Day Two Hundred Eighty Two

Not a Zoo

I actually wrote today's entry last night:

I am exhausted. No, make that exhausted-er. That's when you're suffering from more than mere exhaustion. balls. I started the morning chasing down crickets which had escaped their "keeper" thanks to Boo!

Who makes a stupid container for hopping bugs with a lid that is clearly not cat-proof. Who!?

At some point, after trying unsuccessfully to find a handyman to repair the huge hole that will be in the wall next week after the fireplace installers do their damage work, I thought it would be a good idea to put Revolution on the cats. That is the stuff you squirt on their back to kill fleas.

The first cat is always the easiest because they have no idea what you are about to do. From then on they tell everybody else and it is a major undertaking to catch them. I managed to nab all but Fancy. Hey - he's streetwise and on to the wicked ways of humans.

Then, I decided I hadn't been punished enough and tried to catch everybody to trim nails. They did not trust me any longer after I put poison on their backs. Catching them for nails was nearly impossible. But when I set my mind on a task, I must complete it. (Yea, right.)

When the first cat slipped out of my arms, like a banana through a peel, I grabbed the first thing available - a fluffy bedjacket. My kids tease me about these things calling them mini, useless robes, but this one did exactly what I needed - it confined a cat. I wrapped that sucker up and he calmed down! I was able to cut all the nails on his front feet. Now, you may think that's an odd thing to say but, no joke, I can only cut one nail before Fancy bolts. By the time I have cut all ten, I have to start over.

I managed to pull this trick on all the cats but...Fancy. He is giving me sideways eyes and won't let me within two feet. Okay fine. Be the cat with ALL of the fleas and keep your Howard Hughes talons. I'm done-er.

Today is Saturday and will be a busy one. The only thing on my mind animal-wise today is the human penchant for penning and caging animals. I guess the Beardie got me thinking about that. It is crucial to replicate their natural environment if you want them to be healthy and happy. Lord knows I will try.

While I firmly believe in conservation and rescue - I detest zoos and don't even get me started on circuses. I think sanctuaries, in an animal's natural habitat, are far more important to their survival. It used to be the excuse for maintaining places like zoos and sea aquariums was to bring an awareness of animal conservation to children and adults who otherwise would not know, understand or care. Maybe in the 1950's that was appropriate, but now we have so many resources for children to learn about animals in their natural environment. There are books and videos that teach children about them without setting them up for display in a cage or a box.

These words coming from a woman with two dogs, six cats, a rabbit and a lizard may seem hypocritical. In some regards they are. However, the cats and dogs living here are domesticated. They are in their natural environment - a couch and a screened in outside area. They are safe and happy. Roxy the rabbit has a huge condo and Copper's place looks just like the desert. He/she seems very content.  We do not have an elephant chained by its leg in the back yard. You won't find a bird in a cage here either.

My beef is with the corporations and businesses that exploit animals for profit. If your children need to interact with animals, look for small, independently owned farms or petting zoos that rescue animals and take good care of them. Animal rehabilitation facilities and sanctuaries are important. Make sure they are working toward releasing the animals into their natural environment. You can teach children to respect lions and tigers and bears - without seeing them perform on a stage or in a cage.

These animals should be free - not in a zoo.