Overrun with cats

[Willow Oak]

I suppose your area has houses far apart and so when the dog or cat does wander or is put out to wander aimlessly, it is easy for them to seem lost. I know that in the rural areas, pets are often kept outside and have less than household status on any given day.

That last pup you found surely looks healthy in the pictures. Maybe he/she is just lost? One would hope that the owner would go door to door, looking for the doggie and would eventually the poor thing would be home again. But, if the dog was put out to fend for itself .... no wonder you find so many stays. It seems that they are disposable where you live. You seem to find more dogs than cats. Could that be that cats are oh too often and more easily part of the food chain?

Have you considered opening a 5013c shelter?

I see dogs and cats every day going to and from work. I don't always stop, but if I find one in the middle of the road I will. If I can catch I do, but if not .., well, of course, I don't catch those. Most of the ones I catch do end up at the shelter. If someone has lost a pet, he/she can call the shelter. The shelter puts an ad in the paper for that purpose. I have neither the time nor the money to go house to house, or to run an ad in the paper.

Several times during a year I see a cat or dog carcass in the road going to and fro. I also see raccoons, possums, and deer -- lots and lots of deer carcasses in the road.

Willie: I was sure I would deliver him to the shelter, but delivery to the shelter does not guarantee a good end to an animal. In Willie's case, he has gotten along so well here that I decided to keep him. I know he stands a god chance of having a good life here at Willow Oak.

The last cat I delivered was euthanized the same day -- the reason: he was too wild. I do not disagree with the action taken, but if if I had known beforehand, I would have kept the cat and tried to tame him. I have tamed a "wild" cat before.

I would not be approved for a 501 (3c) animal shelter since we already have one that is funded by the county and the city.

[sasvermont]

I suppose many of us would like the fun part of having so many pets..... and I do appreciate how much time, energy and money it takes to care for so many animals. There are quite a few folks here, hosting and owning many, many, many cats and/or dogs. I think you may hold the record!

"What's one more mouth to feed" at this point!

I simple love the stories and photos about your "finds" and surely hope you continue to let us live with your pets via the internet!

I think I am able to smell Taz's puppy breath.

[Willow Oak]

I think I am able to smell Taz's puppy breath.

Taz is a mess.

[momtomany]

My kitty gang of 11 all follow me out to the kitchen every morning for their morning treats. It is a chorus of meows if I am not fast enough. Our youngest addition, 7 weeks old, gives the big guys "the paw" if they try and take her treats. Then it the dogs turn, the four of them. I have two birds too. Let's put it this way, the fur children rule the roost. I care for two colonies that total around 40 cats, so I know about where the money goes. I agree that wild kitties can become tame or somewhat tame. I am blessed my that my colony kitties trust me and the vast majority I can pet. They all have names and I know their personalities. Keep up the great work.

[Willow Oak]

My kitty gang of 11 all follow me out to the kitchen every morning for their morning treats. It is a chorus of meows if I am not fast enough. Our youngest addition, 7 weeks old, gives the big guys "the paw" if they try and take her treats. Then it the dogs turn, the four of them. I have two birds too. Let's put it this way, the fur children rule the roost. I care for two colonies that total around 40 cats, so I know about where the money goes. I agree that wild kitties can become tame or somewhat tame. I am blessed my that my colony kitties trust me and the vast majority I can pet. They all have names and I know their personalities. Keep up the great work.

You paint a beautiful picture. Here is the "wild" one that I finally managed to tame. Only took me about four years:



There was a day when my face and hands would have been chopped beef if "Buddy" had even allowed me to get this close.

[Emeraldgreen]

What a beautiful crew! Hope to see more videos of all the others too.
The best part about your videos is how grumpy you sound when you're talking about the animals that are being filmed and then the looks of adoration you get back from them. LOL It's so funny.
4:30??? Okay, I'll stop complaining about getting up at 7:00 now. lol

[heidiv]

Wow you have some mighty fine looking Meezers there.... As are all of your animals you are so good for doing what you do...Sometimes amazes me to the amount of animals people discard because they no longer want them.....Sad to me. There would never come a day that I would discard my cats I would be living in a box by the side of the road before I would ever allow that.....I just hope that day never comes......You are an animal angel...Bless you!