Hello, all. Newbie here. I have a couple of questions I'll ask first, and then I have to rave for a minute. Here are the questions first:
First, let me say that I'm totally commited to this little guy, but my first concern is for our other two Sphynx boys and our three Italian Greyhounds.
1. A stray/abandoned Sphynx was delivered to our doorstep Friday night. His vet appointment isn't until 2:30 Monday. I'm concerned about possible diseases or dangers we may be exposing our other animals to. We immediately bathed him, cleaned his ears out, trimmed his nails, got some flea medicine on him and got him plenty of food, water and bedding. It's too late now, but should I have been crating him? Should I have boarded him until his vet appointment?
Physically, he's not presenting any outward sign of illness (no snottiness, goopy eyes or wheezing) except for a little bit of diarreah (which I suspect is from stress and a different kind of food then he's used to). He does have a grape-sized tumor above the vein in his neck where you can see his heart beating. He also has some physical injuries including a partially-healed injury to the base of his tail that looks like his tail was almost completely ripped off. That's healing with thick, lumpy scar tissue from lack of vetrinary care... He also has some skin abraisions, and a pretty deep newer cut on his hind flank near his rear.
2. Question #2 is similar to an earlier post. What's my moral obligation to talk with this cat's owner? Two weeks ago, friends of ours found this same cat running the streets in a not-so-nice area of town. By going door-to-door, they finally found the guy who owned him. Then, they saw the cat outside again on Friday night. Keep in mind, the evenings here are chilly already, it's been raining, and this is near the football stadium where there are a gazillion cars and almost that many drunks. They knocked on the guy's door again, and told us he said he hated the stupid cat, and they should find somebody else to give him to! WHAT????!!!!
Well... he's with us now, and I'm furious that some people believe animals are DISPOSABLE. This poor cat was starved, his tail quite obviously hadn't received any care, he's a stinking SPHYNX--you can't just let them OUTSIDE! I'm sure this guy must have proof of purchase, and I've never spoken directly with the owner--I'm only going by what our friends (whom I trust completely) told us. But I wonder which carries more weight--proof of purchase or obvious neglect?
I guess I threw my rave in with my questions. Sorry this is so long.
Oh, and by the way, we're calling him Ozzy. He's black with grayish points on his ears, noise and feet. He's almost completely naked with only the faintest grayish patch of fuzz in a line down his lower spine. He's an absolute cuddle bunny. I'm guessing by his height he's around 8 or 9 months old (he's so skinny, though, it's hard to tell). He has been neutered. Our dogs don't faze him. Our cats aren't thrilled with him, but one of them is already warming up to him. We don't NEED another animal, but we've had our Sphynx boys for four years--we know about the breed, we have tons of sweaters and blankies and beds. I know we shouldn't get too attached until after the vet visit, but how can we give him back to somebody who obviously doesn't care about him?
First, let me say that I'm totally commited to this little guy, but my first concern is for our other two Sphynx boys and our three Italian Greyhounds.
1. A stray/abandoned Sphynx was delivered to our doorstep Friday night. His vet appointment isn't until 2:30 Monday. I'm concerned about possible diseases or dangers we may be exposing our other animals to. We immediately bathed him, cleaned his ears out, trimmed his nails, got some flea medicine on him and got him plenty of food, water and bedding. It's too late now, but should I have been crating him? Should I have boarded him until his vet appointment?
Physically, he's not presenting any outward sign of illness (no snottiness, goopy eyes or wheezing) except for a little bit of diarreah (which I suspect is from stress and a different kind of food then he's used to). He does have a grape-sized tumor above the vein in his neck where you can see his heart beating. He also has some physical injuries including a partially-healed injury to the base of his tail that looks like his tail was almost completely ripped off. That's healing with thick, lumpy scar tissue from lack of vetrinary care... He also has some skin abraisions, and a pretty deep newer cut on his hind flank near his rear.
2. Question #2 is similar to an earlier post. What's my moral obligation to talk with this cat's owner? Two weeks ago, friends of ours found this same cat running the streets in a not-so-nice area of town. By going door-to-door, they finally found the guy who owned him. Then, they saw the cat outside again on Friday night. Keep in mind, the evenings here are chilly already, it's been raining, and this is near the football stadium where there are a gazillion cars and almost that many drunks. They knocked on the guy's door again, and told us he said he hated the stupid cat, and they should find somebody else to give him to! WHAT????!!!!
Well... he's with us now, and I'm furious that some people believe animals are DISPOSABLE. This poor cat was starved, his tail quite obviously hadn't received any care, he's a stinking SPHYNX--you can't just let them OUTSIDE! I'm sure this guy must have proof of purchase, and I've never spoken directly with the owner--I'm only going by what our friends (whom I trust completely) told us. But I wonder which carries more weight--proof of purchase or obvious neglect?
I guess I threw my rave in with my questions. Sorry this is so long.
Oh, and by the way, we're calling him Ozzy. He's black with grayish points on his ears, noise and feet. He's almost completely naked with only the faintest grayish patch of fuzz in a line down his lower spine. He's an absolute cuddle bunny. I'm guessing by his height he's around 8 or 9 months old (he's so skinny, though, it's hard to tell). He has been neutered. Our dogs don't faze him. Our cats aren't thrilled with him, but one of them is already warming up to him. We don't NEED another animal, but we've had our Sphynx boys for four years--we know about the breed, we have tons of sweaters and blankies and beds. I know we shouldn't get too attached until after the vet visit, but how can we give him back to somebody who obviously doesn't care about him?
