Mon
08 Jun
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I may have killed your cat today

Published under General.

Summary:   I am not normally the type to share poetry that I write. But there is one short poem that I wrote several years ago that is very near and dear to my heart, that I would like to share. For those of you that are in the animal rescue field, you know all too well that the warm months of summer bring about something that most of the general public is not aware of: kitten season. This is when female cats go into heat and start churning out litters of kitten like little, furry, kitten-factories. I wrote this poem one day at the shelter after a particularly bad day. We had received numerous orphaned kittens, and mother/kitten combos, that we had to euthanize because we had no space from the plethora of other moms and kittens streaming through the door. I was frustrated and fed-up with the state of things, and it just kind ...

I am not normally the type to share poetry that I write. But there is one short poem that I wrote several years ago that is very near and dear to my heart, that I would like to share.

For those of you that are in the animal rescue field, you know all too well that the warm months of summer bring about something that most of the general public is not aware of: kitten season. This is when female cats go into heat and start churning out litters of kitten like little, furry, kitten-factories.

I wrote this poem one day at the shelter after a particularly bad day. We had received numerous orphaned kittens, and mother/kitten combos, that we had to euthanize because we had no space from the plethora of other moms and kittens streaming through the door. I was frustrated and fed-up with the state of things, and it just kind of poured out of me as I put pen to paper. This poem is somewhat sad, and perhaps a little resentful, but I suppose the point of putting pen to paper in the moment is to catch a “snapshot” of how you are feeling right then and there.

I must warn, it is a very straight-forward peek into the mind of a euthanasia technician:

I may have killed your cat today

By: Jessica Stout, euthanasia technician

This is just a note to say, that I may have killed your cat today

I wonder if you had even noticed that she had run away?

And do you know about the kittens she had? I think watching us kill them made her pretty sad

But soon it was her turn, with sad and frightened eyes

Did you know that for every kitten born, another kitten dies?

Of course you wouldn’t know that, or bother to even care

Because if you did, you would have spayed her, and not let her wander everywhere

And of course its all my fault, because I’m the animal killer

I bet you think I like my job; death is such a thriller

Well I assure that I don’t, and it rips me up inside, to know that for every kitten born, another kitten died.

Mon
08 Jun
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Some things Disney just can’t make up; the story of the dog and the elephant

Published under General, Yay!.

Summary:   This is the story of Bella the dog, and Tarra the elephant. An unlikely pair of down-on-their luck animals, who found each other at the Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee, and became fast friends. If this doesn't make you smile a little, I don't know what will.

I absolutely love this story and wanted to share it. It is touching and heartwarming, and unlike your typical, multi-million dollar, Disney production; it is 100% true.

This is the story of Bella the dog, and Tarra the elephant. An unlikely pair of down-on-their luck animals, who found each other at the Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee, and became fast friends. If this doesn’t make you smile a little, I don’t know what will.

Tue
19 May
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R.I.P. Ned the Elephant.

Published under General, So Sad.

Summary:   Meet Ned. Ned was a 21 year old, male, Asian Elephant. He was born into captivity at Busch Gardens Amusement Park, where he was later sold into circus life at the age of two.

Ned upon his arrival at the Elephant Sanctuary; 1 ton underweight

Ned upon his arrival at the Elephant Sanctuary; 1 ton underweight

Meet Ned. Ned was a 21 year old, male, Asian Elephant. He was born into captivity at Busch Gardens Amusement Park, where he was later sold into circus life at the age of two.

 

 

 

On November 8, 2008, Ned was confiscated from circus trainer Lance Ramos by the USDA for failure to comply with the Animal Welfare Act. The reason? Ned was 1 ton underweight. He was placed with The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee so that he could gain weight, improve his health, and then move on to a more permanent housing situation with another sanctuary more suited to care for him long term.

Even with the specialized care that he was receiving at one of the top elephant sanctuaries in the world, Ned lost another 700 pounds, and finally succumbed to his illnesses this past Friday, May 15th. He was 21 years old; a mere 1/3 of the normal lifespan for an elephant.

A necropsy revealed that his intestines were full of ulcers. Sanctuary director, Carol Buckley, felt strongly that these were a result of the stress that Ned had undergone as a performing elephant in the circus.

Former owner of Ned, Lance Ramos, also known as Lancelot Kollman, said that Ned was always a picky eater. This apparently wasn’t reason enough for the USDA, who previously leveled charges against Ramos for allegations of abuse against two lion cubs, stemming back to 2005. A U.S. Circuit court ruled last month to revoke his USDA license in response to these charges. The issue of Ned will now go into a more serious realm because Ned was an Asian Elephant; a species that is endangered. Ramos could now face federal charges of compromising the welfare of an endangered animal.

One of my favorite commencement speeches ever was given by late folk-singer, Utah Phillips. When he reached the podium and looked out at the graduating class of new hopeful optimists, ready to start their journey into life, he said:  ”You’re about to be told one more time that you’re America’s most valuable, natural, resource.  Have you seen what they do to valuable, natural, resources?  Have you seen a strip mine?  Have you seen a clear-cut in a forest?  Have you seen a polluted river?  Don’t ever let them call you a valuable, natural, resource!  They’re gonna strip mine your soul!  They’re gonna clear-cut your best thoughts for the sake of profit, unless you learn to resist, ‘cause the profit system follows the path of least resistance, and following the path of least resistance is what makes the river crooked!”   

In Ned’s case, Utah Phillips commencement speech couldn’t be any more accurate. Ned’s soul was strip-mined, and his best interest was clear-cut for the sake of profit. His intestines became full of ulcers, and he was so frightened of human contact when he got to the sanctuary that he wouldn’t go near any of the handlers. He literally lived his life starved, underweight, in pain, and overworked. And this is what we do to our endangered, natural, valuable, resources.

Rest in Peace, Ned. Hopefully other lives will be spared by what we have learned from your death.

Tue
12 May
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Animal Heroes: Yolo County SPCA

Published under General.

Summary:   We do not need to watch Animal Planet to see our animal heroes in action; they are all around us, and you can be one, too!

I have to take a moment to give some attention to Ashley, and all of the amazing volunteers at the Yolo County SPCA.

Being out of the shelter environment, yet still working in the animal movement, means that animals in-need still come my way from time-to-time, however, rescue efforts are harder. The Yolo County SPCA has stepped-up to assist with these wayward animals, time after time; and for that I am forever grateful.

 

The Yolo County SPCA is unique. Rather than being an actual shelter like the SPCA’s that most of you are probably used to, it is actually a network of foster homes. It is comprised of volunteers that have given their time, homes, and hearts, to saving the animals that have come their way. And they take them all; big, small, young, and old. For those of you who know my dogs, the Yolo SPCA is the organization from where I adopted my sweet little Chihuahua, “Smidge” (AKA, Sweet Little Baby Angel Face).

 

Yolo County SPCA also works closely with their local shelter to take-in animals that are truly in-need, to help rehabilitate them and find them their forever homes. This not only gives those down-on-their luck critters a second chance at happiness, but also helps create more space at the shelter for other animals to go up for adoption.

 

For those of my readers who I know are glued to the likes of “Animal ER”, and “Animal Cops”, and look at those animal heroes with such admiration, I just want to remind you that these animal heroes are much closer to you than you may realize, and that you yourself can be an animal hero by contributing in anyway you can to support these volunteers who never stop. Even if with the poor economy, money is tight and you cannot give financially, there is always a wish list of items, such as blankets and towels, that help these organizations immensely. Please consider making a donation of some kind, as every little bit helps!

To make a monetary donation to the Yolo SPCA, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/rc8lcw

To view the items on their wish list, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/qfk8rg

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