33 abandoned cats rescued in Redmond, Madras
The Cat Rescue, Adoption & Foster Team (CRAFT), Deschutes County’s only no-kill sanctuary, is in the process of rescuing two large groups of cats, 33 in total, in two different locations – one in Redmond, the other in Madras – that were abandoned and at risk of harm.
Here’s the rest of CRAFT’s news release, issued Friday evening.
Some cats had already died due to weather, illness and starvation before CRAFT was called. The sheriff’s office asked for help with one of the locations after citizen complaints; a business owner and nearby residents called about the other.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office investigates numerous animal abuse and neglect cases every year, but is not equipped to do trapping and rescue of large groups of cats that takes a lot of time; and then the cats need a safe place to go for treatment and ongoing care, and eventual placement.
The sheriff’s office policy is to respond to all calls for help and do what they can. Other agencies do not respond to calls about cats, and Madras has no shelter for cats at this time.
Large-scale rescue of abandoned or hoarded cats places a tremendous strain on no-kill rescues. CRAFT, which is all volunteer with no paid staff, receives no government support like shelters do, and struggles with issues regarding space, volunteer help and funding when large groups of cats need help.
The typical animal coming from a hoarding or abandonment situation is malnourished, suffering from illnesses and dental diseases, parasites, and is in dire need of medical attention including vaccinations, spay/neuter, parasite treatment, vet care and good food.
All of these issues place demands on scarce resources and funds. Vet services are not donated, although a few generous veterinarians will discount some procedures such as spay/neuter.
One such cat just rescued evidently put her head in a jar in search of food, got stuck and was found trying to survive with jagged glass around her neck.
She has been treated by a vet including spay and vaccinations, and like the 32 others taken in this month from the two locations (in addition to others from various situations), will be cared for by CRAFT until such time she is considered adoptable.
Several other cats need eyes surgically removed due to severe infection and/or injury.
CRAFT is in dire need of good quality dry cat food, scoopable cat litter, paper towels, bleach, mops and cleaners. And VOLUNTEERS – even a few hours will help! We can also use deposit cans/bottles, which help to fund our feral spay/neuter program.
Contact info@craftcats.org, or see www.craftcats.org for more details, directions to the sanctuary or to learn about other places donations can be left for pickup. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CraftCats.
