Rescued on such a winter’s day

Contributed photo
    Life at Halfway Home Pet Rescue (HHPR) is looking much better for Momma Cass than it did a couple of weeks ago. The cat was found when an area girl was taking out the garbage and heard a pitiful cry. Looking over the trash barrel at the ice still between the garage and the garbage cans, she saw little Momma Cass frozen to the ice with her five young kittens. The girl went and got her parents and they quickly started thawing out the ice to rescue the felines. Unfortunately, four of the babies could not be revived. The family brought the cats to HHPR for more help; Momma Cass and little Rocky were treated with eye ointment and antibiotics during their recovery and are now slowly gaining weight and energy after their near-death experience. “This family are heroes to the HHPR volunteers, as they postponed their day’s tasks to save the lives of this feline family,” said HHPR President Norma Milton. Momma Cass has recently taken over the care and feeding of four new orphan kittens at the rescue. Currently, the pet rescue is in great need of Purina Kitten Chow and Purina Cat Chow. “We have many kittens still too young for adoption, and we have had several young adult cats come in with various injuries like a broken tail — possibly from being hit by a car — a stomach cut open from an abuse case, blistered feet, many signs of starvation, and other injuries,” Milton said. “These cases take time to heal and become adoptable house cats.” The shelter is also in need of 24/7 heating pads and heated beds for the comfort of orphan kittens and abandoned cats with very little body heat of their own due to starvation. Milton explained that conventional heating pads  that turn off every two hours do not suffice because the weak cats require a steady heat. The shelter’s special adoption fee of $10 for an adult cat over six months will continue until Friday, June 1. After that, adoption prices will return to the usual $40 for adult cats. Adoption hours at 489 Main St., in Caribou are on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Special appointments can be made with advance notice for the volunteer schedule. The Rescue made $690 during the Caribou City-Wide Yard Sale, and volunteers are appreciative of the community support. FMI: Call 999-1075.