Mark your calendars: January 24 is National Change a Pet’s Life Day. But if you’re like me, you don’t need a calendar to remind you to help homeless animals. In fact, I bet a day rarely goes by when you’re not doing something, big or small, to improve their lives. Maybe it’s signing a petition, volunteering, or encouraging everyone to “adopt, don’t shop.” I’m grateful for every opportunity I get to make a difference, including a recent chance to change the life of a lovely Siamese kitty named Willow Rose.
In early December, my Florida rescue partner and friend, Gretchen Byrne @bocaratona, asked me to help with a horrifying situation. Gretchen is a cop well known for her feline rescue work. She often encounters some really terrible stuff in the line of duty, but this one shocked even Gretchen.
In fact, what happened was so upsetting that I prefer not to go into the details. Just know that this five-year-old kitty witnessed a very distressing scene of domestic violence. Unsurprisingly, she arrived in my program in shock. At first, she hid and refused to eat, but within a few days, she was purring, enjoying head snuggles, and eating. I was so moved by her resilience and willingness to begin again. Then, in no time at all, she went to her new home with a compassionate adopter, where she is settling in beautifully. Gosh, I’m so honored to have helped change this brave girl’s life.
As a purebred Seal Point Siamese, Willow Rose reminded me that there are many fancy-breed cats with fosters, in shelters, and with breed-specific rescue groups, all looking for homes. Like all homeless pets, they deserve the best that life has to offer. So if you want a particular breed of pet, please don’t shop! Instead, check out your local rescue resources — because with shelters bursting at the seams and animals facing euthanasia every day, I don’t think any cat or dog needs to be bred.
In fact, in some parts of the world, there’s a movement to ban certain breeds for humane reasons. I just read that, effective January 1 this year, the Netherlands has banned the breeding, sale, and import of Scottish Fold and Sphinx cats, due to severe genetic health problems linked to their distinctive traits. Breeding Scottish Folds for those curled ears damages cartilage throughout their bodies, leading to extreme and painful arthritis. Likewise, hairless Sphynx cats suffer high rates of heart disease, shortening their lifespans.
Existing cats are exempt from this new law, of course, and I recognize that some might think it’s controversial. But from firsthand experience, I can say that some breeds suffer because of what we consider cute, and it’s so unfair. As you might know, the first pet Howard and I shared was an English Bulldog named Bianca, and we absolutely adored her for nearly 10 years. She was a delight in every way, but she came with many health issues that were painful to witness. Her death in 2012 motivated me to do more for all animals, and that’s when my feline foster program really took off.
