posted May 24, 2004 04:12 PM         

I am moving and I cannot take my cats with me. I have until August 1st to place them. I don't have pictures of them yet (the ones I have they are 11 weeks old...they are now almost 2) but I wanted to get the word out as soon as possible.

The 1st shelter I called wanted $300 a cat. With two and the move I don't have $600.

Here are my questions to the board.

Do you know of any good shelters in the LA/Orange County Area or are there shelters that you have heard of that I should stay away from.

Do you know anyone looking for an indoor/out door cat (these two are litter mates and never been appart but I don't expect to be able to place them together...). They are both mousers so if you know of someone who has a barn or is having mouse problems either one of my kitties would be perfect.

One is an orange Tabby and the other is a white Tabby with blue eyes.

Male and female...both fixed.

Any help or advice on find them good homes would be greatly appreciated. Especially if you know of any place in the LA/Orange County are that they SHOULD NEVER GO.

I am realistic...if they can't be placed they will be killed but I don't want to send the somewhere where they won't even try (if I can't find anyone myself)

Thank you in advance for all the help and advice that I know will be coming my way.

Love,
Amber

P.S. I will drive to San Diego and Kern Counties to give them a home/shelters are limited to LA and Orange Counties... (I live on Los Angeles...)

posted May 24, 2004 08:44 PM         

I don't think my local Humane Society puts animals to sleep anymore if they aren't adopted, but I am way up past San Francisco.

I am sure you will find them a home, since you have put it out to the Universe It is so nice, wonderful and generous that you are offering to pay for their first year of care!

posted May 26, 2004 12:27 PM         

These will be my last pets. I realize that I am not a person to have them. Like I said (in another post about the changes happening in my life right now)I don't have to move but where I am going is the most peaceful place I have ever been and I will not sacfice the opporunity of a lifetime. To live in a beautiful house by myself in Los Angeles for under $1000.

I took them because the person who had them allowed her cat to have 2 litters in 2 years. The first set of kittens one was kept the other 3 just 'ran' away (over the first few months of their lives. They are dead. Either cat fighting or hit by a car or disease, they were too little...)

In the 2nd set I agreed to take one. When that time came she just 'didn't know' what she was going to do with the others and still had not fixed Momma cat. I offered to pay for that but was told 'Thats ok I'll do it...' I took 2 kittens.

I fed them better than most people on this planet eat. I fixed them, kept up with their shots. They were strict indoor cats until they were a year old. The place I live in now is too small for two cats (about 500 square feet) to stay indoors. I tried.

I don't need to be told not to have pets. I need advice on the best way to place them.

If I had to do it over I would have taken them, fixed them and they gave them away but I didn't so here I am.

I feel bad enough. This is not easy for me. I am currently hoping that I can find a home for one and if the place for $300 is decent and clean the other will go there.

I sure you meant well by your advice but not now.

posted May 26, 2004 05:57 PM         

This is why I won't have any more pets because although they are a part of me they are not my children. It sounds cold and I don't mean it to be, my cats are wonderful and loveable and love me so much. I know this and I am crying just thinking about it.

The cat over population in LA is horrible. I guess like it is in most major cities. That is why I took two of the kittens. Really what I should of done was try to take the Momma cat but she was a pet. My mistake was not taking care of them and placing them somewhere when they were small.

This is a mistake I won't make in future. (meaning that I find kittens and offer to pay for their healthcare if someone else can place them in a home.)

Please understand I love cats. I have a true affinity for them. I seem to be able to pick up strays and not be scratched (although they don't stay in my arms long)
Most cats will come if I call them...it has always been this way...it probably always will but that doesn't mean that I should be a pet owner. I realize that now...

posted May 27, 2004 04:56 PM         

They have a Los Angeles website with contact numbers. I will let you all know what I find out !

posted May 27, 2004 06:56 PM         

Nephthys, I didn't say Amber isn't a lovely person, and what I say next isn't a dig at Amber either, this is my personal feelings towards how I feel. Having an animal to me is bringing it as part of my family, I realise not everyone thinks this way. To me, my pets are my children. If health or finanicial problems come along, like a parent wouldn't give away their child, I wouldn't give away any pet I have. My cats will come with me whenever I go and whatever I do, nothing will EVER spilt us apart. I'm not saying all people should be like this, people do what makes them happy. If this makes Amber happy, then I'm happy.

posted May 28, 2004 11:51 AM         

Dear Taharial-you are not an insenitive cow.

Your statement under the circumstances was harsh but you indeed have the right to think what you think and say what you want. I think (for myself) if you had made your statement and then asked me my circumstances I would have felt less 'attacked'. but that is neither here nor there. Through these post we get to learn about each other and the different views of others.

What I needed was information on how to go about this and I've gotten that. The bestfriends.org people are wonderful. I called them but the woman I spoke with had not heard of Pet Pride but she is going to get back with me after making inquiries. That is why I came to the board.

I am sorry about the death of your cat. I am glad that you did not kill yourself to be with her. There are so many lessons on this side to fufill in a lifetime. I am glad to know you didn't decide to turn your back on them.

I know what is best for me. To move. I know what is best for my cats. Not to move.
I am choosing me. In this situation I am being selfish. My Father wonders just what type of toll this is going to take after they are gone because he knows how I am and how I feel about them.

But after being introduced to Best Friends (which would not have happened had I not posted to the board) I know of a charity that seems to really be doing something. They have a section with hard to place cats (disabled animals) that I will give to.

Things will work out. They always do.

Love,
Amber

posted June 07, 2004 01:52 PM         

Great News!

First I would like to say that Best Friends is the best organization. They got right back to me...

My current landlord has a friend (who I met a couple of years ago) who works in placing cats in homes. She works for a shelter out of Santa Clarita (Still So Cal but suburbia)

My landlord gave her my number and she gave me a call. I had asked her about Pet Pride and she said that she had heard of them but she had no idea what there placement rate was. Best Friends had no info either.

Michelle (current landlords friend) said that a $300 donation request per cat was a bit excessive and that she would suggest I really look at them closely before I sent Asia and Khan to them.

I asked her about the shelter she works for. She said that they were full but if I wanted her to take them she will call the director and when a cage for 2 came avalible she would take them. It is a no kill shelter and they are full. (Unlike Pet Pride which seems to have space...very strange...no cages...cats are allowed to 'run free'...I don't want Khan and Asia in a cage but realistically-the fighting between the cats...especially Asia...she would NOT to well with a bunch of strange cats. It would take a long time unless they were kittens...) She asked me about their health records and she was much more informative then the Pet Pride people.

I told her I wanted to try to place them myself first but if a spot came open to please hold it for me.

It will be fine. I think I have moved a bit into the head in the sand though...I think in the back of my head I keep hoping my new landlord will change his mind...

Oh where Michele works they have a stricted inside only no declaw policy. I didn't even think that someone may have them declawed!
Should have though about it but didn't!!!

posted June 08, 2004 02:46 PM         

I spoke with Ellie. She was very ummm...angry that they were out doors. (Michelle had warned me she was tough) I explained that they have were indoors the first year of their lives and that they are indoors if I'm home because they tend to follow me around...and then lay down where they can see me...(they are such sweet cats...) She told me they don't take outdoor cats and then she asked me what I fed them. I told her they ate Wellness brand cat food until about 6 months ago but I switched to Natural Balance because I couldn't afford Wellness. She seemed pleased that I fed them well so I got a bit of a reprive. She is going to take them but probably not until the end of the month. I haven't tested them for feline lukemina lately (I tesssted them a year ago) but I was going to wait until closer to the day but since they are going to be going back to being strict indoor I think I may do it this weekend.

I really like the Director of the shelter (Ellie). She is tough. She was not pleased about there outdoor status but that was o.k. You could tell she was all about the animals and could care less about me. Not in a bad way though.

Michelle feels that they will be easily placed. Because Khan is a a typical orange tabby and Asia is just so pretty that there won't be a problem.

Ahhhh!!!!

Thanks ever so much for the support...even the hard words...all of it has been good...

I let you guys know what is happening and I will post their pics when I get them (no haven't done that either...I have them on film but no digital photos...head in the sand behavior...)