Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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Hey, everybody, and welcome back.
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Today, I am gonna be chatting with
Sonia, an independent rescuer that
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is doing amazing work with TNR,
Trap Neuter Return, and helping
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community cats live healthier lives.
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It's gonna be a really great
conversation, so let's jump right in.
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Hey, Sonya.
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Welcome to the show.
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Sonia: Thank you.
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Dixie: Today we are gonna talk about
your role as an independent rescuer.
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To get started, tell us your backstory.
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How did you get involved with
being an independent rescuer?
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.. Sonia: I guess it goes back to
how did I get into rescue, period.
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And that would go back to my cat
Moco, and he's the whole reason why
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I ended up back in the rescue because
we crossed paths back in New Orleans
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and that was the first time I had
ever worked with a actual rescue.
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But before I was in New Iberia,
where I am now, and I found
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Moco on the side of the road.
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Somebody dumped him, typical.
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And I took him in, and he
was with me for 14 years.
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He slipped out on my mom that
was August 8th of 2023, late
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night , and I've never found him.
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But he was the whole reason why I
ended up getting back into it, because
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whenever I moved back into New Iberia,
I did not wanna go back into rescue.
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But c'est la vie, here I am.
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Dixie: Why you didn't
wanna go back into rescue?
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Sonia: Ugh.
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I don't wanna sound like an angry person,
but the community here, They don't wanna
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be part of the solution very often.
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So that kind of deters people from
wanting to be involved in this,
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which I completely understand
whenever you're passionate about it.
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So it's a headache, but, once you're
in it, it's very difficult to leave.
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You love cats, so You can't really turn
your back on them once you see how badly
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the problem has progressed, especially
since I had left, it really got bad.
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And I didn't notice until I started
searching for my cat and going
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to places where it was reported
that there was a large group
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of cats, uncontrolled colonies.
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And what did I do?
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I dropped the trap down and started
TNR-ing, and, it just, it kept going.
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And I'm glad I didn't stop now,
but, it can be hard sometimes.
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Dixie: Yeah, definitely it can.
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Now, in New Iberia, would you
consider that a more rural area?
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Sonia: I would definitely.
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I'm more of a city girl, I would
definitely say this is more rural.
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I'm from Morgan City, which is not a
big town, but we're right there, in
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Morgan City, you're right there between
Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans,
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so you go to cities pretty often.
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You don't spend a lot of
time in the country whenever
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you're surrounded by bayous.
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But here it's definitely a lot of
sugarcane fields and rural area.
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A lot of, low-income people.
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So they have a lot of difficulties
taking care of cats, so they call
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a lot more often than in more
metropolitan areas, if that makes sense.
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Dixie: Sure.
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I was asking because it seems to be a
problem with a lot of the rural areas
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where they're just kinda underserved.
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They just don't have the
access to spay and neuter.
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Sonia: Yes, ma'am.
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I think that it really does boil
down to elected officials not really
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wanting to invest much in working
with rescue groups and TNR groups.
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They don't wanna make
the investment in it.
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They don't wanna help any type of
investment or even allowance for
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low-income spay and neuter clinics.
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I think we recently got one here,
it's called Acadiana Spay and Neuter,
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which is closer to New Iberia than,
what I'm sure a lot of people have
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heard of, Spay Nation in Lafayette,
which is oftentimes where I go.
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But I'm not sure when exactly we got
the Acadiana, and I haven't gone yet.
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But it's just difficult to get
anybody to really care, and I
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don't know how to make anyone care.
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We have a lot more rescues
here since the time that I had
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moved away, which was 2013.
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I came back in 2020 But we have
a larger overpopulation problem.
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So I kinda feel like the community
treats these rescues as if they're just
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another shelter, and they want, and they
call you wanting you to fix problems.
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They don't wanna be part of the
solution, like I said before.
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They just want you to come in
and take the cats away and,
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none of us can really do that.
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So it's a brick wall everywhere you look.
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Dixie: Do you think it's more that
they just don't care, or does it have
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to do with the fact that they're low
income and they don't have the access
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to spay/neuter like they should?
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Sonia: Both.
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It, you're, you'll find
both type of people here.
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, Some people just aren't animal people.
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Some people have a true
despise for cats in particular.
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But then every once in a while,
right now I'm working on a colony
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in Erath, and I was contacted by
a lady that lives in this trailer
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park, and she really cares about 'em.
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And she's investing her own personal
money in getting them fixed and
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vaccinated and, taken care of.
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And she's continuing to feed.
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So I'm bringing her food but then
you have the real hateful people
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that live right next to them.
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There's a police officer that lives
in the same trailer park, has a
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drop trap, refused for me to borrow
it, and told me he was gonna start
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trapping them and drowning them.
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You know just okay sorry I even
spoke to you to begin with.
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But like I said you find them on
both sides of the spectrum here.
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, Dixie: you go out to go look for Moco,
and what did you start seeing that you
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said, "Okay, I've gotta do something.
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I've gotta get involved"?
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Sonia: I made social media posts
just asking if anybody had seen him.
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He was 14 years old, so , I
gave a lot of detail.
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Not just marking as most people do,
but, he was microchipped, he's neutered.
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And also the fact that he was
getting older and, a broken tooth.
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And, just stuff like that.
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And I got a lot of calls back of
people saying that there was a large
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group of cats in locations, and
they thought they saw a cat that
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looked kinda like Moco compared
to the pictures, blah, blah, blah.
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Went to go check it out and, it was
a group of homes in , a rural area.
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And you could just look around and
find, a lot of injured ones, which means
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fighting and young ones, so there's
no females there that are spayed.
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Just , like a lot of cats in a
grouped up area, and as we know they
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find their easiest source of food
and, mating, and they stick around
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as far as, as long as the food's
there, they're gonna stick around.
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So they just gather up and , I found
five different locations just in
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the city limits of New Iberia within
the first three months, I believe.
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Somewhere, two, three months, and
I started working on all of them.
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Dixie: Are you doing this
out of your own pocket?
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Sonia: Yes, ma'am.
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Every once in a while
I'll get on Nextdoor.
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I find I get more feedback on Nextdoor
and ask for donations if, I'm just
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kinda running low every once in a
while, but I hate to ask for donations
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without actually being a rescue.
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As an individual, I I don't know, like
I feel kinda guilty for doing that.
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Maybe I shouldn't.
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But I do get more feedback on
Nextdoor than, say, Facebook or
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Instagram or something like that.
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Maybe it's because it's more
of a personal local type app.
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But most of the time, 95% I'd say
it's definitely out of my pocket.
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Dixie: Have you reached out to any rescues
in the area that may offer you assistance?
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Sonia: I have reached out to
some smaller ones newly opened.
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And they've been very helpful,
especially this kitten season.
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I actually have three, a litter
of three in my care right now.
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But before those got handed to me
I had two other, groups of two.
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So just reaching out to them.
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I'm not gonna say the name because
I don't have permission, one rescue
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reached out three different times
and had a foster to take them in,
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so I was very grateful for that.
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The rescues are very much involved
as much as they possibly can be.
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I couldn't ask for anything
more from any of them.
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Dixie: And the current kittens that
you have, do they put them up for
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adoption through their adoption venues?
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Sonia: I haven't connected
these three with any rescues.
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The other ones I handed off and
they have a foster and they're
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taking great care of them.
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These,, I didn't have anybody to be
able to step up for these, so you
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know, I'm just gonna do my part and
raise them and get them spayed and
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neutered and put them up for adoption.
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I usually charge about 45 re-homing
fee, adoption fee, and I do like to
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do a home check just to make sure.
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And, as $45 does not even
come close to covering the
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expense of, getting them ready.
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But I do adopt them out myself,
but I do like to work with rescues
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because it's just more networking.
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You can reach a lot more people that way.
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I may reach out to a rescue and
see if I could get them to help
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me out with networking these.
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I'm not there yet with these and
I have a lot on my plate, so I
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just haven't thought that far,
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Dixie: I completely understand that.
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Have you ever thought about
trying to get a 501[3]?
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Sonia: Yes, ma'am.
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I actually have been looking into it.
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Because of the community using
rescues around here as it's just
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another shelter that they can go
and bring , a cat to, I don't know
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if I wanna go sanctuary, direction.
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I would like to do TNR.
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That desperately needs to be done.
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And we used to have a
TNR group called SNIP.
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I believe the founder, she retired
and then had to go back to work, so
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it's just been a lot of load on her.
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I don't know if it's still open,
but I know it's not very active.
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So I think it would be a good thing
for me to kinda kick in and see if
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I can open something like that here.
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It's desperately needed.
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Dixie: Yeah, definitely.
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, When you say people are abusing
the rescues and using the rescues
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as a shelter what do you mean?
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Do you mean if they find a pet, they
bring it there, or do you think it's
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just abandoning their responsibilities?
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Sonia: A lot of times it's
abandoning their responsibilities.
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Even local Facebook groups and
stuff, if you go in there, they're
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always looking for a free kitten.
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And I try to explain,
there, there is no free.
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If you're gonna be a responsible owner
and you're gonna bring them and get them
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vetted and vaccinated and, so on and so
forth, you're gonna invest a lot of money.
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It's gonna be hundreds of dollars.
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Whenever you can go to the local shelter
or, get in touch with some of these
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rescue groups and adopt from them, it may
be $150, but everything's done for you.
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You don't have to even bring them
to the vet, and it's a lot cheaper,
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but they don't really wanna hear it.
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They take on these free animals,
and they either, start spraying
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in the house, or they get pregnant
because they let them out.
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And then once that happens, they don't
want anything to do with it anymore.
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They see it as a problem, so they want
somebody to come and take their problem
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away, and that's oftentimes what they're
what rescues are called for, and it...
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I don't know how much more
people can do to educate.
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I think the information's pretty
far out there, but I am in rescue.
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Maybe it's just a skewed perspective.
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I don't know.
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But I really don't have the answers.
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I'm just, I'm beating the ground
just trying to fix the problem,
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and there, there doesn't seem
to be an answer right now.
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Dixie: Yeah, I definitely know what
you mean about the whole thing with the
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people posting in the groups though,
'cause I've been seeing it a lot.
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And it seems that they'll try to rehome
a cat that isn't spayed or neutered
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yet, and then it seems that- ... they
do it in the middle of kitten
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season, which even makes it worse.
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It's- ... they decide now, or then you'll
get the excuse the cat's pregnant, so I've
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gotta find a place for the cat to go."
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And it's why didn't you spay or neuter?
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And I think, like what you said, when
people take a free kitten, They might
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have all intentions of going to get it
done, but- ... if something happens, it
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might just get delayed, and then once that
kitten reaches maturity at pretty much
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four months old, they're gonna try- to
find a way to get out the house to either
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go find a boyfriend or a girlfriend.
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And if you have a female cat,
she's gonna come back pregnant.
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And that's something that I always
say too, 'cause I know it happened to
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it was a relative of mine a couple of
years ago, and he ended up having some
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00:13:19,145 --> 00:13:20,475
kittens, a whole litter of kittens.
223
00:13:20,475 --> 00:13:22,645
So he asked me to help him
with the kittens, and I'm like,
224
00:13:22,695 --> 00:13:24,315
why didn't you spay the mom?"
225
00:13:25,155 --> 00:13:30,315
And the excuse was that he didn't
have the money to spay the mom, and
226
00:13:30,315 --> 00:13:34,565
we have very low-cost programs here,
so there's really no excuse for it.
227
00:13:35,295 --> 00:13:41,565
And I'm like, "You didn't have money
to spay the mom, but now you're feeding
228
00:13:41,565 --> 00:13:46,025
six kittens and the mom until those
kittens are big enough to rehome."
229
00:13:47,065 --> 00:13:49,665
And so I'm like- ... that right
there, that makes no sense
230
00:13:49,905 --> 00:13:53,335
Sonia: Especially if they know somebody
in rescue, they can contact us.
231
00:13:53,685 --> 00:13:56,735
I have a couple family members
that recently did that, and
232
00:13:56,825 --> 00:13:58,285
I just about lost it on them.
233
00:13:58,285 --> 00:14:02,235
And I didn't mean to, but it's
just you know that I'm here You
234
00:14:02,235 --> 00:14:05,385
know, you could easily give me a
call and I could make it happen.
235
00:14:05,885 --> 00:14:10,075
. And I understand, if you have family
and kids and work and, economy's getting
236
00:14:10,075 --> 00:14:14,805
worse and everybody has other concerns,
you tend to procrastinate about things.
237
00:14:14,805 --> 00:14:15,255
I get it.
238
00:14:15,885 --> 00:14:18,615
But just stop looking for free kittens.
239
00:14:18,715 --> 00:14:21,795
To me that's the answer is
stop looking for free kittens
240
00:14:21,845 --> 00:14:22,095
Dixie: Yeah
241
00:14:22,125 --> 00:14:24,545
... Sonia: I don't think a lot of
people understand that they can
242
00:14:24,545 --> 00:14:26,075
get pregnant at four months old.
243
00:14:26,125 --> 00:14:26,895
I don't know.
244
00:14:27,255 --> 00:14:31,205
But it doesn't matter how many times I
tell people, it doesn't seem to really
245
00:14:31,205 --> 00:14:33,485
stick in, in the memory or something.
246
00:14:34,795 --> 00:14:38,745
Dixie: Yeah and another thing that I've
been seeing a lot lately that gets to
247
00:14:38,745 --> 00:14:45,845
me too is either a 501[3] rescue or an
independent rescuer will often make an
248
00:14:45,885 --> 00:14:48,325
offer to people, "Look, I have room.
249
00:14:48,675 --> 00:14:51,955
Let me take your kittens," i'll be able
to get the kitten spayed or neutered and
250
00:14:51,955 --> 00:14:53,515
then I'll go find a home for the kitten."
251
00:14:53,915 --> 00:14:57,695
And most of the time they're told,
"Oh we have somebody else that's
252
00:14:57,695 --> 00:14:59,235
interested in them before you."
253
00:15:00,115 --> 00:15:00,885
And it's really?
254
00:15:02,615 --> 00:15:04,765
Sonia: Ag- yeah, I usually
don't get that answer.
255
00:15:04,765 --> 00:15:06,305
They are handing it over.
256
00:15:06,655 --> 00:15:12,075
But I don't make that offer too often
either, at least lately, because , I have
257
00:15:12,615 --> 00:15:14,505
fosters that are in my care right now.
258
00:15:14,505 --> 00:15:20,415
Two of them have been waiting two years,
and nobody has even put in an adoption
259
00:15:20,665 --> 00:15:23,245
attempt, so , I know my limitations.
260
00:15:23,265 --> 00:15:25,615
I can't take on that many cats.
261
00:15:25,615 --> 00:15:26,735
I'm only one person.
262
00:15:27,395 --> 00:15:31,115
But also I don't wanna give them an idea
that they can just keep getting cats and
263
00:15:31,115 --> 00:15:34,005
coming to me and I'm just gonna take them.
264
00:15:34,265 --> 00:15:34,325
Yeah.
265
00:15:34,325 --> 00:15:35,505
It's a catch-22.
266
00:15:37,215 --> 00:15:39,855
Dixie: Yeah, it really is, and
I think that's the thing too
267
00:15:39,855 --> 00:15:42,235
is how do you reach people?
268
00:15:42,235 --> 00:15:46,795
Because I've had this discussion before,
like I can preach spay and neuter all
269
00:15:46,795 --> 00:15:52,025
I want on my social media, and I'm only
reaching people who are exactly like me.
270
00:15:52,435 --> 00:15:55,335
So it's like how do you
reach these other people?
271
00:15:56,975 --> 00:16:01,235
, Sonia: Unless they're coming onto
pages that we're often on I don't
272
00:16:01,235 --> 00:16:02,965
believe it does reach a lot of people.
273
00:16:03,605 --> 00:16:09,765
But it, if you go on adoption pages
and we do give that message out, I
274
00:16:09,765 --> 00:16:11,695
don't think it's well received either.
275
00:16:12,365 --> 00:16:15,265
It's, they look at it,
it's just an animal.
276
00:16:15,265 --> 00:16:18,135
It's just an animal, like we were
talking about, they find themself in
277
00:16:18,135 --> 00:16:21,985
this situation and they want, you asked
me about them calling rescues a lot.
278
00:16:23,020 --> 00:16:27,640
If they can't find another home or a
rescue group or somebody to take them
279
00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,870
in, a lot of times they go and dump
them on the side of the road too, which
280
00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,030
leads to these uncontrolled colonies.
281
00:16:34,570 --> 00:16:40,130
So it's just, I don't think that they
really see these little creatures
282
00:16:40,130 --> 00:16:43,500
as, living beings like a human being.
283
00:16:43,940 --> 00:16:48,250
They just see them as something they can
dispose of, and that's the problem I think
284
00:16:48,310 --> 00:16:50,790
, we all have even in metropolitan areas.
285
00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,950
We have individuals that they want pets,
but it's more to serve them than it
286
00:16:55,950 --> 00:16:57,950
is for them just to have a companion.
287
00:16:59,430 --> 00:17:04,089
So it ends up, a detrimental
outcome for the pet unfortunately.
288
00:17:04,089 --> 00:17:07,869
They're often dumped at shelters
whenever they get too old or something.
289
00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,819
Or they start having health conditions.
290
00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,390
We're talking about kittens, but we have
a big problem with the older cats too.
291
00:17:14,770 --> 00:17:15,839
I'm sure you do too.
292
00:17:16,380 --> 00:17:19,950
It's like they just give up on their pets
whenever they become a certain age and
293
00:17:19,950 --> 00:17:22,020
they, gonna cost a couple extra dollars.
294
00:17:23,010 --> 00:17:23,380
Oh, yeah.
295
00:17:23,380 --> 00:17:23,780
It's all the time.
296
00:17:23,780 --> 00:17:25,510
But they don't seem to learn their lesson.
297
00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:28,319
They don't seem to learn
the lesson of that, though.
298
00:17:28,349 --> 00:17:31,890
They get rid of the animal, and
then they want to adopt another.
299
00:17:32,290 --> 00:17:35,640
This shelter over here one of the
biggest complaints I have about
300
00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:39,860
them is if they get an elderly
dog or cat in, they will let these
301
00:17:39,860 --> 00:17:43,380
people go adopt out a younger pet.
302
00:17:43,970 --> 00:17:45,260
What are you talking about?
303
00:17:45,550 --> 00:17:49,170
They just dumped a dog or a cat.
304
00:17:49,380 --> 00:17:51,400
Why are you gonna let
them adopt another one?
305
00:17:52,500 --> 00:17:53,500
Dixie: Yeah, definitely.
306
00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:54,130
I have one.
307
00:17:54,130 --> 00:17:55,610
He's sitting on my lap right now.
308
00:17:56,410 --> 00:17:59,280
. He's a beautiful longhair cat.
309
00:18:00,230 --> 00:18:07,770
He's sweet as could be now, but I got
a lie before he came to me, and it was
310
00:18:07,770 --> 00:18:12,890
basically- ... that he was dumped at
his home where he was, and these people
311
00:18:12,890 --> 00:18:16,330
took him in, and they had him for three
weeks, and they couldn't keep him.
312
00:18:16,620 --> 00:18:18,940
So when you hear a story like
that's "Oh, that's wonderful.
313
00:18:18,940 --> 00:18:21,020
They took in this cat
that was dumped outside.
314
00:18:21,020 --> 00:18:22,070
Their owners moved.
315
00:18:22,770 --> 00:18:24,180
They left the cat outside.
316
00:18:24,180 --> 00:18:25,670
These people took the cat in."
317
00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:31,140
So I end up with the cat-
Yeah ... 'cause I'm like, "Okay.
318
00:18:31,140 --> 00:18:32,900
In the photos, he looks very sweet."
319
00:18:33,870 --> 00:18:38,620
And so they bring me the cat, and
The poor cat had to end up going
320
00:18:38,620 --> 00:18:41,310
on a transport too 'cause the cat
was, like, 10 hours from here.-
321
00:18:42,020 --> 00:18:42,500
Sonia: Oh, goodness
322
00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:44,380
... Dixie: the poor guy has to
go- Yeah ... through all this.
323
00:18:44,450 --> 00:18:49,120
He gets here, and he's exhibiting
this the classic behavior of
324
00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:50,560
a cat that has been dumped.
325
00:18:51,570 --> 00:18:54,250
And I'm like, "There's no way they
only had this cat for three weeks
326
00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:57,030
there's absolutely no way this
cat would be acting like this.
327
00:18:57,690 --> 00:19:03,500
So the person wanted me to give updates,
so I have their, the number, so I call
328
00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:08,550
'em and I'm like, "Hey," I'm like, "Did
you have this cat for only three weeks?"
329
00:19:08,590 --> 00:19:10,120
"Oh yeah, only three weeks."
330
00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,540
And I was like- ... "Okay, he's
just he's just not settling in.
331
00:19:14,540 --> 00:19:19,000
It's like typical dumped
cat, adult cat behavior."
332
00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:24,410
, He's exhibiting that depressed, angry
behavior that they have when they get
333
00:19:24,410 --> 00:19:25,550
dumped and their owner abandons them.
334
00:19:25,550 --> 00:19:26,540
Like they're shut down.
335
00:19:26,570 --> 00:19:27,660
Yes, exactly.
336
00:19:27,710 --> 00:19:29,650
I'm just like, "There,
there's just no way."
337
00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:37,060
So I ended up looking up this person and
I found a post on social media from two
338
00:19:37,060 --> 00:19:44,020
months ago, and I learned all about the
cat because- ... it was their cat and they
339
00:19:44,020 --> 00:19:44,880
just didn't have time- You got a whole
340
00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:45,980
Sonia: background story.
341
00:19:45,980 --> 00:19:46,440
Dixie: Yes.
342
00:19:46,650 --> 00:19:46,710
Yeah.
343
00:19:46,790 --> 00:19:48,790
And I'm like, "Did you not
think I would find this?"
344
00:19:48,790 --> 00:19:49,950
Like why lie?
345
00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:51,240
Why not just be truthful
346
00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:51,590
Sonia: about it?
347
00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,630
They don't think that we're gonna look.
348
00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,370
I don't think anybody understands
that we know how to read
349
00:19:56,370 --> 00:19:57,540
their body language either.
350
00:19:57,540 --> 00:20:01,400
You spend a lot of time with these
little animals, they all have different
351
00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,930
personalities and, you can't even
say that they're gonna react to a
352
00:20:04,930 --> 00:20:09,290
situation all the same because they do
have those individual personalities.
353
00:20:09,980 --> 00:20:15,260
But they can all basically, be set
off by triggers and they all show
354
00:20:15,330 --> 00:20:17,180
the same type of personalities.
355
00:20:17,230 --> 00:20:20,960
They can shut down in different
ways, but they're all shutting down
356
00:20:21,340 --> 00:20:22,540
if they're dumped and stuff like...
357
00:20:22,540 --> 00:20:25,730
I don't think people understand
that we can figure that out.
358
00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:27,260
We know what this is.
359
00:20:27,670 --> 00:20:31,680
And I'd have to say it, the
people who contact me, most
360
00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:35,090
of them, most, at least 99.9%,
361
00:20:35,490 --> 00:20:39,860
tell me some kind of lie to, as
how they came about the cat, how
362
00:20:39,860 --> 00:20:41,490
the cat came into their care.
363
00:20:42,150 --> 00:20:43,310
I hate to say it like that.
364
00:20:43,360 --> 00:20:47,620
I don't wanna be that person,
but I can't really believe
365
00:20:47,620 --> 00:20:49,280
what I'm told most of the time.
366
00:20:50,650 --> 00:20:54,660
And it's sad, but I don't
know why people lie about it.
367
00:20:54,740 --> 00:20:56,630
It doesn't do the cat any good.
368
00:20:56,760 --> 00:21:00,850
It doesn't do anyone any good because
it leads me into a situation like
369
00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:04,650
you found yourself in a situation
of trying to figure out the
370
00:21:04,650 --> 00:21:07,030
backstory so you can help the cat.
371
00:21:08,370 --> 00:21:11,620
. Dixie: And this particular
cat, it was a a dog rescue that
372
00:21:11,890 --> 00:21:13,460
they contacted a dog rescue.
373
00:21:14,170 --> 00:21:16,530
So they tell the dog
rescue this whole story.
374
00:21:16,530 --> 00:21:21,630
So, that rescue ended up making all the
arrangements to transport this cat here,
375
00:21:21,630 --> 00:21:25,090
and they were gonna just worry about
finding a place for him once he got here.
376
00:21:25,940 --> 00:21:30,220
And I Wow ... I had an adopter for
him, but, and I was just hoping,
377
00:21:30,220 --> 00:21:33,520
okay he's gonna come in and I'll be
able to adopt him out right away.
378
00:21:34,220 --> 00:21:36,600
And we've been working with
him for a couple of weeks.
379
00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:41,480
He's a sweetheart now, so it's almost
time for him to go to his new home
380
00:21:41,530 --> 00:21:45,240
Sonia: and they all have different lengths
of time that they need to decompress.
381
00:21:45,290 --> 00:21:48,490
, You find yourself in a situation,
you can't even determine how long it
382
00:21:48,490 --> 00:21:52,150
will take until they're ready to go
to their new home because you have to
383
00:21:52,150 --> 00:21:54,120
let them decompress on their own time.
384
00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:55,170
You can't force it.
385
00:21:55,170 --> 00:22:01,040
So yeah, it really puts us in a bad
place as far as, what we had planned
386
00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:06,020
in the future because it's just
an unforeseen situation, and you
387
00:22:06,020 --> 00:22:08,350
have to go by what the cat needs.
388
00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:10,000
You can't force anything
and you know that.
389
00:22:10,050 --> 00:22:11,600
Nobody really understands that.
390
00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,850
They just, they expect us to have
this little ball of fur that we can
391
00:22:15,850 --> 00:22:19,830
pass along, and it's just not that
simple, especially with adult cats.
392
00:22:20,853 --> 00:22:23,563
Dixie: With this one,, the
excuse was they don't have time.
393
00:22:25,333 --> 00:22:25,783
Yeah ... I
394
00:22:25,783 --> 00:22:26,713
Sonia: hear that one often.
395
00:22:26,763 --> 00:22:29,403
Dixie: And it's like for a cat
doesn't need a lot of time.
396
00:22:29,403 --> 00:22:30,433
It's not like a dog.
397
00:22:30,433 --> 00:22:33,633
A dog does need a lot of time 'cause
you gotta go walk your dog every day.
398
00:22:33,683 --> 00:22:36,953
But with a cat's fine if they see
you a couple hours during the day
399
00:22:36,953 --> 00:22:39,453
Sonia: and some are more clingy,
but most of them, they're just
400
00:22:39,453 --> 00:22:43,003
happy to be in your presence, you
watch some TV and they're there.
401
00:22:43,003 --> 00:22:46,603
They're just happy-go-lucky
individuals just to be with you.
402
00:22:47,113 --> 00:22:51,693
But I, yeah I'm not quite sure what
the I don't have the time thing is.
403
00:22:51,803 --> 00:22:56,443
The way I see it though is if you take
in a pet that's supposed to be a family
404
00:22:56,443 --> 00:23:01,143
member, I know not everybody's gonna be
like me, but I can wish, I try to wish.
405
00:23:01,783 --> 00:23:03,313
Dixie: Hopefully one day it'll get better,
406
00:23:03,423 --> 00:23:08,193
Sonia: hopefully, but until we have
more elected officials that try to
407
00:23:08,193 --> 00:23:12,743
put the word out and try to help us
to help the community, I don't see
408
00:23:12,743 --> 00:23:15,163
it getting any better, unfortunately.
409
00:23:15,853 --> 00:23:21,473
And I hate to be that Negative Nelly,
it's just, you see it for so long.
410
00:23:21,483 --> 00:23:22,073
It's been.
411
00:23:22,843 --> 00:23:27,343
17 years in total that I was
somewhat involved, 14 years
412
00:23:27,343 --> 00:23:30,733
that I was really involved and
then the four years I took off.
413
00:23:30,793 --> 00:23:36,183
But 17 years is a long time to see
some pretty horrific situations
414
00:23:36,183 --> 00:23:37,583
you find some of these cats in.
415
00:23:38,343 --> 00:23:41,523
So it's hard to stay
positive, it really is.
416
00:23:42,773 --> 00:23:43,693
, Dixie: It definitely is.
417
00:23:44,023 --> 00:23:49,743
How much time , do you devote to doing
TNR and taking care of community cats?
418
00:23:51,543 --> 00:23:54,383
Sonia: Oh, I do it daily.
419
00:23:54,463 --> 00:23:59,823
This one colony I'm working on it's
been three weeks, and that's Sunday,
420
00:23:59,823 --> 00:24:01,903
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night.
421
00:24:03,513 --> 00:24:07,183
That way I can get them to Spay
Nation by morning, and I go
422
00:24:07,183 --> 00:24:08,423
pick them up the next morning.
423
00:24:08,423 --> 00:24:12,253
So I, 30-plus hours I'd have to say.
424
00:24:14,753 --> 00:24:18,863
Dixie: And now New Iberia is a bit
of a drive to Lafayette, so how
425
00:24:18,863 --> 00:24:20,053
much time do you spend driving?
426
00:24:20,053 --> 00:24:20,773
Sonia: Yes, ma'am.
427
00:24:21,593 --> 00:24:26,083
It takes about 40 minutes for
me to get from my home to Spay
428
00:24:26,083 --> 00:24:27,773
Nation, the actual location.
429
00:24:28,273 --> 00:24:30,733
40 minutes there, 40
minutes back each day.
430
00:24:30,733 --> 00:24:37,073
So yeah, it's a decent amount of time,
but it- you get so used to driving when
431
00:24:37,073 --> 00:24:40,993
out in more rural areas, 40 minutes
doesn't seem like a lot anymore.
432
00:24:43,383 --> 00:24:47,853
Dixie: Before we end the call,
what final message would you have
433
00:24:47,853 --> 00:24:51,873
for people who, say, see a problem
but are hesitant to get involved?
434
00:24:55,513 --> 00:24:57,913
Sonia: Sometimes it's hard
to find people like me.
435
00:24:57,973 --> 00:25:01,893
It's not like we're advertising,
so unless you know somebody that's
436
00:25:01,893 --> 00:25:06,613
heard of me or someone like me,
you don't know to reach out.
437
00:25:06,703 --> 00:25:11,283
But reach out to rescues, and some of them
are in touch with people like, independent
438
00:25:11,283 --> 00:25:16,363
rescuers that can get you in contact
with us that, we could help you out.
439
00:25:16,833 --> 00:25:18,733
But just try to talk to somebody.
440
00:25:18,763 --> 00:25:20,303
Just don't leave them there to suffer.
441
00:25:20,913 --> 00:25:24,513
The more you leave them out
there unneutered and unspayed and
442
00:25:24,513 --> 00:25:28,833
unvaccinated, the, and the more lives
are gonna be out there suffering.
443
00:25:28,943 --> 00:25:30,863
Just try to reach out to somebody.
444
00:25:31,903 --> 00:25:34,293
Dixie: Yeah, I think that's a good
message too, and that's something that
445
00:25:34,293 --> 00:25:37,943
I always say too, even with people
that are trying to rehome their pets.
446
00:25:38,883 --> 00:25:43,253
I understand there are situations when
people have no choice but to rehome their
447
00:25:43,253 --> 00:25:49,173
pets, but there's- Correct ... other
situations where people have to rehome
448
00:25:49,173 --> 00:25:52,853
their pets 'cause maybe they can't
afford food that month, maybe they
449
00:25:52,853 --> 00:25:56,753
can't afford litter, maybe their pet
is sick and needs to go to the vet.
450
00:25:56,803 --> 00:26:02,173
And any rescue, I think, would rather
work with you on that than trying to
451
00:26:02,173 --> 00:26:04,453
rehome your pet, 'cause that's a lot
452
00:26:04,453 --> 00:26:04,753
Sonia: easier to do.
453
00:26:04,753 --> 00:26:04,843
I
454
00:26:04,843 --> 00:26:05,273
Dixie: mean,
455
00:26:06,533 --> 00:26:09,723
Sonia: even independent rescuers,
we'd much rather help you,
456
00:26:09,773 --> 00:26:13,803
fundraise and get you some food
or, fundraise for a vet visit or...
457
00:26:14,123 --> 00:26:16,133
We want them to stay with their families.
458
00:26:16,193 --> 00:26:17,923
We don't want to rehome them.
459
00:26:17,953 --> 00:26:22,193
It's stressful on the pet, and it's
stressful on everybody involved.
460
00:26:22,763 --> 00:26:28,043
So if there's any way, shape, or form
that we can keep you with your pet, that's
461
00:26:28,043 --> 00:26:30,073
where, that's the direction we wanna go.
462
00:26:30,803 --> 00:26:31,363
Definitely.
463
00:26:33,613 --> 00:26:35,873
Dixie: Thank you so much for
coming on the show with me today.
464
00:26:37,073 --> 00:26:38,433
Sonia: Thank you so much for having me.
465
00:26:38,433 --> 00:26:39,663
I greatly appreciate it.
466
00:26:40,613 --> 00:26:40,763
Dixie: Yeah.
467
00:26:40,793 --> 00:26:44,053
I loved hearing about the great work
that you're doing, and please keep it
468
00:26:44,053 --> 00:26:46,123
up because the cats definitely need you.
469
00:26:47,273 --> 00:26:49,303
Sonia: Thank you so much, and
thank you for what you do.
470
00:26:49,693 --> 00:26:50,563
I'll be in touch though.
471
00:26:50,563 --> 00:26:53,653
I would like to question you a little
bit on how you got your rescue started.
472
00:26:53,653 --> 00:26:54,883
I would like to start something here.
473
00:26:55,173 --> 00:26:56,313
Dixie: Yeah, absolutely.
474
00:26:56,313 --> 00:26:57,303
I'm happy to help.
475
00:26:57,343 --> 00:27:00,293
And actually on the show, we've
had a couple of people that
476
00:27:00,293 --> 00:27:01,793
have also made that offer.
477
00:27:02,143 --> 00:27:05,373
So if you go listen to some of our
other episodes, there's a bunch
478
00:27:05,373 --> 00:27:07,623
of people that would be willing
to share information with you.
479
00:27:07,623 --> 00:27:10,843
But if you have any questions, yeah,
please reach out to me because, it's
480
00:27:10,843 --> 00:27:14,943
something that is definitely needed,
. Any questions that you have, shoot 'em
481
00:27:14,943 --> 00:27:17,043
over and I'll answer 'em the best I can.
482
00:27:18,243 --> 00:27:20,733
That's it for today's
episode of Animal Posse.
483
00:27:20,763 --> 00:27:23,703
If you love what we're doing,
please consider becoming a member.
484
00:27:23,943 --> 00:27:28,053
Your support directly helps us continue
highlighting the people and stories
485
00:27:28,053 --> 00:27:29,673
that save lives across the country.
486
00:27:30,093 --> 00:27:33,393
Just a quick reminder, the views
and opinions expressed by our
487
00:27:33,393 --> 00:27:37,413
guests are theirs alone and are
provided for entertainment purposes.
488
00:27:37,623 --> 00:27:38,913
They don't necessarily.
489
00:27:38,953 --> 00:27:43,573
reflect the official position of the show,
and this information should never replace
490
00:27:43,573 --> 00:27:45,913
the advice of your own veterinarian.
491
00:27:46,086 --> 00:27:48,336
Thanks for listening, and
we'll see you next time.
