I had to quit looking. It is soooooo sad. I've not heard of sponsoring a dog - do you know what exactly that is?

You have a big hear Alicia. I wish more people did, especially when it comes to animals.

You give a home to three lucky cats, so don't be so hard on yourself. One person can't save them all.

tina

"I've not heard of sponsoring a dog - do you know what exactly that is? "
No. I was just hoping it would save him! The pound tried explaining but I was too upset at that point to ask a bunch of questions. Something about it "pays for the adoption " ? Then I thought they said something about " then they person gets reimbursed. It's a nice thing..." I just didn't understand it all. I think it buys more time but in the end of someone doesn't adopt the dog. . . :( I was going to ask the lady to explain when she calls back. On the pet finder link a lot of those dogs say SPONSORED beside them now. I can't believe nobody adopted or sponsored Bruce. Gosh, I just want to adopt him but that's not practical. They don't know anything about his past and how he gets along with cats. Plus, I'd have to get DH to agree.

I was just thinking last night how there are so many people and animals hurting in the world right now, at this very moment. Sadly there's so much it can't all be ended.
Being compassionate about animals actually prohibits me from being able to help more because it upsets that much.

I don't sit around all doom and gloom all the time but when stuff like this happens it gets me thinking.

...gets me thinking... wishing I could fix everyone's pain. That type of thing.

That sentence sounded odd so I thought I'd better clarify what thinking I was talking about!

What about trying to contact a no kill rescue that would be willing to take the dog till he gets adopted? Sometimes rescue groups will go to the pound to rescue dogs that are on death row who are adoptable and save them.

That's a good idea, roobear. Maybe you could not only sponsor him, Shee, but try to find a rescue with an opening for him. Help out with some of the legwork trying to find a spot for them to stay.

Those are agonizing things to look at. Poor guy. I hope they get a bit more time for someone to find them. Our shelters are overloaded more than usual with the economy being so bad.

I always try to remember to give to our local cat rescue, esp these days. I got two of mine there a few years ago and they are awesome. They do such a great job over there. Sponsoring can be done there, too. $10 a month helps to pay for someone's expenses. They really need the money, taking care of 50 cats, a mortgage, the house, etc. I wouldn't do the reimbursement thing if there is one.

Sponsoring him sounds like a great idea, Shee!

I asked our local cat rescue if I could foster some cats for them if they could find them homes. My MIL has two cattins (young cats just out of kittenhood) hanging around her apartment. DH and I said we'd take them to get neutered and would let them live in our workshop until adoptable homes were found for them. But unfortunately our rescue is over capacity, and they can't promise that they'd be able to find homes for these guys. So we'd be a semi-permanent foster...and we already claim 7 as pets, and feed 3-4 strays.

So I decided that this year, instead of signing up for the annual charitable fund drive, where I give a certain amount each month from payroll deduction to some groups, I'm going to give that full amount to the cat rescue. I want my $ going to a local organization, and they need it. I've adopted 2 of my cats from them, and boy, if I could, I'd get more!

I'm rather frustrated. I hope there's a good reason the contact person in charge isn't responding to emails and doesn't bother to delete her full v. mail. That drives me crazy. I let mine pile up at times but I've never had someone tell my it was FULL when they called. On the other hand, my best friend has this happen regular.

Considering this is in another state I'm having doubts I'll be able to find a rescue around here that will help out. There's enough animals here that needs help ya know? I don't know of any but I'm going to do some checking in a bit.

After putting some thought into the process last night, maybe sponsoring pays the adoption fee of the dog so he's free at the pound? That makes the most sense to me.

I sent an email to the CL poster. I don't know if it's someone affiliated with the Canine Crusaders or not.

I thought all those dogs were at a pound near you. OrganicSmallhome found a foster home for a really sad and sorry looking stray dog, out of state, in Texas! Rocky I think his name was. Wish we knew how the story ended. He was looking so much better though, with some love and good care and nutrition. I hope he's romping and lounging around with his new family now. Lucky guy.

Here at our cat rescue, the sponsor donations are used for daily care and expenses for the animals. Nothing to do with the adoption fees. I think at our pound they just suggest a donation but there's no actual fee, as in purchasing the animal. At the rescue, however, there is an actual adoption fee. I believe it was $75 per cat for my two new kids. Then I had them clip and soft paw their nails, too. An income-producing service they have.

Don't give up, Shee. I found shelter and a great home for an abandoned one-eyed dog once. Only took two weeks. Not long at all, though I'd expect longer than that. You'll meet many helpful and generous people along the way. Even the daughter of one of the large pet food company founders called and offered to supply food for him, if needed.

Wow, mailbox full and not tending emails is a really bad thing when lives are on the line. I hope you'll let them know just how hard it is to get in touch with them.

Good news finally! Well half anyhow. The CL person got back to me. She was very nice and explained how to donate for Bruce. I saw the donate but yesterday but I wanted to make sure it went for him. It was all unclear. I sent money via paypal and put a note in the comment section. I then emailed the main lady to let her know. I believe I'm also going to call the pound again and tell them about it to see if that will get my anywhere. I know they're scheduled to do more killings tomorrow. :( The CL lady had said the other lady has been very busy trying to save a bunch of dogs etc. Still no excuse for not cleaning up the v.mails but at least I was able to sponsor him. I'm typing this real quick as I head out the door. Hope it makes sense and I hope someone will adopt Bruce.

I think I'll send a little something over there too. Trouble is, they're out of space!

Squirrel.. I know. :(

Aw man...I was thinking the sponsor thing was keeping the dogs safe. I think i'm now gathering the fee for a rescue is just cheaper, it doesn't guarantee they won't be euthanized.

The CL lady I've been emailing has been saying the Warden there doesn't seem to be much of an animal lover, etc. Told me there also seems to be no reason to which dogs go. Apparantly the other day someone brought in their dog because they could no longer care for it and he was put down a day later. Yet there are some dogs that have been in for months.

It may have to be their assessment of adoptability. The one-eyed dog I mentioned above -- when I finally found the owner, they ended up dumping him at the pound because his eye was grossing them out. I was talking with the pound and they told me no one would want him and they wanted to just euthanize him. Well, he went to live on a beautiful horse farm with lots of buds. Living my dream!!

I was just over on the link. It looks like actually sponsoring a dog means you'll pick up whatever expenses are associated with readying him for adoption -- the spaying, shots, etc. That makes him easy for take out. Either to a real home or to a foster or rescue group. Those groups spend a fortune saving animals, they need all the help they can get. They rely on donations to keep going. Taking in another animal is a financial consideration as well. I wouldn't worry about that part. The money is needed to move the dog along in the direction of a forever home. I would think that the more money they've invested in an animal, the less likely he would be put down, over one that still needs expensive work done.

It actually looks like Bruce isn't at the front of the line. There are dogs there in the 600s, longer than him. So if they think he's adoptable, he may have more time than some of the others.

So many sweet looking dogs there. So many irresponsible owners : (

(Sorry I'm too beat to proof : )

Speaking of irresponsible owners did you see that Jon and Kate are shipping off the 2 shepards they got as puppies. Who, in their right mind would get 2 large dogs (puppies no less) when you have 8 small children? I knew they wouldn't last in that household. I never got my kids a dog as I felt I had too much going on with 3 kids in 3 1/2 years. Only when my last child moved out did I get a dog. Actually 2 dogs. They were both rescues. I make a donation when one of my family members has a birthday. They don't need anything anyway. They are all dog lovers and love the idea.

Another email I received from the Canine Crusade lady..

"I do hope it saves his life. He's one of my favorites. Sadly, though the pound can still euthanize him even though he's sponsored. That's completely out of our hands. Space is a HUGE issue right now, and the boarding kennels we use are full, so we can't even pull him until we can find a rescue/or home for him to go.
Generally we can't pull unless a rescue has committed to taking a dog (because of our own space issues)...but, he's so scared, and started to get sick. We've been nursing him back to health...so we are still willing to pull him.
We DESPERATELY need foster homes, so if you or anyone you know can foster him, please let us know. Please keep sending his pic out tonight with a prayer.....maybe someone will step up to the plate."

I didn't know he was getting sick too! :( what do you think she means by "nursing him back to health"? The pound lets them go in and tend to the dogs? I'm not really familiar with how pounds work. I've neven been able to go in one other than to drop off donations at the front.

I haven't followed Jon and Kate but I'm not really surprised. As if 8 kids aren't enough! How much time can you possibly devote to two dogs with that many kids. Grr.. so much for using the noggin'.

The SPCA around here has a veterinary staff (don't know how many) as well as the usual volunteers to take care of all the chores. Disease control is also an issue, so medical staff is needed for those operations. Also to euthanize.

Stress and exposure to other animals can make them come down with something. They had a picture of one dog there who was getting terribly thin because she wouldn't eat much.

I don't understand how people cannot love their animals, and just dump them off and onto others, for disposal one way or another.

Remember how I said Paulina (canine crusader lady) didn't respond to my emails? I had sent her the paypal $ through a different address. I received an email from her this morning from the other. My emails were in her spam folder and she apologized for not seeing them. Said she'll be checking that regular now too.

Good thing she knows now!

Sadly after checking today Bruce has been put down.

after thinking some more . . it just says DIED beside his name. Do you think it was from being euthinized? Another dog that was put down actually said euthanized beside his name. I'm going to email someone because I want to know. That's horrible. I don't want to see any of the dogs go but he was sponsored. :(

Oh, Shee : ( I had looked on the Ohio site yesterday and saw that they actually state when a dog has been put down. How horrible. They don't let anyone know at our pound. Will only say the animal is no longer available. Hard to believe they put him down right after being sponsored.

Poor Bruce. Maybe he just died of a broken heart : ((

Must go love my precious and loving little throw-aways .... They are angels.