Cat Rescue Campaign – Animals Abused & Abandoned

Stopping the Cycle

Richard Voelker — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:18:04 +0000

These are just a few pictures of some gentle souls that were saved by an independent rescuer. All of the cats and kittens came from a cruel environment, with or without their mothers. They received medical care. Animals Abused & Abandoned paid for their sterilizations They will never perpetuate the appalling cycle of homelessness, suffering, starvation and cruelty that is the fate of feral cats. The kittens were placed for adoption and the good news is that they all have homes. One adult cat is now living with a family, but the other feral mama had to be released back into her neighborhood. She could not adapt to be being around people.

A fertile female cat may have on average 4-6 kittens per litter, up to three times a year. 4,948 kittens can be born in 7 years from an un-spayed female cat and her many, many innocent and helpless kittens.

Estimates vary on how many cats are euthanized in the US. But 40%-70% of cats entering shelters are euthanized. For feral cats, the number nearly reaches 100%.

Animal shelter statistics from 2020 show that there are about 70 million stray animals in the US streets at any given time. Only 10% of them (a bit more than 6 million) enter municipal shelters, and those “shelters” cost US citizens approximately $2 billion every year. Spay-neuter is the 100% effective method of birth control for cats and dogs.

If you have it in your heart to help us continue funding these life-saving surgeries, please make an online donation to Animals Abused & Abandoned through North Texas Giving Day, starting September 1, 2023 through September 21, 2023 using this link: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/donate/animals-abused- abandoned-inc

or you may donate to this urgent cause directly through our website: animals-abused.org/donations/

With your kind, thoughtful and generous support, we will continue fighting this relentless tragedy.

Rosie’s Pain

Richard Voelker — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 17:00:23 +0000

Rosie was rescued from a high-kill shelter with her six kittens. Her babies were adopted, but Rosie, being a short-haired, black feline without distinguishing markings, was continually rejected because of the broad public prejudice against black cats, and the general preference for different colored and multi-colored cats. Time was becoming an urgent matter for Rosie because she was scheduled to be euthanized to make room for new intakes. At the last minute, a cat sanctuary dedicated to long-term cat welfare took her to their facility to live out the rest of her life.

Ten years have passed, and Rosie is about 12 years old now. Recently she began to sneeze, had a stuffy, runny nose, developed conjunctivitis, and had a fever and decreased appetite. Rosie was taken to the vet for an urgent medical evaluation. It was quickly noted that the back of her mouth was raw, and her throat was inflamed. The vet described it as “raw hamburger”. Her blood work indicated an infection. Swabs from her mouth were sent to the lab to screen for the suspected presence of the calicivirus. While waiting for the results, she was given buprenorphine to help with her unrelenting, gnawing pain. The lab results came back a few days later, confirming Rosie tested positive for the virus. She was given doxycycline for ten days, to prevent secondary infections, prior to her scheduled surgery to remove all her teeth.

She returned to the sanctuary the afternoon of her dental surgery, and that evening, she ate a little soft food and drank some water. The next morning, she demanded attention and was let out of her room where she had been kept alone to recover without the inquisitiveness of other cats.

Rosie had classic stomatitis, an inflamed mouth with painful ulcers on the tongue, gums and palate making it excruciatingly painful to eat or drink. Full mouth dental extraction provides the best chance to control the disease but does not cure it. Vaccinated cats for the calicivirus develop some immunity, but due to the various strains of the virus, (not all are covered by the vaccine), they will experience milder symptoms if exposed to other cats with the virus.

Veterinarian dental surgery is very expensive, and far beyond the sanctury’s ability to pay for it. Should you wish to help with her surgery expenses, please consider a tax-deductible donation to Animals Abused & Abandoned here.

Ansel’s Two Mended Legs

Richard Voelker — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:22:17 +0000

As this person was taking care of personal business, walking to his destination, he noted a cat lying near the edge of the street as he passed by. He remarked to himself how handsome he was but found it odd that he remained so still. When the gentleman returned taking the same path home, he noticed that the cat was still there and had not moved at all. This caring human being contacted animal control as soon as he got home. The cat was picked up and taken to their shelter.

Upon a cursory examination, it was believed that the cat had a broken pelvis, so he was immediately scheduled for euthanasia the next day. But one of the animal control officers was a cat lover and convinced her supervisor to let her try to locate a rescue organization. She was given just 24 hours to find a lifesaving option. On her first call to a local rescue organization, they gladly agreed to accept him into their program.

The rescuers made an appointment with their veterinary clinic for the following day. He was diagnosed with two broken legs, one left front shoulder and one left hindquarter. Fortunately, no trauma was found to his pelvis. He was sedated, and both legs were splinted. He was tested for feline diseases, vaccinated, and neutered.

Though he was ordered to have eight weeks of cage rest and wear an e-collar at all times, because he had managed to shred both splints off his legs while spending the night at the vet’s office for observation.

During his confinement, he will be given pain medication and restricted to minimal activity for those eight weeks. He will gradually build up his muscle mass and strength in those injured legs by taking very short walks several times a day under supervision. He is not permitted to run, jump, or play until his bones have healed. Ansel will be scheduled for follow-up appointments when X-rays will be taken, and his healing progress measured. As handsome and dapper as he is, Ansel should not find it difficult to find that special family to adopt him.

These lifesaving measures have been costly for this rescue group, but there was no other option if they were going to save Ansel. This is what rescue groups do best; save as many cats as possible from suffering and a painful death because they have been abandoned by their owners and are either living on the streets or have been trapped by animal control and are scheduled for immediate euthanasia in municipal shelters.

Your can be a caregiver and lifesaver for Ansel and future recipients with your kind and caring contributions to Animals Abused & Abandoned here.