Kennel E “A New Day...A New Life” Campaign
#10101 now Teddy
the story of a combined rescue effort
Little Cats Lost, SCARS, and SNAP rescue initiative
T
feeling of hope. It was like each and everyone knew here was a deathly silence their fate when the sun would rise the next morning. when we entered the room, broken only by the old black We wrote down their identity numbers and, by the and white cat with withered ears side of each, recorded the cats’ temperaments before and a hundred years of turmoil we closed the door to Kennel E as we left for the day. engraved on his face. He rubbed repOur next job was that of sheer anguish, whom could etitiously against his kennel gate as we take and whom would we have to leave behind? if to receive the affection he might It was a discussion that examined their behaviours, once have known. On the other side their ages, and their adaptability to meet foster home of the room was Grandma Roxanne, needs. a pretty tabby grey and white senior that too used her gate as a form of We soon realized as we shuffled from cat to cat that no solace. On the bottom row of kennels cat was perfect, and no cat was imperfect, they wore was a young, sleek black cat, barely their own personalities, no different from any of us. over kitten stage, with bright crystal eyes and a coat that Our focus changed from not how would reflect your the cats could adapt to us in terms look. She reached out of fitting in, but how we could and cried in hope that adapt to them. It was decided to we may engage and take them all and work at finding release her from her the suitable needs for them. We confinement. Everyone worked for a few hours and then else, eight of them to be made plans to meet the next mornexact, lay in silence ing at nine a.m. I do not think any as if they knew that one of us went home not wonderthe next day would #10110 now Sophie ing how we were going to pull this take their spirits to the off, we just knew in our hearts we had to. We placed rainbow bridge. our faith in the fact that this little rag tag bunch of cats would steal the hearts of people and eventually fate There are no names just identity would intervene as their new guardians would come numbers, a sign of how many needs to their, and our, aid by adopting them. to be tracked. We busily opened kennel gates and reached out to see the cats’ reactions to our touch. All faired well, but cat number 10090 as the gate opened, pulled back as a steady stream of urine escaped her body. She was friendly, but her fear of the unknown overcame her. The one thing we found missing in the room was a
The morning started busy for all of us, but at nine a.m. we met at the Animal Care & Control Facility. As we walked through the doors our hands full of kennels, like Boxing Day shoppers, we were greeted by the staff, they were beaming from ear to ear about the fact that no friendly cats were going to be euthanized - not on this day anyway. There was a sense of “lightness”
and of hope in the air. The hallway was quiet leading to Kennel E, but when we opened the door and said good morning, we were greeted by a choir of meows and the feeling of a new sense of life. The cats were more than happy to see us. Even 10090, now called Starlett, seemed more at ease and alert. How did they know? Did they sense our exuberance? Did they sense as we loaded them that, as we closed the door to Kennel E, it would be a new chapter in their lives. Shelter facilities are full with animals that have been abandoned or surrendered and face euthanasia. The staff face choices that are difficult and those choices are not always understood as they do their best at a heartbreaking job. The responsibility for thousands of animals dying each year is that of the people who take on the commitment of an animal’s life and then do not see it through. There are always changes in people’s circumstances, but those with true compassion and a true love of their animal make it work no matter how difficult it may be. When an animal is loved for better or for worse and is considered part of the family…it is a pet for life.
# 9776 now Grandma Roxanne
Our rag tag group will be available for adoption in the next few days at the 50 Street Pet Smart store. If you can see a way to provide a new life to one of our group we would be happy to hear from you. Donations to their veterinary expense may be made to “A New Day…A New Life” Campaign at The Spay Clinic 780-426-4221. Thank you to Dr. West and his staff at The Spay Clinic 10577 – 111 Street for providing the cats with veterinary attention on such short notice. Getting ready to leave