Saving Kittens.

[Danustouch]

I live, in a small town, in Rhode Island. For some reason, the stray kitten population here is terrible. Seems like people don't care enough to get their cats spayed around here. So...as of right now...the shelter here in Burrillville, RI, is overflowing. It's really terrible. Right now, they have about fifty kittens in the shelter, and unfortunately..another thing that they have..is a gas chamber.

My husband and I have Four cats right now...the youngest, being just under a year old. We rescued three of them, from the pound. One of them, was a stray. All of our cats are neutered/spayed, and have all of their shots. We spoil them rotten, and they are treated like royalty. Problem? We live in a tiny apartment. We let three of our cats outside, with their collars on, and they stay in our large back yard (its very woodsy, we have never seen them cross the road. They are mostly sunning themselves in our back yard..every day).

We desperately want to do something to help save these kittens, before time runs out for them. These kittens are not going easily. The pound has put a couple of ads in the newspapers, and other periodicals..and they've had posters up everywhere, but still..noone seems to be rescuing these little ones..which means that some of them, will probably be put down. Our hearts are breaking, as we love cats soooo much. We're considering bringing another one home. But...it will be a strain on our household. And I'm worried about the effect it will have on our other cats. Especially my little one, who knows darn well she's the princess of this house. She knows she's the baby...and I love her so much, i don't want her feelings to be hurt/challenged, when we bring another little one home.

So..if any of you live in or near Rhode Island, or know ANYONE that does, and have any more room, in your hearts and homes, for these little ones...please, contact me. I can give you the number for the shelter here.

If not...please make a call to your local shelters..and find out if they are having the same problem. Perhaps you can save a little kitten there!

[bloodstone20]

I'll be praying to Bast and making holy water for the kitties, keep us updated.

[Danustouch]

Thank you..and I will.

[SpikesPet5150]

We have a huge problem with feral cats here in Colorado... the problem is, by law, we can only feed and house 3 cats per house. I'm involved in a organization called Community Cat Care, they trap the feral cats, spay/neuter them, then release them. Most people say, "Thats not going to make a difference, because you're releasing the cats again." BUT.. by them being spayed/neutered, they don't make any more little baby kitties. Therefor, the population of the cats doesn't go down.. but it certainly doesn't go up. I suggest each of you (if you're willing to help out) contact an organization like ours in your area (there are tons! just type your city and feral cats into any search engine). I, unfortunately, can't have cats because I'm really allergic to them, but I hate seeing the poor little guys suffer.
~Bree
:elf:

[stormyray]

I know what you are going through. At this time I have two kittens (was 4 ) someone dumped a whole litter in a culvert buy the road. I am having a prob. with my two adults. They are so mad at me they are peeing on the dirty laundry.I rescue at least 6 to 8 kittens a year. Plus at least 3 pups also. Living near the mountains I find so many dumped and abused creatures.Hubby and I take trips up the mts just to locate dumped animales and then find homes for them.It just sickens me that people can not handle the responsibltiy of their own animales off spring. And the spca does discound spay and neuteruing programs here and we still have this problem. :confused:

[stormyray]

Originally posted by SpikesPet5150
We have a huge problem with feral cats here in Colorado... the problem is, by law, we can only feed and house 3 cats per house. I'm involved in a organization called Community Cat Care, they trap the feral cats, spay/neuter them, then release them. Most people say, "Thats not going to make a difference, because you're releasing the cats again." BUT.. by them being spayed/neutered, they don't make any more little baby kitties. Therefor, the population of the cats doesn't go down.. but it certainly doesn't go up. I suggest each of you (if you're willing to help out) contact an organization like ours in your area (there are tons! just type your city and feral cats into any search engine). I, unfortunately, can't have cats because I'm really allergic to them, but I hate seeing the poor little guys suffer.
~Bree
:elf:
Wow what a great thing you do. Is this on a mitarily base?? I saw something like that on animale planet the other day.

[Danustouch]

well..i think that part of the reason the situation has reached this point here, is that there is very little aid for spay/neutering. People have good intentions, when they bring home a kitten. But then they make some calls when it's old enough to be spayed, and find out..there's noone there to help them! Right now, in my town, they are giving a 15 dollar discount on spay/neutering. But the clinics here are charging outrageous prices! When I brought my last cat to be spayed, I had to go to a town in CT to have it done. The rates here were 150.00 for the spay, and the shots. Whereas in CT, it was only 80.00 for the whole shebang. I think the reason why..is this...

This winter, they held a clinic in Woonsocket (close to here)..and someones cat passed away, because it had a reaction to the anesthesia used. There was no way of knowing the cat would react this way, and the doctors tried everything in their power to save it. But..the owner brought a law suit against the veterinarian who was involved. NOW...until the case is resolved...NO free clinics, or discount clinics, are being held ANYWHERE in this half of Rhode Island, and for all I know..the whole state, because all are worried about having lawsuits brought against them. This is what the person at the Humane Society here, told me.

I think what needs to happen, is some fundraising . They need to set up a fund, do a drive, and some fundraisers, so that the money used would go to people in need of aid for spaying/neutering their pets.

I just feel so awful, and helpless. I so wish that I could adopt each and every one of those little ones. But we just can't. Not yet. Hubby and I have discussed it, and when we buy a house, we plan on buying a house on enough land, that we could have some sort of refuge for stray cats. We'd rescue them from the pound, get them spayed an neutered, and bring them home. It would be a financial difficulty..no illusions there...but...on the other hand...someone obviosly needs to do it. And if we talk to a veterinarian, or someone from the humane society, they might agree to give us discounts on veterinarian care for the animals, if we establish a "refuge" of sorts. We know someone who did that, actually. She's from CT, and owns a Wiccan store. At one time, she had more than FIFTY Cats!! She lives on a huge plot of land. She rescued cats that were handicapped, sickly, or just elderly, and otherwise unwanted. She found a veterinarian who was willing to make housecalls, and give her realllly good prices on care. Perhaps we could do something similar, someday...if we ever get over our financial hump.

[SpikesPet5150]

No, it's not a military base.. just a city. And also, they hold a clinic once a month, for free spaying and neutering. They get vets to come in and volunteer their time and medicines. We hold fundraisers to pay for some stuff.. but pretty much everything is ran on a volunteer basis. The woman who started this, Barb, is such a wonderful human being.. such a big heart. Our big problem is, we have to do this sort of underground, because some vets around town (the ones that charge outrageous prices) are complaining to the city council, because no one wants to go to them, when they can have their shots and stuff done for free. Of course, these are also the vets who are all for the pound, and putting poor animals to sleep. I don't understand how anyone in a field like theirs can *want* animals to die. It's so sad. :) It's kind of made me realize that one person *can* change lives... at least the lives of cats. :)
~Bree
:elf:

[Myst]

In regards to that clinic, here when you get your pet fixed you sign a contract stating that you understand that the vet will do anything possible but there is a small possibility that your animal will not come out of the surgery. Further, there is a blood test that is done to help ensure the animal will not have a bad reaction. There are vet clinics that do charge upwards of $100-180 for fixing animals, but there are also clinics dedicated to spays and neuters who charge much less. I feel anyone who blames not treating their pet properly because they didn't look into the costs of having their pet before getting it should be shot. People who don't research an animal's behaviour and needs before getting a pet shouldn't get a pet, IMHO.

BB
Willow (who's seen way too many neglected cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, and reptiles, thanks to irresponsible owners)

((edited for rewording))

[Danustouch]

LOL..guess i should be shot then. LOL. Since my previous cat (now deceased) was neutered in CT, at a Free clinic, I didn't know the cost off hand, for my other cats. I just figured out that no matter WHAT the cost of getting them spayed/neutered, we would do it. But..when finding out is was 150.00.....I of course..did a little shopping around, to find a more reasonable price...since SEVERAL people I spoke to said that that was outrageous. But all of my cats are spayed and neutered, and have their shots. They also all go for their annual check ups...and they get top of the line cat-food (eukenuba and sometimes science diet). And are WELL taken care of.

I think that people who don't care enough to get their pets fixed should be neutered THEMSELVES....but...I don't think it's a matter of checking into the prices before hand. I think that no matter WHAT...they are like your children. And you must do whatever you have to do, to keep them safe, and healthy. That means,biting the bullet, and paying whatever is necessary to pay to have them taken care of. If it means you have to donate an organ, or collect aluminum cans..you just DO it. But..this is coming from a person who loves her cats, more than she loves herself. They are my babies. And I can honestly say..i would give my life for them.

As for the contract...yes..we have that here too. But..it doesn't matter..the case still went to trial, even if he didn't win the suit. But the veterinarian, of course, still had a stain on his name because of it. Many settle out of court, so that it doesn't hit the headlines, and put a blot on their practice. As for the bloodtest, Since I don't know what kind of anesthesia was used, nor what kind of ailment the cat had because of it, I cannot say whether that test you mentioned would have solved anything at all. Sometimes, it's just..."their time" to go..just like with human beings.

[Earth Walker]

Well, some people won't spay/neuter their pets because it
keeps them "whole"...i.e., purebred Cat/Dog shows, etc.,.......
some people won't/can't pay the cost of spaying/neutering,
and some people just don't care!
We need more public education to get people aware of these
tragic problems they are creating.

[stormyray]

Originally posted by Mystique

We need more public education to get people aware of these
tragic problems they are creating.
I totaly agree .

[Hope]

There is an organization on the east coast that is VERY active in animal rescue and NEVER destroys animals it is call The North Shore Animal League. If you can find a contact maybe they can help. If I can find the address I will post it, I have donated to them for MANY years and find them to be Awesome.

Blessings
hope

[Danustouch]

I've heard of that...but don't remember where it was located. I could definately give the number to the people at the pound, if you can find it.

And thanks for re-wording that Willow..cleared it up a bit for me. I agree. People who don't realize what goes into owning a pet, should not have pets.

And I also agree with Mystique, that more education needs to be done on why it is so important to spay/neuter our animals. I personally, think the education should start with kids. Because often, they are the ones who request pets for christmas or what have you. And beyond that..I think that the adults who aren't getting their cats fixed now, do it with full knowledge of how wrong it is. Their either too lazy, too callous, or too broke. I read somewhere that spayed cats live a MUCH longer time than cats who have kittens, too. So that's an important factor to bring up. I'm so tired of seeing all these stray kittens, and driving by the pound, and thinking of all the little ones in those cages...it just breaks my heart. I'm in a realllllll dillemma here...Should I rescue another kitten? Or will that only assuage my feelings..it still won't solve the overall problem...Sigh. It sux. Poor little bug's.