Good afternoon, felinity assembled, Elvira Mistress of Felinity here, with a story that will anger you, at first, but then give you hope.
Over Memorial Day Weekend, Harris County Animal Shelter had an emergency.
They had their highest intake of animals so far this year.
They received almost 200 animals in just 3 days! Cats and dogs. This meant that they had 375 animals available for adoption or foster. This is a lot for their facility.
They put out a call for help, with an 11 min. video. A call for fosters and adopters.
With the help of local media word went out, and 2 days later there was a line out the door as Houstonians responded.
In early 2014 this blog did a special series on the stray cat and dog crisis in Houston and Harris County.
As I wrote at the time....
"The people of Houston, for the most part, love their animal companions, from cats and dogs, to rabbits, parakeets, chickens, fish, hamsters and ferrets among others (Daddy Kiril sees evidence of this, every day, on his job as a cashier at Walmart), however there is simply no denying that Houston has a huge problem concerning dogs and cats.
It is a problem that has existed for decades, maybe even as far back as the 19th century, in one form or another. Shelter, rescue and adoption efforts also have a long history here but have not been able to make a serious dent in the problem the city faces."
Houston We Have a Problem is a photo and link filled 5 part series, from Feb. thru the end of March, that begins here....just follow the links, from post to post.
As this past week went on plans were made for events this weekend, meant to bring attention to the needs of these forsaken animals and the shelter that took them in.
105 animals were place as the week began, but more were in need.
Like 197 cats and 127 dogs...
So KHOU TV helped jump start a 3 day Adopt-a-thon, on Friday ,and a huge delivery of donations was also received.
As we get back up to speed on this blog, with our new computer and printer, after a year on the sidelines, it is our goal to update our resource pages, these 3 especially:
- Rescues, Shelters, Societies, Foundations and Associations
- Rescues: Building a No-Kill Nation and World
- Texas Animal Bloggers (TAB)
When we first moved here, in 2012, we tried reaching out to various shelters and rescues in Houston, Harris County and Texas, with limited success.
It is time to try again.
Over the 8 years of this blogs existence our reach has been small, but our voice has always been LOUD.
As we prepare to send Daddy Kiril forth to represent us at the Cat Fanciers' Association Cat Show and Cat Writers' Association Annual Conference, next weekend, we hope to spread the word about us and what we have done in the past and hope to do going forward.
Houston is where pet blogging got its early start and media attention, in 2004, the birth place of The Carnival of the Cats ( Carnival of the Cats (2004-15) - Legacy & Links ), but, as far as we know, where pet blogging is concerned around these parts, these days....we 3, and our friends, in Spring, at Grace & the Kittens, may be it.
We are...
Elvira Mistress of Felinity
Sneakers the Texian Tuxedo
Friday the Bearded Lady
The Most Opinionated Pussycats in America!
****UPDATE: Noon - 6/3/18****
Thank You to the Facebook Page for Friends of County Pets, for sharing our story this morning!
****END UPDATE****
****UPDATE: 11pm - 6/4/18****
"What we were able to accomplish together in just 5 days is nothing less than incredible--545 animals' lives saved! This is all because a community came together to make a positive difference in their world--thank you Harris County/Houston!"
****END UPDATE****
Yes! Promote this blog at the Cat Writer's Association! No one does the cat pictures with conversation balloons better than you. Thank you fro reminding me of Grace and The Kittens - wonderful kitties. Keep talking Spay and Neuter - Houston needs your voice.
Posted by: Flicka | June 03, 2018 at 11:13 AM
I am glad so many were helped.
Posted by: Ellen Pilch | June 03, 2018 at 07:58 PM
hay ewe galz...itz total lee awesum that theeze peepulz stepped up ta help out....375 iz a lot; even we noe that, N we epic failed math in skewl ~~~~ we wish all thoz who went two ther new home all de veree veree best ♥♥♥
Posted by: da tabbies o trout towne | June 04, 2018 at 12:44 PM