I have to interrupt Lily's blog to discuss today's happenings. It is a wonderful yet sad day for many of our furry friends.
Last week I received a phone call from the ARL to assist in a hoarding case in Story City. There was a person living with an estimated 50 cats. The cats were being voluntarily surrendered by the owner. I was honored by the request for my help, and traumatized by the idea of finding a place for 50 or more cats.
It was made quite clear that the animals involved were being relinquished to the ownership of the Story City Vet, and that it was legally up to her to decide what happens to the animals. I was not expecting to act as a veterinarian on site. The request was for me to find placement for these cats, if possible.
I immediately sent out emails to my rescue groups and friends. I asked them to share the information with other rescues. In most hoarding situations, the cats tend to be quite feral or wild. So I prepared for this by requesting rescue spots for any tame cats or ones young enough to rehabilitate, and requesting farm homes for the newly spayed or neutered not-so-cuddly ones.
My rescue friends came through like firepower! We had placement for 12-18 adoptable cats, and about half a dozen farms willing to take in anywhere from 3-5 feral cats as barn cats. I thank all of my rescue friends for offering their assistance. Your kindness has not gone unnoticed...by me.
The day prior to the clean-out, I called the Story City vet to let her know that I had at least 25 cats covered. She was not available, so I left the message with the staff.
The next morning, I reported to the site. From the outside, the house was completely inconspicuous. There was no way you would suspect what was inside this house, by looking at the outside.
I walked up to the vet in charge, and informed her that I had at least 25 cats placed, if she did not mind farm cats being a possibility. She put her hands in prayer position, "Thank you," she replied appreciatively. "I don't care where they go, really." implying that farm cats would be fine. I also informed her that I had a Persian rescue and a Siamese cat rescue that would take any additional cats fitting into those categories.
Knowing I would not be acting as a veterinarian, I decided to help the teams get ready for the capture. I helped carry dozens of carriers to the back door of the house. Each team would consist of 2-3 people. The teams were allowed only 15 minutes in the house as the air would be toxic. The teams were required to wear latex gloves and respiratory masks while inside the house.
The first team went in with cat carriers and a large fish net, and immediately began bringing out full cat carriers. The first team got the most benign of the cats, the cats with less fight or flight in them. The first carrier I carried back held a beautiful longhair Calico. She mewed as we walked to the vet station for her physical exam and evaluation. I offered my assistance to the vet team, and I was assured that they did not need me in that area.
Each cat and kitten went down a line for evaluation of health and temperament. There were veterinary assistants, veterinary technicians, and veterinary students all assisting with the process. They were all very professional and eager to learn and assist in such a difficult situation.
The first team came out of the house, and each time the door opened, a waft of foul odor emanated from the building. I donned a mask and gloves, joined team two, and ventured inside. The amount of "stuff" on the floor made it difficult to maneuver throughout the house. Most of the cats were now in the basement. I was on the main level, so I got my camera out. There were cans, bottles, papers, feces covering almost all surfaces, counters, floors. There were kittens frozen in the freezer.
6-8 inches of feces and urine were piled up in the corners of each room. Many cat litter boxes were scattered throughout this level of the house, but they were filled and overflowing with foulness.
It was decided after several teams entered and exited the house, that it was time to set cat traps to catch the remainder of the cats in the house over the next few days. These cats were very wild, scared, and hiding in many places not reachable by rescuers. The traps were baited with tuna fish and set inside the house.
As each cat progressed through the line, I started watching the proceedings. I saw the cutest little Siamese mix kitten and orange tabby kitten being examined by the techs. One had a ruptured eyeball, the other had a severely diseased eyeball. I told them, "I can take them." The techs responded, "They are labeled for euthanasia." I pulled another vet aside, "I can take these two, I can remove the eyes if I have to. It's not a problem for me." She graciously said, "Thank you." told me how wonderful I am, and I planned on taking those little kittens on to a new life.
I called my rescue friend, Amy, who was at my beck and call today to help me arrange and notify my other rescue groups of any information on numbers and temperament of the cats. This was important in case I needed assistance with housing cats as they waited for their spay and/or neuter.
As I am talking on the phone, I notice the vet in charge pick up the carrier with the two kittens that I just agreed to take and start carrying them away. I tell Amy to hold, and politely beckoned, "I can take those two." I started to go back to the phone, when she turned to me and bluntly replied, "No." There was no question about her reply. I was not going to get those kittens. I replied, "Why not?" She repeated, "No." and the conversation was done.
I walked over to Tom Colvin of the ARL and another vet, and said, "You knew this was going to happen when you invited me here, didn't you?'
They asked me what was wrong, and I told them that I wanted to save the lives of those two kittens and the "vet" refused. They consoled me by saying we would discuss it again at the end of the day. And we didn't.
I was told that "red tape" on the top of the carrier indicated that the animals inside the cage were going to be euthanized and here are the two groups. You can see the red tape on their kennels.
These were in line for rescue. There are 6 cats here.
These were deemed critically ill. There are 10 cats in here.
The rest of the morning passed like molasses after that incident, and the line for each group grew longer. By the end of the day, there were recurring discussions as to why I could not take animals that I had placement for, and was willing to do the vet work for them. They comforted me by giving me one more orange tabby kitten, making my lot an even dozen.
By the end of the day, despite what I was told by other people, the euthanasia line, now this long
would not be shortened despite my offer of FREE assistance. My help and the help from my rescues would cost them NOTHING, yet it was denied by a one person opposition, another veterinarian.
I do not believe there was a single cat in these carriers that had they come into her clinic as a paying client's spay or neuter, that this vet would have said immediately, "We need to euthanize this cat." They all had upper respiratory tract infections. Some were dehydrated. One reportedly had an oral ulcer which would lead to his "elective demise".
The amount of disrespect I felt and still feel is overwhelming. Refusing my help in this situation is like her proclaiming to the world that her DVM degree is better than mine. I am a licensed veterinarian within the state of Iowa. I am a licensed pound/shelter within the state of Iowa. I am able to treat these cats like any other rescue animal. I am able to treat these cats like any other client's animal. I am able to treat these cats with the respect and dignity these lives deserved.
Was this doctor the legal owner of these cats? Absolutely. Was her approval needed to send these cats to rescue? Absolutely. Would the previous owner have opted to euthanize more than half of the cats in her house, including 5 or more kittens when she knew a licensed veterinarian would take them in and care for them in every way possible. Absolutely NOT. Why would a group ask for my help, and then let her reject it for the sake of a pissing contest?!
Did she forget that I too, have the power to euthanize if the case required it? Did she think that I was lying about the rescues standing by? What was the motivation behind destroying the lives of cats that did not ask to be put into a hoarding situation and were staring freedom right in the eyes?
This little kitten was labeled for euthanasia.
When a licensed vet is offering to take in animals that will be treated for health issues, spayed and neutered, vaccinated, and offered homes for life, why say "No"? I have the license to euthanize if necessary, and I am capable of performing that function when an animal is suffering. What is the reasoning behind saying "No". The best interest of the cats is not being sent to the crematorium if they can live their lives out in a home with a family. Those 5 kittens were certainly able to have been rehabilitated.
I would like to say that I won't lose sleep tonight over the decisions that I made today... but I will lose sleep. I will wonder why someone feels it is okay to euthanize rather than rescue. I will wonder why she felt I was not worthy of being allowed to rescue more cats. I fully expected to have to leave some cats behind today due to sheer numbers. I did not think that I would be able to take them all. But not being respected enough to be allowed to take cats that I had committed space for is heart wrenching.
I was planning on taking 25. I probably would have taken more. I was only allowed to take 12. Thirteen lives ended. Thirteen lives that have seen only filth and despair. Thirteen lives that should have been shown life, but instead life was taken from them.
The back room in my clinic is acting as our isolation ward. I am thrilled looking at the new feline faces that reside there now. They have been vaccinated, dewormed, given fresh food, water, and medications for eye infections and upper respiratory infections. They are breathing in clean air. They have litter boxes that are not soiled. They have clean blankets on which to sleep. They will all be spayed and neutered. Most importantly, they have been given names and a second chance.
Next to those thankful faces are empty cages. Cages that were waiting for kittens and cats to recover from this ordeal. Cages that would have served as an introduction to a new life.
Cages that remind me of the ones that I was told I could not save...
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