Another way of measuring ... the value of the ounce of prevention

I love being able to come back from a chilly hike on a crisp morning ... knowing that the fire is all laid and will only need a match to start warming us up.
Of course anyone unfamiliar with wood heat wouldn't realize that there's a lot more to it than that.  Before the nice dry wood made it to the wood cupboard in the house, there were many hot buggy days stacking the wood outside to dry ....and then many more hot sticky days putting it in the garage.
It sounds like a lot of work but actually I take the easy road because my wood already comes here cut and split.  I long ago learned that getting wood in eight foot lengths that had to be sawn and split was actually just as expensive by the time I bought the beer for my buddies :)
Is it a lot of work?  You bet!  But if I have learned one thing in fifty-six years it is that anything worth having is worth working for.
And THAT is why I go on and on like a stuck record about the need to get to No Kill Nova Scotia.  That .. and the fact that its as normal as the blue sky out there for a mother and a grandmother to try to create a better community.
Its also a darned good reason to continue to nag about animal control.  To talk about what it is ... and more importantly, to talk about what it should and could be.
It comes as quite a surprise to folks to realize that most of the legislation and changes that make life better for the animals do double duty by creating better communities. 
Anti tethering legislation protects children from the dangers of unsocialized and untrained dogs.   Its just a bonus that it also reduces nuisance behaviors like late night barking and promotes public health by reducing the amount of unhygienic unpicked up poop
Legislation to ban the traffic of living breathing sentient beings in the free online ad sites is consumer protection legislation.  I truly wish with all my heart that certain rescues and shelters would STOP advertising there as they are only lending a thin veneer of respectability and lending strength to the argument that the whole business is acceptable.    Not to mention the notion that it completely voids any credibility by any of the participants when they complain about the problems caused by the site
But I am ... as I often do ... wandering afield here in my meandering way.  How would changes to animal control create better communities? 

• TNR programs do more than manage feral cat populations .... they reduce both the health risks that are posed by unvaccinated cats and the nuisance behaviors associated with unaltered cats.  More importantly to the number crunchers ... TNR programs also save money because they reduce the number of animals that are impounded and killed.  
• Low Cost / High volume Spay Neuter clinics are the only effective way to slow down the annual river of stray and abandoned cats.  Its absolutely no different than when residents in any area press their council rep for a traffic light so that they can get to work on time in the morning, eh?   Its just just frosting on the cake that sustained support for such programs will in time reduce the amount required to maintain them.
• Pet retention programs .. at the risk of stating the obvious ... are the best way to prevent homeless pets.  Pets I might add that overburden every animal control facility in the province.    Investing in free dog training workshops, emergency veterinary assistance and even pet food banks all save money in the long run.
• Think Lost not Stray !  Instead of talking about the high number of aggressive dogs that are impounded remember that lost pets are hard wired to respond in ways that seldom correlate to temperament tests.
• And of course the most valuable tool in the animal control arsenal is to reevaluate how they do business with impounded animals.  In this day and age, when so many can barely afford to feed their pet, to charge high fees for reclaiming unlicensed pets is not going to encourage owners to step up to the plate.  Far better, and cheaper,  to implement a lifetime licensing program for altered and microchipped pets.   If that was accompanied by a "free ride home" program for first time offenders it would greatly reduce the unmanageable workload most municipal AC's are faced with.

It was a lot of money to buy my wood last spring.  It was a lot of work to stack it and put it away.  But without all of that there would be no chance of a cozy fire as we speak.
What time is it?  Its always time to remember the truth of the old adage... that an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

Taking a little measure

I love shopping for the holiday parcel I'll soon be sending to my daughter and her family.   Mind you, while I know that the gifts are always appreciated, it will be the homely touches that will mean the most .. the three flavours of fudge, the little crafty bits of decor and of course Mom's best brownies :)
Shopping is a little different since they moved away ... these days I have to remember that the nice folks at the Greenwood Post Office are going to measure and weigh every box I bring in.   But of course, that is how they know what to charge ... by volume and weight and by distance.
In all walks of life, solutions start with taking stock.   That is WHY I continue to natter on like a stuck record about the need for transparency with municipal animal control statistics.  It is not to point fingers.  It is not to assign blame.   Straight, sweet and simple it is merely to measure the scope of the problem.
There should be no need to put in freedom of information requests for animal control statistics.   This is information that should be publicly available on municipal websites ... right up there with the council meetings, detailed budgets and tenders of all sizes.
Why all the reluctance?  The secrecy?  Are the councils concerned that if the general public was aware of the true scope of the problem that there would be a hue and cry for change?  
Or are they concerned about the cost of addressing the problem? 
Joan and I have both been swamped with emails on the subject ... she's actually a lot nicer than I am and actually publishes some of the sillier ones she receives.  
People sometimes don't realize how well they are arguing our case for us.  The rocket scientist who explained to Joan that donations of kennels were needed to make up for one's destroyed by the high number of aggressive dogs that they see is a good example.
High number of aggressive dogs?   Well, we all know that the pound is only going to adopt out the "suitable" dogs so that paints a pretty grim picture right there.  High number of dogs indeed!
I could almost find it in me to feel sorry for Hope to have such advocates pleading her case.   But, like many others in the animal loving community, I have difficulty drumming up sympathy for someone who has such strong support from the folks responsible for the Celtic Pets Six / Seven / Eight???
But I am wandering afield here ... as I often do in my meandering way.  The bottom line is that numbers are the most effective way of assessing the problem .. and of having it addressed
Before I called the Department of Holidays this week to complain about the dangerous potholes on my road, I got out a measuring tape.  Why?  Because I knew that if I simply used the word potholes, there would be no response.  On the other hand, to be able to explain that one of the potholes was 14 inches deep and 2 feet wide painted a picture they could understand.
Are politicians worried about the cost of addressing the problem?  You bet.  That's the same reason the fill in our potholes keeps popping out every year when the cold weather hits.
But unlike the potholes, the number of homeless pets is only going to keep multiplying until the problem is addressed in an effective and humane manner.  Killing the cats and dogs hasn't solved the problem.  All we wind up with is bins and freezers full of dead cats and dogs.
Nor is it doing any favours to the people who have to work frontline animal control sheltering.   I rather expect, if they  had their druthers, they would prefer NOT to kill the animals who are meant to be our companions.
Or perhaps not .. after all to admit there is a better way is to acknowledge the horrible dirty truth that there is no need to be going down such a dark path.
There are people who will tell you that things will never change.  That there are never going to be enough homes.  That it is better to kill the animals in care so they can be open admission ... so they can kill more animals.
When those people left the society ... what happened?  A new spirit of transparency is what happened.   No more dirty little secrets.  No more trying to seize animals that had been adopted by their critics so that they could have been part of the Celtic Pets Six / Seven / Eight ???
And THAT is how I know that it possible to change how business is done with animal control.
Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.   John Kenneth Galbraith

Pet Pics around the province

Pet Pics with Santa have already started up and if the well attended events this weekend are any indication they are even more popular that before.  Why wouldn't they be?  Where else is it possible to have a bit of fun, help the animals AND come away with a keepsake that makes such a lovely little gift?
They've started but there are still many opportunities yet to jump on board.
Metro still has the following scheduled: 

• Tuesday, November 30,  from 6pm - 8pm  at Bark and Fitz
• Wednesday, December 1, from 6 pm - 9 pm at the Mic Mac Mall
• Saturday, December 4 from 10 am - 2 pm at Vetcetera Animal Hospital Bedford
• Also Saturday, December 4 from 1 pm - 3 pm at the Halifax Veterinary Hospital
• and Wednesday, December 8, from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Sunnyside Mall Bedford

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CAPS will be holding Pet Pictures with the Grinch at the Greenwood Animal Hospital this Saturday, Dec 4th, from 3pm to 5 pm

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SHAID still has two more sessions:

• Gow’s Home Hardware, Bridgewater—Fri. Dec. 3rd 5:30 to 8:30 pm
• &  again at Gow's on Sat. Dec. 4th 1 to 4 pm
• at Your Friend & Mine, Gold River—Sat. Dec. 11th from 1 to 4 pm

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PET Projects is holding its Pet Pics fundraiser this Saturday, December 4,from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the shelter building (528 Sandy Point Road, Shelburne)

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This Saturday, for anyone in the Yarmouth Area, the Yarmouth SPCA is holding their Pet Pics with Santa at the Shelter from 11 am until 3 pm.  ( there is also a craft sale and a bake sale too! )

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That's all that I could find ... as always if anyone's been missed please email me or leave a comment  

Shopping in support of the animals - 2010

I love big fluffy flaked snowfalls like this.   As does the retail world because nothing inspires holiday shopping quite like it either.
The first year I did the blog post about holiday shopping to help the animals, I had no idea it was going to become such a popular thing :)  I don't like to do it too early, being old school to disapprove of anyone trying to start the season too soon.
So this year ... if you are looking for holiday gifts, decorations  and stocking stuffers that will do double duty by helping the animals, this is what I've been able to round up:

• their beautiful wreaths were so popular last year that East Coast German Shepherd Rescue are selling them again this year
• on their lovely website, ARC is selling Jewelry and they also have a neat little online store there where one can find all kinds of neat little stocking stuffers.  Helpful hint .. their lovely travel mugs hold exactly a package of Hershey's kisses to sweeten the deal .. although the boys tell me they are also great for keeping hornets out of their beer in the summer :)
• there is going to be a Silent Auction at the 23rd Annual Telethon of Love for the LA Animal Shelter in Amherst which is being held on Sunday, Dec 5th
• As well as selling their ever popular Cherished Pets Calendars, CAPS is also offering a Gift Sponsorship package where kind hearts can give a sponsorship package that includes a certificate and a picture of the pet being sponsored .... sent in a gift card to the recipient.   What a very cool idea for those hard to shop for folks!
• Atlantic Small Dog Rescue has taken the extraordinary step of sharing their weekly online auctions with other rescues ... how awesome is that?  Every week there is a new auction, so its best to bookmark it for easy access.
• And of course there are always interesting possiblities at the Second Chance for Charity Booth at the Harbourview Market
• For those with a sweet tooth, Lab Rescue ALWAYS has their lovely almond chocolate bars for sale :)
• Pick of the Litter society, being CRA registered, is able to offer tax receipts for any gift donations made to their group :)
• SHAID is holding its Annual Open House at the shelter on Dec 5th and as well as lovely furry friends to meet there will be a bake table and crafts too !
• The TLC shelter is holding its annual Open House on the fifth as well .... and I expect they would be delighted to receive any gift donations any kind hearts wanted to offer
• I know that someone is doing a fundraiser for Ador a Bull but cannot find a link for it on their website ... so if someone would please email me about it I'll get it in this list
• The Bide Awhile Open House is on the 13th this year
• There is a really neat special Scentsy "I love my pet" flameless scented container being offered to help the Yarmouth SPCA

If I have missed anything, please let me know.  I'm going to do a separate post for the every popular Santa ( and in one spot Grinch) Pet photos because that's really caught on everywhere :)
And of course, last but not least, if you are thinking of enriching your life with a pet this holiday season, please consider the adoption option.   I know at one time it was impossible to adopt during the holiday season, but there is more Hope for the Holidays these days, eh?
What time is it?  Its always time to remember that there are many wonderful ways to shop AND help the animals.

On the Importance of Making a First Impression

I love going to Avery's here in Greenwood.   Setting aside the fact that when Stephen brands something as local, its actually grown in Nova Scotia, there is also a certain satisfaction in supporting a good local business.  Even better, the prices are always much more competitive than the bigger chain stores.  Best of all of course is the consistently friendly and helpful customer service.
Successful businesses understand the importance of making customers feel welcome and wanted.  In a world where companies still keep falling by the wayside, good customer service is undoubtedly the lions share of the reason that the original Avery's in Kingston has over time expanded to nice welcoming little markets around the province.
When I put in the adoption application for preapproval from ARC .. the one that started the journey that brought Miss Ruby / aka The Queen of Sheba into my home and my heart ... I had a cheerful and positive response within a few hours.  Not days or weeks .. but HOURS.   It established the tone of our relationship and eventually led to my adopting Andy.
Smart businesses also use newsletters to keep their customer base engaged.   Even though I had already bought my wood stove for the house, the chatty and informative letters and customer holiday cards kept coming.   When there was room in the budget for a wood stove for my workshop .. and later on for one for a wedding present for my daughter ... where do you think they were purchased?  You bet .. along with a plethora of neat yard ornaments that they also sell. 
In fact, when I bought the pond kit that eventually became the ornamental pond .. they were savvy enough to toss in a gift certificate for pond plants:)
When I was doing the research to build the homeless pet site, I had started reading the very well written SHAID newsletter.  And that is how ...when I already had four cats .. when there was no shortage of homeless cats in the valley ... that I hopped in my car and went over to SHAID to adopt my mighty mini Morgan.
A common complaint about pet adoption is the adoption application process.   Personally, after everything that they have seen, I 'get' why its so difficult for anyone doing frontline animal rescue to be able to trust that potential adopters will keep their pets safe.
But I also might add that from my birds eye view is that there is no such thing as a fail safe screening process.  Even the most cautious of groups occasionally has pets returned.
Why?  Because its not unheard of for people to tailor the answers to what they believe is expected.  Honestly .. if a quiz asks what one would do if the pet chews/ soils/ barks/ etc... nobody with a brain is going to say they'll be tying it out back or putting it in the basement
So if there is no such thing as a perfect screening process, why scare away so many good homes with an intimidating application form?   Will there not be an interview? Required references that can be checked?   A home visit?   A good friend of mine who works with an SPCA in Nfld prefers to ask the questions in person because she says that its much easier to get a feel for things when you can see the reaction in people's faces.
In the business world they know that there is only one chance to make a first impression.  Why is that important for pet adoption?  Because the good homes, the ones who keep their pets for life are only ever going to be looking for a new pet every ten or fifteen years.  They aren't going to be back next year when things are better.  Even worse, if they have been put off pet adoption one time, odds are they won't ever be back.
But that's not even the worse thing.  The saddest bit of all is of course that nobody lives in a bubble.  Every person who is intimidated by the application process has family, friends, neighbours and coworkers who likely won't apply either.
What time is it?  Its time to remember that a friendly first response does not obligate a rescue to approve an application ... it is simply good customer relations that will encourage more good homes to apply.

Update on the Power of Change

If, like myself, you were far far away from the parade route last weekend, here are a couple of pics to save for your history file ... of the society's first float in the Parade of Lights.

Riding out the turbulence

I love going to the woods when there has been a fresh snow.  Not having such a sensitive nose as the dogs, I need to be able to actually see the tracks to have any sense of the foot traffic that's preceded us.   
Some paint a pretty clear picture .. like the running rabbit tracks with fox tracks in hot pursuit.  Sometimes the snow simply highlights the familiar ... such as the well worn deer runs crisscrossing through. 
But like the river, we never step down the same trail twice and this morning we were treated to the sight of bobcat tracks.  With all the changes to our local ecosystem, its nice to see they are still around ... even if they are such ninjas we only ever see the tracks.
A bobcat is a wild thing and should live out in the woods.   After seventeen years out here, I've honestly lost track of the number of cats that have been abandoned out here ... none of whom I am sure were thrilled to be out in the wild.
I've also lost track of the number of comments and emails that I receive, asking me to stop encouraging people to feed stray and feral cats.   Well Bob / Pam / Sara / Pete / Tom / Harry .. etc ... I only have one thing to say to that.
I will stop encouraging people to feed stray and feral cats when people stop abandoning cats.  Straight, sweet and simple.
It is not humane to let the cats starve.   And of course there is the whole other end of the stick being that one is far more likely to get a rescue or TNR group to help with vet costs and with rehoming the cat if one takes proactive measures to care for the strays and ferals.
The Community Cat Blog has only been up for little over a month and already it would be easy to lose track of the number of stray cats that kind hearts in this province are trying to help.
Yesterday when I was posting the newest additions, I was saddened by a story of a group of cats that have been abandoned after different tenants moved out of an apartment building just off Windmill Road.
A couple of tenants are trying to feed them when they can afford to ... but the landlord is pretty hostile about having any kind of shelter built for them.  The cats are struggling to survive and its only going to get worse now that winter seems to have arrived.
Like all TNR groups, the Halifax branch of ca-r-ma is stretched to the max ....  yet they have still managed to rescue a couple of the cats.   If they can drum up a few foster homes and donations of food, it would be possible for them to rescue the rest. 
The cats that they have picked up are incredibly friendly .... and are listed on their site.  
So if you ... or someone you know ... are looking for a wonderful way to really teach your children compassion, helping anyone of these beauties would be a great place to start.
In my perfect fantasy world, I'd love to see a couple of successfully prosecuted cases of pet abandonment in this province.  Penalties and public embarrassment after all being splendid deterrents for some
Until that day .... people like Bob / Pam / Sara / Pete / Tom / Harry .. etc  .... should stop whining about people feeding the cats and offer a little support for the kind hearts whose compassion moves them to help the community cats.
The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence, its to act with yesterday's logic.  Peter Drucker