Home » News » God's Unwanted Angels ...

News

God's Unwanted Angels

April 15, 2008, 6:30PM MT

By Olga Dvornikova

Anne Nason’s labor of love about homeless cats

Anne Nason’s labor of love about homeless cats

Anne Nason of Odessa, Texas has written a book, God’s Unwanted Angels, to increase the public’s awareness of humane programs that are designed to decrease the numbers of homeless cats in towns across the nation. The book includes Nason’s first-person account of the overpopulation of ferals in Houston and Odessa, Texas, including her own heartfelt story of how nine homeless cats arrived at her home. Additionally, her book reveals some disturbing facts, such as 69% of the 500,000 adoptable animals who enter Texas shelters annually are euthanized. To reduce that number, her long-term goal is to publicize the use of compassionate population control methods and to spread the notion of humane education nationwide.

Some of the chapters of her book discuss issues such as “Too many cats,” “Cruelty Cases,” “My Experience with a Hoarder,” “Irresponsible Breeders,” “People Who Make a Difference,” and “Humane Education.” Additional resources, including nationwide lists of shelters and a listing of public and private TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs, are provided in the book, which is a useful starting point for anyone who wishes to begin a local program.

How she became involved
Nason first became aware of the seriousness of the feline overpopulation problem while living in Houston. She had been a dog guardian, but once there she was overwhelmed by the number of cats inhabiting the streets. When she moved to Odessa, several kittens found a way to her home and she became involved in the cause to increase awareness of homeless animals and also to help save felines perishing in shelters.

Callie (left) and Simba (pictured at the top) are littermates and they are two of the litter that "adopted Nason" last spring.

All of Nason’s nine cats were stray or feral when they arrived to her yard in Odessa. It took her a very long time to socialize them, but she kept leaving food for the cats because she knew that otherwise they would perish. Both Callie and Simba were tiny kittens who were initially terrified of people. Shortly after arriving, Callie disappeared due to her fear of people. However, one very rainy day the little kitten reappeared on her porch. Nason brought her into the house, dried her off, fed her, and then took her to the vet. She had a very serious respiratory infection and he said if she had not received immediate medical attention, in all likelihood, Callie would have passed away within a couple of days. Now fully recovered, Callie is a daily reminder to Nason of why she must be a part of the solution. Nason feels very blessed that these cats have entered her life. They are a source of inspiration and motivatation and proof that humane solutions can be found.

Princess (right) is the third of Nason’s cats. Originally a stray, she has stayed with Nason four years and is spoiled as a princess should be.

Swamped shelters
Both Houston and Odessa are overpopulated with feral cats, and even though Houston has many programs, such as SNAP, SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic Western Texas is not so lucky. Although, Odessa has one spay/neuter location at Angel Veterinary Clinic , few pet owners bother with fixing their pets. The issue seems to be not of cost, spaying costs only $75 and neutering costs $45, but of awareness about the importance of fixing pets. When they are left to breed, the result is often unwanted litters of kittens whose owners dump them on the side of the road or relinquish them to an animal control center that has a high euthanasia rate. Unfortunately, that is the outcome for many of the newborn kittens in this town.

One of the shelters she discusses,Odessa Police Animal Control, has a high feline euthanasia rate because the shelter is filled to the brim with homeless animals. “It is horrendous when an animal is taken to a shelter, and most people have a stigma that the shelter animals are there because they are damaged in some way,” noted Nason. “However, that’s not the case many animals are in shelters because they are simply given up for some reason. The animals don’t have much time when they are there.” Her book aims to debunk myths about the “undesirable” shelter cats and increase adoption rates.

Another rescue in Odessa, PAWS Cat Rescue Haven House, does not euthanize any of the cats who are regularly dropped off. Shelter Founder Vicki Lee would love to help all felines and offers resources to aid pet guardians in placing their extra cats for adoption. However, dropping off animals on the side of the road or abandoning cats in front of the shelter are against the law and potentially deadly. Instead, Lee urges guardians to take more responsible steps, such as running an advertisement in the paper to re-homing their kittens. In order to help more cats, PAWS needs to expand their facility and add more staff. Nason wants to help, and all the proceeds of God’s Unwanted Angels will fund such projects at PAWS. Furthermore, her larger plan includes various shelters, sanctuaries, and feral cat groups across the nation.

Teaching aid
Nason currently networks with rescues and shelters nationwide, all working toward the same goal, to end pet homelessness. She believes that humane education is essential, especially with children. “Writing this book was largely to spread humane education and resources,” noted Nason. “I think that humane education should be part of the curriculum in schools, because if they learn compassion for animals at a young age, they're more likely to be responsible pet owners as adults.” Her book offers numerous online links and lists organizations that teachers and parents can contact for educational materials which can be used to teach children about caring for and respecting animals.

THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO:

1. Donate
All the proceeds from the sales of God’s Unwanted Angels go toward PAWS Cat Rescue Haven House and other feral cat rescue agencies. For more information, go to Nason’s MySpace site.

2. Volunteer
The PAWS Cat Rescue Haven House is in desperate need of volunteers. If you are in the Odessa, Texas area, please consider volunteering to help clean the facilty and socialize cats at this lifesaving shelter.

3. Adopt
There are many loving cats available for adoption in the Odessa area:

• PAWS Cat Rescue Haven House
PO Box 13566
Odessa, Texas 79768
Phone: 432-366-1030
E-mail: odessacatpaws@yahoo.com
PAWS adoptable cats

• Odessa Police Animal Control
910 W. 42nd
Odessa, Texas 79763
Phone: 432-368-3526

4. Spay/Neuter
Make sure that your pets are spayed/neutered.
Start your own spay/neuter location.

For more information:
• You and Your Cat Resources
• Feral Cats Resources
• Caring for Feral Cats
• Best Friends Feral Cat Program
• Texas Best Friends Network

Images courtesy of Anne Nason
Written and posted by Olga Dvornikova, Best Friends Network

Comments

Posted April 18, 2008, 10:28AM by mytwocats

i think that's wonderful what your doing to help the feral cats where you live,they don't have a voice,so we must be their voice.My name is lori and i live in MINOT,ND,and we have a kill-shelter here and i woun't support them because of this mytwocats

Posted May 14, 2008, 11:11PM by celticanglican

Hi Lori,
I know it's upsetting that there's a "kill" shelter in your area, but I'm sure the staff there don't enjoy what they have to do. I know that's the case at the local animal control here. Between the limited resources that shelters have and the overpopulation, euthanasia is a sad reality.
A lot of former "kill" shelters have succeeded in reducing or eliminating euthanasia with a cooperative effort within the community. Hopefully, there are enough people in your area that would be willing to help this shelter reduce its euthanasia rate and work towards a no-kill goal. :)

Posted May 18, 2008, 5:48PM by jmuhj

Ms. Nason's story could, in many aspects, be mine (minus the dogs). May she be blessed many times over for caring and putting that caring into positive ACTION for homeless cats. Each one of us is making a difference for those we love so much. "Unwanted"? NEVER.