posted
on Thursday, August 29, 2024
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News
When our Animal Welfare and Response Team arrived in Mason City to assist police with dozens of cats trapped in a van this week, temps were already in the 90s, making temps inside the enclosed van life-threatening. The situation was urgent … and as we opened the van doors, we quickly discovered it was even worse than we had expected.
Cats were everywhere inside the van with no access to food or water. A test of ammonia levels showed they were dangerously high. Sadly, the cats were not the only ones who were suffering in these toxic, soon-to-be deadly conditions, their owner was in the van as well. It was a heartbreaking sight.
As temps continued to rise, our team worked quickly and carefully to get all 29 cats out of the heat and into our air-conditioned vehicles, where they were able to take their first breaths of clean air in a long time.
Back at the shelter, our veterinary team met the rescuers to begin evaluating the cats and providing care. All of the cats were extremely hungry, eating ravenously as soon as we set out full bowls of food for them. Some of the cats had serious injuries and illnesses, including upper respiratory and eye infections. Two of the cats had something wrapped so tightly around their necks that it had resulted in deep, painful wounds.
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Thankfully, rescue came in time for these cats. In the conditions they were in, it could have been so much worse.
Sadly, calls like this just keep coming – from all over the state – but when you donate today, either one-time or monthly, you’ll ensure we can continue to be able to provide emergency assistance to animals like these who have nowhere else to turn. Your donation will quite literally be lifesaving.
Please give now to ensure we will be ready for the next call whenever or however it arrives.
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P.S.: When you donate today or join our Loyal Friends Club monthly giving program, you’ll be automatically enrolled to receive updates on these cats.