JUNE is Adopt-a-Cat Month. I’m going to give you nine reasons you should take a drive to the Yigo animal shelter and adopt a cat from Guam Animals In Need.
Personally, I think every house should have a minimum of two cats. I have six, and one boonie dog. Truth be known, the dog actually thinks she’s a cat too.
1) Cats will love you for who you are, unconditionally. They don’t care that you smoke or that you’ve gained 15 pounds or that you eat like a pig and talk with your mouth full.
2) Cats are intuitive. They instinctively know when you need cuddling and will jump in your lap. If you have had a bad day and need to be left alone, the cat will know and give you your space.
3) Cats are great listeners and they’ll never betray your confidence. You can tell them your deepest, darkest secret and be confident your cat won’t tell anyone.
4) Cat’s make a house a home. If you live alone, nothing is better than having someone meet you at the door after a long day at work.
5) Cats keep your home free of unwanted critters. My cats have eliminated several brown tree snakes, mice, centipedes, flies, flying roaches, and moles. The only thing our boonie dog has ever hunted is an occasional duk-duk or hermit crab.
6) Cats won’t judge you for staying in your pajamas for an entire weekend and cats are willing to let you have the remote control. They’ll happily watch Lifetime, ESPN or the History channel all day with you and never complain.
7) A cat's purring is known to lower one’s blood pressure and relieve stress. The frequencies to a cat’s purring are known to heal muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones.
8) And finally, cats are loyal. They’ll never run around on you or cheat on you. Once you adopt a cat, that cat will be your friend for life and your life will be longer if you’ve lived it with a pet.
GAIN didn’t get the Governor’s Office to sign a proclamation for Adopt-a-Cat Month. Frankly, their employees and volunteers didn’t have the time because they’ve been busy caring for cats and dogs that have been deserted or fostering puppies and kittens that have been thrown out to die. They’ve already had more than 2,500 unwanted and feral animals brought to the shelter this year.
GAIN is celebrating Adopt-a-Cat Month by offering a 50 percent discount on cat adoption fees (that’s reason #9). Not only will they give you a discount, they’ll also be happy to provide you with a “how to” lesson and teach you all about how to have a happy multiple-cat home. If you want more information, they also have some really good books you can borrow.
Not convinced yet? Come up to the Yigo animal shelter sometime this month and pick up one of the kittens or cats looking for a home. After you spend 15 minutes or more with one of the felines, I challenge you to leave the shelter without filling out an adoption form.
The dark side of GAIN is that they are forced to euthanize too many animals each month. They need everyone’s help to turn our shelter into a no-kill shelter. Please celebrate Adopt-a-Cat Month and adopt a loving, loyal friend. If you can’t adopt a pet, please consider giving GAIN a donation for their operating budget and sterilization program. You can always contribute by dropping a check or cash by the shelter or by visiting their webpage: www.guamanimals.org. You can become a member for only $15 a year.
Thank you for reading my rant.
Valerie Bock,
Maina
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Letter to the Editor 
Adopt a cat
Adopt a cat
Adopt a cat
- Monday, 11 Jun 2012 03:30am
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR
- Hits: 577
Comments
No one is forcing them, but sadly the kill first mentality, which runs contrary to the overwhelming trend of no kill shelters around the world, is only too alive and well on Guam. G.A.I.N always uses excuses like they just take in too many animals to do anything else than put 80% of them down. (According to the shelter, only 1 in 5 find homes.)
In fact, many no kill shelters admit as many if not more animals than G.A.I.N, but do not resort to killing them. Truth be told, G.A.I.N has never done the hard work, or out of the box thinking required to become a no-kill facility, such as individual, school, or corporate sponsorship of animals.
Or, in the case of Guam, how about giving tourists a chance to sponsor a dog or cat?
One does not have to look far to see some great models for no-kill shelters. One that comes to mind and perhaps the ideal is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah.
Also, studies have shown that euthanizing animals can be more costly than no kill and contributes to fewer donations because people do not want to give money if they think that money may go for the very injections used to take an animal's life.
So, c'mon Guam, let's get with the 21st century and get on the no-kill band wagon! No more excuses!
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
-- Unknown
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Hast[censored]
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die
==
Hast[censored]
Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals, especially for animals who are suffering; for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death.
We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words. Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the merciful.
Albert Schweitzer
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Never herd of this ' Albert ' whacko, doubt he will ever be famous or anything
Hast[censored]
The folks at GAIN could get more animals adopted if they did not tell folks that each house is allowed only 4 dogs.?...
If you fill out a form and want to adopt 2 dogs or 3 dogs and list that you already have 3 dogs, they will only allow you to adopt 1 dog.
no home for a mother dog and her babies. ?
I guess they would rather see the 5th and 6th dogs be murdered and sent to Layon than go to a family.
The GPD stations at Agana, Dededo and Tumon have no knowledge of any law that limits a family to 4 dogs ? If there is such a law it is ancient and buried.
If you rent a house, GAIN demands written approval from the landlord that you have permission to adopt a dog, even if you already own 3 dogs.
Best to game their application, list 1 dog and that you own your house, they never check anyway. I have had as many as 10 dogs and a cop living across the street had 6 pit bulls, never had a problem .
Hasta
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