FOSTER A KITTY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

FOSTER A KITTY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

A Tail at a Time is looking for a few fosters to spread some holiday cheer.  We have a few adoptables that are looking for temporary homes for the holidays while their longer term fosters are away.  The time frame would be 1 to 2 weeks.

1. Fox - She's a 3 yr old sweetheart who gets along great with other cats AND dogs!

2. Terry is a 4 month old male tuxedo rescued off the euthanasia list of a local shelter.  

 3. Jenny is an 8 month old tabby female with a look in her eye like she knows something you don't.  She's very intelligent and loves to be the center of attention - but left to her own devices she can easily entertain herself as well.

4.  Sweetie Pie is looking for a more permanent home.  She's about a year and half and was rescued from a hoarder.  She will follow you around and loves to wiggle on her back.  She does play a little, but is more of a peaceful and quiet little soul.

PLEASE LET US KNOW ASAP IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Miss Mia Needs A Home

Mia Helena is a 6 month old female kitten in need of a good home.  She's a beautiful and playful tabby kitty with a white chest and white paws.  Here is a picture:

Mia's  eyelids were formed from birth so that her eyelashes turned inward and abraded the eye surface.   Her previous guardian did not address this. Eye surgery has corrected this so that she is now free of pain and the eyelashes no longer brush against the eyes.  Her eyesight was slightly diminished but is now stable. 


About 9 months ago, I adopted my kitten Maya from A Tail at a Time, who has a similar problem with her vision.  She can see close up if there's a lot of light, but not so well from a few feet away.  I bring this up, because I can understand how many people may be nervous about adopting a kitten that's not physically perfect, but I want to assure anyone who has those concerns, that truly, cats are resourceful and resilient animals and they can get a long just fine in these situations.  There can even be a more special bond between an owner and animal they've chosen to love, despite an imperfection.


Here are a few pictures of my cat Maya, so you can see what I mean:

Here she is lounging on a shelf in my wall unit...

 and in the sink...

and hanging with her brother, Attila.  (Attila, btw, has no vision problems, and yet can be quite a challenge, while Maya is a dream.)

As you can see, she has no trouble getting around whatsoever, and she brings nothing but joy to my life.  I'm sure Mia Helena will do the same for her future owner.

If you're interested in learning more about Mia, you can view her adoption page here: http://atailatatime.homestead.com/news.html.  You can also email adopt@atailatatime.org or call 917-216-1748.

Litter Box Issues? Have No Fear...

One of the most common reasons people give for getting rid of their feline companions is that the cats are doing their business outside of the litter box.  While this certainly can be a very serious problem, the good news is, there are several things you can do to help alleviate the issue, and 9 times out of 10, they work.  Here are the Top 10 Litter Box Tips to help your cat avoid litter box problems:

1. Keep it clean.

No one — especially cats with their ultra-sensitive sense of smell — likes a dirty, stinky bathroom. Scoop out your cat’s litterbox daily, and change the litter weekly.

2. But not too clean

Stay away from harsh cleaning chemicals like bleach, pine or citrus cleaners, which can leave a scent in the box your cat won’t like. Simply wash the litterbox with hot, soapy water and rinse well.

3. If it works, don’t fix it.

A sale on cat litter is a common reason to switch litter brands. Unfortunately, this can trigger litterbox problems. Cats want litter that smells and feels familiar. Thus, if your cat likes his litter, don’t change it.

4. Something old, something new

Some cats don’t like new litter because it doesn’t have their smell. For these finicky felines, sprinkle some old litter on top of the new. This reassures your cat that the bathroom is indeed his.

5. One for each cat, plus one

Another common mistake is having too few litterboxes. Experts recommend one litterbox per cat, plus one more. That means a household with three cats needs four litterboxes.

6. Spread ‘em.

To a cat, two litterboxes next to each other equals one big box. Put litterboxes in different areas of the house, with at least one on each floor.

7. Peace and quiet

If your cat gets startled by a thumping washing machine or rambunctious kids while using the litterbox, she will quickly find a more peaceful place to go. Give your cat quiet bathrooms away from noisy, high traffic areas.

8. Privacy, please

Cats like their privacy, but that doesn’t mean you should hide their litterboxes. Choosing a location where kitty can see who is approaching is important, especially in multi-cat homes where a dominant cat might try to ambush another cat using the box. This is also a prime example of why cats sharing a home need extra boxes.

9. Ditch the hood.

Although you might like to keep it covered, most cats don’t care for hooded litterboxes. Covers keep odors in and don’t allow kitty to keep an eye on the surroundings while taking care of business.

10. Plain and simple

Whether you use clay litter or a natural product like wheat, corn or recycled newspaper, stay away from perfumes and fragrances. These unnatural scents are added to make litter appealing to people, not to cats.

“Cats are attracted to areas where there’s some residual odor of urine or feces,” says Benjamin Hart, a veterinary behaviorist. “They go back to that area because it smells like a toilet area, so it’s kind of an attractive place.”

If you follow these guidelines, your cat’s litterbox will be that attractive place. You’ll say goodbye to litterbox problems and hello to a happy, well-trained cat.

The above article is by Helen Jablonski, originally posted here: http://www.catchannel.com/Magazines/CatFancy/august-2008/top-10-litterbox-tips.aspx

Tips to Keep Your Cat Off Your Counters

My kitten, Attila, is OBSESSED with my kitchen counter.  And who could blame him?  I live in a small one bedroom  apartment with not a lot of space for him to jump, climb, and play, so it's only natural he find this to be an excellent spot for exploration.  Unfortunately, I eat off those counters and rather prefer to not find cat hair in my food.  As such, I've been doing some research to try to find solutions to these problems.  Here is an excerpt from an article I found helpful:

"Cats jumping up on counters or tables in the kitchen can be a nuisance, plus very dangerous for the cat if he happens to jump on a hot stove versus a counter. Cats love to jump.  It is in their nature.  They love being in high places and they are also naturally curious about the unknown.  This is a common behavior problem that many cat owners seem to face.  Fortunately, there are some things you can try to help rid your cat of this undesirable behavior.  

One of the first things you can use to deter your cat is noise.  It is important however, that you disassociate yourself from the noise so the cat doesn't know it is coming from you.  If the cat cannot determine where the noise is coming from, it should quickly learn to stay away from the area whether the owner is present or not. Cats do not like loud noises and will associate the noise with the behavior and avoid it. Throwing or shaking a metal can full of pennies or popping a balloon are two of the most common noise deterrents used.

Another method you can try (that doesn't require you to be there to catch your cat in the act) is to place various items on the counter or table that your cat will dislike.  You can place double sided tape along the edges of the counter.  Cats hate the feeling of sticky tape, and will be discouraged after one or two tries.  You can also place aluminum foil along your countertops.  Not only do cats dislike the feeling of the aluminum but they also hate the noise as well.     

You can also try a combination of the two methods.  This is done by popping a balloon if front of your cat a couple of times.  Your cat will soon learn that he dislikes balloons a lot.  Then you can tape some filled balloons along your countertop.  The cat will associate the balloons with the noise they heard previously and will want to avoid them.  There may be other items your cat does not like because of the sound they make. Placing several of these on the counter within visual range of the cat, may also persuade your cat to stop jumping up.

 

It is also important to try to redirect your cat's attention away from the areas by giving him areas he is aloud to jump on.  You may want to invest in a climbing tree or cat tower to help satisfy your cat's urge to jump and climb.  Make the tree more desirable by placing toys on it or rubbing catnip on the posts.  Window seats may also help deter your cat by allowing them to jump up to the window and being able to explore what is outside.  Make sure to praise your cat when he uses the designated jumping areas.

There are also several commercial products specifically designed for this type of behavior problem.  One type of product is motion detectors, these products detect your cats movements and emit an alarm.  There is also a product called X-mat which  has hundreds of raised bumps, creating passive discomfort that teaches your cat to steer clear of kitchen counters without the use of alarms or electricity."

(The above was taken from this website: http://www.best-cat-tips.com/catbehaviorproblems.htm.  There are plenty of other helpful tips that can be found their as well.)

In addition to what's mentioned above, there are a couple of other products I've read about that might be worth trying if you have this problem - I have not yet tried either so I can only share with you what I've read from customer reviews.

Two Products to Keep Cat's Off Counters:

1. Ssscram - This is a motion sensor that detects when your cat is in range and emits a puff of odorless, colorless, and completely harmless gas in the cats direction that scares them so they leave the area.  All the customer reviews I've read say that it works.  The downside is, you have to keep replacing the cartridges and they're expensive.

2.  CatScram - This device also has a motion sensor and supposedly emits a sound that cats don't like, but that is inaudible to humans.  About 50% of the reviews I read said it worked, the others said it was bogus.  I like the idea that the only thing you need to replace are the batteries, but it's $35 on amazon.com and I'm not confident that it actually works - seems like it depends on the cat.

Tips to Train Your Aggressive Kitten

My aptly named kitten, Attila (after the Attila the Hun - the warrior/conqueror) is the light of my life.  He loves to cuddle and to come sit up on my lap, purr and play.  However, I have had some struggles with him, starting from when I got him at 6 weeks old, regarding his aggressive behavior.  He often comes up wanting to play, with his claws out in all their glory, and the result is deep scratches and bites covering the arms and legs of whichever human he's set his sights on.  He also sometimes gets angry, if you push him away, not wanting to play, and at that point will go straight into attack mode, not stopping his pursuit until I either squirt him with a water bottle, or put a door between us.  Given the situation, I've done some research on what to do in these situations and what I have learned has really helped temper Attila's behavior.  He's only a year old at this point, and not yet perfect, but he's certainly come a long way from where he started.

1.  Training your kitten - Hands are Not Cat Toys

Scratching and biting by kittens is commonly caused by poor play habits early on. It is very important that you do not "roughhouse" with your kitten in the manner you might use with a dog. Playing rough with your kitten will teach him that hands are toys - a lesson that will be harder to break later on. 

* This was something, had I known, I would have stressed to my boyfriend, who loved to watch baby Attila "rooster kick" his little feet and sink his tiny teeth into my boyfriend's hand - cute when he's 6 weeks old - not so cute at 3 months.

2. Trim his claws

Hey, Rome wasn't built in a night, and it will take some time to retrain your cat. Meanwhile, you might as well protect yourself from damage. Claw trimming should be done regularly, anyway. There is no need ever to declaw a cat because of scratching behavior. Here is a detailed step-by-step instruction for trimming your cat's claws.

3. Use Soft Claws

(Or Soft Paws - the same product as sold by veterinarians.) Soft Claws are plastic "Nail Caps" for cats, which take the sting out of scratching and minimize damage to furniture.

4. Give Him "Time-Out."

You can either leave the room or take him to a small quiet room and leave him there with the door closed. He may just be overstimulated and in need of some quiet recovery. Open the door after 15 minutes. If he is asleep, which is often the case, leave him alone for awhile. If he is awake, he may be needing some loving attention. Forget the play for now - just pet him and tell him how loved he is.  

*This one works really well in my experience.

5.  Yell "Ouch."

Don't scream it, but say "Ouch" loudly and clearly. While you have your cat's attention, slowly remove your hand from his clutches. Don't yank it away or he'll think play is on, and he'll grab it again. Instead, gently push your hand against the cat, then pull your hand away.

6. Redirect His Attention

If your kitten is focused on you as the play toy, it usually helps to give him something else to focus on.  I have a lot of stuffed cat toys (and Q-tips, which he loves) laying around the apartment, so when he does jump at my hand or foot to attack, I will quickly remove myself, and put a toy in his mouth.  He almost always then redirects his attention to the toy and I'm able to walk away.  He also learns that toys are for chewing on, and human hands are not.

7.  Curing your kitten's boredom

Often playful biting of hands or feet occurs simply because your cat is bored, and is looking for a play object. A few things that helped for me:

• I got him a playmate.  When I originally got Attila, I adopted him by himself.  A couple of months later, due to his over-active behavior, I adopted a second kitten, Maya, from A Tail at a Time.  Now he often chooses her as his playmate instead of my hands and feet. As a note, this is one the reasons A Tail at a Time will not let you adopt only one young kitten - two kittens are really about the same amount of work as one, but they amuse each other, instead of driving you crazy looking for entertainment.
• I try to play with him with an interactive toy every day.  He loves Da Bird, which is a bird that flies around the room on string and the feathers move like a real bird.  I also just got him a laser-beam, which is great for me, because when I'm feeling lazy, I can just sit on the couch and he can chase it all around the room.
• Cat trees, scratching posts, hanging things that dangle around the apartment - anything that your kitten can climb on or bat at, will help him expend his energy.

 8.  Feliway

I haven't had a chance to personally try this product yet, but it's been recommended to me.  It is supposedly affective at calming cats down so they are less likely to scratch you and your furniture, bite, etc.  Here is the website: http://www.feliway.com/us


Acknowledgments:  Many of the above tips were taken from Franny Syufy's article in the About.com Guide.  You can find the original article here: http://cats.about.com/od/faqsbehavior/f/scratchbitekit.htm

Missing Cat Returns Home After 5 Months Thanks to Microchip

 I love stories with a happy ending so I wanted to share this one with all of you.  In addition to being a heart-warming tale, it also highlights the value of getting your pets microchipped.  When you adopt from A Tail at a Time, microchips for your new pet are always included in the modest adoption fee (along with spay/neutering, vaccinations, etc.).

The following artcile was written by Sarah Scott for the Sunday Sun.  The original posting can be found here: http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2010/10/03/missing-cat-home-after-five-months-79310-27387067/

Missing cat returns home after five months

Oct 3 2010 by Sarah Scott, Sunday Sun

MOVING from one end of the country to another can be traumatic enough without losing a beloved pet on the way.

But that’s exactly what happened to Olivia Hatcher when her pet cat made a dash for freedom while being put into the back of a car for the big move up North.

But, five months later, the missing moggy and owner have been happily reunited . . . thanks to a microchip.

The cat – whose name is deliberately misspelt Pheonix – was taken to a vet who scanned him to reveal Olivia’s contact details.

Husband Andy made a 10-hour round trip to collect Pheonix after they heard the news.
Olivia said: “Pheonix spent the first night back with me sleeping on my pillow. It was wonderful.
“I know I am just so lucky to have him back. Thank goodness I had him microchipped or we never would have been reunited.

“I don’t know where he has been but he looks like someone has been looking after him,” she said.
The 34-year-old was making the move from Farnborough in Hampshire to Middlesbrough, Teesside, for a new job with the RSPCA when Pheonix made his escape.

He burst out of the car and made a run for it in the direction of the high-speed railway.
Olivia’s husband Andy, also 34, ended up staying down in Hampshire for several weeks, trying to find Pheonix, while his wife set up home in Middlesbrough with their other cats Mishka, Bobo and Nermal.
She said: “We decided we just couldn’t live apart anymore so we had to give up.

“A lot of people would say it’s just a cat but he is part of the family. I have had him 10 years and it was not his fault he ran away, he just got scared.”

Olivia, who is now working as deputy manager at the RSPCA Great Ayton Animal Centre in Middlesbrough, rehoused Pheonix and his sister Mishka more than 10 years ago after they were found abandoned on an old building site.

The RSPCA encourages owners to have their pets microchipped as it believes it is the most reliable way of finding them if lost or stolen. Around half a million animals have been microchipped in the last five years alone.
The quick procedure places a small chip, the size of a grain of rice, under the animal’s skin.  The owner’s details and a code are stored on the chip and can be revealed by a special scanner used by RSPCA inspectors and branch staff.

Art Dogs and Cats?

 A Tail at a Time partners with Pet Health Store on the Upper Westside. Pet Health shares their space every other Saturday and every Thursday so we can have adoption events.  The store and their employees have a wealth of information and knowledge regarding pet health; the best foods for your pet. They are committed to promoting the adoption of rescued cats and dogs. We are fortunate enough to be a recipient of a fundraiser they are having this fall.

   The Art Dogs & Cats of NY is a benefit exhibition of animal friends hand-painted by New York’s most exciting emerging artists. These unique, life-size statues of felines and canines will be auctioned on October 21st to raise money and awareness for five local animal rescue organizations. In 2009 close to 4500 dogs and 9000 cats were euthanized in NYC. The Art Dogs and Cats of NY is a celebration of those groups who work tirelessly to find loving homes for so many of New York’s homeless animals. The twelve Art Dogs & Cats will be on rotating exhibition at Pet Health Store (440 Amsterdam Ave. at 81st) from September 8th to October 20th. Come see The Art Dogs & Cats of NY and support animal rescue!

The Auction

SoHo (3rd floor, 548 Broadway at Prince) on October 21st for the live auction and gala celebration! The statues will be available for bidding at the auction party or sign up for phone bidding if you can’t make it.

The Exhibition

Dates: September 8th through October 20th 2010.
Location: Pet Health Store, 440 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

The Party

Date: Thursday, October 21st 2010, 6:00 – 9:00 PM.
Location: 3rd Floor, 548 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
For tickets call Pet Health Store at 212-595-4200

Walk to help homeless animals

On  Sunday Sept 26th A Tail at a Time will be joining Best Friends Animal Society for Strut your Mutt. The 1.8 mile walk will begin and end at Pier 84 on the Hudson River. Time is at 8:30 a.m. This is located near the Intrepid on W 44th. Not only is this a great fundraiser it also is a festival of doggie activities! 

       Belly Rub Hub (free doggie massages to participating pooches),
       Downward Dog (you and your best friend can practice your Dogi moves) 

       Canine Cafe (free yummy treats from local bakeries).

Plus don't miss training demos, contests, games, photo opps, pet psychic, food, music and more!

Our team, the dog pack, are looking for walkers. If you don't feel like waking up at the crack of dawn (8 am) then be one of our sponsors by becoming a dog dozer or a cat napper. Donate as little as 10.00. Every dollar helps! 

Did you know that $5.00  can feed 5 cats or dogs for a day?

$25.00 is enough to get a cat or dog fixed. In NYC over population is a major problem. You may not see it but in certain areas of the city there are cats and dogs that are thrown out like the garbage once they go into heat. Eventually them and their babies land at the Animal Care and Control. The ACC has to take every animal that comes to their door. Last year approximately 15,000 pets were euthanised. They were killed. 

Come have some fun with us for a great cause! 

To join our pack or sponsor us go to 

Best Friends Animal Society National Events @BFAS  
  Source: bestfriends.donordrive.com  

 

Urgent Foster Needed

We desperately need a foster for Daisy, a beautiful cat that needs a new temporary home by Friday!

Can anyone help us? Please e-mail info@atailatatime.org as soon as you can!

Thank You!

Thank you to all that came to our Adoption Event on Saturday! We can't continue to do what we do without your support and donations, which keep us going! Thank you to our volunteers who were at the event as well. Without you, we cannot continue to have events!

We hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and has a wonderful week. We'll see you not this coming Saturday but the one after that at Pet Health and Clark Street Pet Food.

In the meantime, check out our Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/atailatatime

Be sure to 'Like' us once you visit, and tell all of your friends too! We could use a little more support on our Causes page as well. Just an FYI, you can donate to A Tail At A Time through our Causes page as it directly links to our account.

To those who have already donated -- a HUGE THANK YOU! We greatly appreciate it as it keeps us alive, quite literally! We rely on donations to supply vet care for our animals, as well as the spay/neuter costs, vaccinations, microchipping, and FIV/FELV (Combo Test) testing that all of our animals up for adoption receive. We also provide food and litter to our foster homes if they cannot financially support the animals they graciously provide temporary homes for.

Lastly, we wanted to say THANK YOU to those that have adopted a shelter pet -- not only from us but from all shelters and rescues! You are really doing an amazing thing by saving the lives of shelter animals. If you live in Manhattan you should visit and/or volunteer for the AC&C up on 110th Street between 1st & 2nd Avenue. There are shelters in Brooklyn and Staten Island as well that could use your help! Thank you all for saving their lives, and as always, don't neglect to SPAY OR NEUTER your pet. It cuts down on shelter overpopulation and the amount of euthanizations that the shelter has to do every day.

Help us create National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day!

Help us create 

National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day!

Tails has officially launched our "Letters for Pets" campaign, requesting a Presidential Proclamation from the White House to declare every April 30 National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. To sweeten the deal, Ellen DeGeneres' pet food company Halo, Purely for Pets wil donate one meal to a shelter pet for every letter sent, and Mimi Ausland from Freekibble.com will help us deliver up to 50,000 meals to shelter animals in need. So please visit LettersforPets.com to help us deliver our message and feed a shelter pet today. You're just one click away --- send your letter now!

Warm regards,

 

ADOPT A CAT NOW! THE AC&C NEEDS YOU!

Carriage Horses Need Your Help

From: Elizabeth Forel <elizforel@gmail.com>
Date: July 6, 2010 11:23:38 AM PDT
To: elizforel@gmail.com
Subject: Action Alert: Letters needed for carriage horse rescue & accident

Please write a letter to the NY Times.  It must be done today since things move quickly with these newspapers.  Both of these stories were in the paper version of the NY Times so letters to the paper are acceptable.  You can mix the stories in your letter or do them separately.  But you must not go over 150 words.  If you do, they will not be considered, or if they are, can be edited in a way that you do not like.   Indicate your full name, address and telephone number on the letter for verification if they publish it. 

letters@nytimes.com
Rescue of Carriage horse - in NY Times (paper version)  7/6/10 - "For A Carriage Horse, A retirement upstate"

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/for-a-former-carriage-horse-a-grassy-sanctuary/



Another article that appeared both in the paper version and online concerns a tragic accident in Iowa where carriage horses spooked, causing an accident that resulted in the death of a woman and injuring about 25 people. 

in NY Times (paper version) 7/6/10 "In Iowa, Day at Parade turns deadly when horses bolt with a carriage"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/us/05parade.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all


Thank you. 

--
Elizabeth Forel
Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
www.banhdc.org
Horses Without Carriages International
www.horseswithoutcarriages.org

A Must Read for Everyone

A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan took out a $7000 full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his community:

HOW COULD YOU? 
By Jim Willis, 2001

When I was a puppy I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent and roll me over for a bellyrub.

My housetraining took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed, listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love."

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be.

I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams. Together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

Now you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog or cat, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table, rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.

She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. With my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not meant for her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

The End

A Little Tale of Friendship and Hard Times

We received this in an e-mail, passed along from a friend. The little orange cat in the pictures towards the end is Frisky, who we rescued from the euthanization list at the Staten Island shelter. Enjoy!

The story begins with the rescuers coming in after the tornado in Greensburg, KS. They found this little poor guy they named Ralphie. Someone had already taken him under their wing but they weren't equipped to adopt.

Ralphie, scared and starved, joined his rescue team ...

They didn't think anyone could live through this ... but they were wrong.

This little lady also survived the wreckage.

Here she is after the rescuers placed her in the car. Scared, but safe.

Then, Ralphie and her are united, and no longer alone!

Instant friends, they comforted each other while in the car.

Two more Beagles were found ... the more, the merrier!

A new traveler to add to the mix! Don't forget, they are all new to one another ... How will this all turn out?

It's all going to work out just fine, thank you very much!

The things we can learn from our animal companions. If only we could learn such valuable lessons of compassion, peace, instant friendship, and harmony by way of respect for one another. These animals tell us that it's good to be alive and with others.

Kittens, kittens, kittens!

To celebrate summer, we're having an ...

...ADOPTION EVENT! 

Saturday, June 26th

@ Pet Health Store 12 to 4 PM

(corner of 81st and Amsterdam)

We need a total of 4 volunteers per shift

(2 for the outside table/2 inside)

These are the shifts needed:

11:30 to 1:00

1:00 to 3:00

3:00 to 4:30

OR ANY COMBINATION OR TIME YOU WANT!

FOSTERS PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR CAT!

AND TWICE AS NICE:

ADOPTION EVENT in BROOKLYN HEIGHTS

@ Clark Street Pets 12 to 4 PM

Right off the 2,3 Clark Street Stop

To spay or not to spay? That is an EASY question.

After browsing the web for some time this afternoon, we came across some interesting spay/neuter campaigns that have been around. Some are clever, witty, and to the point, while others are morbid, nothing-but-the-truth, and chilling (the images are, that is).

This picture, courtesy of Catsnap, shows in numbers just what NOT spaying or neutering your cat can do. A basic image search on any search engine will show you more graphic images of what happens to all the kittens and puppies that are abandoned due to lack of space.

With kitten season upon us in full force, and less adoptions due to summer vacations taking a priority, the shelters are overrun with babies, pregnant moms, and others that have to be put down due to lack of space and no one to take care of the bottle-babies that need to be fed and taken care of overnight. It truly is sad, and euthanasia is no light matter. For those of you that read this, please do give serious through to spaying and neutering your pets.

If you have any questions or concerns about the process, please feel free to contact us -- we're here to answer any questions you may have.

Spay/Neuter SAVES LIVES.
 

Fundraiser for the ACC

...Has begun! Hope you are all out there tonight supporting the AC&C of NYC in their mission to help homeless animals! Some of us at A Tail At A Time will be there vicariously, however the rest of us hope to make it before it's over at 11PM!

Manhattan's Got the Blues...

...the Russian Blues!

Just received an e-mail from the Manhattan AC&C about three gorgeous Russian Blue kitties that are looking for a permanent home! Let us know if you're interested in fostering or adopting them, as they won't be at the shelter for very long!

Tommy (1 year old)

Billy (2 year old)

Athena (1 year old)

Will you be their forever home? 

E-Mail adopt@atailatatime.org!

ANIMAL ALERT!

Animal Alert! 

 

To all of our followers: a GRAY TUXEDO was found this morning around 10th Avenue & 51st Street. He is INJURED and is being RUSHED to the vet as we type. The local pet food store, Happy Feet, were the ones that found him. 

 

Does he belong to you? 

 

Please cross-post as needed!

Sassy needs your help!

! U R G E N T ! 

A Tail At A Time is looking for help with a gorgeous 6-month old purebred 

pitbull named Sassy who will be put to sleep on SATURDAY. She is an owner-

surrender who will be given up on Saturday, June 19th to NYC Animal Care 

& Control. She has been brought there once before but was brought back 

home due to a doctor's diagnosis of health (they thought she was sick but 

she has a clean bill of health). Now, the landlords have stepped in saying 

it is illegal to keep large dogs in the building. 

Chithra of Sentient Creatures reached out to us for help with Sassy, and 

we went to visit her. She is truly a beautiful puppy who is eager to go on 

long walks in the park and be your best friend. All she wants to do is run! 

Chithra does what she can, and bought Sassy a leash and collar, and comes 

every day to replenish her water bowl. She is asking for our help and now 

we are asking for yours.

If you can help Sassy, please let us know. Please also feel free to post this 

anywhere that you can. She needs a foster or permanent home by Saturday 

the 19th, or she will be put to sleep. E-mail us at adopt@atailatatime.org

if you can lend a hand.

Meow Monday

Meet our new featured adoptable, Karine, at the A Tail At A Time homepage -- she'll be sure to steal your heart!

Fundraiser!

Come one, come all! 

On Friday, June 18th, join us at the Fundraiser for the ACC of NYC from 6PM - 11PM for $5 drink specials and FREE admission! 

    

Located at BLVD at 199 Bowery Street, the event will be co-hosted by Andy Troy and Maria Milito of Q104. AMAZING prizes for winners, so don't miss out on gathering for a cause, and maybe even an all-inclusive trip or a $300 Saks gift card! 

 

For directions to BLVD:http://www.blvdnyc.com/map.html. 

 

See you there!!!!