From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Article
Since Rudy's passing last week, people witnessed Whitey curled on the cat house patio looking with large aquamarine eyes at Rudy's makeshift grave. There is a message in her vigil.
Rudy made his rounds daily to the patio of Cats at the Shelter (C.A.T.S.), the county shelter cat colony, to visit the cats and kittens.
He knew how hard life at the shelter could be and offered his squat, stolid presence to the cats and reassurance that they were not forgotten and that, with a little good fortune, life would get better.
Rudy made his rounds daily to the patio of Cats at the Shelter (C.A.T.S.), the county shelter cat colony, to visit the cats and kittens.
He knew how hard life at the shelter could be and offered his squat, stolid presence to the cats and reassurance that they were not forgotten and that, with a little good fortune, life would get better.
If anyone knew about the ups and downs of shelter life, that 11-year-old, one-dog-welcoming-committee-in-residence did.
Our cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are in trouble and need our help. In the near term, this is literally a matter of life and death, as plans for an adequate county facility creep forward to address the problem long-term.
C.A.T.S., FOTAS' grandest contribution to quality of life to date, passed its one year anniversary last month. That milestone passed unacknowledged mainly due to the overwhelming numbers of animals coming in.
Our cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are in trouble and need our help. In the near term, this is literally a matter of life and death, as plans for an adequate county facility creep forward to address the problem long-term.
C.A.T.S., FOTAS' grandest contribution to quality of life to date, passed its one year anniversary last month. That milestone passed unacknowledged mainly due to the overwhelming numbers of animals coming in.
The tragic reality is the shelter holding area for cats is inadequate, overcrowded and disease-infested, and it is a small miracle for cats and kittens to make it through the required five-day holding period and come out alive to be transferred down to C.A.T.S.
The problem is not that the shelter staff does not care. The root problem is that dedication cannot compensate for inadequate space, too little time and overwhelming numbers. Still, you can do something.
Come down to the lovely cat colony, the first building right after the dog play yards, and meet our lovely residents.
In addition to Morris and Priscilla featured here, there are the "Love Bugs," Emmy and Emily, who specialize in affection. Our more independent adult cats such as Checkers and Herbie might like nothing better than to keep a barn rodent-free.
The fact the kittens and younger cats have survived the holding area, dubbed "Kitty Closet" by Kathy, our cat advocate, makes them extra hearty, healthy and happy. It is pure joy to watch them cavort in their almost palatial surroundings.
Cats are a near perfect companion, never needing to be walked, easy to leave for a brief holiday and always ready to remind you that your presence on Earth matters, almost as much as theirs.
But if you can't bring one home, maybe you can offer a little time with the ones who are waiting and enjoy their antics from a pew or on their patio. Their purrs of appreciation are guaranteed to lift your spirits.
As for the inadequate feline holding area, FOTAS is recruiting short-term help for a deep cleaning of the kitty closet.
Contact the shelter or FOTAS if you are interested in helping with this life-saving labor of love.
Rudy never forgot about the cats, nor should we.
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, email info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
The problem is not that the shelter staff does not care. The root problem is that dedication cannot compensate for inadequate space, too little time and overwhelming numbers. Still, you can do something.
Come down to the lovely cat colony, the first building right after the dog play yards, and meet our lovely residents.
In addition to Morris and Priscilla featured here, there are the "Love Bugs," Emmy and Emily, who specialize in affection. Our more independent adult cats such as Checkers and Herbie might like nothing better than to keep a barn rodent-free.
The fact the kittens and younger cats have survived the holding area, dubbed "Kitty Closet" by Kathy, our cat advocate, makes them extra hearty, healthy and happy. It is pure joy to watch them cavort in their almost palatial surroundings.
Cats are a near perfect companion, never needing to be walked, easy to leave for a brief holiday and always ready to remind you that your presence on Earth matters, almost as much as theirs.
But if you can't bring one home, maybe you can offer a little time with the ones who are waiting and enjoy their antics from a pew or on their patio. Their purrs of appreciation are guaranteed to lift your spirits.
As for the inadequate feline holding area, FOTAS is recruiting short-term help for a deep cleaning of the kitty closet.
Contact the shelter or FOTAS if you are interested in helping with this life-saving labor of love.
Rudy never forgot about the cats, nor should we.
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, email info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
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Your comments and input are always welcome. We appreciate any suggestions or thoughts that will help FOTAS with their goal to help the Aiken County Animal Shelter become a happy, healthy place that never has to euthanize an adoptable pet.