Jaqui's stray cats desexing fund

$785 donated

Given by 22 generous donors in 27 days

Like a broken umbrella can’t protect them from the rain, only one caring person can’t protect them from the hardship of life on the street..

Otago

Here at ARNNZ, we receive desperate calls for help from the residents of Dunedin every day. Given the insane volume of kittens and cats currently under our care we are really struggling financially. But no matter the situation we are in, we can’t say no to kind hearted people trying to find help for homeless cats. So I thought I’d try to set up a Givealittle link for each new project we have, in a hope that our community will step up and support our work, and that together we can make things better for Dunedin’s animals in need.

Some of you will remember that this year we have already done two big projects on Pine Hill. We caught and rehomed 17 kittens from the area and also desexed, vaccinated, flead and wormed about 20 adult cats. Well, it seems we’ve only scratched the surface. Just a few days ago we received a plea for help from another local resident. A caring mother who is trying to raise her children on a single income while trying to help neighbourhood strays as well! Here is Jacqui’s story:

“I moved to this house nearly 3 years ago and have gradually befriended and taken in about 6 stray cats, but there are many other cats out there that need help and neutering. They have now accumulated quite a number in an area called the 'dalmore bush'.

These stray cats live a very desperate existence. I try to help them within my own meagre means but the real problem is that they breed so regularly. I have seen at least 3 generations of kittens, some disappear while some survive and have litters of their own. I have taken sick cats to the SPCA and had one put to sleep because of sickness. I have had 3 cats neutered but I cannot afford to carry on as I live on a limited income.

Many get injured either by cars or people or other misfortune and hobble around for a time and then die of starvation or their wounds. It is very sad. Most people find them a pest but I feed a wee band of strays and have watched them quite closely. I see how family orientated they are and how so very desperate for love they are also.

I have 7 loving cats as residents now in my home and all were very much what some would classify as ‘unhomeable’. They were strays that didn't know whether to hiss, growl, meow or purr when a human came close. Now they all gather together in front of the fire and love the life of human company. There are so many others out there just waiting for this chance in life.

All I ask is for some assistance to catch and neuter them, and if possible, to find them loving homes. This will break the cycle of suffering and relieve the burden on the environment. I am a single mum with 2 kids on a very low income. It would be an amazing gift to be able to help these dear creatures who are so helpless, and primarily there because of our neglect and selfishness. “

Do you think we will be able to raise enough money to desex, vaccinate, flea/worm and treat for other medical conditions about 13 – 15 cats that are currently coming to Jacqui’s property? I really hope we will be able to tame and rehome some of the kittens.

Jacqui says; “I'm spending so much money on cat food, it's just chewing through my budget. I know that it's my choice to feed them but I can't just see them starve and suffer”. So if we could also raise enough money to buy food for the cats Jacqui is looking after that would be absolutely amazing!

Cat Rescue Dunedin's involvement (page creator)

My name is Ana and I'm a founder of Animal Rescue Network New Zealand. Me and my friends saw a need to start animal rescue group in Dunedin and in January 2015 began trapping, neutering, and re-homing kittens and cats. We soon became aware of the scale of the stray cat problem in the city. ARNNZ became an incorporated charitable trust in June 2015. ARNNZ is committed to reducing the stray cat overpopulation using two approaches: 1. TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return), kittens under the age of 8 weeks can be socialized and re-homed. 2. Educating the community about the consequences of not de-sexing their pets. ARNNZ relies on donations to carry out this work and we do this without any premises. All of our rescues are fostered in private homes and all work done by volunteers.

About us

In January 2015 Cat Rescue Dunedin was formed by a small group of Dunedin residents who had seen the need for someone to begin helping the wild-born and abandoned cats and kittens living on the streets of Dunedin.

We became a charitable trust in June 2015, and since then we have desexed and rehomed hundreds of kittens which would otherwise have been left to breed uncontrollably. We were formerly known as the Animal Rescue Network NZ.

We are committed to reducing the wild-born and stray cat population through a combination of TNR and adoption.

Cats which are unable to be socialized to live with people can be humanely managed by a process known as trap, neuter, return (TNR). This means that the cats are desexed and returned to their environment where a caretaker feeds and monitors the cats to ensure their continued wellbeing. Desexing the cats ensures that their numbers don't increase, and over time the colony size reduces naturally.

Our long-term aim is to have our own shelter but until then all of our cats and kittens are fostered in private homes until they are ready for adoption.