Saturday, September 14, 2024

Lil' Gravies? Just Say No!

 




Being able to purchase gravy by itself has always seemed like a great idea. That is it would be if cat food companies really knew how much of that stuff the little moggies could eat in one sitting.

Several companies have introduced this product recently. I found a generic pouch for only a dollar at the DG, then decided to pop for the $1.35 salmon from Friskies. The pouches contain a whole 1.55 oz each. You don't realize how little that is until you attempt to split it between two hungry cats. Let's just say some little guys at my house were highly offended. 

Yes, at least one childless cat-lady is not happy with the product. It's highly recommended that you buy at your own risk.



Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Florence Pups Are Begging for Candy!

 



Join us at the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services on Friday, October 29th, for our second annual Drive-Thru Halloween adoption event. We'll have not only howlingly festive canines, we'll be giving away candy, all from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.


Now, about that candy: We had a huge turnout last year and are anticipating an even larger one this holiday. All donations of wrapped candy are appreciated. You can drop your contributions off at the shelter anytime between now and the morning of the event. Our hours are 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.


FLAS is located at 3240 Roberson Road. Take Chisholm Road north to the Lauderdale County Health Department, turn right, and our beautiful shelter is .4 mile on the right.

We look forward to seeing you for our furry Howloween event!


Thursday, September 20, 2018

Reform Lawrence County, Alabama, Animal Laws


This was sent to us anonymously from a Lawrence County resident. If you live in Lawrence County and find this utterly repulsive, elect new officials. If you live outside Lawrence, you can still share to help shame these cretins into halfway decent behavior.


Another tragedy about to take place for the lost and abandoned animals of Lawrence county. Commissioner Bobbie Birch announces in the paper today he is going to put up a DROP OFF BIN for people to dump sick animals, puppies, dogs, cats, etc. due to him not wanting to pay someone to take care of these animals that are temporarily imprisoned inside this filthy, scary holding facility that he has concocted where he can keep animals until they are killed by Dr. Lee one by one while the other animals are forced to watch. 

Birch's setup does not allow families that are searching for their lost pets to come to this facility because their pet most likely were already killed anyway, nor have they taken the time to even help with showing a list of the beautiful deserving animals that are available for adoption. Dogs that do not get along with other dogs can easily kill other animals there, or dogs who do not like cats etc. 

His animal control person Kim Carpenter went on a vacations last week and no arrangements were made to feed, water or clean up after the animals. Another point to mention is that she has never documented any animals upon intake for this temporary facility which is against the rules. This has been a tragedy from the moment Birch and the police chief McWorter decided to shut down the pro life shelter and did so with no warrant! And with their campaign of lies they saturated the local news outlets and television stations who bought into this garbage of lies. Sadly the pro life shelter was the only safe place for the animals and was about to move into a new building. 

The truth will come out but right now this cruel idea of people dumping scared and sick animals in a bin together for convenience cannot happen and others are trying to do something about it. Bobbie Birch is a dangerous and cruel person. He definitely needs to be investigated and prosecuted. He is not a certified animal control person for one and he is killing animals! That should be a crime right there! Birch set Ms.Taylor up with his vicious campaign of lies with the help of a woman named Cheryl Jones, and it is the one and only reason thousands of animals have been killed. 

The suffering Birch and his cronies have caused is a horror story in itself. For us who know the truth this has been heart wrenching and tragic. Every bit of what I said here is the painful truth. Sorry for the long communication but the animals need those who really do care about their lives and who want them to live happy lives and truly know what is like to be loved. Thank you for caring about the welfare of animals.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Ollie & Paulie: A Morality Tale from Lauderdale County



A cutting wind whipped around the corner of the house, hitting Stan and Ollie as they lay huddled together by a dog house they had both become too large to use. Chains prevented either animal from seeking shelter elsewhere in the frigid weather. Inside Paulie was also cold. He pulled the dirty blanket up around his neck and whimpered from the pain of his last beating.
On the lonely road that barely reached the ramshackle home Paulie’s parents shared with another family, the sound of traffic was almost non-existent. Stan and Ollie sat up when they heard the motors of the two vehicles. A man parked his truck beside the house and began to take photographs of the two chained dogs. The second vehicle pulled up beside the truck and a woman exited holding a brief case. She began to knock at the front door, then the back. Finally the second door cracked, and the woman gained entrance.
After two hours, both officials were back on the road. The animal control officer drove directly to the courthouse where he consulted with the district attorney’s office. The DHR worker drove to a home miles away from Paulie’s and left the emaciated and abused boy with an older couple.
Paulie reveled in the warmth of his foster home, while Stan and Ollie shivered as the temperature reached three degrees that night…and the next…and the next after that. When the animal control officer returned eight days later, Stan lay still beside the wooden dog house. He no longer suffered from the unrelenting wind and cold. The officer took Ollie away in his truck and left him at a veterinarian’s; the large Dobie mix had the first real meal he’d had in months.
Ollie began to leave his fragile shell as his ribs disappeared one by one. Finally, adoption! He had a home and a family and toys and more joy than his wagging stump of a tail could express. Miles away, Paulie was shuttled to still another foster home. He placed his hurt feelings in a small compartment of his heart and left them there.
Two years passed, and Ollie had all but forgotten the abuse he once endured. The thunder outside reminded him of the beatings of his past life, but he knew his was safe…until he heard the lightning hit the roof over his warm home. Then there was smoke.
When the fire brigade arrived, they found Ollie’s owner lying on the ground outside the home that was now engulfed in flames. The large dog stood over him, gently nudging the man into consciousness. When awake, Ollie’s owner told how the dog had dragged him from his bed to the safety of the carport as flames flickered down the walls and smoke filled his lungs. The local paper took pictures of Ollie and called him a hero. Ollie wasn’t sure what the fuss was about. All he had done was save the man who had saved him. No real dog would have done less.
Across the county, Paulie lay in bed listening to the thunder and wishing he was dead. Tomorrow he would go to still another foster home to be abused by new “parents.” He refused to cry.
At the age of 15, Paulie found an open gun safe in the home of his latest foster family. They were nice enough to him, but he knew what he had to do. He’d known for a long time.
Paulie entered the campus on a Sunday night and crawled through a large air vent. From there, he could reach the whole school on Monday. He would show them; they would be sitting ducks.
The death count was horrendous. Everyone asked how did it happen in Lauderdale County? The entire state mourned.
The moral? No one can predict whose life will mean something. That life county officials don’t care about often means more than the so-called higher species they seem to value so much more.
Isn’t it time our elected officials acknowledged that?

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Want to Adopt a Poached Egg?


Just as new phrases appear almost daily, so do old terms fall by the wayside. While looking for a photo of a certain feline coat pattern, we realized there wasn't a single instance of the the term "poached egg tabby" to be found on the Internet.

Perhaps the term was regional, but it once regularly appeared in magazines for cat fanciers. Can you deduce its reference? This is a poached egg:



This is a poached egg tabby:



Can you see the resemblance? Today it seems that most denote this particular tabby pattern as simply "classic."  That may be fine for a 1965 Mustang, but a cat is so much more.

We say "Long live the poached egg tabby!"


Monday, July 13, 2015

Gilbert Animal Hospital & Mr. Willie


Thank You!

The Gilbert Animal Hospital on East Tennessee Street in Florence has a new owner. When contacted, a spokesperson for the veterinary practice said that Dr. Sheila Gilbert had been commuting between Florence and Houston, Texas, where her husband had been transferred, for two years. She is now moving permanently to Houston, and her practice has been purchased by a new veterinarian.

Dr. Gilbert was known for her caring and generosity during her stay in Florence. She personally neutered at least one cat colony at her own expense, for which this writer is eternally grateful.

Unfortunately, the new owner will not be retaining long-time employee Mr. Willie, who quite possibly still bears scars from one red tabby named Tucker. While we obviously feel this is a bad business move, we believe Mr. Willie has much to offer other medical practices. If you have any information concerning employment for Mr. Willie, you may leave a message in care of the Gilbert Clinic at 256-767-0500.


Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Ten Will Die Friday!




These dogs have been with us the longest. Poor Alana has been with us almost 1 year!!! Others have been in the shelter for months!! Summer is the busiest time of year for us and dogs come in by the dozens almost every day. We are trying to give these a few more days but we are just out of space!! All of these must be out by Friday. If you can help call 256-760-6676 or email jonik9rescuer@yahoo.com


From today's TimesDaily: There are 10 dogs at the shelter that will be put down Friday if they are not adopted because of lack of space.


If you've been thinking about adopting or even fostering, now is the time. The shelter is easy to find:

Animal Control Department
702 East College Street Street
Florence, AL 35630
Telephone (256) 760-6431 
Fax (256) 740-4668





You've seen their faces; will you allow them to die?