THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY

APPEAL HOPE have  had  a  plea  for  help:  "Please  can  anyone  help  me  out  by   taking  on  one  or   two  of  these  beautiful   kittens.     Two  have  been   re-­‐homed  but  there  are  still  5  to  adopt  or  foster.     The  kittens  have   been   well-­‐handled   and  are  socialised.    They  are  almost   6   weeks   old.    We  are  in  Biarge,  Chaunay,  Dept.  79  -­‐  05  49  43  51  18.      I  can’t   keep  any  more  myself,  I  have  a  full  house  already.    Please  call  Carol   any  time." There’s   only   5   of   these  kittens  left  now,   so   if   you’re  dithering   about   adopting   one   you’d  better  be  quick.  

There are   more   cats,   kittens,   dogs   and   pups   looking   for   homes   on   the  HOPE  website. www.hopeassoc.org.

40 KILOS  OF  LOVE...ALSA ALSA  is  a  big  girl   with  an   equally   big   heart.  A  non-­‐destructive,   non  barking,  obedient  Matin  Espagnol  cross  of  5  years  old. Alsa   is   fun   loving   and   lively   in   the   garden   but   calm   indoors.   She   is   always   willing   to   please,   loves   human   company   and   long   walks,   and   will   sleep   at   your   feet   at   the   end  of  the  day.

Light at the End of a Tunnel? The French  system  for  dealing  with  stray  cats  and  dogs  requires  that   they  stay   in   a  fourrière,  an  officially  recognised  kennel/pound  for   8   working  days.  After  that  period,  if  they  haven't  been  returned  to  their   owner   they   can   be   given   to   an   association   for   the   protection   of   animals,   provided   that   the   association   has   access   to   an   officially   recognised  shelter.     If  they  can't   be  adopted  and  a  vet   agrees,  they   may  be  put  down.    When  the  legislation  was  discussed  in  the  Senate,   it   was   assumed   that   every   town   would   sign   a   contract   with   an   association  and  that  putting  down  animals  would  be  a  last  resort. Unfortunately,  it  hasn't  turned  out  that  way.     Firstly,  there  is  a  lack  of   associations   that   have   access   to   an   appropriate   shelter.   They're   expensive  to  build  and  it's  a  big  commitment  to  do  all  the  paperwork   and   get   the  appropriate  qualifications  for   running   one.     Secondly,   back  in  1998  when  the  legislation  was  proposed,  it   was  thought  that   a  contract  would  cost  one  franc  (about  15  eurocents)  per  inhabitant   per  year.    That  was  a  bit  optimistic  and  anything  from  50  cents  to  one   Euro   soon   became   the   norm.     This   resulted   in   many   towns   not   signing  up   with   any   association   at   all,  so   that   euthanasia  became   standard   practice,  rather   than  a   last   resort.  Because   they  are   not   identified   so  their  owners  cannot   be  found,  it's  estimated  that  about   half  of  the  stray  cats  and  dogs  in   France  are  put  down.    Clearly  this   situation  needs  to  change. As   you   probably   know,   NALA   doesn't   have   an   animal   shelter;   in   addition   to   the   reasons  enumerated   above,   we  don't   think  that   a   shelter  is  the  best  place  for  a  cat.     We  use  foster  families  so  that  it  is   kept   in   a   loving   environment   and   we   can   accurately  evaluate   its   personality   and   behaviour,   which   is   essential   for   a   successful   adoption.    In  shelters  there  is  also   the  risk  of  an  epidemic  affecting  a   large  population,  whereas  in  a  foster  home  the  numbers  affected  are   significantly  less. Recently  we  had  one   of  our   regular   6  monthly   meetings   with   the   Direction   départementale  de  la  protection  des  populations  which  is   the  service   responsible  for,  amongst   other   things,  animal   welfare.   They  asked  us  to  explain  how  we  operate  with  foster  families,  which   we  did.    Then  came  the  bombshell:  they  are  exploring  how  to  modify   the   requirements   so   that   it   would   be  possible   for  associations  like   NALA  that  don't  have  a  shelter  to  adopt  animals  from  the  fourrière.   This   is   fantastic   news,   as   that   would   remove   one   of   the   major   obstacles  to  getting  animals  adopted  and  is  one  of  the  things  that  we   are  asking  for  in  our   petition.    Hopefully  something  will   come  of  this   proposal  as  it  seems  like  a  win-­‐win  scenario:  more  animals  saved,  less   cost  to  the  ratepayers.    We'll  keep  our  fingers  crossed.

Alsa loves   all   other   animals,  even  those   from   down   on   the   farm,   but   whilst   she  gets  on  with   other  dogs,  she  would  be  best   suited  to   be  the  only  dog  in  the  family. Alsa   is   micro-­‐chipped   (2502698020705995),   vaccinated   and   neutered.     This  is  a  lovely  dog  best   suited   to  a  family   who   like   and   understand   the   larger   breed   of   dog  and   can   give   her   the   attention  she  deserves. There   is   an   adoption   fee   for   Alsa   and  if  you  think  you  could  give  her   a   "home   for   life"   please   contact   Isabelle  on  09  77  48  71  43  or  email   asso.orfee@laposte.net   for   more   information.    Thank  you. www.association-­‐orfee.forumactif.com/f49-­‐english-­‐corner  

Above: Harvard,   Hall   and  Lina   all   under   1   year   old,   are   all   waiting   for   a   good   home.   Please   contact  NALA  if  you  can   help.... Nos Amis Les Animaux 85480 (NALA 85480). Tel: 07  70  31  54  59

Email: nala85480@hotmail.com www.nosamislesanimaux.com

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