http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750 Yesterday a very nice young lady came into Canine Creek looking for help.  Apparently, while she was shopping in Albertson's on Saturday, someone left a cardboard box with four very tiny kittens in her car.  They were only a few weeks old, barely had their eyes open, were dirty, dehydrated, and obviously in distress.   We took in the kittens, tried to eye drop water into them, and immediately started making phone calls.  Fortunately, the very nice folks at A+Pets had a nursing momma cat, and they offered to take the homeless kittens.  Within an hour, they called to tell us the mom cat was nursing her "new" babies. It was nearly 90 degrees yesterday.  Leaving infant, nursing kittens in a closed car would have been a death sentence in a very short time, had the owner of the car not returned soon enough.  To whomever committed this crime of animal cruelty... shame on you!  Even if you can't keep an animal, there are ALWAYS options to abandoning them, especially to die a slow, painful death by heat exhaustion. Tehachapi is long overdue for a full-time staffed animal shelter.  It's time for our residents to take a stand and demand that our government (city or county) move forward with providing facilities for our local homeless pets.  Enough is enough!! Susie Atherton, Canine Creek Dog Wash & Boutique Yesterday a very nice young lady came into Canine Creek looking for help.  Apparently, while she was shopping in Albertson's on Saturday, someone left a cardboard box with four very tiny kittens in her car.  They were only a few weeks old, barely had their eyes open, were dirty, dehydrated, and obviously in distress.   We took in the kittens, tried to eye drop water into them, and immediately started making phone calls.  Fortunately, the very nice folks at A+Pets had a nursing momma cat, and they offered to take the homeless kittens.  Within an hour, they called to tell us the mom cat was nursing her "new" babies. It was nearly 90 degrees yesterday.  Leaving infant, nursing kittens in a closed car would have been a death sentence in a very short time, had the owner of the car not returned soon enough.  To whomever committed this crime of animal cruelty... shame on you!  Even if you can't keep an animal, there are ALWAYS options to abandoning them, especially to die a slow, painful death by heat exhaustion. Tehachapi is long overdue for a full-time staffed animal shelter.  It's time for our residents to take a stand and demand that our government (city or county) move forward with providing facilities for our local homeless pets.  Enough is enough!! Susie Atherton, Canine Creek Dog Wash & Boutique en-us Susie, I agree with you wholeheartedly. But, you need to take this issue directly to the City Council. Speak up and you will have a LOT of support from your fellow citizens! "The squeeky wheel gets the oil." Anonymous http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132042 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132042 Susie, I agree with you wholeheartedly. But, you need to take this issue directly to the City Council. Speak up and you will have a LOT of support from your fellow citizens! "The squeeky wheel gets the oil." Anonymous Leaving the kittens in the car was a violation of both state and county laws.  I hope the police were notified. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132071 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132071 Leaving the kittens in the car was a violation of both state and county laws.  I hope the police were notified. The FBI should be called in and all surveillance videos pertaining to that car and whoever got close to it needs to be investigated. Additionally, the town of Tehachapi needs to properly fund a full service animal care facility so that pets are not needlessly abused. This would, of course, include at least one full time investigator of animal cruelty cases. It is obvious there is a great need for this in Tehachapi at this point and time and if the city council refuses to take up this issue then we should retaliate by voting them out of office. We need to be far more environmentally conscious in this town; it is for the animal's sakes. It shouldn't hurt to be a kitten or puppy in Tehachapi. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132220 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132220 The FBI should be called in and all surveillance videos pertaining to that car and whoever got close to it needs to be investigated. Additionally, the town of Tehachapi needs to properly fund a full service animal care facility so that pets are not needlessly abused. This would, of course, include at least one full time investigator of animal cruelty cases. It is obvious there is a great need for this in Tehachapi at this point and time and if the city council refuses to take up this issue then we should retaliate by voting them out of office. We need to be far more environmentally conscious in this town; it is for the animal's sakes. It shouldn't hurt to be a kitten or puppy in Tehachapi. People who abuse animals are frequently emotionally disturbed.  It is one of the first signs that a person has serious emotional problems.  i.e.:  Michial Vick ..... what a piece of junk. Thank you to the woman who brought them to your business and thank you, Susie, for saving them. You have a moment of good karma in your "bank."  http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132221 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132221 People who abuse animals are frequently emotionally disturbed.  It is one of the first signs that a person has serious emotional problems.  i.e.:  Michial Vick ..... what a piece of junk. Thank you to the woman who brought them to your business and thank you, Susie, for saving them. You have a moment of good karma in your "bank."  Susie, I truly believe going to the City Counsel with your expertise would play a huge part in getting an Animal Shelter going as well as offering more jobs up there.  I also think more information on what the fines and penalties for animal cruelty are need to be posted where everyone can see them.  We that know need to educate people more on these types of things.  Some people do not even realize the fine can be very large, let alone jail time as well.  I will do whatever I can to help. Respectfully, Amy Duran, Zepp's Pet Care           http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132223 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132223 Susie, I truly believe going to the City Counsel with your expertise would play a huge part in getting an Animal Shelter going as well as offering more jobs up there.  I also think more information on what the fines and penalties for animal cruelty are need to be posted where everyone can see them.  We that know need to educate people more on these types of things.  Some people do not even realize the fine can be very large, let alone jail time as well.  I will do whatever I can to help. Respectfully, Amy Duran, Zepp's Pet Care           Hate to say this, but do you think the "nice person" who found the kittens really found them in her car, or was she the one who put them in the box, hoping to make her problem someone elses? The reason I bring this to light is that you simply would not believe how often this all too familiar scenario plays out at the local Humane Society office, which is open every Monday.  Too many times, there are abandoned animals left outside the small office, which is located on a very busy street, or someone brings in an animal "they just found".  All that being said, thank you in HUGE amounts for stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing to help those who have no voice, innocent animals.  The Tehachapi Humane Society does so many good things and there are countless volunteers for the worthy cause; indeed, Tehachapi is growing enough that it is about time we had our own animal shelter.  There are so many good people who volunteer by fostering dogs and cats, puppies and kittens until they find their forever home.  Pet Adoption Day is always the 1st Saturday of each month at the Pet Lodge; most likely, the new kittens will be there when they are old enough to be adopted. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132398 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132398 Hate to say this, but do you think the "nice person" who found the kittens really found them in her car, or was she the one who put them in the box, hoping to make her problem someone elses? The reason I bring this to light is that you simply would not believe how often this all too familiar scenario plays out at the local Humane Society office, which is open every Monday.  Too many times, there are abandoned animals left outside the small office, which is located on a very busy street, or someone brings in an animal "they just found".  All that being said, thank you in HUGE amounts for stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing to help those who have no voice, innocent animals.  The Tehachapi Humane Society does so many good things and there are countless volunteers for the worthy cause; indeed, Tehachapi is growing enough that it is about time we had our own animal shelter.  There are so many good people who volunteer by fostering dogs and cats, puppies and kittens until they find their forever home.  Pet Adoption Day is always the 1st Saturday of each month at the Pet Lodge; most likely, the new kittens will be there when they are old enough to be adopted. Bringing this to the top for today's discussions; 141 people viewed it, only a few replied. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.   http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132576 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132576 Bringing this to the top for today's discussions; 141 people viewed it, only a few replied. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.   ...A horrible story with a good ending. Great work Susie and Tehachapi Humane! We really are in need of a proper animal shelter. Honestly  I can't fathom, that with the sheer numbers of animals this community has, that we do not have a shelter. But let's take it even a step further than that, Tehachapi, Bear Valley, Stallion Springs, and many of the neighboring communities have absolutely NO Emergency Animal Evacuation Plan. If we get a fire, or a disaster of some kind, please plan ahead to contact a friend or neighbor to help get your animals out of your home, and work within you own community to establish some kind of shelter sites, and if you live in a hard to reach spot, organize and mark pick-up sites within your community along a main, easily accessible  road. One thing is for sure, animal control will not be winding up a one way canyon to rescue your livestock and pets, so please think of a plan now, and have a mutual aid plan with your friends and neighbors, and have more than one plan. Are you prepared?  Do you have a sign in your window indicating how many pets you have and an emergency contact number? Do you have a stall sign for each horse, or large animals/ pet with emergency numbers, vet numbers, and nutritional or medical requirements? These are basic things that everyone can do to safe guard their animals. I think we should get an animal evacuation plan and trained volunteer group going within our community that is sanctioned by the City. In order to do this, it requires hours of training, a manual and committed volunteers. It takes a lot of work and commitment and people with all different talents are needed. I would be in strong support of anyone wanting to put together a movement towards getting us an animal shelter, first and foremost, and secondly, putting together an evacuation plan, one community at a time, before it is too late. Anyone interested in learning more, or wanting my help, feel free to contact me by email. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132784 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_132784 ...A horrible story with a good ending. Great work Susie and Tehachapi Humane! We really are in need of a proper animal shelter. Honestly  I can't fathom, that with the sheer numbers of animals this community has, that we do not have a shelter. But let's take it even a step further than that, Tehachapi, Bear Valley, Stallion Springs, and many of the neighboring communities have absolutely NO Emergency Animal Evacuation Plan. If we get a fire, or a disaster of some kind, please plan ahead to contact a friend or neighbor to help get your animals out of your home, and work within you own community to establish some kind of shelter sites, and if you live in a hard to reach spot, organize and mark pick-up sites within your community along a main, easily accessible  road. One thing is for sure, animal control will not be winding up a one way canyon to rescue your livestock and pets, so please think of a plan now, and have a mutual aid plan with your friends and neighbors, and have more than one plan. Are you prepared?  Do you have a sign in your window indicating how many pets you have and an emergency contact number? Do you have a stall sign for each horse, or large animals/ pet with emergency numbers, vet numbers, and nutritional or medical requirements? These are basic things that everyone can do to safe guard their animals. I think we should get an animal evacuation plan and trained volunteer group going within our community that is sanctioned by the City. In order to do this, it requires hours of training, a manual and committed volunteers. It takes a lot of work and commitment and people with all different talents are needed. I would be in strong support of anyone wanting to put together a movement towards getting us an animal shelter, first and foremost, and secondly, putting together an evacuation plan, one community at a time, before it is too late. Anyone interested in learning more, or wanting my help, feel free to contact me by email. How are the kittens doing? http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_133006 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_133006 How are the kittens doing? Hi All, Thank you for your comments and support.  The kittens are nursing with their new foster mom cat, gaining weight and doing very well.  They were taken in by Christine of A+ Pets.  She believes they are about 3 weeks old, so it will be at least a month before they are available for adoption.  If you are interested in adopting one of the kitties in the future, please call Christine at 823-9441 to get on the list. Since posting my original blog above, I have written e-mails to all officials at City Hall, the Directors of the Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, and several media reporters.  Yesterday I received a phone call from ABC TV in Bakersfield.  They read my post and are interested in doing a story on animal dumping in Tehachapi.  I put the reporter in touch with the Tehachapi Humane Society and A+ Pets so he can follow up with them. Canine Creek will be starting a petition to our local/county government asking for a full-time staffed shelter to be developed in Tehachapi.  If you are interested in signing to show your support, please stop by to see us. Susie Atherton http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_133089 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_133089 Hi All, Thank you for your comments and support.  The kittens are nursing with their new foster mom cat, gaining weight and doing very well.  They were taken in by Christine of A+ Pets.  She believes they are about 3 weeks old, so it will be at least a month before they are available for adoption.  If you are interested in adopting one of the kitties in the future, please call Christine at 823-9441 to get on the list. Since posting my original blog above, I have written e-mails to all officials at City Hall, the Directors of the Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, and several media reporters.  Yesterday I received a phone call from ABC TV in Bakersfield.  They read my post and are interested in doing a story on animal dumping in Tehachapi.  I put the reporter in touch with the Tehachapi Humane Society and A+ Pets so he can follow up with them. Canine Creek will be starting a petition to our local/county government asking for a full-time staffed shelter to be developed in Tehachapi.  If you are interested in signing to show your support, please stop by to see us. Susie Atherton Thank you in HUGE amounts for all your fine efforts and follow-up, as well as knowing the kittens are thriving.  Looking forward to signing the petition; I am EXTREMELY interested.  Please let us know when we can sign up (an ad in the paper, flyers?) and am 100% +++ positive that all the fine people at the Humane Society, as well as other concerned citizens, will want to be first in line to sign up for this extremely worthy cause.  Hope the animal drop-off issue gets on t.v.; as you know, all too well, this happens way too often, Starbucks being one of the dumping sites, through no fault of their own. If you need any help getting the word out concerning the petition, please count me in to assist, via flyer distribution, etc. M.   http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_133118 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/caninecreek/13750/#c_133118 Thank you in HUGE amounts for all your fine efforts and follow-up, as well as knowing the kittens are thriving.  Looking forward to signing the petition; I am EXTREMELY interested.  Please let us know when we can sign up (an ad in the paper, flyers?) and am 100% +++ positive that all the fine people at the Humane Society, as well as other concerned citizens, will want to be first in line to sign up for this extremely worthy cause.  Hope the animal drop-off issue gets on t.v.; as you know, all too well, this happens way too often, Starbucks being one of the dumping sites, through no fault of their own. If you need any help getting the word out concerning the petition, please count me in to assist, via flyer distribution, etc. M.