racoons

[McDuck 0]

A nuisance? How sad. I used to have a family of corvids (crows) that hung around my house in Washington state because I rescued one of their young from what I jokingly referred to as "Cat Alley". Oh, and I once raised another corvid (a magpie) from a baby after my falconry sponsor found one that had fallen from a nest. He was so incredibly smart and funny, and would always fly to my shoulder no matter where he was in the neighborhood when I called him. I miss that.

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[bob.dino 1]

Owls rock. As do foxes (even if they smell).

[McDuck 0]

Yes, they most certainly do. I have yet to SEE the owl, but she's out there talking most nights. The fox is absolutely gorgeous, but she's less than thrilled about being seen during hours when cameras work best. She did stop and let me "talk" to her one morning. I think she was more or less curious about what type of creature would be making noises at her while not chasing her or trying to approach her. I'll get her on camera one day.

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[NlghtJumper 0]

All we had where I use to live were snakes, gopher turtles, and an owl. I dont really know where the owl lives, I just saw it a couple times flying by my house. The turtles all usually stay in the woods, but one took up a home in the middle of my yard. The snakes were usually black racers, and really cool to play with, but we have had a couple corals, and rattlers. We have dogs so my dad killed all the poisonous ones, but we let the black racers go because they keep the mice and rats under control.

A man will do anything for the right woman,
and when that woman destroys him,
that man will become a hunk of meat with the common sense of a rodeo clown! ~ Christopher Titus

[squink 0]

Walt,

I have just spent the majority of my morning going back and forth between working and reading your entire thread on Melissa. I want to say I am so very impressed with you.

We need more people in the world who WILL take time to help the defenceless animals in our lives who would die otherwise.

When I worked at Costco, one day I saw this cat while I was outside on my break. The warehouse had a small foresty area right beside it, running the length of the parking lot. He would walk along the side scavenging for food. I got up as close as I could one day to realize that this cat was nothing more than skin and bones. I used to work in a vets office and I've seen some animals in pretty terrible shape. But I have never seen this level of malnutrition in an animal before. It broke my heart.

After a week of bringing out cat food and leaving a huge trail of it all along the side of the warehouse, I finally saw it again. The food had been eaten so I knew it would be back. I couldn't get close to it b/c it would run as soon as I got anywhere near it. It was so frustrating b/c all I wanted to do was help it. I had called the local animal shelter and they said they would only come and get the cat if I could contain it first. This seemed impossible to me at the time considering I couldn't get 10 feet from the thing. I would go home almost in tears b/c I wanted to help this animal so bad and it wouldn't let me b/c it was so scared.

What ended up working 6 (long/hard) days later was tuna. My cats cannot resist it and neither could this cat. I went down there on a Saturday evening when the warehouse was closed and there was noone in the parking lot. My previous attempts at getting him in a cat carrier had not worked. So I wrapped up any exposed skin on my arms and I grabbed him by his scruff when he came close to eat the tuna. It was the first time he'd come that close to me. I almost got swiped in the face, but I managed it. When I got him in the carrier, I lost it. I cried my eyes out b/c I was so happy that I could help him now but devastated that he was left in such bad shape.

After taking him to my vet, I found out that the cat was only a year and a half old and microchipped. Which allowed us to find the owners. The owners of the cat had moved and not taken the cat with them. That disgusted me to no end. I found this out from the neighbour. The humane society could not charge the owner with anything since technically they said they "lost" the cat. After being treated for a bacterial infection gotten from drinking the filthy water in the puddles behind our warehouse and lots of love/attention/food, Bones was going to be allright. After realizing that he didn't have to fight for food anymore, this cat turned into the most loveable, affectionate, playful little creature you'd ever meet. My vet developed a soft spot for him and he now resides at the office with 3 other office cats. (I would've taken him but I had three cats and a dog in 1 house already, and my Dad would've killed me). I get to see Bones every time I take my cats or dog into the vet.

Long story short (ok not so much), the people in this world who take the time and effort to help those defenceless animals get huge respect from me. It breaks my heart to see any creature big or small in any sort of pain or suffering.

So Walt, I have GREAT respect for you, and I know Melissa does too.

...the door was open

SKYDIVERGIRLS.COM

[waltappel 1]

Thanks. There are a lot of people in the world who care about animals, but not enough. It's always good to hear from someone who does.

One thing that was great about the injured raccoon thread is seeing how many people were following it and offering advice. There are a lot of good people in the skydiving community.

Stories like you story of the abandoned cat really get to me.

I have gotten accustomed to people treating each other poorly, but I don't think I will ever be able to tolerate people treating animals poorly, and abandoning a pet is really, really bad.

That cat really got lucky.

Walt

[squink 0]

Yah, I'm glad he's ok now. But it was a long and very very, frustrating road to get him there. I know you understand that. It really does bring me to tears thinking about how people treat animals sometimes. I firmly believe that people should have licenses to own pets. I've seen and heard of some unspeakable things done to animals and makes me physically sick. Later in my life, when I am able, I will take in any animal from whatever walk of life if it needs a home. I'd do it now, I just don't have the means. I wish I did. But for now, Bones has a good home and people who love him. So going down that long and frustrating road was so very worth it and I would do it 100 more times if I had to.

...the door was open

SKYDIVERGIRLS.COM

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

Here's a pic of me asleep with Paxil and Zoe.

All I noticed was that nice gun safe next to the bed...
What goodies do you have in there?

[waltappel 1]

Quote

Quote

Here's a pic of me asleep with Paxil and Zoe.

All I noticed was that nice gun safe next to the bed...
What goodies do you have in there?

I knew someone would notice that! I'll PM you with the details.

Walt

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

The owners of the cat had moved and not taken the cat with them. That disgusted me to no end.

I had that problem with the last house I bought. When I moved in, there was a cat hanging around like it owned the place. One day as I was taking mail to the previous owners, who only moved about four blocks away, I asked them if that was their cat. Their response was; "Oh no, that's not our cat - we just fed him for two years."

Excuse me? If you fed the cat for two years, then he is your cat! I took the cat over to their house and dropped him in their yard, and haven't seen him since. I hope they continued their "non-ownership" feeding...

The idea that they thought a four-block move absolved them of further responsibility for the care that they assumed, and that it was perfectly acceptable to just abandon the cat, really annoyed me.