Rescue work is a thankless job! Pedigreed Rescue is thankless and frustrating.

People releasing their family pets to rescue or a shelter think they have the original story of why they are releasing their pet. The stories are all the same, only excuses. They do not want the responsibility of a pet and do not want to take time to give the pet love and attention. It is a good thing that children are not as disposable as pets. Our family pets have feelings just as humans do. It is difficult for most pets to adjust to first shelter life or a foster home and then a new home -- if they are lucky enough not to get put down.

Some breeders are no better than owners releasing their pets. When a pedigreed animal comes into rescue or a shelter, the breeder is contacted when possible. Most of these breeders do not want the animal back and only a small percentage will assist in placing the animal in a new home.

Recently, there was a breeder who took two 6-month old Maine Coon littermates to a kill shelter because she did not have time for them. These two were lucky enough to get rescued and placed, most are not. This breeder has no business breeding.

Most Humane Groups not only promote spay/neuter, they only adopt out animals that are already altered. Some have low cost spay/neuter clinics for pet owners. Believe it or not, there are still people out there that think it is inhumane to spay/neuter an animal. Therefore, the shelters are full of animals that must be put down when they cannot adopt them out. There was a woman at an Adopt a Pet recently who asked why the cats were all altered because cats are becoming extinct! Now, how do we educate and overcome this type of mindset? How can rescue get the word out to alter all family pets and keep them inside?

Breeders must be responsible if they are going to breed. They should keep records of where they place the animals they breed. They should spay/neuter the animals they breed before they place the animal. They can also help educate people and work with their pet owners.

There was a man in the judging program who bred one litter to comply with the policies and procedures to become a judge. One of the kittens he bred came into rescue. When he was contacted, he said he did not have room and did not want the cat back. This man is going to be judging cats like the one he sentenced to death.

Then, there are the Back Yard Breeders who breed rescues. Rescue goes in to seize animals living in unfit conditions. Many of the animals will be put down for health reasons. How can this be overcome?

There are many breeders with integrity. Unfortunately, those breeders get a bad reputation as a result of the breeders with no ethics and think of the animals they breed as a business.

It would be a good idea for owners releasing their family pets as well as breeders turning animals they bred over to rescue or shelters to spend a week working at their local Humane Society. They should have to assist with the animals being euthanized.

Rescue can be gratifying also. When one animal finds the perfect home and the owner sends wonderful reports, it makes the thankless job worthwhile because one life was saved and another can now be rescued from death's door.

Please spay/neuter your pets. Pass the word and educate others to do the same. Take your pets to the vet when they are sick and for annual vet visits. Keep your pets inside and out of harm's way. Do not think of them as Only an animal because they have feelings just as humans do. This pet will give you many years of unconditional love and devotion.

Christie L. Montgomery owns Koonary Maine Coons and was actively involved in the development of Chausies. She is the TICA SC Welcoming Committee Chair. Christie is tireless in her rescue efforts, working with Retired Friends Rescue and Adoptions, Maine Coon Rescue, the Home of Maine Coons, furry little street people, and other wild things, as well as working for animal welfare. You can visit her cattery site at http://www.geocities.com/koonary or email her at MKoonary@aol.com.