70+ Cats Rescued
Photo credit Giulia Hall
On August 26, 2020, the Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations, in collaboration with 12 partner organizations, coordinated the rescue of 79 cats and kittens from a small home in Sedalia, MO. The cats are suffering from a variety of illnesses and conditions, including upper respiratory infections, flea infestations, heart conditions, and neurological problems, just to name a few. All of the surviving animals from the home are currently receiving medical care at pet adoption organizations across the region.
In the midst of cat and kitten season, it wasn’t easy to find placement for dozens and dozens of sick cats. Every organization in our region (and perhaps most of the country) finds themselves overwhelmed with requests to help cats in their local communities during the warm months of summer. Despite this, when we started asking shelters and rescues for help, they went to work problem-solving to find a way to help. Every organization put other things aside to pull together as a unified community and respond to the crisis at hand. This is why Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations exists, to build a strong collaborative network between animal care organizations, advocates, and communities so we may all work together for our common goal to make Missouri the best place to be a pet.
There’s a profound sense of victory after saving so many animals from a horrible situation. Sending them off to the next wonderful phase of their lives fills everyone involved with great joy. Already, photos are flooding in of the cats in their new foster homes where they will receive the medical care, love, and attention they deserve. (See photos below of Punkin Roll in his new foster home, and follow us on Facebook to see more updates!)
Similarly, Missourians should be proud of the work done this week to prioritize the welfare of pets. A strong collaborative network emerged to respond to this emergency, with a total of 13 non-profit animal organizations working together to save every precious life possible from this situation. Organizations from Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois all offered their unwavering support of the effort by agreeing to accept cats, and every partner played an essential role in the success of the operation.
Our feelings of joy and achievement are balanced by an overwhelming sadness for the cats and kittens that we were too late to save. We anticipated this rescue mission to remove a minimum of 94 cats and kittens from the residence, but there were only 79 live animals onsite when we arrived. Unfortunately, 2 newborn kittens were cold and unresponsive, and they were immediately rushed to a local veterinary hospital to attempt to save them. Sadly, they later passed away. An additional 27 deceased cats were buried in the backyard of the home, with approximately 20 of them believed to be kittens. The loss of so many innocent lives weighs heavily on us all, but we find comfort in the fact that many others were saved.
Our immediate response to animals in crisis like these 70+ cats is only possible because of the generosity of supporters like you. Please give today to help more animals get the critical care they need.
Punkin Roll the cat at Central Missouri Humane Society right after being rescued.
Punkin Roll enjoying a foster home while receiving medical care.