At the ARL, we sadly see people needing to surrender their pets because they had to move and could not find a place that will take their pets. Because we are dedicated to preventing animals from being homeless, we try to help make suggestions if we know of any places that take pets. But we can’t possibly cover all areas, so here are a few suggestions if you or someone you know are in the situation where you need to move with your pets:

1.       The number one recommendation is to plan ahead. Most people know in advance if they will have to move. Start looking immediately for a place that will accept your pets. Don’t assume that any place will allow your pets, and even if they claim to take pets, check their restrictions. Some will restrict to only cats, small dogs and many will not allow some dog breeds.

2.       Contact as many resources as possible: real estate agents, apartment community managers, area shelters and rescue groups, and even the newspapers (local papers are best). Most supermarkets have free rental guides.

3.       The Internet is a wealth of information. Craigslist offers listing of rentals by city or town. Also, realtor.com allows you to search for rentals with the criteria that pets are allowed.  There may be other web sites to find if you just do some searching.

4.       Network with people!  You would be surprised at how many people know a friend who is looking to rent their property. Just like job hunting, sometimes your best resource is through someone you know.

5.       Consider renting a home instead of an apartment where you can speak directly to the owner or rental agent. You may stand a better chance of convincing them to take your pets.

6.       Do a good sell job that you are a responsible pet owner by explaining that your pet is house/litter trained and well-behaved. But be sure that you really are! A well-trained pet is a must for renters.  You stand the risk of being fined or even evicted if your dog barks too much or if the property is being destroyed.

7.       Remember that you may need to pay a security deposit prior to renting to cover any damages your pets may incur, and also some places may require an extra monthly pet fee.  Be sure to factor that into your budget.

It’s starting. What all open admission animal shelters dread – kitten season. The time of year when the stray and feral cats give birth to their litters of kittens, and people bring them into the shelters because they don’t know what else to do with them. Kitten season lasts from now until the late fall when the weather gets colder. Shelters will see hundreds/thousands of cats and kittens turned in during these months. It is a HUGE problem and accounts for the largest percentage of animals in shelters and very sadly, the biggest reason for euthanasia.

Someone called into a talk show on WEEU radio this week and asked for advice on what to do about a cat who had kittens in her yard. The woman stated that she didn’t want to bring them to the ARL because “they just kill them.” Whoa!!!  It’s so sad that people are uninformed and make these blanket statements. 

Here is the truth about what the ARL does with kittens:

1.       If the mother is with the kittens, we will look for foster homes. Very often, staff members and volunteers step up to this task and bring the animals into their own homes.

2.       We contact area cat rescue groups to see if they can take them.

3.       The ARL has established relationships with several other shelters who will help if we need assistance.

4.       If kittens are brought in without the mother and they must be bottle-fed, this is the most challenging scenario because we must find homes who are willing to commit to bottle feeding the kittens. This is difficult and arduous work. Not many people will do this.

5.       Our last resort is humane euthanasia when all other options have been exhausted. If we are out of space, have no foster homes available, and other shelters or rescues are full, we have no choice. As the only open admission shelter in the area, we do not turn away any animal and we do our best to find them homes.

Things to Consider if You Find Kittens:

• A mother cat will periodically leave her nest to hunt for food. If you see young kittens without their mother, it is likely she will return. It is always better for young kittens to remain with their mother. As discussed above, pre-weaned kittens (under 4 weeks) without a mother are very difficult to care for. The mother should return to the nest within a few hours if you watch quietly from a distance.
• A mother cat may also regularly move her nest of kittens instinctively. If you see a single young kitten, it is likely that it’s the first of the group moved to a new location or the last of the group in the old location. 

To stop the killing, we need the help of the public. People simply should not assume that it’s someone else’s problem. No shelter wants to kill animals. We can’t do it all alone - we need the public to help us to minimize the numbers of cats and kittens who come into shelters. Spay and neuter!  If you know someone who is feeding stray cats, offer advice on where to get low-cost spay and neuter. Fairchild Foundation is making a difference in this community by helping with trap-neuter-release (TNR) services.

Please be a part of the solution – spread the word to help prevent homeless animals.

When I was young and my first dog got sick, my mom spent $300 for our dog to receive kidney dialysis. It was a fortune back then. And we did not regret it because it gave us an extra month with our precious little 15-year-old Poodle. When my next dog developed cancer, I was an adult and making lots more money. And I spent a lot more money on her treatment. Lots and lots more. I never hesitated because she was the love of my life and I had the money. Today, it’s a different story. I work for a small non-profit animal shelter and feel the pain of so many people in this country right now. Salaries are low and many of us are barely scraping by. Would I and could I spend as much money now if my dog were to need expensive veterinary care?

It’s so easy to say that you would spend any amount of money to keep your pet alive. If it comes down to a decision between putting food on your table, paying your mortgage or spending the money on a pet, that’s a debatable question. The New York Times ran an article yesterday about the ethics of spending excessively to treat a pet. They present several opinions from various notorieties in the animal and health care field: John Grogan, author of Marley and Me, Temple Grandin, noted animal behavior expert, and others.

There are factors to consider: the age of the pet, the prognosis for treatment, and of course, your financial status. But the emotional factors cannot be weighed. In our society, pets are family members and that cannot have a price tag assigned to it. There are those who argue that the treatment for the pet should not exceed the replacement cost. Hmm, I guess then the Guinea Pig that cost $5 to adopt at the ARL and who your children adore should only receive $5’s worth of veterinary care. Needless to say, I would throw out that argument!

I encourage you to read the debate in the New York Times article. It’s thought provoking because many of us will face such decisions at some time in our animal-loving lives.