Well, not really. It’s supposed to be the end of busy season, but lately there doesn’t seem to be a lull in the action. I got an email from Ann, the Godmother of All Things Cat and Rescue in this area. She wanted to alert me to a situation that was “right up my alley.” That phrase always worries me. But, I wasn’t worried this time - we are full, I am spread too thin in my life, I’m moving, AND it’s the holidays. So sorry. Can’t help. Good luck. Good bye.
Hah.
That worked for a few hours. Another email. And a few more as the pleas for action started circulating around the local rescue community. A bunch of “doomed” Siamese cats. Decendents of an abandoned pet who’s classless owners not only dumped her outside when they moved, they didn’t even bother to get her spayed. So she did what cats do and made a bunch of babies. Naturally there is the good-hearted neighbor who feeds them, but can’t take them herself as she already has 4 cats. And, of course the story wouldn’t be complete without the bad neighbor who hates the cats and does unpleasant things to them. There are allegations of BB guns, attack by dogs, “leg hold” traps. Until the whole mess erupts and animal control is called in and the poor cats are trapped and taken to the shelter. Since they are feral - cannot be touched, let alone adopted out, and, since their “home” is a hostile and dangerous enviroment, they can’t be sterilized (spay/neuter) and released. (TNR for Trap-Neuter-Return). They will be held for the (current) legal minimum of 72 hours and then put down.
But that is where this story changes direction. These cats were taken to Humane Society of Silicon Valley. who has then contract to provide the housing for trapped cats within the City of Sunnyvale. They are held for the legal minimum, and then evaluated for temperment and health, and if they’re lucky, are put up for adoption. However, if they are sick (with something that can’t be treated) or are feral, well, then they are put down.
These feral cats should have been put down, but they were not. And, they have Beth Ward to thank for that. Beth, the VP of Animal Care and Customer Service, reached out to the rescue community to see if any of them could be taken and socialized. This was the request I refused.
Initially.
But, Ann had me in her sights. We routinely tame adult feral cats and those skills were needed for these cats. I succeeded at staying on the sidelines for almost a week, but with time running out I finally capitulated and agreed to train any volunteers “they” came up with on my techniques for taming, but that was it.
Today it turned into “my” project.
HELP!! I need 12 experienced foster homes!!
