Luzerne County SPCA (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: apartment, house, buying)

[EnyaGirl]

NEPA has a huge problem with shelters overrun with cats. If people only knew how many cats (and kittens!!) are being put to sleep every single day as a result of overcrowding, it would make them sick. There are things you can do to help though!! Luzerne County SPCA holds many different fundraising events, including their new event, "Bark at the Park" which will be taking place October 3rd at Frances Slocum park. Here's a link with details: Bark at The Park - NEW! There are also other ways you can help! Click here for more information: How You Can Help

[EnyaGirl]

I'm sure I won't get a response to why my original above post in the "kittens" thread was MOVED to "off-topic", but since It IS on-topic, I'm going ahead and posting it again as *Clearly* it was moved by mistake

[Summering]

I bumped into an older man at the Giants store and he was buying cat food. He has four outside cats. He got over run with feral cats, as I did at one point. He had to call the shelter and tell them to pick them up. He didn't want to know what was done with them. He just said " I can not shoot them"........ There are a lot of cats out there, many gettting dropped off for others to care for.
After awhile it gets out of control. Its a sad situation indeed.
In the spring my farming neighbor and I had way too many feral cats. Lucky, that we had them all fixed and given shots. This will work until the next batch gets left off at the farm........
I'm not here in the winter....so its sad and difficult for me. The best I can do is provide shelter and
the Pet Nanny to come feed them.......I try to make them home cats........But, just when I think I've made good progress...its time for me to leave.

[ScranBarre]

I'm very pleased overall with the Luzerne County SPCA. I just learned that my father went there to adopt a kitten for my cousin and her boyfriend, who are living together in Scranton while attending the new medical school. They were VERY strict with forms, questionnaires, etc. when he went through the process. They specifically asked "If you found out your kitten had been clawing the furniture, what would you do?" My father answered "I would consult a professional." Apparently that was a wise decision, as he was then told if he had responded that he'd have the cat de-clawed that they wouldn't let him adopt it, as they feel as if that's cruel to the cat. It was also mandatory that the cat be spayed/neutered before being adopted to prevent MORE kittens from coming back! My cousin was overjoyed with her new bundle of joy! I haven't decided myself if I want to get a cat or a Siberian husky in a few years as a companion for my lonely apartment in NoVA.

[gherrm]

Cat declawed that they wouldn't let them adopt it. So it is better to put them down? SPCA will never get any money from me. I have three inside cats all declawed and they have no problems.I spend 500.00 a year on my cats for there yearly visit to the vet. I get them every shot they have. Now some one left a mother and two kittens near my home now I take care of them just feed and water would love to get them fixed but I am on disability and don't have the money. If they had a way to get animals fixed for free or lo cost the SPCA and other shelters would not be so over run.That is what we need. And the SPCA should relax their rules and more people might adopt from them. Give them away hope you get a donation or put them down that is smart that cost money to. SPCA YOU Suck!

[Eyes]

... Don't feed them ...

If possible .. capture them .. get them fixed .. stop the breeding ..

They should then be able to fend for themselves ..

They have value in the wild .. they minimize rodents ..
The problem is when fed .. they have more time to breed as they spend less time hunting food ..
Food .. sex ... shelter .. is what they do ...

[EnyaGirl]

Originally Posted by gherrm

Cat declawed that they wouldn't let them adopt it. So it is better to put them down? SPCA will never get any money from me. I have three inside cats all declawed and they have no problems.I spend 500.00 a year on my cats for there yearly visit to the vet. I get them every shot they have. Now some one left a mother and two kittens near my home now I take care of them just feed and water would love to get them fixed but I am on disability and don't have the money. If they had a way to get animals fixed for free or lo cost the SPCA and other shelters would not be so over run.That is what we need. And the SPCA should relax their rules and more people might adopt from them. Give them away hope you get a donation or put them down that is smart that cost money to. SPCA YOU Suck!

I think declawing is a completely inhumane and disgusting thing to do to a cat....it's essentially cutting off their toes at the first knuckle (how would YOU like it?) and I think those who put too much value on their material possessions perhaps shouldn't own a cat....HOWEVER, I too believe that a declawed cat is better than a dead one, and I too wish that organizations would relax the rules a little.....at the same time, that's kind of like saying that declawing is okay....when it's really not "ok". The problem that shelters encounter is that many declawed cats end up with problems later in life, usually litterbox problems, and end up being turned in when they are older and then unadoptable....so I see (aside from the inhumane aspect of it), their reasoning there too. If you want a cat, accept that is was born with claws....take some time when they're kittens to learn how to clip them yourself; it's really not hard.

[Eyes]

Cats use the front claws to clime to safety

The rear claws are for defense ..

Declawing a cat is the same as cutting the fingers off children ..
They will survive but will have difficulty doing certain things ..

[J5K5LY]

I would never tell anyone not to feed a hungry cat. How cruel!!! That is worse than declawing! Besides, the best hunters are the healthy, well fed cats.
There is a vet in the Wilkes-Barre area that spays and neuters very cheaply. I can't think of his name right now but he has been in the news a few times for donating his services to homeless animals that need emergency care. Anyone know who I am talking about? I can find out his name and let you know.
I worked in a kill shelter years ago and we found that many declawed cats that were turned in had bitten. Apparently, that was their means of defense. Still, a declawed cat is better than a dead one.
I worked at PetSmart in Wilkes-Barre, where the Luzerene County SPCA shows cats. They did the best they could with such limited funds. I applaud their efforts against all odds.

[gherrm]

Hope the link works. Gary's Cats Photo Album - MySpace Photos Do they look like they have any problems? I wish My life was like theirs. And my cats don't bit when they were small when they would bit when I played with them I would put My finger on there mouth and say no and they learned not to bit. And the teaching of the word no help with a lot instead of just screaming at them like some people do. As far as litter-box problems later in life I have never had that happen Or any problems the people who do check and I bet they don't clean the box good enough. I know someone that said the cat was going all over the house so I went to see what was up the box was full no wonder said he cleans it once a week. Any one who wants to come to My house and show Me that declawing messed up their life you are welcome to.