Update on the
🐾Forgotten Field Project🐾
It's long...pls hang in there.
Last night, Priya
@gandolf_s went to try and trap the 6 kittens in the back of the field, near the dangerous highway.
I say try, because when it’s pouring down sheets of rain, as it has been for days, they hide in the bushes and won’t come out for food, or go in traps to get the food.
Seven hours she sat. Waited. The rain was relentless.
But finally, at 1am, 2 kittens and an adult (a mother?) emerged and hunger guided them in.
Back home, the kittens and mom, safe and warm in their own bathtub. At 2am, it’s as good a holding place as any until crates can be arranged. Warm, dry, fed. She needed to rest.
1.5 of sleep and eyes pop open. The mind reels…gotta get up and get everyone fed and organized. Must get ready to go feed and check on the Forgotten Field at the front end.
Some of the babies were waiting at the edge of the parking lot. Famished for their breakfast.
A heartbreaking discovery. The mother and her 4 kittens, we’d hoped to get next were no where to be found. Hopefully she moved them into the bushes, but Priya could only go into the heavy picker weed brush so far, until it’s not walkable.
The lot has a deep ravine with a 20ft drop into a dry creek bed. With all the heavy rain we’ve had, it’s now a dangerous rushing river. ugh. 💔
All were fed. Seemed to be ok. As well as can be expected. They don’t deserve to live this life. Heavy bug laden picker weeds, mud, trash, and I’m sure the occasional predator skulking about.
We do what we can. The vulnerable first. The kittens. The sick. Then one by one, the rest. Vetting, Assessment. Hopes for a home somewhere that is safe, warm and love exists.
Not this life.
She will return tonight, trap in hand, and hopefully, if the rain doesn’t interfere, bring in the other 4 kittens. They are too close to that dangerous road, and the thought of having to pick them up off the highway is too much to bear. We’ve seen way too much of that!
It’s so incredibly hard to sort your heart from your head in rescue. It’s what keeps you up at night and infiltrates your dreams.
Your heart wants them all in right now. When you’ve seen what a rescuer sees, the heartbreaking scenes. The conditions they are trying to survive in. It tears at your gut.
But your head knows you must do diligence to your wallet. Funding needs to be in place, or the majority of it, for that new baby, before you bring them in.
Otherwise, you wind up with 100 cats, who need vetting and a home. Without the vetting, they can’t get adopted, and then the space they occupy stops another baby in need from being saved. Mouse on a wheel.
So that’s why we ask for help. For funding to help with vetting and food.
If all there was to it was trapping, we’d be all set. Trapping is free. However, the food and vetting are expensive and our pockets are often committed to others in our care who need medicine, medical treatment, cancer care, special food etc. We are indeed, a sanctuary also.
So yes, we are asking for help to get these 6 little ones (and we assume we've caught the mother) the vetting they need.
Each kitten is ~$200 for initial vet visit. Exam, testing, 1st shots, deworm, flea. Adult, a bit more.
It’s hard to ask, we know it’s hard for so many right now. We understand and experience the same. But it’s the only way we can help them.
If we didn’t ask, we’d have to turn our backs on them. And that’s not a thought we could ever bear to entertain.
These precious lives deserve help. Warmth, food, healthy bodies, home, family, and love.
If you are so inclined to help, our hearts and theirs! Would be so deeply grateful.
Even if 20 folks came up with $5...that's $100...half way to one kitten's vetting!
Thank you for being such a wonderful compassionate and kind community!
Sending Whisker Love😽
*here are the details to assist...
x.com/PicklesMil/status/2056…