Our Cry for Help was Answered

About a year ago a young lady cat rescuer was alerted to a feral cat situation at Charleston Arbors in downtown Charleston, WV. It was during the trapping and relocating of the said ferals that our association deepened and she introduced me (Sheila), to a Facebook group chat later to be named 'Crazy Cat Ladies'.

I (Sheila), was witness to the countless saving of animal lives - cats and dogs, other animals as well. This group has it's heart in the right place. Though I didn't feel very welcomed - at first. I'm an outsider, not originally from this area - and a bit of a loner.

Several times I had reached out to this group for help, when Phoebe Peppercorn was ran over and needed medical attention this group and particularly one lady stepped up and donated a large amount to save Phoebe's leg, after a vehicle accident. Unfortunately her leg couldn't be saved and this lady again donated a large amount to help with the cost of amputating Phoebe's leg. The surgery was a success and Phoebe is laying beside me on her very own pillow, cleaning herself as I type this post. She is happy, she is safe, she is greatly loved.

Recently I posted a plea for help on feeding the colony and feline family that is Gargoyles Animal Rescue after our main sponsor suffered a stroke and we would not ask her for any more help. In the group is one lady who responded with an offer of food, she even brought it to us. When she arrived she was floored by our shear numbers. When she learned of our financial status and the amount of cats that hadn't been altered she went into action and started a fundraiser. She also set us up at her vet's for our littlest members who were suffering from suspected Upper Respiratory Infections.

That was last week and at last check the fundraiser was at almost $1,000.00, but we have more to raise as the surgery and care is expected to be closer to $2,000.00. We have 29 cats needing to be altered in their reproductive abilities; 14 females to be spayed and 15 males to be neutered. Plus rabies' shots, flea meds (vets around here insist on flea meds during this procedure), hazard waste fees, vetting of the sick babies, their meds, and care for the cats after their surgery.

Cats can get away from you in hot messy minute with breeding. The babies come, you try to get the momma fixed when you manage to pull enough funds to the side from feeding them and paying the bills to run the operation. Then when you make the appointment and gather your momma you realise she is pregnant again - and too far along, you are against ripping babies out of a momma's womb. So you get one of her daughters from a previous litter in her stead - at least you are stopping one more cat from reproducing. But there is that momma having another litter of kittens and then one of her daughters that you didn't spay is having her first litter... the vicious cycle goes on and on.

About 10 months ago there was a program for help with feral colonies in Kanawha County (where we reside), we reached out to them for our whole area, when we inquired about our status we were told we were on the list. Never heard another damn word. That is the way of things here. Felt like we were back in Georgia with the 'Good Ole' Boy System' and if don't know who's who then you just don't matter.  Not like in Houston, TX where not only were there grants everywhere to address feral and stray cats but a whole network of transports and loaning of traps. It was amazing, we were located north of Houston in a most awesome city named Montgomery, the way people networked thousands upon thousands of lives were saved every year.

Another amazing city was Greenville, SC where the local humane society had 'Tom Cat Tuesdays' where you could get a tom cat neutered for $10.00 - hell we were sending the Toms there by the groves for a little snip, snip. Clearly remembering one particular trip to the Humane Society Clinic where we admitted Caroline (female canine 50#), Adorable (male), Mewen (male), Squirrel (male), Phoebe (female). They all received altering surgeries, rabies' vaccination, and pain meds for under $200.00. That was in 2012 - 8 years ago but still impressive. Greenville had a second shelter that was a 'kill shelter' but they had a very affordable clinic that helped us save the life of Paca - our 'bait dog' miracle. They would diagnose whatever was going on with her, discuss a course of action, give me a written prescription which I could take to any Publix and they filled it for free. Gotta love Publix!

Charleston has several rescue orgs and groups doing everything they can to make life better for the animals that come across their path or social media feed. What we need is a unified organization of all the rescue groups and someone writing grants to get the funds in here, also to write to the companies and organizations that offer grants, they can tailor grants if enough oil is added to the squeak.

We need to unify our energy and direct that powerful force into the best way to help as many if not all of the animals in our community, in our state, in our regional area, in our country, in our world.

Facebook Fundraiser for Gargoyles Animal Rescue

Helping Kitties

Early December we received a call from a lady who had been taking care of a feral colony for many years. She had TNR through a rescue years back when grants were available to the residents of Kanawha County, West Virginia. She had moved down into a neighboring city and had been coming back daily to tend to the ferals (apx 10). Her house had been up for sale for 3 years. She ended up selling the property and taking a serious loss but more so than money she was losing the property to tend to the cats.

She reached out to Gargoyles and though we are not in a position to take on a feral colony something in her voice called out in desperation for these felines that never asked to be put in a situation like this. She told me of four kittens, two real young but able to eat some food and two slightly older. She could touch them, even hold them but make no mistake these are feral cats that are fearful of humans other than their caretaker.

Kittens rescued early enough can be 'domesticated' and become exceptional pets. So if nothing else the kittens may be able to be accepted into a rescue, it was worth a try. 

Through a Messenger Group dedicated to helping the animals of West Virginia, made contact with a rescue in Morgantown that would sponsor these kittens - all four of them. Most of the members pay for the vetting, food, and fuel all out of pocket. Together we network, transport, foster, and rescue animals day in and day out. The energy is electrifying everyone always lifting each other up, showing gratitude and offering emotional and physical and financial support. 

The caretaker caught the first two, the younger ones and they stayed with Gargoyles for a few hours in a special Quarantine Crate.

Picture taken in Morgantown

Picture taken in Morgantown

Met the transporter across the river in Big Chimney and these two babies were on their way to the next step in saving lives. They would be housed overnight in a heated basement with two puppies who were on the next morning transport to Morgantown. A complex network that comes together with people who put the welfare of these sweet animals top priority.

The new property owner requested the caretaker to not come back on the property, not in a bad way, but more due to contractors and a dangerous work zone. After a phone conversation with the new property owner Gargoyles received permission to access the property to feed, trap, whatever we needed to do for the feral cats. That was a relief.

There are adults, some very sick and need to be seen by a vet, two that a vet would probably humanely euthanize. Several females in reproduction age, two current mothers of the above mentioned kittens.

This week the cats have been fed by Gargoyles, slowly gaining the trust of the ferals. Today the kittens were captured and extra food put down for the adults, as predicted bad weather may prevent travel up the mountain where they reside.

The kittens are staying the evening with Gargoyles, in the Quarantine Crate - inside - out of the freezing temps that have settled into our area. These are quite a bit more feral than the other younger kittens. The kittens will be fostered by a feral whisperer who will handle, socialize, and help the babies become calm and friendly pets. This process enables the babies to be adopted into loving homes.

Unique marking on the head.