despite anything they say or claim. -- PCA

 

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