Plight of feral cats improving in AZ
Yesterday I met one of the EAMT from the Arizona Humane society. I'd called them to pick up one of the cats that appears to be dying and was surprised that they'd come out for a feral cat. In the past (before Animal Cops Phoenix) they've told me "we don't do cats". She's probably been hit by a car because she's not using one leg and is nothing but skin and bones and there's blood in her stools!
Precious a once beatiful Siamese had been laying in one spot when I left and when I returned four hours later she hadn't moved.
They asked me if she was contained and I told them no, but she couldn't move. Wouldn't you know it, when she got here the cat was gone!
She was very nice and concerned about the cat having to spend another cold night in her debilitated condition. Hopefully I'll be able to find her today and contain her until they can come back and get her.
If she's frightened by being confined, I'll stay with her until they get here. Even though they don't want to be touched they seem to respond to a soothing voice.
These cats aren't pets in the traditional sense, but situations like this are still very painfull.
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Update on Precious the gravely ill Siamese cat and the Arizona Humane Society.
Today we managed to get her into a cardboard cat carrier lined with soft towels that belonged to my neighbor. A different EAMT arrived in less than an hour after we called. Since they only have 4 ambulances in an area with a population of 4 million that was quick! Precious was humanely euthanized since there was absolutely no shred of hope for recovery.
The plight of sick and injured unwanted and homeless animals has certainly taken a huge turn for the better around here. The EAMT spent quite a while filling us in on the options we have for situations that might come up with the feral cats and that they could help us with. A far cry from a couple of years ago when the only response when they were called about cats in difficulty was, "we don't do cats".
Public donations including a huge bequest from a wealthy benefactor are what has made the tremendous difference!
Now if we could just find more volunteers to agree to participate in the TNR programs all across the country! All they have to do is provide, food water and some sort of shelter for the feral cats (if none is already available). We also need to educate all pet owners to spay and neuter and keep their cats inside. :( TNR really does work. We've seen a tremendous drop in new ferals due to the abscence of new litters being born every kitten season.
In addition to the services of the humane society, our county Animal control department will also provide free food for anyone that wants to participate in the TNR programs but can't afford to buy the food.
