small dog found -- but not caught

Aiko writes in:

"The dog was wandering in the promontory point park around 6-7 p.m. on April 30th. Black and white, very small, sort of like a Mini Pinscher or Italian Greyhound. I tried for 20 mins. but s/he was too scared to let me get closer. All I could do was to call 311. City animal control should have come to get him/her. If there's anyone who knows anything about this dog, please call animal control."

If you know anybody missing a small dog, please pass this word on.

dog found; seeking owner or fosterer ...

FOUND: Stray dog yesterday morning at 61st and Kimbark. Rottweiler/husky mix, maybe 5 yrs old, slight hip dysplasia, not thin, no collar. Please contact Tambra at tb15@uchicago.edu if you are her owner or have seen her before, or if you would be willing to foster her until a shelter spot can be found. She is very sweet.

Lt. Dualla

Here is lovely petite dark tortie Lt. Dualla, a member of the Battlestar Galactica colony. We are preparing ourselves to go speak to the folks on whose property Battlestar Galactica resides. We hope they receive our information and offers of help!

Qwerty on Petfinder

Qwerty is available for adoption now via Treehouse. I can't say I find this the most attractive photograph of the Q-man.

Treehouse makes sure each and every cat they have has a unique name -- they never repeat themselves! I'm so glad they had never had a Qwerty before!

Sounds like Qwertster is still settling in. His ear looks much improved.

Calico Cat on Wrigley Field

Cat on the baseball field launches lots of cat-talk in Chicago.

The calico cat who ran onto Wrigley Field during the fourth inning of Tuesday night's Cubs-Reds game is safe and sound in a local animal shelter, according to a Cubs' spokesperson. A veterinarian who was at the game took the cat after it was captured by a security guard and deposited tail-first into the box seats down the left field line.

See video of this incident on the WGNTV website.

Hyde Park foster dog seeks forever home

Meet Babe. Babe is a wonderfully friendly, low-key blue pitbull in search of a good home. Although he came to Animal Control as a stray, his foster mom says he has clearly spent much of his life with a family. He is currently in foster care in Hyde Park through Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue.



He will be adopted to a responsible owner only for the low low fee of $200, which covers the cost of his neutering, shots, and medical care.



More info and pictures at Babe's Petfinder Profile.

To meet Babe or for more info or questions, email Eevie at eeviesmith@gmail.com.

missing cat report -- now found

Missing Cat around 55 and Hyde Park

"He's black with a white stomach and white paws. He's a little chubby and he doesn't have a collar on. He answers to Baby. He's an entirely indoor cat and so now that he's out of the building, he's probably pretty frightened."

FOUND! FOUND! FOUND!!!!!

The blog owner is on vacation for a week.

Our email is being monitored locally, so if you have questions, find a cat (or other pet), lose a pet, need help or advice, please email hydeparkcats@gmail.com.

Pesach tov, chag semeach! Or, happy Easter. Or, enjoy watching the bunnies and birds of spring.

Kitten Season

Have you heard of “Kitten Season”?

The feline reproductive season runs from (roughly) Dec. 21 (winter solstice) to Sept. 21 (vernal equinox). The amount of daylight turns the cycles off and on.

That means in December, intact females are stimulated to come into heat and usually they will come in heat by Jan. 15 or so. A 60-day pregnancy means that the queens (an unsprayed female cat) will give birth around March 15 or so. Hence the first litters of kittens will come into the shelters shortly thereafter. Because all of the intact females have had some time off over the winter, they will all begin to cycle and give birth around the same time. Hence the term "kitten season."

An unspayed female cat will go into heat every 3 weeks;

The average size of a litter is 4-6 kittens;

One mother cat can produce 18 kittens in one season;

A female cat can begin having kittens at 6 months old;

In 7 years 1 female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats!!!!!

During “Kitten Season” the number of kittens far exceeds the number of homes available; during “Kitten Season” you will see signs everywhere for Kittens for Sale, they are sold by the wayside, they are dropped off in boxes at the grocery stores and they end up in animal welfare organizations;

There are more kittens available than there are families to take them;

During “Kitten Season” it is difficult to find loving homes for adult cats.

There is only one solution: Spay or neuter your pets -- and practice TNR (trap neuter return) on ferals!

Yvette's TNR project

Thanks everybody who came out to our TNR Workshop, and special thanks to Yvette Piña for the presentation!!! This is Yvette's blog about TNR in her neighborhood. She has TNRed about 250 cats! And she helps dogs, too!

Also thanks to Diane for the cat food, to Anna G. and Vicky for the delicious home-baked goodies for our workshop, and to Ginny L. for the cold hard cash.

Don't forget about Tree House's Open House Saturday afternoon. Remember, Tree House has taken in several Hyde Park Cats, including two who are available for adoption right now (scroll down a little).

Two Events

Don't forget about our TNR workshop Friday, April 3, 7 pm, downstairs in Treasure Island (55 and Lake Park). Come even if you haven't RSVPed!

And on Saturday, go to Tree House's Open House for their new facility!!!

Lost Cat Alert

LOST CAT -- can you help?

This Monday, March 30, a large (17 to 18lbs) black and white, neutered male cat, Gaffer, disappeared. He is well-known on his block, as he sits in front of his home at 5751 S. Harper and greets pedestrians -- human and non-human. He is very friendly and easy-going.

Can you help? Call Gary at 324-5347 or email garyworcester@gmail.com.

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More thanks to Anna F. for round two of tins of cat food (to set traps) and the donation ... and big purrrrrs to Trudy G. and family for the donation. We are so grateful for all our friends, neighbors, and readers near and far who help us with money, food, and support. The cats thank you!