Wow, more feathers in more caps. Keep this up Tarpon Springs and I'll be "plucked".
On Wednesday, the Tarpon Springs High School Veterinary Academy opened their surgery suite and Veterinarian, Dr Duggers volunteered her services and neutered 2 cats and a dog. It was a great learning experience for the students. Two of the more experience students actually assisted Dr. Duggers and her Vet Tech. The three animals belonged to the Suncoast Animal League and were waiting to be placed for adoption pending their neutering. Since then, two of the three have been adopted.
This is a incredible program that teacher Deborah Edwards has poured her heart and soul in to over the years. Congratulations Ms. Edwards!
Speaking from an animals point of view, it's refreshing to know that these kids are gaining this type of knowledge and experience at this age. After all, it won't be long and they will be young adults, out on their own, making their own decisions. Decisions that will include owning a pet and then a few years after that, voting priviledges. Maybe the future for animals... has a real future.
Go Spongers!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Good Eggs
A feather in their cap for the Tarpon Springs City Commission. On Tuesday evening Rick Chaboudy, our Executive Director was asked to speak to the Commission concerning feral cats in Tarpon Springs. According to Rick, who has been around long before I was hatched,"this has been a topic that has been basically ignored", so he was pleased with the opportunity.
The main reason the feral cats have freely "littered" the area for so long, is that our county ordinance does not allow for "TNR", TRAP, NEUTER AND RELEASE. So basically, nothing has been done and doing nothing means you are falling behind. And when it comes to cats and their breeding expertise, it doesn't take long to fall way behind.
After a lengthy discussion, the City Commission decided to draft a letter to be sent to the County Commissioners to revisit this ordinance and see what can be done on a more local level. This is a huge first step and the Tarpon Springs City Commissioners should be applauded for taking notice and then taking action.
Read here about what some citizens of Tarpon Springs have to say about TNR.
The main reason the feral cats have freely "littered" the area for so long, is that our county ordinance does not allow for "TNR", TRAP, NEUTER AND RELEASE. So basically, nothing has been done and doing nothing means you are falling behind. And when it comes to cats and their breeding expertise, it doesn't take long to fall way behind.
After a lengthy discussion, the City Commission decided to draft a letter to be sent to the County Commissioners to revisit this ordinance and see what can be done on a more local level. This is a huge first step and the Tarpon Springs City Commissioners should be applauded for taking notice and then taking action.
Read here about what some citizens of Tarpon Springs have to say about TNR.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Straying from the Issue - the Feral Cat Problem in Pinellas County
On January 20, 2008 Howard Troxler of the St. Pete Times had this to say about the current status of feral cats in the Tampa Bay area. After reading the article and the comment made by Pinellas County Animal Services, I am concerned that nothing is going to be done in Pinellas County.
Like most birds, I am not in favor of a cat, a domesticated animal, being turned loose into the wild to fend for itself. It's a cruel, harsh world out there. But that said, they are already out there in incredible numbers, aren't they? And those numbers are growing at rates that are unimaginable. For example, have you called an animal shelter lately and asked if you could bring in that cute, adorable litter of kittens that you just found? What was the answer? Probably, "sorry, we're full".
So what do we do? Nothing? What happens to the ecosystem that "we care about, too". I mean, if there are twenty cats in a colony, they are going to catch and kill so many birds, rabbits and squirrels. But if that number increases to thirty or forty, which will happen quickly, won't even more birds, bunnies and squirrels die? Won't that hurt the ecosystem even more?
The fact is...we can't adopt our way out of this. There simply aren't enough homes out there. Besides, the large percentage of these cats aren't adoptable anyway. So how does mass euthanasia sound to you? Can you imagine approaching someone who has been feeding feral cats on their property for years and ask, "can we trap your cats so we can put them all to sleep"? Honk if you think that will go over well. Even though these folks may not be able to hold these cats or pet them for that matter, they still feel a bond.
And, yes, it is illegal to "harbor" these ferals in Pinellas County, but how is it going so far on the enforcement side? Is anything positive going on when it relates to the feral cat problem in Pinellas? I don't think so! In fact, it's a growing problem. My guess, about six litters have been born to feral cats since you started reading this. Seven, if you read slow.
They are out there and they are out there in record numbers. It's taken many years to get this bad so there's no quick "fix". In fact, there's no great answer. But you sitting on your hands and me sitting on my wings is only going to make matters worse. Oh no, another litter has been born.
Goose me, if you've heard this before but we know it's illegal to trap, neuter and release in Pinellas County. So how's this plan working so far?
I'm George and I'm just a Goose. Let me know what you think.
Like most birds, I am not in favor of a cat, a domesticated animal, being turned loose into the wild to fend for itself. It's a cruel, harsh world out there. But that said, they are already out there in incredible numbers, aren't they? And those numbers are growing at rates that are unimaginable. For example, have you called an animal shelter lately and asked if you could bring in that cute, adorable litter of kittens that you just found? What was the answer? Probably, "sorry, we're full".
So what do we do? Nothing? What happens to the ecosystem that "we care about, too". I mean, if there are twenty cats in a colony, they are going to catch and kill so many birds, rabbits and squirrels. But if that number increases to thirty or forty, which will happen quickly, won't even more birds, bunnies and squirrels die? Won't that hurt the ecosystem even more?
The fact is...we can't adopt our way out of this. There simply aren't enough homes out there. Besides, the large percentage of these cats aren't adoptable anyway. So how does mass euthanasia sound to you? Can you imagine approaching someone who has been feeding feral cats on their property for years and ask, "can we trap your cats so we can put them all to sleep"? Honk if you think that will go over well. Even though these folks may not be able to hold these cats or pet them for that matter, they still feel a bond.
And, yes, it is illegal to "harbor" these ferals in Pinellas County, but how is it going so far on the enforcement side? Is anything positive going on when it relates to the feral cat problem in Pinellas? I don't think so! In fact, it's a growing problem. My guess, about six litters have been born to feral cats since you started reading this. Seven, if you read slow.
They are out there and they are out there in record numbers. It's taken many years to get this bad so there's no quick "fix". In fact, there's no great answer. But you sitting on your hands and me sitting on my wings is only going to make matters worse. Oh no, another litter has been born.
Goose me, if you've heard this before but we know it's illegal to trap, neuter and release in Pinellas County. So how's this plan working so far?
I'm George and I'm just a Goose. Let me know what you think.
Monday, January 21, 2008
We all need a good goose!
Lately, I have been making many appearances as the Suncoast Animal League’s mascot, at many different events and I can’t believe how well I have been treated…kind of like a rock star! I do, however, have a concern about my popularity. My problem, as I see it, is I’m becoming too popular. I hear numerous times, “I want to have a goose for a pet”. Most people or animals, for that matter, might consider that as a good thing. But, as I look around, I’m not so sure.
During these events, I have to listen to countless stories about geese chasing people, not allowing anyone to get too close. No one seems to have a good goose story. Well, maybe we have a good reason for keeping people a wing’s length away.
What about this “Man’s Best Friend” thing? Over the past couple of days, my friends at the Suncoast Animal League have been called to assist in some alarming cases. One, concerning six, one-week old pups abandoned under a shed during this cold weather, a second involving a stray dog found wandering the streets and giving birth to eight pups, and yet a third where the expecting dog was forced outside to give birth in the cold because the owner was mad at the dog for getting pregnant. Wow, this how you treat your “Best Friend”?
What about cats? They are treated worse than dogs. Everyone wants a cute, adorable little kitten until they turn in to a cat. Well, what were they suppose to become? Look around the streets, the poor things are everywhere. What’s the response you get when you try to bring cats to an animal shelter? “We are full”. And you know what, they are!
So as I see it, popularity isn’t all that popular.
Did you know that the Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas County Government shelters euthanize nearly 60,000 cats and dogs each year? And a little more than 9,000 get adopted. This cost tax payers over $14,500,000. Before you go screaming too loudly at your County Commissioners you might want to ask, “Where did all these animals come from?"
This has been going on for a long time and it will take a long time to “fix it”. Pardon the pun. But maybe it’s time to take this problem out of the hands of man and put it in to “the feathers of the goose that’s got it together”. I don’t mean to “honk” my own horn but you don’t see a goose tied to a tree in the back yard “starved" for affection. When’s the last time you saw a goose hanging around a dumpster in the back of a restaurant?
In 2008, I will be the “wingman” for the Suncoast Animal League, as we work together to put in place low cost spay/neuter programs that make sense and eventually raise the $150,000 necessary to open a high quality, high volume, affordable and accessible Spay/Neuter Clinic. Soon, we will announce these programs to the public, and on March 22nd, in downtown Palm Harbor, we will host a Dog Walk and 5K Run to help raise funds for the clinic. If you think placing animals in animal shelters is the answer, then you are only fooling yourself. The statistics will bear that out. Please… help us make a real difference.
I am aware that our community is made up of good eggs, bad eggs, and some eggs that are just plain scrambled. But it is time to put all of our eggs in a basket and take care of those we profess to care so much about...the animals!
"George the Goose"
During these events, I have to listen to countless stories about geese chasing people, not allowing anyone to get too close. No one seems to have a good goose story. Well, maybe we have a good reason for keeping people a wing’s length away.
What about this “Man’s Best Friend” thing? Over the past couple of days, my friends at the Suncoast Animal League have been called to assist in some alarming cases. One, concerning six, one-week old pups abandoned under a shed during this cold weather, a second involving a stray dog found wandering the streets and giving birth to eight pups, and yet a third where the expecting dog was forced outside to give birth in the cold because the owner was mad at the dog for getting pregnant. Wow, this how you treat your “Best Friend”?
What about cats? They are treated worse than dogs. Everyone wants a cute, adorable little kitten until they turn in to a cat. Well, what were they suppose to become? Look around the streets, the poor things are everywhere. What’s the response you get when you try to bring cats to an animal shelter? “We are full”. And you know what, they are!
So as I see it, popularity isn’t all that popular.
Did you know that the Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas County Government shelters euthanize nearly 60,000 cats and dogs each year? And a little more than 9,000 get adopted. This cost tax payers over $14,500,000. Before you go screaming too loudly at your County Commissioners you might want to ask, “Where did all these animals come from?"
This has been going on for a long time and it will take a long time to “fix it”. Pardon the pun. But maybe it’s time to take this problem out of the hands of man and put it in to “the feathers of the goose that’s got it together”. I don’t mean to “honk” my own horn but you don’t see a goose tied to a tree in the back yard “starved" for affection. When’s the last time you saw a goose hanging around a dumpster in the back of a restaurant?
In 2008, I will be the “wingman” for the Suncoast Animal League, as we work together to put in place low cost spay/neuter programs that make sense and eventually raise the $150,000 necessary to open a high quality, high volume, affordable and accessible Spay/Neuter Clinic. Soon, we will announce these programs to the public, and on March 22nd, in downtown Palm Harbor, we will host a Dog Walk and 5K Run to help raise funds for the clinic. If you think placing animals in animal shelters is the answer, then you are only fooling yourself. The statistics will bear that out. Please… help us make a real difference.
I am aware that our community is made up of good eggs, bad eggs, and some eggs that are just plain scrambled. But it is time to put all of our eggs in a basket and take care of those we profess to care so much about...the animals!
"George the Goose"
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