The Ark currently has 100 cats. We have had to make the hard decision to take in only medical emergencies, kittens and pregnant females until we get down on our numbers.
We currently have three litters of kittens, all about 4 to 5 weeks old. The mothers of those kittens will be returned to their owners once the kittens are weaned. We have placed terms on returning them. The owners will have to give us a paid receipt for a spay surgery and an appointment date of that spay. These conditions were agreed upon when we took the pregnant females. The owners will incur all of the expenses.
(Courtesy of Lorraine Monfils)
We cannot stress enough the importance of neutering and spaying. There are too many animals in shelters and the problem is nationwide. Many of those shelters euthanize, and many innocent animals lose their lives because of the poor decisions their owners make.
While the Ark is a no-kill sanctuary, we simply cannot keep up with the numbers. People are letting their pets reproduce faster than we can help.
We try to educate the community and we get on our soapbox and preach, but at times our words fall on deaf ears. Perhaps it would become a reality if more people actually visited their local shelter or sanctuary to see first hand what is happening.
The staff and volunteers work hard and they see things no one should have to see. They pour their hearts and souls into their work and hope that their efforts make a difference. They do make a difference for the pets they come in contact with, but what about the ones that never get that chance? The ones that are born sick, the ones that have litter after litter, the ones that never get to experience kindness, love and compassion?
Their lives matter, and we as humans need to do a whole lot better when it comes to the life of an animal.
Thank you for your continued support and, as always, thank you for reading our column.
