Carol Hawn-Miller and Cindy Liggett are local animal advocates who work to save the lives of homeless cats and dogs. In 2001 they founded Kitty and K-9 Connection, a non-profit rescue/foster/adoption program. In this blog, they will discuss the issues around the numerous homeless cats and dogs in Anchorage, and the process of placement, including animal and human behaviors that lead to success or failure. They are pictured here with Gladys on Carol's knee, Cherri in the middle, and Ambrosia the cat on Cindy's lap.
Cindy Liggett
Because she's a "cat person," Cindy concentrates on cat rescues, fosters and adoptions. She faces daily attitudes towards cats as "throw-away pets" and deals with issues regarding "unwanted" cats due to over-population. She has advocated on their behalf for over 20 years and enjoys sharing her knowledge and insights so cats can enjoy their nine lives in the manner they truly deserveas an important member of the family.
Carol Hawn-Miller
Carol loves being the "dog mom" to all kinds and varieties -- small to large; mutts or purebreds. At home she deals with an ever transitional pack as she rescues, fosters and adopts dogs that would not otherwise have a "new leash on life." She has been doing pet rescue for more than 14 years. While loaded with a lap full of dogs, covered in dog hair or accepting K-9 kisses, Carol advocates for permanent, lifetime homes and responsible ownership so rescue will no longer be a necessity.
Sue Wirth
Sue is the other cat mom who takes in fosters and gets them ready for adoption. She has been doing cat rescue since 1998. To help control reproduction of unwanted pets, Sue advocates with a local veterinarian to spay/neuter cats as young as 8 weeks old before they go to their forever homes. She would like to see an end to full Animal Shelters, euthanasia and a home for every pet.
Emily Brand
Emily joins us as a guest blogger from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to raise awareness about issues affecting companion animals in Anchorage and the surrounding area. She shares the ASPCA’s mission to prevent animal cruelty and provide positive outcomes for at-risk animals across the country. Emily hopes to encourage people to be a voice for animals by doing something to help people understand the importance of treating animals with the love and respect they deserve.
VIDEO
Robin Newby of the American Red Cross of Alaska teaches pet first aid. In this video of a recent class, she describes the focus and some of the techniques. Find schedules of ongoing classes at "The Red Cross"
ALASKA LOCAL
Winter's Here & So Are The Mice - 11/17/2009 8:54 am
In Memory of Colette - 10/30/2009 12:17 pm
Issue with animal hoarding - 10/16/2009 1:06 pm
Black Cats & Halloween - 10/8/2009 11:48 am
My newly adopted dog, Mikey - 10/2/2009 5:28 am
Sit and Stay - 9/30/2009 6:03 pm
Winter Safety Tips - 9/28/2009 3:59 pm
Happy Ending for a Lost Kitty - 9/22/2009 8:40 am
HOW OUR PETS CAN REDUCE OUR STRESSES AND ANXIETIES - 9/20/2009 12:32 am
Issue of homelessness: the silent victims of cruelty - 9/18/2009 11:41 am
Behavorial Issues - The Litterbox - 9/16/2009 12:35 pm
Chance Update - 9/3/2009 11:14 am
Animal abuse should not be tolerated - 9/2/2009 11:30 am
Article at KTUU on Local Animal Cruelty Charge - 9/1/2009 4:42 pm
Touching Story about Reggie the Black Lab - 9/1/2009 11:25 am
I thought I'd heard it all... - 8/30/2009 1:00 am
Financial Help for Pets' Veterinary Emergencies - 8/13/2009 11:32 am
Link between violent acts against animals and people - 8/12/2009 1:22 pm
Ever Been Christened? - 8/7/2009 4:32 pm
Vacation Planning - 8/4/2009 2:21 pm
Scat Mats vs Cats on Counters - 7/27/2009 3:55 pm
Alyeska Canine Trainers - 7/27/2009 3:10 pm
NOVEMBER 17, 2009 - 8:54 AM
You see the evidence they leave behind and know they are there somewhere. You are more aware of their presence as the weather gets colder. and the ground gets harder. They get brave, seeking out the warmth and food of your house, garage, shed - whatever gets them out of the elements. I don't mind mice as long as they stay out of my house and shed. I've learned not to store any type of food in the shed so as not to encourage them to move in and stake a claim.
I do have mice, they find ways to get in the house and live in one of my closets and one of my cabinets. I have yet to figure out how they get in and it drives me and my cats crazy. A mouse doesn't last long in my house once it ventures out, but I don't like to find their dead, decapitated bodies laying around.
OCTOBER 30, 2009 - 12:17 PM
by Carol
Colette
Once I was a stray, wandering the streets alone.
Starved and cold, I waited for someone to care.
Days went by…I became only skin and bone.
Venturing out occasionally only when I dare.
Eventually I was found and taken to Animal Control
Where concerned employees gave me a comfy little bed.
Soft food was served to me in a shiny little bowl.
I did not eat or feel secure…no matter what they said.
I received lots comforting words and loving care.
And when my stray days were up, rescue stepped in.
OCTOBER 16, 2009 - 1:06 PM
I’ve been following an animal hoarding story and was troubled to hear that the woman who was charged with animal cruelty was also running a nonprofit cat shelter.
Hoarders may have good intentions, but the reality is that many of these animals often suffer from lack of socialization, poor health, starvation, as well as other ailments. Many of the animals found on the woman’s property reportedly suffered from multiple health problems due to unsanitary living conditions attributed to hoarding.
The fate of the animals seized from city officials have yet to be decided, but I’m glad the animals will receive the care they desperately need. I hope the animals are adopted into loving homes once the investigation is completed.
OCTOBER 8, 2009 - 11:48 AM
IsabellaWhile October may be the favorite month of thousands of humans, who excitedly plan their costumes of spooks, vampires and monsters, in anticipation of Halloween, cats, particularly black cats, have little cause for celebration this month.
Much has been said about the more violent indignities that may be practiced on black cats at this time of year, but a more subtle cruelty has surfaced in recent years. Some shelters have noted a spate of black cat adoptions shortly before Halloween, with many of these cats returned to the shelters in the days after the holiday because "He just didn't work out." One might assume that these people just wanted another Halloween decoration for their house - a black cat in the window, perhaps, or a "familiar" to go with that new witch costume. It probably did not even occur to them that this practice is cruel and inhumane - this kind of individual typically thinks of cats as property, and not as sentient beings who suffer real trauma from being dragged back and forth from shelter to home and back again.
OCTOBER 2, 2009 - 5:28 AM
Meet Mikey: 3-year-old; Yorkie mix; found as a stray; recently neutered.
When I first met Mikey, he rolled on his back and underneath the clumps of matted hair I caught his big, brown eyes gazing back at me. Mikey was a victim of severe neglect and found roaming the streets with no food, collar, or microchip. Even though he was completely emaciated, he was gentle, sweet, and extremely loving. My heart melted and I decided to adopt him.
Fast forward two weeks—Mikey came out of his shell and turned into quite a feisty pooch. He bounced up and down, zipped around the apartment, barked like a madman, and relieved himself wherever he pleased.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 - 6:03 PM
I came across this poem in my files about a dog during
Hurricane Katrina.
Lets hope the Sit and Stay works often.
Enjoy, and get the kleenix ready. :) Sue
SIT AND STAY!
When the levee broke, the water came,
And flooded the entire town.
To save the folks, men came in boats,
So not a soul would drown.
"Not any room," the rescuer said,
"For dogs, or cats, or pets,
Men, women, and children only,
Sorry," he expressed regrets.
"You can't go, girl," her master said,
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 - 3:59 PM
You know all the tell-tale signs: The trees outside slowly starting to surrender their green foliage for brilliant yellows, the chill in the air when you retrieve your morning paper, the sun hanging lower and lower in the sky when you leave work. This can only mean one thing: fall is here and winter is right around the corner.
Here are a some things to keep in mind when the weather turns frost from greenies.com.
• A fur coat does not prevent frostbite and hypothermia! When the temperature drops below freezing don’t leave your dog out for extended periods of time, especially when there’s a wind chill warning.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 - 8:40 AM
The phone rang Sunday morning. Animal Control was calling to tell me a stray cat was brought in and his microchip came back to me. The owner phone number was disconnected and the other phone no one ever answered and kept getting the message that a mailbox wasn’t set up. “Great” I thought, “someone I adopted to who had promised not to let their cat outside to wander”. With the bad phone numbers, that was not a good sign. I was thinking the owners probably moved and did what so many people do…dump him and go.
With the microchip information in hand I went through all my adoption contracts to find out who the owner was and why he had been roaming outside. Not finding one, I began to question my organization and filing ability. Another call to Animal Control and I was provided with the cats name – Otis (hum, not familiar), long haired tuxedo (know how many black and white cats I get a year-not helping), owners name (still not familiar). Okay…now I know I’m going senile.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 - 12:32 AM
By Stanley Popovich
Animals and our pets can be a great way to reduce our every day stresses and anxieties. It is not easy to deal with our fears and anxieties, however, spending time with animals can makes us feel better. Here is a list of ways of how our pets can help us to better cope with our fears, anxieties, and stresses and why its good to own a pet.
Spending time with your pets can be a great source of companionship. Whether you have a pet or go to your local shelter, spending time with an animal or pet can help us to feel better. Also many people talk to their pets and this can help us to get their problems out in the open. Animals can be of good company to all of us and can prevent the fear of being alone during our troubles.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 - 11:41 AM
Each year, five to seven million cats and dogs enter our nation’s animal shelters. Only half of these animals survive. The vast majority of homeless pets are subject to acts of cruelty, often at the hands of their own community. With no one to care for them, these homeless pets are the silent victims.
Fostering a cat or dog from an animal shelter is one way you can help. Many shelters need foster volunteers to help care for their animals until they are ready for adoption. It’s a wonderful way to make a difference in the lives of your community’s homeless animals.
As a foster volunteer, you offer a shelter animal exercise, socialization, and a temporary loving home. Diane Wilkerson, director of the ASPCA’s volunteer programs, said fostering is also a great way to gather information that can be passed on to potential adopters on how the foster animal acts in a home environment, increasing the chance of a successful adoption. Another great benefit is that fostering frees up space, enabling shelters to help more animals find permanent homes.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 - 12:35 PM
I can't tell you how many calls I get from people that have to do with cats going to the bathroom anywhere but the litterbox. It doesn't take long for me to determine why? 80-90% of the time can be traced back to the litterbox. You do not want to scrimp on the purchase of a litterbox or the litter that works. Cats can't talk, so you need to watch for the signs.
The top 10 reasons for litterbox problems:
10. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
If your cat recently starting peeing outside the litterbox, it could very well be a UTI. You know how miserable it is to have a bladder infection. Don't let your cat suffer because you think it is a behavorial problem. The first thing anyone needs to do if the cat is peeing outside the box is to take it to the vet to rule out a UTI. It's simple and the treatment is inexpensive.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 - 11:14 AM
Everyone has been wondering how Chance is doing and asking for updates, so here you go. He is such a handsome fellow, when I can get a picture of him. He’s not exactly cooperative when I whip the camera out.
For those of you who don’t know who Chance is, he was a severely frostbitten and dehydrated kitten who came into rescue this past February when he was about 6 weeks old. He lost part of his ear, half his tail, all of his toes on his front and back feet (with the exception of the 2 front duclaws), along with parts of all 4 feet. The vet had told me not to get too attached to him and his outlook was grim, but I decided he deserved a second chance.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 - 11:30 AM
I was extremely upset and disturbed after reading about the man who was sentenced to serve 300 days in jail for using a rifle to knock out his dog's teeth. The dog was so badly injured that he had to endure two surgeries and have all of his teeth on one side pulled out.
Why did the man do it? He claimed the dog, Harley, bit him repeatedly and that Anchorage Animal Care and Control should have a better system to screen dogs for adoption. Does that give this man any right to stab Harley repeatedly with the rifle, shoving the barrel into the dog's mouth?
Harley, a Rottweiler mix, passed behavioral evaluations before being adopted by the man and the dog has not shown any signs of aggression in his new foster home.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 - 4:42 PM
Check out this Story at KTUU about a local man sentanced for animal cruelty.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009 - 11:25 AM
I saw this story on Craigslist today.
Not sure if it's true or not.
But it is very touching, a real tear jerker.
So get the kleenix nearby before you read it. Sue
They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie
As I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was
Clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.
I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere
I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the Street.
But something was still missing as I attempted to
Settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog
AUGUST 30, 2009 - 1:00 AM
...most of the excuses anyway, but I came across a new one which is the most absurd excuse I've ever come across. Even stupider then the woman who dumped her cat at animal control because 'she is too talkative, very noisy, I need quiet".
Carol took a 7 year old female poodle named PepperAnn who was owner released because 'IT AFFECTED MY SEX LIFE'. I mean, is that the most idiotic reason to dump your pet? What did the dog do? Stand at the edge of the bed and watch? Give me a break. Do you not know what a door is? And if you dumped your pet for some person who didn't like your dog (who by the way...you had for 7 years), shame on you.
AUGUST 13, 2009 - 11:32 AM
I was reading a newsletter I get from About.com Cats. There is a great article in todays about financial help for pet emergencies. I see so many pleas for help for an injured pet, perhaps these groups can help.
And, of course, there is the local Roscoe Fund
AUGUST 12, 2009 - 1:22 PM
I recently read a disturbing case regarding an Anchorage man that was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing his grandfather's dog as a punishment to his family. It was reported that prosecutors said the man told relatives he shot the dog to punish them for caring more about the animal than they did about him.
This concerns me because Dr. Randall Lockwood, ASPCA expert in the anti-cruelty group, said there is documentation linking animal abuse and violence against people. The ASPCA acknowledges that intentional animal abuse is often seen in association with other serious crimes, including drug offenses, gang activity, weapons violations, sexual assault and domestic violence.
AUGUST 7, 2009 - 4:32 PM
I think I was today. I had a vet visit on the way to work this morning to see if Abbott had pneumonia, which is what I suspected. The vet confirmed it, gave him a shot to ease the inflammation in his lungs and gave me directions for his continued care. I decided I would just bring him in to work with me so I could monitor him. I figured heck, he will just sleep all day, no one will know he’s there, so I smuggled him into my office.
This cat has never been too keen on wet food, just licks the gravy off and that’s that. Kitten food is not his first choice of kibbles either. You can always find him sitting in the middle of the adult food dish, chowing down. At 1 pound 4 ounces, I have to supplement him via the syringe.
AUGUST 4, 2009 - 2:21 PM
Man, planning a vacation for me is a major undertaking. I’d probably have more fun planning a wedding. I think it would be a lot less stressful for me.
I try to get out at least once a year to visit my sisters, one in Seattle the other in Georgia. It’s a time when I regain my sanity and relax a bit. I don’t have to worry about cleaning litter boxes, cramming medications down anyone’s throat, the feeding frenzy, or picking up dog poo. It’s a time where I have no responsibility for anyone…not to mention I have a bed all to myself.
I haven’t been to Georgia in over 5 years and that is where my dad and most of my relatives live, and it’s time to go see family. I’m thinking if I start planning now, then maybe I can keep the stress down to a minimum. I’m not like most people with pets; I can’t board my cats and dogs as I’d fill up the place and still need more space, not to mention the cost. I can’t just have someone come over two times a day because I have dogs, and knowing my cats, they’d take the opportunity to trash the place.
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