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.
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.
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
