It’s raining kittens

by Loraine Monfils
    This past two months the Ark has taken in 28 kittens and counting! Normally you think of kittens and you think it is wonderful. The sad reality is there are not enough homes for all of the stray and abandoned kittens. The simple answer is neuter and spay. It seems simple enough but apparently not everyone believes in this philosophy or they just don’t care. I received a phone call from someone whose cat had just had kittens asking for help placing the kittens. When I asked why they didn’t spay their cat, the answer was because we wanted the experience of having kittens being born and being a part of it. I guess they didn’t think of the end result, finding homes for these kittens so they wouldn’t have to live in cages until they were adopted, if they are in fact adopted.
    Let me tell you about some of the kittens that have come in. There is Elvis, the grey ball of fluff whose mother was so sick she couldn’t nurse him, so he is being bottle-fed. He is three weeks old and will in all probability lose an eye because he wasn’t taken care of.
    Then we have Sonny, Cher and Reba who were brought in at two weeks old with no mother who are currently being bottle-fed. We are now their mother.
    We have Dirty Harry, Liz Taylor and Marilyn Monroe who came in with no mother and eye issues. They have finally started eating on their own and their eyes are looking better every day.
    We have a little buff-colored male named Lazarus, who nearly lost his life because he was so sick and tiny. Lazarus was given IV fluids and antibiotics and bottle-fed for two weeks. He is now a happy, healthy little kitten waiting for his new fur-ever home.
    We can’t forget Ruby, Picasso, Rose, Mittens and Tigger, who despite our best efforts were not strong enough or big enough to survive. This column is dedicated to them. They were brought into this world and though their lives were brief, they taught us a very valuable lesson. None of these kittens asked to be born, they were the end result of irresponsible pet ownership. Please everyone, the next time you think it would be cool for your cat to have kittens, think of the end result. If you don’t plan on keeping the kittens and getting everyone altered, Please do not let her have kittens! If you can’t afford to neuter or spay your pets, you can’t afford a pet, it is as simple as that.
    As I am writing this column, another little grey kitten named Jersey, is rushed through the front door. He is skin and bones from lack of food, other than that he will be okay. He has not taken his head out of the food dish since he arrived. A little black kitten now named Garcia is saved from an attack by six raccoons and brought in. He has a broken pelvic bone and an open wound on his hindquarters. He has just returned from the vet and is resting comfortably. This brings us up to 30 kittens. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
    If you are unaware, we are a no-kill sanctuary. We do not euthanize for convenience, only when the vets deem it necessary for the well-being of the animal. We are committed to each and every life we come in contact with. We believe that all of their lives are meaningful. They answer is not euthanizing, it is neuter and spay.
    The SPCA recently published that in order for all animals in shelter situations in the U.S. to find homes, every single American would have to adopt 15 dogs and 45 cats. I can’t even begin to grasp that thought. How about you? Together we can make a difference. The Ark might not always have the answer to your problems and we might not always be able to help, but we will make an effort. Our door is always open, but you have to be willing to do your part and that begins with responsible ownership. Please neuter and spay your pets.
    Please join us on Saturday, Aug. 6, for Hot Diggity Dogs on Mechanic Street from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. We are running the pet photo contest again this year. Stop by Hollywood Pet Salon for details or check out our website www.arksanctuary.com for more details. On Sunday, Aug. 14, we will be planting a memorial garden in memory of Whitney Coppersmith from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at our new location on Old Woodstock Road. On Saturday, Aug. 20, we will be having an outdoor dinner “A Taste of Italy” from 4 – 8 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 27, we will be having an open house up at our land from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Though we are still under construction, we invite everyone to come up and see our new location. Thanks to the Horn of Plenty for another successful evening on July 13.
    In July, the Ark took in 14 kittens and one adult cat. We currently have 61 cats and kittens. We adopted out six cats and one dog and we currently have three dogs. Four cats passed away due to natural causes.
    The Ark brought in $2,020.85 in donations and fundraisers. Our expenses were $1,806.62. We would like to thank our many supporters and volunteers who make all of our work for the animals possible. Welcome to our newest volunteer, Courtney, who has been an incredible help. Thank you for reading our column.