Articles
Winter Kittens December 19, 2009
They were found huddled in an open structure at the side of the road; their pregnant mother wrapped around them to ward off the blast of cold wind. The five little winter kittens were but a few of the many Cat Rescue Network has been asked to take in this December .
They were lucky. An emergency foster home agreed to take them, and their mother, and keep them in her bathroom until a foster home became available. There are many more under porches, and garbage bins; cold, hungry and frightened. “Without suitable winter shelter, these wee kittens will certainly perish” says Louise Hindle, founder of the Cat Rescue Network. “ Our foster homes are busting at the seams” she continued, “we have protected some of the kittens in makeshift winter boxes on porches but the calls keep coming, and our volunteers are exhausted”.
Volunteers are so busy with calls about outdoor pregnant cats that few have completed their Christmas preparations. “There are many ways to celebrate the spirit of Christmas”, says Hindle, “There is no better feeling than to know that the cat you saw shivering in the cold is now safe, warm, well fed and will eventually be someones cherished pet.”.
The dilemma is that Cat Rescue Network foster homes still has some of the spring kittens, who grew up in foster homes because of the large numbers taken in, and fewer adoptions this year. Now, there is little space available for the winter kittens. Some cats are so desperate, they are running into houses.
Cat Rescue Network will be doing adoptions throughout the holiday season. There is an adoption fee and a strict screening process which curtails impulse adoptions at this time of year.
The network hopes that more people will consider sponsoring a kitten or cat as a Christmas gift for the ‘animal lover’ on their Christmas list. Every animal taken in receives appropriate veterinary care. Cat Rescue Network is entirely volunteer driven and the group could use a bit of help from Santa this time of year.
Contact: Louise Hindle, founder Cat Rescue Network, 613-820-7088.
They were lucky. An emergency foster home agreed to take them, and their mother, and keep them in her bathroom until a foster home became available. There are many more under porches, and garbage bins; cold, hungry and frightened. “Without suitable winter shelter, these wee kittens will certainly perish” says Louise Hindle, founder of the Cat Rescue Network. “ Our foster homes are busting at the seams” she continued, “we have protected some of the kittens in makeshift winter boxes on porches but the calls keep coming, and our volunteers are exhausted”.
Volunteers are so busy with calls about outdoor pregnant cats that few have completed their Christmas preparations. “There are many ways to celebrate the spirit of Christmas”, says Hindle, “There is no better feeling than to know that the cat you saw shivering in the cold is now safe, warm, well fed and will eventually be someones cherished pet.”.
The dilemma is that Cat Rescue Network foster homes still has some of the spring kittens, who grew up in foster homes because of the large numbers taken in, and fewer adoptions this year. Now, there is little space available for the winter kittens. Some cats are so desperate, they are running into houses.
Cat Rescue Network will be doing adoptions throughout the holiday season. There is an adoption fee and a strict screening process which curtails impulse adoptions at this time of year.
The network hopes that more people will consider sponsoring a kitten or cat as a Christmas gift for the ‘animal lover’ on their Christmas list. Every animal taken in receives appropriate veterinary care. Cat Rescue Network is entirely volunteer driven and the group could use a bit of help from Santa this time of year.
Contact: Louise Hindle, founder Cat Rescue Network, 613-820-7088.
Amazing Rescue Unites Animal Groups Part 1: An overview
The story begins with the solitary death of an elderly West Carleton farmer on February 11/09. He left
behind 27 barn cats, many of whom had been dropped off at his farm. Although the farmer had treated the cats
kindly and allowed them to remain in the barn he was unable to care for them. The cats were sick, and many
had lost their hair because of malnutrition and parasites. Nobody wanted them.
Barn cats and alley cats, in their efforts to survive, provide a valuable service to our communities. Nevertheless they are either left to fend for themselves or rounded up and killed. Not so in this case! This time a large number people came together spontaneously, intent upon rescuing the animals and giving them a chance to become pets, not pests.
Although local shelters are unable to assist, cat rescuers are trying to save all of the cats. So far, twenty or more of the cats have been taken in. All have received emergency veterinary care and treatment for parasites. The healthier cats are being vaccinated and spayed/neutered. The less robust are receiving antibiotics, dentistry and eye care. Four pregnant cats are receiving special diets so that their kittens will be born healthy. Most of these cats are very friendly and affectionate. Sadly, since the rescue effort began, another cat has been dropped off at the barn.
The rescue is bringing together animal rescuers, all working together cooperatively, and all doing what they can to save the lives of animals who have very little value in our society. It is an amazing rescue.
However, the number of cats saved depends on the willingness of people to support the rescuers. The veterinary costs will be insurmountable without assistance from the public. There are more sick and pregnant cats out there awaiting rescue but the rescuers cannot take them in unless they have funds to provide adequate veterinary care for them. .
We are appealing to the public for help with veterinary costs. Donations can be dropped off at Critter Jungle Pet store at Hampton Park Plaza, 1405 Carling Avenue (at Kirkwood), Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7L6 or by calling 613-820-7088.
Contact Louise Hindle, Cat Rescue Network 613-820-7088.
Barn cats and alley cats, in their efforts to survive, provide a valuable service to our communities. Nevertheless they are either left to fend for themselves or rounded up and killed. Not so in this case! This time a large number people came together spontaneously, intent upon rescuing the animals and giving them a chance to become pets, not pests.
Although local shelters are unable to assist, cat rescuers are trying to save all of the cats. So far, twenty or more of the cats have been taken in. All have received emergency veterinary care and treatment for parasites. The healthier cats are being vaccinated and spayed/neutered. The less robust are receiving antibiotics, dentistry and eye care. Four pregnant cats are receiving special diets so that their kittens will be born healthy. Most of these cats are very friendly and affectionate. Sadly, since the rescue effort began, another cat has been dropped off at the barn.
The rescue is bringing together animal rescuers, all working together cooperatively, and all doing what they can to save the lives of animals who have very little value in our society. It is an amazing rescue.
However, the number of cats saved depends on the willingness of people to support the rescuers. The veterinary costs will be insurmountable without assistance from the public. There are more sick and pregnant cats out there awaiting rescue but the rescuers cannot take them in unless they have funds to provide adequate veterinary care for them. .
We are appealing to the public for help with veterinary costs. Donations can be dropped off at Critter Jungle Pet store at Hampton Park Plaza, 1405 Carling Avenue (at Kirkwood), Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7L6 or by calling 613-820-7088.
Contact Louise Hindle, Cat Rescue Network 613-820-7088.
Amazing Rescue Unites Animal Groups Part 2: Cats who have been Taken in
The cat rescue began when the family who rescued the dog from the abandoned farm, were standing in the farm
yard when two emaciated, sick cats came up to them as if pleading to be saved. They took the sickest to a
shelter, thinking they would, at least, humanely end its misery. However, it was Sunday and the shelter was
closed.
The little buff colored cat was so grateful to be rescued that the family fell in love with her, had her treated by a veterinarian and decided to keep her. Thye named her Sunday .
Cat Rescue Network (CRN) was concerned about the other cats, but few people have the resources or inclination to help undomesticated, diseased and infested barn cats. The local animal shelters could not assist and cat rescuers are chronically underfunded and filled to capacity. CRN then put out an appeal for help through various animal rescue networks. The following Saturday, with permission from the estate lawyer and the owner of the adjacent farm, two volunteers visited the farm.
The little cat who had been with Sunday the week before immediately came up to the people. He, like Sunday, was just skin and bones, was severely dehydrated and had lost most of his hair. When he looked up at them with pleading eyes, and gently touch them with his paw, they knew he would be leaving with them. He would have died if left behind. Rudy, is the most affectionate cat imaginable and a real character. He still raises his little paw in greeting whenever spoken to. He is grateful for anything he is given and follows his foster mother around, rolling on the floor for attention, purring loudly, and snuggling into her neck when she sits down. He has a toy mouse which he carries around and sleeps with. His first toy ever.
Throughout the week, rescuers made several trips, trapping, treating and finding foster homes for several of the more debilitated cats. Then, on Saturday February 21/09 and Sunday the 29th ; fifteen more cats were trapped. Cat Rescue Network has ten, including , Mia, who has since had two kittens. She is a very affectionate domestic calico cat who must have been abandoned at the Barn. Charlie, a nurturing Tom was trapped with two kittens he was protecting; Willy,is a very beautiful and friendly orange female; Willow,is a gentle, friendly tabby Queen with frost bitten ears and many battle scars; Sammy, a loving orange and white cat who likes to curl up on your knee and sleep and The kittens, Abigale and Edward. They are all in foster homes and are doing well. Most have become affectionate lap cats. Their stories and that of Rudy are in the adoptable pet list on the CRN website: www.catrescuenetwork.petfinder.org. Cat Rescue Network also has 7 newborn kittens (born march 8) and another mother cat,Penny, an indirect result of the barn cat rescue.
Country Cat Sanctuary www.countrycatrescue.com has five cats, three orange and two brown tabbys. They are all receiving antibiotis for upper respiratory infection but are progressingwell and will som=on be available for adoption.
There are more sick and pregnant cats out there awaiting rescue. They will be taken in to a foster home one cat at a time as soon as the cat’s veterinary care can be covered. Donations can be dropped off at Critter Jungle Pet store at Hampton Park Plaza, 1405 Carling Avenue (at Kirkwood), Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7L6 or by calling 613-820-7088.
Contact Louise Hindle, Cat Rescue Network 613-820-7088.
The little buff colored cat was so grateful to be rescued that the family fell in love with her, had her treated by a veterinarian and decided to keep her. Thye named her Sunday .
Cat Rescue Network (CRN) was concerned about the other cats, but few people have the resources or inclination to help undomesticated, diseased and infested barn cats. The local animal shelters could not assist and cat rescuers are chronically underfunded and filled to capacity. CRN then put out an appeal for help through various animal rescue networks. The following Saturday, with permission from the estate lawyer and the owner of the adjacent farm, two volunteers visited the farm.
The little cat who had been with Sunday the week before immediately came up to the people. He, like Sunday, was just skin and bones, was severely dehydrated and had lost most of his hair. When he looked up at them with pleading eyes, and gently touch them with his paw, they knew he would be leaving with them. He would have died if left behind. Rudy, is the most affectionate cat imaginable and a real character. He still raises his little paw in greeting whenever spoken to. He is grateful for anything he is given and follows his foster mother around, rolling on the floor for attention, purring loudly, and snuggling into her neck when she sits down. He has a toy mouse which he carries around and sleeps with. His first toy ever.
Throughout the week, rescuers made several trips, trapping, treating and finding foster homes for several of the more debilitated cats. Then, on Saturday February 21/09 and Sunday the 29th ; fifteen more cats were trapped. Cat Rescue Network has ten, including , Mia, who has since had two kittens. She is a very affectionate domestic calico cat who must have been abandoned at the Barn. Charlie, a nurturing Tom was trapped with two kittens he was protecting; Willy,is a very beautiful and friendly orange female; Willow,is a gentle, friendly tabby Queen with frost bitten ears and many battle scars; Sammy, a loving orange and white cat who likes to curl up on your knee and sleep and The kittens, Abigale and Edward. They are all in foster homes and are doing well. Most have become affectionate lap cats. Their stories and that of Rudy are in the adoptable pet list on the CRN website: www.catrescuenetwork.petfinder.org. Cat Rescue Network also has 7 newborn kittens (born march 8) and another mother cat,Penny, an indirect result of the barn cat rescue.
Country Cat Sanctuary www.countrycatrescue.com has five cats, three orange and two brown tabbys. They are all receiving antibiotis for upper respiratory infection but are progressingwell and will som=on be available for adoption.
There are more sick and pregnant cats out there awaiting rescue. They will be taken in to a foster home one cat at a time as soon as the cat’s veterinary care can be covered. Donations can be dropped off at Critter Jungle Pet store at Hampton Park Plaza, 1405 Carling Avenue (at Kirkwood), Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7L6 or by calling 613-820-7088.
Contact Louise Hindle, Cat Rescue Network 613-820-7088.
Amazing Rescue Unites Animal Groups Part 3: Those who have helped with the rescue
The death of a solitary farmer, resulted in his 27 barn cats being left to fend for themselves. The cats were sick, starving and many had lost their hair because of malnutrition and parasites. Nobody wanted them and local shelters were unable to assist them.
Then word got out and the community began to rally to save the cats.
Country Cat Sanctuary, already reputed to save more feral and barn cats than any other rescue, could not stand by and let animals perish. Gwen Thompson, who owns the sanctuary offered her services to trap, provide shelter, and cover the vet care for up to six of the more difficult cats. Cat Rescue Network, the rescue that sounded the alert, is assisting with trapping and providing shelter and vet care for 10 or more cats.
Bullies in Need took up the torch. They offered foster homes and have organized a raffle to raise funds to cover some of the veterinary care of the cats. Tickets can be ordered through Critter Jungle Pet store or through the Bullies in Need forums. They wanted to help rescues, like theirs, who deal with difficult to place animals.
Westminster Pet Sanctuary, reputed for taking in animals with special medical needs, donated a large amount of intravenous solution and medical supplies.
Valerie Hemphill, a local Ontario SPCA cruelty officer offered her assistance with trapping and will check in to the barn periodically to ensure that no cat is left behind.
A Carleton Place business person, Debbie Steckly of Pampered Pups Pastries assisted at the barn, took photos and offered to cover vet expenses for a pregnant cat. Lisa Giles, another Carleton Place resident volunteered to foster Mia, one of the pregnant cats. A third Carleton Place resident took in Rudy, a pregnant cat and another young cat.
Critter Jungle, an Ottawa Pet store donated enough food to keep the colony fed until the end of the rescue. They also volunteered to collect more food and to assist in Bullies in Need in their fundraising effort. Burns Pet Health Canada and Fromm donated cat food through Critter Jungle.
CRN foster homes stepped up to the plate, opening their homes to challenging cats and even providing assistance in trapping. Willow’s Paws & Claws Rescue, offered to help at the barn, house six cats and fundraise. The founders, Steve and Heidi Welch now have four of the cats on their hobby farm near Winchester. Jane Corbett, a long time cat rescuer, has taken in two kittens and will cover their expenses.
Pam Knowles of Waggs'n'Whiskers, a Carleton Place business person and cat rescuer, has assisted with the vet fees of a very sick cat and may take in one or two more. A farm family in Sarsfield has offered to take in several cats and are now fostering Penny and her five kittens. Lisa Giles, a Carleton Place foster parent took in a Queen, Mia, and now is caring for her two newborn kittens as well.
The family who own the farm adjacent to the abandoned farm; although bemused by our efforts on behalf of 27 sick barn cats, were cooperative and even took time from their heavy workload, running two farms, to help us catch a few cats in dangerous locations. They inquired about the humane care the animals would receive and asked for updates on the status of those taken out.
We are appealing to the public for help with veterinary costs. Donations can be dropped off at Critter Jungle Pet store at Hampton Park Plaza, 1405 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7L6 or by calling 613-820-7088.
Contact Louise Hindle, Cat Rescue Network 613-820-7088.
Then word got out and the community began to rally to save the cats.
Country Cat Sanctuary, already reputed to save more feral and barn cats than any other rescue, could not stand by and let animals perish. Gwen Thompson, who owns the sanctuary offered her services to trap, provide shelter, and cover the vet care for up to six of the more difficult cats. Cat Rescue Network, the rescue that sounded the alert, is assisting with trapping and providing shelter and vet care for 10 or more cats.
Bullies in Need took up the torch. They offered foster homes and have organized a raffle to raise funds to cover some of the veterinary care of the cats. Tickets can be ordered through Critter Jungle Pet store or through the Bullies in Need forums. They wanted to help rescues, like theirs, who deal with difficult to place animals.
Westminster Pet Sanctuary, reputed for taking in animals with special medical needs, donated a large amount of intravenous solution and medical supplies.
Valerie Hemphill, a local Ontario SPCA cruelty officer offered her assistance with trapping and will check in to the barn periodically to ensure that no cat is left behind.
A Carleton Place business person, Debbie Steckly of Pampered Pups Pastries assisted at the barn, took photos and offered to cover vet expenses for a pregnant cat. Lisa Giles, another Carleton Place resident volunteered to foster Mia, one of the pregnant cats. A third Carleton Place resident took in Rudy, a pregnant cat and another young cat.
Critter Jungle, an Ottawa Pet store donated enough food to keep the colony fed until the end of the rescue. They also volunteered to collect more food and to assist in Bullies in Need in their fundraising effort. Burns Pet Health Canada and Fromm donated cat food through Critter Jungle.
CRN foster homes stepped up to the plate, opening their homes to challenging cats and even providing assistance in trapping. Willow’s Paws & Claws Rescue, offered to help at the barn, house six cats and fundraise. The founders, Steve and Heidi Welch now have four of the cats on their hobby farm near Winchester. Jane Corbett, a long time cat rescuer, has taken in two kittens and will cover their expenses.
Pam Knowles of Waggs'n'Whiskers, a Carleton Place business person and cat rescuer, has assisted with the vet fees of a very sick cat and may take in one or two more. A farm family in Sarsfield has offered to take in several cats and are now fostering Penny and her five kittens. Lisa Giles, a Carleton Place foster parent took in a Queen, Mia, and now is caring for her two newborn kittens as well.
The family who own the farm adjacent to the abandoned farm; although bemused by our efforts on behalf of 27 sick barn cats, were cooperative and even took time from their heavy workload, running two farms, to help us catch a few cats in dangerous locations. They inquired about the humane care the animals would receive and asked for updates on the status of those taken out.
We are appealing to the public for help with veterinary costs. Donations can be dropped off at Critter Jungle Pet store at Hampton Park Plaza, 1405 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7L6 or by calling 613-820-7088.
Contact Louise Hindle, Cat Rescue Network 613-820-7088.
Homeless Cats, Casualties of Cold Snap
The cold snap before Christmas and the one we are now enduring has been devastating for Ottawa’s homeless cats. The Cat Rescue Network volunteers have been kept busy with calls about domestic cats who have no shelter and have been found frozen on doorsteps, on the street and under plastic barbeque covers.
We have taken in cats who have no undercoats to protect them from the cruel bite of winter and so frozen that they cannot move.
Meize (pronounced Meetse, meaning kitty in German) is one such case. The tortoishell kitten is about 7 months old. She was first seen crying on doorsteps during the first deep freeze before Christmas and was returned to her home. Last week she was seen again. When her cries were heard late one night someone took a flashlight and began to search for her. She was found under a barbeque, too frozen to move, literally frozen stiff. She was wrapped in a coat and taken indoors where her motionless body was placed on a heating pad and covered with blankets. Hours later, she was warm enough to move and eat the warm food offered to her. She was very hungry and terrified. The next day her rescuers found out that her owners had moved away during the night two weeks prior to her being found, so the little cat had been roaming the neighborhood; cold , hungry and without shelter for two weeks. She has now been seen by a vet and pronounced healthy. Surprisingly, she did not suffer frostbite but, for several days, she was a very frightened little cat. Meize now feels safe and is warm and well fed in a foster home, where she enjoys playtime with her foster brother and his cat toys. She is one of the lucky ones.
Jasper did not escape quite as easily. During the bitterly cold spell before Christmas the little kitten must have crawled into the engine of a car in order to remain warm,; then fallen out on the highway. A car ran over her. The conscientious driver returned and picked up the kitten who had luckily escaped the wheels of the car. She was taken to a vet and treated for hypothermia and severe frostbite. She will most likely lose an ear but, apart from that is in good health and is now in a permanent, caring home.
Ginger Wookey and Lucky are also casualties of the deep freeze. Ginger Wookey, an intelligent, large cat who had been abandoned for months, had developed an undercoat and may have survived. He protected and took care of Lucky, a wee stray kitten, when she was outdoors but he could not have saved her from the cold. People heard her cries and took her from the frozen trash heap. When temperatures plummeted, Ginger Wookey appeared at the door of the people who had taken Lucky in, and meowed for them to take him in too. Cats have an uncanny ability to read people. He also is being protected.
For every rescue from the cold, many more cats are still out there, suffering intensely. Many will perish.
The purpose of this press release is to implore people to be attentive to cats who appear to be suffering outdoors; and to please take them in, even if they are owned by a neighbor or have to be taken to a shelter. Please do not walk by, thinking someone else will do something.
How about unabashedly declaring, “I am Canadian and I like animals’ by knocking on the hood of the car before getting in, just in case a cat has sought refuge near the engine. The ‘cat check’ rule should be in the Canadian driver’s manual.
No living creature deserves to freeze to death.
We have taken in cats who have no undercoats to protect them from the cruel bite of winter and so frozen that they cannot move.
Meize (pronounced Meetse, meaning kitty in German) is one such case. The tortoishell kitten is about 7 months old. She was first seen crying on doorsteps during the first deep freeze before Christmas and was returned to her home. Last week she was seen again. When her cries were heard late one night someone took a flashlight and began to search for her. She was found under a barbeque, too frozen to move, literally frozen stiff. She was wrapped in a coat and taken indoors where her motionless body was placed on a heating pad and covered with blankets. Hours later, she was warm enough to move and eat the warm food offered to her. She was very hungry and terrified. The next day her rescuers found out that her owners had moved away during the night two weeks prior to her being found, so the little cat had been roaming the neighborhood; cold , hungry and without shelter for two weeks. She has now been seen by a vet and pronounced healthy. Surprisingly, she did not suffer frostbite but, for several days, she was a very frightened little cat. Meize now feels safe and is warm and well fed in a foster home, where she enjoys playtime with her foster brother and his cat toys. She is one of the lucky ones.
Jasper did not escape quite as easily. During the bitterly cold spell before Christmas the little kitten must have crawled into the engine of a car in order to remain warm,; then fallen out on the highway. A car ran over her. The conscientious driver returned and picked up the kitten who had luckily escaped the wheels of the car. She was taken to a vet and treated for hypothermia and severe frostbite. She will most likely lose an ear but, apart from that is in good health and is now in a permanent, caring home.
Ginger Wookey and Lucky are also casualties of the deep freeze. Ginger Wookey, an intelligent, large cat who had been abandoned for months, had developed an undercoat and may have survived. He protected and took care of Lucky, a wee stray kitten, when she was outdoors but he could not have saved her from the cold. People heard her cries and took her from the frozen trash heap. When temperatures plummeted, Ginger Wookey appeared at the door of the people who had taken Lucky in, and meowed for them to take him in too. Cats have an uncanny ability to read people. He also is being protected.
For every rescue from the cold, many more cats are still out there, suffering intensely. Many will perish.
The purpose of this press release is to implore people to be attentive to cats who appear to be suffering outdoors; and to please take them in, even if they are owned by a neighbor or have to be taken to a shelter. Please do not walk by, thinking someone else will do something.
How about unabashedly declaring, “I am Canadian and I like animals’ by knocking on the hood of the car before getting in, just in case a cat has sought refuge near the engine. The ‘cat check’ rule should be in the Canadian driver’s manual.
No living creature deserves to freeze to death.
