BCSP Report – Week 49

This 2-year-old female Lab mix was found near W and Highway 51 by Zalma.  She is a Lab mix, maybe with Shar Pei. She has an ear infection and is in heat.  We are treating her ears. Please call 573-722-3035 to adopt!

Pet of the Week: 2-year-old female Lab mix was found near W and Highway 51 by Zalma. She is a Lab mix, maybe with Shar Pei. She has an ear infection and is in heat. We are treating her ears. Please call 573-722-3035 to adopt!

November 23-December 1

Kittens, cats: what to do about the unwanted felines.  That is the question our board of directors is trying to figure out.

It seems to me at least, that cats and kittens suffer the most in our county.

They are easily forgotten.  Being plentiful, it seems they are considered replaceable.  They are easy prey for the large birds, coyotes, stray dogs and pet dogs.

They poo in your garden and flowerbeds and so you hate your neighbor’s city cat which they put out on their entry steps.

Some hunters hate the crafty critters saying they kill birds and squirrels.  They also chase birds from the feeders, disrupting the bird watchers pastime: making time on the porch swing lackluster.

Many put little value on their outdoor cats.  So when they think about spending the cost of two cases of beer (about $40) and a case of smokes (about $32) on a spay for their yard cat, the female cat does not get spayed.  I guess that little physical pleasure is felt by spaying the cat.

What does it take for us to think out-side-of-the-box and put some value on those outdoor cats (that your children may love)?

We announced last summer that we received a substantial grant from Sidewalk Angels in New York.  We are to use it mostly towards spay vouchers for female dogs and cats.  We see a need to help low income as well as ranchers or city folk who own families of cats that are inbreeding. We want to help end the suffering of hundreds of unwanted kittens and puppies who don’t receive de-worm medication or die from flea infestation or starvation.

We actually accepted several groups of kittens this year as Project pets.  It has been an especially challenging task to maintain fosters and find homes.

One of the hardest challenges for us is getting good photos of the adoptable kittens. The lighting is important, the background is important and then the kitten or cat needs to pose for the photographer. Many callers don’t have cameras or the internet..

A really nice gentleman who loves cats had a female grey tortoise shell mother dumped or maybe she simply strayed to his yard.  She was very close to delivering babies.  When he called us for help he said he would foster them.  We agreed.

The mother and litter were the first we accepted in the Project for 2013. We could not arrange the time to go and get good photos.  Photos are what find the pets homes.  Fortunately two have been adopted by a health care worker who cares for the foster family.  Four more and mom are still available. Our foster has learned he is allergic to cats. He is having a difficult time breathing.

The mom and litter must go this week.

Petfinder has not been working properly for about a month, faulting technical difficulties. So calls for pets have been almost non existent.  Adding pets was a real challenge: updating them a test on patience and a drain on precious time.

So we have a litter of kittens in a foster home that needs to be adopted now.  There is no where else for them to go.  They are litter trained, have been kept indoors, and have tested negative for Feline Leukemia.  Adoption fee is $0 – FREE!

If you are remotely interested in adopting or fostering one or more of these kittens, please call us at 573-722-3035 a.s.a.p.

We are unsure what 2014 will bring: how we can help the people and animals who need us the most.  Right now, we need assistance to place the sweet mom and litter.  See this litter on our Facebook page.

When you do a search for the ‘ Bollinger County Stray Project ‘ on Google.  Please check out our active Facebook site and “link up” to follow updates on strays and intakes as well as other news for pet lovers.

We are family and child friendly.  Use our FB site as an educational tool for your kids.

Accepted strays and relinquished dogs:

… 7 Australian Shepherd mix pups: their mom is going back to her owners after weaning and will be spayed with the help of a spay voucher.

Adoptions, return to owner or placed in other rescues:

… Cocker and Bassett type mix puppy, female, went to Imperial MO home:  he aTech Specialist and she in HR.

Cat calls:

… FREE, ten cats: age 1 year, all spayed or neutered house cats, litter trained. Well cared for, call 573-495-2033

… Mother and kitten are grey tabby, mom is PG, 3-4 mo old fe kitten, Zalma 222-6978

… Someone dumped 2 long hair tabbys: one dark tabby semi long, a white with tabby, and a black with white kitten.  Call 573-495-2033

Dogs with Heartworm, Erlichia, special needs, or that were euthanized:

… Small breed male intact, fear aggressive. attack bitter, I had to euthanize

…  Yellow Lab mix female, age 2-3, heartworm positive, also has a hernia, also has ear infections,covered in fleas.  In heat and showed aggression towards large and small dogs on our property.   We will evaluate her while on hold.  If owner does not come forward and if she is still dog dominant with the intention to attack, she willbe euthanized after a ten day hold.  Sometimes females are aggressive during their heat cycle.

Calls requesting assistance for dogs we did not admit:

… FOUND 11/29/13 at MH Courthouse: female Heeler, Husky, or Collie type mix with up-right ears, female in heat, yellow to red with cream/white on face, etc.

… FOUND 11/29/13 downtown MH near lumberyard: 4 pound neutered Chihuahua male, red with tan, pumpkin head, about age 3.

… FOUND 6 miles from Puxico, 3 miles south of dam: Australian Shepherd male, small black white rust over eyes, wearing acollar.

… FOUND 11/18/13 near Balch church, W and 51: Yellow Lab and Shar Pei type mix female, in heat, about age 2-3.

… LOST 11/23/13 Glennon area on Highway T, 2 miles from 91: Fiest female, black with white, 16-18 pounds, age 10months.

Miscellaneous and contact info:

We had 67 dogs on our property Monday. 29 are pups age 5 weeks or younger.

Please report animal abuse and discourage anyone from dumping dogs or puppies.

The mothers of three litters in our care were not fed properly before whelping.  They came to us underweight to grossly underweight.  Puppies thin and bony, full of worms.  Please offer any pregnant dog small-breed-puppy-food the final 1-2 weeks before delivery and while the pups are nursing. Give those mothers all the food they want: bowls full all day and lots of fresh water available all day.   Cats need kitten food.  Free feed the higher calorie food during the nursing stage to help mom make milk and maintain her own body mass.  Babies need to be dewormed as young as 1-2 weeks, then every 7-10 days until age 10-weeks or older if in a confined environment with re-infestation concerns.

Offer strays water on day one and food day two or three. Call if missing a dog or you have a stray.

If you suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, call the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Hotline, 314-647-4400 or 800-383-9835 or you can make a confidential report on line at Humane Society of Missouri.

To understand when an animal is being abused or neglected in the state of Missouri read the following link:http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cruelty/mo_cruel.htm

We LOVE Buchheits!  Donate a buck or more at the Jackson store for dog food and supplies when you shop. Also, Second Time Around in Marble Hill is taking donations for the Stray Project. Monetary donations are accepted at the Bollinger County Veterinary Service, Marble Hill Coop, Buchheits, and the MH Town and Country.

Thank you to the County Residents who have continued to support the Bollinger County Stray Project. 

Check out our available pets at Petfinder.  Call 573-722-3035 about our adoptable pets.