HARBOUR MAIN-CHAPEL COVE-LAKEVIEW, N.L. —
By Jeff Pelletier
Special to The Telegram
A Newfoundland animal rescue group is asking the public for donations following its largest cat rescue to date.
Rescue NL said it took in 29 cats last Thursday from a home in Chapel’s Cove after their owner asked for help. They described the owner as a kind and caring man who adopted two feral cats a while back. Since neither of the cats were neutered or spayed, they reproduced. Many of them got sick, and others were injured because neighbours were shooting them with pellet guns.
“He doesn’t have a lot of money and couldn’t afford to get the cats fixed,” said Heather Ballard, the head of Rescue NL.
Ballard says a situation like this one — where 29 animals were taken in — is rare. But people often have too many cats in their possession because they don’t get them spayed or neutered, she says.
“I think there’s a lot of people out there that have a significant number of cats because they’re not getting fixed,” she said. “It’s important to spay and neuter because it can get out of hand pretty quickly.”
Ballard says after Rescue NL was notified of the large number of cats, the group communicated with police and then visited the man’s property. She said the cats’ owner was co-operative and thankful when they took all of the cats, because his neighbours constantly criticized him for owning the cats, and never offered any support.
“He was just so grateful that someone was willing to help,” she said.
After collecting the cats, mother cats with kittens were sent to foster homes, and any other cats that might have a disease were quarantined. Although the cats were all well fed, several are suspected of being sick with cancer or viral infections.
“We do need foster homes. ... Mainly, what we really, really need is financial support.” — Heather Ballard, Rescue NL
Before cats are sent to permanent homes they must be spayed or neutered, and treated for diseases. Rescue NL is a no-kill operation, meaning that cats rescued in this type of situation are not automatically euthanized.
Ballard says this is the largest rescue her group has done since taking in 26 cats and dogs in February. She said that last Thursday, 26 cats were initially collected, but a few were born in the hours after the cats were rescued, bringing the total to 29. She adds that Rescue NL contacted other cat rescue groups across the province for support, but none could help.
“We don’t usually take many cats because there are so many cat rescues around,” she said. “We tried to reach out and see if people could help out, but everyone just says that they’re full.”
Rescue NL is asking the public donate to help cover the costs of taking in 29 cats, including food and litter. Veterinary care is expected to be the most expensive bill, with treatment, testing, spaying and neutering costing potentially hundreds of dollars per cat.
“We really need the public to help us,” Ballard said. “We do need foster homes. ... Mainly, what we really, really need is financial support.”
Ballard encourages people to visit rescuenl.com for information on donations and adoption.
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