Getting Things Under Control Isn't Easy - Aug. 11, 2011

 Conundrum.

 Great word. Not used enough.

 But I was inspired today by a letter in our provincial daily saying cats should not be so expensive to adopt from local shelters.

 Hmmm.

 On the heels of news out of Saint John that as many as 70 cats will have to be put down to curb overcrowding, came many replies, solutions, you name it.

 It's not easy.

 As you're aware, Animal Essentials is a satellite adoption agency for the Fredericton SPCA.

 Over the almost three years we've adopted over 60 cats by my count and that's great news.

 Some sixty cats have found new homes, new beginnings.

 How they got there in the first place is the saga.

 In the end, we don't make a dime off the cats we house.

 Feeding, cleaning and maintaining means there's work involved, but as I like to say, it's better than the alternative.

 We allow our cats to roam the store and it's better than them sleeping behind bars almost 7-24. Or the alternative, of course.

 We hope folks who adopt from us will also buy supplies from us, but that's not always the case.

 That's okay. It's about the cats.

 But the adoption fees are in place for a reason.

 All the cats from the FSPCA are spayed or neutered. They are micro-chipped and have up to date shots.

 Take a free cat or kitten from someone on line and you're going to be paying more...if you're responsible.

 Now there's the magic word.

 It is indeed about responsibility and playing your role in reducing the feline population.

 That's certainly not a given.

 Which is why so many shelters are bursting at the seams, not only with cats but with other animals, too.

 It's a huge task to purchase a pet.

 Ask yourself this question...can I do it?

 And be honest.