Good Morning, Weirdos,
This weekend I would like to discuss urinary blockage in male cats, a medical condition that we see often in the cats within our group. While this is in no way to say that our group is unique in seeing this condition, it is telling that within such a small population we see this arise time and time again. We have used Weirdo Emergency Funds for well over a dozen cats with urinary blockages and have seen at least a dozen more cases just in general on the group page. The ASPCA describes urinary blockages as “life threatening.” By discussing some details about urinary blockages and preventative care measures, we hope to help you lessen the chance of this happening to your cat! So, what does “urinary blockage,” mean? A blockage in a male cat means that an obstruction has formed inside the urethra and is preventing the cat from being able to pass urine through his penis. While there are many types of blockages and reasons for them, the focus of my blog today will be on “struvite crystals.” These crystals begin in the bladder and then move into the urethra where they become stuck. The forming of the crystals may be happening over time without symptoms, but once the crystals have moved from the bladder into the urethra it becomes a very serious medical emergency. The cat will have to have a catheter placed into the urethra in order to flush out the crystals to open back up the urethra and allow the cat to urinate. Catheter placement usually will go on for a few days while the cat is monitored at the vet to be sure that all of the blockage is cleared. Because of the blockages, the bladder will inflame and cause pressure on the kidneys, which causes potassium levels to rise and toxins build up in the kidneys. This toxin build up can damage the kidneys beyond repair sometimes and this is why this condition is considered life threatening. While the blockage is being taken care of, a complete blood panel work up will be done to check on the damage to the kidneys. Also, once a cat has already had a urinary blockage due to struvite crystals, his chances of developing them again are very high. A follow-up visit to the vet to draw a new blood panel is necessary to be sure that the kidneys are healing and functioning at the appropriate levels. Here are some symptoms to look out for and you should take in your cat immediately for vet care if you see him exhibiting any of these symptoms:
While ensuring a wet food diet and promoting water intake will not guarantee that your cat will never develop struvite crystals, it is at least an inexpensive way to take a proactive approach to your cat’s health and well-being. The information and advice given in my blog today is NOT intended to replace the recommendations made by your vet. If you think your cat may be suffering from this issue or are concerned that your cat is at risk, please consult your vet for their professional recommendations and guidance. Many well wishes to you and your cats, Cassandra Bean Ungvarsky
0 Comments
Weirdos- I’d like to introduce you to our newest effort in partnering with rescues and shelters to help adoptable cats! This new endeavor is called Forever Home Friday and will aim to help give exposure to cats in shelters that have been long term residents, have special needs, or are senior cats that are often overlooked. The team heading Forever Home Friday are Admin Cassandra Bean Ungvarsky and Moderators Stacey Marie and Hannah Schramm. The process will be to contact a shelter or rescue and ask them to choose an adoptable cat under their care who could use our help in getting adopted and then we will create a post on the first Friday of the month on our Facebook Group page and also our Public page so that the maximum amount of people can see the post and spread the word about that special cat. This cat will be deemed our “Featured Feline,” and will remain featured for a full month, or, until it is adopted! If the Featured Feline is adopted in less than a month’s time, then we will ask that same rescue to choose another Featured Feline, up until the end of their month.
We have seen great success on our page when we have helped a rescue or shelter post about a certain cat so we are really hoping this new program leads to a lot of adoptions and will in turn also help us continue to build better relationships with the shelters and rescues in the Northeast Ohio area. So, when you see the first Forever Home Friday post please be sure to “bump” up the post and share it from the link on the post to your own personal pages to help us make this program a success!! We are currently waiting to hear back from our first selected rescue and hope to have our first Featured Feline up by Friday March 7th! When Animal Control picked up a little stray Poodle that I’d later adopt, she was a mess. Among a host of health issues, Peach was missing 18 teeth and needed another seven extractions. So we’re protective of her remaining teeth, which my husband and I affectionately call “chompers.”
But the other day, I gave her a little cookie, and she put it on her bed to save for later. Is she planning ahead, or was it too hard for her chompers to chew? Is she experiencing dental pain? Signs of Trouble Picking up food and then dropping it can be a sign of dental pain in dogs and cats, says Sharon L. Campbell, DVM, MS, DACVIM, at Zoetis and a Fear Free certified veterinarian who serves on the advisory board. “Signs of dental disease in general can start off with probably the most commonly recognized sign: halitosis, or bad breath,” she says. “We all have smelled that stinky dog breath and stinky cat breath.” Unfortunately, dental disease can be painful. Dr. Campbell says other signs include drooling or pulling their head away when you try to pet it. Also look for yellow tartar, bleeding gums, and whenever a tooth is loose, broken, or discolored. She emphasizes that if you notice your dog or cat has decreased appetite or weight change, it could be a sign of dental disease – or something critical. “That’s an alarm,” she says. “When a pet owner notices that their dog or cat has decreased appetite and weight loss, let’s get them to the vet immediately because there’s something serious going on there.” At the Root of Health Problems Dr. Campbell notes dentists like to say that teeth are the window to the body because not only can dental disease cause pain locally, it can lead to gingivitis, which is irritation of the gums that can lead to loosening of the tooth and eventual tooth loss. A pet might get an infection in the root of the tooth that can cause fever or general disease. “With an infection in the mouth, those bacteria can seep to other parts of the body and other vital organs,” she warns. “It can go to the liver, the kidneys, the heart in particular, and then you end up with conditions in those organs, too. So you’ve got a twofold effect: the local effect of all the irritation and pain and disease that can happen within the mouth itself, but then those bacteria that formed can shed to the rest of the body and cause disease elsewhere.” Dental Care Best Practices That’s why regular dental exams are so key to the overall health of our pets. During annual exams, veterinarians will always check the dog or cat’s mouth. Sometimes they’ll recommend a dental cleaning if they suspect disease or a need for extractions or require a closer look. Anesthesia is an important part of an effective and thorough dental exam and cleaning. One reason is that the veterinarian will need to take x-rays of the teeth to see if there’s infection in the tooth roots – something pets don’t typically hold still for when they’re awake. “A lot of the disease is below the gum line and they can’t see that and can’t get to it if the dog isn’t anesthetized,” she says. Anesthesia also helps keep pets calm and allows veterinarians to get ahead of the pain when the veterinary team administers medications while the pet is under anesthesia. Scraping teeth can irritate the gums, causing pain – if a pet is awake, they’ll be stressed and painful. “It’s very essential that the pets go under anesthesia for any type of dental procedure in order to have a thorough exam, a calm exam, a pain-free exam or procedure so that animals don’t remember what happened because they’re unconscious,” she says. While pet owners can be wary of anesthesia, as evidenced by the rise of “anesthesia-free cleanings” in pet stores and other locales, Dr. Campbell says pet owners should be comforted knowing veterinarians use the same anesthetic medications used in human patients. “They’re very safe, and they use dosages that are very safe,” she says. Delay Decay Of course, prevention is the best medicine. In addition to annual exams, Dr. Campbell recommends training a dog (or cat, though this can be more challenging) to tolerate home tooth brushing. Start with a regular soft toothbrush, or little rubber finger toothbrush, and cover it in peanut butter or squirt cheese. Let the dog lick it off to get used to the brush. Gradually get them used to the implement, and then start using toothpaste made for dogs and cats (typically flavored like chicken or liver). “Try to make it a fun thing for them, so when you actually do go in there to brush their teeth, they’re not objecting to it,” she says. Dr. Campbell also plays a game with her dog Huckleberry each evening: Find the Greenie. She hides the tooth chew in the house and the Australian shepherd mix runs around their home looking for it. His reward helps keep his teeth clean. While some pet owners may think dental disease only affects older animals, studies have shown that dogs and cats as young as three years old already have some degree of disease. So it’s important to have conversations with your veterinarian about your pet’s dental health on a regular basis. “We want to make sure those teeth stay bright and shiny, and that there’s no pain or irritation or bacteria build up in those teeth,” she concludes. This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT. Award-winning journalist Jen Reeder is former president of the Dog Writers Association of America. Article courtesy of https://fearfreehappyhomes.com/ Hi Weirdos! I hope you enjoy today’s blog. As a Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetic of 30 years, leadership and I felt it was important to discuss this topic as it pertains to our feline friends. We hope that you will read on, so that you will be able to identify the signs and symptoms of diabetes in your fuzzy family and how to help them, should the need arise.
What is diabetes? Diabetes is the body’s inability to produce or to properly utilize insulin. Produced by the pancreas, insulin allows the body to use the calories ingested as energy. If the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or isn’t able to properly use the insulin produced, blood sugar becomes elevated and the body may begin breaking down fat and protein to use for energy. Although diabetes in cats can be due to things like chronic pancreatitis, hormone issues or certain medications, it is most often linked to obesity in cats. If a cat is diabetic due to being overweight, weight loss may result in remission of the condition, but it cannot be cured. Signs/Symptoms Increased thirst and urination When a cat becomes diabetic, the body is unable to process glucose and blood sugar rises. The kidneys filter out this excess glucose, which causes cats to urinate more. It also makes them excessively thirsty. Urinating outside of the litter box When a cat has high blood sugar from diabetes, they drink more and have to urinate more frequently. This can result in accidents outside of the litter box if they are unable to make it there in time. Weight loss, Decreased Energy, Weakness Insulin acts as a key that allows the body to use the calories ingested as energy. When the body cannot use these calories, they will break down body fat for energy instead, resulting in weight loss. Likewise, you may notice that your cat is weak or acting lethargic because they cannot use the calories for energy. Vomiting If diabetes progresses without treatment, your cat may begin vomiting. This is due to a build up of ketones in the blood as a result of the body using their fat for energy. If your cat progresses to this stage, they are experiencing ketoacidosis. This condition is very serious and requires immediate veterinary care. Change in Gait In advanced cases, when diabetes remains untreated, some cats will walk “lower” on their haunches instead of their feet because their hind legs become weak due to diabetic neuropathy (nerve problems). Treatment Most cats with diabetes are treated with daily injections. The frequency and dose of these injections will be determined by your veterinary care team. Blood sugar will usually be checked in the office at checkups. Your vet will determine how often this needs to occur, but it may be quarterly or every 6 months. It is possible to check your cat’s blood sugar at home if you wish and this should be discussed with your vet if it’s something you would like to do. It is likely that your veterinarian will recommend a change to your cat’s diet as well, to help them lose weight (if needed) and control blood sugar. Low Blood Sugar If you cat is diabetic, it is possible that they could experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Upon diagnosis, you should ask your vet for a treatment plan in case this occurs. Signs of low blood sugar include trembling, lack of coordination, exhibiting unusual behavior (i.e. confusion), blindness, extreme lethargy or unconsciousness. Your vet may recommend karo syrup as an immediate treatment as you prepare to head to the vet’s office should low blood sugar occur. If you notice these symptoms in your diabetic cat, it is important that your pet is seen for treatment immediately. For additional information and support, please visit the Feline Diabetes Message Board **Please note, I am not a veterinarian and this is not medical advice. My goal is to help cat owners recognize and understand the signs and symptoms of diabetes, so that they can be caught early and treated accordingly. Please speak to your vet for any and all concerns and medical care for your cat, should you suspect diabetes or any other medical issue.** References https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/diabetes-mellitus-in-cats-overview http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/cat-health/cat-diseases-conditions-a-z/hypoglycemia-cats https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/healthcare/cat-diabetes http://www.fallsroadvet.com/7-common-signs-of-diabetes-in-cats/ https://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/feline-diabetes-symptoms-treatments-prevention-diet#1 Best Wishes, Amber Tischler Today, Weirdos, I would like to discuss a topic that may be sensitive to some. However, I hope that it may educate you in some way. Today we are talking about what to do if you are in a situation where you potentially may need to re-home your cats.
First, I want to acknowledge the stigma most associated with having to re-home animals. That having to re-home your animals, for any reason, makes you a negligent pet parent, or less of an animal lover. This is false. It is important to consider the well being of yourself, as well as your pet, and that not all pet/pet parent matches are perfect and that some animals may be better suited with another family. However, should you ever need to find a home for your pet or pets, for their own betterment or the betterment of yourself and your family, there are responsible ways to go about it to ensure the best possible outcome for your cats. There are many different avenues available for re-homing. In 2020, you have animal shelters, rescue groups, websites specifically designed for re-homing animals, you even have Facebook groups comprised of Weirdos who advocate for the betterment of cats (and all animals) by any means necessary. It is important to consider each way to re-home your pet individually, as one may fit your cat and their personality better than another. It is recommended that when you suspect you may have to relinquish your pets, that you take action immediately - even if the possibility of needing to surrender is small or is likely not happening for a while, for example. The truth is, there are MANY homeless animals in Northeast Ohio, throughout the United States. Animal shelters, rescues, and foster homes are packed with adoptable animals and waiting lists to relinquish an animal are almost unavoidable entirely. It is imperative to call to request your spot with one of these organizations, even if you may not think you need it. It is easier to call and to cancel an existing appointment that is no longer needed than it is to find a cancellation on the same day you need to surrender your pet by, risking the chance of being turned away because you had waited. There are many reasons why one may need to surrender a pet. Please remember that there are ample resources within the Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland Group to help you and your furry family members if you are put in a situation that restricts you from continuing to care for your animals. Below is a short list of local animal shelters for you to reach out to for more information regarding animal admissions. An extended version is available on our website at www.weirdocatloversofcleveland.org/resources. ● Cleveland Animal Protective League (216) 771-8825 1729 Willey Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 ● Friendship Animal Protective League (440) 322-4321 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035 ● Rescue Village (Geauga Humane Society) (440) 338-4819 15463 Chillicothe Road, Russell Township, Ohio 44072 ● Lake Humane Society (440) 951-6122 7564 E. Tyler Boulevard, Mentor, Ohio 44060 ● Humane Society of Summit County (330) 487-0333 7996 Darrow Road, Suite 30, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087 -Hannah Schramm, Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland Moderator Well, amazing Weirdos, let me tell you about our adventures in making a Weirdo license plate a reality. But first, a little bit of information on the plates themselves.
In order to get these plates in production, the state requires that we obtain a minimum of 150 complete petition signatures. This means we need the name, address, phone number, email address, license plate and drivers license number of 150 Ohioans. It's not county dependent, nor do you you have to be a registered voter. Our goal is to get 200, so that should any be deemed invalid due to legibility or other issues, we won't fall short of the requirement. Once we have these signatures, we have to submit them to a state representative that is willing to sponsor a bill to approve the production of the plates. At that point, we can then apply to the BMV to begin production. We are then required to have at least 25 plates renewed each year, starting the second year, in order to keep it going. The reason that we want a specialized Weirdo plate (aside from the fact that they'll look catastic on our cars) is because we need reliable sources of revenue to continue our efforts to help cats in N.E. Ohio. The plates will be assigned a renewal fee of up to $50. The BMV will receive $10 of the renewal fee and the remainder will come to the Weirdos for our emergency vet care fund. Reliable and consistent sources of revenue are critical to our organization, so this is a huge opportunity for us. This past few weeks, we have been welcomed into adoption events with House of Mews, Forever Friends Foundation and Viva Los Gatos, The Lake County Volunteer Fair and to local shops, bars and restaurants such as Tracy's Trinkets & Treasures, Wadsworth Tavern, Manja and Blueline Bar & Grill. We have met so many amazing Weirdos and been able to put faces to the names we see every day on our Facebook page. We've had the opportunity to get the word out there about who we are and what we do to lots of new people and we brought in over $130 for the emergency fund though our swag sales at these events. We have had Weirdos donate handmade catnip toys and kitty magnets to help us raise money and we are so very grateful for and touched by these thoughtful and selfless gestures. With that said, I am happy to say we are at 137 signatures as of tonight! And we will have more once a few people get back to me with their license plate numbers. That's always the hardest part! LOL In the last few weeks, despite many hours of work, I have had the MOST amazing time. There are no words to thank you all enough. Whether you shared our posts about the events, came to sign the petition, buy my decals or the awesome Weirdo swag in person or online, YOU made a difference. People talk about how much good we're doing, but we are very aware that NONE of this would be possible without YOU. To all of the owners of the establishments who welcomed us in with open arms, we are so grateful to you. To the rescues who were happy to give us space at their adoption events, you ROCK! If you would like to learn more about the local places that we're raving about, check the resources section of our website. If you'd like to get involved with us, send me a message! We are still looking for a couple more places, especially near Lakewood, Parma, North Olmsted, Independence or Mayfield Heights to host an event for the remaining signatures, so if you have a place and are willing, please let me know. Again, THANK YOU so much for all that you do, Weirdos. We truly appreciate it! Best wishes & purrs, Amber Tischler TRIGGER WARNING: This week’s blog goes out to the true heroes amongst our animal-loving community-those working in the animal welfare field. This blog openly and honestly addresses the feelings of depression and emotional distress that affects those in the animal welfare field. Resources for those who need crisis help are listed at the end of the blog.
As an animal lover or a potential new adopter, we scroll through the social media pages and websites of pet rescues and shelters, looking at the lovely photos of adoptable animals and “oh” and “ah,” over their cuteness. Or, we may even stop at a shelter, kennel, or rescue and walk up and down the aisles and see the pens and cages that hold a healthy, eager dog or cat ready to go to their forever home. While sometimes we may consider, briefly, what that dog or cat’s story was before they came to be on the adoption floor, we probably move on fairly quickly from that thought and begin to look towards the future that that pet will have. And, it’s even less likely, that we stop to consider the other hundreds of animals that came into that shelter or rescue but never made it onto the adoption floor. Today, I ask you to consider, for a little bit longer, the people behind the scenes of those shelters and rescues and the weight they carry in their hearts from working so tirelessly to try to save every animal that comes into their care. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, “animal rescue workers have the highest suicide rate amongst all American workers (the same rate as police officers and firefighters).” It was only recently, in the 1990s, that the term “compassion fatigue” came into use as a diagnosis for the exhaustion and depression that animal welfare workers felt in correlation to their job efforts. According to the Director of the Tulane Traumatology Institute, compassion fatigue (CF) is defined as: “Emotional exhaustion, caused by the stress of caring for traumatized or suffering animals (or people).” Day in and day out, animal welfare workers dedicate their lives to the care of animals that enter their facilities. Animal control officers, humane investigators, vets and their clinic staff, animal care staff, behaviorists, intake staff, adoption coordinators, volunteer staff, the rescuers, and the administration of these kennels and rescues all see these animals during the most traumatic and stressful moments of their lives. They see animals that have come from extreme circumstances of abuse and neglect. They nurse them back to health, and then must begin the long and emotionally arduous process of showing these animals that not all people are monsters. Then, there’s the ones that couldn’t be saved; The ones that couldn’t be shown that people can provide love and warmth and not pain and suffering. These are the cases that end in euthanasia, and the ones that cause the heaviest burden of guilt and grief. Those are the ones that take the biggest toll. There is not a single worker in animal rescue that wants to turn their back on these animals- that do not want to give their every effort to save them. That, even if they’re dangerous, aggressive, terminally ill- that they don’t want to give that animal a chance. Even when a kennel can celebrate a 91.9% live release rate of the animals that came into their shelter- it’s the 8.1% that they carry home with them at the end of the day. When an animal welfare worker continually focuses on that negative percentage, the animals that couldn’t be helped in their care, it can lead to some detrimental consequences. Compassion fatigue could begin and this leads to a person feeling numb to the suffering of others. One of the biggest problems with CF is that people who are experiencing it are unwilling to admit to it and try to continue working through it. This denial is what can lead to extreme depression and suicidal thoughts. So, the next time you have the opportunity to speak with an animal welfare worker, take the time to give them the thanks they deserve. Thank them not only for caring for the animals that you see at their rescue and kennel but thank them for carrying that emotional burden of letting go of the ones that didn’t make it out to the adoption floor. The hearts of those in animal welfare are of the biggest you could ever imagine. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms you may have compassion fatigue:
You can also use the Crisis Text HotLine to talk with a crisis counselor- Text HOME to 741-741 REMEMBER- YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The Weirdo Leadership team cares about its community and urges you to reach out to a member of leadership if you need to talk. On behalf of the Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland, we see you, we appreciate you, and we understand you. THANK YOU This Saturday the Weirdos attended 3 local events to collect signatures for our specialized plates petition. We are so grateful for our awesome Weirdo family and their help in this endeavor!
First, the Weirdos had a table at the Lake County Volunteer Fair at Harvest Cleveland in Eastlake. Huge thanks to Christy Weaver, Kathleen Pierce and Jen Braz, who braved the weather to be there manning the table and getting the word the Weirdos. There were many other great non-profits, some of whom are also Weirdos, such as Willowick Pet Food Pantry, House of Mews, Community Cats and Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue, just to name a few, We got to educate people about who we are, what we do and were able to collect 14 signatures for the petition to make the Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland specialized license plates a reality! Check out some photos from today's event below. We would also like to send out heartfelt thanks to Viva Los Gatos for inviting us to join them at the PetSmart in Mayfield Heights and to Bonni Ashie and Stacey Marie who were there today and got another 12 signatures! In addition to these 2 great gatherings, House of Mews was kind enough to welcome me into the Pet Supplies Plus in Mentor after the Volunteer Fair, where I was able to collect another 7 signatures for a total of 33 today! Also, we wanted to send a huge shout-out to Linda Bellomy, who I know as of last Friday had collected 30 signatures on her own and that's not including the 2 events she had last weekend the 2 she's having this weekend. We so appreciate you! Keep your eyes on the Weirdo Facebook page for further updates coming soon. Our goal is to collect 300 signatures, which is twice the minimum requirements. Once we get there, we will have to find a Senator willing to sponsor a bill to have our plates approved. We have lots of other events coming up the next few weeks, so please check out the events on our website or Facebook Page and join us to meet your fellow Weirdos and help us reach our goal! Best wishes, Weirdos :) -Amber Tischler Weirdos- today we are going to dive into an uncomfortable topic. Although it’s tough to talk about death and it seems surreal to consider, it’s an inevitability that nobody lives forever. Sometimes, we may know our time is coming because of an illness, and other times, it’s completely unexpected. In either case, it’s still hard to talk about it and it can be a very emotional conversation to have with the people you love. The reason we’re blogging about this topic right now is because very recently the Weirdos were called into action to facilitate the rescue and immediate placement of two cats that were left orphaned due to their owner’s death. The owner of these cats was named Betty and she lived alone with them in a hotel. Betty passed away and her two cats, Ginger and RC, were discovered by hotel staff. Unfortunately, Betty had not set up any wishes for what was to be done with her cats in the case of her death and they were left without caretakers. Betty’s friend reached out to the Weirdos and with a lot of help from us, Riggi Rescue, and police officers who let us into the hotel to get the cats, we were able to get them placed at the APL to be adopted out together. You can read more about this rescue under our Success Stories section of our website.
Ginger and RC are far from unique when it comes to situations under which animals end up coming into a shelter or rescue. Too many times our fur babies are overlooked by our friends and family and not kept around to get the same continued care and love that we had been providing for them. So, what do you need to do in order to make sure your most prized possessions, your fur babies, aren’t left alone without caretakers in the event of your death? If you haven’t considered it before now, don’t wait any longer. The very first step would be to reach out to your most trusted friends or family members and discuss with them that you’d like them to take over care of your pets in the event of your death. It is crucial that you know that the people you’d want to take care of your pets are willing to take them. Make sure they’re on board! It would be terrible if you had someone in mind but never let them know, and then upon your death they turn away the request and cast aside your pet. Make sure you talk in detail about the type of care you provide for your pets currently, and the time and expense it would require them to take on the care of your pet. They should know what vet you use, what kind of food they eat, and any other details that are part of your pet’s daily care. This conversation, depending on if you’re facing a terminal illness and know that your time is limited, or if you’re doing this just as a safeguard for whenever it is to happen, could be ongoing and perhaps ever-changing. If you talk to a best friend and they agree to take in your one cat you currently have in the case of your death, but then three years later you’ve adopted two more cats- check in with your friend and make sure they’ll still willing to take over care now that there are three to take care of instead of just one! Now, secondly, you’d want to make things official and not just based off of a verbal agreement with your friend or family member. You’d want to reach out to an attorney and work out the details of who you would leave as caretaker for your pets. You should include in your will- which is a legally bound contract- who you want your pets to be left with so that way there is no confusion. Another good idea is to set up a trust- this is a place where your money and assets are laid out and that immediately upon your death can be allocated to the people who take over the care of your pets. It’s a good idea to set aside money that will be given to the new caretakers so they have a little less financial burden on their hands with the new pets in their possession. Something to think carefully about is the fact that wills can take several weeks to months to actually be carried out because of legal constraints. Having a “temporary” emergency foster set up for your animals in the meantime would be a very good idea. Make sure your trusted friends or family members have keys to your household and could come and go to take care of your pets as your estate is settled through the courts. While I hope that this blog finds you currently in good health and that worrying about this type of thing is far from soon, I still think it’s very important to start these considerations as soon as possible. For more information on the legality involved with setting up a will and trust specifically regarding your precious pets, I encourage you to visit the webpage for the Humane Society of the United States. They have more tips and information on how to go about including them in your final wishes and working with your attorney to make sure everything is set up the way you want them to be. https://www.humanesociety.org/ Most Sincerely, Cassandra Bean-Ungvarsky I wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude to all of the Weirdos out there. Many of you may not realize the impact you make in the lives of cats and their pet parents, but we do and we want to make sure you know where your money goes and just how many lives were saved, thanks to YOU.
I also wanted to mention… Whether or not you participate through donations, event attendance, bumping, sharing, volunteering or some other avenue, each and every Weirdo is an important and valued member of this community. I personally feel like I’ve finally found the place where I belong. I’ve always felt like a misfit, but in this group, I no longer feel that way. It’s an incredible gift and one I don’t take for granted. Finally, I wanted to send a HUGE shout-out to our leadership team. Our administrators and moderators make this page the wonderful community that it is. Their tireless efforts to make sure that we find ways to raise the money needed to help N.E. Ohio cats and pet parents in need, that member requests are vetted prior to approval, remove posts that violate the page rules, ensure that everyone is playing nice, that events are scheduled and go well, to trap-neuter-return (TNR) as many community cats as possible and many, many other things all combine to make this what I consider one of the best pages on Facebook. So… How amazing are you, Weirdos?! Let me count the ways!
In other exciting news for 2019, we…
In the coming year, in addition to our continued efforts to help local cats and host Weirdo gatherings, we have quite a few new goals we hope to achieve and many ideas we are working to bring to fruition, such as:
Last but not least, I wanted to share again some different ways you can help. If you can think of any I missed, please add them in the comments at the top of this post!
Best wishes for a very happy and healthy 2020 ahead! - Amber Tischler, Weirdo Graphic Designer |