There Are Too Many Cats!
Chris’s determination and compassion made him a strong advocate for animals on Long Island. He earned the affection and respect of so many and saved countless lives over the past 18 years. Today, the animal rescue community mourns his loss along with the loss of all those precious cats. I’m just so thankful that officials ruled out arson as the cause of the fire. Arson would have made everything worse… if that’s even possible.
What Chris attempted was simply too much for one individual. Pet overpopulation in America is a societal problem that our government needs to address directly. The only meaningful way to tackle this issue is through a combination of spay/neuter, adoption, and TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, return).
Despite what some people say, eradication programs don’t work and only create more problems. They also use horrific methods, like poisoning, leghold traps, shooting, gassing, drowning, and starvation, while never addressing the underlying issue. Alley Cat Rescue has an excellent explanation of why eradication programs fail.
In an ideal world — and I admit I’m a dreamer — there would be no need for Happy Cat Sanctuary and no need for my program, either. In an ideal world, our government would fund a program to provide free, high-quality spay/neuter services, which would address pet overpopulation and ease the suffering that comes with it. It would support adoption programs, fine people who allow their cats to roam, and ban the commercial breeding of all pets.
Veterinarians and vet techs from NSALA, and other local facilities, tending to injured survivors of the Happy Cat disaster.
Chris tried his best but could do only so much. Immediately after the fire that destroyed his sanctuary, the animal welfare community sprang into action to conduct a search and rescue mission. Dozens of veterinarians, vet techs, and volunteers — including many from NSALA — rushed to the site to provide medical care and comfort for the injured and traumatized survivors before transporting them to hospitals and safety. I’m so proud of how the animal welfare community came together in this time of crisis.
I’m also proud and thankful that NSALA transported 20 of those brave little survivors to Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center, where we will care for them during their journey back to health. Without BFF, this just wouldn’t have been possible.
Left to right: Lisa Jaeger of Jaeger’s Run Animal Rescue. Lisa was a good friend of Chris’s and is playing a major role in the search and rescue mission. Next to her are four of my NSALA colleagues: Diane Johnson, Karla Scaramuzzo, Dorit Shevach-Shani, and Ted Moriates.
It’s easy to get lost in the numbers when there are so many who need us. But we can’t forget the individual cats behind those numbers, cats like my new foster Englebert, who not long ago was sitting on “death row.”
He’s about 2 to 3 years old and was born with a condition called entropion, where the lower eyelid turns inward, causing his eyelashes to rub against his eyeballs. This condition is painful and requires surgery. His poor eyes were goopy, and he constantly rubbed them due to discomfort. Because of this costly surgery and his “drippy eyes,” he was not appealing to potential adopters at the local municipal shelter. He was just hours away from being euthanized when my friend @kellysfostersflorida saw him while saving some dogs from “death row.” She contacted me immediately.
Englebert in his cone.
He’s already feeling so much better.
He’s already feeling so much better.
From the day he arrived, he’s been so loving and grateful. He was a rockstar during his surgery and is healing beautifully. I’m just so thankful I was able to help this good boy. But it wouldn’t have happened without Kelly, just one of the many hardworking volunteers I’ve met through animal rescue.
Besides introducing me to some of the best people on Earth, volunteering has enriched my life so much. It’s my purpose and my joy. Yes, it’s frustrating at times because I always want to do more, and the situations helpless animals find themselves in can break my heart. But I think all the volunteers I know would agree that the positives far outweigh the negatives.
So, because April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, I’m giving a huge shout-out to each and every volunteer who’s decided that the best way to make the world a better place is “one animal at a time.” I love being part of the volunteer community, and I especially love the volunteers at NSALA, who are the best of the best!
I mentioned earlier that I’m a dreamer and admit that we are far from the ideal world I hope for. But I firmly believe we can get there. Think about where animal welfare stood 100 years ago and the progress we’ve made. The no-kill concept barely existed back then. Now, thanks to the leadership of North Shore Animal League America, no-kill is a growing reality.
Think about the advances we’ve made in euthanasia methods. In the not-too-distant past, most shelters resorted to the inhumane gas chamber, where animals faced slow, agonizing deaths, crowded in a metal box as they struggled and fought each other to escape. (Only one state still permits this terrible practice — Shame on you, Wyoming!)
Today, euthanasia methods are humane. But in my ideal world, there would be no reason ever to euthanize a healthy animal. Spay/neuter, TNVR, and adoption would have finally given us control of this awful problem. No more fires, no more homelessness, no more suffering on the streets. Every kitten and puppy would have a loving home.
Spay/neuter! Spay/neuter! Spay/neuter! I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll keep saying it. We must educate the public and change minds! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Volunteer at your local shelter.
- Make your voice heard: Write letters to the editor and lobby your state and federal legislators.
- Arm yourself with the facts. NSALA has information about spay/neuter on our fantastic SpayUSA, including:
- Learn about TNVR: NSALA offers support for the local community surrounding their Port Washington, NY campus, but the information found here can be helpful in starting programs in your area.
Is my ideal world possible? I believe it is! Together, we can make it happen, and it is definitely worth fighting for!
xo
Beth
Photo: Howard Stern
Photo: Courtesy Twitter
P.S. April 21 is National Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day, a special day for Howard and me. Our charming Bianca was a truly beautiful English Bulldog, and when we lost her in July 2012, I wondered if life could ever be the same. Once I got over the shock, I decided I had to do something to honor her and decided to volunteer at North Shore Animal League America. Her sweet spirit is responsible for saving so many lives. And today, when I think of those 20 kitties who survived the Happy Cat fire being safe at BFF, I close my eyes and say, “Thank you, Bianca. I love you.”
SAVE THE DATE and join me for our Celebration of Rescue Gala on June 12 in Manhattan. I’m thrilled to chair this event and celebrate another year of rescue. I’m also excited that Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band will provide entertainment on a night filled with inspiration and joy. Let’s Rock for Rescue!
FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOWED NORBERT’S SAGA
IN MY LAST BLOG,
HE’S HOME!
( I just had to share the happy news!)
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