Columbus Dog Connection

THIS MADNESS MUST END!!!!

EVERY.SINGLE.DAY we receive calls, emails, messenger messages, texts, and people stopping by asking us to take litters of kittens and adult cats. To give you an example: in the last two days alone, we’ve been asked to help a situation with 16 cats and kittens; another call to help the remaining kittens from a location where 3 had already been killed by a dog; a mom and her kittens in a backyard and the caller would wanted “them gone today”; a building overrun with many pregnant cats, and many other requests.

We are CURRENTLY dealing with TWO situations since two weeks ago. We cannot discuss one of them, but we will in the near future because it is one of the worst we have ever seen of neglect and hoarding. It is upsetting beyond words. We are trying to find foster homes for the cats in that situation, as well as exercising sensitivity so the owners do not shut us out completely. WE NEED FOSTER HOMES that will require long term and special care.

The other situation, let's call it the LINDEN LICE situation, is yet again, another situation where the resident is feeding cats in their backyard, not spaying/neutering, lots of kittens being born, with the prior litters now 6-9 months old and feral, and some pregnant or nursing kittens. And to add the cherry to the 💩💩💩 sundae, the cats and kittens are/were infested with LICE. They were shaved and received their first of multiple treatments to be given every two weeks. The cats had upper respiratory infections on top of the lice.

We ended up taking in 9 kittens that we were able to locate (we know there are more in adjoining backyards) amidst the petri-dish of who knows what in that backyard, 3 adults (including a lactating mom) and 4 TNR's so far, there are many more, at least 15 more! Some of these cats are pregnant, and while we were there, there were multiple females in heat and the male cats impregnating them.

To give you and especially the keyboard warriors, an idea of what we deal with, the resident that has been feeding them, has sabotaged every single effort we have attempted to TNR. He feeds them right before we get there. So, we will resort to trying a different approach. He is already in trouble with the department of health, which is how/why we were first contacted. They actually showed up on the first day we were there. He has been given notices by the DOH to clean up the property and do something about the cats. He is making ZERO efforts to do that. He is making very very poor decisions and the cats are suffering as a result.

We know that EVERY SHELTER is confronting the same dilemma. There is no end to the social media posts about kittens in need. And the non-kittens are placed on the back burner. And to our sister rescues and shelters, we say, "We feel for you and appreciate everything you do. We get it. Please know you are not alone"

What are we doing to help?

** Spaying /Neutering as many as possible at our clinics

** Performing spay/aborts - there is no other option. AND to those groups that are letting the pregnant cats have litters - YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM! We will not debate this and we will remove your comments. To the community, if you disagree with this, please sign up to take a litter or two or three and then find GOOD HOMES for all of them, after you spay and neuter them of course. We are CHALLENGING you.

** TNR

** Working ungodly hours 7 days a week to take care of and find homes for the cats in our program. WE HAVE 102 CATS in FOSTER homes and at the office. And while some of you may not know or appreciate, we have many special needs, or permanent, or hospice cats that require on-going treatment. And we have ferals too that we have not been able to return to the place where they were trapped for a variety of reasons.

** Constantly, constantly, constantly looking for ways to help these poor community cats that don't deserve the kind of life they have been forced to live.

** Feeding and caring for multiple colonies

** Helping so many residents in the community with the strays in their neighborhood.

How can you help us?

💲 We need funds. Each of the cats from the LINDEN LICE situation will require a minimum of 3 treatments, that is easily about $1,000. The ferals will unfortunately receive only 1 treatment but it will hopefully provide some relief.
💲 Vaccines for both situations, with the kittens receiving a series of 3-4, that is roughly another $2,000
💲 Testing $1,600 for both situations
💲 Spaying and Neutering - we have that covered with a grant that we received and are so very thankful.
💲 Other medications for both situations (barring any serious issue that will require emergency care) - for upper respiratory infections, skin infections, dewormers, illnesses $800

🏠 WE NEED FOSTER HOMES - for both situations. If you are uncomfortable fostering any of the cats from these situations, you could foster one of the office cats that would love to go to foster care and that will open space for the cats in this post.

If interested in fostering, please email Mirna at [email protected]

Thank you for your consideration.

💔💔💔

Stretch, breathe, and give back 🐾

Join us for a heart-centered yoga class supporting Columbus Dog Connection.

This all-levels practice is designed to help you unwind while making a meaningful impact—proceeds will go directly toward caring for animals in need.

Class will be 90 minutes with time at the beginning to hear from Columbus Dog Connection supporters and time to shop vendors and submit tickets for door prizes!

Come move, relax, and be part of something good… because every downward dog can help a real one find a home.

Class is free with a suggested donation of $30 accepted at the door via cash or card.

Vendors will be on-site sharing their animal-centric goodies!

To register, go to the following link:

https://www.wellnessliving.com/rs/event/theyogafactory?k_class=955370&k_class_tab=57074

Or use the QR CODE in flyer.