G-8GW6WNVDCH 2301875706914928 Rachel Goyette on Pregnant Spays - Animal Posse

Episode 20

Rachel Goyette on Pregnant Spays

Published on: 13th June, 2025

Join us for a crucial conversation with Rachel Goyette from the Jefferson SPCA as we delve into an often-misunderstood topic: spaying pregnant cats and dogs. In this eye-opening episode, Rachel shares vital information on how this procedure plays a significant role in combating pet overpopulation, reducing the strain on shelters, and ultimately creating a healthier community for our beloved animals. Learn about the benefits and impact of spaying pregnant pets, and discover how you can be a part of the solution.

#PetOverpopulation #SpayAndNeuter #JeffersonSPCA #AnimalWelfare #RescuePets #CommunityImpact #FurryFriends #ResponsiblePetOwnership

Transcript
Dixie:

Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the

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people and rescues making a

difference in the lives of animals.

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We are back with Rachel

from the Jefferson, SPCA.

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Everybody loved listening

to your shows before Rachel.

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Rachel: Thank you.

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I hope they did.

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I hope they felt my passion of how much I

wish that there was a shortage of animals.

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Dixie: Yeah.

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Every rescue wishes for

a shortage of animals.

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Rachel: I know.

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I feel like this kitten season's

hitting a little harder.

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I feel like all rescues are feeling it.

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I feel like the shelter's

feeling it really bad.

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I don't know.

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I thought I went into this

and I had all the supplies.

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'cause I know if you have

everything and you're prepared,

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usually it doesn't happen, right?

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Knock on wood.

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I haven't had panleuk, but there's a

certain medicine you need and it's not

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a medicine that our vet directly carries

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Dixie: Uhhuh.

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Rachel: And so I was like, I'm just gonna

order it and let it sit in this cabinet.

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And ever since I've had it.

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I've never needed it.

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Another rescues had to come run to

me to borrow it, and I've had to give

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that, and I ordered another one to

replace it, still sitting in the box.

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So

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Dixie: that's

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a good thing.

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Rachel: So I'm hoping that I thought

if I had all the kittens supplies and

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everything ready, I had clavamox and

all the dewormers and everything that I

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wouldn't get hit and they keep coming.

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But I am sticking to my rule of I won't

take kittens unless you have the mom too.

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Singletons are different when they

fall out of cars and random, like

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that's hard to say no because we

don't know where it came from.

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Right.

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But if someone's Hey, I have this litter

of kids I found and I'm feeding 'em, and I

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like take them in, I have to have the mom.

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Dixie: What do you do when they

claim there is no mom around.

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Rachel: If there's a litter

of kittens around and you say

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there's no mom, I'll call bs.

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Mama Cats tend to have their litter

away from where they normally feed.

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We had the one with the lady that opened

her laundry room right before Easter and

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freaked out and found the kittens, and

she's I've never seen cats around here.

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And that was because mama cats

tend to have 'em away from their

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colonies because they wanna keep

'em safe from the other adults.

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So you can say the mom's not

there, but she put them there

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on purpose to protect them.

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I'll send a trapper out to go help and

that's what we did in that situation.

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Or I dunno what to tell you.

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You're not gonna get help

from me, I'll tell you that.

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You have to keep looking for mom.

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Cameras set a trap, figure it out.

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Mama's around there somewhere,

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Dixie: right?

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Yeah I'm the same way.

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When they contact me and they want

me to take kittens, I'm sure I'll

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take the kittens, but you gotta

go get that appointment first.

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So far the ones that I have have been

receptive, which is a good thing.

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but you do get the ones that are like,

oh, I'm on my third litter of kittens.

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Rachel: Like you don't understand.

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But it was funny 'cause now that

you say that we have Rebecca's

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flyer for the TNR Academy.

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It's taped on our wall

inside Jefferson Feed.

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And they had two EMS people that were

walking around, like through our cat

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area, just like everybody comes in

'cause it's like the petting zoo.

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And they were reading her flyer and

they were like, wait four months.

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Cats can get pregnant at four months.

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And I guess, I would think like being a

an EMT and a paramedic, they're educated

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people, they're not, uneducated, but it's

something that they didn't even know.

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I dunno.

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I guess we just have to keep preaching

it every day and every day until they

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all realize, but they were just shocked

and like they were just walking around

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petting the cats and they were just

doing like hand sanitizer as they were

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leaving and then just read that flyer,

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Dixie: I think that a lot of people,

when they find that out, they, it's

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something that they definitely did

not know because I think a lot of

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vets that aren't doing the massive

spay neuter or for the fix a feline.

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They really don't wanna touch a cat

until they're like six months old.

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And so I think people are under that

train of thought that if the vet's

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saying, okay, you can't come in to get it

spayed or neutered until it's six months.

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Then it can't get pregnant

until it's six months.

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And that's definitely not true.

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So I do find, when I tell people that it's

like a shock and they're like, okay, let

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me go get 'em all spayed and neutered.

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Rachel: I know the stigma with spay

and neuter of dogs and like how some

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vets wanna wait for large breeds

and , I guess I can understand

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that I'm not necessarily a vet.

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I feel like in a shelter environment

we can't stick to that rule

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because you just don't know.

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Like when you're adopting it

out, you really don't know.

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And then if you adopt 'em out and

you say, Hey, you have to pay this

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spay neuter deposit and come back

when they're seven, eight months old,

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once like the growth plates change.

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But what if they don't?

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And what if like you're so

bogged down that you can't go

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find them or go after them.

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Or what if they moved and you can't?

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So like I feel like in a shelter

environment, you just can't wait.

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But

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I know some people find dogs or

find puppies I should say, or get

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'em free off Facebook or whatever.

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And sometimes those vets push

'em to wait, but I feel like.

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Should you use your best judgment,

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Dixie: right

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Rachel: Like they did come seek you for

health and for care for their animal,

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but are you 110% positive, they're

gonna come back and spay and neuter

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it like when they're responsible?

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Dixie: Yeah.

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Now I just saw something too, and

it's one thing that I didn't know.

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It was a graphic and it said

that when a female cat goes into

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heat, she will typically stay

in heat until she's mated or

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pregnant.

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Rachel: Oh.

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Dixie: So I didn't know that..

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Now, of course, this is

the graphic that I saw.

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I don't know how true it is, but

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Rachel: I feel like that makes sense

because well, on the amount of kittens

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that we have right now that we're dealing

with, but it's always hot in Louisiana,

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Dixie: right

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Rachel: So I feel like.

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How would a male not find them?

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If they can smell a female and heat

up to three miles, I'm sure they're

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gonna find it within a couple days.

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Yeah.

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I don't know, but I guess like in a

shelter environment sometimes, like we

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have, moms that we have with kittens

that like will hold them and let

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'em nurse and like you can tell when

they go into heat, but I don't know.

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I guess we've never been told by our

vet that I know whenever they're in

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heat and they fix 'em so say we had

a mom Ellie, and when she got fixed,

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like she had six kittens that we took.

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We took all of them 'cause

we wanna fix the mom.

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And when she did get spayed, she

was in, heat and I expected that.

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But I guess I wonder if the

symptoms were always there.

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She was always like

sassy, like she hated it.

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Dixie: Yeah.

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Rachel: But, that makes me

think about my neighbor.

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I had the one neighbor that did not

get their cat fixed and they called me

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and they're like, she's being so mean.

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And she's probably about, five, six

months old and she's so sweet normally,

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and she's so great with our kids, and

all of a sudden she's just slapping them.

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I was like she's probably in

heat, sure enough, it's crazy.

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They paid like $2,000 for this

ragdoll cat, but they like asked

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me to help get it fixed for free.

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Yeah.

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They're not my neighbors anymore.

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Thank me.

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Dixie: So any specific topics you

would like to talk about today?

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Rachel: I wanna talk about pregnant spays.

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I think it's like a thing that a

lot of people don't know about.

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There are some people that have some

controversial feelings about it and

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they feel like it's abortion and.

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that's their right to believe that,

but until you're like in our position

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where you're being outnumbered and

there just simply aren't enough

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homes, I mean that, that's gotta be

the same way for foster children.

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There foster children in the

system and there just aren't enough

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good homes that can take them in.

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So that's the same thing with animals.

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If we aren't doing pregnant

spays, which is where.

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a veterinarian spays an animal, and then

they also usually give like a little

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bit of euthasol to each fetus to make

sure that they humanely pass away.

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It sucks, but one, you're making too

many animals, but two, like , you're

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essentially breeding, in my opinion.

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You're taking away homes for five

other dogs or five other, cats

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that are already born and waiting.

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So you're just making the

problem worse than it already is.

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And there's a lot of rescues.

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Not a lot, I should say a handful, a

couple that I know that were very into

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the puppy craze, like they all wanted all

the puppies and one rescue had a volunteer

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come by or come through Jefferson Feed.

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And she was talking to me one day, 'cause

I guess I had my Jefferson, SPCA shirt on

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and we were just talking about rescue and

how long we've been doing it and such.

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And I made a comment of

y'all have a lot of puppies.

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And she said, yeah, that's my job.

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She's I'm one of the volunteers that

like, would drive all over Louisiana,

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taking all the pregnant dogs.

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So it's like the shelters knew

to reach out to that rescue

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because they wanted pregnant dogs.

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And so she was driving all over

getting these mutts from whenever,

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you don't know who the parents

are, you don't know anything.

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All you know is they're pregnant.

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And I think she said she'd

fostered a couple times, but when

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I said, I don't agree with that.

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I'd have to do a pregnant spay.

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And she's wait, dogs

didn't have an abortion.

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I was like if you wanna call it that,

I guess she's but wait, is there

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like a morning after pill for it?

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And I was like, oh Lord.

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So I was just really shocked.

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'cause she was like, I

don't wanna say she was old.

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She was probably like maybe mid fifties.

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Maybe she didn't have

to work, which is nice.

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But I was just shocked that

she never thought that like a

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pregnant spay was an option.

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And I didn't talk to that

rescue or anything like that.

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It's their rescue, it's their

choice how they want to do it.

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Just in my opinion in Jefferson Parish you

have to have a breeder's permit to breed

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more than one accidentally litter a year.

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If you were going to other parishes

outside of Jefferson Parish, outside

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of helping your own community to

get all these pregnant dogs, and

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you're bringing 'em back here

because you know they're pregnant

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and you're letting 'em give birth.

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That's not an accident.

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So I feel like they should be fine.

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I think it's like a thousand dollars if

you have more than one litter a year.

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But there's a new dog that we have and

the Jefferson, SPCA, his name is Kobe,

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although we wanna change his name to

Tigger 'cause he has the perfect bounce.

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Like he is just boing boing boing.

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And he's probably like an

8-year-old rat terrier mix.

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And Martha, our volunteer dog adoption

coordinator, went to meet him last

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week to pull him and mark him for us.

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And they brought him to us Monday or

Tuesday this week, I can't remember.

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And Martha texted me, she said,

Hey I'm like, she's off today.

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She's Hey, when you get a chance, can

you look at the medical record and see

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when he needs heartworm prevention just

to make sure I keep him on schedule.

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And he came in January 10th of this

year and he's a small rat terrier

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and nothing's wrong with him.

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So why is this 8-year-old, 15

pound dog sitting in the shelter

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for five months with no adoption?

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That's just very weird.

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That's very weird.

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He's very sweet, loves people.

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The boing thing is hilarious,

but it just blew my mind.

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'cause usually small dogs

like fly out the shelter.

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But is it because he's got

like some gray on his face?

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'cause he's eight years old 'cause

he's not like super beautiful

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'cause he is not a puppy.

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But here you are breeding these,

you find this rat terrier mom thing

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that has puppies or is pregnant.

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You let her have five puppies and

then you just took away home from him.

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So I feel like, people have

that discussion or like, how

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do I have so many old dogs?

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Like old dogs are my heart.

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Like I just, I love senior

dogs, like old geriatric blind.

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I just love all of it.

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But I just think about the ones that

get passed over all the time because

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everyone wants, oh, the puppy.

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It's just so sad.

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Like why does that puppy deserve love?

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And all the excitement and this old dog

doesn't, I just, that breaks my heart.

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Like I wish that we could teach

people to get out of the hole.

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Kittens are everything.

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Puppies are everything.

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When people come in screaming,

oh my God, look at the kittens.

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We do have cute kittens.

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I'm fostering a litter right now.

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They're pretty freaking cute.

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I get it.

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Like I, I don't want to foster, but I am.

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'cause I wanna help my team, but I

just wish we could change that whole

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stigma of thinking that everything's

all about kittens and puppies.

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Dixie: And there's enough out there

that people could just foster.

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'cause I guess that aggravates me

too, is people who wanna adopt a puppy

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or a kitten, and then they're like,

oh, let me keep it for three months.

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Oh yeah, he's not cute anymore.

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Can you take him back?

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Rachel: Yep.

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Dixie: And that makes it more difficult.

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It'd just be better off if

you just fostered and there

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is a shortage of fosters.

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Rachel: Yeah.

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But it's very hard to foster

fail, I'd have to say.

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Rebecca's our queen of foster failure.

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Although I think Beth's trying to beat

her all of a sudden her husband's doing

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like a new documentary series on YouTube

and he made this whole like thing about

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how all the kittens they fostered and

the ones they foster failed on, and they

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have this new one that like fell out of

a car engine that somebody found after

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they left an event of ours on Saturday.

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Like a singleton.

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And he has a broken leg.

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That's the worst part.

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He's a four week old

kitten and he has a old Dr.

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Wisdom said an old fracture.

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What's an old fracture on

a four week old kitten?

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Dixie: Right.

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What happened that he got that

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Rachel: No telling.

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So we're just letting him play.

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He's healing.

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He might have a bum leg with arthritis,

but so far she thinks he's not, that he

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hopefully won't be an expensive kitten.

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But Beth's husband's already like

leaning towards maybe we need a six cat.

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And I'm like, y'all are

becoming bad fosters.

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Dixie: It's

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gonna be a tripod.

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Oh yeah.

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Rachel: They're like, and

they're normally good.

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And she's even fostered

a pair Nemo and Nigel.

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I did, I don't remember if Nemo, I

know Nemo lost a leg, but I don't

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remember Nigel had something special

about him, but she let them go.

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The foster had to come to her house,

like the adopter had to come to her

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house and she had to fill everything out.

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I processed the application, but she

did the adoption at her house and

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she let them go, and I was shocked.

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So she's really one of our good fosters.

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She's not a foster failure.

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But it is hard, but you

have to make that decision.

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I have dogs, so I can't keep 'em because

not all my dogs are cat friendly.

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There's no way 15 dogs

are all cat friendly.

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But I wanna I've already started

promoting 'em for adoption because

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I want people to fall in love while

they're cute and I could give it to you

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as soon as it's two pounds and fixed.

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But it just, it stinks.

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Dixie: Yeah.

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That's what I try to push

the pre adoptions to.

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So at least that way, as soon as they're

spayed or neutered, they go out the

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door and then you can help some more.

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Rachel: Yeah, the puppies I feel

like oftentimes at the shelter,

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like if the accidents happen

and they, they do give birth.

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'Cause they they didn't spay the mom

before it happened, like how many times,

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like it's very frequent that they'll find

that dog five and six months later stray.

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So many people want puppies and

then once they, they grow up,

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they don't want 'em anymore.

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And you know that rescue that was

well known for it, if you looked at

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their Petfinder, it was like all these

juvenile dogs, like people passed

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him over 'cause they weren't like

really what they were looking for.

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'Cause they were all mutts.

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Like you didn't know who the dad was,

you didn't know where he came from.

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And it just think if they didn't let

those dogs give birth in the first place,

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there would not be fivejuvenile dogs that

people are, weren't super interested in.

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Like they're probably

the sweetest dogs ever.

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It's not that they don't deserve a

chance or a home, but you just created

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a need for five more homes and you

shouldn't have that's not rescue,

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and I found that article, like I was

looking up on UC Davis's website.

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Let me see if I can find it.

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And I get like the whole feelings

about it and you don't wanna have

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to like spay a pregnant animal.

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This one was like a question from

like a shelter person, and she was

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like a shelter manager and she said,

like we're an open admission shelter.

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We have periodically we find

ourselves into a situation where

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we have a pregnant animal and some

of our staff is just so against it.

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What can I do to help them

understand that we're overpopulated.

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One of the veterinarians responded

that lemme make this a little bigger

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'cause my eyes are still blind.

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So there's no fetal suffering

during pregnant spay.

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So while it's a fetus and while it's in

utero, there's no pain, no suffering,

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they're unconscious the entire time.

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So nothing is gonna happen.

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Nothing is gonna hurt that fetus.

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If they're euthanizing it before birth.

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So there's no pain to that fetus according

to this veterinary thing from UC Davis.

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I guess the other question

I couldn't find anything.

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I was looking for some of it to find if

there was something about the disconnect.

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A lot of people will say that mom's

gonna miss her babies, or she's gonna

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know and she's gonna be suffering.

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But for the most part, like I

haven't found like an official

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source from a vet written.

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Most vets are like, it's not like that.

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They said usually as far as cats, if she

raises a litter of kittens, so she has

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those five kittens that she's raising and

they're already like, walking, talking,

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whatever, and she does get pregnant again.

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She automatically goes to protect

the ones that are inside of her and

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she no longer cares about the ones

that are outside and raised, like

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there's no feelings at that point.

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She's just protecting herself

and the new ones and she

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doesn't care about the old ones.

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So from my understanding is that they

don't have that emotional like connection.

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If you take their babies and kittens

it, like it's a human action.

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It's a human emotion that we

are like reflecting on them.

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Dixie: You mean when

you take 'em in utero?

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Rachel: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Like they're gonna they're

gonna know they had an abortion

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and they're gonna miss him.

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I don't think that,

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Dixie: Right now, see, I find it different

when they actually do give birth, if you

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take their babies, they go around very

distraught looking for their babies.

368

:

Rachel: Yeah.

369

:

Dixie: So don't take baby kittens

unless you know the mama is not around.

370

:

If something happened to the

mama, then that's another story.

371

:

But

372

:

Rachel: yeah,

373

:

Dixie: Most of the time mama is around.

374

:

You can watch 'em.

375

:

And see if she returns.

376

:

And if she doesn't return for 10

hours, then you have a problem.

377

:

But

378

:

Rachel: shoot, you say 10 hours.

379

:

I say 48.

380

:

If she didn't feel like the

place that she picked was safe

381

:

enough, she might be looking for

another safe place to move 'em.

382

:

I say as long as they're not

sitting in like a wet puddle.

383

:

Something that's dangerous or wide open.

384

:

I feel like they're okay.

385

:

Dixie: Yeah.

386

:

Rachel: Some people are like, the sun.

387

:

I'm like, I know, but kittens

need to be like, what?

388

:

130 degrees?

389

:

Dixie: And I guess I'm saying that

from a very like tiny perspective,

390

:

like a, week old newborns.

391

:

Rachel: Yeah.

392

:

Dixie: I'm a bottle feeder and

a lot of people even say, Hey,

393

:

you gotta bottle feed these

newborn kittens every two hours.

394

:

And I do.

395

:

But you gotta think when it's mama's milk,

mama's not doing that every two hours.

396

:

Rachel: No,

397

:

Dixie: you'll

398

:

never see mama with the

kittens for every two hours.

399

:

It's not like she walks

around with a stopwatch.

400

:

It's oh, it's two hours.

401

:

I gotta go back and be with the kittens,

402

:

Rachel: I think, rabbits, I think

you only have to do every 12 hours.

403

:

So I'm like, I could bottle feed some

rabbits, but don't sign me up for that.

404

:

But yeah, like I think if they're already

born, she's definitely looking for 'em.

405

:

But I don't think, even.

406

:

Say she got pregnant again.

407

:

I think like she wouldn't, so maybe

if in a rescue situation, like I

408

:

did return three moms this week.

409

:

I swear I'm not a monster, but

the people that were feeding the

410

:

two adults, they wanted them back.

411

:

And the other one, she

just really hated us.

412

:

Dixie: Yeah.

413

:

Rachel: Like my caretakers, really

were like attached and, I get that.

414

:

But she was just slapping us and she'd

had, like inconsistent stools for a month.

415

:

And we've thrown every dewormer, every

antibiotic, every topical dewormer.

416

:

Oral dewormer, everything.

417

:

It was just not getting better.

418

:

And I was like, I think it's just stress.

419

:

I think she does not want to be here.

420

:

She does not wanna be in a cage.

421

:

Who wants to be in a cage?

422

:

I don't, it's not like I wanna keep

animals in a cage, but she's very

423

:

unhappy in a cage compared to the

other 60 cats we have in cages.

424

:

Like we take 'em out and they

play and run and things like that.

425

:

'cause we have the two

playrooms in our areas.

426

:

But she was just miserable

and she just kept slapping me.

427

:

And her feeder was very safe.

428

:

They bring the cats inside at night.

429

:

They have a covered patio

between the house and their shed.

430

:

They also have this huge giant

shed and they're well cared for.

431

:

So like why that's one less

animal I had to find a home for.

432

:

'cause I'm already like struggling

thinking about the 55 kittens

433

:

I need to find homes for.

434

:

Like that was a safe

place to put her back.

435

:

And they did.

436

:

They did take good, very good care of her.

437

:

She showed up actually that had never seen

her before and she showed up and then got

438

:

in the routine with the other two cats

and then gave birth in their dining room.

439

:

She was probably from somewhere

else and found a safe place to

440

:

have them and didn't realize it.

441

:

So they might not even see her, but

she's, back where she came from.

442

:

Ear tipped.

443

:

Dixie: Yeah, no more babies for her.

444

:

Rachel: Yeah.

445

:

So that's my rule.

446

:

If you want me to help you with kittens

or a litter of kittens, I have to have

447

:

the mom like, I can't continue this cycle.

448

:

I.

449

:

The current litter of

kittens I have right now.

450

:

There was a trapper went out, Karen , and

she got the mom and she said Hey, can you

451

:

foster these kittens for a little while?

452

:

I'll take over.

453

:

And I was like, I'll take them permanently

to foster 'cause I want you trapping.

454

:

And she also caught two other adult

females from that same colony.

455

:

And they were both pregnant.

456

:

Dixie: Yeah.

457

:

Rachel: So they had pregnant spays

and, the feeder was grateful.

458

:

She just didn't realize

that she could have had.

459

:

Three would've went to 18 that quickly.

460

:

And she said it was sad, but at the

same time, like trying to find homes

461

:

for 15 cats, she understood it.

462

:

So I think it just, we just need to talk

about it more, is the pregnant spay.

463

:

It's not like the fetuses don't

feel it, I don't think there's

464

:

any pain or anything like that.

465

:

That maybe there's some

discomfort for the mom.

466

:

I don't think she really knows them yet.

467

:

'cause they're not born,

it's a judgment call.

468

:

I think you have to look at the big

picture as far as like the homes, like me

469

:

thinking about that Rat Terrier sitting

in Jefferson Parish Animal shelter now

470

:

JPAWS since January 10th and everyone

looking him over 'cause , he's eight.

471

:

Not that cute.

472

:

And he's a small dog.

473

:

He is only 15 pounds, 16.25

474

:

or something.

475

:

And he got passed over because

everybody wants a puppy.

476

:

I think we just need to change that

stigma and learn as rescue, that pregnant

477

:

space are very important and that we need

to get on board with them, and we need

478

:

to find homes for the animals that are

already here that we had no control over.

479

:

Dixie: Yeah.

480

:

It's heartbreaking, but at

the same time it's the truth.

481

:

You're gonna have that many more.

482

:

I know my cousin had reached out to

me a couple of months ago, and she

483

:

had a bunch of cats show up by her.

484

:

Most of 'em, luckily they were already.

485

:

TNR.

486

:

So she had a male.

487

:

We got the male done, and then it was

like, I guess a couple months after this,

488

:

she's they have two females over here.

489

:

And she's they're both really big.

490

:

She's I think they're pregnant.

491

:

And I was like, okay, I'll get

you the appointment right away.

492

:

And I'm like, I'll give you the traps.

493

:

Go ahead and catch 'em and get 'em in.

494

:

And she's but what if they're pregnant?

495

:

And I was like , if they're pregnant,

they're gonna have four to five each.

496

:

So I'm like, do you want

10 more cats around?

497

:

And so she took 'em in and it was, each

one of them, I believe, had five kittens,

498

:

. So that would've been, 10 extra cats.

499

:

And that's that many more

that you have to feed too.

500

:

Rachel: Yeah.

501

:

Dixie: Even if you planned on,

neutering and spaying them too.

502

:

Still, that's 10 cats.

503

:

That's a lot.

504

:

Rachel: And the weight,

they get bigger and bigger.

505

:

Like feeding kittens kitten

food is more expensive and you

506

:

do go through a lot more of it.

507

:

So it can be just expensive

as feeding, 10 adults.

508

:

Dixie: Oh definitely

509

:

Rachel: but

510

:

I think there is there's a little bit

of a disconnect or like an illness.

511

:

There is a feeder that we know of

and he discloses to us that where

512

:

he feeds, he takes the kittens home.

513

:

So he lives out of Jefferson Parish,

so I don't have any control over him.

514

:

But I'm trying to figure out where

he feeds in Jefferson Parish so I

515

:

can go over there and trap and like

figure out if it's public property or

516

:

private property so I can intervene.

517

:

Because I can't imagine like

what's happening in his house,

518

:

like he's taking them all home.

519

:

'cause he is I just can't fix 'em and

I can't have them abort the babies.

520

:

That's just so sad.

521

:

But he is taken him to his house and

I don't think he's getting 'em fixed.

522

:

So I don't know how many he has.

523

:

I helped a couple not that long

ago, that had 42 in their house.

524

:

Dixie: Oh wow.

525

:

Rachel: Yeah.

526

:

And some of the adult females

they gave me were pregnant.

527

:

Dixie: Oh wow.

528

:

Oh my gosh.

529

:

Rachel: So he didn't know, but

like he could touch most of 'em.

530

:

Like he put 'em in the traps.

531

:

I just brought the traps and I met 'em

outside of his house and I let him take

532

:

the traps in and place the cats in 'em.

533

:

And then it was just unreal.

534

:

And he said at first, it started at

this little colony that he fed by work

535

:

and oh, they had a litter of kittens

and so he just took those four home.

536

:

And then just kept on going and oh, that

mom had another, so took those four home.

537

:

It just kept on going until the point

where he had 42 cats in his house,

538

:

unfixed, the colony, had his work unfixed,

and it was about to get really bad.

539

:

Dixie: Yeah.

540

:

I can't imagine the number that,

that could have turned into.

541

:

Quickly,

542

:

Rachel: imagine feeding 42 cats.

543

:

He was talking about how much cat

food he goes through and then he is

544

:

keeping 'em inside because he doesn't

wanna, that's the best way to keep

545

:

him safe is to keep him inside.

546

:

But like the amount of litter he was

going through, the amount of cat food

547

:

he was going through, like he said,

we just they're making ends meet.

548

:

And all I could think about is like,

how much more money could you have if

549

:

you didn't let that get out of hand?

550

:

Especially in Jefferson Parish,

551

:

Dixie: right

552

:

Rachel: I could make your

spay neuter of your cat free.

553

:

That is not a problem.

554

:

Also you don't realize the, even

of diseases you're spreading by

555

:

not having the span neuter done.

556

:

Like having it repeat

the cycle over and over.

557

:

Like if they're unhealthy cats, if there's

something like parasites and stuff, you're

558

:

just spreading it and making it worse.

559

:

More cats there are like,

they're more unhealthy.

560

:

, It's really hard to keep that

many cats healthy and safe.

561

:

flea prevention, some.

562

:

Dewormers, all that.

563

:

It gets expensive, like

to think about that.

564

:

So you really have to clear your mind

and think about what you're doing.

565

:

And while you think, spaying and

neutering them, or doing a pregnant

566

:

spay is more harm than good, but you

could be doing like so much worse

567

:

to them that you can't afford the

situation you're got yourself into.

568

:

So now you're neglecting

the animals that you have.

569

:

You can't even give them

like the parasites, the flea

570

:

preventions, all that stuff.

571

:

. But you just have to think

about all the things, like you

572

:

have to think the big picture.

573

:

You can't think oh, I just don't

wanna hurt these five cats right

574

:

now, or I don't wanna abort these.

575

:

You just have to keep thinking how much,

like you said, the cost is gonna go up.

576

:

What's the kind of care

you're gonna provide for them?

577

:

Where are you gonna find

all these good homes?

578

:

I adopted a cat to a person that

found a litter of kittens and I

579

:

didn't wanna hurt her feelings,

so I let her keep one kitten.

580

:

She messaged me two days ago that

she hasn't seen her in a couple days.

581

:

I waived the adoption fee 'cause she's the

one that found the kittens . And I said,

582

:

I had never found the mom that's on me.

583

:

I did leave knockers door knockers

everywhere and no one ever seen that mom.

584

:

I found like a dad I found a male cat

in the neighborhood and he had eartips.

585

:

I really don't know where she came from.

586

:

Like I rode around, I only

found one other person that

587

:

feeds in the whole neighborhood

and , they weren't feeding either.

588

:

The mom had 'em behind a house that was

being built, like it was a vacant house.

589

:

It was like brand new,

like studs and everything.

590

:

And the mom had the babies there and, I

made her sign the contract that she was

591

:

adopting it from me and I highlighted out

in our contract, you have to keep it in.

592

:

You have to keep it inside all the time.

593

:

Dixie: And just even thinking about

putting a tiny baby outside like that.

594

:

I'm for indoor only.

595

:

Of course.

596

:

But if you were gonna put one

outside, why would you put a

597

:

tiny baby like that outside?

598

:

That's like throwing a 2-year-old outside.

599

:

Rachel: Yeah.

600

:

She's about six months old now.

601

:

I actually still have one

or two of her litter mates.

602

:

'Cause now they're not tiny

kittens, so nobody wants them.

603

:

But it's just like I told her not to.

604

:

And then like where you live,

like the coyotes are everywhere.

605

:

Yeah.

606

:

We got, word that close to a local

rescue that we know that's in River

607

:

Ridge has seen coyotes while they're

out walking the dogs in daylight.

608

:

So they're out there, it's just not safe.

609

:

And it breaks my heart because

I'll let her keep that one cat.

610

:

And now it's like I'm

beating myself up for it.

611

:

I don't doubt that she loves it.

612

:

I don't doubt that.

613

:

Dixie: Right.

614

:

Rachel: But like I said, keep it inside.

615

:

I couldn't because she

wants to go outside.

616

:

Dixie: I

617

:

hate that.

618

:

I can't stand that when people say that.

619

:

Okay.

620

:

Because it's like I have a feral,

like we couldn't touch him.

621

:

He lives inside now.

622

:

Rachel: Yeah.

623

:

Dixie: And it's especially

like when they're inside,

624

:

they don't need to go outside.

625

:

If you let 'em outside, of course they're

gonna wanna go outside after that.

626

:

But you can keep 'em in.

627

:

Rachel: Yeah.

628

:

Oh, you can get 'em the right

entertainment, the right things,

629

:

enrichment

630

:

Dixie: Uhhuh

631

:

Rachel: to keep them inside.

632

:

So you can build a catio.

633

:

I don't know about, I mean I guess

'cause I'm a cat person, but the ads

634

:

for Catios are just rolling through my

Facebook, like all the catio companies,

635

:

and I think there's some guy locally that

wants to get in that business and he's

636

:

offering to do it at cost of materials.

637

:

If someone will come, let him

build a catio that's like a castle.

638

:

Just to have experiments and then

also have the pictures or whatever.

639

:

Dixie: I might have to

take 'em up on that.

640

:

On my house

641

:

Rachel: So there's, there's

just so many things you can do.

642

:

I just, I feel like

there's a lot of tools.

643

:

The internet's there, people like just

use it, and they sell those catios that

644

:

are like already built on Amazon that

you can put together and you just put

645

:

it like on the outside of a window.

646

:

And I don't wanna say they're more

than a couple hundred dollars.

647

:

Dixie: Yeah.

648

:

Another thing that you can do, this is

something that I did with one of my cats.

649

:

He would go to the back

door and he would meow.

650

:

So we had a stroller.

651

:

We would bring him in a stroller.

652

:

Yes, I walk cats.

653

:

. And it's totally normal.

654

:

There's nothing wrong with that.

655

:

But he wanted to go outside,

so we bought him one of

656

:

the two story things that

you put the kittens in.

657

:

It's like the big cage,

658

:

Rachel: yeah.

659

:

That's kinda how our cages are.

660

:

Dixie: Yeah.

661

:

So

662

:

We got one of those, it was a metal one

and we just took the bottom part out.

663

:

So instead of it being on like the little

plastic stand, it was right on the grass.

664

:

So we would go outside and

we would carry 'em out.

665

:

We'd stick 'em in that.

666

:

And he was happy as could be,

just to sit in the grass for a

667

:

little bit and just be in that.

668

:

It's not like he had

to go run around a lot.

669

:

Then we would bring him

inside and he was safe.

670

:

Nothing could get him.

671

:

'cause it's a metal cage.

672

:

Rachel: Yeah.

673

:

There was actually a lady I trapped

for and she said her cat wanted

674

:

to go outside and so she had him

in a dog crate in the front yard.

675

:

And we were trapping cats.

676

:

And , she's don't mind me, I'm just

giving my cat some outside time.

677

:

And I was like, Hey, you're

doing the right thing there.

678

:

She was like, I don't want 'em

to catch any infection from

679

:

all these stray cats out here.

680

:

So I thought it was pretty

cute, but especially in a colony

681

:

It was like a whole block.

682

:

And she's like right in the middle.

683

:

There's probably 40 or 50 cats.

684

:

So she was doing the right thing.

685

:

So it didn't get hurt.

686

:

But there, there are all

these things that you can do.

687

:

But I just, there's too many homeless

animals and I come across feeders

688

:

they don't reach out like until

they have the 42 and they're like,

689

:

okay, we can't afford this anymore.

690

:

We're living paycheck to paycheck.

691

:

And then they asked for help

because they didn't wanna do the

692

:

pregnant spays, but like you just.

693

:

We have to get over that stigma.

694

:

Like we have to just think about the

mass amount of numbers of that we're

695

:

dealing with and do you know 20 friends

that wanna adopt a kitten right now?

696

:

Do you know 20 people that you trust

off the top of your head that you

697

:

would give them a kitten to raise

698

:

right now?

699

:

Dixie: I do have a question to ask you.

700

:

When you said that you do

require people give you the mom

701

:

for a spay to take in kittens.

702

:

And I agree with that, but.

703

:

If you don't take those kittens in,

does it concern you that those kittens

704

:

might not necessarily be spayed or

neutered if they don't have the mom,

705

:

.? Rachel: No, because I just don't

think they're trying hard enough.

706

:

There's not a mom somewhere.

707

:

Unless you gimme a picture of a hit by

car cat, then maybe I'll believe you.

708

:

I talked to the girl that like, we're

taking a litter of kittens tomorrow.

709

:

She has the mom and she's turned the

mom into an indoor cat so I'm sure

710

:

she was somebody's displaced kitten

711

:

She said, she hasn't seen like a lot

of stray cats as far as is there a

712

:

dad because it takes two to tango.

713

:

Dixie: Yeah.

714

:

Rachel: So she said she would keep

an eye out and we would talk about

715

:

it and she could ride around her

neighborhood and figure out like where.

716

:

She gave me her address and I know

that I've trapped in that neighborhood

717

:

before, so there probably is like a

new cat that showed up and, it just

718

:

wasn't fixed and that's how it happened,

719

:

That's the great thing about our

trap map one of our volunteers lives

720

:

close to their end, so she'll check

and, we'll have more eyes on it.

721

:

But if they're not willing, to

put in the work to make sure the

722

:

problem doesn't happen again.

723

:

I just don't have any compassion for you.

724

:

Like you're not helping the problem.

725

:

And I had a situation where a Facebook

thing happened and it turns out

726

:

Rebecca was helping them thankfully.

727

:

And I think Rebecca actually even tried

to get the mom herself and she said

728

:

it was very hard to trap and, those

people were trying to bottle feed,

729

:

but they couldn't because of their

jobs, which I totally understand.

730

:

And they brought the

kittens to the shelter.

731

:

And Michelle called me and

she said, what would you do?

732

:

I said, do you want my honest opinion?

733

:

And I said, if you're overwhelmed

and every one of your staff members

734

:

that knows how to bottle feed has

a litter of kittens, how can you

735

:

ask them to bottle feed seven more?

736

:

That's a lot.

737

:

If you're supposed to be feeding him

every two hours, by the time you feed

738

:

everyone, you're back to two hours.

739

:

It's been two hours to feed all seven

that you're just awake all the time.

740

:

And you have no mom and nothing.

741

:

And there was some kind of confusion

in the whole situation because I think

742

:

that day they took in like 21 kittens.

743

:

I know like over a 10 day period,

they took in 177 kittens at J Paws.

744

:

So I made her a post of to help out

hey, like you have two hours people

745

:

if you don't want us to euthanize

these cats call the shelter.

746

:

We need you to step up within two hours.

747

:

We'll supply you with all

the KMR you're gonna need.

748

:

Like the staff is overwhelmed.

749

:

There's too many kittens,

there's not enough care.

750

:

You have to think about.

751

:

That was the other thing that

the UC Davis thing mentioned.

752

:

It was talking about why you should

really be pro pregnant spay is

753

:

because there really is not enough.

754

:

For shelters, for municipal

shelters to do neonatal care.

755

:

It's not fair.

756

:

Like you're making it worse.

757

:

So if you're gonna let that mom be born

and then what if the mom gets sick?

758

:

Or what if, she's so weak and

the parasites like, there's

759

:

just not enough care to provide,

there's just not enough staff.

760

:

There's simply is not.

761

:

If you're taking 177 kittens

in, in 10 days, like that's

762

:

just a lot to keep your eyes on.

763

:

With two or three people that

are assigned to like the cat

764

:

area, like that's just a lot.

765

:

You have to think about the big picture.

766

:

The Post had all those people step up.

767

:

So they came I think they

split 'em up into two.

768

:

Two.

769

:

Dixie: Yep.

770

:

Rachel: And one, so like they

had somebody to take 'em on.

771

:

But it's hard for every litter when

you're taking in 20 to 30 kittens a day.

772

:

Some of 'em are neonatals it's

very hard to find fosters for them.

773

:

Dixie: I saw that post and I

actually commented on that post.

774

:

'cause I told people that I

would be more than willing to

775

:

teach them how to bottle feed.

776

:

Rachel: Right.

777

:

Dixie: Bring me the kitten,

I'll show you what to do.

778

:

You got any questions?

779

:

You can text me even, when after

you take the kittens and I have

780

:

a bottle feeding class and foster

class that I'm gonna do with Rebecca.

781

:

Rachel: Yeah.

782

:

Dixie: And we actually got

people signed up from that post.

783

:

So there are people that are

gonna come, they wanna learn how

784

:

to bottle feed from that post.

785

:

So I think we got five people signed up.

786

:

So at least that's a good thing.

787

:

Rachel: I hope that they come.

788

:

I hope more people are

willing and they learn.

789

:

It, it does take patience.

790

:

I am not a bottle feeder.

791

:

I can tell you that right now.

792

:

, I'll do it all day during

the day while I'm at work.

793

:

I'm your girl, but

overnight, I need my sleep.

794

:

Dixie: Well if you're feeding

them consistently during the day,

795

:

you can get some sleep at night.

796

:

So what I'll do is I'll have a

baby monitor where I can hear 'em.

797

:

'cause if they wake up,

then I know they're hungry.

798

:

Rachel: If they start crying.

799

:

Yeah.

800

:

Dixie: So if they start crying,

then I know I gotta go feed 'em.

801

:

But otherwise I'll push it to

four or five hours at night.

802

:

Now I'm talking about one week old

kittens, once they reach like that.

803

:

Two weeks you go six hours.

804

:

Rachel: Yeah.

805

:

Dixie: As long as they're eating

good and they're not sick now, if

806

:

they're sick, it's another story.

807

:

I had sick kittens last week that

were six week olds and I was getting

808

:

up every two hours to feed 'em.

809

:

Yeah.

810

:

'cause they wouldn't eat.

811

:

So

812

:

Rachel: Yeah, we've had a couple I've

had to put my big girl panties on.

813

:

I don't like needles.

814

:

Needles are not my thing.

815

:

But if the vet is not open and

Amelie and Rebecca are looking

816

:

at me like, fix this kitten.

817

:

I'm gonna do whatever.

818

:

Watch my kitten lady videos.

819

:

And I'm like sucking it up and I'm doing

it And like I gave two kittens last week

820

:

or week before last B12 injections and

like they're both fine now, but oh my

821

:

God, like to warm it up, make sure I do

it in the fluids and everything like that.

822

:

And the kittens are surviving.

823

:

They're okay.

824

:

They're playing and

roughhousing so it just depends.

825

:

But it's just a lot.

826

:

It's hard.

827

:

Like I would really try to

wait for the mom if I could.

828

:

Because when you're putting 'em in that

shelter environment there are already too

829

:

many and it's just like the care and like

the diseases and all that stuff like that.

830

:

It's just you're putting 'em at risk.

831

:

So while you think you're doing

a good thing, you're already

832

:

overburdening a struggling system yeah.

833

:

Like I feel like a phone

call would be better.

834

:

If you have them and it's

like, what the situation?

835

:

What can we do?

836

:

What are some other options?

837

:

Or can you courtesy post this?

838

:

And maybe we can have fosters come

forward so like we don't have to, put

839

:

them the shelter, that kind of thing.

840

:

Maybe there needs to be

like an emergency plan

841

:

if there'd be a Jefferson Parish emergency

line of bottle feeders on standby.

842

:

In case that happens.

843

:

Dixie: Yeah.

844

:

You don't have that many

bottle feeders though.

845

:

That's the whole thing.

846

:

And that's what kind of aggravates me

when people just pick up the kittens

847

:

and they don't wanna to listen.

848

:

When you tell 'em, wait and

make sure that mom's not there.

849

:

I mean their situations Yes.

850

:

Where mom might be killed.

851

:

And so then you have to take those

kittens, or like you said, it

852

:

could be like a really bad rain

and they're in a really bad spot.

853

:

But for the most part, just

leave them be because there's

854

:

not enough bottle feeders around.

855

:

Rachel: And then I know there's

always that situation like where,

856

:

the mom will also leave him if

she knows something's wrong.

857

:

We've had some we had one tab

he's alive, but holy cow, he has

858

:

all the things wrong with him.

859

:

He's like a munchkin cat.

860

:

He's tiny.

861

:

He's got stomatitis.

862

:

Like he has everything.

863

:

Thank God we found the best

home for him and they actually

864

:

adopted four kittens from us.

865

:

But super awesome family.

866

:

They have that many kids.

867

:

But they're financially

able to take care of it.

868

:

Like you're thinking about

that mom's always best.

869

:

And then when you're taking 'em away

from them, like sometimes you're

870

:

taking away what they need to thrive

the most, like they're more healthy

871

:

if they're with the mom overall,

872

:

Dixie: Yeah, definitely.

873

:

Rachel: But the people that are having

like the thing about pregnant spays,

874

:

someone blocked me over it, but I

just, until you're in our shoes every

875

:

day begging for people to adopt an

animal and they only want the cute

876

:

kitten or puppy, it just, it stinks.

877

:

Dixie: Yeah.

878

:

Rachel: Yeah.

879

:

I just, I feel bad for the underdogs.

880

:

I feel bad for the ones that

are already there alive.

881

:

Just waiting for a home patiently.

882

:

And I also feel like adults,

you know what you're getting.

883

:

You don't know, like I had that friend

that bought a dog and she paid for

884

:

this awesome dog trainer and all

these things for this beautiful dog

885

:

and, got him neutered and everything.

886

:

And then suddenly the aggression is

so bad and they're even unable to

887

:

rehome him he was aggressive to humans.

888

:

Not even two years old and

she had to euthanize him.

889

:

Dixie: Yeah.

890

:

It's a sad situation.

891

:

Rachel: Yeah.

892

:

So it'd been so much better

to find a rescue of that

893

:

breed that you're looking for.

894

:

I know golden retrievers, that's what

everybody wants and those are a diamond

895

:

in the rough, it's hard to find.

896

:

There are not many of those in rescue.

897

:

But there is a rescue of

the breed that she wanted.

898

:

One of our friends Holly at Trampled Rose

that I'm trying to make her come on here.

899

:

She loves that breed too,

so she has a lot of 'em.

900

:

So I'm like, you could have this

Bombproof dog and Holly's like a dog

901

:

trainer and so she'll know all their

quirks, like they're an adult and that

902

:

family's very heartbroken right now.

903

:

They're thinking right now

they don't want another dog.

904

:

They went through all that for almost two

years and end result had to euthanize him.

905

:

But I feel like people

should get over that.

906

:

You gotta have a puppy

'cause you have to raise 'em.

907

:

'cause if you raise 'em, like

you'll know how they are.

908

:

Yeah.

909

:

Like you don't know that.

910

:

You don't know what you're gonna get.

911

:

And some people don't realize

animals can be on mental health meds.

912

:

Like they can be born with mental health

issues and have damaged brain and all

913

:

these different things or you don't know.

914

:

Who was there in the beginning,

what nutrients the mom or

915

:

wasn't getting or whatever.

916

:

So you really don't know.

917

:

So you're better off having an

adult that's been in a rescue

918

:

and in a foster home and they

probably work with a dog trainer.

919

:

And you just know kids,

cats, dogs, you just know,

920

:

Dixie: Right And rescues

know their animals.

921

:

Rachel: Yeah.

922

:

They can make a recommendation and

say, okay this one's good for you.

923

:

This is a good fit.

924

:

This is not a good fit.

925

:

I had a lady that contacted me

this week that wanted lemon.

926

:

She's our lemon squeezy.

927

:

We posted her she's an all black

cat, of course Rebecca trapped her.

928

:

Rebecca the cat tribe

that keeps on giving.

929

:

And she turned out to be super sweet,

like she was very sick and we were

930

:

just gonna nebulize her in the trap a

couple times that day and then put her

931

:

back like we gave her a convenia shot.

932

:

Go back to where you came from.

933

:

We don't need more animals to adopt out.

934

:

And then they fell in love with her.

935

:

And she's super sweet, loves to

play, wants to be your best friend,

936

:

follows you anywhere and everywhere.

937

:

But don't pick her up.

938

:

She does not wanna be picked up.

939

:

And so I had somebody that emailed

me because they wanted to adopt a

940

:

black cat because they know that

there's like a stigma behind them.

941

:

And so I loved her for that.

942

:

And she said she has a

2-year-old and a 4-year-old.

943

:

. And that's hard for me 'cause I

know as at two and four you wanna

944

:

pick up and you wanna hold your cat,

945

:

Dixie: right.

946

:

Rachel: I know that Lemon does

not like to be picked up and held.

947

:

I know that for a fact.

948

:

She scratched my

9-year-old niece this week.

949

:

She scratched me last week.

950

:

Like she does not wanna be picked up.

951

:

It's not her thing.

952

:

And so she said, will you please keep

us in consideration, for the future?

953

:

And I said, absolutely.

954

:

If I come across a Bombproof

cat, I'll let you know.

955

:

The term bombproof set her off.

956

:

She was like really offended . And

I was like that's just the term.

957

:

Like my friend has a dog with a

2-year-old and she calls her dog

958

:

Bombproof and she would leave her kids

alone with the dog, no questions asked.

959

:

And it's just a term like,

it wasn't like offensive.

960

:

It's just like there are some

animals that will let you hold them,

961

:

snuggle 'em, do whatever with 'em.

962

:

And they don't care.

963

:

They don't react.

964

:

And those are the best ones for kids.

965

:

And so if I came across another

cat that like was, didn't care what

966

:

I did to him, then I'd be like,

Hey, this is your cat, because

967

:

it just goes with the

flow with whatever you do.

968

:

That's what I meant.

969

:

And she got totally offended and I typed

up a well thought out email, replied back

970

:

to her and I hadn't heard back from her.

971

:

So the term bombproof.

972

:

Offended her.

973

:

But we do have two new kittens that

just came from foster home that were

974

:

with children and dogs and cats.

975

:

And so they're pretty great.

976

:

And one of 'em was the

foster mom's favorite.

977

:

And so I left the door open.

978

:

I said, you can definitely come meet

them and sit in the playroom with

979

:

them and have your kids play with

them and see how they react and like.

980

:

If you're okay with it, if they bite

or scratch, if your kid does the wrong

981

:

thing, like then I'm okay with it.

982

:

, My husband grew up with a dog and

it bit him in the eye and actually

983

:

has like a bump on his eyelid

that he cannot wear contacts now.

984

:

But it's funny, it's because he

has that little bump in his eye

985

:

and his mom's it was Tim's fault.

986

:

He shouldn't have touched him.

987

:

Like not every parent

is gonna be that way.

988

:

And say like the animal has boundaries and

you pushed it and this is what happened.

989

:

And like my dog Duke, I used

him to dog test him with

990

:

cats and dogs and everything.

991

:

Like he's great.

992

:

But when I first got him, he was a terror.

993

:

He scared me.

994

:

And I remember my mom brought him

to me and she's I can't believe

995

:

you're gonna keep this dog.

996

:

He's like screaming and barking and

crying in the kennel the whole way here.

997

:

And he bit my niece in the face . And my

niece Sophie was like, it was my fault.

998

:

Like I totally did it.

999

:

I shouldn't have touched him

the way that I did, the way I

:

00:42:32,247 --> 00:42:33,747

approached him, it wasn't his fault.

:

00:42:34,377 --> 00:42:36,507

And so like my sister was like, it's fine.

:

00:42:36,507 --> 00:42:37,647

It was her friend's dog.

:

00:42:38,017 --> 00:42:38,617

She's it's fine.

:

00:42:38,617 --> 00:42:39,157

I don't care.

:

00:42:39,187 --> 00:42:41,197

Like I'm sure like she said

she did something wrong.

:

00:42:41,197 --> 00:42:44,497

I'm listen to my daughter and,

but that lady still freaked out.

:

00:42:45,382 --> 00:42:48,172

She was like, I just don't know

that I'll come across a mom that's

:

00:42:48,172 --> 00:42:51,412

always like you or a child that's

it was my fault and I did it wrong.

:

00:42:51,462 --> 00:42:52,122

And she's scared.

:

00:42:52,152 --> 00:42:53,382

She was like, I'm gonna get sued.

:

00:42:53,382 --> 00:42:56,022

We're in this nice neighborhood,

and I just, I can't, I'm scared.

:

00:42:56,562 --> 00:43:01,472

And so she asked me to take him and I

love him, so I'm like, thanks to my dog.

:

00:43:01,652 --> 00:43:05,362

It's a hard decision, but I think

adopting an adult animal whenever you

:

00:43:05,417 --> 00:43:07,547

I know a lot of people get puppies

thinking like you raise 'em with your

:

00:43:07,547 --> 00:43:10,097

kids and it'll be different and there

might be some science behind that.

:

00:43:10,097 --> 00:43:10,697

I don't know.

:

00:43:11,097 --> 00:43:14,097

My 9-year-old niece comes

over and I have 15 dogs.

:

00:43:14,097 --> 00:43:17,817

There's only one I don't allow

around her and it's a chihuahua.

:

00:43:18,307 --> 00:43:19,537

But all the other ones I allow.

:

00:43:19,597 --> 00:43:22,027

But the funny thing is, if I'm at her

house and I bring the Chihuahua to

:

00:43:22,027 --> 00:43:24,367

her house, I'll allow her around it.

:

00:43:24,607 --> 00:43:26,047

He's just a jerk in our house.

:

00:43:26,347 --> 00:43:27,547

Like I know everything about him.

:

00:43:27,547 --> 00:43:28,867

I'm like, Hey, don't touch him right here.

:

00:43:28,867 --> 00:43:29,797

Hey, don't touch this.

:

00:43:29,797 --> 00:43:33,217

Hey, whenever you approach him,

do this or Hey, he's blind.

:

00:43:33,247 --> 00:43:37,207

Let him like feel you out or smell you

out so he can feel comfortable first.

:

00:43:37,607 --> 00:43:42,047

So like I know what I have in my

adult dog, so I just think that,

:

00:43:42,127 --> 00:43:46,987

people should stop at the puppy and

kitten stigma and go for the adult.

:

00:43:47,417 --> 00:43:50,207

If you are sitting there waiting

for those puppies to be born all

:

00:43:50,207 --> 00:43:51,647

the time, that should really be.

:

00:43:52,127 --> 00:43:55,157

Aborted because we're already

in an overpopulated system.

:

00:43:56,897 --> 00:43:57,947

You don't know what you're gonna get.

:

00:43:58,067 --> 00:43:58,127

Yeah.

:

00:43:58,607 --> 00:44:01,097

Like that puppy, like you don't

know, like you don't know anything

:

00:44:01,097 --> 00:44:03,557

about if, especially these mutts

that they're finding all over

:

00:44:04,367 --> 00:44:05,837

that were accidental litters.

:

00:44:05,837 --> 00:44:06,707

You don't know what you're getting.

:

00:44:06,757 --> 00:44:07,477

You have no clue.

:

00:44:07,987 --> 00:44:08,077

Yeah.

:

00:44:08,077 --> 00:44:11,917

So you're better off adopting

adult and letting that pregnant

:

00:44:11,917 --> 00:44:16,297

spay happen and saving one that's

already here, waiting for a home.

:

00:44:17,137 --> 00:44:19,357

Stop contributing to the overpopulation.

:

00:44:19,447 --> 00:44:23,587

'cause if you as a rescue

are not supporting pregnant

:

00:44:23,587 --> 00:44:26,047

spays, you're a breeder.

:

00:44:26,727 --> 00:44:27,507

That's the way I feel.

:

00:44:28,467 --> 00:44:30,237

Dixie: Thank you for

coming on the show today.

:

00:44:30,927 --> 00:44:31,587

Rachel: No problem.

:

00:44:31,767 --> 00:44:34,197

I'll think about the next

topic and I'll come back.

:

00:44:34,197 --> 00:44:34,527

I love it.

:

00:44:34,557 --> 00:44:34,857

Dixie: Yep.

:

00:44:35,137 --> 00:44:36,817

You're a favorite, so please come back.

:

00:44:36,937 --> 00:44:37,387

Rachel: Definitely.

:

00:44:39,187 --> 00:44:39,877

Thanks for having me.

:

00:44:40,877 --> 00:44:43,757

Dixie: And that's all the time

we have for today's episode.

:

00:44:43,863 --> 00:44:47,873

If you are in animal rescue, or if

you know someone that has a story that

:

00:44:47,873 --> 00:44:50,053

should be told, please contact us.

:

00:44:50,123 --> 00:44:52,943

We would love to have

you or them on the show

:

00:44:53,173 --> 00:44:56,743

. Thanks for listening, and please

join us next week as we continue to

:

00:44:56,743 --> 00:44:59,043

explore the world of animal rescue.

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About the Podcast

Animal Posse
A look inside the world of animal rescue
Dive deep into the world of animal rescue with heartwarming stories, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights. From heartwarming adoptions to daring rescues, we'll explore the incredible bond between humans and animals.
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About your host

Profile picture for DIXIE LOUVIERE

DIXIE LOUVIERE

My love for animals has driven me to dedicate the last 20 years to rescue. In 2024, we established a 501c3 nonprofit Unwanted Feline Organization Inc. and are thrilled to be building a cat sanctuary in Washington Parish, Louisiana, where we can offer a haven for cats in need. I thought it would be great for the rescue to have a podcast so Animal Posse was started with the hope of bringing rescues together, getting them more exposure, and finding more animals
homes.