News
May 29 2012
What Do You Do?
It is the time of year when little ones are appearing from out of bushes, under buildings, and other unlikely places for babies to have to be. It is sad that there are still so many unfixed cats in the area and so, therefore, babies are here. What do you do if you find a litter? If momma is willing, it would be so nice to put the babies in a nice, big box in the garage with momma so that they can be watched over and protected. Make sure momma can get out of the box so that she can have some space when she wants it. Have towels and sheets, fresh food and water for momma, and even a litter box if she will use one. SART can help if there are medicines needed, advice to be asked for, and then, when the kittens are old enough, SART can put their pictures on Petfinder to help find them homes. We will also furnish worming and first innoculations. While in your care, kittens need to be held and talked to and sat with so that they trust and love humans. Momma does as well. Partnering in the care of these little ones helps us so much, because, as usual. we are very full and to overcrowd the shelter is not good for anyone, feline or human. Caring for and loving 340 kitties is quite enough at this point. That is why we are asking for you to help with the litters you find. You can stay in contact with SART through the email on the website, and we will help you find homes in return of your helping us love and nurture the babies so that they will be sweethearts. When it is time, momma can then be spayed by SART and placed in a safe place.
If momma is wild, or absent, and you find babies, do as above, only you will be needing to feed the babies. We can train you how to do this – just contact SART through the email on this website and directions will be sent. And, of course, if any need medical care, please let us know that as well. The same procedure would apply so that when they are old enough, pictures can be taken and homes can be found.
If there are a few strays in your neighborhood, take a proactive approach before babies are born. Gather donations from the neighborhood, live trap the strays and take them to be fixed. You can then release them back into where they know as home, and they will live as they did, protecting your homes from rodents, watching you from a distance and feeling safe and content. Over time, they might even come and visit you without any of the unwanted habits that unfixed cats have. Your neighborhood will be a happier, healthier place and with everyone pitching in, financially it can be accomplished.
Is that asking too much of community members? We don’t think so. Our community depends on everyone working together for the betterment of our homes; caring for the unhomed animals is one of those responsibilities. So, please don’t turn your head….do what you can to help the situation. Over the past 4 years our feline population has dramatically declined in the streets of the city. We have rescued almost 900; we have 340 living at the shelter, we have adopted 462 into wonderful homes, and we have cared for and loved each one as they came through SART. We are making a difference, but with the help of community members partnering with us, we could make even faster progress. We know there are a few neighborhoods that still have a large population. All it takes is fixing them, and over time, the population will go down as these kitties live out their lives without birthing more. And the fixed are fun to be around!
Any questions, please contact us. And thank you. At SART, anything is everything!
