“A Tail of Two Kitties”

As part of our continuing desire to focus on those in our community who care for unwanted animals, we are highlighting here the work that animal rescue organizations and individuals do in helping homeless pets find homes.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE . . . IT TAKES A RESCUER
“A Tail of Two Kitties”
by Darlene Papa
www.lifelineforpets.org
If you ask at most pet stores, groomers, or veterinary offices, you will be shocked at how often they find tiny,  unweaned, baby animals, usually kittens, left at their doors. Perhaps some folks feel that is the best way to deal with unwanted litters–but read on. Animal businesses see so much of this. They try to give temporary triage, but then must scramble to find someone willing to foster, or an adopter, or a rescue organization. All of this takes money, time, effort, and can result in higher prices for their customers.
Advice:
1. For your own pets and any friendly strays: spay and neuter! Do not contribute to the huge numbers of unwanted kittens or puppies by allowing an unaltered male or female to mate. For feral cats, google “TNR” (trap, neuter, return) for info.
3. Think carefully before you get a kitten or puppy for a child. Will you be able to provide the ongoing veterinary care needed, as well as food, litter, toys, and attention? Also consider keeping the cat indoors, which keeps them safe and saves much money in vet visits.
4. Do not assume that a no-kill rescue organization or shelter will take your unwanted animals–many are already overloaded, with not enough funds, volunteers or space.
5. Handle and socialize kittens and get them a veterinary health check; Keep them until they are weaned while networking to find them homes; Most organizations will provide advice on how to rehome.
6. In general, older animals are much harder to rehome. Make sure someone will take your pet if you become unable to care for it or if you move to a place that does not allow animals. Have a contingency plan in place.
The two stories here represent millions more:
Tiny baby “Jujube” was found abandoned near a dumpster behind a large pet store. An employee brought her in and called us. The little one was quite ill, and took several weeks at the veterinary hospital we use, to regain her health. Thankfully, she is now thriving and was recently adopted.
Two other cases were newborns Theodore and Flower. Both had been found in a garden. Their mother had likely been taken by coyotes. Lifeline For Pets was called, and we were able to help. Bottle-feeding unweaned babies is a “round-the-clock” task, with several required steps to mimic what the mother would do. Bottle-babies cannot be
left alone, and are highly susceptible to disease. Both started out doing well, but then, sadly, little Flower suddenly died. This is always a blow to the foster family, who invest so much love and time into giving them the best possible care. Baby Theo, however, did well. Now, at 9 weeks old, he is thriving! He has a strong purrsonality, is not afraid of anything, and loves to wrestle with the foster motherʼs small dog. He is ready for adoption.
Baby Theo-Call 626-676-9505
Leaving unwanted animals to fend for themselves in empty lots, freeway off-ramps, arroyos, or other wild places is a terrible and inhumane idea, and usually results in a suffering death. Also, abandoning them at pet stores and vet offices, in the end results in higher prices for products and services. Rescuing an animal leads to a huge amount of time, love, and money to properly care for it and either hopefully find it a home where it will be truly treasured, or, if not adopted, have the means to care for it the rest of its life. It takes several rescuers to get to that point.
Best advice: THINK CAREFULLY AND PLAN AHEAD, as outlined above!