After all of the animal 'collecting' or 'hoarding' or 'saving' (select one), we have never had an animal with testicles, offspring, or an animal producing milk. This is a positive thing, I know.
Sometimes it just seems sad that we would love to have kittens to love and enjoy.... The kittens we have had in the past are all semi-feral, wormy, mean little bastards who grow up with adult cats and never get to be that 'litter-of-insanity' that we love so much. Oh well.
Aborting humans is the best thing in the world. I love the idea and totally support it. Goodbye to the 5 kittens that were removed when my most recent rescue got spayed. The only way to protect the 5 of you was to never let you exist. I am sorry, and you would have been loved I am sure.
May 31, 2011
May 23, 2011
Cell phone contacts include:
local animal emergency clinic
veterinary clinic #1
nearest tack shop
veterinary clinic #2
veterinary clinic #3
Foffarm's regular vet for dogs and cats
Foffarm's regular vet for horses
dog groomers
tack shop for blanket repairs
veterinary clinic #4
veterinary clinic #5 (for my ball python)
Foffarm's regular farrier
Nova Scotia's hotline to report stranded whales
local animal emergency clinic
veterinary clinic #1
nearest tack shop
veterinary clinic #2
veterinary clinic #3
Foffarm's regular vet for dogs and cats
Foffarm's regular vet for horses
dog groomers
tack shop for blanket repairs
veterinary clinic #4
veterinary clinic #5 (for my ball python)
Foffarm's regular farrier
Nova Scotia's hotline to report stranded whales
May 22, 2011
Meet the Human: Foffmom
I was casual about my animal rescuing for years. If a four-legged someone walked up our drive, I would give them a chance. Usually, they fit in and became family. We live in what passes for country near a city (aka acreage yet to be developed). So we are in close range for humans looking to "drop" an animal. Some of them wandered in. Their stories may show up here later. But it was not a serious endeavor until the little black cat/kitten.
I had seen it, scurrying across the road in front of my car. I pulled off on the shallow shoulder, and did my best "kitty, here kitty" routine. The young cat looked over it's shoulder as it put on the afterburners and ripped through the green blades of long grass. I thought I would try that again with cat food, and went on with my life.
Weeks passed. I thought about the cat when I drove past the spot, and I may have seen it once more. I intended to come back with cat food, and spend more time, but somehow didn't find the time. On a frosty morning, after I drove over the bridge, I spotted the cat again. It was roadkill. This was sickening enough, this small black form at the edge of our two lane country road. But what drove me into a cat pursuing maniac was this: its quiet, motionless body beside the asphalt was starvation thin.
I had seen it, scurrying across the road in front of my car. I pulled off on the shallow shoulder, and did my best "kitty, here kitty" routine. The young cat looked over it's shoulder as it put on the afterburners and ripped through the green blades of long grass. I thought I would try that again with cat food, and went on with my life.
Weeks passed. I thought about the cat when I drove past the spot, and I may have seen it once more. I intended to come back with cat food, and spend more time, but somehow didn't find the time. On a frosty morning, after I drove over the bridge, I spotted the cat again. It was roadkill. This was sickening enough, this small black form at the edge of our two lane country road. But what drove me into a cat pursuing maniac was this: its quiet, motionless body beside the asphalt was starvation thin.
Meet the Human: Curious Subject (Foffdaughter)
There are the people who get it, and the people who don't. Sure, that is politically incorrect and unfair to generalize, but it seems to be that way.
When the Foffarm family acquires a new animal, the outside world conversational responses are either:
"Tell me! (Gender, age, condition circumstances... etc.)" That person gets it.
OR
"How many animals do you have now?" This person doesn't.
We are the unwanted animal cleanup crew. They come to us, and those are the lucky ones. We don't go shopping for a pet, although we have gone to the humane society or a rescue in the past. (This is always followed by more animals falling into our laps, so the rescued creatures actually seem indulgent.) There is an undeniable misunderstanding about this entire practice when a new human hears.
Friendly teasing involves phrases like, "crazy cat people," or "collectors." Sure we are crazy cat people. It makes us crazy when someone ties a kitten in a plastic bag and drops it on the road with one goal in mind. Sure we are collectors. When a puppy wanders to our front step with a dangling broken leg, we will make room.
What sort of comfort is it supposed to be when a friend sympathetically pats my shoulder saying, "you can't save them all." Why are you soothing my failure? Why don't we ask why the creatures need saving the first place? Why is it implied that I am fully responsible when I am just cleaning up after my despicable species?
When the Foffarm family acquires a new animal, the outside world conversational responses are either:
"Tell me! (Gender, age, condition circumstances... etc.)" That person gets it.
OR
"How many animals do you have now?" This person doesn't.
We are the unwanted animal cleanup crew. They come to us, and those are the lucky ones. We don't go shopping for a pet, although we have gone to the humane society or a rescue in the past. (This is always followed by more animals falling into our laps, so the rescued creatures actually seem indulgent.) There is an undeniable misunderstanding about this entire practice when a new human hears.
Friendly teasing involves phrases like, "crazy cat people," or "collectors." Sure we are crazy cat people. It makes us crazy when someone ties a kitten in a plastic bag and drops it on the road with one goal in mind. Sure we are collectors. When a puppy wanders to our front step with a dangling broken leg, we will make room.
What sort of comfort is it supposed to be when a friend sympathetically pats my shoulder saying, "you can't save them all." Why are you soothing my failure? Why don't we ask why the creatures need saving the first place? Why is it implied that I am fully responsible when I am just cleaning up after my despicable species?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)