B.C. SPCA caring for 59 cats and kittens and one sheep surrendered from a hoarding situation
Nearly 60 cats and kittens — and one injured female sheep — are in care at B.C. SPCA shelters after being surrendered by a hoarder who couldn't take care of them anymore.
SPCA spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk is urging animal lovers not to be judgmental.
“It is so easy to cast those who hoard animals as terrible villains that don't have a heart,” said Chortyk. But people sometimes find themselves in these situations without having any bad intent.
“Initial good intentions coupled with unsound decisions or mental illness can have devastating consequences for large amounts of animals,” said Chortyk in a news release.
The 59 cats and kittens and one injured ewe have been triaged at shelters in Surrey and Chilliwack after they were discovered abandoned on a property, “and the scene was not pretty.”
The home was extremely unsanitary, with feces piled throughout the house and smeared on surfaces. The carpets and furniture were soaked with urine and there were piles of garbage throughout along with mounds of hoarded items.
“It was challenging for our animal protection officers to navigate in the home due to the amount of garbage and debris,” said Chortyk. “The cats, who had been left inside the home, were excessively thirsty.”
There was no water available and the felines crowded around bowls of water when the officers put some down.
The cats range in age from a few days old to about seven years and have some health issues. Some are “surprisingly affectionate and well-adjusted,” while others might need some time to recover and get over the trauma.
The ewe was in the backyard amid overturned furniture, garbage and objects that could injure her such as broken glass and wires.
“Whenever we rescue such a large number of animals at one time, it puts enormous strain on the resources of busy shelters,” said Chortyk, who asked that those who can help make a donation.
The cats and kittens will be put up for adoption once they are healthy enough.