2/5/14 – This little sweetheart was being kept warm by the heat coming out of the dryer vent. The homeowner, with the help of our friend Jo A., caught the little guy and 4 Paws 1 Heart paid for neutering, vaccinating, and testing. He is very health and now in foster care. Many thanks to those who care. Please consider donating to 4 Paws 1 Heart so that we can continue to help. ~ diana
Author Archives: Cynthia
CATS CONTINUE TO BE KILLED ….
CATS CONTINUE TO BE KILLED IN EASTPOINTE, STERLING HEIGHTS, WARREN, AND ROSEVILLE TO SPITE THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT TNR: Please go to the link provided and read Eastpointe City Manager’s statement.
Mr. Duchane accuses the cities who have agreed to work with the County Shelter (that would be St. Clair Shores) as WEAK — No, Mr. Duchane, St. Clair Shores is NOT weak — The leaders of St. Clair Shores decided they could save taxpayer dollars by NOT paying for cats to be euthanized. The Strong City of St. Clair Shores recognizes the important role that animals play in the environment and in people’s lives. AND, Mr. Duchane, to think that your Animal Control Officers can identify who is a scared cat or a feral cat is ridiculous and to believe you will find rescues, who are already overwhelmed with cats because you won’t support a FREE program to spay and neuter, is foolish and unrealistic. And, Mr. Duchane, no where in your very ‘informative’ statement do you address the cost of killing the cats who will be considered feral — smokescreen, Mr. Duchane? I think so because you don’t want your residents to know that what you (and the other 3 cities) are doing is supporting the death march of innocent animals.
I don’t think any of the cities in this murderous coalition cared so much about saving money as much as they cared about not working with the County Shelter and those organizations working with the shelter. Unfortunately, they could not look beyond the ‘threats’ to do what was right for the animals and the community. Do I like to see stray animals outside? No, but I can no longer stand the thought of letting our cat population continue to grow without trying something different from killing and that is spaying and neutering. The rate of killing cannot keep up with the birthrate of cats or there wouldn’t be 18,000 cats roaming Detroit or who knows how many in the cities identified.
One last comment to these cities of Warren, Eastpointe, Sterling Heights, and Roseville–let me know how your rat problem is once this winter is over. And, by the way, I hope your residents don’t have too many of their dogs die of Lepto which is spread through rat urine. http://www.cityofeastpointe.net/index.asp?SEC=D255B2D9-B604-4C9F-8FFE-A391C0B88429&Type=B_PR
Pirates for Paws Fundraiser
I can’t tell you how many cats we have helped in the past 10 days who have been rescued by individuals who have become 4 Paws 1 Heart friends. In making arrangements for the veterinary visits and writing the checks, I haven’t had a chance to put out the stories — but I will! In the meantime, our Pirate for Paws event is official. Here’s the flyer. Please be there and please share.
Dear Supporters
1/31/14 – In 2013 nearly 200 cats and dogs were helped with money provided by individuals and businesses who support 4 Paws 1 Heart. Amazingly, this number doesn’t even include the number of animals who will never be born because of our ability to pay for spaying/neutering. Thank YOU ~ Diana, Gina, and the Board of 4 Paws 1 Heart
Mr. Honeybell
1/30/14 – Meet Mr. Honeybell. We received a call from an individual who had been feeding Mr. Honeybell since last summer. The caller was worried about him because of the weather and Mr. Honeybell seemed to be taking a liking to the family. Unfortunately, the caller had not been able to catch Mr. Honeybell and it became obvious that the cat had injured his leg and was no longer eating. With the help of Paws For The Cause Feral Cat Rescue, Mr. Honeybell was captured and taken to Cats Vet where the new 4 Paws 1 Heart/Cats Vet Fund paid for treatment and tests. Mr. Honeybell was released to his new dad and 4 Paws 1 Heart has committed to ensuring Mr. Honeybell fully recovers. He is scheduled to have his leg re-examined next week and we hope it will not require amputation; if so, we may be asking our supporters for help. We appreciate that Dave and Candy, the initial caretakers, have taken this guy into their home. Mr. Honeybell is still getting used to being an indoor cat but I’m happy to report there is one less injured cat is on the streets. ~ diana
4 Paws 1 Heart Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars and prepare for some very fun events to get you out of the winter doldrums. Please share and get as many people out as possible. We can’t continue to save abandoned and abused animals without your support. ~ diana
Upcoming Events and Fundraisers
1/25/14 NEWS: Our Bowling Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2014. As always, it will be a fun night of music, bowling, pizza, raffles, 50/50, and libations. We are also planning a $10 wristband event for the end of February or the beginning of March at Captain Jack’s on the Nautical Mile (exact details to follow); and look forward to our event at Colleen’s Irish Pup on April 5 where you will not only pay a mere $10 for a pasta dinner but you will be treated by the Sounds of Paul and Diana — the best music in town (if you’re old school — and a little new school. Mark your calendars and Please share because we care for the abandoned and abused!! ~ diana
Frosty Update
1/26/14 – Frosty Update from our Board Member Dee Gudenau: “Frosty (aka Tanner – or Tanner Man)…is loving his family he adopted. 4 Paws 1 Heart you rock for paying for his care. Gina DeLuca as always you do everything from the bottom of your heart. He is so loved…and they are so lucky..Jackie Arthur and Todd Stoner …you rock!”
Dear Editor
Dear Editor and RESIDENTS OF STERLING HEIGHTS, WARREN, ROSEVILLE, AND EASTPOINTE. Your cities have signed a joint contract with the ANIMAL CARE HOSPITAL OF STERLING HEIGHTS, 34244 Van Dyke, Sterling Heights, to KILL ALL STRAY CATS brought into their hospital by the animal control officers of these cities.
In June of 2013, the new Chief Animal Control Officer of Macomb County initiated a program and policy which dictated that all cats brought into the shelter would be either euthanized or returned to the community (after being neutered/spayed) in which the animal was found. This policy included all cats, not only those deemed feral. The Shelter had adopted a program known as Shelter, Neuter, Release (SNR) which included the concept of Community Cats.
At that time, the cities of St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Warren, Eastpointe, and Roseville were put on notice that unless they allowed cats to be returned to their communities after being neutered and spayed by the County, all cats presented to the Shelter from these cities would be euthanized. The cities were also advised that when the current contract expired (December 31, 2013), the Shelter would NOT take in any cats from the aforementioned cities. The reasoning behind the Macomb County’s change in policy was that there had to be an alternative to the wanton killing of feral cats and that a feral cat population could be of benefit to a community, especially in the area of rat abatement. It also considered the overwhelming number of domesticated cats who are abandoned and lost each day and the inability of the shelters to meet the housing and adoption needs.
It is my understanding, that meetings were held between June, 2013 and January, 2014 amongst the five cities and the discussions had centered around two issues: 1) Not doing business with the shelter thus impacting its finances; and 2) finding a less expensive place to do business — and that business is killing cats.
Although I have done everything possible to alert our policy-making leaders within my city, St.Clair Shores, and the residents of the cities mentioned, the killing of innocent cats has continued. These cats are not always feral, they may have been residents’ pets, cats abandoned by owners as they lost their homes or moved, or just cats who continue to be born because the Cities do not have a managed trap, neuter, and release program (TNR).
On January 20, 2014 the St. Clair Shores City Council approved a one-year moratorium on the enforcement of the ordinance which required all cats to be leashed thus allowing the SNR program to be established with the County Shelter and for individual residents to follow a TNR program. Currently the City administration is meeting with the Shelter Chief to work out the details of SNR and working with rescue organizations to assist residents in TNR.
Unlike the progressive Council and Administration of St. Clair Shores who recognize the importance of quality of life issues to its residents and the fact that the plight of innocent animals are important to its residents, the four remaining cities entered into a contract with the Animal Care Hospital of Sterling Heights. This contract requires all cats picked up by the Animal Control Officers of Warren, Sterling Heights, Eastpointe, and Roseville be brought to the hospital where they will be killed. The animals will not be sheltered or put up for adoption — just killed. This was confirmed in a telephone call to the aforementioned hospital.
I continue to be disgusted by the total disregard for life by these four cities’ (Sterling Heights, Warren, Eastpointe, and Roseville) politicians and administrators. I recognize that there are those people who don’t quite understand the value of a cat or dog, and I recognize that there are those who are “dog” people and have little regard for cats BUT I will end this with a quote by Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” ~Gandhi (1869-1948)”
Diana
GREAT News
GREAT NEWS!!! Felix (aka Felicia) is safe and warm tonight. After so many days of Brennen trying to capture our Felix, Brennen opened his door and Felix walked through it!! Who said she isn’t smart? When Brennen called me she was sitting with him purring while he petted her. She is being kept separate from the other household kittie and she will hopefully go to her new home tomorrow. 4 Paws 1 Heart will take care of her medical needs. I cannot express how happy we all are. Remember when we first posted her plight? ~ diana