This morning I took a little brown striped cat into The WHS. We had a cat coming around our yard for some time over the summer, so we decided to rent a trap from Winnipeg Animal Services to try to catch the little one. We put fresh food and water out for it every day. The cat was smart and seemed to know where to step to not set off the trap. This morning though, I found a little brown cat looking at me from the trap, and mewing, scared out of its mind when I came near.
I talked gently to the cat, put a blanket over the trap to calm it down and immediately drove off to The WHS. It was a long drive, but the blanket helped to keep the cat calm and quiet throughout most of the ride. I took a little peek at it when I stopped at a light and saw it sitting curled up in a corner. I periodically would talk to it to make sure it was ok, and I’d get a little string of mews back. Upon arrival at The WHS, the intake staff told me the cat was a little girl, and wasn’t a wild cat. But she didn’t have a tattoo. She was small, and so pretty with shades of brown and white in her striped fur. The WHS staff took her away to begin the intake process, and my job was done. As I drove away from The WHS, my eyes filled with tears for the scared little kitty. Is she healthy? Will she find a good home? Does she have owners, and if so, why did they let her wander around on the dangerous streets every day?
I own two cats, a boy and a girl, who I adopted from The WHS. I am very tuned into noticing other cats I see wandering around outside, or sitting out in their owners’ yards. My heart is so concerned for cats as I do not want to see any suffer. I always think “what if that wandering creature was my cat?” Truthfully, it probably was one of my cats at one time, as one was a stray. The other was born at WHS. I took them in to give them good homes and I love them more than they can understand. I never want to see harm come to them.
I have to implore all cat owners out there – take responsibility for your pets! If you own a cat, do not let them roam around the neighborhood! If you care for your pet, why would you want to risk them getting hit by a car, getting into a fight with another animal, getting sick or getting lost forever? If you own a cat, make sure that your pet is fixed, so that more litters aren’t added to the streets. Finally, if you own a cat, make sure they have a tattoo or a chip so that when a compassionate person like me catches your pet, he or she can be returned to you!
It broke my heart this morning thinking about this cat and I truly don’t want to see any other cats without homes wandering around my neighborhood. All animals are gifts and deserve to have good lives and forever homes.
I hope the little girl finds a good forever home and I’ll be looking forward to following up on her in the next few days.
By Candace Weselowski
There’s a teririfc amount of knowledge in this article!
This story very much upset me.
ONE CAT SAVED MANY MORE TO GOE. This story broke my heart this should not have happened to this kitty. To everyone out there in Winnipeg, take a real good look @ this kitty’s picture (above). She is adorable and definitely this should not have happened to her. To the person who saved her I thank you and commend you for being so humane and loving. I have had cats in my life and have saved them from very bad situations. 1 was left to starve to death outside, 1 was so thin it was very close to death, another one was very badly beaten. I took everyone of them into my home and cared for them and watched over them and gave them loving care and they healed. Certain people told me to give them up or have them euthenized. Well i have a conscience and i adore animals and i did not listen to these people. Even though they are grown now and are healthy and thriving I still call them my babies and my loving angels. The little kitty above and the ones I took in deserve all the love they can get. How dare people treat animals like a piece of garbage and cast them out into all kinds of deplorable weather, situations where they cannot defend themselves, they starve and are sometimes beaten, hit by cars, etc. People get animals as gifts for Christmas, birthdays etc. And then when they find out they cannot take on responsibility for the poor animals, these poor poor babies are cast aside, euthanized left on the streets, drowned. I would like to see these people live for 2-3 days in situations that these animals suffer, no water, no food, feeeling abandoned, being abused, just cast aside like a piece of garbage, tortured, scared, lonely etc. and see how they feel. BTW dogs goe through this horrendous treatment as well. What is it going to take for our government officials to wake up and help animals and pass severe laws on animals abuse, prison sentences to people who do this to these precious animals. There are laws in the USA against animal abuse, Animal cops, jail time, etc. Also, what about getting these puppy and animals mills abolished and severe sentences given to those who run them?????? What is going on in our society when an animal has to undergoe so much cruelty. Animals are precious they love us unconditionally, even when they are abused by someone they will still show that person love. Animals protect us, rescue us in bad situations. What I ask is wrong with people and society to stand by and let these abominations occur and say nothing and do nothing for these precious precious animals. I for one am not afraid to speak out and also report people who abuse animals, I am no coward. If anyone out there agrees with me please post a comment. Also the next time you see or hear of animal being abused I implore you to speak up and report this abuse to the Humane Societies wherever you are or call the police. Animals cannot stick up for themselves
Further to my comment above call your MLA’s, write letters to the Government officials, people have protests about many different issues. WHAT ABOUT THE POOR DEFENSELESS ANIMALS. ANIMALS HAVE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS TO, SO PROTEST AGAINST THE INHUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS. Thank you for reading my comment and I know you will look into your hearts and help the animals who need humans to stand up for them. Beverly I look forward to reading your comments.