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The Wheels of Our Obsession

posted July 15th, 2008 by Lawanna Smith

The Evolution of the Dogmobile

When asked what type of car she drove in her pre-dog years, Lawanna Smith gets an almost dreamy look in her eyes as she laughs and says, “A Corvette.

It was a beautiful white Corvette.” And her husband, Jeff? A sporty little Mercedes.

And then along came the dogs. Priorities, shall we say, changed. Oh how they changed.

It seems this is a common migration that occurs when ordinary humans earn the label “dog people.” In fact, that term actually deserves a bit more reverence: Dog People.

You see, when you become a Dog Person, life as you’ve known it makes a radical shift and your mode of transportation is at the top of the list of changes. No longer do you select a car for what it says about you—for the image it projects. Instead you wonder if your 400 size crate will fit easily in the back and still allow room for a couple of bags of dog food.

My own journey through the car lot of dog life spanned about two decades and involved a bit of trial and error to say the least. My early roots were firmly embedded in small, sporty sedans. But with the addition of dogs to my world and an addiction to training and dog showing for which no 12-step program exists, I had to rethink my vehicle of choice.

Baby steps, people, baby steps. Sometimes you just can’t take the plunge straight into cargo vandom. Especially if you don’t have a passel of children as closet justification.

My first concession to the need for a dogmobile came in the form of a cherry red, four-wheel drive Chevrolet S-10 Blazer complete with custom pin-striping. Space for a couple of dogs—transportation ego still intact. Perfect, right?

Not so much.

More space, yes. But only a driver’s door, a passenger door and a rear hatch. As any true Dog Person knows, that’s about two doors too few. So back to the car lot I went.

If you’ve never shopped for a dogmobile, let me give you a few tips. You’re not really there to consider optional amenities and luxury packages. You’re there to have the sales guy show you that the rear seats truly are easy to remove (and yes, you do make him prove it!) and that the interior measurements from wheel well to wheel well in the cargo area will allow for side-by-side crates.

How about the upholstery? Will dog hair clean off easily? Is it stain resistant? Are there rear air vents so the dogs will have adequate climate control? Can I actually take my dogs for a test drive to see what they think?

Having considered all of the dog-friendly options, step two of my transportation odyssey was complete: Goodbye sporty Blazer, hello white minivan. Minivan? Oh dear. We’ve definitely crossed a line here, but historically, full size vans and minivans have been quite popular with Dog People and face it, are incredibly functional.

On the plus side, the van offered plenty of room, a third row bench that stayed in pristine condition from the moment I stored it in the garage never again to see the light of day, and oh-so-many access points including that fabulous sliding side door.

The downside? Well…a white minivan. I’m sorry, but to me, it looked like a giant Kleenex box on wheels. Add to that the fact that every time I passed through a school zone, dozens of hopeful youngsters craned their necks to see if I was their carpool du jour. Not exactly the image a childless-by-choice, still hoping to appear somewhat hip young adult wants to project. Oh the sacrifices we make for our dear dogs.

Three’s the charm, right? After a practical run with the van, back to the car lot I ventured. This time I was determined to find the ultimate dog limo. The one vehicle that had it all—space, space and more space; a carpet color that would conceal dog hair; and tie-down points for securing crates and dog harnesses—while also hopefully maintaining my dignity to some degree. The perfect car for me? Let me give you three little letters:

S U V!

My “it” vehicle is the Chevrolet Tahoe. Granted, it’s a bit of a behemoth and not the one for everyone, but for me, it is the mecca of the parking lot.

For other Dog People, the criteria differ. For the Smiths paradise on wheels comes in the form of a Toyota FJ Cruiser. Why the FJ Cruiser? Well, it extends well beyond the SUV’s sporty exterior.

“You can easily fit crates in the back and it has built-in tie-down points where I can attach the dogs’ safety harnesses,” said Lawanna. “There’s no carpeting so it’s really easy to clean if a dog throws up or something. Plus, you can just blow the dog hair out with a leaf blower.”

A leaf blower? Genius! Could it be that the Smiths have truly found the perfect dogmobile? For the modern day Dog Person, it does appear the SUV category is definitely the leader of the pack. Sit in the parking lot of any dog-focused business and you’ll see quite a parade including offerings from Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, Lexus, Ford, Chevrolet, and the brute of the bunch, the Hummer.

To add to the excitement, there are any number of ways you can customize your vehicle to maximize the safety and comfort of your beloved pooches. There are barriers you can insert to divide the dog space from the driver’s seat. There are fancy hair- containing seat covers. You can find an amazing array of doggy seatbelts and yes, even car seats for small dogs.

Open the back of the Smith’s vehicle and you’ll find no human seating available. You will find a plush dog bed, several toys, a water bowl and sturdy safety harnesses. For any discerning canine, this is true luxury on the go.

We, as sworn members of the clan of Dog People, have come a long way from our human-centric beginnings when corvettes and other sporty coupes were “image builders.” Now extra cup holders are yet another great place to store leashes and lint rollers. Extra rear cargo space means we have enough room to adopt one more dog. And people who exit pristine cars without a cloud of dog hair swirling out the door behind them? Well, we pity them.

We’ve all made our personal journeys to identify the ultimate dog vehicle. It can only be rivaled by the concessions and modifications we make for our beloved dogs inside our homes…but that’s a whole other story!

Story by LaWanna Smith

Posted in All Past Articles, General Interest, Summer 2008 | No Comments »

Car Seats Aren’t Just for Children

posted July 15th, 2008 by Marilyn King

Story by Marilyn King

If you don’t have a car seat or safety harness for your traveling pet, you may want to consider the risks to yourself, your pet, and the other drivers on the road.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about six million auto accidents occur each year in the US, with half of those causing injuries. This means that every 10 seconds a car accident results in an injured victim. Now take into account that 84% of pet owners travel with their pet in automobiles.¹ These statistics lead one to ask whether traveling pet owners are dangerously distracted by their pets, and whether they are even considering the pet’s safety.

An unrestrained pet can become a deadly projectile in the event of a sudden stop or crash, causing serious injury (or even death) to passengers or the pet. For example, an unsecured, 25-pound dog in a 40 mph crash becomes a 1,000-pound mass (half a ton) flying uncontrollably inside the vehicle.

If you are not convinced that driving with a pet on your lap is dangerous, then it may surprise you to learn that doing so is illegal in Tulsa and most other US cities. Tulsa City ordinance Title 37 § 1203 states “No person shall operate a vehicle while holding a person, child or animal on his lap” and offenders can face a fine of up to $250.00. Additionally, in Tulsa a driver cannot legally transport any animal in the bed of a pickup truck unless the animal is tethered or confined within a secured crate or cage designed for the transport of live animals.

The solution is to safely secure your pet while traveling. Dogs should be restrained with either a seatbelt or harness designed for pet travel. Increasing in popularity for smaller dogs are a stylish assortment of pet car seats, which allow them to see out while being properly restrained. Also, never attach a restraining device to your pet’s collar, as this can cause severe injuries to your pet should you have to make a sudden stop. Instead, always use a harness to prevent such injuries. Cats should be kept in a crate, cage or pet car seat as well. A driver should never allow a pet to roam freely in the car, because it could easily get tangled around the driver’s feet or block the driver’s view of the road. Another danger is allowing your pet to ride with his head outside of the window. This could cause injury or death to your pet if you drive too close to an object, striking your pet’s head. Another concern with your pet sticking his head out the window is dirt particles getting into his ears, nose, eyes, or throat, causing health problems. Having your pet safely secured in a car seat or safety harness will greatly lessen all of these issues and may even save your life, your pet’s life, and others sharing the roadway.

1 Source: American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2006 National Pet Owner Survey

Posted in All Past Articles, General Interest, Pet Legal, Summer 2008 | No Comments »

The Life of Riley

posted July 15th, 2008 by Sherri Goodall

To look at this dog’s photo, you wouldn’t think he lives the Life of Riley, but he does.

Riley, the liver–spotted Dalmatian, has a team of devoted handlers—especially his owner, Tiffany Barnes Talley — that minister to his every need. The team includes two veterinarians who administer medicines, physical therapy, acupuncture, electrical stimulation and hydrotherapy and massage therapy. Tiffany installed a pool for Riley so she can take over the hydrotherapy. She also performs much of the physical therapy and massage therapy.

Tiffany rescued, fostered, and then adopted Riley twelve years ago, through the Dalmatian Assistance League. He became her agility trained dog and her running buddy. Two years ago, Riley was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord disorder that results in weakening of the rear legs and eventually leads to complete loss of function.

At first sight, Riley pulls at your heart. However, after watching him for a few minutes, you see that he doesn’t have any idea that anything is wrong. During his “interview,” he attempted to chase squirrels, befriend other dogs, and busy himself in the bushes. He can get going at a pretty good pace, especially downhill!

Riley is in a custom harness/wheelchair which supports his hind end and legs. He wears custom fitted therapeutic shoes to keep his feet in a “natural” position so that they don’t turn under. The shoes also protect his paws from injury while dragging on the ground. He pulls with his chest and front legs, which are very well developed. Tiffany said that the minute Riley was fitted with his hind “legs,” he took off. He knows how to back up and turn around. Sometimes Tiffany has to slow Riley down when he gets going too fast or help him go uphill. In the first few months of his diagnosis, Riley only used the wheelchair part time.

Paralyzed three times, Riley was rehabilitated back to full movement thanks to his rigorous schedule of physical therapy, acupressure, acupuncture and medical treatment. His fourth paralysis in 2007 left him with minimal control in his hind legs and now he must use the wheelchair whenever he is mobile

Karma might factor in Tiffany’s life with Degenerative Myelopathy and Dalmatians. Riley is her second dog with this disease. Her first dog, Dominik, a black and white spotted Dalmatian, was diagnosed with DM at age eight, and died four years later. His treatments consisted of meds, movement therapy and acupuncture. Many of the treatments used today on Riley were not available two years ago.

In the last several years, great strides have been made in the veterinary world in regard to these kinds of neurological diseases.

Dr. Ronald Hooley, DVM, and CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner) at VCA Woodland South is building a facility to house a special underwater treadmill and rehab area for dogs like Riley. Dr. Heather Owen, DVM at VCA Woodland Central, treats Riley with acupuncture. Elizabeth Rhodes, Registered Veterinary Technician at VCA Woodland South and certified in Canine Rehabilitation, helps with Electrical Stimulation and physical therapy. Tiffany also does his physical therapy, and his massage therapy.

Riley’s treatment is a full time job. It requires a huge emotional and physical commitment by Tiffany. She and her husband have created a “wheelchair friendly” home for Riley, removing furniture and carpets to make for easier access. She must exercise him several times a day in his wheel/harness. He can scoot around her yard and visit with her other dogs as long as someone is there to supervise. Occasionally, his hind legs become tangled and he must be re-adjusted. He eats and drinks from raised bowls. He also can do “his business” outside with some assistance.

Dr. Hooley and Elizabeth outlined physical therapy treatments for Tiffany to provide at home. They include:

Standing and bearing weight

Walking with Tiffany’s aid, (no wheel chair)

Moving hind limbs in full range of motion

Standing, bearing weight and shifting his weight from one leg to another

Stretching

Swimming at home (Tiffany puts Riley in a life jacket, and supports him while he swims)

Out of his wheelchair, Riley can stand for a few minutes, but he must be supported. Tiffany props him between her legs and lets him put weight on his hind legs. She also moves his back legs in a “walking” position while she supports him. When Riley sleeps and rests, he does so without his contraptions. He uses his upper body to move around.

Since Riley’s disease is degenerative, his extensive physical therapy is designed to maintain muscle strength and prevent further nerve degeneration.

Much of Riley’s treatment is due to Tiffany’s exhaustive research. She is also a Canine Behavior Consultant, so she is well versed in the world of dogs. You might call her Tulsa’s Dog Whisperer.

The most important message from Tiffany is for families to know that there is hope and treatment for dogs with degenerative disease or injury.

Story by Sherri Goodall

Posted in All Past Articles, General Interest, Pet Health, Summer 2008 | No Comments »

Animal Hoarding

posted July 15th, 2008 by Ruth Steinberger

What It Is and What Communities Can Do To Halt It…

Shocking stories of homes with sometimes hundreds of animals, languishing in filth and starvation, make headlines with increasing frequency. While the public expresses shock and newspapers blame social conditions resulting in excess animals, few people understand the dynamics of hoarding, a mental illness that results in horrific animal neglect, and often poses health risks to the people around it.

Randall Lockwood, PhD, Senior Vice President, Anti-cruelty Initiatives and Legislative Services of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a leading veterinary forensics researcher and an authority on animal hoarding. Lockwood defines hoarding as, “People who have more animals than they can reasonably care for and the conditions under which they are kept have deteriorated to the point of endangering the health of the animals involved, but also conditions affect the caretaker and others in the household.” He explained, “Hoarding does not simply depend on the number of animals that someone has. The key characteristics are in the conditions in which the animals are kept.”

Formerly called, ‘animal collectors,’ a term which may denote collection of valuable items like stamps or cars, hoarders confine animals in filth, often in uncomfortably small cages, underfed and dehydrated although food and water are on the premises; dead or dying animals are often found on the premises as well. Hoarding is diagnosed as an obsessive, compulsive disorder.

Lockwood said, “When we do training we tell officers to take pictures of the food—a characteristic of a hoarder is to have food on the premises that is not fed to the animals, while they literally starve. There will often be medications on the site, also unused or even bottles unopened.”

Many hoarders share a phobia of death. If not stopped, hoarding is usually fatal for at least some of the victims. It is not unusual to find carcasses of the victims in their freezer.

There is no single condition that produces hoarding, and a different mental diagnosis may result in hoarding behavior, but Lockwood said, “Most hoarders are of average or above average intelligence, many are of care-giving professions including teachers, nurses, veterinarians, social service workers, doctors—the majority are women who are over 65, but there are many variations.” Because the person may have been in a care-giving profession, in about 25% of animal hoarding cases, other dependent individuals, including an elderly parent, are endangered as well.

Typical hoarding conditions

A key characteristic is that the hoarder seems oblivious to the suffering. Lockwood said, “They are in denial. You walk into the house and there are inches, or even feet of feces and there are even dead animals there, you can barely catch your breath, and they think there is nothing wrong. This is a psychological condition.”

The majority of hoarded animals are cats and dogs, but all other species become victims as well.

Lockwood has seen a dramatic upsurge in the number of hoarders who pose as rescue organizations. He said, “We used to characterize around 15% of the hoarder cases as so-called ‘rescue hoarders.’ I think that number has grown, partly in response to the No-Kill pressures. The foundation of that philosophy, in many cases, supports hoarders; legitimate organizations have unknowingly supplied hoarders with pets to get them out of their shelters in order to lower their euthanasia rates.”

Lockwood said, “Close to one third of the hoarding cases now are rescue hoarders.”

Lockwood gave tips for recognizing hoarders in your community. He said, “Suspect hoarding if a person or rescue will only receive animals at a location away from their facility, such as a parking lot. Another warning sign is if they only receive animals only at strange hours, so you simply do not expect to go past the front door. As with visiting a breeder, if you visit a rescue facility and cannot see how the animals are maintained, that is probably not a legitimate operation. The other characteristic is that the animals go in but do not go out, they keep accumulating animals. They often have no idea of how many animals they have and may express shock that it, “Got out of hand.”

Lockwood said some hoarders have tried to explain the presence of dead and dying animals by calling themselves hospices, and usually explain the condition of at least some of the animals as having cancer. Lockwood pointed out that even if an animal is sick, legitimate animal hospices do not have animals lying in their own filth, dying of neglect.

What can a community do to prevent hoarding? A community-based hoarder prevention task force is the best approach. Lockwood said, “We recommend bringing together the groups that are likely to encounter hoarders, including animal control, humane organizations, adult protective services, mental health, the police department and the prosecutor. If hoarding is detected in an early enough stage, you can try to initiate intervention if you have the staffing resources. It is unrealistic to expect a small, private humane organization to go into a situation which includes a serious mental health problem, a zoning issue, and more, and take action without back up.”

When asked if pet limits help, Lockwood responded, “There is a lot of resistance to pet limits, however they can be a good tool for monitoring the hoarder. We do see more and more prosecutions for animal cruelty because it allows the court to impose a long probationary period in order to provide for monitoring.” The pet limit can be the impetus for the initial call to the site.

An action plan is vital and a high volume hoarder is almost like a natural disaster. Lockwood said, “You need a chain of command and a plan to handle the crisis. The emphasis should be on relapse prevention. Hopefully the hoarder will sign over the care, however the greatest fear of most hoarders is that their animals will be seized and put to sleep, and that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because as conditions deteriorate that becomes the most humane thing that can be done. You want to initiate a response before that happens. Monitoring should be part of the plan.”

Lockwood notes that hoarders share common characteristics wherever they are. “We see this all around the country and indeed all around the world.” He hopes that through education and outreach, hoarders can be prevented from starting their destructive behavior.

Story by Ruth Steinberger

Posted in All Past Articles, Animal Advocacy, General Interest, Summer 2008 | No Comments »

Moving to Muskogee? You Don’t Have to Give Up That Cat!

posted July 15th, 2008 by Dolores Proubasta

Job transfers, marriage, divorce, and other life changes often entail a change of address.

Companion animals, like dependent children, require an added measure of provision to ensure a smooth move, be it down the street, across country, or abroad. Sadly, animals are sometimes given less consideration than Aunt Zelda’s bulky old armoire, which must remain in the family at any cost. The cat, the dog, the hamster … well, they’ll find a new home. What happens to pets left behind seldom has a happy ending.

Like hand-me-downs, companion animals passed on from one home to another tend to be given away yet again, losing value to each consecutive guardian or owner. The net result is that these animals become progressively “disposable” and may suffer premature deaths, or worse, a life of neglect and even cruel treatment.

Moving is the leading reason given for owner-surrendered animals at shelters and humane societies. Some people cry when they leave (i.e., “abandon to their fate”) their bewildered pet at the shelter, but do it nonetheless. Others surrender the gift-kitten they cooed about last Christmas, or the arthritic dog who has been loyal to the family for 10 years with no more concern than dumping a bag of old clothes at a collection bin. Regardless of their state of mind, both types of people are breaking the implicit commitment, the ethical obligation, the promise that comes with adopting, purchasing, inheriting, or accepting a living, feeling creature: To care for him or her for the rest of its natural life.

There are times, however, when taking pets along is truly impossible –e.g. tour of duty in the Armed Forces, moving to a healthcare facility, a ban on the dog breed at the point of destination, etc.—and the pet owner has no alternative but to entrust their temporary care to someone else. The ideal solution in such cases is finding a foster-home arrangement with a capable friend, relative, or pet nanny until pet and owner can be reunited. Boarding in a reputable kennel can be expensive, but sometimes is the only way to ensure proper care of the animal in the owner’s absence. In any case, even with friends and relatives, the owner should offer compensation proportional to the cost of food, medical care, and other expenses to ensure that the favor doesn’t turn into a burden.

Too many people think that coping with pets in a move is hard to handle. Not so and no more than coping with children or personal possessions in such cases. Changing residence in town is easy, and yet some people see barriers that don’t exist. “They don’t allow pets in the new apartment,” they say, ignoring the availability of pet-friendly quality rentals anywhere in the continental United States. “The new house has white carpet…” having never considered hardwood, tile flooring, or a sensible carpet print. And the pinnacle of poor choices: “My new room-mate (partner, spouse) ‘won’t allow’ pets…” and pity the person who will agree to such demands. In fact, when a pet means so little to the owner, it is in the pet’s best interest to find better people to live with.

Moving within the United States (with the exception of Hawaii) poses no special problems for pet owners. Real estate agencies are familiar with pet-friendly rental and lease properties. Some landlords may be swayed to accept pets if the renter offers a higher deposit or agrees to replacement conditions.

While looking for a permanent residence, pet owners have at least three options: (1) live in temporary pet-friendly accommodations with their pet, (2) board the pet, or (3) ask friends or relatives in the new or in the former location to keep the pet until a permanent residence can be found. In the latter case, there should be no arm-twisting; the provisional caregivers should be willing and able to provide properly for the pet in a safe environment –e.g., strong fence, no vicious children to torment it, etc. In all fairness, provisional custody of a pet should never be an open-ended proposition, and the caregiver should be given a timeframe within which the pet will be retrieved by the owner. The caregiver should also receive money to cover pet food and other expenses.

International transfers present greater challenges, but in most cases are possible. The first step is to check with the Embassy of the destination country as to their pet importation laws. A listing of foreign embassies and consulates is available on the Department of State’s website at http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/32122.htm. Fortunately, most countries have reasonable requirements for importing companion animals. The Embassy of the country of destination, the air carrier, and a USDA accredited veterinarian must be involved from the start. It helps to create a schedule with requirements, deadlines, reminders … and follow it through.

Some countries, however, have strict quarantines on agriculture and wildlife, and customs requirements and prohibitions. There may also be bans on breeds considered dangerous such as Staffordshire (Pit) Bull Terrier, Akita, Presa Canario, and others, but these differ from country to country. In such cases, the owner should find a suitable new home, preferably among people he knows and who are capable to handle a high-performance breed. That failing, it is necessary to contact a breed-specific rescue group which will place the animal only with those who can handle the breed. Also, when the importation of an exotic species is banned, there are dedicated sanctuaries that may take the animal in exchange for a usually tax-deductible donation. Petting or road-side zoos are no place for any animal. The credential of the sanctuary or shelter must be carefully checked.

The second, and essential step, is to contact the airlines that service the country of destination to find out the pet-friendliest (KLM hands down). Air carriers have their own regulations concerning a (1) a certificate of health from a USDA accredited veterinarian within 10 days of any travel date; (2) a summer pet embargo when temperatures are forecasted to be above 85F/29.5C at any point on the itinerary (origin, transfer, or final destination); 75F/24C for snub-nose animals; (3) limits on the number of service animals and small pets allowed as carry-on luggage in cabin on a flight, (4) specific air kennel dimensions and strength to ensure the comfort and safety of the animal, and others.

Horses deserve special mention. To move them internationally is generally too expensive. Finding someone willing to buy or adopt a horse and “put it in the pasture” is easy; finding someone physically, mentally, and financially capable of caring for a horse is not. Beware of anyone who wants a horse “for the kids to ride,” because it will be re-sold as quickly as children lose interest. Horses are often victims of neglect and abuse when they fail to meet people’s unreasonable expectations. The owner of a horse should carefully check the potential adopter/buyer’s animal record, his financial ability to support it, and personally tour the stable and check the other horses. When in doubt, the horse is better off taken to a horse-rescue organization or SPCA (with a generous donation) where he or she will be safe until a good home is found.

I have moved multiple pets locally, nationally, and internationally without a single problem. The latest and most challenging experience was to Saudi Arabia. The first obstacle was the country’s limit of two pets per expatriate family; I had 12 at the time. I chose to take the two dogs, because they would be happy anywhere as long as I’m there; my cats, on the other hand, would be better off staying in their familiar Tulsa home, provided I could find a reliable caregiver. Luckily, I was able to strike a deal with a young, responsible woman, who would move into my house (with her own two cats and dog) to care for my cats in exchange for living there free of rent. A special account was created from which she paid all animal expenses. This solution turned out to be a success: The cats thrived under her care; she was able to start saving by not paying rent; and I had the peace of mind of knowing that my pets back in Tulsa were not suffering from my decision and I could enjoy their company anytime I went back.

The two large dogs I took to Saudi Arabia required Veterinary Health Certificates, rabies boosters and other inoculations. The bureaucratic maze was considerable: The certificates had to be authenticated by the Department of Agriculture and by the State Department Authentication Division. Incidentally, the cover letters accompanying each authenticated certificate were signed by the US Secretary of State herself, Condoleezza Rice! Then the Consular Section of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia had to certify the certificate … You probably guessed it already: Some countries create an obstacle course to discourage the importation of pets. So you proceed to beat them at their game.

At the end of the trip, when the dog, the cat, the parrot … your loving, trusting companion, comes out of the carrier and you are there to meet him or her, there is no better feeling, knowing they are safely with you because you have honored the lifelong commitment; you kept the promise.

Story by Dolores Probasta

Posted in All Past Articles, General Interest, Summer 2008 | No Comments »

The Lucky Ones

posted July 15th, 2008 by Camille Hulen

Story by Camille Hulen

When the floods came to Coffeyville last year, a lady had a pregnant cat named Pantera.

It is unfortunate that the cat had not been spayed, but, at least, she was loved. Although homeless herself, the woman found shelter for her cat. Pantera was a Lucky One.

Two weeks after she was given shelter, Pantera gave birth to five lucky kittens. The birth occurred within one hour early on a Saturday morning. Pantera knew just what to do: cleaning all of the kittens and herself to be presentable to the world in less than four hours. For the first two days, she rarely left their side, nursing and cleaning constantly.

By Tuesday, Pantera would leave the kittens briefly, only to feed herself and use the litter box. Although a litter box was in the cage with her, she chose not to use it, but to wait until she could go to one further away. Perhaps this is instinctive behavior to protect kittens from predators who might detect the scent.

On Wednesday, one eye of one kitten peaked open! This was sooner than I ever imagined.

By Thursday, mama cat had become a little restless, and moved the kittens within the cage. I would move them back to their soft nest, and she would move them again. Once more, this is probably instinct, to keep them safe from predators. Pantera never considered me a predator, but kept a watchful eye if one of the kittens squealed as I held it.

Kittens certainly grow quickly! At the age of one week, they had doubled in size. They were no longer little wieners: they were big fat sausages! At one week, they were no longer constantly at mom’s nipples and began to feed individually and mill about more. Most had their eyes squinting open.

By the following Wednesday (ten days from birth), they began to get curious and tumble about, almost playing with one another. A couple of days later, they were wrestling, vying for position to feed. One would even hiss when startled. They continued to gain strength and by the age of two weeks, they were attempting to climb from their nest. A clumsy attempt it was, for they could still not focus their eyes.

Then, at three weeks, the world was theirs! They began to focus their eyes, and displayed their baby teeth. They wanted to investigate everything. Pantera would leave them, but be back at the slightest whimper.

At one month, they began to eat solid kitten food occasionally and use the litter box. Both of these behaviors they learned from imitating mama cat. At that point, although they did not physically need mom, they purred contently whenever she was near. The experience of witnessing a mother cat’s love and care was truly remarkable.

How does one duplicate this care as a foster mom? What do you do when you find kittens in a dumpster, thrown away like yesterday’s trash? This was the case of the four beautiful orphans in this picture.

They came to me flea-ridden from their dumpster environment. Since they were too young for chemical flea products, the only remedy was bathing, lots of bathing. Two of these kittens came to be known as Duncan, (because we dunked him so often), and Dipsy, as we dipped her equally frequently.

The orphans were hungry, very hungry. One thing you appreciate quickly is that mama cat can feed all of her babies at once, continually, but as a human you must feed them one at a time, while the others clamor for their share. You haven’t lived until you have had 80 little claws, sharp as needles, climbing your legs! As a foster mom to tiny babies, one does not get much sleep, for they must be fed every four hours, night and day. If they are newborn, it is every two hours. The reward is little purrs, for bottle-fed babies purr in response to their human “mom,” just as normal kittens purr contentedly next to mama cat. And, believe it or not, the little ones also need to be burped, just like a human baby.

On the other end, Mama licks kittens to stimulate them to urinate and defecate, then keeps them clean all in one action, so what does the human do? Rub their little bottoms with warm wash cloths to stimulate them and then use lots of tissue. When old enough, kittens follow mom to the litter box. Fortunately, orphans, too, will use the litter box quite naturally, when they are old enough to stumble into it. It takes a while, though, for them to learn to clean themselves, so foster mom must bathe them.

Although they still enjoy the comfort of nursing, curiosity causes kittens to follow mama cat to food and water. However, bottle-fed kittens do not learn so quickly. It takes a lot of coaxing to convince them to drink from a saucer or to even try moist food. A messy process it is, so that means more baths! Guess what? Kittens like this learn to love water, which carries into adulthood, when they try to take a bath with you. No spray bottles for discipline with these guys either: water is fun.

So it was, with patience and love, and a lot of fun, over the course of three weeks, the “dumpster babies” grew and flourished. They were ready for their permanent homes, and, like Pantera’s kittens, they were the Lucky Ones.

Now in the heart of “kitten season” again, we can only ask, “What will happen to the many kittens abandoned in a park or thrown from a car on a country road? Will they be among the Lucky Ones?”