Let me introduce you to:
 
 
I am beginning this story on Saturday, July 23rd, 2005.
These beautiful kittens were born on June 1st, 2005, under my front porch & were produced by "Snow Baby" an all white, female, feral cat living in our neighbourhood for the past few years.
The kittens showcased in these pictures are: "Fiesty" on the left, "Oreo" in the middle & "Snow Baby Junior" on the right. The birth of these kittens has affected me very deeply & taught me things that have changed the way I think about cats & especially "feral" cats forever.
I have always been an animal lover but am more of a "dog" person - I have had cats as companion pets in the past but found I was allergic to them. I will try to get to the point quickly here, so I don't lose you reading this story.
When I found the kittens I knew they would not survive if something wasn't done to save them - so I started making calls. I called The Toronto Humane Society, The City of Toronto Animal Control, left messages on answering machines for the Annex Cat Rescue, and a number of other animal rescue & specific "cat" rescue organizations. The answers I got, when someone answered, were all similar, we can't help you, we are full, but if you bring them in we have to take them, no we don't lend out traps & on & on - & I left messages on many answering machines but no one was calling me back.
I went online & searched desperately spending many, many hours trying to find some help to save these kittens. If no one could take them in - at least I might be able to rent a trap to catch them myself - again - a deadend. I couldn't find animal traps to rent or borrow. (I didn't want to buy one as I wanted to save my money for the inevitable Veterinary costs but - if I had to buy one - I guess I would just have to.) I became overwhelmed with what I found on every sight - so, so many animals up for adoption. Not just kittens but many, many older animals, dogs & especially cats that people either were unable to take care of any longer for good reasons but many others just discarded like garbage when they no longer had a need for them or they weren't convenient for their lifestyle any longer. I hadn't realized just how serious this situation was but now that I knew - I just had to get involved.
THERE IS A CRISIS GOING ON IN OUR CITY! CATS & PARTICULARLY "FERAL" CATS ARE PRODUCING HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF KITTENS. ALL THE ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS ARE OVERFLOWING WITH THEM - NONE HAVE ROOM. NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE HELPING WITH THE CRISIS & MUCH HELP IS NEEDED! SPAYING & NEUTERING OF THESE CATS IS PARAMOUNT!
I read everything I could find on "feral" cats, talked to some friends & neighbours who were also concerned & finally a "guardian angel" called me back!
Her name is Claudia Vecchio, the founder of ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals (a fully registered charitable foundation). Claudia was wonderful (I learned much from her, very quickly) - yes she could help - but there were conditions - because she didn't have any room either. But, she would help by providing me with a trap to capture Snow Baby & the kittens BUT only if I could find someone to foster the kittens. (I couldn't foster them as I have a dog who could hurt them & I am allergic. ) Some of my neighbors have lovingly been feeding the feral cats in our neighborhood but couldn't foster the kittens either.
A week went by - "What to do?" These kittens were not going to make it! Finally, one of my wonderful neighbors relented & said she would take them in to foster until we found homes for them.
I called Claudia immediately. She delivered the trap - we set it up & caught Snow Baby (the Mom) first. I brought Snow Baby to a generous, co-operative Veterinarian who spayed her & as I write this on Saturday, July 23rd/05 - she is recovering well & will be released back into our neighborhood on Tuesday, July 26th/05 to live out the rest of her life. The beautiful kittens were caught over a one day period & were placed in the loving home of our neighbors to be fostered until they are adopted into their "forever" home.
Claudia & her organization have arranged with PetsMart to hold "adoption weekends". So, as I write this on Saturday, July 23rd, the kittens are at PetsMart in Mississauga (on their very best behaviour) hoping someone will fall in love with them & take them home - forever!
If you are interested in adopting one of these beautiful kittens or you know someone who may be interested - please call me @ 416-483-8000 or call Claudia @ 416-726-5762 or 905-727-6375.
If you are unable to adopt a kitten, don't despair, you can still help the animals!
Donations of money to cover costs of spaying & neutering, other veterinary care, food etc. are required urgently as well as loving foster homes. So if you are able to donate or foster - please call Claudia at the numbers listed above or better yet - visit her site @ http://www.ora-animalsrescue.org. She (& her organization) work tirelessly & relentlessly on behalf of the animals they (& the animals) deserve all the help they can get!
Thanks!
Valerie
P.S. I will keep you posted on the progress of the kittens - come back soon.
Sunday, July 24th, 2005: Sweet "Oreo" and "Snow Baby Junior" have been adopted together by a wonderful family in Mississauga. Their "forever" home will consist of a Mom, Dad & two children, (a boy & a girl, aged 11 & 13.) & everyone is very happy! "Fiesty" will now be moved to another foster home to be with other kittens until she/he is adopted - so she/he won't be alone, scared or lonely.
Tuesday, July 26th, 2005: Our precious, delicate, "Snow Baby" was released back into her/our neighbourhood this afternoon to her absolute delight as well as the delight of our neighborhood cat watch people - who feed her regularly & will watch over her. She has healed well from being spayed & has been vaccinated against rabies & four other infectious diseases - so she's in pretty good shape. She is just a little upset & will be for a bit yet as she is searching desperately for her babies and can't find them - but they are doing very well indeed - I just wish she knew that! I met the new adoptive family of "Oreo" & "Snow Baby Junior" when I was at the Vet's today & everyone is very, very happy & doing well. Bye the way, they are both male kittens & their names will probably be changed - I'll let you know when they decide. Claudia Vecchio also reports that "Fiesty" is doing well in her/his new foster home with the other kittens & that his/her name has been changed to "Snowflake". So, think about adopting her/him & please tell your friends. She/he is really, really, really cute!
Monday, August 1st, 2005: Our last kitten "Snowflake" has the wonderful opportunity of being adopted by "a volunteer" of ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals! Claudia Vecchio, the amazing founder of ORA, called me last night to give me the great news. This "volunteer" is a 12 year old girl, who has helped the organization by raising funds of over $900.00 & previously adopted an older cat named "Mikey" who was difficult to place & she has done wonders with him. She has fallen in love with "Snowflake" who will be placed with her as a foster for a few weeks to make sure Mikey will accept him/her. Claudia also reports that "Oreo & Snow Baby Jr." are thriving, gaining weight, playing endlessly & just loving their new home. (Claudia is in constant touch with new kitten placements to make sure everything is going well - new names still to follow - Claudia couldn't remember for sure.) AND, our dear, precious Mom "Snow Baby" is over her grief (she stopped looking for the kittens after one day (thank dog!) & is back to her normal roaming of the neighborhood & visiting her favorite haunts.
Wednesday, August 17th, 2005: Claudia reports that "Snowflake" is in her new home & is doing well, she is playful, affectionate & purring all the time - so life is looking good for her & yes - she is a girl. The boys, Oreo & Snow Baby Jr. are loving their new home & their names have been changed to: "Bacarti & Breezer". So,unless there is something new to report - that's it folks - all is well for these kittens! But PLEASE REMEMBER - there are many more animals that need help - I truly hope you will do whatever you can to help the animals!
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