Kittens! Kittens Everywhere!

The KC Star visited the shelter last week to report on the kitten explosion. The article features photos of adorably sweet Minion & super-cutie tripod Lina, but it also includes a photo of Felix Thunder Paws, a seven-year-old FIV+ cat.

In some states (like our neighbor, Kansas), shelters cannot adopt out FIV+ cats. It's a law that is based on fear, not science, and the Great Plains SPCA CEO has worked with legislators to repeal it multiple times. As is typical with governing bodies in the US, however, they always tack the repeal onto another bill and it ends up not passing.

This post has gone to the dogs!

I know I post about cat stuff a LOT. Strangely enough, I mainly consider myself a dog person (while my spouse & son are major cat people). But because we volunteer with the cats at the shelter, that's where my focus is most days. Today, though, is all about the barkies. First, I want to give a huge

HAPPY BARKDAY!!!

to my pupper, Starbuck. She's a whole 2 years old today. 

Whee!

Compassion Fatigue

I have a habit of throwing myself 100% into any project I take on. This sounds great in theory, but it's not a healthy or sustainable practice. So when we started volunteering at Great Plains last fall, I had to set some hard limits for myself. Without them, I would have found myself fostering animals while volunteering multiple days per week and attending every possible event. And my life would be in shambles and I would quickly burn out.

So...I've already pushed against my limits by spending hours at home editing video footage, but what we do right now is manageable. As long as I keep my urge to DO MORE in check.

All of this is to explain why I am only at the shelter once per week. And why I barely touch on the world of animal rescue in my physical space. And even with that pretty minor time commitment and the few actual hours I spend in the shelter itself, I have brushed against the edges of what this article discusses.

I can only imagine what it's like to be fully immersed in it. How hard it must be and the toll it takes.

“Animal care professionals are some of the most pain-saturated people I have ever worked with. The very thing that makes them great at their work, their empathy and dedication and love for animals, makes them vulnerable.”

Many animal shelters operate on a shoestring budget. They rely on volunteers to get much of the day-to-day animal care work done because there just aren't enough hands. They are desperately in need of fosters to care for kittens and puppies or adult animals that are experiencing shelter stress, are in need of behavioral work, or just need a place to wait/recover before and after surgery.

Please consider supporting your local animal shelter by donating, fostering, or volunteering. Just a few dollars a month or a few hours a week can make a big difference in the lives of the animals and their human caregivers.

And adopt, don't shop!

Fancy girl

The very welcome news that Link went home last night means that three of our five SCotMs have been adopted. YAYYYY!

*happy dance*

Since Mr. Key got his own photo post earlier this week, here are a couple of shots of the beautiful Miss Sofie with her fancy new collar on.

Mr. Key!

Our July SCotM, Mr. Key, sure does love exploring these tunnels!

July Shelter Cat of the Month

This month's featured kitty was selected by my partner in crime. I figured it was only fair since I demand that he proof each post before it goes out (so if you ever find a typo - blame him! bwahahahahahaha *ahem*).

We're obviously big on the black cats in my family because the spouse's choice for July is Mr. Key.

UPDATE 7/21: Mr. Key has been transferred to Lawrence Humane Society. I'll post a link to his bio once I have one.

UPDATE 7/24: Mr. Key is finally up on the LHS website. I hope lots of people come by and see him in person because his online presence is...unimpressive.

UPDATE 8/25:  MR. KEY HAS BEEN ADOPTED! WOOHOO!