She doesn’t ‘paws’ if an animal needs help

Smiths

Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

If the by-law amendment isn’t passed on Tuesday, June 13, Donna MacRae might have to close down Furry Tales Cat Rescue. Until about a month ago her life was ‘purr’fectly happy…but now it’s become a bit ‘cat’astrophic.

Closing down would add extra trauma to the unwanted, hurt and old cats that find their way there. It would also add an unwelcome load to the Township of Drummond North Elmsley by-law officers who would then have to deal with the cats.

MacRae, executive director of Furry Tales Cat Rescue, has a ‘tail’ to tell. She says that what she offers is a “needed service.” But in order to be legal in the community, an amendment is needed to “rezone 101 Salter Lane to allow for an animal clinic on a private road,” says Township planner Brady McGlade…and Salter Lane is a private road.

At one time the clinic was operated out of MacRae’s garage; needing more space, she built a small building to better house the cats but did not apply for, or obtain, a building permit for this new structure, McGlade adds.

The initial zoning by-law allowed the animal clinic in the garage attached to the existing building — but not in a new stand-alone structure on a private road. MacRae explains: “Basically, zoning on this lot does allow for an animal clinic, but we don’t have municipal road frontage.” That’s what the amendment is asking — to change the wording.

This is what Furry Tales does: there are 174 cats in care now,

“down significantly” says MacRae until the issue is resolved. That doesn’t mean all the cats are on site — maybe only 20 at a time are at the cattery. The others are being fostered and Furry Tales works with PetSmart in Ottawa, too.

They’re “vetted,” put out to foster homes for socialization and then adopted.

The Rescue covers Quebec, Ottawa, Brockville, Perth and all of the small towns in between. Last year alone 1200 cats were saved; in eight years in operation 8000 cats have been helped.

MacRae says: “We find homes for all the cats. We don’t euthanize. They stay here until they find a home. Some are diabetic, she adds, and “we just adopted one out with a thyroid problem.

“The bottom line is to help cats.”

“And now,” says friend and volunteer Carol Reid, “…is one of the busiest times of year.“ She adds, a bit morosely, “…homeless cats will be birthing outside because we can’t take them in.”

The two recall the story of Trooper, alone and wandering in the street; he had to have both eyes removed, is now blind and deaf, but, with care and attention has become a “wonderful cat,” MacRae says.

Or Hercules, who was taken in by the Rescue one day before his “kill date” (euthanization). “He was flat, scared, traumatized, had entropic eyeballs and no one could touch him at first.” Today, he’s become the “cat-father” to all the other cats at the cattery.

And Belliza. “We just said goodbye to her. She was palliative when we brought her here…had months and months of love here. She didn’t have to die alone. She had a dignified passing.”

So MacRae and Reid are ask- ing for community support. Sign the petition, go to the Committee of the Whole meeting June 13, 5 p.m. at the Township of Drummond North Elmsley offices, 310 Port Elmsley Road, and help keep

Furry Tales Cat Rescue thriving.

MacRae adds a final thought: “Rescue is not just helping cats. We help volunteers. They learn life skills, they socialize. For many seniors who volunteer, it’s their lives, as well as the cats’.”

Petition link: https://www. change.org/p/please-support-the-proposed-zoningby-law-amendment-for-furry-tales-cat-rescue

Publisher

Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

Reporters

Kathy Botham

Sally Smith

Janelle Labelle

Brian Turner

Photography

Kathy Botham