Is Your Special Needs Pet in the 10%?
I walk into the cat room and the smell is overwhelming - cat poop. Not the usual litter box smell, the kind that makes me want to run and never look back! Ugh.
At times like this I wonder what I was thinking when I decided to start an animal sanctuary. For cats with special needs. 90% of them incontinent.
Then I see (smell) sweet Luma, the little pixie with pale yellow-green eyes you can almost see through. She is the one with the poop problem today.
Luma has feline spina bifida aka Manx Syndrome. Pee and poop issues are part of the package.
She gets to play in the catio while I clean up the mess and feed the other cats. When I get back to her, she is playing in the grass and rolling in the dirt without a care in the world.
You know Luma. You have the same stories - different pets. You wouldn't be here if you didn't.
Will Special Needs Animals Survive in a No-Kill Society?
I want to get to the point here in case you don't make it to the end of the page. You probably know, the goal of the no-kill movement is to save at least 90% of animals in shelters. As a person who loves and cares for multiple special needs cats, I am concerned that they would not make the cut.
Would Luma and her roomies be in the 10%? Who decides if they get to live?
The competition for forever homes will be much greater when we are trying to place all the animals that are considered adoptable. Those with more costly and difficult manageable or treatable conditions will certainly be at risk.
Luma and her friends with Manx Syndrome require skilled care, but with that assistance they have a normal life. However, they are considered unadoptable, so they live in a sanctuary - lifetime care - a different kind of forever home. Our vet calls it an assisted-living sanctuary - she is right.
I know many of you have these pets in your homes. Rescues and medical foster homes, as well as adoptive homes are offering the same care. Many families have to rehome their special needs pets because of the costs.
It can be hard - and expensive - and time consuming - and never-ending in many cases. But, if not for us, will they survive?
How Can We Prepare People and Communities to Care for Our Most Vulnerable Cats and Dogs?
Imagine this: Training, support, resources and skilled care when you need/want a break. That is affordable. Some pet version of a membership organization like Costco, AAA or an EAP. With vet care, respite care and holistic health care at discounted prices. Supplies and equipment at membership prices.
Would that make it easier for you to care for special pets? Would it make it possible for others to care for them?
Here's my proposition. Those who care for special needs pets should have a voice in the issues related to special pet care. In order to do that, we need to organize and identify the concerns and possible solutions.
It will only work if we can present this information in a thoughtful, collaborative way as partners, rather than adversaries.
#saveustoo is about speaking up for the most vulnerable, and that means ensuring they have homes and caregivers that can provide the quality of care they need to thrive.
How Can We Join the Discussion to Advocate for Our Special Pets?
This is our chance to have a national discussion about ways to keep special needs pets in the 90%..
We want to be a part of the #nokill and #savethemall movements. We want our special pets with treatable and manageable conditions to find forever homes with people or organizations who can care for them. Ours is a movement within a movement. The needs are different.
#SaveUsToo is an opportunity to join together - identify the problems involved in long-term care for special needs pets - and work on solutions.
Will you begin by answering a few questions on this survey? It takes less than five minutes and will help us focus this discussion on what you need to be successful as a special needs pet parent or caregiver.
For those of you who are willing to provide the love and hands-on care - think about what you need to be successful. What financial and practical support would make this doable long term? What does that look like for you?
My husband and I began our journey when we adopted one cat with Manx Syndrome. We are only successful because we had preparation, support and resources when we began this work with Izzy. Even then, we had to learn a lot on our own over time.
Here are a few ideas to get the wheels turning:
Now is the time to talk about this - the movement is happening all over the country today. Tell us your thoughts!
We Can Improve the Odds for Special Needs Pets with Preparation and Support!
So. . .
Don't get me wrong - I agree that some animals need to be humanely 'put to sleep' to end their suffering or due to safety concerns (after all reasonable efforts have been exhausted). But, I want to have a say about whether Luma is one of them.
I doubt I am the only person who is worried about what will happen to special needs pets in this utopian society.
Admittedly, it will be better for most animals than it is now. But, there are a finite number of homes for all these dogs and cats, and special needs pets often require additional expense and care. Priorities will still play a role.
Luma and her roomies at our small cat sanctuary are lifers - no possibility of adoption - they are in 'lifetime care'. She and others with incontinence require manual expression of the bladder and bowel (usually) 2-3 times a day. Homes for cats with these needs are rare, so we are their forever home.
Will more sanctuaries be available for lifetime care of these pets with manageable and treatable conditions when families are not found? If so, how will they be funded? Grants are now targeting adoption and TNR to accomplish the goals of the no-kill movement.
Some of you have these cats and dogs with high-maintenance conditions in your homes. Will they be in the 10%? Could you do more with the right support and resources?
You and I can have a voice in this discussion, but it is up to us to initiate the conversation.
Ways to get involved in the movement to #saveustoo:
Let's talk! Leave your comments here or respond to the survey.
I walk into the cat room and the smell is overwhelming - cat poop. Not the usual litter box smell, the kind that makes me want to run and never look back! Ugh.
At times like this I wonder what I was thinking when I decided to start an animal sanctuary. For cats with special needs. 90% of them incontinent.
Then I see (smell) sweet Luma, the little pixie with pale yellow-green eyes you can almost see through. She is the one with the poop problem today.
Luma has feline spina bifida aka Manx Syndrome. Pee and poop issues are part of the package.
She gets to play in the catio while I clean up the mess and feed the other cats. When I get back to her, she is playing in the grass and rolling in the dirt without a care in the world.
You know Luma. You have the same stories - different pets. You wouldn't be here if you didn't.
Will Special Needs Animals Survive in a No-Kill Society?
I want to get to the point here in case you don't make it to the end of the page. You probably know, the goal of the no-kill movement is to save at least 90% of animals in shelters. As a person who loves and cares for multiple special needs cats, I am concerned that they would not make the cut.
Would Luma and her roomies be in the 10%? Who decides if they get to live?
The competition for forever homes will be much greater when we are trying to place all the animals that are considered adoptable. Those with more costly and difficult manageable or treatable conditions will certainly be at risk.
Luma and her friends with Manx Syndrome require skilled care, but with that assistance they have a normal life. However, they are considered unadoptable, so they live in a sanctuary - lifetime care - a different kind of forever home. Our vet calls it an assisted-living sanctuary - she is right.
I know many of you have these pets in your homes. Rescues and medical foster homes, as well as adoptive homes are offering the same care. Many families have to rehome their special needs pets because of the costs.
It can be hard - and expensive - and time consuming - and never-ending in many cases. But, if not for us, will they survive?
How Can We Prepare People and Communities to Care for Our Most Vulnerable Cats and Dogs?
Imagine this: Training, support, resources and skilled care when you need/want a break. That is affordable. Some pet version of a membership organization like Costco, AAA or an EAP. With vet care, respite care and holistic health care at discounted prices. Supplies and equipment at membership prices.
Would that make it easier for you to care for special pets? Would it make it possible for others to care for them?
Here's my proposition. Those who care for special needs pets should have a voice in the issues related to special pet care. In order to do that, we need to organize and identify the concerns and possible solutions.
It will only work if we can present this information in a thoughtful, collaborative way as partners, rather than adversaries.
#saveustoo is about speaking up for the most vulnerable, and that means ensuring they have homes and caregivers that can provide the quality of care they need to thrive.
How Can We Join the Discussion to Advocate for Our Special Pets?
This is our chance to have a national discussion about ways to keep special needs pets in the 90%..
We want to be a part of the #nokill and #savethemall movements. We want our special pets with treatable and manageable conditions to find forever homes with people or organizations who can care for them. Ours is a movement within a movement. The needs are different.
#SaveUsToo is an opportunity to join together - identify the problems involved in long-term care for special needs pets - and work on solutions.
Will you begin by answering a few questions on this survey? It takes less than five minutes and will help us focus this discussion on what you need to be successful as a special needs pet parent or caregiver.
For those of you who are willing to provide the love and hands-on care - think about what you need to be successful. What financial and practical support would make this doable long term? What does that look like for you?
My husband and I began our journey when we adopted one cat with Manx Syndrome. We are only successful because we had preparation, support and resources when we began this work with Izzy. Even then, we had to learn a lot on our own over time.
Here are a few ideas to get the wheels turning:
- Financial assistance for medication
- Discounts on vet care
- Discounts for high quality food, supplements and supplies (wipes, diapers, etc.)
- Quality respite care so you can take a break without breaking the bank or worrying too much
Now is the time to talk about this - the movement is happening all over the country today. Tell us your thoughts!
We Can Improve the Odds for Special Needs Pets with Preparation and Support!
So. . .
- If they are to live, who will care for them?
- How do we prepare forever families and other forever homes to provide for these little ones?
- What resources and support do they need to do so successfully?
- Can we sustain these homes with practical assistance?
Don't get me wrong - I agree that some animals need to be humanely 'put to sleep' to end their suffering or due to safety concerns (after all reasonable efforts have been exhausted). But, I want to have a say about whether Luma is one of them.
I doubt I am the only person who is worried about what will happen to special needs pets in this utopian society.
Admittedly, it will be better for most animals than it is now. But, there are a finite number of homes for all these dogs and cats, and special needs pets often require additional expense and care. Priorities will still play a role.
Luma and her roomies at our small cat sanctuary are lifers - no possibility of adoption - they are in 'lifetime care'. She and others with incontinence require manual expression of the bladder and bowel (usually) 2-3 times a day. Homes for cats with these needs are rare, so we are their forever home.
Will more sanctuaries be available for lifetime care of these pets with manageable and treatable conditions when families are not found? If so, how will they be funded? Grants are now targeting adoption and TNR to accomplish the goals of the no-kill movement.
Some of you have these cats and dogs with high-maintenance conditions in your homes. Will they be in the 10%? Could you do more with the right support and resources?
You and I can have a voice in this discussion, but it is up to us to initiate the conversation.
Ways to get involved in the movement to #saveustoo:
- Use these hashtags when you share about your special ones - #saveustoo #allcatsarespecial #specialpeopleforspecialcats #savethemall #specialpeopleforspecialpets #nokill
- Tell people what we are about – invite them to complete the survey
- Join the Facebook group
- Comment and share on Facebook and Instagram
- Talk to others about their needs and encourage them to join the national discussion!
Let's talk! Leave your comments here or respond to the survey.