Did you know that the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has a Trap-Neuter-Release program? They also have a brand new mobile veterinary clinic called the Wellness Waggin’. Put the two together, and see some amazing results!
Having retired a few years early when my day job was eliminated (I’m a writer at heart, but an average annual author income of $30 doesn’t go very far; I’m still learning the marketing), I emailed the humane society about bringing in some feral farm cats to be adopted as barn cats. I simply cannot afford to keep feeding them on a reduced income unless I inherit a fortune from a long lost relative, or my book sales skyrocket. I had noticed there were more cats available than usual for adoption on the HSPPR.org website, and thought it best to find out if they could handle some of these.
Having been swamped with cats rescued from Pueblo, no, the Colorado Springs facility was unable to take in and re-home any of my cats. I use the term “my” loosely, as I think the cats are the actual owners in this relationship – they have adopted me.
AnnaMarie’s solution to this conjunction of events was to spend four days trapping, neutering, spaying, immunizing, and releasing as many of “my” cats as possible. She told me that HSPPR could bring their Wellness Waggin’ out one day to do the surgeries. We would trap for two days prior to that, and the cats would be released on the fourth day.
AnnaMarie and Lois did the work of trapping – and most of whatever else needed to be done: baiting traps, covering them to keep the cats calm, cleaning, feeding, paperwork, setting things up, moving cats around. You don’t need to lift weights when you spend the whole day moving cats in traps. I helped shuttle trapped cats in my trusty wheelbarrow. The real workers…
With thirty-some cats staged in their traps in the barn and the cows standing guard at night to protect them from coyotes, this morning was to be the arrival of the Wellness Waggin’. I was expecting something roughly the size of an ambulance, and was astonished when I saw this! See, Lois’ head barely reaches the top of the front grille….
This thing is huge! The tires are higher than the table.
It’s like a real clinic inside! That’s the prep area in the middle, and the surgery area in the back beneath the lights.
Fruits of the first two days’ labor…
I have a great appreciation for the people who donate time, supplies, food, and finances to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. Someone sewed all these beautiful covers to keep the cats calm. I think they look and feel as though they were sewn with love. The food these cats received was the best quality they’ve had in at least a year; for some it’s the best they’ve ever eaten. I was told most of it is donated. Volunteers and donors, here’s some of your effort well spent.
Cats in traps (no hats, no bats, no cats in spats) were carried from the staging area in the barn to this area, where they received their vaccinations (while still in the traps).
AnnaMarie and Lois in action with Stormy and Feather…
These ladies work inside the clinic. They got to see about ten minutes of daylight. I neglected to ask their names – I apologize! If someone will let me know, I’ll add them. Someone is named Lisa – there’s a 66.7% chance she’s pictured below. Good thing I’m not a journalist….
At the prep area, the kitties are anesthetized, shaved, and prepared for surgery. Their left ears are cropped so they can be identified as having already been neutered or spayed. After surgery, each cat is returned to its cage, now equipped with wet food for it to eat when it wakes up. They’re watched for a while in the front area of the mobile clinic, before being returned to the staging area. They’re checked there, too, to make sure they’re recovering well. The trap covers do double duty then, because the cats’ eyes are very dilated after surgery, and should be protected from bright light.
Done! (Almost). Forty-five spays and neuters.
That’s Dr. Sue G. on the right. I did ask her name and AnnaMarie told me, but now I don’t recall it. A good journalist would carry something for taking notes….I reiterate, good thing I’m not a journalist.
Get into this celebratory picture, Lois! I did point out at the time that these photos present no evidence whatsoever that actual cats were involved in this operation. Those smiles look genuinely happy, though, so maybe that’s the evidence.
The three cows lined up facing the crew and mooed their goodbyes as the Wellness Waggin’ was prepared for departure. It was really cute, and I called the crew’s attention to it, but I didn’t get a picture. There’s the not-a-journalist thing, again. I did capture both images and video of the mobile clinic exiting through the pasture gate, but we won’t talk about that. But here it is (or was), disappearing into the distance in a cloud of dust.
Thank you, HSPPR, not only for your wonderful Trap-Neuter-Release program and the great crew of the Wellness Waggin’, but also for all the people I didn’t see, but thought of: who sewed the trap covers to soothe frightened kitties; who washed and sanitized the covers; who cleaned the traps; who provided good food for cats to eat during what for them is a very unpleasant experience; who provided the vaccines, surgery supplies, and other items necessary to make this effort possible; who made the Wellness Waggin’ a reality (sorry, it’s dusty now and will need to be washed – hasn’t rained here in quite a while). And to AnnaMarie for organizing all of this. I thank you all!!!
Sincerely,
PJ
Please Feed the Kitty (GoFundMe)
