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Washington Humane Society HLE Division

by AdamWHS from WHS

Last Post 247 days, 18 hours Ago


Toyger What?
Feb 23, 2007 | 5:05 PM
Category: News
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            This morning in the paper I read an article about a woman who has been working for years to create a cat breed she calls a Toyger.  This is essentially a domestic cat who looks like a miniature tiger.  Of course the cats in the article looked adorable but essentially not unlike many cats who come into the shelter every day.  That someone would spend $4000 (the expected cost of Toygers once perfected) for a cat when there are so many in need of good homes at shelters across the country is absurd.  And ironically this article comes out a few days before Spay Day which is February 27, 2007.  Spay Day is a national day to highlight the importance of providing low cost/high volume spay/neuter to bring an end to the problem of pet overpopulation in this country.  Spay Day encourages not just shelters and Humane Societies but animal hospitals and veterinarians to get involved by planning a day of spay/neuter surgery at reduced cost or free for the public. 

Here at the Washington Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter clinic every day is Spay Day since everyday we provide low cost spay and neuter to the area’s public.  Tuesday (officially Spay Day) we will be providing surgery for the Animal Welfare League of Arlington who will be subsidizing surgeries for Arlington citizens.  We wanted to participate in Spay Day as well so our veterinarians Drs. McGee and Teisch have volunteered to come in on Saturday the 24th to perform surgeries.  So we are using this day as our Spay Day.  We wanted to use the day to address the most pressing pet overpopulation problems in the city.  And, like many shelters across the country, the largest problem we face is with cat overpopulation.  So together with our CATNiPP program manager Bridget Speiser we mapped where the cats at the shelter came from and determined three neighborhoods to target for Spay Day.  We have provided transport vans in each of these neighborhoods and will pick up cats and provide free surgery for 15 cats from each location.  We will also have our feral cat volunteers bringing in feral cats from these neighborhoods for spaying and neutering.  The day will start with a 7AM pickup and end with the drop off of the animals at 6PM.  It will be a long day but a rewarding one.  And an important one in our work to end the overpopulation of animals in the region.

As for the Toygers I can only hope that anyone who plans to buy one first goes and looks and the faces of the many cats at their local shelters awaiting homes.  Perhaps they will then decide that providing a home for an animal in need is a bigger asset then owning a rare breed cat bred for looks.  And the $3900 saved by paying the average adoption fee of $100 could be used by the local shelter as well for their spay and neuter programs so that one day there may not be shelters filled with cats awaiting homes.  And when that time comes, when there is a shortage of cats, then I will welcome the creation of the Toyger.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 8
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Nessiemonster read my blog
Feb 26, 2007 | 2:47 PM

I think it's disgusting the way people use living creatures as status symbols. Whether it's a pitbull or a toyger, they are screwing with nature and it will usually backfire.

Sounds a lot like the popularity of puggles a couple Christmases ago. A few months after Christmas we took a trip to the Montgomery County ASPCA and there were at least 4 puggles under 1 year. All these people bought them because they were the "popular" toy for the season and once the "cute puppy phase was over and they realized that it was a living creature with needs, they disguarded them like an old pair of shoes. It's disgusting!

These people should NOT be allowed to own an animal, not even a fish!
hippytrash
Mar 15, 2007 | 4:14 PM

it's a toyger thing . i dont think you understand.
i've had cats for years(50 plus) and I find the toyger beautiful. it isnt status. i could care less if others like them or what they mean to others. i like the look of a striped cat so this standard of cat is appealing to me.
i cant speak for puggle owners. maybe the breed had problems. please dont make assumptions about all people interested in these cats.
hippytrash
Mar 15, 2007 | 4:51 PM

Adam the last post was for Nessiemonster.

I do understand the situation at the humane societies. I have had several pets from the spca.
I just happen to like the look of toygers. it isnt like i can even afford one at this point in time.
I dont believe breeders take away from the pounds I feel they offer another type of service.
It is like those that can afford to drive expensive cars. They like the look and feel of those models. It doesnt mean chevys arent good cars but some people are in a position where they can afford a luxury auto. So I feel it is with breeding.

I believe the majority of breeders, and particularly those who enter shows and make their living breeding, are responsible people. This woman who breeds these cats is striving to improve the animals.Not just run a kitty mill at 4 grand a pop. Similar to race horse breeding. I understand it is controversial. Hopefully anyone who spends that much dough is an animal lover. and like myself someone who appreciates the quality of the animals. I have two kitties at the present.One was bought from a petstore(never again) and one came into the yard as a stray and was taken in by my mom. The stray has a beautiful temperament the bought one not so much. If 4 grand got me the look and temperament I was seeking in an animal and I could afford it I say why shouldnt I ?
Breeders and show people dont generally spay and neuter since they are in a business to make money and breed. I ALWAYS inform folks that animals need to be spayed and neutered. My guess is that the puggles may have been not up to standard of

hippytrash
Mar 15, 2007 | 4:55 PM

(wow some text disappeared!)the breed and were brought in by breeders rather than someone who got tired of the animals.

Im not a breeder so I cant speak for them but I would hope that Nessiemonster does speak to some to get their views on this matter.
ladybleufrog
Mar 20, 2007 | 12:08 AM

Thank you for standing up for our precious four legged friends.

Anyone who would pay thousands of dollars for these 'special breeds' doesn't seem to be an animal lover.

Every day, beautiful, innocent homeless animals are needlessly euthanize while designer pets
are sprouting up everywhere. Shame!!!
yomartic
Mar 21, 2007 | 5:10 PM

Nessie monster makes an interesting comment at the end. He states that bad pet owners should not be allowed to "own an animal, not even a fish." Does this men that fish are somehow less worthy than cats and/or dogs? Is it more acceptable to have a fish living under-nourished in a dirty tank than to have a cat who's litter box is not changed regularly? I think you need to take a look at the biological make-up of animals, the definition of what constitutes life, and the importance of maintaining diversity before you start dishing out hate to others. In our modern culture animals that are domesticated are already controlled to such an extent that their ability to evolve and change over time is being restricted. By domesticating any animal you are prohibiting it from the adaptive freedom it deserves and you are preventing new species from coming into existence except in the case of specialized breeding, which in and of itself is humanly selective. So why don't you take your hat off to biological diversity and not spay or neuter your pet. By spaying/neutering your pet you are really just prohibiting that animal from being biologically successful and keeping it from its role in life to pass on its genetic information. Animals, when they are born, have one goal; to pass on their genes so as to affect the gene pool of their species with as many progeny carrying their genes as possible. Trust me, no cat is ever born thinking "Hey, I hope one day I can grow up and sit inside of someone's house, not be allowed to go outside, and have to BLEEP in a box. And these claws I have
yomartic
Mar 21, 2007 | 5:13 PM

(I got cut off too) I don't actually want to use them to carry out my natural instinct to hunt, I want them cut off, along with my testicles." So why don't you neuter or spay yourself because guess what, to a much worse extent than cats, we are over-populating too. So do us all a favor and cut short your biological success...not your cat's.

That being said, I own 2 cats, 2 dogs, a hamster, a fish, and 2 kids.
bronxace
Oct 4, 2007 | 8:47 AM

Hey Hippy Trash -- so you're telling you you dcouldn't care less about the HEALTHY ADOPTABLE animals being killed in the shelters by the THOUSANDS because someone wanted a toyger instead.

AND-- did you ever wonder what happened to those LESS THAN PERFECT Toygers? Hmmm???? They are probably stacked on the killing tables too!!!!
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AdamWHS

The Washington Humane Society(WHS)is the oldest animal protection agency in Washington, DC. Since 1870, WHS has served homeless, lost, and abused animals in the District of Columbia; providing protection from cruelty, shelter from the elements, and a second chance at a loving home. No call for help goes unanswered, and no animal is ever turned away. WHS protects animals and serves the community through a wide variety of programs. While the heart of our mission remains rescuing animals in trouble and finding them good, permanent homes, WHS also focus on preventing suffering through humane education, spay/neuter campaigns and diligently enforcing the District's anti-cruelty laws. Through working with these programs WHS Humane Law Enforcement Officers encounter many heartwarming and heartwrenching stories that occur every day on the streets of DC. Stories that we believe deserve to be told.

Member Since: 11/17/2006


 

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