Wow... OK, let's clear this up...

First: The last few posts, which have earned such an amazingly NEGATIVE response from some people (Thanks for your honesty though folks... it's amazing to see who was brave enough to own up to their identity, and who just decided to flame me while hiding behind an 'anonymous' name tag)... were NOT written by "Da Tigger" the better, female half of the author team of this blog. So please, next time you want to abuse someone, at least make sure you are abusing the right person! So to the lovely person who called me a 'bitch' - sorry, wrong gender. 'Bastard' would have been more appropriate, if still incorrect, thank you.

Second: These posts were NOT written with the intent of deterring fosterers... it was a warning to be aware that some of the actions taken, and decisions made, by the people in power there, were far from wise, far from fair, and more than a little rude.

Third: This blog was set up to chronicle the highs and lows of our time as fosters. It is unfortunate that a number of kittens who were fostered here managed to contract feline flu... none of our cats have it, no other cats who have visited here have it, the foster room was sterilised to hospital standards between fosters... and even the vets said it was above standard... so the accusation we somehow caused it is laughable, incorrect, and utterly insensitive. Every one of those lovely bundles was loved, and mourned. And, to make something else clear, even AFTER the last batch of fosters were put down, we were STILL asked to foster more... so if the SPCA staff - those in the know - saw us as fit fosterers, who are you, anonymous flamer, to say otherwise? (By the way, some of the information you used in your abuse has lead to an identification, you knew too much to be anyone else. -tsk tsk- Shame on you. Did you know that every time you post, your computer's IP address is tracked?)

Fourth: To clear up our standing on fostering, and 'helping all those animals' - actually, we are. We are still FIRMLY in favour of helping animals. In case there is something about this property that is somehow causing illness, we've decided NOT to foster HERE any more... we are going to help in other ways - such as fundraising and spreading awareness of the OTHER animal shelters out there... you know, the ones that have even LESS support than the SPCA... actually, you probably DON'T know, since they don't have the national exposure the SPCA enjoys. That kind of thing. And yes, even some volunteer time at the shelters if able. We still think the idea is great... we've just decided to go with those who need help even more.

Fifth: Since we decided to stop fostering for the Waikato SPCA months ago... the time is now overdue for this blog to fade out. Thanks to all those who offered suggestions and positive reinforcement during the good times, and support during the bad times, and as a previous post said... DO NOT be put off being a fosterer... if it goes well for you, the feeling is amazing. Just make sure you are prepared for the lows too... be they animal related or people related.

LASTLY: The SPCA organisations, world wide, do an UTTERLY INCREDIBLE, and mostly thankless, job and deserve your support and respect... it is simply all too human that some individuals are less than perfect at this task, causing situations that embarrass the whole. Work around them, at the end of the day there are more good people, and more good deeds done than can ever be fully appreciated. THANK YOU from us, to all those who labour on for the sake of the animals. It is our sincerest wish that your efforts are respected by those above you in the administrative chain.

Cheers...
The Male Half...

Once more unto the brink, dear friends...

Today brings yet more examples of how a charitable public organisation, when run in a manner both ethically and morally dubious, can open their mouths and firmly insert their foot... and wonder why they get slapped for it.

It seems my last blog post regarding the Waikato SPCA prompted yet more irrational and unethical behaviour. And I regret to say, that based on their track record thus far, this post will do so too. My sincerest apologies to anyone affected by the outburst from Waikato SPCA Admin. This is about THEM BEING PLONKERS... it is in NO WAY a reflection on their excellent volunteer crew who, even in the face of adversity, get on with the mostly-thankless task of looking after the animals.

Message to those at the top of the paper-chain - if you want to raise an issue with my blog post, at least have the integrity to come to me directly. You have (or at least had... did you trash my file too, and didn't tell me about it?) my contact details... use them. Don't play piss-in-the-sand-pit games.

The official end of an era...

A while back we decided to take a break from fostering... we needed some headspace after the loss of another litter of kittens.

A short time later some 'ethically grey' actions by the Waikato SPCA came to light, and had us seriously concerned as to whether we wanted to deal with people who could treat their staff so rudely... not to mention probably illegally.

Yesterday, at the 'grand opening' of a new pet store, I was approached by someone wearing an SPCA shirt, and it reminded me I had been meaning to make this post for a while.

Today, new information came to light that has cemented my determination NEVER to have anything to do with the Waikato branch of the SPCA again. I'm not going to go into details - it would only inflame an already 'hot' situation - but suffice to say that to find out once more how they treat those who volunteer time and space in their house to help out the animals... well... it pisses me off, frankly.

If I ever hear from them again, it will be 1,947,296 years too damned soon.

To put things into perspective... it's not that we don't want to help the animals... we just don't want to help THE PEOPLE! Our plans now turn to other animal shelters and volunteer support groups instead, who value those who give help and assistance, and respect them for it.