tdierikx

Very NICE!!! T.

Ummm... I have a big camera with an even bigger lens attached... I could be mistaken for paparazzi maybe? T.

... and the hosted package has very prompt help when you need it. T.

I just say "nope - not a fan of their 'work'" when asked to donate to the RSPCA by anyone... T.

My dogs eat Supercoat... but not because Dr Harry claims things about it... T.

I tend to politely decline blatant asking for donations for ANY cause when I'm out and about - be that shopping or otherwise. The more persistent the asking, the firmer the "sorry, no" gets. There have been occasions where the sheer persistence has garnered the asker a not so polite "eff off"... but they were badgering in the extreme and trying to force me into giving them something. T.

So you are going to trap cats in NSW and take them to RSPCA ACT as strays? And ask them to spend the time and effort to try to tame them and rehome them for you? Taking up the space that could have gone to an even larger number of calm domesticated cats that would have rehomed with less time and work? Calmer and domesticated animals that others have to wait 6 months to surrender... Where are you going to tell RSPCA ACT you trapped these cats? How long do you really think they will hold them for "to give them a chance to settle" if 3 weeks isn't enough for them to settle at QBN Pound? I admire your dedication to these community cats, but am a little taken aback at how you are saying you will be going about it... literally to the detriment of dog only knows how many other perfectly rehomable cats they could take in and rehome. Sounds a little bit like the whole scenario is more about how YOU feel about what you do than really being about cat rescue and all that entails. Like I said before, if YOU can't deal with the number of cats YOU trap, why are you getting so razzed about the fact that others can't or won't either? It's all starting to get into the realm of "crazy cat lady" from this side of the debate - you are effectively adamantly placing YOUR trapped cats as being more "deserving" of a chance than so many other cats out there in the same state of need - ie. lost and needing a loving home of their own. Seriously - the most effective way for you to have saved those 2 particular cats from the pound is if you had fronted up with their adoption fees - no way they would have refused - but obviously you didn't, and it's the pound's fault they couldn't hold them any longer for you? Sorry - I fail to understand your logic in this debate. T.

So you are saying that the ranger wouldn't let you adopt the cats back from the pound? Or that you weren't allowed to rescue back the cats you had taken there at a rescue rate (or free)? You do know that unless the RSPCA you take them to is a recognised animal impound facility for the area, you will be surrendering the cats as your own... and NSW rules say they can be euthanaised as you are walking back out the door after you drop them off... If you are going to take them to RSPCA ACT, same applies - as they are not an animal impound facility and don't take in strays. Although I've also heard that RSPCA ACT also have a long waiting list in order to take in surrenders too. Legally speaking, any cat you trap is automatically deemed a stray - and should be taken to the pound facility for that council area asap. "Arrangements" with pound rangers are all well and good until one or both parties don't want to play any more... as you have found out the hard way. Much as we don't always agree with how pounds operate, the louder one yells about the "injustice of it all", the less likely ANY pound is going to want to work with you. Don't think the local network of facilities don't talk to each other either... T.

^^ This ^^^ T.

Are you stating that the rangers actually refused to let anyone get those 2 cats out of the pound? Actively discouraged people against taking them? Or are you bemoaning the fact that no other rescues were willing to take them in after YOU had taken them to the pound? The pound did not have to hold those surrendered cats at all - but they DID hold them for 3 weeks... I'm sorry that I may have used incorrect terminology by referring to the cats you sent to the pound as "feral" instead of "suburban wild"... me not being involved with cats sees any non-domestic wild or semi-wild cat as "feral"... and yes, living rural as a young-un I have seen truly feral cats before... Something else that is a bit of a worry is that you say that you are legally bound to take stray cats to the pound in case they may have been owned by someone. How the hell do you think the possible original owners would have found them if they were at your place or in the care of one of your foster homes for however many weeks you had them before taking them to said pound? If one of your own cats/kittens went missing, where would you be actively looking for them? Maybe you need to stop trapping cats and foisting them upon others to find them homes if you can't handle them all yourself... just saying... T. ETA... I haven't been involved with ANY fostering for nearly 12 months now... since having a litter of pups here with Parvo...

Never been a Dr Harry fan... even less so as he's taken to the public speaking route dispensing crap "advice" on subjects he clearly has no clue about. Not an Oscar's Law fan either... T.

If the dog had been stolen then onsold, you'd think that the original owner would have some say in whether they want the dog back or not... but it could go any which way methinks. T.

Nature provides the canvas, and nurture provides the paint... that's how I see it anyways. You can go all Pro Hart and get a big ass mess - or you can go Leonardo Da Vinci and get something unique and beautiful. T.

http://www.grr.org.au/contact.htm Phone numbers on the left of the page... T.

It's a very nice piece of software... and could possibly be adapted for use by a foster carer network - maybe instead of kennel id's, you could use Carer names? You can get the free software that you can load up on your own computer so you can test how it works... T. ETA - the rescue I was with uses it, and I found the query scripting to get info out was nice and easy to use also.

Again, not judging, just enquiring as I'm not terribly au fait with cats or cat rescue... being horribly allergic to them tends to keep me out of that particular loop. My experience with dog rescue however gives me a little insight as to how rescue and fostering usually works. We take in the animals that we can adequately cope with and rehome, and as much as it kills us to do so, we have to make decisions about which animals we can safely do that for - and leave others behind to the fate we KNOW is in store for them if they are not rescued or adopted. Each carer's setup is different - some can take on more animals than others - but if all available carers for a specific type of animal are taken already, then unfortunately some animals will have to be left behind (so to speak). It's going to be even harder if the animals left behind have certain needs that will have to be worked on before they are ultimately rehomable - which I would assume to be the case with only semi-tame (ex) feral cats. My setup allowed me to take on puppies only - not because I only wanted to take on the young and highly adoptable animals, but because that was what worked in best with my own 4 dogs. I would regularly have between 1 and 14 pups at any given time. I would assume that people taking in kittens are probably in the same boat as me... it's what they can adequately cope with - rather than just because they are cute and MAY rehome faster. As for not knowing what YOU do - the same can be said for YOU not necessarily being aware of what others are doing in rescue circles. To start spraying "blame" around for the deaths of animals that YOU took the othe pound because you found yourself unable to take them back in is a bit rich, don't you think? Technically the pound could have euthanaised those 2 young cats the day you surrendered them - but your own account says they actually had them taking up space there for 3 weeks before being euthed... I'd say that shows that they gave them at least the SAME chance as all the other cats in their facility at the time, no? T.

Just asking - not judging - but why are you trapping these cats and taking them to the pound when you know what the inevitable out come will be when no-one wants to take on wild or semi-wild young or adult cats? T.

I used to think crates were "cruel" until I started fostering and found out just how useful they are. Harper loves her crate, and will happily spend forever in there snuggled up on her blankie - especially now the colder weather is starting up. Vets will love you for crate training your dogs if they ever need to stay at the clinic for any length of time. T.

She is adorable! T.

Gorgeous! T.

I'm gunna go out on a limb here and will no doubt get flamed for it but I couldn't live like that Owning dogs for me is supposed to be enjoyable not a constant battle to keep my pets apart for fear of them killing each other. When I was working at the kennels we had two cockers that came in that hated each others guts...with a passion, to the point that when they came in one was on the floor of the car in the front with the lady and the other was tied into the back seat with large pieces of cardboard blocking their vision from each other. The husband told me he wanted to return the second cocker, which was from the RSPCA, but his wife wouldn't let him. It caused constant grief not only for the dogs but had put a major strain on this old couple as they constantly argued about it. I could see the strain on their faces when they came back to pick them up after the weekend and the husband actually said when they got into their cardboard fort..."here we go again" How is that an enjoyable life for all involved? It's actually working just fine for us here. I had 3 options at the time... 1. Euthanaise one or both dogs 2. Rehome one or both dogs 3. Work out a routine where they never had the chance to fight again My choice was number 3 for the following reasons... 1. I couldn't bring myself to euth either of the dogs I had committed to loving unconditionally until the day they go to the Bridge (as naturally as possible) 2. I couldn't rehome either in good conscience, as I know exactly what they are capable of when pushed. Why should someone else have to worry about that happening? 3. I have the means to keep them separated but still have one-on-one time with me, and company of other dogs they DO get along with. That said, these 2 dogs were perfectly fine with each other 99% of the time. We only had 4 fights over the course of 2 years... but as the nature of those rare fights was so intense, I decided that I really never wanted to have to go through it again. Separation means that all of us are safe, happy, and healthy. Besides, once the routine was established, it's been pretty easy for us. I am the only human here, so I don't have to worry about others not following the routine. T.

I found that when I had a male in the mix, the girls have all been somewhat calmer... then again all the males I've had have been very mellow temperament-wise... T.

I seriously though about euthing my two after their last fight... but opted to establish a routine that means they are never loose with each other instead... been working for a few years now and all are happy with the arrangements... *grin* T.

I can see why you've opted for permanent separation. Well - if the policemen had grabbed a pair of back legs and pulled like I asked, it all may have been over a lot faster and with less injury to either dog... I already had hold of the back end of the better fighter of the two so she couldn't get enough purchase to go in for the kill. But the policeman decided that capsicum spray was the way to go... wrong!!! My girls recuperated side by side in their crates, and are still lovey towards each other (one always crated when the other is loose in the house), but I'm not about to ever let them get into a fight again... it's just not worth them getting hurt when I CAN prevent it. T.

See if there are any Herp Society groups near her... for the snakes... http://australianherpetology.com/aushrpsoc.htm#.U1jAbVdfZ8E There are a couple on the central coast listed on that page... T.