Animal bonding with truckers on the road

I am in the process of intervening and saving the lives of a dozen or so cats and kitties at a truck stop off the Florida Turnpike. I noticed that many truckers have asked questions about the cats in our process of trapping the unwanted cats and kittens. Fortunately or unfortunately for the cats and kittens we are unable to TNR (trap neuter and return the cats) because the highway authority does not want the animals on the premises. As a no kill shelter we are capturing, altering and trying to find safe environments for the animals instead

Anyone truck driver that has ever looked forward to the homey touch of seeing a familiar animal after a long days ride will be have sympathy for in these animals in danger.

As a non-profit organization I feel we have a duty to spread the word of the plight of animals in distress on our highways. The way I am approaching this is writing a book / fiction based on facts about truck drivers that have developed relationships with animals on the road. Especially those animals that have shown up year after year at the same truck stop. If you have a story I would love to hear from you through email so that I can make my story more realistic.

I will use the stories to submit to the newspaper to encourage authorities to take more humane steps in dealing with abandoned and homeless cats found on highways and byways of our nation. And also to write a book about these animals as well as to promote the adoption of the cats and kitten we are able to socialize and make adoptable. Those cats we can not find homes for because of health issues or lack of sociability we hope to raise funds to take them to a 30 acre ranch in Tallahassee Fl where they can live the rest of their lives in freedom and protected care. Please call me or email me if you are interested in this project or just have a word or two leave it on the bulletin board.

Thanks truck drivers. I have a deep respect for your work and the lives you live. I once read that truck drivers on the scale of intelligence are higher on the scale then school teachers. On this premises As a retired third grade teacher, on this little project of mine, perhaps you can give me insight on how I may get information from you all out there.

Joan Director of Wildwood Ranch Cat Rescue of Central Florida. Please check out my web site at [ And if you would like a traveling companion remember cats can be trained to make great companions

 

I guess your response went over my head. I am only a simple person who loves to read and write about cats asking a simple question. Maybe you should write the book. You seem more versed in using words in a clever ways. The only clever thing I am trying to accomplish is extracting information.

My words in the past have been used to help hundred of homeless cats and kittens and I am always looking for more angles to get the word out there to the public in an interesting way so that they become more knowledgeable in the conditions of the way we (meaning humans) treat animals and cats in general. (Like non entities)

I come across many people in my work of animal rescue and find there are animal lovers and non-animal lovers and it takes all kinds to tell the story correctly.

I find very little humor in my work as a cat rescuer. I dedicated my life to helping the homeless and abandoned. I am active in my work with the support of many people who believe as I do. Now that I am applying for a 501 3c (non profit) I hope others as well will take me more seriously even thought they may not be on the same page that I am on.

So to reiterate my post I am looking for truckers to share stories about animals that they may travel with or have had contact with on the road. These stories I would like to use in whole or in part for a book. Of what genre I don't know until it develops.

I am doing a large rescue on the Florida turnpike of feral cats partly due to human error. That is due to the human error of feeding and not spaying and altering and in addition they had to get there somehow (probably human dumping). This experience has sparked compassion in me far beyond what I have experienced in the past. This is mostly due to the danger these animals face daily on the little space of land being the truck stop in-between four lanes of highway with speeding trucks and cars pass by at 70 to 80 miles an hour.

I can only see the situation from a rescuers perspective and feel maybe by getting some stories from truckers I can learn a little more about the cat’s interaction with the truckers. I know for a fact that at our truck stop one trucker asked about where the cats were going when I was trapping. If you are interested in finding out what happened to the cats, stay tuned and you will learn from my book when it is published.

In addition if you are also a better editor than I am feel free to correct this message as it is only a rough draft.

This response to you is not to have an intercourse with you personally but to clear up with other interested reader my point. It is easy to be persuaded to side with top dog (people who put down or make fun of others) AT my age honey I don’t give a ####. You may be flying above me on your big wheels but my heart is pumping toward a better world. If this works it does if it doesn’t I will go on to another venue with or without the truckers help.

 

Thanks for that info. I guess everything is a joke to you. Hope you have continued luck in not getting killed in dangerous situations. I am not a trucker and guess don't have the same sense of humor as you do.

 

What does that mean? A cat has to pay to ride on your truck.. You missed the point of the thread. Two halves make one whole. So they say.