ING Miami

This Sunday I will be running my first half marathon, so I thought I'd add a motivational image from the cat  world. I'm glad there aren't any cats running with me though (despite that probably being a really funny sight to behold).

Drinking Fountain

Yesterday I mentioned the water fountain I bought for the cats, so I thought I would share a little more information about it, since it's such a great thing to have with animals.
I purchased the Catit Drinking Fountain from Amazon because a few of mine were always sticking their paws in their water bowl trying to move the water around. At first I couldn't figure out why they were doing this, but then I read that cats like moving water and will actually drink more if they have a drinking fountain. The beneficial part of that being that by drinking more the cats will all be healthier and develop fewer urinary infections.
Most of the cats took to it right away, although a couple of them kept sticking their paws in the center trying to figure out what was going on. All of them drink from it now though, and won't drink anything else (except water in the sink...). I have to say this is one of the best cat related purchases I've made in a long time, and I highly recommend it!!!

Here's the "official" information from the Catit site:
Like humans, pets require water as a vital element for survival. Water constitutes approximately 70% of a cat's or dog's body. Encouraging your pets to drink more water helps promote their health and well-being.

The Catit® Design Fresh & Clear Drinking Fountain with Food Bowl responds to your pet's need for a continuous supply of water. Re-circulating water with greater exposure to oxygen provides fresh-tasting, cool, filtered water for pets with a multitude of health benefits.

Encouraging cats to drink more water helps ensure proper kidney function and may descrease the incidence of crystal formation and urinary disease (FUS).

Maddie discovers tap water...

Madeline has recently developed a fascination with the tap water in the kitchen. At first she would fight it... swinging her paws at it and getting water all over the kitchen. Now she's realized she can drink it, and its become pretty funny to watch her try. She usually ends up dunking her whole head under the running water, trying to figure out how to lap it up. And occasionally she'll slip and fall in the sink, which leads to a total panic... too much water!! The weirdest thing though is that all of this developed after I bought the cats a drinking fountain of their own (which they love by the way).Regardless of the reasons for it, it's a funny sight to see and I'm glad she's got a hobby:)

Real Men Love Cats

Since most of my recent postings have been on the serious side, I thought today we should add a little humor to the mix. This is an actual Austin, TX Craigslist ad placed after the guy’s girlfriend said his cat had to go. It's unclear if the poster’s girlfriend really gave him the ultimatum, but this is an actual Craigslist post.

The poster of the ad has publicly thanked everyone for their comments and says that while no one has taken her, she is gone.

Girlfriend says cat has to go!! Free tonight!!

My girlfriend said the cat has to be gone by 12:00 tomorrow. She left a little while ago to hang with her friends. I put all her crap on the lawn and will try my best to find her a new home but if not there is always the shelter.

So what we have here is one mildly attractive yet bitchy soon to find out she is a homeless ex-girlfriend. She is somewhat house broken (but i think she is still connected to her mom by the umbilical cord).
She is in her mid-twenties and is NOT SPAYED (though she usually takes the pill) Lot of life left in this one. She is up to date on her shots and is great with dogs and small children, but does not seem to get along well with cats.
She is playful and bathroom trained (If taking over every inch of horizontal surface with her stuff in the place is house broken. Then she is the Queen of house brokenness!!!).
She has somewhat of a special diet though i never figured it out fully, but pretty much it is dictated by what ever her closest friend of that week is into (Raw, vegan, Atkins, hostess) You get the picture.
She will be coming with a whole lot of stuff!! (If it is still there when she comes home, but when I am done here I am heading right over to the free section so maybe not) There will not be a rehoming fee (As a matter of fact i got $34 cash if you can get her tonight, If you need more we can hit the ATM unless you have Paypal then we have lots of options).
The main reason I am rehoming her is because she moved in about 9 months ago, and for three months everything was great, but then she started bitching about my cat. My cat has lived with me for 11 years since he was abandoned in my yard at about 3 weeks old, and i had too bottle feed him and teach him how to do everything a cool male should know (hunt, nap, play, hide, chirp like a bird. how to use a litter box!! This was the most challenging as i did not know how to use one myself. That made for some awkward moments) In other words Misdemeanor and I have been kicking it for a long time, and if she thinks I would even consider kicking him to the curb. Well need i say more?

I may put her up for auction on eBay tonight if my lawyer gives me the okay.

The results are in...

A.D Barnes Adoptathon was a tremendous success! We trapped 43 cats at the park and of these 43, 30 found homes, forever homes! The cats were fully vetted: sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed, flea treated and tested. We sincerely thank Miami-Dade Animal Services for supplying all the medical supplies, cages to house the cats, food and litter. Cost to adopt? FREE. We had adoption counselors talking with everyone interested in adopting to ensure that these cats would go to good homes. We were amazed how many people came out looking to grace their homes with an adult cat. Many people took two! We would also like to thank the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department and Ron McGill of Zoo Miami who promoted this event. They did a superb job in getting the word out.

People were waiting in line one hour prior to opening on Saturday. Sixteen cats were adopted on Saturday and another 14 on Sunday. Let me tell you folks, many of us had our doubts - these cats were not kittens; the youngest was 6 months, the oldest was 10 years!  But even Buttercup, the 10 year old male, found a home with a lovely couple who had no other cats and wanted to let Buttercup enjoy his golden years in comfort.

There were many volunteers who made this event such a success. Thank you all! But in particular, I want to thank Catherine Anderson and her husband Francisco, who were there all the way - trapping, setting up the holding area, cleaning cages, writing cute bios, and so much more! Wanda and Joan, thank you for all your help and your loving devotion to these cats for so many years. I am humbled and grateful to all of you who generously gave of your time to make this happen. A thousand thank yous!!!

Sincerely,
Charlene Grall
President, The Cat Network

Loews Hates Pet Cats -- More Links to share your concerns

Posted by Blog Sisters at 8:39 AM

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The battle continues and Loews still has not agreed to sit down and listen to experts regarding the Loews cats. 
To continue educating the Loews management and other animal lovers about the benefits of TNR/managed cat colony to reverse homeless animal epidemic in a humane way, please share your comments on the following links.

1. The USA Today, picked up the story yesterday, January 17, 2012. You can share your comments at the end of the article via Facbook. http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2012/01/loews-portofino-bay-hotel--feral-cat-program/604982/1

2. The general Loews Hotel Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/LoewsHotels

3. Loews hotels in Orlando are deleting any comments about the cats on their hotel Facebook page. Instead they created a new FB "notes" page titled FERAL CAT ISSUE where you can offer suggestions for a solution. The ONLY solution is to keep the model program they had of TNR/managed colony. This was organized and paid for by employees. https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150472968696470

4. Universal Studios Florida.  They are the landlord that Loews claims is making them "relocate" the cats. If Disney has the same model program for 25 years that has worked with complete success, why can't Universal do the same? https://www.facebook.com/pages/Universal-Studios-Florida/152410744773196

5. Alley Cat Allies, the nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to welfare of cats and educating the public about pet and stray cats, is involved in this issue and has reached out to Loews.  They have set up a message program where you can share your concerns with Loews management about the cats and express that you will not support their business. http://capwiz.com/alleycat/issues/alert/?alertid=60246576&PROCESS=Take+Action

For a complete history of the Loews Hotel cat situation, see the post below or click here.

Thank you for taking  a few minutes to make a difference!

Loews Loathes Pets

Posted by Blog Sisters at 10:43 AM

Sunday, January 15, 2012



Oreo lives at Loews Portofino Bay hotel

 There's a storm in Orlando that started brewing on Monday and continues pelting more than heavy rain drops. It's literally raining cats and dogs but the outcome is unknown.

Loews Portofino Bay hotel and sister hotel Loews Royal Pacific, both located at Universal Studio in Orlando, Florida, are at the center of this bitter battle.

Known for its slogan "Loews Loves Pets", the once pet-friendly hotel and animal activists are at war. The Portofino and Royal Pacific had also accepted and cared for other pets. In this case feral cats. As is common throughout Florida, feral cats appear at local businesses including hotels, restaurants, any place near a food source and shelter from rain and cold. 

For years, employees followed the proven practice of TNR--Trap-Neuter-Return and reduced a large colony of cats down to manageable numbers.

Then suddenly around Christmas, a mandate was gaveled that all cats were to be removed and a pest control company, Steritech was contacted. Little did caretakers know until they saw the traps appear.

When Riverfront Cats' lead volunteer, Christine,  learned about this reversal of a model example of a managed cat colony, she sounded the alarm and reached out to fellow cat bloggers,  Dorian Wagner of the Catster, Tamar of I Have Cat and blogger/author Deborah Barnes of The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey. Their readers and followers responded en force and thousands of animal-loving Americans denounced Loews' decision and vowed to boycott the hotel chain.

The pounding of harsh criticism on Loews Facebook page prompted Loews to remove the traps and not take the feral cats to local shelter which means instant death. Feral cats are not adoptable. However, Loews now wants to relocate the cats which is highly risky and could cause more danger, pain, suffering and death. 


THE HISTORY
Back in 2004, Bellman, George Ricci, noticed some animal traps throughout the property of the Loews Royal Pacific. In one he found bones.  The traps had been set to capture feral cats.  Shocked that trappers would inhumanely trap an animal to let it starve and suffer a slow, lingering death, George continued searching the grounds and found other traps. Realizing the traps were indeed for cats, George took it upon himself to capture the cats and get them spayed and neutered and returned them to their environment, the only home they knew. This practice is called TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and is encouraged by animal welfare organizations throughout the US including ASPCA, Alley Cat Allies, The Cat Network, animal behaviorists on Animal Planet programs... the list includes hundreds of organizations.

In 2007 David Bartek became the new General Manager.  Ostensibly Bartek did not support the program but let employees continue trapping and feeding cats at  their expense. And so they did. Wages of a bellman funded the entire effort at the Royal Pacific. 

Then in 2008 George Ricci transferred to the Loews Portofino and again came across another colony of cats multiplying at exponential rates. Learning what he was doing to help these homeless, harmless cats, other employees came forward to help.  What started out at 40 cats are currently down to 8 cats.  The effort was a great success! The engineering department also built custom made Italian-themed cat mansion feeding stations to compliment the Portofino Italian theme.  The houses sit far off the brick path for guests that lead to different pools.

In the small world of Universal Studio hotels, other hotel employees reached out to George and his team for help with their colony of feral cats that also was exploding with litters of kittens. George and his team realized it was time to make a formal presentation to formally implement a uniform program for neighboring hotels. They were very excited. And then everything backfired.

David Bartek had been promoted to Director of Operations in 2011 for all three hotels, the Portofino, Royal Pacific and Hard Rock hotel. Upon learning about the managed colonies, he mandated no more cats on the property.

Stunned by this edict, employees wanted to learn why? According to one source, "he never wanted to listen to facts, to proven practice, he didn't want to listen at all. His exact words were 'this issue is not open for discussion'".  Later Bartek claimed it was the decision of the landlord, Universal Studio. There is no confirmation of this statement on our part, however a recent Orlando Sentinel article did reference them.


What animal-loving customers and experts wish to share:

1. TNR/managed colonies are the best proven humane practice to reduce the number of strays in a given area. This practice is advocated by hundreds of animal welfare groups across the country.

2. If cats are removed, the vacuum effect takes place. Other stray cats will move in and multiply. What will Loews do with 50 cats next year? An unspayed/neutered cat pair leads to 5,000 cats in 7 years. Another horrifying statistic: half of all stray kittens suffer and die before age 8 weeks.  People don't see it, but it happens everyday. By removing the current colony, Loews is inviting more strays and more cats to mulitply and suffer.
Removing cats from an area is a futile effort—one that cannot succeed. [Alley Cat Allies]

3. The word "feral" has many misperceptions.  Feral cats do not charge after or attack people. Mostly they are afraid of humans. Feral means they are not entirely social with humans. The degree of socialization varies. Some cats can be petted. Some can be petted and picked up in your arms. Some fear the human hand and can not be petted but will allow your hand to feed it, inches away from its face. Some will not adjust to boundaries of four walls and go stir crazy without the freedom to run and climb. 

4. The cats receive rabies vaccination when they get spayed/neutered and are ear-tipped. This means the tip of their left ear (our right when facing them) is sliced off during surgery/anasthesia as universal sign a cat is sterilized.

5. Disney has had successful TNR program for 25 years.  “We view them as partners. It’s kind of a symbiotic relationship with them". If Loews permits inhouse animals to come into contact with hotel guests, then there is no harm with feral cats on property with acres of land not visible to guests.  There has never been a single reported incident with a hotel guest and outdoor cat.

6. The cats all have names and know their names. At the Loews Portofino, there is Bonnie & Clyde, Houdini, Morris, Scruffy, Oreo, Bernie and Billie. Each has their own personality and unique traits and habits. They ARE outdoor Loews pets.




Gracie at feeding station


Loews has never answered the following questions to date:

1. What will they do next year when new strays come onto the property and multiply? There is no cat sanctuary that takes in unlimited feral cats each year. There is likely to be approximately 40-50 cats in one year.

2. What is the risk to hotel guests? According to who? What? If Loews allows other animals to come into the hotels with guests, that poses greater risk, why not allow feral cats to stay?

3. It is confirmed that 2 Siberian Huskey dogs (guests of the Loews Royal Pacific hotel) killed the small dog of another guest on MONDAY, January 16, 2012. Why is Loews more concerned with stray cats that have never posed any harm to employees or guests when this tragedy happens?

4. Does this signal Loews' abandonment of slogan "Loews Loves Pets" and discontinue the ability for guests to bring their pets?


On Saturday, January 14, 2012 the following article appeared in the Orlando Sentinel.


NEXT STEPS:
Loyal customers, animal-lovers, and locals continue to fight for the cats to stay. 
To follow this continuing battle, check Riverfront Cats Facebook page.

Animal activitists are encouraged to share their concerns on the Facebook of Universal Studios Florida and continue pressuring Loews on their Facebook page as well.

We hope Loews and Universal Studio will sit down and listen to experts to understand TNR is the best solution for everyone and the cats.

Trapping cats by the pale moonlight

Trapping cats by the pale moonlight

 
It's hard to see them, but those little black spots under the street lamp are some of the many feral cats living in AD Doug Barnes Park. 

Last night I met up with a group of trappers and cat lovers to try and trap another round of park cats that will be put up for adoption this weekend. According to Florida law it is illegal to have cats living in public parks (not sure how they ever expected that to be enforced though...), so with a pending lawsuit in the works the park employees are now having to remove the cats. MDAS and the Cat Network have joined the crusade, and are offering free medical services for each cat in exchange for people opening their homes. Most of them will have to be outdoor cats, either acclimating them to a current colony or starting a new one (this is mostly for people with large properties, ideally with a barn... and yes, that is a thing in South Florida). A select few are tame enough to be house pets, thanks to their caring feeders over the years!!

While we've caught around 30-40 cats already, there are still a lot more to go so this project will last a bit longer than originally planned. The biggest problem is that the area is overrun with raccoons, and as soon as you put out a trap you've caught one of the furry bandits!! I think last night I saw and trapped more raccoons in an hour than I've ever seen in my entire life... they were everywhere! They also have no fear of people at all, and would try to climb inside cars to get to the food, would walk right up to you and grab things from you... just downright wanted to eat whatever you had and they weren't going to let a silly human stop them from achieving their goal.

Saturday and Sunday will be the adoption event, which hopefully will be met with a great response from the public. Volunteers are needed to help man the events, and next week more trappers will be needed as well. Information about the event and ways to help is below. 

 

BE A HERO FOR ABANDONED CATS THAT NEED A LOVING HOME! All of the cats at A.D. Barnes Park need to be removed from the park. Don't miss a very special adoption event at the park on 1/21 and 1/22 that will gives these cats a second chance. Could you adopt one of these cats for free and take them into your home, and love them as part of your family? MDAS is providing free FeLV and FIV testing, microchipping, deworming, and topical flea treatment for each adopted cat. Each cat has also been spayed/neutered courtesy of The Cat Network. TURN AN ABANDONED CAT INTO A LOVED PET FOR FREE. Please help spread the word!

 

Domestic Violence Against Family Pets Protection Bill Introduced in FL

January 10, 2012 -  Life with cats

Sen. Mike Fasano, who filed the Dexter’s Law animal abuser registry bill, also introduced SB 288 which will grant pets the same protection from domestic violence, if passed, as people.

Florida State Senator Mike Fasano is a friend to animals, and works to protect their interests within his home state in his capacity as senator. Two of this bills he has introduced into the 2012 session, begun this week, will provide them with greater protection under state law, if passed.

The Dexter’s Law animal abuser registry bill is well known and has received international attention, due to the widespread following the Brooksville kitten garnered after his brutal beating at a playground last June. Dexter ultimately succumbed to his injuries but his name and memory live on in the registry bill.

The Domestic Violence Against Family Pets bill also has a face. It is inspired by the story of Little Horatio, a sweet dog who stood between his petmom and her abusive adult son as the grown man came after her. The son beat Horatio (the name he goes by now) so badly that the dog, now rescued and in a good home, developed such a severe light sensitivity that he has to wear goggles when he goes outside. The son is in prison on charges relating to his abuse of his mother, the mother is safe, and Horatio is happy and safe. Horatio’s abuse occurred about five years ago.

Horatio’s former owner was too ashamed to tell anyone, including her other sons about what was going on. The abusive son used Horatio to manipulate her in order to gain her money and posessionsThe woman finally walked for miles to report him and to get help.

“We later found out that Little Horatio laid over his owner and took blows by her son and protected this woman from the blows of the son,” explained former victim advocate, Jan Occhiolini. “Abusers use them to manipulate their families to keep them in the house.  They will either threaten or hurt them or they will torture and abuse them,” said Kathy Cornwell, who also worked on the case.

Senator Fasano has said, “It sends a strong message, I think, to my colleagues and myself that there’s more to domestic violence, there’s another area here we have to address.” In reference to abusers, he added, “We don’t want them to abuse an animal in order to get after their victim and those sick individuals, when they can no longer get to the victim, to their wife or their girlfriend or their child, they will then start going after the animal, the dog, the cat.”

We know all too well that cats are a favorite target of abusive boyfriends, husbands and sons as they terrorize the women and children in their lives. Not a week goes by that we do not read of violent horrors that most readers would prefer not to know about. If this bill passes it will create a monumental change in the status and protection of cats and other domestic animals.
The bill offers protection from abuse and the threat of abuse. It reads as follows:

SB 288: Domestic Violence Against Family Pets

Domestic Violence Against Family Pets; Providing that a court may issue an injunction for protection against domestic violence granting the petitioner the exclusive care, custody, or control of any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the petitioner, the respondent, or a minor child residing in the residence or household of the petitioner or respondent; providing that it is a first-degree misdemeanor for a person to willfully violate an injunction for protection against domestic violence by knowingly and intentionally injuring or threatening to injure any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by the petitioner, the respondent, or a minor child of the petitioner or respondent; providing criminal penalties, etc.
If passed, the bill will take effect on July 12, 2012.
Senator Fasano introduced the same bill to the 2011 session, where it did not pass. This year the bill has received a great deal of support from organizations, businesses and individuals. National organizations putting their support behind the bill include the ASPCA and HSUS. We spoke with Sen. Fasano’s aide Greg Giordano, who is well acquainted with the effort bring this important protection into law. He said that proponents are pleased with the outpouring of support for the both the Dexter’s Law animal abuser registry bill and the Domestic Voilence Against family Pets bill, but, in order for them to pass, Florida residents need to let their local representatives know that they want the two measures to become law.
The 2012 legislative session begun stis week runs for 6o days, so the fate of the two bills will be known before long.

The Pets Trust

Over 20,000 dogs and cats are euthanized at the Miami Dade Animal Services facility every year, and this number has not changed much in the past ten years (many simply for lack of space). Animals Services has always been severely and historically underfunded.

The animal rescue groups and animal advocates of Miami, in an effort to improve the lives of animals in Miami-Dade County, have joined together, for the first time ever, to create a dedicated source of funding we refer to as the “Pets Trust”. This is modeled after the Children’s Trust which collects its funding from the property tax bills of citizens of Miami-Dade County for the past ten years. The average tax bill in Miami-Dade County will increase approximately $ 13.00 a year if the Pets Trust is created. The Children’s Trust was approved by 88% of our citizens and we are petitioning our community leaders to allow our citizens to vote in similar fashion on a Pets Trust.

We ask you to please sign this petition so we can show our government leaders that we, the citizens of Dade County would like to have the opportunity to vote on a Pets Trust by placing the question on a forthcoming election. By signing this petition you are NOT signing that you approve or disapprove of the Pets Trust, but rather you are signing that you would like the community to be able to vote on this. It is our community that makes the final decision, but only if we have the ability to vote on it.

We are asking this on behalf of our animals who can only “speak” through our actions.

SIGN THE PETITION

A Modest Proposal

Miami-Dade pet lovers push to consider tax to protect unwanted animals

BY ELINOR J. BRECHER The Miami Herald

Bucking anti-tax sentiment, animal advocates are petitioning on behalf of a levy to help treat unwanted pets more humanely.

• Photos

The Petition
To see the Pets’ Trust petition, go to: http://www.change.org/petitions/our-elected-officials-give-us-the-right-to-vote-on-a-pets-trust

BY ELINOR J. BRECHER ebrecher@MiamiHerald.com

 

In Ward A at Miami-Dade’s animal shelter, Michael Rosenberg watched 15 dogs die.
They weren’t vicious. They weren’t sick. But nobody wanted them, and the shelter had run out of space. So somber technicians had to kill them by lethal injection.
By day’s end, several dozen more animals were “put down’’ in the euthanasia room. Same thing the next day, the day after, and so on: about 20,000 every year.
Rosenberg left the Medley shelter that November day both heartsick, and determined to make it stop.
His idea: a Pets’ Trust, which would create a steady, predictable and sufficient source of revenue for the county’s Animal Services Department.
Enough money to run and staff a clean new shelter in Doral, due to open in mid-2013.
Enough to attack pet overpopulation with more low-cost spay/neuter services.
Enough to reach pet owners with the seemingly common-sense messages that thousands ignore: Vaccinate and ID-tag your animals. Don’t let them run the streets. Get them “fixed.’’
The typical Miami-Dade property owner would be assessed about the same amount that voters approved twice, overwhelmingly, for the Children’s Trust: $13 a year.
Chronically underfunded, understaffed and overcrowded, Animal Services operates out of a grungy, 43-year-old building where airborne infections like distemper spread unchecked among animals awaiting adoption, forcing repeated shut-downs.
A distemper outbreak this month claimed 51 lives by Friday.
Feral cats and stray dogs end up there because they’re considered a public nuisance. Some animals have gotten lost, and picked up by Animal Services officers. Owners who can’t afford them anymore, or are moving to places that prohibit pets, drop them off.
Sometimes they’re left because their fur doesn’t match the new decor, or because they shed, or bark, or dig.
The shelter has space to humanely keep 300 cats and dogs per day, but since it must accept every animal that citizens or investigators bring, the population often rises to a crammed 400.
Some years, 37,000 enter, and two-thirds never leave.
The kill rate hasn’t changed much in three decades, no matter who’s been running Miami-Dade Animal Services: the Public Safety, Public Works or police departments, an experienced veterinarian, and now, a seasoned county administrator.
Dr. Sara Pizano is the veterinarian.
“In a community of 2.4 million people, with a 15 percent poverty rate, there are an estimated 500,000 dogs, 500,000 feral and 500,000 pet cats...but less than 10,000 low-cost spay/neuter opportunities,’’ she said. “Many thousands of pet owners want their pets sterilized,’’ but can’t afford it.
Rosenberg, a Kendall businessman, is modeling his proposal on the Children’s Trust, which underwrites services to children through property tax bills.
He believes that given a chance to vote, the citizens of Miami-Dade County also will support a Pets’ Trust. He’s circulating a petition that reads: “The people of Miami-Dade County should be able to decide a course of action to improve the quality of life in our home, by having the right to vote on a Pets Trust.’’
Seeking a spot on the ballot isn’t the same as approving the Pets’ Trust concept or levying a tax, the petition notes.
“You are signing that you would like the community to be able to vote on this...We are asking this on behalf of our animals who can only ‘speak’ through our actions.’’
Getting on the ballot is complicated and politically fraught, so it could be years before that happens. And every year, Rosenberg warns, another 20,000-plus cats and dogs will die.
By tolerating that, he said, “we’re all killers.’’
A generally fractious pet-rescue community more accustomed to snarling at each other over philosophical issues than collaborating, is solidly behind Rosenberg.
About 40 rescuers, shelter operators and animal advocates attended a meeting that Rosenberg, 59, called in December to pitch his idea. Dozens signed up to actively volunteer.
“What we all realize is that this man has come up with a really practical plan,’’ said Jeanette Jordan, president of the South Florida SPCA, which rescues horses. She attended the meeting, and is working with Rosenberg to find supporters in the Florida Legislature.
What his let-the-voters-decide bill needs is a sponsor in each chamber willing to add the question to an existing, relevant bill.
In the Senate, Mike Fasano, a dog-loving New Port Richie Republican, is considering amending SB 288, his Domestic Violence Against Family Pets — itself still seeking a House sponsor — to include Rosenberg’s proposal.
While senators can sponsor an unlimited number of bills, representatives only get six, and most are booked up. But even if that wasn’t so, it would be a hard sell.
Jordan told Rosenberg in an email: “The problem is that the Legislature is extremely pro ‘small government’ and against anything that even smells like there could be a tax involved, despite the fact that...the Pets’ Trust amendment would not allocate any taxes, just give the voters of Miami-Dade the opportunity to vote on the tax.’’
Fasano’s chief legislative assistant, Greg Giordano, agreed: “Anytime you bring a subject such as taxation into an issue, it could make some controversy.’’
Rosenberg is a proven consumers’ rights crusader who recently won a nearly five-year battle with the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department over paying for inexplicably large water bills.
“One of the greatest things you can do is help people fix things,’’ he said. “And I have a lot of energy.’’
His effort coincides with leadership changes at both Animal Services and the Greater Miami Humane Society Adopt-A-Pet, the county’s two largest sheltering operations.
Alex Muñoz became Animal Services director in August, when Pizano resigned, under attack by activists who blamed her for the kill rate, despite a steady increase in adoptions and rescues during her five-year tenure.
Donna Tallon, who has a background in retail, replaced Emily Marquez-Dulin in September as executive director at the Humane Society: a limited-admit, adoption-guarantee, non-profit shelter that accepts only animals likely to find homes, and last year placed about 1,200.
Those that don’t get adopted can live out their lives at the Soffer and Fine adoption center in North Miami Beach.
Rosenberg, whose family has a cat, got involved with Animal Services after meeting Muñoz at a Kendall Federation of Homeowner Associations event. Muñoz told him about the kill rate. Rosenberg wondered: “How do they do it? How do they go home at night?’’
Muñoz allowed him to see for himself. Now he wonders if he’ll ever get the images out of his mind.
Rosenberg has since invited county commissioners, who control Animal Services’ $9 million budget, to join him for a day in the euthanasia room. So far, none has accepted. (Taxes now provide 11 percent of the department’s budget. Licenses, fines and fees for medical services, provide the rest).
In 1989, The Miami Herald chronicled Animal Services’ challenges, including the killing of dozens of animals a day. Rosenberg recently emailed the reporter who wrote that story:
“You went over 20 years ago...and nothing has changed. The drain for the urine is still there in the center of the room, two people still do the job, the dogs still look around and get excited that someone has come to play with them, and then, dead. It is sickening to think that in the past 20 years over 400,000 animals have been killed in that room.’’

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/14/v-fullstory/2589775/miami-dade-pet-lovers-push-tax.html#storylink=cpy

The time is always right to do what is right - MLK Jr.

It's been a hard few weeks in Florida for our feral friends (more so than it usually is, at least). The fight for the Loews cats continues to rage on, although thanks to the collective voices of many they seem to have stopped trapping and are currently accepting proposals on how to handle the situation.

There is also a major relocation/adoption effort underway in Miami, targeting the cats in AD Doug Barnes Park :

Cat Network is working in cooperation with Miami-Dade Parks Dept and Animal Services to trap, medically vet and put up for adoption the cats at AD Barnes Park. The Parks Dept has tried for almost 7 years to control the cat population in that park, but unsuccessfully. They have been threatened with a lawsuit because county law forbids cats in parks and it is not being enforced. So, to humanely remove the cats, we are looking for adoptive homes, farms, yards where these cats can go.

How can you help? We need volunteer trappers for Tues, Wed and Thu nights this week. We also need to volunteers to help at the adoption event on Sat and Sun, and volunteers to help take cats to vet that need sterilization, testing, etc. The adoption event will take place at AD Barnes Park 11-4pm. This  is a chance to make a difference in the lives of these cats. Any cats not adopted will be housed at an undisclosed location and the adoption event repeated.



These cats are actually ones I used to go and play with when I was a kid. There also may or may not have been a few from this colony that I tried to sneak home with me...! I've volunteered to help with this project, since these cats are near and dear to me.


The University of Miami has also been discussing our own feral cat population, with the fate of many in the hands of a few. I've done my best to educate those in a position to ensure their safety, and now can only wait for the verdict (although mark my words there will be a fight if the result isn't what I want to hear... the campus cat allies have all said they'd go to bat for the cats, and we're prepared to do whatever we need to do for them!!). I'll write more on this later...


There is also a legislative bill on the table to help support efforts to control pet overpopulation in Florida. It's a long shot, I'm not naive about that, but it's also the right thing to do and desperately needed. More to be posted shortly about this new bill as well.


So as you can see there is no rest for the weary when it comes to protecting our unwanted animals in Florida (and everywhere for that matter...). From cats to dogs and even raccoons, foxes and other critters, there are always those who want to take the easy route of extermination than the right path of humane control. They're always in need of voices fighting on their behalf, and volunteers to help make their lives more comfortable. I strongly urge everyone to get involved in any way possible... you can't save the lives of all of them, but even saving one changes that animals life forever.

Cat activists urge Orlando hotels to keep feral cats

January 13, 2012|By Sara K. Clarke, Orlando Sentinel

 

Animal-rights activists have called for a boycott of the Loews hotels at Universal Orlando because the resorts have decided to change their stance on providing a safe harbor for feral cats.
The Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort had what Orange County Animal Services dubbed a "model program" for dealing with strays that included trapping and spaying or neutering them before returning them to a cat colony on the property. But the hotels said this week they have now been warned that, for liability reasons, they should not maintain the colonies.

Cat lovers across the U.S. are not happy.
"I feel sick," Shari Bambino wrote on the hotels' Facebook page. "My family and I chose your property for a recent vacation specifically because of the way you modeled good world citizenship by caring for these cats … We had planned to return for another visit this summer. I will be watching and hoping for good news."
Christine Michaels, who runs the Riverfront Cats advocacy group in South Florida, sounded the alarm Monday after learning about the end of Loews' trap-neuter-release program. She contacted fellow cat bloggers, unleashing a wave of social-media protests encouraging cat lovers to call and email the hotels.
A spokeswoman for Loews would not go into detail about what the hotel was planning to do with the cats but said: "Some options have been offered that we will consider. … Any action we take will make the health and safety of our guests and team members our top priority."

Earlier this week, Loews told those commenting on its Facebook page that the feral cats at its Orlando hotels were "being humanely trapped and taken to a local shelter." But on Friday it said the cat colony remained "unharmed and on property."
"We are working to find a solution that keeps the health and safety of our guests a priority while taking the most humane approach possible," the company wrote. "Loews Hotels welcomes any viable suggestions. If you'd like to make a recommendation or can provide a safe sanctuary for these feral cats, please contact: input@loewshotels.com."

The controversy is perhaps more noteworthy because Loews touts its love of animals in its promotions, using the tagline "Loews Loves Pets." According to the company's website, it has the "most pet friendly hotels around," with pets receiving gifts and special treats at check-in.

George Ricci, a bellman who began Loews' trap-neuter-release program about five years ago, said there are about 20 cats at the two properties. Caretakers arrange for the food and care at their own expense; Loews had a "don't ask, don't tell" approach, until now, he said.
"They never told us they were calling the exterminators," he said. "The first thing that triggered us is we saw traps set around the property." Loews has removed the traps, Ricci said, and he hopes to convince management that keeping the current colony is the best way to prevent more strays from moving in and multiplying.

Animal-rights activists argue that even relocating cats can be inhumane because it alienates them from familiar territory and a food source they have come to trust. Feral cats cannot be adopted as house pets because they are not accustomed to dealing with people.

According to Orange County Animal Services, which paid a visit to the hotels on Thursday, none of Universal's cats have arrived at its shelters. The animal-services officer who visited the hotels reported that Universal had decided to give the cats' caretakers a chance to relocate them, with a deadline of next Wednesday. But Universal has since removed the deadline, the county agency said.
Kat Kennedy, a spokeswoman for Orange County Animal Services, said the agency has notified a volunteer organization that helps establish and care for feral-cat colonies and is working to coordinate the various groups interested in resolving the situation.
"Of course, from our perspective, the most important thing is that everything is done in a humane fashion," Kennedy said.
skclarke@tribune.com

TNR Works at Theme Parks

This article was taken from Alley Cat Allies

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TNR at Work – Disneyland Finds Balance with Feral Cats

Mickey Mouse may have put Disneyland on the map 55 years ago, but today, a colony of feral cats helps keep the famous theme park rodent-free.
No one is quite sure when the cats moved in, but feral cats have made their home on Disneyland Resort’s grounds for at least a quarter century, and likely since the park opened in 1955. Rather than try to evict them, Disneyland staff have set an example as a corporate giant, embracing the cats as an integral part of the park’s everyday operations.
“We view them as partners. It’s kind of a symbiotic relationship with them,” explains Gina Mayberry, who oversees the Circle D Ranch where Disneyland’s animals are housed. The cats, whom she dubs “natural exterminators,” see to it that Disneyland’s rodent population is kept in check.
The cats are free to come and go as they please, but don’t expect to spot one on your next visit—Mayberry says guests rarely see them, as they hide during the daytime. According to a May article in the LA Times, an estimated 200 cats join Disneyland Resort’s overnight maintenance team after the crowds have gone home, prowling the parks’ manicured greenery in search of mice.
Feral cats have been welcome at Disneyland as long as 25-year veteran Mayberry can remember, but it was only seven years ago that animal care staff at the park took it upon themselves to do right by their feline employees and institute Trap-Neuter-Return. Aided by local organizations including FixNation, Disneyland developed a lasting protocol for the humane care of the resort’s cats.
“What we do is trap the cats, get them spayed or neutered and make sure they get a wellness check and release them back into the population,” says Mayberry. Although Disneyland doesn’t monitor the total number of cats, she says the program has been quite successful at adopting out kittens and “maintaining a balance” between cat population and the Disneyland environment.
After the cats are neutered and returned to the park grounds, they receive continuing managed care. They dine at five discreet feeding stations throughout the resort, which are strategically placed to minimize interaction with cast members and resort guests.
“We want to keep them feral so they don’t find the need to associate or interact with people,” says Mayberry.
It’s refreshing to see such a high-profile park treating all its visitors and inhabitants humanely—not just the human ones. Disneyland Resort’s TNR program proves that large, high-profile organizations and feral cat colonies can not only peacefully share the same property, but also strike up a mutually beneficial relationship that improves conditions for both parties. Or as Mayberry puts it, “I truly believe that they do benefit us as well we benefit them.”

Update on Loews Feral Cats...

Riverfront Cats

Here's the latest update on the cat situation at Loews and Royal Pacific in Orlando:

Loews has indicated they will stop trapping. This was shared on their Facebook page and told to OCAS (Orange County Animal Services) that immediately went to the Loews property to investigate and improper trapping.

HOWEVER, Loews has indicated looking into other alternatives. What's important to know that RELOCATION IS NOT AN OPTION! Why? For many reasons. First relocation is very risky and complicated. Caretakers must find a place and person that will take in 20 unadoptable cats and care for them, feed them, etc. No-kill shelters do NOT take feral cats because they are not adoptable. The best solution is for them to stay where they are--the Loews property. TNR and managed colonies works. Its proven. Alley Cat Allies website is an excellent resources in explaining this.

Loews claims they are looking into other "viable" solutions for the "safety of the guests". The feral cats pose no more risk than pets allowed INSIDE the hotel. If anything, indoor animals pose higher risk. The outdoor cats ARE LOEWS PETS! They had a successful TNR/managed colony program, there is NO REASON to get rid of the cats.

We must continue to educate the management at Loews about feral cats and the risks of relocation. This is PHASE 2 in our efforts to save the Loews and Royal Pacific cats!

First, feral cats are not similar to a pack of wild boars. They do not come charging after moving objects or people. It means they may not be entirely social with humans. Some are more social than others. Examples: One cat may let you pet it but not pick up in your arms. Another cat may let you pet her,pick her up but will not let you touch her if you come across her in another section of the land and not the usual feeding station. Some simply can not adjust to indoor boundaries and go stir crazy without the freedom to run and climb.

Your support has made a difference and we must continue to charge forward! Please know that Christine Michaels is now the designated media person for this effort having started this campaign and the person who visited the site last year and took photos of cat stations to write a case study of a successful TNR/managed colony by local business.

Please do not contact David Bartek. He has not listened to reason. Also per my source, Mr. Bartek said it was Universal Studio's (landlord) decision to get rid of the cats. If so, then we should place pressure on Universal! They are promoters of family-friendly Cat in the Hat, now why are they turning to deadly "Cat in the Trap"? The  Public Relations rep for Universal is Vince Laruffa. I'm told he's a very nice person.

These two hotels Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LoewsUniversalOrlando
The entire company’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LoewsHotels
Twitter account: http://twitter.com/Loews_Hotels

CEO of Loews: Jtisch@loewshotels.com (Johnathon Tisch)
Director of Public Relations for Loews: Jennifer Hodges, call 407 503-9090, fax 407-503-9005, jhodges@loewshotels.com
PR rep for Universal Studios: Vince Laruffa, Vince.Laruffa@universalorlando.com

Please have media contact Christine Michaels via email and she will return their call immediately, day or night! riverfrontcats@yahoo.com.

Thank you all for your commitment to educate and fight and save these innocent cats!!!

URGENT CALL TO ACTION

I have been a long time season pass holder at Universal Studios in Orlando, and often stay onsite at the Lowes hotels when I visit the theme parks for the weekend. After learning some very upsetting news this morning about a company I used to support, I can honestly say I will never stay at another Lowes Hotel until their recent actions against their feral cats have been amended. TNR is the only solution for dealing with feral cat colonies, and as history has shown us - where there is a feral colony there will always be a feral colony. Removing cats and having them killed (because taking them to a shelter is a certain death sentence) will only give room for more cats to move in and take over the area, thus continuing the cycle of trap-kill-repeat. Only by practicing TNR and properly maintaining a colony can you ever hope to stop the problem of over population! 

Citing human health concerns as the justification for killing innocent animals who have been taught to feel safe (Lowes used to have an excellent TNR program in Orlando, and even built cat houses for the feral colonies on their property), only further shows that ignorance is acceptable and misinformation is too often taken as fact. An extensive study by Stanford University has shown without question that health problems in cats DO NOT affect humans, and a properly controlled feral cat colony can actually be beneficial to the humans who interact with them. Lowes is taking a stance based on ignorance, and touting it as hard evidence to justify the cruelty they are practicing. I urge all my friends, readers and fellow animal lovers to not only boycott Lowes Hotels, but to tell them exactly what you think about what they're doing!!!

The article below was taken from Catster, and I urge you all to heed their advice and take up arms!!! Together we can be speak for those who cannot defend themselves, and we will be heard!!!

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Call to Action: Loews Hotel at Universal Suddenly Stops TNR Program, Begins Trapping Feral Cats, Sending them to Kill Shelter

Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando had a model TNR program. They were a great example of how it can work, and even built “cat mansions” for their ferals to eat comfortably from.

Two days ago, however, they completely reversed their stance and began trapping the cats in their cared-for feral colony and supposedly taking them to a local shelter, citing guest safety as the reason. I think we all know what fate feral cats have at shelters — they are generally not adoptable, so sending them there is almost certain death.

From what I have heard, there are only 10 cats at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and 12 cats at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort there. Twenty-two precious, innocent lives. The fact alone that there are so few on such a large property shows that TNR works.

One of the beautiful, safe feeding stations set up for the cats at Loews Portofino, now a trap is set RIGHT next to it.

I’m writing this here because we have a voice. We are many, and we need to let Loews Hotels know that what they are doing is wrong. I understand the need for “guest safety” and some places do not wish to have feral cats — but a complete reversal on policy all of the sudden and total lack of regard for the well-being of these cats is unacceptable. They could work with local rescue groups or ensure the cats are taken to no-kill places or, at the very least, some sort of sanctuary where they could live their lives out, well, alive.

Loews had a model TNR program to be proud of (and they touted it with signs!), and now this is what they're doing? Trapping right where the cats feel safe.

It was confirmed today that a mother and her four kittens were trapped at their other sister property, Hard Rock Hotel and brought to Orange County Animal Services yesterday — and they were euthanized today.
This is me writing from my own outrage. I know I personally would never stay at one of their hotels knowing they are doing this. I’m sure most of you would feel the same.

This is what Loews Portofino Hotel posted on their Facebook page in response to everyone’s concern for their cats and disappointment in their stopping their TNR program:
“Loews Hotels is a pet-friendly hotel brand and we support the humane treatment of animals. It is important to share the facts surrounding this issue. Feral cats at our Orlando hotels are being humanely trapped and taken to a local shelter. For liability reasons, we were advised not to maintain a cat colony in our hotel environment. All cats that were part of an established colony on property are being safely re-located. Our commitment to addressing this issue in a humane and responsible way will continue.”

Loews main Facebook page posted this:
“We appreciate and respect the opinions expressed. While Loews loves pets, like many Florida businesses, we have plans and procedures to address issues involving outdoor, undomesticated animals on our property. The decision to remove the feral cat colony humanely and relocate them to a local shelter takes into consideration the safety and comfort of all our guests.”
They insist what they are doing is “humane and responsible,” but I fail to see how sending cats to certain death is either of those — humane trap or not.

So how can we help save these innocent cats?

Consider contacting Loews Hotel and Universal and letting them know what they are doing is not right. There are better ways.
Here is the contact information I’ve been able to gather. Feel free to contact any or all of them, but let’s try to do it diplomatically and rationally. We want them to see our view and concern, not think we’re a bunch of crazy loonies (we’re not, of course, but I don’t want them to dismiss our concerns for any reason).
The GM of Loews (whose decision this ultimately was) — Mr. David Bartek, 407-503-9000, dbartek@loewshotels.com

These two hotels Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LoewsUniversalOrlando
The entire company’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LoewsHotels
Twitter account: http://twitter.com/Loews_Hotels

CEO of Loews: Jtisch@loewshotels.com
Director of Public Relations for Loews: Jennifer Hodges, call 407 503-9090, fax 407-503-9005, jhodges@loewshotels.com
PR rep for Universal Studios: Vince Laruffa, Vince.Laruffa@universalorlando.com

Write a review on their Google maps page (Right now they have 3.5 stars – let’s post about this there! Scroll a little at the link to the red “REVIEW” button.) Loews Portofino page here and Loews Royal Pacific page here.
Leave a review on their Travelocity pages here and here.
Leave a review on their Hotels.com pages: Loew’s Portofino Hotels.com page and Loews Royal Pacific Hotels.com page.
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Just a note: All of this is my opinion. Blogging can be incredibly powerful, and I hope that by spreading the word about what Loews is doing, it helps save these innocent cats. Please feel free to pass this along or write posts of your own. Like my good friend at I Have Cat posted: “Don’t mess with cat people!”
Now let’s let them know how unhappy we are with their decision! I’ll post updates here as I hear any new information. Please share in the comments if you do, too!

Surgery

Sterilizations on the Meow Mobile are down to an absolute science. 

Everything is run according to a very strict set of guidelines, which not only allow things to move smoothly and at a good pace, but that also help ensure each animal is getting the best care and attention possible. From a timer counting how long an animal is under anesthesia, to vaccines/pain meds/antibiotics being administered in a specific location, everything is done for a very exact reason. This not only allows everyone on the team to know exactly what is happening with each animal, but it also allows us to know what exactly is wrong should something happen (for example, by administering each vaccine in a specific location you can pin point exactly what an animal is reacting to should complications arise because of the medication. It's rare, but even one time is enough to warrant standard procedures in every case). 

It really is an art form!!

Sterilization of a female cat

Sterilization of a cryptorchid male

Sterilization go time

Kittens can be sterilized beginning at 8 weeks of age, with the ideal age being around 12 weeks (they're younger so they recover faster...). This little lady is a feral kitten who was caught with an older male cat (I like to think it was her protective older brother). She was around 8 weeks old when trapped, and now will have the chance to live a longer, healthier life because she's sterilized. Aside from preventing unwanted litters in an already over populated area, animals live better, healthier lives when they're sterilized... constant pregnancies and nursing litters can leave animals very, very sick, not to mention all the other problems brought on by a life time of reproduction (cancer, pyrometra, inbreeding, etc).

So not only is sterilization the only way we will ever get control of the overpopulation problem and all the deaths in shelters from overcrowding, but it's also the humane thing to do for the animals to ensure they live the healthy lives they deserve!!!

Exploring

Just when you think there's nothing else the furry freaks can do that's new, they go and prove you wrong. Over the holiday Zadie managed to find a couple new spots to monitor her minions (because yes, the people and the other animals are all her minions... at least in her mind (as expressed in her attitude)). The top of the refrigerator has become one of the most popular new places, despite there not really being much room up there...

Zadie has reached the summit

sleepy love

The freaks were all a snuggle yesterday for another lazy day... I guess these freakishly low Miami temperatures are a good enough reason for sleepy snuggling!!!

Emily has creepy snuggles with Madeline

 

Madeline moves on to less creepy snuggles with Emma