On August 31st, Jack the Cat was lost while traveling with his owner Karen Pascoe. American Airlines reported that he had escaped from his pet carrier in the luggage holding area during the Hurricane Irene frenzy, and had presumably been "roaming the halls" of JFK Airport for two months while search teams scoured the airport looking for him.
Well, folks, Jack has been found! He was located in the customs room and was immediately taken to the vet to get checked out. He is currently being treated for dehydration (not much pooling water in the customs room, I suspect) and will be flying home to his mom in California within the next couple of days.
This has been pretty bad press for American Airlines, as well it should be. I get angry enough when my luggage gets lost on flights, I can't imagine losing a cat!
I know a lot of pet owners who don't want to get their dogs or cats fixed, because they think it will alter their personalities or "take away their manhood" (most owners with this attitude are men with male pets - just sayin'). It's really easy to shut your eyes to the overpopulation problem, but that isn't the answer. I volunteer at a local animal shelter, and it's very sad to see all the animals who have been thrown from cars, abandoned in the streets, or worse - just because their owners couldn't take care of them. Problems like these are a direct result from overpopulation.
Check out this awesome video from the Alliance for Humane Action:
If you know someone who has a negative attitude about spaying and neutering their pets, please talk to them. Here are some facts from the Human Society's website:
-About half of all animals brought into the shelters are adopted. The other half are euthanized.
-Dogs and cats don't have a sense of gender identity or ego, so getting them spayed or neutered will not affect their personalities.
-Most states have clinics within driving distance that will provide spay and neuter operations for $100 or less, and many veterinary clinics provide discounts through subsidized voucher programs. Bottom line: It's much cheaper to have the procedure done than paying to raise litter after litter.
-Even purebred dogs and cats should get fixed - at least one fourth of all animals in the shelters are purebreds.
To learn more, please visit the Human Society's website.
Meet Frank and Louie - one very lucky feline who was rescued from euthanasia as a kitten. His breeder knew that Janus cats (cats born with two faces) rarely survive their first few days, so he brought the kitty to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Boston to put him to sleep before he suffered for too long. A cat loving lady who was working at the clinic, Marty Stevens, decided to adopt the kitten and try to save his life.
Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions
It worked! Twelve years later, Frank and Louie has been recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living Janus cat in the world.
What a lovely portrait! I wonder what the people at JC Penney's thought.
Frank and Louie has two noses, two mouths, and three eyes, the middle of which doesn't work. Frank does all the work when it comes to eating, since Louie does not have a lower jaw and has consequently had his teeth removed. Marty reports that he is a very friendly and loving cat. She is even able to take him for walks around their neighborhood in Worcester, Massachusetts. I wish my cat would do that!
Frank and Louie with optimistic owner Marty Stevens
This kitty is an amazing animal for so many reasons. Props to you, and happy belated birthday! Keep on keepin' on, Frank and Louie!
Watch the AP video of Frank, Louie, and Marty here.
