In early October, we had to take our oldest boy Cole to the veterinarian for an annual checkup. While there and talking about animal rescuing, our vet Dr. Saleh mentioned that the office had recently taken in thirteen cats and kittens. But these felines weren’t found at a local stray colony or a hoarding situation.
They were found abandoned in taped boxes, in a corner of the office parking lot.
It happened on September 24th at Ehrlich Animal Hospital in Tampa, FL. An anonymous phone call was received leading to very questionable events. Apparently the individual was concerned by something they’d happened to notice on the property.
The caller was alerting us to the unusual fact that there were two boxes at the far end of our parking lot. Vet nurses David and Lucia went outside to investigate. The two boxes were completely sealed with packing tape. They quickly noticed that there was movement inside and David sprung into action.
I’m not sure whether the individual was attempting to make it appear as if they drove by and spotted the boxes and decided to call on the spur of the moment? Maybe they were only passing by, but what if they didn’t stop to investigate? I’m sorry, but I’m not buying it. This, in my opinion, was just another example of someone abandoning animals on purpose.
Even bracing themselves for the worst, when David cut the tape they were still shocked to their cores at what they found.
The “cardboard dungeons” were opened once safely back in the office. Out of the first, came a 4-month-old male cat. He wasn’t alone though. There were four 7-week-old kittens with him.
Not expecting it to be worse than that, opening the second box was an even sadder sight. It contained a 2-year-old female who wasn’t alone either. She had her SEVEN 3-week-old kittens with her!
All of the cats were given a thorough examination to rule out any potential problems. However, they were all in good health. As usual, the fact that they were inside kitties that had been abandoned only makes me sadder/angrier. How difficult would it be to put the male kitten and the other four kittens in a box? Unless they have faith in the perpetrator. I’m re-igniting my passion.
Okay, we can focus on the good aspects of their heinous act I suppose.
One; They left them secured so the animals couldn’t get out and escape. The office is located on a very busy street and they almost surely would have been hit in traffic. It’s actually only a mile or two from where we rescued our other kitten, Zig Zag. She was on that SAME road, avoided tragedy and climbed up into a car waiting in the turn lane!
Two; The left them near an animal hospital and called to alert the staff, likely soon after the deed was committed. Right next to the office is an apartment complex, so were they living there previously? Were there more cats that were in danger of abandonment? Hopefully, those who did this know they can reach out for help before it gets to this level again.
Yes, I’m being biased. However, with the amount of vet visits our personal family has had there, by now it’s likely we’ve put at least one of them through college. Was worth every penny! Sorry Marm.
Yes, I’m being biased. However, with the amount of vet visits our personal family has had there, by now it’s likely we’ve put at least one of them through college. Was worth every penny! Sorry Marm.
It may not seem like much, but for those 13 cats, it’s everything.
The staff are not only there for their patients and surprise cats that show up. It’s what they help do in the community that makes them true angels.
Ehrlich Animal Hospital created the Animal Angels Assistance Fund in an effort to provide discounted medical services to pet owners who are unable to cover the full cost of some services for their pet. Some examples of medical services covered by the Animal Angels Fund include pain management, minor surgical procedures, and emergency care. As part of our contribution to this fund, we discount Animal Angels’ recipients total cost by 20 percent; the Animal Angels Fund covers the remainder of the client’s cost.
My objective was to write up the story and see what we could do to assist him get adopted while also raising money for the animal shelter. The office then had a special guest for the holidays. This is a wish-granting individual in particular, but only if you believe wholeheartedly.
It was little Angus, one of the 7-week-old kittens. Now nearing 4 1/2 months in age, he was the last kitten that needed to find a home. He’d been neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinated and overlooked. I could not fathom how that was possible. He was SO extremely happy at the attention I was giving him, I could barely snap a clear shot as he rolled around!
My goal was to write up the story and see what we could do to help get him adopted and raise funds for the animal hospital. Then the office had a special visitor for the holiday season. This is a purrticularly wish-granting individual, but only if you believe with your whole heart.
And apparently Angus did, because on Christmas Eve he was finally adopted!
I wish I could say it was Santa that adopted him or that I even had photos of his new family. But alas, we will have to use our imaginations to visualize a happy Angus in his home now.
For these lucky 13 abandoned cats and kittens, they prove many a sad thing though.
Cats of ANY age can, and will devastatingly, continue to be abandoned. People aren’t educated on what to do for the animals–starting with Spaying / Neutering your cats and community cats. There are less being abandoned because less are being unfairly born to suffer.
The most important thing that we can do is show our support. Support for our veterinarian offices and the life-saving work they do. Support for the TNR volunteers that are out in the trenches helping the street cats that have no one else. If you can’t get out there with them, please consider donating to your local vet, no-kill shelter and/or rescue organization.
There will never be enough angels out there for these fragile soula. Thank you to all the vet staff and office workers at Ehrlich Animal Hospital for helping these cats and the Cole, Marmalade, Jugg and Zig Zag family <3
