No big deal but my sister did a nice thing

[AnnieBrooke]

I met my sisters and mother today for my birthday, and amid a lot of teasing that they never could think what to buy for me, up came my sister Celia's card, and she had contributed money to the local feral cat coalition in my honor.  I thought that was just super nice.  

[AppleBr]

Viralatas means literally - "tomb cans" -it came from the time people used to put trash in trash cans.Nowadays some people say "rasga saco"( rip bags) instead...
Those words can be used in a affective way - or no.I do prefer tell mines are SRD ( without a knowing  race)
Royalty ( my queen and 2 princess) cannot be associated with "trash" :-)

[nursegirl6572]

What a lovely gesture!  And something so personal, that your sister knew would be important to you and touch your heart!  Great great gift idea!

Happy belate birthday, too, btw!  <3

[AnnieBrooke]

I used to own a Sialata!  (By the way, I love the word viralata, it is actually quite pretty to the ear despite meaning "mutt."  It wouldn't seem particularly clever to someone from Brazil, but I could see naming a cat Viralata.)  He had a big voice, was all black, had the Siamese body shape.  I think that is a pretty common color for Siamese crossbreeds, probably the dominant black overcomes the white, although the white patterning is pretty dominant itself (which is why one sees flame-point Siamese and other combinations).  Until I met Abyssinians, I thought Siamese were the most desirable of cats due to their intelligence.  The Abys beat them out, though, due to being as smart but not being crazy.  lol

[AppleBr]

Our problem with black cats its not only at Halloween time -it only get worst this time of year.Real problems, as you said are superstitions, myths and some kind of " religions" that use them to sacriffice or another disgusting thinks.You know what a mean...
I guess black dogs are well accepted here - specialy if  they are puppies - adult animals are always hard to rehome.
Therefore I cant clain our black kittens ( at the fair) are beeing absolutelly rejected  its always hard to be sure they are going to safe places.Sometimes we fell like  better "hidden" some...
Of course a "sialata " - mix of the words Siamese and Mutt ( viralata) in portuguese is the first to be choosen - except for black cat lovers - that always are over their limites of cats and hardly can afford one more.
So, thats the way things are,lets keep going.
At least cats are becoming more popular here...

[AnnieBrooke]

What a charming idea that there must always be one black cat!  Black cats and dogs here can be somewhat problematic for the Humane and rescue organizations.  Black dogs, especially, are harder to find homes for (for example, if a shelter has a yellow Laborador Retriever and a black Laborador Retriever, the yellow one will always be adopted first and the black one will just sit waiting, meaning they often have many black dogs).  Black cats might also have a bit of that problem (not as much as do dogs, though), but they have a bigger problem near the holiday of Halloween.  In fact, many organizations will not allow black cats to be adopted in the last week of October.  They are associated with a lot of superstitions and with the imagery of Halloween (as "witches' familiars") and people have been known to adopt them to harm them.  So, while I guess there is something to envy in the US that we have pet lovers and rescuers (and though many such organizations are not well funded, it is better here than if there were none), there is a long way to go.  People are still cruel, ignorant and foolish regarding animals, and often immune to the implicit need to care for them.  (Don't know why I'm surprised, though.  We aren't so hot at caring for our at-need human populations, either.)  I guess the answer is, we plod along one step at a time and try to do what we can.   :P

[AppleBr]

Wow, if there's something to envy in USA ,are the pets lovers and pet rescuers -I wish someday we here reach this level .Of course this day the problem will be solved in USA, so you guys could send help to another countries less afortunated :-)
Here in my city, local groups are all poor and small - and they are not partners at all - I ve seeing lots of disagreements among them now that I m in touch with some.Politics and government are needed but not wished- just a few really helps our animals.
I'm already spreading I would donate one house ( not big but in a good place) for who take my babies together ( if need-I do hope never) and keep always at least one black cat there.After my death, of course.

[AnnieBrooke]

There are a lot of good pet charities across the country, that is for sure.  I heard of one here that takes only cats with FeLV.  They have a, well probably basically a hospice, and people whose cats are FeLV positive can send them there.  When I first heard of it, I thought "Those are some people who will get their crown in heaven."

[Piparskeggr]

I support the local feral cat rescue and animal welfare groups, plus Blind Cat Rescue, the Granny Project and a feral cat group in Maine regularly, other locals recommended by Gwen Cooper (Homer Blind Wonder Cat) or Danielle (Justin Fire Survivor) recommend or bring to my attention.

[CML2014]

Hi Annie,
Just went to the FCCO website, and read up on this organization. How wonderful to have a traveling hospital for all the homeless ferals!!

I LOVE their cat logo--with the clipped ear on the kitty to show they have been spayed. How cute is that. I will be sending off a check to their P,O Box.

Thanks for the info, I love finding new 501c's worthy of support. I wonder what some rescues end up doing with their donations---some never gets to the kits.

CML

[AnnieBrooke]

CML, that is nice of you.  I'm sure there are a lot of other good groups around the country (on the Wikipedia entry for the organization I support, one of the footnoted references is to the "Alley Cat Alliance," which sounds like a national group of similar outfits), but I do know the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon does good work.

They have a mobile clinic especially dedicated to work with feral cats, and they have trapped/spayed-neutered/released something like sixty thousand cats since they began in 1995.  They do outreach at farmer's markets and similar, and they provide help to people with a feral cat population near them who don't know what to do.  They have even partnered with the Audubon Society this last ten years.  Anyway, here's a link to their website if you do want to check in with them.  (I'll space it out, you never know what the software will take it into its head to block.)  w w w . feralcats .  c o m  

I once had an interesting talk with the head of the organization, and asked her if there would be a need for a charity whose sole mission was to have spaying and neutering of cats in the United States be free of charge.  She was very interesting about it, saying that the problem then could be an unintended consequence, of increasing the financial incentive for someone to breed kittens.  Who would ever think that a laudable goal like spaying and neutering could have the effect of making there be a black market for kittens?  lol

Anyway, thanks again for asking about it.  Every year at tax-year end, I make contributions to various charities, and these guys get a big one. Animals don't bring their woes on themselves so I always go for those.

[Piparskeggr]

Big thumbs up to that.  Have made several donations this year in memory of Kestrel, Hildiekatt and Chesapeake.

[CML2014]

WELL HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS ANNIE!!!!!!

Cool sister to think of something that special.....for a special sister???

I am always looking for WORTHY rescue organizations to donate money.
Would you mind giving out the Feral Coalition's address. If YOU say they "Do the Right Thing"--I will send them a check.

I actually have NO family alive now so all my money is being left to Animal Rescue Organizations! My husband keeps sayiing , " why don't you spend more, do you want CAT"S to get all your money?"  Well I like animals more than some people, so YES!!!!.

[opus88]

Our wish too honey...wish it could be so all over the world:(

[AnnieBrooke]

Thanks, you two!  I went to put something in the dryer, and sat on the sofa to wait for it, and fell asleep.  That is how lively my day was, after the late-night fireworks last night.  lol  

Celia picked the same feral-cat charity that I give to every year at year-end, a spay/neuter, release, monitor outfit that has done really good work here in the Portland area.  I really hope that some day, the humane organizations would not be overrun by kittens this time of year.

[opus88]

That's an awesome idea, when my dh passed 2 yrs ago we asked in lieu of flowers that ppl make donations to our local SPCA since he too had a soft heart for all the unwanted little ones:(

Birthday wishes Annie hope it was a great day...

[Jade59]

That was really sweet.  I know I'd be honored if someone in my family thought enough of my beliefs to do something like that.

Happy Birthday!!!!