Sometimes I wish I were a little kid again, skinned knees are easier to fix than broken hearts. ~Author Unknown
Since I retired, every morning sounds like a line from a popular childrens' song - "when we were out in the woods today". Its one of my favourite parts of the day no matter what the season. Now I may be fifty four years old, but I've never quite outgrown the klutz, so it really wasn't anything out of the ordinary to skin my knee on a rock hidden under the slippery frosty leaves.
Its no big deal today, but I expect tomorrow we'll be moving a slightly more sedate pace... whether or not we get any of the promised snow: )))
Sometimes I think we romanticize our childhoods and that the harder edges are softened as we "grow up" I believe thats a necessary step if we are to move through our lives with any grace at all. At some point, no matter what happened, we have to stop nursing grudges and get on with living.
That's one of the lessons our brilliant cats can teach us. Two years ago last summer, when my daughter and I brought George home from the woods ( after of course he had a quick detour to my vets for a test and first vaccines), we were worried that Clive was going to sulk forever. After a couple of days, Clive realized that George was more than just competition for affection... he was the cat who WOULD play with him. After a year of being ignored by my two eldercats, Clive wasn't long warming up to George after that. To see them now one would never guess how much hissing and spitting there was at the start.
One of my favourite Eleanor Roosevelt quotes is " When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?" It would be easy to focus on the small penalty awarded yesterday that the preventative aspect of the twenty year prohibition could get overlooked.
Our legal system is about deterrents not vengeance, and as such it sadly many times falls so desperately short of the mark. I still maintain that as long as animal cruelty is lumped in the same category as all other property offences that there will never be sufficient legal repercussions for crimes against living breathing sentient beings.
We should not romanticize the events of this year..... the only justice that I can see in the whole sad miserable story is that the Celtic Pet seizure became the catalyst for the first glimmers of desperately needed change with the society. There would be no justice that I can see in cutting that short.
PS - For those of you who are wondering, to date the live trap has only succeeded in coralling a few squirrels, one chipmunk and had I not been paying attention at least two of the pet kitties from my neighbourhood . I am hoping the little cat has been taken in by one of my kind hearted neighbours, but as the only practicing witch in a neighbourhood full of Jehovah's Witnesses, I may not find out if that was so : ))) It will take some more snow to know if that little cat is still around I think.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Midnight Musings
I just had an email from a friend who is one of the mainstays of animal rescue in this province and she is understandably upset about the small size of the fine for the Celtic Pet Case. This is a woman who regularly spends much more than that rehabilitating individual animals that she rescues.
We should never forget the state the animals were in when they were rescued. Nor should the events that followed ever be swept under the rug. The deaths of the Celtic Pets Six (seven/eight/nine????) will never be accounted for..... and that still breaks my heart.
I am fifty four years old, so I do understand there is no legal vehicle capable of achieving anything beyond today's judgement.
I am fifty four years old and have learned over the years that most good people are quite content to be passengers. I still have that poster that reads "Do something... lead, follow or get out of the way" and still think it cuts to the chase.
I am fifty four years old and have also learned that when people wind up on the wrong bus, they are reluctant to admit they've been going off in the wrong direction. In many cases, they'll ride the darn bus for miles after waking up rather than pulling the bell to get off.
There are still those around in the society who never got off the old bus. There are still those who would and will get back on the old bus if given the chance.
The only good to have come from this whole sad, miserable story is that - for the moment at least - the society bod is working very hard to get the bus back on track.
We should never never forget. But at some point we are going to have to forgive..... at least as long as the bus is heading to a better place.
We should never forget the state the animals were in when they were rescued. Nor should the events that followed ever be swept under the rug. The deaths of the Celtic Pets Six (seven/eight/nine????) will never be accounted for..... and that still breaks my heart.
I am fifty four years old, so I do understand there is no legal vehicle capable of achieving anything beyond today's judgement.
I am fifty four years old and have learned over the years that most good people are quite content to be passengers. I still have that poster that reads "Do something... lead, follow or get out of the way" and still think it cuts to the chase.
I am fifty four years old and have also learned that when people wind up on the wrong bus, they are reluctant to admit they've been going off in the wrong direction. In many cases, they'll ride the darn bus for miles after waking up rather than pulling the bell to get off.
There are still those around in the society who never got off the old bus. There are still those who would and will get back on the old bus if given the chance.
The only good to have come from this whole sad, miserable story is that - for the moment at least - the society bod is working very hard to get the bus back on track.
We should never never forget. But at some point we are going to have to forgive..... at least as long as the bus is heading to a better place.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Hard Lessons Learned - updated with judges decision
From the Hawk 101.5 website http://www.1015thehawk.com/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=5672 this afternoon:
Guilty pleas in Celtic Pets case
Friday, December 05, 2008 , 13:30
Almost 9 months after charges were laid, two local women have pleaded guilty to causing an animal distress under the Provincial Animal Act.
43 year old Zonda MacIsaac and 64 year old Alice MacIsaac were in Port Hawkesbury Provincial court on Friday.
What was supposed to be a preliminary voir-dire quickly changed direction with the guilty pleas.
The charges stem from a raid at Zonda MacIsaac's Celtic Pets rescue shelter in West Bay Road in February. More than 90 cats and dogs were seized.
25 more animals were seized from Alice MacIsaac's home about a week later.
The crown and defense presented their joint sentencing recommendation to the judge, which includes a $1000 fine for each woman.
A prohibition order was also recommended and although the order would see both Zonda and Alice MacIsaac banned from operating any type of animal rescue shelter for the next 20 years, Crown Prosecutor Dan MacRury notes that the two can keep their pets.
"I think there was a past history that these people treated animals very fairly, however, it's very clear that they can't look after a large number of animals and that's the facts that I had to make the decision on."
The judge will make a decision on the recommendation Friday afternoon.
The Judge has since agreed to the sentencing recommendations made by the Crown and Defence.
Well then..... at the end of the day its almost anticlimactic to see this particular marathon winding down. Sadly, there is nothing on the books at any level to address the culpability for decisions that were made by certain individuals involved in both the society BOD and the Metro Shelter.
It is a refreshing change of pace to see in the online minutes of the Oct 27th meeting of the BOD http://www.spcans.ca/resources/BOD_Minutes/PublicMinutes_2008Oct27.pdf, that care is being taken to separate the responsibilities and to build in accountability. It is to be hoped that this will avoid any repetition of this spring's debacle.... when the love of power used and manipulated good hearted people.
At a time when the society had an unprecedented opportunity to garner public sympathy and support, instead those consumed by the love of power very nearly had it circling the bowl instead.
I am fifty four, not four, so I know full well that Happily Ever After is seldom found outside of the stories I now read to my granddaughter. In real life, sometimes the bad guys get to walk away. Here in the real world, there is no magic wand to instantly transform the society.
It is a very good thing, then, that there are a few good people whose goals for the society are defined by their power of love for the animals. While we should never forget the story of last spring and summer, its good to see the BOD trying to shape a better future.
That might not be a storybook ending, but it sure promises a happier tail next time.
Guilty pleas in Celtic Pets case
Friday, December 05, 2008 , 13:30
Almost 9 months after charges were laid, two local women have pleaded guilty to causing an animal distress under the Provincial Animal Act.
43 year old Zonda MacIsaac and 64 year old Alice MacIsaac were in Port Hawkesbury Provincial court on Friday.
What was supposed to be a preliminary voir-dire quickly changed direction with the guilty pleas.
The charges stem from a raid at Zonda MacIsaac's Celtic Pets rescue shelter in West Bay Road in February. More than 90 cats and dogs were seized.
25 more animals were seized from Alice MacIsaac's home about a week later.
The crown and defense presented their joint sentencing recommendation to the judge, which includes a $1000 fine for each woman.
A prohibition order was also recommended and although the order would see both Zonda and Alice MacIsaac banned from operating any type of animal rescue shelter for the next 20 years, Crown Prosecutor Dan MacRury notes that the two can keep their pets.
"I think there was a past history that these people treated animals very fairly, however, it's very clear that they can't look after a large number of animals and that's the facts that I had to make the decision on."
The judge will make a decision on the recommendation Friday afternoon.
The Judge has since agreed to the sentencing recommendations made by the Crown and Defence.
Well then..... at the end of the day its almost anticlimactic to see this particular marathon winding down. Sadly, there is nothing on the books at any level to address the culpability for decisions that were made by certain individuals involved in both the society BOD and the Metro Shelter.
It is a refreshing change of pace to see in the online minutes of the Oct 27th meeting of the BOD http://www.spcans.ca/resources/BOD_Minutes/PublicMinutes_2008Oct27.pdf, that care is being taken to separate the responsibilities and to build in accountability. It is to be hoped that this will avoid any repetition of this spring's debacle.... when the love of power used and manipulated good hearted people.
At a time when the society had an unprecedented opportunity to garner public sympathy and support, instead those consumed by the love of power very nearly had it circling the bowl instead.
I am fifty four, not four, so I know full well that Happily Ever After is seldom found outside of the stories I now read to my granddaughter. In real life, sometimes the bad guys get to walk away. Here in the real world, there is no magic wand to instantly transform the society.
It is a very good thing, then, that there are a few good people whose goals for the society are defined by their power of love for the animals. While we should never forget the story of last spring and summer, its good to see the BOD trying to shape a better future.
That might not be a storybook ending, but it sure promises a happier tail next time.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Finding the Stamina
Posted today on the 101.5 Hawk website http://www.1015thehawk.com/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=5662
Preliminary voir-dire for MacIsaac Thursday, December 04, 2008 , 09:44
A case of alleged animal cruelty against a Port Hawkesbury woman is finally moving forward.
Alice MacIsaac was scheduled in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Thursday morning, but the case was adjourned until Friday.
A preliminary voire dire is slated for 9:30 a.m., with witnesses in the case ready to take the stand.
The SPCA rescued roughly 25 animals from the home of the former SPCA Special Constable last February.
During a court appearance in July, her lawyer argued the merits of the search warrant executed during the raid.
Although the phrase roughly means " to see the truth", in legal terms in Canada, a voir-dire is actually like a mini trial to establish the admissibility of evidence or the competence of witnesses. Nine full months after such a large seizure and the legal system is just now getting around to determining these things.
In nine months, a person can carry a child to term or complete a year of studies. It took less time than that to build one of our great provincial icons - the original Bluenose was crafted in five months.
It will take more than nine months to see this through to the finish. Assuming the evidence and witnesses survive the scrutiny and rulings of the voir dire, there will still need to be an actual trial. And of course there is yet another appearance scheduled for the daughter after the no show of the last court date.
Justice isn't blind, she's a bloody marathon runner galloping along until the critics are exhausted and public interest has trickled away.
Preliminary voir-dire for MacIsaac Thursday, December 04, 2008 , 09:44
A case of alleged animal cruelty against a Port Hawkesbury woman is finally moving forward.
Alice MacIsaac was scheduled in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Thursday morning, but the case was adjourned until Friday.
A preliminary voire dire is slated for 9:30 a.m., with witnesses in the case ready to take the stand.
The SPCA rescued roughly 25 animals from the home of the former SPCA Special Constable last February.
During a court appearance in July, her lawyer argued the merits of the search warrant executed during the raid.
Although the phrase roughly means " to see the truth", in legal terms in Canada, a voir-dire is actually like a mini trial to establish the admissibility of evidence or the competence of witnesses. Nine full months after such a large seizure and the legal system is just now getting around to determining these things.
In nine months, a person can carry a child to term or complete a year of studies. It took less time than that to build one of our great provincial icons - the original Bluenose was crafted in five months.
It will take more than nine months to see this through to the finish. Assuming the evidence and witnesses survive the scrutiny and rulings of the voir dire, there will still need to be an actual trial. And of course there is yet another appearance scheduled for the daughter after the no show of the last court date.
Justice isn't blind, she's a bloody marathon runner galloping along until the critics are exhausted and public interest has trickled away.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Time to Play a New Tune
From this morning's Herald
CBRM seeks stray solution
By TERA CAMUS Cape Breton BureauWed. Dec 3 - 4:47 AM
SYDNEY — Cape Breton Regional Municipality is stepping up efforts to tame its wild cat population.
A committee of council voted unanimously Tuesday to purchase more live traps to help the SPCA and other animal welfare groups trying to control the population of feral cats.
Six cages are currently available to SPCA officers or members of the public who want to capture wild cats to neuter or spay them and then return them to their colonies. Some unhealthy cats are also euthanized.
But several feral colonies are still growing fast, the cats either being fed by their human neighbours or fending for themselves by scavenging in garbage bins, along wharves or in other areas, according to a municipal official.
Rick Fraser, the municipality’s manager of bylaws, told council the cats can be a "nuisance."
He said they tend to mark territory with urine or dig in gardens, often make loud noises while fighting or mating and tend to live shorter, unhealthy lives.
"There are . . . seven such feral cat colonies being tended to in the CBRM by these animal welfare groups who have . . . spayed or neutered some 300 cats in our area," he said. "This is funded through their fund-raising efforts."
And low-income families bringing in a wild cat could be offered a discount on having the animal spayed or neutered, Mr. Fraser said.
Council will ask the SPCA how many more traps the group needs, according to the motion approved by the committee Tuesday.
( tcamus@herald.ca)
Is it a good thing that the CBRM is concerned about feral cats and trying to offer assistance for feral caregivers? Of course it is.
Is it going to be enough? Not even close. In a municipality housing the shelter with the highest kill rate in the province, it is scarce wonder that so many folks abandon cats rather than take them into the shelter.
These are tough times for Cape Breton. In the last few weeks there has been one closure and announcement of job cuts to come with another plant that will total over 300 jobs lost. That's a big number anywhere but almost insurmountable when there are no other local employment options available. In an already dwindling working population base, there will now be at least 300 more families that will be faced with the "do we stay or do we go" choice.
If there was ever a time to change how the CB branch shelter does business, this would be it. People faced with the dilemma of either being unable to afford to care for their cats if they stay, or not having the resources to bring their cats with them with the housing crisis out west.... well most of those people will opt for giving their cats a "fighting chance" by abandoning them. And... the cats that survive, being the brilliant creatures that they are, will adapt by adding to the feral population.
Creative talent has been one of the traditional exports from Cape Breton. Its time to put some of that to work by making the needed changes with the CB branch shelter:
CBRM seeks stray solution
By TERA CAMUS Cape Breton BureauWed. Dec 3 - 4:47 AM
SYDNEY — Cape Breton Regional Municipality is stepping up efforts to tame its wild cat population.
A committee of council voted unanimously Tuesday to purchase more live traps to help the SPCA and other animal welfare groups trying to control the population of feral cats.
Six cages are currently available to SPCA officers or members of the public who want to capture wild cats to neuter or spay them and then return them to their colonies. Some unhealthy cats are also euthanized.
But several feral colonies are still growing fast, the cats either being fed by their human neighbours or fending for themselves by scavenging in garbage bins, along wharves or in other areas, according to a municipal official.
Rick Fraser, the municipality’s manager of bylaws, told council the cats can be a "nuisance."
He said they tend to mark territory with urine or dig in gardens, often make loud noises while fighting or mating and tend to live shorter, unhealthy lives.
"There are . . . seven such feral cat colonies being tended to in the CBRM by these animal welfare groups who have . . . spayed or neutered some 300 cats in our area," he said. "This is funded through their fund-raising efforts."
And low-income families bringing in a wild cat could be offered a discount on having the animal spayed or neutered, Mr. Fraser said.
Council will ask the SPCA how many more traps the group needs, according to the motion approved by the committee Tuesday.
( tcamus@herald.ca)
Is it a good thing that the CBRM is concerned about feral cats and trying to offer assistance for feral caregivers? Of course it is.
Is it going to be enough? Not even close. In a municipality housing the shelter with the highest kill rate in the province, it is scarce wonder that so many folks abandon cats rather than take them into the shelter.
These are tough times for Cape Breton. In the last few weeks there has been one closure and announcement of job cuts to come with another plant that will total over 300 jobs lost. That's a big number anywhere but almost insurmountable when there are no other local employment options available. In an already dwindling working population base, there will now be at least 300 more families that will be faced with the "do we stay or do we go" choice.
If there was ever a time to change how the CB branch shelter does business, this would be it. People faced with the dilemma of either being unable to afford to care for their cats if they stay, or not having the resources to bring their cats with them with the housing crisis out west.... well most of those people will opt for giving their cats a "fighting chance" by abandoning them. And... the cats that survive, being the brilliant creatures that they are, will adapt by adding to the feral population.
Creative talent has been one of the traditional exports from Cape Breton. Its time to put some of that to work by making the needed changes with the CB branch shelter:
- recognize that the use of the gas chamber to kill animals horrifies the animal loving community. It is penny wise and pound foolish to engage in any activity that so strongly inhibits support from the animal loving community,
- list all their adoptables on http://www.petfinder.com/,
- "tell it like it is" and stop trying to hide the problem by cooking the books. How can meaningful assistance be provided if all the cards aren't on the table?
What time is it? Its time to stop sweeping dirty little secrets under the carpet before Cape Breton finds itself famous for more than the fiddling.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Country Christmas Kitty Style
Do you remember last July when I posted a story on the old blog about CAPS and their marvelous kitty cottages. For those of you who didn't catch that, in a nutshell I was talking about how very impressed I was with CAPS . Four years ago, animal lovers in Annapolis County were outraged to discover that the dogs at the Bridgetown Pound were being shot. In response, a group of concerned animal lovers banded together to form CAPS .
On any given day, there are normally at least 125 adoptables listed on http://www.petfinder.com/ for CAPS. How does a fairly young group accomplish this with no shelter or paid employees? It is a labour of love carried out by a committed network of volunteers who foster/drive/ clean/ groom/ train the pets in their care. They get their name out there by having walking parties in most of the festivals in Annapolis County. From Heart of the Valley Days in Middleton to Bridgetown's Cider Fest, CAP's volunteers are on display and getting the word out there.
They make great use of their website, which includes a very professional and interesting newsletter. Their petfinder listings are informative, with lovely pictures and are periodically updated for those who are in their care for any amount of time. Their monthly meetings are well advertised and the public is encouraged to attend.
Anna is extraordinarily busy, but at long last the promised pictures of the kitty cottages have arrived in my inbox, like an early holiday treat. The Cat Cottages were all built by volunteer labour. They are clean as a whistle and a real joy to visit.
Anyone who visits the homeless pet pages knows that there is a special holiday edition up right now, as my personal effort to encourage folks who want a new pet to adopt their next friend from rescue. The holiday edition will be expanded later today to include the great kitty cottages, but for now ladies and gentlemen, please let me introduce a sneak preview of the holiday kitty cottages : ))
PS I don't know what impresses me more... the lovely clean cottages with so many happy kitties or the fact that they can have a tree with so many kitty cats!
Monday, December 1, 2008
In the morning light
I've always been a morning person. I suspect that all those years of getting up at 0 dark thirty to go into work in the kitchen may never leave me, no matter how long I am retired.
This time of year it is still full dark for my first stroll around the yard with the dogs. Our first stroll is never exercise but a leisurely examination of the scents left behind by last nights visitors through the yard. Which of course gives me lots of time to stargaze and mull things over.
It takes the first bit of snow to find out if you have a really shy stray kitty around. My friend Melissa, who runs Berwick Safe Haven Animal Rescue has been kind enough to lend me one of her traps. I'll pick up some stinky sardines or somesuch and try baiting the trap after lunch, as that is when I saw the little one trying his or her luck under my birdfeeder.
He or she doesn't seem to be very old - six months or so I would think. At a quick glance I think there is longish grey fur and a white bib and maybe a white paw or two. Judging by the footprints, I think he or she is holed up under the baby barn where I keep my recyclables.
We'll take this one step at a time.... and resist the urge to name the kitty before we even see if we can corral him or her with the trap. Happily the vet clinic where I take my 'kids' is the same one that does the support work for SHAR, so they are experienced with ferals. And with seven pets, I have a good enough relationship with them that I likely won't have to wait long to do the test/vaccine/etc bits.
I know that Melissa has neither the room nor the resources right now to help another kitty in need. Like every other one of the hardworking TNR groups in this province, she is caught on a treadmill of trying to get her vet bill down while still trying to keep on doing the very badly needed TNR work. ( People who expect her to take their cats in return for a twenty dollar donation is a rant for another day! )
And I definitely know that I wouldn't send this kitty off to AC .... that wonderful new statement of support for TNR on the society website isn't going to change everything overnight. Its an important first step that will make a difference, just not today for this cat.
So we'll take this one step at a time... there's certainly lots of room out in the greenhouse to build a snug shelter for a little feral if he or she is too shy to want to be touched by human hands.
However this plays..... I strongly suspect I'll be picking out names on the way home from Berwick.
PS - The last fundraiser for SHAR had to be postponed because of weather. They have a new one scheduled now for Saturday, December 13th, from 11 am to 5pm at their usual place, the Windermere Community Hall There will be Homemade Chicken Soup!, You can in a prize at the straw game! and there will be FREE Apple Cider, Tea and Coffee! AND there will be Ticket Sales on a Quilt, a Painting and Scrap booking basket!
PPS They would also really appreciate any donations of Canadian Tire Money, and of course cat food, litter, toys, cat beds and stinky kinds of fish for trapping.
This time of year it is still full dark for my first stroll around the yard with the dogs. Our first stroll is never exercise but a leisurely examination of the scents left behind by last nights visitors through the yard. Which of course gives me lots of time to stargaze and mull things over.
It takes the first bit of snow to find out if you have a really shy stray kitty around. My friend Melissa, who runs Berwick Safe Haven Animal Rescue has been kind enough to lend me one of her traps. I'll pick up some stinky sardines or somesuch and try baiting the trap after lunch, as that is when I saw the little one trying his or her luck under my birdfeeder.
He or she doesn't seem to be very old - six months or so I would think. At a quick glance I think there is longish grey fur and a white bib and maybe a white paw or two. Judging by the footprints, I think he or she is holed up under the baby barn where I keep my recyclables.
We'll take this one step at a time.... and resist the urge to name the kitty before we even see if we can corral him or her with the trap. Happily the vet clinic where I take my 'kids' is the same one that does the support work for SHAR, so they are experienced with ferals. And with seven pets, I have a good enough relationship with them that I likely won't have to wait long to do the test/vaccine/etc bits.
I know that Melissa has neither the room nor the resources right now to help another kitty in need. Like every other one of the hardworking TNR groups in this province, she is caught on a treadmill of trying to get her vet bill down while still trying to keep on doing the very badly needed TNR work. ( People who expect her to take their cats in return for a twenty dollar donation is a rant for another day! )
And I definitely know that I wouldn't send this kitty off to AC .... that wonderful new statement of support for TNR on the society website isn't going to change everything overnight. Its an important first step that will make a difference, just not today for this cat.
So we'll take this one step at a time... there's certainly lots of room out in the greenhouse to build a snug shelter for a little feral if he or she is too shy to want to be touched by human hands.
However this plays..... I strongly suspect I'll be picking out names on the way home from Berwick.
PS - The last fundraiser for SHAR had to be postponed because of weather. They have a new one scheduled now for Saturday, December 13th, from 11 am to 5pm at their usual place, the Windermere Community Hall There will be Homemade Chicken Soup!, You can in a prize at the straw game! and there will be FREE Apple Cider, Tea and Coffee! AND there will be Ticket Sales on a Quilt, a Painting and Scrap booking basket!
PPS They would also really appreciate any donations of Canadian Tire Money, and of course cat food, litter, toys, cat beds and stinky kinds of fish for trapping.
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