Cat from cat colony undergoes critical surgery upon return to ARL
When a three-year-old cat was recently trapped in a cat colony in Boston, the organization scanned the animal for a microchip, and it turned out that the cat had been adopted by the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) when he was just a kitten. .
The male cat, now named Snapple, had been seen in the colony for about a year, so it is likely he was abandoned at some point in his young life and showed his survival skills, found and integrated to the colony to be with other animals in the open air. cats.
When he was identified as a former ARL, he was transported to the ARL center. Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center where he underwent a thorough veterinary examination and, although he was slightly underweight, the most pressing problem was entropion – a condition in which the upper or lower eyelid is inverted and which, if not If left untreated, can cause corneal abrasions, severe pain and, in some cases, possible blindness. .
Snapple’s two lower eyelids were inverted and the ARL shelter’s medical team performed surgery to correct the problem, sparing the cat a lifetime of pain and possible blindness.
Go home
With the surgery completed and a few days to recover, Snapple’s next step was to find the permanent, loving home he deserved.
Although he spent an unknown amount of time alone outdoors, Snapple proved to be an incredibly social cat, often jumping into the arms of anyone interacting with him in his kennel.
Unsurprisingly, when Snapple was made available for adoption, he quickly found his new home and is already settling in and thriving with his new family!
About ARL’s Community Cat Program
Community cats face many challenges when living outdoors.
Without adequate shelter and care, they are at risk of illness and injury.
Additionally, without spay or neuter surgery, these cats can produce numerous litters and continue the cycle of large colonies of unowned cats.
Within the framework of the ARL Community Cat ProgramThe organization’s field service officers will respond to the call from residents who report a cat colony, investigating the colony to determine the number of cats and kittens residing in that area, the general health of the cats and whether or not it is a local resident. feeds them regularly and can continue.
After the initial assessment, a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) plan is formulated for that particular colony.
TNR is one of the most humane and effective ways to stop the cycle of homelessness in cats.
Spay/neuter surgeries are low risk and are proven to improve the safety and health of these cats as well as the community as a whole.
The plan also includes vaccinations and whether each cat will be returned to the colony, returned to its owner if microchipped, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if it is friendly.