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View Full Version : LAKE HOPATCONG, NJ: Cat colony poisoned / eliminated - Help for survivors needed



phesina
04-25-2014, 02:02 PM
CONTACT: A Pathway to Hope, email [email protected]

Pathway's very first project was a cat colony in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. The community was very accepting of the cats, but they needed support to control the population. Over the past 3 1/2 years, we have spayed/neutered and rehomed approximately 40 cats, and we have trapped, neutered and released many more with shelters and feeding stations set up and daily care.

A week ago, we found out our colony had been wiped out. The cat population went from 20 to 15 overnight. Seven dead cats were found, one had to be euthanized because she could not move, and many more are missing. We found out that they were poisoned and that a neighbor is continuing to trap and dump them (poisoning stopped when they died under his house). There is a pending investigation with the NJSPCA, police and animal control, and at this time we can't release further information (though we will soon).

We need your help.

58095

Trapping by the perpetrator continues, so we are attempting to trap survivors (anywhere from 6 to 10 cats possible - the numbers vary as there are so many stray cats in the general area, and we need to protect even those who wander into the area). We have trapped 4 cats. Two have FIV, and one of them is very sick. One (pictured here) was injured in the last week and his eye needs immediate attention and possible removal. One cat, trapped tonight, needs to go to the vet and be shaved down immediately from painful mats all over his body. Two need to be neutered, as they are newcomers, and all need to have their vaccines, fecals, feline leukemia and aids testing updated.

We need your help!
Foster / Forever Placements needed, including barn cat placements: email [email protected]
Donations for vet care: http://www.apathwaytohope.org/how-can-you-help.html
Amazon wish list for foster supplies: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1HPGENICILFTD
Donated supplies needed: large wire dog crates, cat carriers, towels, sheets, wet / dry cat food, litter, litter boxes, scoopers

These cats died long, painful deaths, and we are committed to honoring their memory by helping survivors and pursuing the case. Please contact us with any help you can offer at [email protected].

Amy (Birnbaum) Hofer, Co-Founder / President
A Pathway to Hope
www.apathwaytohope.org / [email protected]
...dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of abandoned dogs and cats, with a focus on special needs cases, south to north rescue of northern breed dogs, local rescue of stray cats and all breeds of dogs, and community outreach to further the cause of rescue.

Karen
04-25-2014, 04:34 PM
What a sad situation! They will be in our prayers.

phesina
04-26-2014, 06:05 AM
Thank you, Karen. :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

AvaJoy
05-09-2014, 02:11 PM
Please don't bother with the NJ SPCA as they are of little to no help in these situations from what I've read, being a NJ resident. Go directly to ASPCA (not affiliated with the former mentioned) or HSUS and hopefully charges will be pressed against the person responsible for poisoning these poor, forsaken felines . . . :mad:

GILL
05-28-2014, 09:45 AM
I've just came back to Pet talk.
If I can help in any way. I live on the other side of Lake Hopatcong (Hopatcong).
I have been doing transports, fostering, and socializing for over 30 years.
You can see some of my work at my personal site www.jsgill.net
avajoy is right the NJ SPCA is a joke and are useless.
Gill

phesina
06-01-2014, 05:07 PM
Gill, please contact the original poster, Amy (Birnbaum) Hofer at A Pathway to Hope, email [email protected], and let them know you're nearby and you'd like to help. That's great!

(I'm just the messenger, I post messages like this when I get them from a couple of rescue networks I follow.)

Thank you!

Pat (and cats) :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love: