pets

Press release from PETA:

At around 8:30 on Saturday morning, a passerby discovered a cat inside a plastic bin—which was taped shut with duct tape and had no holes or other means of ventilation—abandoned on the side of the road at the intersection of Munson and Gilbert streets in Le Roy.

Officers believe that the male long-haired cat had been left there for approximately 20 minutes, and surveillance footage shows a white pickup truck at the scene.

The cat, now named Munson, is currently at the Genesee County Animal Shelter, but police have yet to determine who's responsible for abandoning him and leaving him to suffocate.

That's why PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction on cruelty-to-animals charges of the person or persons responsible for this crime.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way"—is also asking residents in the area to help spread the word and put up free downloadable posters (available here) in businesses and schools, on bulletin boards, and anywhere else that they're allowed to display them.

Someone may recognize this cat, and it might be the only way to apprehend those responsible for this cruel act.

If someone hadn't found him in time, this frightened cat would almost certainly have died inside that plastic box," says PETA Vice President Colleen O'Brien.

"PETA is calling on anyone who recognizes this cat to come forward immediately so that whoever shut him in this container and left him to suffocate can be held accountable and stopped from hurting anyone else."

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Le Roy Police Department at 585-345-6350.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Photos courtesy of the Le Roy Police Department.

Photos and information from the Le Roy Police Department:

The Le Roy Police Department is currently investigating a case of animal cruelty. Early this morning (Sept. 22) patrols located a cat enclosed in a plastic bin. The cat was inside the bin and the lid was duct-taped closed; there were no holes cut in the lid or anyway for air to enter the bin.

The cat appears to be in good health and is being cared for at this time.

The cat is an unneutered male tiger cat and appears to be well fed and taken care of (pictures posted below). 

We are asking for the public’s assistance with any information that could lead to a possible suspect or suspects as well as locating the owner of the cat. 

The Le Roy Police Department takes Animal Cruelty seriously and appreciates the public’s assistance in this matter. 

If you have any information, please contact the Le Roy Police Department at (585) 345 6350.

Bryan Lazarony thinks this kitten is missing a home. He found it on Chandler Avenue, across from UMMC. It has no tags or collar.  

The kitten's owner can call or text (585) 813-5745.

Pistol has been missing from the Indian Falls Road area of Corfu since Tuesday.

He's a friendly pooch and greatly missed at home.

If you find him or know where he is, call Tom (585) 233-0095 or Danielle (585) 356-5592.

Jan Gilbert is hoping the legions of eagle-eyed readers of The Batavian, with their vaunted capability to locate any untold number of missing pets over the years, will pull through yet again and spot Cali.

This petite 7-year-old female feline lives in Bergen and is named, rather obviously, after her coat. Her moniker is not shorthand for California, a word more likely to be used by people who aren't from there. (There being where the publisher and editor of The Batavian hail from.)

Graced with a face that probably accrues charm the more you see it, Cali looks quite distinctive. "Elle est belle, n'est-ce pas?" A pixie with effiminate van-Dyck-meets-blotch-and-smudge colorations.

Jan says she's been missing from the area of Route 33 and West Bergen Road for a whopping six weeks.

This is hard for the family, whose members have stuffed mailboxes in the vicinity with fliers about their lost pet. They miss her lovableness and her little furry presence lolling about.

She's an indoor-except when-she wants-to-be-outdoor-cat. (T-shirt: Cat with all four paws splayed and gripping a screen door. Text: "Cat wants in. Cat wants out.") Adopted as a feral kitten, Cali feels naturally at home in both worlds, and likes to hunt and prowl when the mood strikes. She's shy, unless she's stalking in the savanna, then she's sly.

"She's always come home," Jan says. "She's stayed out overnight before, but always comes back in a day or two. But not this time."

She was possibly spotted by a neighbor a couple of weeks ago, but the neighbor's snarky little dog chased her off those premises and she has not been seen since. Although a few people have reported seeing a cat like Cali, alas, none were actually her.

So, take a good look. There's only one cat in Bergen who looks like that. And if you see her, call Jan Gilbert at 585-967-9042.

A caller reports a dog locked in a car at Home Depot on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia.

The vehicle is a dark-color Suzuki.

Animal Control is responding. 

The current temperature is 87 degrees.

UPDATE 1:31 p.m.: An animal control officer spoke with the caller. The vehicle has left Home Depot.

Well, he's still at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

Despite the dog days of summer, this pit bull / Labrador retriever mix manages to keep his enthusiasm for life high and his mood cheerful.

You can see it in his eyes.

He's asking for a true friend to enjoy all that this wonderful old world has to offer: The buddy system; Tete-a-tete; Mano a mano; Semper fidelis; Tit-for-tat; You 'n' me, pal; A team; Us vs. them; We're in the soup together; Comrades in arms & legs; Duality; Pair of jacks; Dynamite duo; A real pair; Besties; BFFs; "Pardners"; Yin and yang; Mac 'n' cheese; We.

This neutered, adult canine gets along swimmingly with other dogs and thinks walking with humans is best thing to do on the planet.

You could take him out for a "test drive" so to speak; probably do you both good. A leash is at the ready. Just don't forget to hydrate.

Visit the animal shelter during these A-D-O-P-T-I-O-N hours:

• Sun, Mon, Tues, Fri -- 1-3 p.m.
• Wednesday -- 1-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.
• Closed Thursdays
• Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main St. Road, Batavia.

Morganville United Church of Christ Pastor James Morasco, above, will conduct a special service next month to bless animals. 

Submitted photo and press release:

In recognition of the relationship and love between people and their pets the Morganville United Church of Christ invites all to bring their pets (or a photo) to our special 10 a.m. service on Sunday, Sept. 16, for them to receive God’s blessing.

Each pet blessed will receive a Certificate of Blessing from Pastor James Morasco. Pets need to be on a leash or safely in your care.

Animal blessing services were started as a result of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. He is the patron saint of ecologists – honoring his love of animals and nature.

Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service.

The church is located at 8466 Morganville Road in Stafford.

For more information, contact Pastor Jim at 585-813-7416 or jmorasco@rochester.rr.com

A dog was reportedly stuck under the foundation of a house at 3810 Pike Road, Batavia.

Town of Batavia fire responded and the dog was just extricated.

Apparently, some ground gave way near the foundation.

Animal Control was also dispatched.

No, readers, your eyes do not deceive you. This photo is of a missing Siamese cat -- the very one and the same Siamese cat we alerted you to on Monday, July 23.

Little Mr. Smarty Britches -- actually his name is Kia, which is pronounced K-eye with a long i -- escaped his habitat again and is missing for the second time this week.

He is about 4 years old and is described as having "blue eyes, light brown body, black face."

He has been summering on Elmwood Avenue in the city at his owner's mother's house, in other words, at his grandma's place. His usual digs are in Spencerport, which goes a long way in explaining his wanderlust while in Batavia.

Spencerport is a village along the Erie Canal in the Town of Ogden. It is not a U.S. Top 10 micropolitan City like Batavia, with its enviable small-worldliness. So much to see and do! Whew!

At any rate, his grandma fetched him from his brief stint in the clink, otherwise known as the Genesee County Animal Shelter (a very fine place as far as shelters go). You'll recall he was put there by Batavia's finest, who intuited that this well-cared-for feline must belong to somebody.

But his return was shortlived. No doubt he spent the bulk of his time behind bars scheming on his next moves. And sure enough, the warm "welcome back home" had barely worn off, when he took the first opportunity to slip out the door -- and with dazzling speed, faster than you can say "lighting bug."

This reporter called his owner today, Shawn Bowman, and told him: "I see a pattern here."

"A pattern?" he replied.

"Yes, this is the second time in a week..."

Bowman was advised, that if his mother's neighbors succeed in spotting Kia and he gets back into the household's good graces, he should go to the Hogs for Paws event at Stan's Harley-Davidson on Aug. 11. At the benefit for the local shelter animals, he can get Kia microchipped and get a pet ID tag. He can buy a break-away collar from Genesee Feeds, which isn't far away, or maybe at Hogs for Paws, and voila! the Siamese mystery becomes less mysterious in the event of a three-peat.

Meanwhile, let's keep our eyes peeled. Even the mailman has been asked to keep a scout's eye out for Little Mr. Smarty Britches.

If you see the missing-found-missing-again cat from the Elmwood Avenue area, please call Shawn Bowman at 356-3680 or email him at sbowman8@frontier.com

(Photo of Kia, courtesy of Shawn Bowman.)

He's a grownup and is neutered.

His mien is happy and energetic.

He gets along good with other dogs.

Walking with the Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter is most enjoyable for him.

Someone took it upon themselves to name this dog Cheeto. That would be the singular form of the Frito-Lay snack food, Cheetos (formerly, until 1998, Chee-tos).

Charles Elmer Doolin (not just another pretty name) created Crunchy Cheetos in a Texas test kitchen in 1948. Today, there are 21 different Crunchy types; in Japan, they like strawberry-flavored ones. I kid you not.

This reporter is betting that Cheeto has had a taste or two of the savory snack in his day, not that any veterinarian would recommend it. Would go so far as to say he deserves another bite -- from the hand of a forever friend no less.

Also at the shelter, the feline wing of it, is an orange tiger domestic shorthair cat whose constitution is quiet and sweet. This gingery cutie is a spayed adult female.

Sitting with you and getting her tummy rubbed are her preferred pastimes.

Her name? Well, we can't make this stuff up. (Fiction so bad, nobody would buy it, or believe it.) It is Cheese Puff.

Yes, you read correctly, Cheese Puff is hankering for a home in Genesee County just like her doggie comrade Cheeto.

Cheetos Puffs were introduced in 1971; Baked Cheetos, inarguably a healthier choice, came along in 2010.

Cheese Puff, as you can see in the inset photo at right, is lightly colored.

She obviously was not the muse for the screaming bright Flamin' Hot Cheetos that have sent many people to the ER with gastrointestinal distress -- because excessive consumption, with the emphasis on excessive, will b-u-r-n your guts, folks.

But I digress. I usually do in these posts. Get off into the weeds somewhere and have to slog back to the matter at hand.

Which reminds me. If you can't adopt one of these amicable amigos, you can AT LEAST help support some of their needs while they await new homes.

Which brings me to Hogs for Paws, the annual fundraiser at Stan's Harley-Davidson in Batavia that benefits the critters at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

This year's event, staunchly sponsored as always by Stan's and the Volunteers for Animals, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. Stan's is located at 4425 W. Saile Drive.

Anyone and everyone are welcome.

There will be pet ID tags for purchase; food from Care-A-Van Ministries; plus a variety of vendors; T-shirt sale; 50/50 raffles and much more.

All monetary donations go toward the cost of spaying and neutering animals prior to adoption -- so important!

Please bring an item from the volunteers' Wish List. Always good choices are: canned and dry cat and dog food; small blankets and pet beds; bleach; laundry detergent; paper towels; NON-CLUMPING (plain) cat litter.

No one will be held responsible for Frito-Lay products left unattended.

UPDATE 6:32 p.m.: Full disclosure: Original Crunchy Cheetos are the reporter's most favored snack item, for reals.

A dog is reportedly locked inside a black Ford pickup truck in the parking lot in front of Kohl's department store off Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia.

An animal control officer is responding to check its welfare after someone called dispatch. It's 89 degrees now and the heat index is 97. It will get hotter today.

UPDATE 12:56 p.m.: "Unable to locate. I'll be clear; returning to the shelter," says the officer.

A woman asked to talk with police because a neighbor won't give her back her kittens.

She claims she went on a three-day vacation and a neighbor agreed to watch her kittens while she was gone for free.

Now, she says, the neighbor won't give the kittens back without payment.

Volunteers are needed to assist with cat cage and dog kennel cleaning at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

The Volunteers for Animals are looking for a few good people -- not necessrarily Marine Corps candidates -- but nonetheless folks with a sense of mission and purpose.

They ask for a commitment of at least twice a month.

Assistance is needed any day of the week (Sunday through Saturday) from about 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The work involves either cleaning cat cages and feeding the cats or cleaning dog kennels.

If you would like more information, please email them at  info@vol4animals.org  or stop by the shelter during adoption hours.

Genesee County Animal Shelter

3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia

Adoption Hours

Sun., Mon., Tues., Fri.: 1-3 p.m.

Wednesday: 1-3 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

Closed Thursdays

Saturday: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

A reader named Felicia contacted us this morning about this foundling, she writes:

"Found a kitten brown, white, gray in Batavia. Seems to be about 6-months old, very friendly, vocal, trusting of humans. Found near River Street in Batavia. Took it in for the night -- looking for the owner and are checking for a microchip tomorrow."

Can contact Felicia at 716-524-5819.

A dog is locked in a car with the windows up in the Walmart parking lot in Batavia. It is described as a red Honda Pilot, which is an SUV, parked in row 10. An animal control officer is responding.