3Bk has backed out of the Pepper Project and the website has been taken down. I am severely pressed for time, but I will be starting a new website for the project on my own. In the beginning, I had a vision of sharing this project with my TDK family so it would reach more people, but it looks like I am on my own now. Still, I am not going to let my vision die. I am giving up the flyer idea for now, and focusing my energies on the website. It will be slow going because of the time constraints -- I still have to get photos, and stories to publish and researching the stories I can research to make sure I post only the facts, but I will get this thing going.
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat
The Pepper Project Website
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Posted 3 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #
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You know there is probably a reason the 3BK backed out. Personally wonder why? I don't know a site that has been more supportive of you owlwatcher than this site. I don't think there has been a moment when you haven't had TDK members helping with anything you have ever wanted. It is almost a slap in the face to say that you are on your own now, that is my personal opinion. You have had offers of help at every turn and prayers and well wishes by everyone in this community. I am feeling a bit angry that you now think you are on your own like people here abandoned you. I hope that I am reading your post wrong and I am just being foolish.
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SoxMom..I think maybe OW was simply referring to 3bk's removing the website. OW knows how much we all love and support her...she's family. I personally am limited with what experiences I can contribute but know that when OW decides she has a vision to complete..in a matter of time she will do it. Maybe right now there just weren't the available people to assist her in areas of experteese (sp?).
OW..I don't know what happened but I'm sorry things have taken this turn. Don't lose heart...this vision may be some time in coming...but I clearly see what you're seeing even if I don't know how else to help. Why did 3bk take down the website? I don't understand..... :(
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I backed out with much regret for very personal reasons. I just didn't agree with the direction of the cause. I still commend Owl for standing up for what she believe's
...That is all I'm trying to do here. We all have different beliefs, opinions and points of veiw. I think thats okay. I don't neccisarily agree with owls opinion, and I think thats okay. I would never try to sway her.
I opoligize to anyone in TDK for backing out after coming aboard with such excitment. I take personal responsibility for that. It is not a decision I have come to lightly. I stewed over it for 3 days now, I just have to go with my gut on thisPosted 3 years ago by 3Bangin'kitties #
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SoxsMom,
Looking back at the way I wrote that post, I can understand how it could have been taken wrong. I was hurt when I wrote it and should have waited until I had thought things over before posting. I did not intend to hurt anybody with my above post, but I do feel very much alone with this project now that 3Bk, who was one of the key people working on the project, has backed out.3Bk said she was backing out because she wasn't sure if she agreed with my vision of the Pepper Project. She had some other reasons as well but she did not want to bring them up here and I will respect that.
Still, many of the people who said they wanted to help have not been able to help. Lisa, who was to be the editor, is very ill and I doubt she can deal with something like this project at a time when she is dealing with being so sick. Others who have said they were going to help with pictures have either had no time to take pictures or have backed out. The rest who said they would help in any way they could ... well, there isn't much left to do now that I have changed this project to focus on the website.
As I mentioned, I will be grateful and happy for all contributions, but unless there is somebody else who wants to do the website (it has to be a website - blog format will not work for what I want), then I am pretty much on my own with this.
Posted 3 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #
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I will search it out before going to work. I have a job starting in a few minutes. Is it okay to text message the number to you?
Posted 3 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #
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OW..I wish I could have given more than the Hopper and Ms. Hissy photos...I just didn't have anything else to give that depicted the feel of the situation. I hope you're able to bring this project back up and running.
3BK..We all have reasons for our positions and we can't change those reasons to suit other's needs. I'm just sorry it didn't work out because the site was looking great for having just begun. There's a message here and I know it will get out. Maybe just not right now.
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Looks like I have the morning off after all. I hate these last minute cancellations.
I am researching website providers now. I would love to use angelfire but I already have 2 paid websites with them and I am not sure if I am allowed to have a free website when I already have two other websites.
Anybody know of any good free website providers that have an option to upgrade to a paid website for less than $5 a month?
Posted 3 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #
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Karen & 2B, and all TDKers, thanks for not flambaying me. I really thought that wouldn't be received well. I don't know why, everyone here has always been nothing but nice. So...Thanks, for understanding!
You are dead right, there is a issue to be addressed here. Like I told owl in my email; I believe that when there is a problem, you have to go to the source. I don't necessarily feel (just my feelings) that Rescues and shelters are the source. I see them as more of a solution to a problem, maybe not the best, totally agreed, but still a solution. The big problem, the source, is irresponible pet owners not spaying, neutering and letting their animals run loose.
I have personally had great experiences with rescues and shelters, so I personally feel a little hypocritical bad mouthing them. I'm not judgeing any of you, truly, I can only say how I feel. I really think most of them have good intentions, again, only in my "opinion". I would rather try and do something about the spaying, neutering and irresponsible pet owners. I feel extremly passionate about that so I just need to follow my heart.
I have the ut-most respect for Owl, really! It is never easy to face the world and stand behind something you believe in. Cudo's for that. Don't give up. If you have had bad experiences, by God, stand up for it. I don't question your integrity, again, it just isn't a cause for me, close, but not the one.
Thanks everyone for listening and thanks for any support.
Posted 3 years ago by 3Bangin'kitties #
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3BK, We always support each other, no matter what. That is what family is all about. We may not always see eye to eye but what family does? You are now an important part of the TDK family so please don't feel that any of this effects that. What OW is doing is her vision. More power to her, we will support anything she wants to do if it is in our power to do so. The same will always go for you too!
Posted 3 years ago by debsterwiz #
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I know dotster has a big sale going on hosting, but I don't think it's free.
I'm sorry I'm not dependable right not. That's not to say I'm not occasionally available. It's got me sooooo frusrated. But I'll help when I can.
I, too, agreed to be part of an awareness campaign, and as long as the Pepper Project stays focused on that, in a positive manner, I'm onboard.
My only worry is that if we publish the very worst photos we can find, the project will have a backlash effect. People have a limited capacity for secondary trauma. I can tell you that I can't see horrible photos of neglected animals. I just cannot do that to myself. The reasons are deeply personal. I see plenty of other things, and am well aware of what amimals experience. So if seeing such photos is a foregone conclusion on the Pepper Project team, I might not be such a great contributor as I'd hoped.
But that doesn't mean I don't support the concept...people absolutely need to know that dropping an animal off at an organization that calls itself a "rescue" doesn't guarantee that animal a bright future...and if they don't follow up on the animal they deliver to a rescue, they shouldn't be walking around thinking they did a wonderful deed. The deed isn't done until they see the animal into a good home. If I understand OW correctly, that is the core mission of the PP. Is that correct?
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3BK, we are not here to judge. We must each act according to our conscientiousness. So please don't think that any of us would think ill of you.
OW, I wish that I could help with the website. But, although I know how to use sites that are already there (like TDK), I have no clue how to create them. But there is an abundance of talent here and I know that it will be accomplished.
Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #
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Lisa, Willow and Deb
...Thanks for understandingPosted 3 years ago by 3Bangin'kitties #
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3B, I agree, rescues and shelters are part of the solution, but I hope everyone also understand where OW is coming from..right now her heart is in her throat and it's all because of one bad rescue organization..Just like all areas of organizations, there are always a few bad apples and OW is surrounded by this one, and with her love for these animals, she is forced to watch daily as this one bad apple operates and these animals suffer for it..I'm sure it is very hard right now for her to focus on anything else..It too has my 24 hour attention..maybe once we can do something about this one we can refocus the project..
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I totally understand 2B. I do think everyone understands, and supports where ow is coming from. I am very fortunate that I haven't had any bad experiences with shelter. But I'm also very aware that there aren't bad ones out there. If we could just control the neglect and overall population, we wouldn't even need all these rescues. I wish you both luck with Pepper
Posted 3 years ago by 3Bangin'kitties #
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3BK you are spot on!!! People need to take responsibility for their pets. I am sick over one in our shelter. A man brings in his mix breed dog--she is pregnant. He says I keep her on a chain in the yard she should be pregnant. She might be chained but every male dog in the neighborhood can smell her. She is slated to be put down because of her agression level. She is a pit bull mix and fairly aggressive. Because this guy didn't get her spayed or get her in the house she and her pups will be put down because he is ticked because she got pregnant. He thinks that he has no responsibility because he had her chained. Pet owners need to get pets spayed and neutered.
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It must be very hard not to want to put that man down instead!!!! I currently have a neighbor showing the same irresponsibility and have spoken to him so many times..he keeps promising to have her fixed, just saw her son (from the last litter) humping her..neither have been fixed yet...I'm almost ready to seek them out of his yard and bring them back fixed.
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It makes me sick! This is a topic I want to find a way to tackle, make a difference somehow. Some people seem to collect animals, love the idea of them, then completly neglact them. You have to have a license to shot an animal, you should have to have a license to own one too.
Posted 3 years ago by 3Bangin'kitties #
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I have a horrific, heartbreaking story of a shelter that I'm just not ready to write down yet. I will....but it's still so painful after so many years that I find it unnerving to talk about. Know this...Shelters are NOT all good. They lie to cover-up for one another at times at the cost of their jobs being lost should anyone learn the truth. I know for the most part the shelters are such a blessing but with all things in life..there's always a downside and the realty of poor sheltering is just that...A reality. Very sad reality.
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On the subject of shelters and rescues, one of the original threads that was deleted had several horror stories about shelters and rescues. Two stories that stand out in my memory are animal control officers unfairly seizing animals and a no-kill shelter killing a kitten that somebody wanted to adopt.
These stories, and what I am going through right now, are what inspired me for this project. Not only that but I have witnessed and heard horrible things about the local animal control and animal shelter. Two people that I know of besides myself, have had dogs captured by the city animal control - in all three cases the dogs' collars were removed by the animal control officers - who denied that the animals had collars when captured - and one of the animals was adopted out as a stray less than two days after it was taken to the shelter. My dog, who was dragged out of her own doghouse at around 6:00pm (yes she had gotten out but ran back into the yard) was scheduled to be euthanized the next afternoon giving me very little time to rescue her from the shelter. Since her collar was removed, they had no contact information to get in touch with me.
These are not isolated incidents either. My neighbor's dog was put to sleep less than two days after animal control caught the dog, which had gotten loose. That dog was wearing a collar too but they claimed that it had no collar. So in this case, they find a healthy dog that is lost, take its collar off, and euthanize it less than two days after it entered the shelter. My neighbor filed a complaint but did not have the money to take things any further.A few years ago, this same shelter made the news when they they put somebody's dog up for adoption less than three days after it entered the shelter. The owners called the shelter and found out that their lost dog was there and told them they would be by that afternoon to get their dog. By the time they got there, a couple of hours after calling the shelter, their dog had been adopted out. The shelter refused to give them the information about the family that had adopted the dog and the people lost their beloved pet -- the animal shelter did not even hold the dog for the period of time that they were supposed to before putting it up for adoption.
This same shelter also made the news when they were caught selling animals to companies for research purposes.
The county shelter isn't much better. In fact, the county animal control tried to steal one of my friend's dogs out of her yard. She saw them sticking a catch pole between her gate and the fence, trying to catch her dog with it. She came outside and asked what they were doing and they quickly backed away. She called in to the office to file a complaint and they tried to tell her that they could just seize an animal if it didn't have a license. Of course that is a load of garbage - they are supposed to give you a written warning and give a set amount of time to get the dog licensed.
There are a lot of other stories out there but I have to leave for work now so I don't have time to go into this any further.
Posted 3 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #
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I feel the need to jump in here & comment. It seems everyone is looking at this project in different perspective from one another. It's barely been born,& now being shelved. With any new web page,there will be "things" to change or "adjust",or require more investigation...however you want to put it.
The bottom line is...about the animals. I offered without hesitation & for the benefit of knowledge & perspective the photos of Hopper & Hissy that are being used on the site. Both cats went thru hell to get to where they are today...FREE to live. If I hadn't persisted in capturing them,getting them fixed & releasing them,well,they would've ended up in those cages they are shone in or a so-called no-kill shelter for the duration of their lives or euthanized because of over-crowding at these shelters (just because they say it's no-kill,doesn't mean they don't euthanize the less adoptable types).
And too many times,altho they mean well & love animals,these "Rescue" or "Foster Homes" become their only way of avoiding being euthanized...at literally,the expense of their freedom. I've seen it first-hand & feel that in order to raise awareness,you have to start somewhere...And OW, I commend you at starting with the idea in the first place.
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Yes I too have read those stories in the local paper, our local shelter had many problems too several years ago, but fortanatly some Hollywood celebrity wanted to adopt a dog from that shelter and she too was given the run around, then when she showed up to adopt, after being approved and doing all the paperwork, they had put the dog down that morning. Gave her no explaination other than basically "Opps"..Well, she had the pull and things here finally changed...
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Susie, I understand what your saying, no-kill shelters do put down animals they deem unadoptable, I volunteer at one that does that. If they pass it, they won't put it down no matter what. While I agree it is sad for these animals. They don't really have any other choice, there aren't near enough people willing/able to adopt. If they never put down any animals there would never be room for them all, food for them all, there would be smaller cages for them all, and for the majority the rest of their lives. I find that worse, just my opinion.
I know personaly the vets that put these animals down, I have even assisted, giving the animal comfort in its last moments. Some of you will probably find that cruel and heartless of me, but I'm realistic, I see first hand what happens, and I know that, right now, there is no other solution. Every animal does deeply sadden me. I can honestly say I would rather euthanize any animal than condem it to the cage forever in a stressful environment like a shelter.
This decision is not made lightly by the animal behaviorists. Many tests, given several times, they really give all animals the benifit of the doubt. I haven't heard any other solution offered, just anger that these animals are being put down. There needs to be a solution offered rather than just telling people to watch out for shelters. We already have all shelters overflowing w/ animals. Imagine if they didn't put any down? Only so many people are willing to adopt, so the problem would be even worse than it is now, we would have 10 times more animals living their days out in cages.
This is why, again, I feel the source needs to be tackled. The unresponsible pet parents that aren't spaying and neutering. Unless another solution is offered. Even for these rescues out there not operating on the up & up, and I do believe they are out there, but again, you gotta go to the source. If these bad pet owners didn't exist, neither would the shady rescues.
Posted 3 years ago by 3Bangin'kitties #
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70% or more of the animals in our shelter end up being put down. Not because anyone wants them put down but there is no room and more and more come in. 3BK I have a feeling we do a lot of the same thing. I see the staff cry when animals are put down. Workers on the phone trying to get animals in a no kill shelter. It is heart breaking. Have brought in free and reduced spay/neuter clinics. If we are lucky we get 5-6 cats in a 2 day period and the cat population has exploded. At least more dog owners are finally getting their animals fixed. I agree 3BK, pet owner have to be made aware and held responsible for their pets!
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