TNR

I’m starting out the year with nearly empty kitten rooms. I had several private adoptions including a beautiful fluffy kitten that had been abandoned by the river. My last two adoptables, the polydactyl brother and sister, went to rescue on New Year’s Eve. Peter and Paulette had been previously rejected due to a teensy spot of ringworm. Time and due diligence paid off and the six-month-olds passed the test this time, free and clear.

December has turned into a brisk month for adoptions. September and October were absolutely dead. We hardly moved any cats at all. Between the shelters taking in animals from all the areas hit by the fires, two of the rescues we work with had to deal with major hoarding situations which filled all available spaces. Thanksgiving is approaching and we finally got the call.

This is an incredibly frenzied time of the year for those of us involved in freelance rescue. That is because it is full-blown kitten season, and it’s really bad this year. I spend a good portion of my day answering emails, texts, and phone calls as well as responding to Facebook tags. The shelter is hovering at around 70 kittens and a handful of adults, mainly mothers of kittens.

My February started out with a gentleman from Fresno calling me about four newborn kittens. The mother had died after giving birth. I’m not sure how long he waited to ask for help, but by the time I got them, they were weak and cold.