Cats

In Feb-March this year it was damn cold out an there was a ton of snow on the ground.  I would look outside and be grateful I had a warm house to be inside.  I kept on seeing an orange cat running around.  Could it be a neighbor cat?  If it was why would they let it out in such freezing weather?  I watched and saw it here and there and had a hunch it was a stray.  Just in case I made a little shelter and put some food in it on our front porch.  The cat often came to our step then went under our front deck for shelter.  I tried to get close to it but no way jose.  So I put food out everyday and eventually got a humane trap to catch him.  I put some sardines in it and got him right away and then took him to the Humane Society.

Then we had another little guy - this time a grey one that was hung like a grape.  He was more friendly and seemed more tame but also didn't seem to have a home.  I talked with our neighbor and she took that one in also to the Humane Society.

When you take an animal into them, they first put its picture up on their Stray animals section.  If they are not claimed they eventually go up for adoption.  The humane society is such an awesome place but what shocks me is this:

•  They currently have over 400 cats in their care

• A huge percentage of them have to be fixed before being adopted out...at a cost to the humane society and those of us who donate to it
  
• The number of people who just let their cats wander or move and leave them behind
  
• The number of people who don't fix their cats and then let them roam

It boggles my mind that people are still not getting the message.  The number of people who have the latest vehicle and TV, but can't spend a few bucks to get their pets spayed or neutered makes me crazy.  Pets are not disposable things.  If you don't want to look after it properly...don't get one.  If you can't have it anymore for some reason then be responsible and find it a good home.

I am so happy the humane society has such a nice facility now and it's mostly thanks to a lady that left a substantial contribution (millions) to the Edmonton SPCA in her will.  What a great thing to do!  Hopefully one day people will be more responsible but at least now some of these helpless critters have a place to go and people to care for them till they find a proper home.