Breaking my Heart

[moosmom]

You all have some wonderful ideas and I am proud of you guys!! When I worked for the newspaper in CT, I would collect soda cans from my co-workers. I put up a sign asking them to bring them to me. Well, the response was overwhelming. I collected at least 3-4 Xerox boxes filled with cans per week. Roughly it was about $10-15/month. I'd turn the cans in and buy cat and dog food or supplies and donate them to the local shelters. They could be used for either the pets in the shelter, or the feral colonies they maintained. And believe me, there were ALOT of colonies out there.

Another idea is to take any old blankets or comforters I had. I borrowed my friend's sewing machine and cut them up in squares big enough for kitty beds. I also brought them to the shelters.

If I worked any overtime, I would go to Sam's Club and buy a couple of boxes of candy (at $11/box). I brought in a basket and put the candy in there, selling it for $1/bar. You'd be amazed at how fast the candy would sell. The people on the news desk would rather buy it from me knowing it was going to a worthy cause, than walk all the way downstairs to the vending machines. I also took the money ($1/bar x 36 bars=$36/box!!) and either bought supplies, or donated the money to the shelter.

I was in animal rescue for 5 years in Connecticut and got totally burned out. Noahsmom, I know exactly how you feel as well. I found that no matter how much rescuing I did, placing cats in good homes, asking only for reimbursement of the vet bill (which they would've had to do anyway), they were always out there. I compared rescuing to trying to "piss up a rope" (pardon the pun) The laws need to be changed (and I don't mean like the ordinance in Ohio ). The homeless cats that are out there didn't ask to be abandoned. And I think every little bit helps.

Oh, one more thing before I shut up and go to work...you can buy Rubbermaid covered tubs (green preferably as it won't draw attention to curiosity seekers) on sale and make little shelters out of them. Flip them over on their covers, cut a hole on the side and line it with newspaper and straw. This will give them a place to go when the weather gets too bad. Remember, when it's cold out, put a tiny bit of salt in the water so it won't freeze.

Curses to all the scumbag garbage pet owners who abandoned their pets, forcing their responsibilities on people like us!! There's a place for people like them and it's not upstairs either.