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#1
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Conan Hysteria and a Challenge
I am just shaking my head in disbelief at how this online rescue
attempt has snowballed into hundreds of posts, and so many people actually clamoring to adopt, or aid in the adoption, of one cat. It's a good thing. He's a lucky cat; no matter how many people don't like the methods implemented, he has the ultimate second chance. I just wonder how many of you have stopped to realize how many adoptable cats, in that very shelter, were euthanized during the time Conan was there, and in the six days since. How many strays, relinqushed cats, kittens. How many pampered house cats belonging to the eldery who've been dumped at the shelter when the owner must go to a nursing home, or dies, are sitting there right now, terrified and confused. I'm not minimizing Conan's plight; he was certainly worthy of the efforts, the emotional investment, the monetary donations. What I don't get is the intrigue, the secrecy and the competition to help one cat. I'd just like to suggest for those of you who got (and still are) so emotionally involved in Conan, or disappointed that the rescue isn't as public as you'd like it to be, to think about this. I'd challenge each and every one of you to go to your local municipal pound and get a cat. Not a humane society, or private shelter, I mean a municipal pound where the cat is going to fry in 72 hours after it hits the cage if it's not sprung. Anybody can pull off a "rescue". Get the cat, take it for vetting, and isolate it in an extra bedroom. Then incorporate every single resource you know to find it a GOOD home. You've all seen excellent suggestions right here. It's a little work, a little hassle, and a little money. Big deal. I do it all the time and I'm certainly not in good health, or financially well off either. Let the "other camp" have the glory and call the shots. And be happy that Conan isn't in the dead animal dumpster behind OC Shelter. Then concentrate your efforts on another cat. You'll be saving a life. Sherry |
#2
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wrote in message ups.com... I am just shaking my head in disbelief at how this online rescue attempt has snowballed into hundreds of posts, and so many people actually clamoring to adopt, or aid in the adoption, of one cat. Nobody is doing any of that now. We're just being sad that he has been in a cage for over a week because Monica is on a power trip and turned down three wonderful adoptors. I read your entire post and find it really depressing. Your assumptions are way off base with regard to how many people do what for their local shelters, and your take on this entire chain of events is misguided at best. This cat was on his way to a good home--a local home--when Monica Towle persuaded Dan Mahoney to lie to us and put him in a cage in a kennel for over a week. It's upsetting to those of us who have come to care about this cat. If they all look alike and are alike and "what is all this HYSTERIA about and etc," then what is clear is that you are too jaded to be of any help. |
#3
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Mary wrote: wrote in message ups.com... I am just shaking my head in disbelief at how this online rescue attempt has snowballed into hundreds of posts, and so many people actually clamoring to adopt, or aid in the adoption, of one cat. Nobody is doing any of that now. We're just being sad that he has been in a cage for over a week because Monica is on a power trip and turned down three wonderful adoptors. I read your entire post and find it really depressing. Your assumptions are way off base with regard to how many people do what for their local shelters, and your take on this entire chain of events is misguided at best. This cat was on his way to a good home--a local home--when Monica Towle persuaded Dan Mahoney to lie to us and put him in a cage in a kennel for over a week. It's upsetting to those of us who have come to care about this cat. If they all look alike and are alike and "what is all this HYSTERIA about and etc," then what is clear is that you are too jaded to be of any help. No, I don't think I'm jaded. At least I hope not. I admit my assumptions could be way off base, because I have found it impossible to keep up with every post and every player. What I *do* see, are a whole bunch of extremely compassionate and generous people concentrating on one cat. I can imagine what could be accomplished, and how many *other* cats could be helped if those resources were spread out, and not concentrated on one cat. Sherry |
#5
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Meghan Noecker wrote:
On 4 Jul 2005 23:26:54 -0700, wrote: What I *do* see, are a whole bunch of extremely compassionate and generous people concentrating on one cat. I can imagine what could be accomplished, and how many *other* cats could be helped if those resources were spread out, and not concentrated on one cat. If you get involved in a story, you want to know how it ends. A lot of people were involved in this story, whether it was offering a home, working on a flight, offering to donate money, calling the shelter, or just thinking good thoughts. Some people donated to their local shelters in honor of Conan. But all of those people cared enough to want to know what happened to him. To have somebody come in (or somebody change the plans) and then go silent on the issue is pretty frustrating. Imagine going to the movies, paying your money, spending 2 hours getting entrenched in the story, and then the movie cuts off with no ending. Chances are, you'd be upset. And you wouldn't want a refund. You'd rather just see the end of the movie. That is much more satisfying. Well, here we have a real life story, and the ending of this story is more important than some fictional story. We have invested, our time and emotion into this story, only to have it taken away. Most people here just want to know what happened. What *really* happened. We'd also like to know if this is a tragedy or a happy ending. It was looking like a tragedy, then a happy ending, and then we weren't sure. Then we kept seeing various happy endings tossed in the trash. I really believe that most people just want to know what happened, and they want to see an ending to the story, in other words, Conan getting a permanent home. Until that ending happens, I doubt many people will be satisfied. Very well put, Meghan. I think you hit the nail right on the head. I think knowing that this kitty is finally in a forever home would put a lot of people's minds at ease, instead of playing guessing games. What I don't understand is why it has to be so cloak and dagger. Why not be up front and let people know the progress of the cat. As to other cats in shelters, I think a lot of us are involved, in one way or another, with our local rescue leagues/shelters. We may not all post about it, but that doesn't mean we're not doing anything for other needy and deserving animals. just my 2 1/2 cents, Lauren |
#7
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PawsForThought wrote: Very well put, Meghan. I think you hit the nail right on the head. I think knowing that this kitty is finally in a forever home would put a lot of people's minds at ease, instead of playing guessing games. What I don't understand is why it has to be so cloak and dagger. Why not be up front and let people know the progress of the cat. I don't understand the cloak-and-dagger thing, either. As to other cats in shelters, I think a lot of us are involved, in one way or another, with our local rescue leagues/shelters. We may not all post about it, but that doesn't mean we're not doing anything for other needy and deserving animals. I am fully aware of that. Mary insinutated that I rather minimized the extent that other people are already involved in their local shelters. I did not, and that thought actually never crossed my mind. I'm aware that a whole lot of posters are already quite involved. I also know that just be virtue of being enough of a cat-lover to reguarly post here, means they care enough about the species to contribute to the welfare of cats at whatever level they're able to on a regular basis. In fact, my own personal theory about the Conan frenzy is that this one cat turned into a living singular example of frustraion and heartbreak over the hundreds of nice, adoptable cats who are dumped at a shelter right now. None of us can save them all, but this time everybody had a chance to save one, and Conan symbolized all of them. It was really neat to see it unfold until it turned icky. I hope you get your answers. And yes, I do agree that you all need that. Another wacko nutjob theory I have is that, the majority of people who regularly do rescue, and many of the best voluteers, are control freaks. I don't say that in a bad way. But it's true from what I see everyday. Could be a contributing factor in this deal. Sherry |
#8
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PawsForThought wrote:
snip I think knowing that this kitty is finally in a forever home would put a lot of people's minds at ease, instead of playing guessing games. What I don't understand is why it has to be so cloak and dagger. Why not be up front and let people know the progress of the cat. As to other cats in shelters, I think a lot of us are involved, in one way or another, with our local rescue leagues/shelters. We may not all post about it, but that doesn't mean we're not doing anything for other needy and deserving animals. just my 2 1/2 cents, Lauren Hhahaha. These people will bicker because any home found will not be the home of THEIR choosing nor will it be soon enough, nor will it be near enough to their Chosen One in San Diego. "Why not be up front..." is OBVIOUS. Look at all the filth, drama, and vindictiveness that has taken over completely since Conan was removed from OC Shelter. There's your reason for taking this out off the public forum. |
#9
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In fact, my own personal theory about the Conan frenzy is that this one
cat turned into a living singular example of frustraion and heartbreak over the hundreds of nice, adoptable cats who are dumped at a shelter right now. None of us can save them all, but this time everybody had a chance to save one, and Conan symbolized all of them. It was really neat to see it unfold until it turned icky. I think you hit the nail squarely on the head with that insight, Sherry. There are days I can be perfectly happy, everything going my way, and not a care in the world. And then I'll start thinking about a little kitten, or an old cat, abandoned and starving, or waiting in a cage to be "put to sleep" (I hate euphemisms like that, it hides an awful truth), and I'll be in tears for the rest of the day. No we can't save them all, and that knowledge hurts. Just knowing that there are people in this world who are callous enough to "dump" a cat who is no longer "convenient" to own - not to mention those sickos who actively try to hurt cats - is just too depressing to dwell on. I've tried to stay out of the Conan drama as much as possible because I feel I have "friends" in both "camps" and I don't want to alienate anyone. However, trying for a little "balance" here...Being in a kennel is not a horrible existence, if it's temporary. People go off on one or two week vacations all the time and leave their pets in a kennel. As long as the kennel is clean and well-run and the pets are cared for properly, then the pets are perfectly fine. That being said though, I think it is a bit mean-spirited to withhold all information on a cat with whom so many people have become emotionally involved, or to deny that cat a forever-home simply because of group politics (if that is the case). I've always donated to local rescue groups, but if nothing else, this whole drama has encouraged me to get more personally involved in getting more cats placed in good homes. Hugs, CatNipped |
#10
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