Protecting the cats

This is a very busy time for PAWS Car Rescue Haven House. Adoptions are down as cats and kittens are plentiful. If someone wants a cat or kitten at this time of the year, they don't have to go far as they probably have an abundance in their neighborhood or backyard. I get 10 to 20 calls a day from Odessa and surrounding areas wanting me to take more in.

We are at maximum capacity and I've had to learn to say no. I do give people other options when they call, other than taking them to the pound, such as putting an ad in the paper to try to find them a home, or spraying/neutering them, themselves and releasing them. It's going to take the help of Odessa residents to help get our stray cat population in control in a humane way.

On Aug. 19, a very nice man and lady came to PAWS Cats Rescue Haven House and had a calico Manx cat in their arms. They said the cat was in the road in front of our rescue shelter. The cat had been hit by a car. She was alive, but was bleeding from the mouth.

I've never seen this cat before so I'm sure "someone" decided to dump her at PAWS. Did they think the cat would go wait on the porch until someone took her in? I don't publicize our address for this reason, but somehow people still seem to find out where we are and dump their cats out here.

I took the cat (I named her Tuesday) to the vet. She had severe trauma to her head. Extensive surgery was done, but she didn't make it through the night. I'd like to thank Becky Battershell with Angel Vet for her relentless efforts in saving Tuesday and to the nice couple who cared enough to get her out of the street and get her help.

It truly would be better if people who dump pets would take them to the pound and have them die in a "humane" way. But people feel guilty taking them to the pound knowing they will die, so they dump them to get rid of them instead of being a responsible pet owner and finding a safe place for them to go.

The new PAWS shelter is at a standstill. We get few donations in, and the few donations we do get is all going for the daily care of the cats, vet bills and paying for the property. I have one volunteer who is working on the shelter, but he has a job and can only work in his spare time. We can't afford to hire anyone because of lack of funds.

I've decided few people in this area care (except to complain), and Odessa is not an animal friendly town. But I'm not giving up! I will continue to support this worthy cause, with a smile on my face, love in my heart and hope for these helpless creatures. I know good things are in store for PAWS Cat Rescue Haven House.

If you would like to donate, you can mail your tax deductible donations to: Paws Cat Rescue Haven House, P.O. Box 13566, Odessa, Texas 79768