MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

Some do, but I think it is mainly through animal shelters and TNR organizations.

I do know that the animal clinics at Tractor Supply are very inexpensive. There need to be more such programs.

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning/ evening MJ and everyone

This reminds me of when I moved to New Jersey from overseas. It was a move for my job so the company paid to move my three cats.
There are special areas of the cargo hold for pets so it is reasonably safe for them to travel but obviously still traumatic.
I was a complete wreck deciding do I fly with the cats? That means I can crate them up but then we all arrive together to a new place that is not yet cat-safe and doesn’t have cat friendly places to hide away. Or do I leave the cats so I can fly first and prepare their new home. In the end I did the latter and had a friend crate them up and hand them over to be loaded in the plane.
It was winter and cold and dark and I had to find my way to the cargo depot at Newark airport. I was in a tiny rental car and had arrived myself inly 24 hours before. I had spent the time getting cat food and checking the house for cat dangers and placing bedding around the place that I had brought with me so they had some familiar scents to calm them.
The cargo depot at Newark is where a lot of perishable produce comes in to the US from Europe. I remember peppers from Spain particularly.
It is filled with long-haul truckers who then drive the produce into the middle of the country.
These are big tough guys. The group of four who were waiting when I went in had more ink than teeth, and their 18-wheeler rigs dwarfed my little rental car in the lot outside.
A little nervously I went to the counter which was one of those counters that officialdom uses to intimidate the public. It was almost as tall as me and a stern, gun-carrying customs officer stood behind it looking down.
He gave me a bunch of forms and told me to wait my turn.
I said “thank you sir” and obediently turned to sit with the truckers (I wasn’t about to cause any trouble in that setting!).
But the cats heard my voice. They were out of sight behind the officer presumably stacked up with the peppers.
And they started crying. All three of them. It was a chorus of yowls and pathetic squeaks.
All four truckers leapt up and went to the counter and started banging in it, and with raised voices demanded of the customs officer to “give the lady her kitties RIGHT NOW!”.
The customs officer relented and let me in the back to get the cats. The truckers accompanied me and picked up the cat crates and carried them for me to my little rental car. Three carried one cat crate each and the 4th held doors and helped load them into the car.
This all accompanied by a chorus of “here kitty kitty you will be at your new home soon, don’t be scared”.
Remembering this still brings tears to my eyes. I was tired and stressed and these four guys were so kind and to a man such softies trying to pet the cats through the bars of the crate.
I don’t have good pictures of them - they lived until they were just shy of twenty which was just as we were getting phones with cameras. Here are the two sisters well advanced in age. Their brother was a sweet ginger tabby who died before I got a phone.
And for tax I give you Minnie from yesterday - still sporting her lone tail feather and being active in the yard.
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What a beautiful story

 

[fuentemoon]

I was at Coastal the other day and over heard a customer and employee discussing the pet vaccine clinic they hold, they guy said the last one he came to he waited 6 hours for his turn! People show up well before opening apparently.

 

[MaryJanet]

I know I am posting backwards, but this is a great point. I do believe poor people need to have pets too. Food, water, and love & attention cost very little.
The problems arise when veterinary care is needed, and I don’t have an answer for that.

You've got me thinking I should find a way to subsidise the vet costs of those who are less fortunate than I am. I'll suggest that Dr Mark starts up a little fund.

 

[MaryJanet]

I was at Coastal the other day and over heard a customer and employee discussing the pet vaccine clinic they hold, they guy said the last one he came to he waited 6 hours for his turn! People show up well before opening apparently.

I'm glad people are taking vaccination so seriously!

 

[Ribh]

This is such a great reminder. I've seen many homeless people with dogs.

It actually disappoints me because We (South Aussies) haven't the gumption to provide proper homes for people who need them and their dogs.

I can't remember which city but a big one in the US makes tiny houses for the homeless ~ basically a bedroom but out of the weather & safe.

 

[Shadrach]

Here's a question. We all know and openly acknowledge the joys of providing care for animals. Should that joy be denied to someone who can't afford to provide a high standard of care? Does your answer change if that person can't afford care through no fault of their own? Eg someone who is precluded from wealth by being born into a poor family in a poor nation? What if that's what had happened to you?

Or, just ignore me because I'm being too thoughtful today

How high is your high standard of care?
Is the creature in question a purchase?
There are many poor people who take better care of their animals than many better off people.
Does your view of care including killing a creature that is sick but possibly could be cured given sufficent funds?
Lots more questions...

 

[MaryJanet]

Three hens are taking their baths beside me this morning

 

[Shadrach]

Certainly! I was merely trying to highlight there are other forms of abuse than neglect ~ ones that often aren't seen as abuse by owners. My cats almost never get treats, not because I'm mean but because it's not good for them. Ditto the chickens. I consider lack of training of dogs a form of abuse. Dogs do better when they respect the heirachy. Many homeless people have dogs who never leave their owners side & these people choose to remain on the streets because shelters don't allow animals. The animals are fed & cared for & loved but as homeless as their owners.

I was going to mention the homeless and their dogs at a later point.

 

[Shadrach]

It’s a worthy topic, and it’s appropriate to chickeneers.
It’s why I don’t just throw food and water at my chickens and forget about them.
I choose good food, keep the grit and oyster shell dishes full, I change their water and clean their waterers with Clorox. I keep the coop fresh as possible. I rake their run and broom sweep their porch.
And I talk with them often. Give them healthy treats. Take their pictures. Stuff like that.

Well here is an interesting point. There are many people who do just that; feed them good quality feed, clean water once a day and treat the creatures for the basic complaints such as lice mites etc. Is that a reasonable stanndard of care?