I need to let everyone know what happened to me recently with a call for help from the SPCA.
For 18 years I have managed a colony of 50 feral cats all by myself. The colony is all neutered/spayed and vaccinated. You who care for colonies know the amount of time that goes into caring for a colony, not to mention the huge expense of medical and feeding bills.
My income has dropped significantly and while in the process of getting a room ready to rent in my house and find a job (at 73 years of age finding work is not too easy) and manage the colony with two feedings a day, and selling on eBay to make money to pay for the cat food I have been really stressed. The neighbors have been great and giving as much as they can, but this is not a wealthy community.
The local SPCA has a donated food program where we can go to get free food if we need it. I have never needed it before because, until now, I always had enough to care for the colony by myself. But, things were getting tight, so I drove to the SPCA to see if I could get some free food. The SPCA is quite a distance from where I live. The day I went there I had just enough gas to get there and back. Well, you guessed it...the day I went there was no food and the gal minding the free food said there hadn't been any for over two weeks. So, cross that resource off my list!
I decided to try writing and calling the SPCA to see if I could get any help. I sent a letter explaining my situation (I have had a really good relationship with the SPCA since I have spent so much time in their clinic getting animals neutered). The letter went to the Director of the SPCA. After hearing no reply after 10 days, I called. And called. And called again. Finally, a gal left a message for me saying they would bring me some food the next day.
I waited with great excitement figuring they would bring me a decent supply of food. NOT!
The next day the SPCA gal arrived with a hostile, demeaning, shaming attitude. She told me the SPCA does not believe in colonies and does not support them. She went on to say the only way the SPCA would be willing to help me would be for me to stop feeding altogether so they could come and trap the cats and euthanize them! When I tried to talk to her about vacuum effect, etc. she told me she was not here to argue with me.
With that, she walked to her car, and as she did a cat crossed her path. The disgusted look on her face was a shock and the thought crossed my mind that she would have probably kicked the cat if I had not been there. She then handed me one case of 24 cans of food.
I started to cry because the whole thing was so shocking, so utterly uncalled for. I just couldn't believe what happened. She drove off, leaving me crying in my driveway.
I know that there are really good SPCA facilities across the United States, but this one is not one of those. I am posting this because I think anyone who is in, or near, the SPCA where I live, needs to know what happened. I did write the local newspaper to tell them what happened, but, as all of you know a TNR colony problem is not a high priority for news.
We have other agencies in the area who are no kill non-profits. I have talked to all of them to let them know what happened. All of those agencies were so helpful, a couple left some dry food for me (even including our local animal control agency!!).
I heard from most I talked to that what happened to me was not that surprising. Most commented that this SPCA is very much into euthanasia which is one of the reasons alternate no-kill shelters are opening all the time here.
So, please spread the word if you know anyone in this area (Monterey County, Californa).
For 18 years I have managed a colony of 50 feral cats all by myself. The colony is all neutered/spayed and vaccinated. You who care for colonies know the amount of time that goes into caring for a colony, not to mention the huge expense of medical and feeding bills.
My income has dropped significantly and while in the process of getting a room ready to rent in my house and find a job (at 73 years of age finding work is not too easy) and manage the colony with two feedings a day, and selling on eBay to make money to pay for the cat food I have been really stressed. The neighbors have been great and giving as much as they can, but this is not a wealthy community.
The local SPCA has a donated food program where we can go to get free food if we need it. I have never needed it before because, until now, I always had enough to care for the colony by myself. But, things were getting tight, so I drove to the SPCA to see if I could get some free food. The SPCA is quite a distance from where I live. The day I went there I had just enough gas to get there and back. Well, you guessed it...the day I went there was no food and the gal minding the free food said there hadn't been any for over two weeks. So, cross that resource off my list!
I decided to try writing and calling the SPCA to see if I could get any help. I sent a letter explaining my situation (I have had a really good relationship with the SPCA since I have spent so much time in their clinic getting animals neutered). The letter went to the Director of the SPCA. After hearing no reply after 10 days, I called. And called. And called again. Finally, a gal left a message for me saying they would bring me some food the next day.
I waited with great excitement figuring they would bring me a decent supply of food. NOT!
The next day the SPCA gal arrived with a hostile, demeaning, shaming attitude. She told me the SPCA does not believe in colonies and does not support them. She went on to say the only way the SPCA would be willing to help me would be for me to stop feeding altogether so they could come and trap the cats and euthanize them! When I tried to talk to her about vacuum effect, etc. she told me she was not here to argue with me.
With that, she walked to her car, and as she did a cat crossed her path. The disgusted look on her face was a shock and the thought crossed my mind that she would have probably kicked the cat if I had not been there. She then handed me one case of 24 cans of food.
I started to cry because the whole thing was so shocking, so utterly uncalled for. I just couldn't believe what happened. She drove off, leaving me crying in my driveway.
I know that there are really good SPCA facilities across the United States, but this one is not one of those. I am posting this because I think anyone who is in, or near, the SPCA where I live, needs to know what happened. I did write the local newspaper to tell them what happened, but, as all of you know a TNR colony problem is not a high priority for news.
We have other agencies in the area who are no kill non-profits. I have talked to all of them to let them know what happened. All of those agencies were so helpful, a couple left some dry food for me (even including our local animal control agency!!).
I heard from most I talked to that what happened to me was not that surprising. Most commented that this SPCA is very much into euthanasia which is one of the reasons alternate no-kill shelters are opening all the time here.
So, please spread the word if you know anyone in this area (Monterey County, Californa).