Milk Replacement, Bottles Needed at BARC

I just received an email from a fellow BARC volunteer. BARC‘s volunteers and fosters need dog and cat milk replacement and bottles for some of the shelter’s bottle babies. Here are the details from her email:

BARC needs a supply of cat milk and dog milk replacement and appropriate bottles for feeding kittens and puppies.  BARC employees and some non-employee, new fosters have been stepping up to foster bottle feeder puppies and kittens for a few days (sometimes much longer) to give the rest of us a little time to try to find them a longer-term foster situation.  We need to be able to hand the caretaker a few cans or cartons of ready-to-use (not powdered) milk replacement, a bottle, and nipples to get them started.

So, here is what is needed:

1.  Cartons or cans of ready-to-use cat milk replacement for kittens with expiration dates as far out as possible.  Please, no powdered milk replacement because much of it is wasted when the foster is only fostering one or two animals.  Also, no Whiskas brand since that is advertised as a treat for cats, not as a nutritional substitute for mom’s milk. 

2.  Small, plastic bottles like those sold at Petco, Petsmarts, feed stores, etc. specifically for feeding small animals such as kittens.  Please do not bring used bottles/nipples.

3.  Cartons or cans of ready-to-use dog milk replacement for puppies with expiration dates as far out as possible.  Please, no powdered milk replacement because much of it is wasted when the foster is only fostering one or two animals.

4.  Plastic baby bottles and nipples to use with puppies.  Experienced puppy fosters tell me that human baby bottles are better than those marketed specifically as bottles for puppies.  Please do not bring used bottles/nipples.

BARC is also in need of hand and bath towels, dog shampoo and litter trays for cats (cardboard box bottoms–like what cat food comes in).

Can you help? If so, please take these items to BARC at 3200 Carr St., Houston, TX 77026. Public hours are Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday noon-4:00 p.m.

Save 2 Bucks on Nylabones

Just found this coupon for $2 off Nylabone. My dogs love the “Souper” size–they chew then down to a small nub with a sharp point. I always wonder if they’re trying to make weapons…

Taking Responsibility

I’m used to people asking me for help about what to do with a stray animal. I do what I can to provide resources and options.

But WTF is up with this? A woman I work with came to me “because I like dogs” to ask what her son should do with his pit bull he doesn’t want anymore. (BTW–her son is a college educated kid and she’s a professional.) Apparently the dog is chewing everything up and is about to go into heat and they can’t take it. But she added that the dog is really nice and not vicious. I told her they could take the the dog to the shelter, but she’ll likely be euthanized, if they’re OK with that. She said “You know, it’s funny, last night I took her out beyond our neighborhood and dumped her. But this morning, there she was in the driveway. Can you believe that?” Uh, yeah, I can.

I’m so mad I think I could throw up. I can’t even look at her but feel inclined to email her the definition of responsibility.

Fuck, people! Does no one have the balls to deal with the problems they create?! If you don’t provide the proper care and attention to your pets, there’s no one to blame for their behavior other than you. So that means it’s your responsibility to deal with it. And if that means you have to turn them over to a shelter, then grow a pair and do it. There are consequences for every action. Take responsibility.