In Case of Emergency, Break Glass...

I know we're still two months away from the start of Hurricane Season, but you never know what could happen at any given moment so best to plan ahead. Here is an email from a Cat Network board member, reminding everyone to create an emergency plan for their pets. I'd also like to direct your attention to this site for more resources on how to plan for various situations with animals:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/petprotect.asp

For a free pet safety pack:
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/free-aspca-stuff/free-pet-safety-pack.aspx




Fellow Members,

I want to use the recent discussion thread as an opportunity to remind everyone that it is so important to make plans for the future care of your animals in the event of your death, incapacity, or an emergency such as unexpected job loss. We like to think of ourselves as immortal, but the reality is no one knows what life has in store and we need to make sure our pets are cared for in the event we are no longer able to provide for them - whatever the reason might be.

Today, an individual went to MDAS to make arrangements to surrender FIFTY cats because the person is being evicted from their home in two days. Thankfully, because so many cats were adopted over the weekend, more space is available to accommodate the cats at the shelter temporarily. However, that doesn't mean there's much hope for them given the precarious predicament of a shelter cat due the overpopulation crisis in South Florida.

It is very easy to become overwhelmed in rescue efforts. I maintain that it's not the number of cats that you have, but rather the conditions in which they are kept. However, the more cats you have, the more difficult it becomes to care for them. With the full fury of kitten season upon us, it is important to keep in mind that no one person can save all the cats. We cannot single handedly, or even as a group, bear the full responsibility of a society that does not prioritize sterilization of animals. We have to remember our individual limits, and that we cannot loose ourselves in our rescue efforts. Below is the wesbite to Tuft's University's study on animal hoarding.

http://www.tufts.edu/vet/hoarding/abthoard.htm#A4

While this may not apply to you, it may be beneficial to know the signs to recognize it in someone you may know. There is a constant battle between our hearts and our minds when it comes to animals, so it's important to be cognizant of potential problems that animal rescue presents.

Those of us who care about animals are vastly outnumbered by those who don't, so we must continue along in our struggles to help our furry friends- but all the while keeping in mind that we must maintain ourselves as the priority in the equation. That way, we can help even more animals.

Two more cents from me,
Sylvia.