How CAPE is changing the lives of homeless animals forever

Nestled amongst the mottled redwoods of Ben Lomond lies CAPE headquarters. The four-legged residents here are as content as can be. There’s Nester the donkey, Donald the turkey, and various chickens, cats and dogs. And, of course, Gus the pig, now contentedly ensconced in a pen with his girlfriend Phoebe. This integral community nonprofit organization dedicated to the humane treatment of the animal kingdom is a veritable dream come true for homeless animals in dire need of loving homes. Begun in 1992, the goal of CAPE is to provide care and assistance to neglected animals—big or small. Ninety-nine percent of the animals CAPE assists are rescued from animal shelters, when the creature has less than 24 hours before it is euthanized. Once the animal has been rescued from imminent death, it is placed either in a foster home or housed at CAPE where its personality can be evaluated and it can garner socialization, housetraining, and other skills that will make the animal more likely to be adopted. Most of these rescued animals are placed in foster care provided by numerous volunteers. Between 60 and 70 animals are placed in these homes each year, with a grand total of 1,262 adopted over the past 16 years. While this number seems like a triumph, “It’s a drop in the bucket compared to the countless homeless animals still out there. It’s getting more and more difficult to place the animals because for the past few years, people have started doing so much online. Nowadays, animals in the local shelters are having to compete with websites like petfinder.com. I always tell people that if they want to adopt an animal, visit the shelters first,” says JP Novic, Executive Director and one of the co-founders of CAPE. Many of the animals CAPE rescued were not initially adopted from shelters because they were considered too old or because they had a medical condition. But once the animal is taken under CAPE’s wing, it is assured a loving home for the remainder of its days. “We have a rigorous adoption program to ensure the best fit for all parties – it’s like adopting a child!” says Novic.

By working collaboratively with other organizations in Santa Cruz County, CAPE is able to find the best solutions for homeless animals. CAPE also diligently works to educate the community by giving presentations in schools and adult community groups on topics including pet overpopulation, the use of animals in medical research, and other consequential animal rights issues. Educational television programs and documentary films— including Old Friends, a documentary featuring the joys of animal adoption that has won awards at various film festivals — round out the educational components CAPE offers. A partnership with Compassion Without Borders has also enabled CAPE to reach out to stray and abused dogs in Mexico, providing them with new, loving homes in the U.S. for the remainder of their days. Novic says, “We advocate on behalf of all living beings that they be treated humanely.” Now there’s a happy ending for you.

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Karen M Gagne  - The Good Life... in Utah   |76.247.46.xxx |07-18-2008 15:55 I have just returned from volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. I was pleasantly surprised to see the article on Gus the pig and the work that CAPE is doing for our community. CAPE seems to work with similar values as Best Friends. Best Friends was opened in the early '80s by a few friends who wanted to make a difference in the lives of homeless and unwanted animals. Their policy is for no-kill shelter, and their motto is "No more homeless pets." There are animals at the sanctuary (over 2000 on any given day) who live happy and worthwhile lives, many of whom would have been euthanized almost anywhere else in the country. A dog with a missing leg got adopted to a loving family who doesn't even see his disability. In fact, he doesn't know he has one! In the October 2007 case of Michael Vicks, the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback, fighting pit bulls were rescued and some brought to Best Friends. They are now recovering, successfully learning how to be a loving friend instead of a fighting machine. Many of the animals come from shelters which are overloaded. Many of the dogs come from puppy mills. These are the dogs you see at the pet stores. The conditions these puppies and their mothers breed in are unlivable: dirty, crowded (two to three dogs to a cage so they can't even turn around). The mothers breed until they can't anymore then are killed. Puppy mills are a business and exist purely for profit, not for the welfare of the animals who are treated as products. At this time, only large-scale commercial operations - such as a pet store - need to be licensed. Obviously the law needs to change if we are to stop puppy mills. In the meantime, there is much that we, as consumers and pet lovers, can do. Please get your pets from an animal shelter. If you would really like a purebred there are rescue organizations for many different kinds of purebreds. Also, please, please, please, spay or neuter your pet. According to the humane society more than 3 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters every year. I encourage readers to go to the Best Friends website (bestfriends.org) and even think about taking a trip to breathtakingly scenic Utah to volunteer or take a tour of the 3800 acre sanctuary. It will change the way you look at animals forever. Karen M Gagne Reply | Quote 1   0

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