Conference misery::feline

    
    There was a very touching story last month or so in on eof the cat
    magazines about a cat who was reunited with its family almost a year
    after the Oakland fire.
    
    As you note, not all of these cats are abandoned.  Many of them managed
    to escape from the fire while their owners were away at work, and then
    they're on their own in a very chaotic and threatening world.
    
    len.
    

    I saw a newscast on the fires and the devestation is incredible.  My
    first thought was the wildlife and how terrifed they must be, and how
    many are dying and suffering.  I was on the verge of tears just
    thinking about it.  My next thought was exactly yours regarding the
    domestic pets.
    
    People manage the best they can in these situations, and there is often
    no time to think logically when your life is at stake.  I often wonder
    what would happen if my apt. (3rd floor) ever caught fire.  My cats
    would panic and hide, and I wonder if I could catch them, get them into
    carriers and get out, while in major panic mode myself... not to
    mention being on the third floor!  If I think about this long enough I
    could drive myself mad.
    
    -RK

    Our home was about 3 miles away from the Laguna Canyon fire.  We were
    watching the coverage on the TV for most of the day into the early am.
    One piece that reallly caught my attention was when they mentioned the
    animals.  They really made it a point to let the public know that
    people in the areas that were affected had been seen gathering up as
    many stray and paniced pets to take to one of the holding shelters.
    
    During the interviews with the locals that homes were going to be
    burned, I would say that 90% said that the most important thing was
    getting their family and pets out and a box of photos..all the other
    stuff was replaceable.
    
    Know doubt there was probably a toll of animals that could not be saved
    in time, but I am proud of the efforts of the people of Laguna who did
    there best to help all the pets in such a tragic time.
    
    ...Lori

    The news showed a quick piece on a woman seraching for her cat(s)
    at one the holding shelters......she picked up each cat, even though
    it wasn't hers, and gave the a hug.....
    

    re .2
    
    I remember getting quite angry over the story of one family in the 
    Missippi flood area who lost their cats.  Why had the family left their
    cats behind to drown?  Then I thought about how long it would take me to 
    get my pets together and in the car. 15 minutes was the best time we did 
    it in!  Not enough time to escape either a fire or a bursting levy.  
     
    If anyone saw Rescue 911 last week, the story of the family trapped in
    the upstairs of their house (on the coast) during the No Name Hurrican
    of a couple of years ago.
      
    The rescuers wouldn't take the 12 year old family dog.  The man, who would 
    not leave the dog alone in the house, sent his wife and family to safety 
    while he stayed behind.  
    

    
    
    	re: .5
    
    	Yup.  saw that one....  =)
    
    	I often wonder how I would get my cats out in case of a fire.  I
    	live on the third floor and the cat carriers are in my storage
    	bin....in the basement.  I'd have to go downstairs, get the
    	carriers, go back upstairs and then try and find the cats who
    	would have run and hidden by now because of the loudness of our
    	building's fire alarms, get them in the carriers and then back
    	down two flights of stairs.  There's absolutely no room in my
    	place for the carriers so I have no choice but to keep them in
    	the cellar.
    
    	JJ
    

    I've wondered what I would do also as our carrier is in the basement. 
    I always figured that if I was upstairs I could use a pillow case (they
    like to climb in them when I'm changing the bed anyways so I don't
    think it would bother them too much)!

    
    re. 7 - that was always my plan if I had to get the cats out in a
    hurry; use one or more pillow cases or laundry bags.  I only have one
    carrier which will take the three kittens or one Merlin, but not all four.
    And as the kittens grow up, it's not likely to grow with them...
    
    len.
    

	When I cook the toast a bit too much....the fire alarm goes off and
	the cats dash out of the catflap.

	Pah, the nerve, no going around to see if we are in bed and snoozing
	away.  
	They wake us up early enough in the morning, but one snifter of a fire
	alarm and they're off without a care.


	You'd think these furry creatures would want to ensure we carry on 
	feeding and keeping them in the manner to which they have been 
	acustomed, but oh no............they know who's more important.

	:-)

	Heather

    Heather, that's so true!  When I first moved into my apartment it was
    so hard getting used to the gas stove and oven, having used electric
    all my life.  I love to bake, and everytime I made cookies the oven
    would be too high and the fire alarm would go off.  The cats would jump
    ten feet in the air and hide under the nearest object they could fit
    under.  I couldn't imagine them saving my life in the event of a
    catastrophe; I would be on my own!
    
    And to think I'm up at 5 a.m. every morning dishing out their
    breakfast, and even made them fresh chicken for dinner the past two
    weekends...
    
    Roberta
    

    .8
    
    This reminds me of a friend of mine who lived in a large apartment
    building.  She had her plan of escape.  Then they had a fire drill in
    her building and they were given 6 minutes to escape before they were
    declared dead or unconscious.  The drill went well with she being the
    only casualty--rug burns on her knees from where her neighbor pulled her
    out from under the bed, as she tried to grab her cat, and a bite 
    on her hand where her cat bit her when she finally grabbed kitty and 
    carried same kitty off to safety.  
    
    The fireman went off muttering something about the best laid plans of
    mice and kitties.

      
    Thanks to all who replied to this note.
    
    Regards,
    
    Eleanor

    It was reported on Vogon news this morning that British Film Director,
    Duncan Gibbons, died as a result of burns over 90% of his body.  He
    had gone back to his (burning) rented home to rescue his cat.
    
    How tragic!  It took courage and unconditional love for him to
    risk HIS life for that of his feline companion.
    
    Marilyn
    

	A bit more info.....The cat was a stray which he had only taken in a 
	couple of days earlier.


	On another note.

	A sealed cardboard box was left on the steps of a police station
	by a motorbike rider in greater Manchester, UK.
	It was blown up in a controlled explosion.

	It was then found to have contained two kittens.

	What was this person thinking of, leaving a sealed cardboard box on the
	steps of a police station at this time.

	I wish some people thought about what they were doing before doing it.

	Heather

    
    	I've heard several reports of this tragedy also ... except 
    	they all claim that it was a stray cat he was rescuing, not 
    	his own ....
    
    	The first fatality of these awful fires - hopefully it will
    	stop soon. 250,000 has been offered as a reward to find the
    	"person" who started the fires.
    
    		Heidi

    
    
    notes .13 and .14      - too sad to comment.
    
    ems
    

    Out here in California they only refer to the cat as "a cat".
    They didn't tell us any more than that.  How is it you guys
    are getting more information?
    
    Last night they showed an animal control officer sifting 
    through charred remains of the fire.  He found a quail that
    had been badly burned but was still alive.  They said something
    about his claws having been melted (they were still there but
    badly burned and it appeared he couldn't move them).  They 
    didn't think the bird would make it.  But, when they offered
    it water it drank willingly which they believed showed its
    strong will to live.  We'll probably never hear what actually
    becomes of the bird.
    
    Jan

>    Out here in California they only refer to the cat as "a cat".
>    They didn't tell us any more than that.  How is it you guys
>    are getting more information?
 
	Well, I suppose, "cause he was British.

	There is a two-page article covering the fires in the paper I get,
	I would think anything that would tie it in to the UK would be
	cause for extra interest on the reporting side on this side of the pond.
	
	A quote from the paper "...after dashing back to rescue a stray cat he
	had adopted a few days earlier....."
   

	Heather

    Has anyone heard whether or not the cat made it?
    
    Jan

> Has anyone heard whether or not the cat made it?

	On the 11 o'clock WBZ (Ch. 4) news tonight they said
	the cat survived (they even showed a couple seconds
	of video of the cat) and only got singed a little.

    Just wanted to log in for a minute (even though my regular
    node is down for backups) and let you know that they did 
    have a little blurb on tonight's news about that cat.
    
    It seems the SPCA in that area has decided to offer a 
    yearly award for courage in rescuing an animal.  They are 
    calling it the Duncan Gibbons (sp) Heroism Award.
    
    They showed pictures of the cat being examined by someone.
    It's a beautiful cat (in spite of its injuries).  It seemed 
    amazingly calm on the examining table.  It is somewhat singed 
    in places (I noticed the ears mostly) and has a bandage on 
    each of its front paws but it appeared to be in relatively
    good condition.
    
    I could take that cat home without a second thought.  
    There's just something about him/her that really got to me
    and I'm not sure if it's the understanding of what that man 
    must of been feeling when he forgot his own safety in favor 
    of trying to save the cat or if there is something else at 
    work here.
    
    Jan
    
                  
    P.S.  Just a quick note...at the end of the broadcast the
          newsperson noted that there were few things as 
          precious as the family pet.

    -.1
    
    ...gooosebumps!
    
    With all the bad news and the negative things happening in this world
    it is still that one act of heroism to wake us up.  It just proves,
    once again, that there are some pretty nice people in this world.
    
    What makes it more touching is that although Duncan Gibbons died - his 
    life will not be in vain.  His heroism will go down in history and I
    am sure the cat he saved will have offers from all over for a good and
    loving home.
    
    M
    

> Has anyone heard whether or not the cat made it?

  From another notesfile

    RTw  11/04 2021  CAT MOVIE DIRECTOR DIED TRYING TO SAVE IS FOUND

    By Michael Miller

    MALIBU, Calif, Nov 4 (Reuter) - The Siamese cat whose owner, British
    director Duncan Gibbins, died from burns after trying to rescue if from
    the Malibu fires, was found safe but singed Thursday.

    The unnamed feline was in shock with singed paws and cuts but was
    otherwise doing fine, said a spokesman for the Los Angeles County
    Animal Care and Control Department.

    Gibbins had escaped from his house during the height of Tuesday's
    wildfires, but went back to look for the cat. He was covered in flames
    and found later by firefighters, his body blanched white by the heat.

    A doctor at the Sherman Oaks Burns Center where Gibbins was taken, said
    the only parts of his body that weren't burned were the soles of his
    feet and the area beneath his shorts.

    He died at the center late Wednesday night, the only fatality in a
    series of firestorms that plagued southern California for more than a
    week, destroying 1,000 homes at a cost of about $1 billion.

    Animal Care and Control spokesman Frank Andrews said the Siamese cat
    was identified as belonging to Gibbins by its neck tag. "It's in rough
    shape but it's doing fine," he said.

    Gibbins' concern for the cat continued even after he had received his
    terrible injuries.

    Firefighter Jim Goodwin, who found the burned director, told reporters,
    "He kept asking about his cat. 'Where's my cat? Is the cat okay?"'

    Gibbins was considered a rising star in Hollywood.

    Ironically, three of his movies touched on the subject of fire and
    destruction. He co-wrote the 1989 Home Box Office film, "Third Degree
    Burns," directed the 1986 movie, "Fire With Fire," and co-wrote and
    directed the 1991 film, "Eve of Destruction."

    REUTER

    FYI, there are now 3 casualties attributed to this fire.  A
    couple of bodies were found burned in their vehicle.  No 
    further details as of last night's news.
    
    Jan

From last week's San Jose Mercury News, Action Line
    
WHERE TO SEND DONATIONS FOR ANIMALS HURT IN THE FIRES.

Q:  Could you provide an address to which we could send
    donations to help animals affected by the Los Angeles
    fires?
				-Laura Grady, Morgan Hill

A:  The good news is many of the animals left homeless in 
    the fires have been reunited with owners, but local
    shelters are still spending extra time and care housing
    and feeding pets and tending to their wounds.  The Los
    Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
    has set up an umbrella organization to help care for 
    animals from shelters that were in fire zones.  It has
    picked up pet food and veterinary tabs for fire victims
    who couldn't care for their pets and has donated two
    weeks of boarding.  Donations may be sent to CAN (Care
    for Animals Network), in care of the Los Angeles SPCA, 
    5026 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles 90016-0249.  The
    Agoura Animal Shelter, which is northwest of Los Angeles,
    has been treating a burro, two cats, a dog, two rabbits
    and two raccoons, as well as sheltering animals whose
    owners haven't been located.  Donations may be sent to
    the Agoura Animal Shelter, 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills,
    Calif. 91301.  Mark checks "Fire Fund."  Donations for
    any animal disaster may always be sent to the Humane
    Society of the United States, Western Regional Office,
    Box 417220, Sacramento 95841-7220.  Mark checks "Disaster
    Relief Fund." 

    RE note -.1:
    
    As an alternative, you could also take part in the raffle shown in
    note 26.3.
    
    Carl