CAT Rescue Stories
2007-2008 Feral Cat Assistance at the Airpark in the Comox Valley
by Char Olson
Somehow I found myself at the end of October helping with the feral cats at our local Courtenay Airpark - cats and kittens that have been born there and sadly dumped there to fend for themselves. Well, it's something that was new to me, so I set out to task with the help of Terry and her friends. We needed food for feeding stations, adoptive homes, and especially vet care. Since that day at the end of October when I brought home my first feral female, who was spayed, vaccinated and returned, we have caught and placed three adult cats and placed three kittens (who were anything but feral). Unfortunately, the mom and kittens were dumped there. Doesn't sound like a great feat - but we are talking about only a few people who have lives of their own putting in what time they have to trap and collect donations.
I would really like to thank those who have given generously: Wagz pet supplies store for their support and donations; Bosley's for their continued donations of food; a wonderful lady named Nancy for her donation of food and offer of help; Van Isle Vets for taking this on for me - they have been terrific, both for the Airpark cats and for my own pets; and the compassionate people who have adopted not only the Airpark cats and kittens, but the other animals that have come my way that needed homes. Last but not least, thanks to Animal Advocates Society of B.C. for its ongoing covering of vet expenses for the feral cats at the Airpark. (To February 2008 $2245.63)
2007 Kamloops Ferals - A Cat's Fate does the work and AAS pays the bills - real animal welfare - keeping ferals from being killed (in 2007, AAS paid $ 1125 for vet bills) Hi AAS, I hate asking for help, especially to another group who works so hard! You have helped us out in the past tremendously, and we are in another situation. We (myself, and a couple of volunteers) have started a Spay/Neuter/Release mission in the Pritchard area of Kamloops. A woman contacted me from the Pritchard area with a bit of a situation on her hands. She, and her family had just moved into the home 2 weeks prior, and realized that the property was inhabited by several feral cats. From what she told me, there was a momma cat (who was semi-tame), 5 babies (who were about 10 weeks old), and 2 other cats. I agreed that we could help trap, and she agreed that she would feed/water them, and continue to allow them to use her property as home. Well, of course this situation has grown to be a bigger problem than first thought (as most feral situations do). The first 2 feral cats we trapped, she had never seen before. Seems we have a LOT of brown tabbies on this property! Daily now, this woman writes down descriptions of the cats she sees, and we are now aware that there are many, many more cats than we first thought when taking this on. Some of the cats we are catching are in quite rough shape. Our vets estimate some of the ferals to be as old as 10! Unneutered Tom cats, running feral for 10 years is almost unheard of. They are usually killed off by coyotes, hit by cars, or die of illness or infection much earlier. One of the boys we caught had so many scars on his ears, that they could not stand up. He didn't have earmites, which I had thought by looking at him. He had scar tissue covering virtually all of his body, a huge tape worm infestation, and abscesses that had burst open. Poor fella....but he is now neutered and has been spotted, happily eating at the new feeding station. I am aware that AAS has lots of their own costs to deal with, but wondered if there may possibly be some funding available for a project such as this? I have included a picture of the cats. |
Make a tax-deductible donation to Animal Advocates Society marked for A Cat's Fate and we will send the money to A Cat's Fate to pay their vet bills. |
2007 Polly's cats
How the recue network gets real animal welfare done and keeps animals out of cells and cages!
Polly is a single mother of two children and two cats who recently moved to a new home in Mission BC, where she "inherited" two stray kittens about nine months old - just the right age to start breeding. Now Polly had four cats that needed to be spayed and neutered and two that needed new homes. Polly contacted AAS because she did not want to take the cats to where they might be killed and the Mission Pound does not take cats. AAS contacted a rescue group in Mission, the Fraser Valley Humane Society and within hours the details were being discussed, and arrangements were being made. Animal Advocates will be paying the bills and Fraser Valley Humane Society will do all the work.
Wanda
Cat rescuer Diane got a typical call from her vet. A cat and her two kittens were in a box at the front door when staff arrived. Diane has rescued cats from drug houses, from street people, and feral cats, for ten years, and for ten years AAS has been helping her pay the bills. AAS paid for vaccines, deworming and for Wanda's spay.
Granny
Granny was rescued by AAS with seven other cats when their owner was evicted many years ago. Granny had chronic ear and teeth problems so she became a "keeper" - a cat that has to have lifetime care. Granny before her most recent dental surgery.
Big Boy
AAS got Big Boy when his owner moved and left him behind. Neighbours told AAS that they didn't want to take him to the SPCA, so we took him in. He was treated for upper respiratory syndrome and eye infections and asthma.
(Big Boy was recently rehomed with a non-smoker.)
Sammy
Sammy was that most common of cats, a plain black shorthaired stray. No-kill shelters tend to fill up with these cats (kill agencies kill a lot of them). Sammy is young and healthy and waiting for a home with a family that will not abandon him again.
(Sammy has been rehomed.)
Angel
Angel is a two year old spayed female. AAS rescued her from a crack house where the adults and the children were viciously abusing her. She was covered in flea-bite scabs and terrified when AAS got her, but she is ready for a home now. (Angel has been rehomed.)
Daisy
Daisy is another of the cats that AAS got from the evicted owner. Daisy's teeth were rotten and she was very timid but after her teeth wre fixed we found a new owner who likes timid cats.
Joanna
Joanna was trapped by AAS as a feral kitten. She is one of the ones that stayed very timid and so she was passed over. She is still timid but would be very happy to be someone's only cat.
(Joanna has been rehomed.)
