Abandoned!
Unfortunately, a familiar sight greeted our Manageress at 5.30am this morning (Tuesday 21 August 2007). Yet another animal had been abandoned at our shelter gates!
The latest victim was a female, dark brindle boxer dog, who was freezing cold and quite distressed ... she had obviously been out there on her own for some hours! Nothing had been left with her, no blanket or bed, no water or food, and no information on her at all. We don't even know the poor girl's name!
The dog was quite dirty and unkempt, and also needed worming treatment. We also believe that she may have suffered abuse in the past, as she cowers whenever anyone lifts a hand to stroke her! Despite her ordeal, she is very friendly and affectionate, and is currently enjoying lots of cuddles and attention from the staff at the shelter.
We are hoping that the owner will at least call in to give us some details of her medical history, or even the dog's name! However, if you recognise the dog and know any of her details, we would also welcome your call. Please contact the shelter on 02380 693282.
She will now undergo a full medical check, to ensure that she does not have any conditions that may need medication.
UPDATE September 2007 - We temporarily named our abandoned dog, Beauty, and are pleased to report that she has now found a new home - a large, spacious one, which she is sharing with two other friendly boxer dogs! We have had an update from the new owners, and apparently Beauty took to her new canine friends straight away, and is very much enjoying a secure and loving home life! We would like to thank everyone on Beauty's behalf for their good wishes! Please read about Beauty's 'happy ending story' HERE.
Sadly, we came across other cases of abandonment around the same time, as well as a very serious incident of animal cruelty.
SCATTY AND SIMBA
Scatty is mum to three gorgeous kittens, and arrived at the shelter with her older son, Simba. You would think that this would be a lovely, peaceful time for this little family. Instead, they have found themselves at our shelter - victims of animal cruelty.
On her arrival, Scatty had a very significant burn mark on her nose (which is noticeable in the photo below), and we are led to believe that this was caused by a cigarette and inflicted by one of her previous owners. We were actually asked to take in these cats after this owner had threatened to kill them! Both Scatty and Simba are understandably quite timid, and Simba visibly cowers when approached by anyone.
Scatty
Simba
Simba, Scatty and their kittens will receive special care, love and attention during their stay with us, and we will ensure that they are all rehomed with loving, caring owners.
UPDATE - Scatty and her kittens and Simba were successfully rehomed to new, loving homes.
CASSIE
Cassie's owner decided to emigrate. However, he neglected to tell anyone that he had left his 10 year old cat, Cassie, behind in his flat! It was only until his brother turned up at the flat a few days later, to tidy things up, that he discovered a very weak and hungry Cassie!
We were called to pick Cassie up and take her in. Even though our cattery is currently full to the brim, we made room for Cassie in our Resident Cat House.
Cassie could have starved to death, as the owner's brother was not scheduled to turn up at the flat on any particular day or week, and she did not have access to the outside.
Cassie was understandably very confused on her arrival. First she was abandoned without any food, and then she was moved to a strange new place! She took to hiding under one of the armchairs in the Resident Cat House, but soon became a little braver, and made a basket in the outside run her own little sleeping spot (as seen in the photo above).
We feel sure she will adjust to her new surroundings, and at least she has food, warmth, and the company of our special cat-sitters and staff. Cassie is now available for adoption, and will hopefully find the loving owner she deserves very soon.
UPDATE - Cassie did indeed adjust to her new surroundings and showed us that she was a very friendly and affectionate girl. She was luckily adopted not too long after her arrival.
GYPSY
Another sad case of abandonment. Gypsy was locked out of her home, and left to fend for herself, after one of her owners moved away. Worse still, Gypsy was only a week or so from giving birth. Her other owner (who had previously moved out following a domestic split) returned to the home a few days later to find it empty, and a very hungry and heavily pregnant Gypsy sat outside.
We took Gypsy in as soon as we were made aware of her situation, but on her arrival it became apparent that she was quite unwell. We whisked her to our vets, where she had to undergo an emergency Caesarian Section. Unfortunately, she had lost one of her two kittens, and we believe that this was due to the stress she had recently suffered.
Gypsy recouperated well after a stay in our special Isolation Unit and, thankfully, mum and kitten are now very well and healthy. Gypsy is an incredibly sweet and affectionate girl, and will make someone a fantastic companion. She will be homed together with her kitten.
UPDATE ON GYPSY - We are pleased to report that Gypsy and her kitten found a home together!
This is a photo taken shortly before they were adopted. Her little kitten was one of the biggest at the shelter for his age!
Our resources are incredibly stretched at the moment, as we have had such a high number of arrivals at the shelter. However, we cannot turn away such needy cases. It does not bear thinking about what would have happened to those animals had we not made room for them!
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