Tales & Tails of New York

Yesterday was one of those weird days when almost every call that comes in is a blood- pressure-raiser.

Calls like, "Do you have any Pug puppies?"

"No, we don't, but we have some very nice adult dogs for adoption."

CLICK!  

The caller had rudely hung up.

Isn't this supposed to be the "Season of Good Will?"

What happened to simple manners?

I am not sure who said it, but I think it might have been Judge Judy:

"If you're going to lie, you need to have a very good memory."

This is important for being able to keep one's lies straight.

One woman was unable to do that yesterday.

She called looking to adopt a dog.  I asked her about her previous experiences with dogs.

She told me of two dogs she had in the past.

One she supposedly "gave away" to her "cousin" when she moved.  The other she "gave" to her fiance when they broke up.

"But, didn't you just tell me the dog lived with you and your mother?" I asked her. "Why would you give the dog to someone else?"

"It was really my fiancés dog," she answered.

Not being able to figure out what was truth and what was not from this woman, I rejected her from adoption consideration.

She became indignant and hung up.  

Then, there was the call from the young woman who told me she "likes kittens," but doesn't like cats. 

And the call from another woman who told me five-month-old kittens are "too old" for her.  She want "newborns."  I hope the young woman is prepared for round-the-clock bottle feedings should she find "newborn kittens" (without a mother) that need a home.

Then there was the woman who wanted to debate with me our policy that kittens have to be adopted in pairs.

"Why is that?" she asked, scornfully. "I am willing to give a baby kitten a good home, but don't have room for two." 

"If you only want one cat, we have wonderful young adults that can be adopted as one and onlys." I told the woman. "But, kittens need a buddy that they can play with and snuggle up with when the caregiver isn't around.  A kitten would never be alone in nature."

"Well, I will keep looking," the young woman answered resolutely and then hung up the phone.

So much for "good will" -- and heart.

About 6PM, I was about to leave for my vet with a cat who is having trouble urinating when the phone rang again.

I picked it up, thinking perhaps, it was an adoption opportunity.

Instead, it was an acquaintance of mine calling about a problem.

"My neighbor knocked on my door asking if I can take this cat. It's a 'Siberian' something.'' Jane told me.  "She says she took the cat from some guy who was threatening to throw the cat on the street, but she can't keep it."

"What's the reason she can't take in the cat or at least foster the animal until a home could be found?" I asked Jane.

"She has a baby."

Blood pressure suddenly hitting 300.

"Oh, come on, Jane!  Give me a break!  Cats and children have been living together for ions!  What's with the paranoia of bringing a cat into the home?  I'm sure the cat doesn't have Bubonic Plague! If this woman is unwilling to do ANYTHING, but drop the cat off someplace, well, that is why AC&C exists. But, you have to tell her the cat has a good chance of being euthanized.  You surely know, Jane how many animals get dumped before any major holiday!"

"Patty, I just thought you might know of someone who would take the cat in." Jane replied, slightly annoyed. "My dog is sick, so I can't do anything."

"Jane, if I knew of people willing to take cats in, I wouldn't be letting 25 cats die every day at the shelter!  I would be rescuing all of them!  Is this woman willing to pay for boarding?  Is she willing to do ANYTHING other than look for someone else to dump the problem on?

Without answering my question, Jane said, "Its a Siberian-something, the woman said. I thought you might know the breed or someone who wants one."

"I know Siberian Husky, but that is a dog.  Look, Jane, even if the cat is a purebred, I don't have waiting homes.  I have too many cats here already and am on my way to the vet now with a cat who needs medical attention.  If you tell the woman about AC&C just make sure she knows the score."

And later last night, I got another call from a young man telling me how a very friendly cat has been hanging around his window for the past three nights.

"My wife and I already have two cats and cannot take this one in."

All I could do is ask the man to put out food for the cat and put up signs in the neighborhood to see if anyone lost a cat. 

I had to cross my fingers that the cat wasn't deliberately dumped out because the people are going away for the holidays.

As least the man calling was polite and willing to do something.

Following the call from the man with the friendly stray cat outside his window, came another call from one of my cat fosters.

"I'm going away for Christmas and I need to bring MJ to you tomorrow night," Melissa told me.

And this one I could not say 'no' to, as its par for the course when an organization depends on foster people.  Most go away on holidays and one has to be prepared to suddenly take animals back on a dime's notice. - One reason we currently have five dogs in boarding.

"OK, call me tomorrow and we can work something out in terms of time," I told Melissa.  "Hopefully, MJ will be OK with other animals."

Still, despite all the downs, the day wasn't a total loss.

A no-kill shelter has offered to take "Shaggy," the sweet, older Chow mix still at AC&C.

And the last of my three-rescued 8-week-old kittens, "Joe" was adopted by a wonderful cat-loving family with two other cats.  It was the wife's "birthday present" to herself.

So, yes, there still is at least a little "good will" out there.

That we may only find more before the real snow falls and the deep of the winter finally sets in.

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