From the SPA
By Graham Culliford

Abandonment issues

The SPA operates an animal shelter with 32 individual cages for dogs (plus 16 isolation pens) and 6 cages for cats (plus 5 cat isolation pens and a large cage for kittens.)

The majority of the shelter residents are adults, but significant numbers of animals qualify as kittens and puppies.

For the purposes of classification within the shelter, puppies and kittens are between the age of weaning (about six weeks) and around four months. These animals are kept isolated from older dogs and cats, and strenuous efforts are made by the shelter volunteers to socialize them. Understandably, these young animals require much more attention than older ones. They are fed more frequently, they have to be treated for internal and external parasites, vaccinated and sterilized when they reach the appropriate age. They are well cared for and most grow into fine, responsive adults.

Frequently, however, the shelter staff arrives at the facility in the morning to find a cardboard box on the doorstep containing unweaned puppies and kittens. They are usually mobile, have their eyes open and ravenously devour the food they are offered. They are rarely so young as to require feeding with an eyedropper, but they are certainly not old enough to fend for themselves.

These abandoned babies pose a particular problem for the SPA. The shelter does not have the ability to care for animals so young they need frequent, individual attention. They almost always need to be fed at times when the shelter is closed and they require the maternal stimulation of being frequently handled and the security of a confined environment.

Sometimes, fortuitously, we can help these animals. Consider Gloria, an abandoned tortoiseshell cat who was brought into the shelter with five kittens. She reared her kittens to weaning, when they were adopted. Gloria was scheduled to be spayed, but on the day before her surgery, six motherless waifs were left at the shelter door. They were introduced to Gloria and she accepted them as her own. She will now give them a chance at life. This happy outcome is the exception rather than the rule, however.

Last week, a little mixed-breed puppy of four weeks was awaiting the shelter staff. He was bright, friendly and hungry, but he was too young to be accepted into the facility. We have a limited number of volunteers who will rear young dogs to a point where they can be taken into the shelter. None were available. Adriana, one of the SPA vets, took him home to rear him to an age where the shelter can accommodate him. Another dog has been given a second chance.

The SPA has a desperate need for volunteers to rear these underage animals. They all require a confined, secure environment, gentle handling and frequent feeding. The aim is to create a bridge from the time when they arrive at the shelter to the time when they can be safely accommodated in it. The effort required is not onerous and the satisfaction is boundless.

If you would like to take part in the rearing of underage dogs and cats, call Lucia at 152-6124, and leave your name and number. One of the SPA’s animal advocates will respond to your inquiry and answer your questions.