after yesterday.....

Found this late yesterday after our TNR post and had to share. Thanks to No Kill Revolution for the pic on facebook..... It really is all about education - mom enjoys telling people about TNR and the reason for ear tipping - and most people seem to listen and take it to heart.

Yes- the couple did adopt Uncle from our story yesterday.....

Sparkle asked about the vet listed in the article we mentioned, so we did a little more research and found some more info. The article listed the AAHA 2013 Seminars.
AAHA Facilitator Info

Niels W. Pedersen, DVM

Dr. Pedersen received his DVM from UC Davis in 1967 and interned in small animal medicine and surgery at Colorado State University. He then completed a PhD in experimental pathology and immunology from the John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University. Dr. Pedersen was hired to the faculty of the School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis in 1972 and is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology. His time is split between an active research program on the genetics of autoimmune diseases in dogs and infectious diseases of cats, and with the Center for Companion Animal Health, which he helped found in 1994 and directs to this day. Dr. Pedersen holds honorary doctorates from the University of Zurich and Utrecht University, and has won a number of national and international honors for excellence in feline infectious disease research. He is the author of over 220 scientific publications and two textbooks. His family is his most important achievement, with his wife of 48 years, four successful children and 7 grandchildren. Dr. Pedersen’s hobby is photographing wildflowers in Western Australia and growing some of them in his home in Winters, CA. He has given some thought about retiring, but feels that there are still new things to learn and explore.

Session Details

You Cannot Understand Feline Medicine Without First Understanding the Species

Niels W. Pedersen, DVM

Friday, March 15, 2013 from 8:00am-9:40am

Cats have co-evolved with humans for thousands of years and are not domesticated in the strictest sense. Rather, they are now the predominant small carnivore wherever humans exist in any numbers and this role is essential for the health of the ecosystems that we share. Some of these cats have become our pets, and as such, we are responsible for their health. Although the emphasis is now on “one health”, where all species including humans are considered equal in terms of their reactions to disease, there are unique features of cats that we need to first understand in order to give them the care they deserve. Dr. Pedersen will open with a history of the cat, move next to a discussion of the lives of feral cats and the fluid nature of feral and domestic existences, and end with a review of the uniqueness and similarities of cats in “one disease and health.” 

 

 

Random Fridays.....

Quick note: we gotted an email from the head rescue lady and she said one of the volunteers from the rescue is driving right through Charlotte next week and will be picking up DW. We will try to get a picture of him once he gets back to Ohio. thanks for all of you for suggestions and offers to help!!
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Today isn't going to be so random....

As part of what we do here on the blog, education will always have to be part of it. We can tell people to adopt from shelter, we can foster, we (ok, mom) can drive transports, but without education, nothing will change....

Today - more TNR.

A few weeks ago, mom was at the adoption center for the rescue. She was picking up kittens for the Petco. Anyhow, there was a nice young brown tabby male at the adoption center - super sweet and very curious and named Uncle. This young couple came in and had been approved but hadn't decided on the right cat yet. As mom was talking to Miss Mona, the couple came up with Uncle in the man's arms. Miss Mona asked if they had decided on Uncle...the young man said they had but wanted to know if he had any "other congenital medical conditions". Mom doesn't know all the cats at the adoption center, she had run into Uncle before. Mom looked at Miss Mona and reaffirmed that Uncle didn't have ANY medical issues. Mom turned to the young couple and asked about their concerns. The young man looked down at Uncle and pointed to his ear. See - Uncle is ear tipped since he was caught in a feral colony. Mom glanced at Miss Mona who by now was holding her breath not to laugh. So, mom explained the ear tip wasn't a "medical condition" but showing how he was trapped. You could see the couple nod and realize what mom was talking about as she explained about the feral cat population as well as strays being trapped with ferals.  It makes us smile though - we have never heard of an ear tip being termed "congenital medical condition".  :)

Allie in the trap before being spayed

Mom was reading this article too on Pet Health Care Gazette:
Here are some of the myths that are commonly circulated about free-roaming cats:

• Free-roaming cats lead a cruel existence riddled by disease and other dangers, suffering greatly and dying young.
• Most cats come from shelters and shelters play a an important role in reuniting lost pet cats with their owners.
• Free-roaming cats suffer from poor immune systems and are much more prone to infectious disease.

Here are the actual truths (according to Dr. Pedersen):

• 30% of cats adopted from shelters will become free-roaming.
• The survival rate of community cats located in urban areas is 90% per year.
• Only 2% of cats placed in shelters are actually reunited with their owners.
• 66% of lost cats are found because they return home on their own. Only 7% are found via a call or a visit to a shelter.
• Lost cats are 3 times more likely to be returned to their home via non-shelter means (such as a neighbor locating the cat and returning it) than via a shelter.
• When asked what should be done about free-roaming cats, the majority of people (81%) say they favor leaving the cats alone. Only 14% are in favor of trapping and killing these cats.

Our Allie - stretching it out on the wood being used to replace a balcony across from us. 
Mom sees her most days....and worries when she doesn't.