Tales & Tails of New York

Tonight, in my emails, there is one from Renee, one of the New Hope Coordinators from the Manhattan Animal Care and Control shelter.

The email is about the AC&C's new program entitled, "No New Kitties,"  regarding pregnant cats that come into the shelter.

In the past, pregnant cats were automatic euthanasias.  After all, the shelter couldn't responsibly adopt cats out who were about to give birth.  And AC&C couldn't keep such cats in the facilities for months waiting for them to give birth and the kittens to be old enough for adoption.

It was a tragic dilemma.

But, now the shelter is trying out a new program which immediately spays(aborts) the cats as soon as they come in and then tries to find a rescue group to take the animals following surgery.

I fully support this new program and last week pulled from the shelter, on Renee's request, a cat who had just gone through the procedure.

"Linda,"  a very pretty Calico, didn't look too good at first.  She had an Upper Respiratory Infection and seemed very weak.

"Are you sure she's going to make it?" I asked Renee.

"I sure hope so," answered Renee. "She sat here too long after the surgery.  I know she doesn't look good now, but I'll give you meds for her."

Upon brining her home, I put Linda on injectable Batril and Doxycyline, as well as giving her sub-cute fluids.  She wasn't eating and seemed very lethargic.

But, amazingly, within a few days, Linda made a speedy recovery and began eating like a horse!  I was thrilled to see it!

Linda is an extremely affectionate cat and loves human attention. She is also fine around other pets.  Yet, she came into the shelter as a so-called "stray."

Either former owners left her out to become "stray" and get pregnant. Or, they dumped her off at the pound when realizing the cat was soon to give birth and lied about the circumstances.

Neither scenario is a positive statement about human responsibility.

It is distressing to realize so many pregnant cats coming into AC&C during the month of December (one of the least favorable months for animal fertility).

Renee's email tonight contains pictures and details five pregnant or recently spayed/aborted cats who need urgent rescue.

One wonders: Don't people get it yet about the need to spay and neuter cats?

I can't take any of the five lovely cats as nobody has called me in recent days offering foster and I personally am full.  I hope other rescues can help the shelter out, as I want very much, to see this new initiative and program to be successful.  It won't be unless all the spay/abort cats can get out of the shelter after undergoing the procedure.

Of course, I anticipate the AC&C will come under heavy criticism from those "religious" zealots who think any kind of abortion "wrong."  Or, from those people naive and ignorant of the difficulties in placing so many cats that come into the shelters on any given day of the week. 

"Couldn't you let her have her babies?" they will ask (or worse, demand).

"Sure.  And if we did, who would take all of them and the mother?  Would you?  What about all the cats and kittens we have here already?"

'Nuff said.

Those who condemn generally don't do.

If all those who keep cats would neuter and spay the animals, the shelters wouldn't have to face these hard choices and dilemmas.

Meanwhile, Linda is all fine, spayed and purring now.

But, waiting for that loving, forever home.

Perhaps if the beautiful and sweet Calico can quickly find a home, I can take one of the five from the list tonight.  That would be real nice.

I so want this program to be successful.

Kudos to AC&C.

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