Posted: Dec 22, 2009 05:47 PM
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2009 10:03 PM
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| Madras woman asked for help when her cat-rescue effort grew too overwhelming - to close to 150 cats on and around house (LARGER PHOTOS BELOW) | ||||||||
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| So many cats needed to be rounded up, it took several agencies to handle them all | ||||||||
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| Bend, Redmond animal shelters, cat rescue team worked together to remove, check out rescued cats | ||||||||
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Possibly largest case of its kind ever in region
By Kelsey Watts, KTVZ.COM
Another major animal rescue took place on the High Desert Tuesday, as 117 cats were removed from a Madras woman's home.
"Every bedroom had cages full of cats - there were some out on the back porch, they were in cupboards - we were finding them everywhere," said Karen Szymanski, with the Humane Society of Central Oregon.
It's one of, if not the biggest cat rescue in Central Oregon history.
More than 150 cats were all living in the home, but because of a lack of space at local rescues, only 117 were rescued Tuesday, many of them living in cages, in feces, and with litter boxes that hadn't been changed in a long time.
The remaining 30-40 should be taken in the next two weeks or so, as space becomes available.
Some of those removed from local shelters and organizations were as young as four weeks old. All of the animals appear to have upper respiratory problems, and rescuers say it's cleanliness and the spread of disease that worries them most.
Officials are not naming the Madras woman who owns them, or identifying where she lives, due to her cooperation with the effort. But they do say she has a non-profit status to care for rescued cats - but with this many, she was simply overwhelmed, and asked for help.
"Overflowing litter boxes, cages - I mean, there were cats in every corner of the house," Szymanski said. "I mean, it was bad, but I think it could have been worse."
Now, a lot of medical care is in order, costing local agencies around $50-$100 per cat.
"It's going to be an expensive road from here," Szymanski said. "They're all getting vaccinated, they're all getting tested for leukemia and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). Those that are not spayed and neutered will be, and most of them are going to need a series of antibiotics."
Because the woman voluntarily gave them up, she likely won't face charges, and will be allowed to keep 10-15 as house cats. However, officials promise she will be closely monitored to ensure this doesn't happen again.
It's the latest chapter in a long series of animal rescues, in Central Oregon and statewide.
The Oregon Humane Society is still overwhelmed from the nearly 200 total dogs rescued from Harney and Tillamook counties in separate rescue efforts just two weeks ago.
Many of those animals have also crowded local shelters, and now, finding space and money to care for these cats is a challenge.
"All of the cats are sick, and many are dehydrated," Szymanski said. "And some of these cats are going to be on the long road to recovery, so it's just a matter of finding people to take care of them."
The good news: All of the cats appear to be in relatively good health, and rescuers don't think any of them will have to be put down.
Jefferson County Animal Control only handles dogs, and says the sickest cats will go to an adoption center in the Portland area.
However, most of them will stay right here in Central Oregon.
The Humane Society of Central Oregon in Bend, the Humane Society of Redmond each took about 30 cats, and the Cat Rescue, Adoption & Foster Team or "CRAFT" nearly 50 of them, and now all are in desperate need of short-term foster families, or preferably permanent adoptions.
If you can't add a cat to your family this holiday season, they're also in desperate need of supplies, and monetary donations to cover their medical expenses.
Check the associated article for the news releases issued by those agencies on Tuesday's adoption, along with their contact information.
Madras woman was running non-profit to care for cats, but
became overwhelmed (Jefferson County Animal Control photos)
Shelters, rescuers report most of rescued cats are friendly,
adoptable soon
Every corner of Madras home had cats in it, rescuers say
=====================================
Source
By Kelsey Watts, KTVZ.COM
Another major animal rescue took place on the High Desert Tuesday, as 117 cats were removed from a Madras woman's home.
"Every bedroom had cages full of cats - there were some out on the back porch, they were in cupboards - we were finding them everywhere," said Karen Szymanski, with the Humane Society of Central Oregon.
It's one of, if not the biggest cat rescue in Central Oregon history.
More than 150 cats were all living in the home, but because of a lack of space at local rescues, only 117 were rescued Tuesday, many of them living in cages, in feces, and with litter boxes that hadn't been changed in a long time.
The remaining 30-40 should be taken in the next two weeks or so, as space becomes available.
Some of those removed from local shelters and organizations were as young as four weeks old. All of the animals appear to have upper respiratory problems, and rescuers say it's cleanliness and the spread of disease that worries them most.
Officials are not naming the Madras woman who owns them, or identifying where she lives, due to her cooperation with the effort. But they do say she has a non-profit status to care for rescued cats - but with this many, she was simply overwhelmed, and asked for help.
"Overflowing litter boxes, cages - I mean, there were cats in every corner of the house," Szymanski said. "I mean, it was bad, but I think it could have been worse."
Now, a lot of medical care is in order, costing local agencies around $50-$100 per cat.
"It's going to be an expensive road from here," Szymanski said. "They're all getting vaccinated, they're all getting tested for leukemia and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). Those that are not spayed and neutered will be, and most of them are going to need a series of antibiotics."
Because the woman voluntarily gave them up, she likely won't face charges, and will be allowed to keep 10-15 as house cats. However, officials promise she will be closely monitored to ensure this doesn't happen again.
It's the latest chapter in a long series of animal rescues, in Central Oregon and statewide.
The Oregon Humane Society is still overwhelmed from the nearly 200 total dogs rescued from Harney and Tillamook counties in separate rescue efforts just two weeks ago.
Many of those animals have also crowded local shelters, and now, finding space and money to care for these cats is a challenge.
"All of the cats are sick, and many are dehydrated," Szymanski said. "And some of these cats are going to be on the long road to recovery, so it's just a matter of finding people to take care of them."
The good news: All of the cats appear to be in relatively good health, and rescuers don't think any of them will have to be put down.
Jefferson County Animal Control only handles dogs, and says the sickest cats will go to an adoption center in the Portland area.
However, most of them will stay right here in Central Oregon.
The Humane Society of Central Oregon in Bend, the Humane Society of Redmond each took about 30 cats, and the Cat Rescue, Adoption & Foster Team or "CRAFT" nearly 50 of them, and now all are in desperate need of short-term foster families, or preferably permanent adoptions.
If you can't add a cat to your family this holiday season, they're also in desperate need of supplies, and monetary donations to cover their medical expenses.
Check the associated article for the news releases issued by those agencies on Tuesday's adoption, along with their contact information.
Madras woman was running non-profit to care for cats, but
became overwhelmed (Jefferson County Animal Control photos)
Shelters, rescuers report most of rescued cats are friendly,
adoptable soon
Every corner of Madras home had cats in it, rescuers say
=====================================
Source
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