To the rescue: cats and dogs : Cat Rescue and Home Remodeling

To the rescue: cats and dogs

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.

Contributors

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.

Multimedia

VIDEO

First Aid for pets

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"

Resources

ALASKA LOCAL

Alaska Dog News

Cat Rescue and Home Remodeling

Posted by Sue

Posted: December 11, 2009 - 4:54 pm

I learned something this week.
When you are redoing your staircase, make sure you lock the cats up. This past week the construction guy was cutting a new top for the steps. He took off the top stair for a pattern, and went out to the garage to cut the new board. When he came back in, he put the new piece on the very top step. The next day, I heard scratching and scrambling. I figured it was just the cats messing around as usual. Then I heard some pitiful meowing along with scratching in the middle of the night. I walked over towards the stairs trying to figure out where it was coming from. No, it couldn’t be. What cat would be stupid enough to climb into the stairwell, with barely enough room between it and the down stairs ceiling? Well, surprise, one of my cats had gone in, and was hanging by her claws from the wood under the top step. I reached in and pulled her out, figuring all was fine.

The next morning, I realized I was still missing 2 more cats. Sometimes they get busy doing their own thing, or sleeping in out of the way places, so it isn’t readily noticeable always if is really missing. Lo and behold, another had scrambled up to the top step and was rescued out of the dark, cramped space. The other is an old kitty, and she couldn’t climb up that high. I had to call the construction guy to come pull up one of the stairs for me to get her out.

All 3 cats were fine. Just a little miffed and hungry. Since they were in the staircase for 2 days, they did use it as a litterbox. Now I will have to enzyme the heck out of it before the new staircase is put on.

A work from the “Now Wiser Cat Rescue Mom”: beware when you are doing remodeling in your home. Make sure you lock all cats up. And know what your construction crew is doing when so you can compensate.