The call came late at night: a little barn cat was in desperate need of medical attention. Little did we know that this call would tie in to some important current legislation and help save dozens of lives...
Pasado’s Safe Haven has been at the forefront of aggressive spay/neuter and progressive population control efforts since our gates first opened. We
regularly respond to community animal concerns, and when we received a call
late on a Thursday night, we were worried about what the caller told us.
The man had stopped by a rural Seattle-area home when he saw a llama who looked neglected. While the good Samaritan was speaking to the homeowner, he saw a small, black cat gingerly emerge from a barn. He saw that the cat had a prolapsed rectum, which is a very serious condition, and he immediately called Pasado’s.
Rectal prolapse is a painful, severe medical condition in which the walls of the rectum protrude through the anus. The condition can be caused by severe diarrhea, high gastrointestinal parasite loads, and the stress from pregnancy and birth. Feral cats are particularly vulnerable to conditions like this without regular veterinary care. Knowing how serious this kitty’s situation was, Pasado’s headed out to the property at first light the next morning. The homeowner kindly greeted us, and after explaining that we’d heard about the injured cat, she led us to the feral feline. She had tried to trap the cat before, but with no success.
The homeowner indicated that she had inherited the property, along with the llama and dozens of feral cats. Pasado’s offered to come back with a full team to help the kind woman with her cats, and she happily agreed. We set up traps and caught the feral cats, providing spay/neuter services, medical tests, and vaccinations. The homeowner indicated that she would continue feeding and caring for her kitty residents, and we plan to return them to her property as she wishes.
One vigilant caller and one warm-hearted homeowner helped save more than two dozen lives. The homeowner is still leaving out traps for any remaining cats, and we’re delighted with our collaborative effort. We hope that the homeowner will enjoy many happy years with her large feline brood.
Responding to our local communities and providing solutions for feral cats ensures that these innocent souls won’t fall through the cracks. Pasado’s continues to support Senate Bill 5329/House Bill 1406–
click here to find out more about this groundbreaking legislation. While Representative Brian Blake has proposed euthanizing feral or free-roaming cats, our successful feral rescue showed that the true solution for free-roaming populations is providing spay/neuter assistance to end population growth before it begins.
We also checked on the llama, who was the cause of the initial concern. A quick diagnosis revealed that the llama had a birth defect, but was otherwise healthy and well cared-for.
It can become expensive to provide low-cost or free emergency care, but with your support, we can continue saving lives and making a difference for those who need our help most.
Click here to make a difference today.
And thank you, from all of the animals here at Pasado’s Safe Haven!
(don't forget
to ask your employer
to match your donation)
|
