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| Caboodle ranch photo: Animal Hoarding News & Info |
Yesterday, I spoke with Sarah Little, Manager of Animal Health and Rescue at Wayside.
Me: Sarah, thanks for talking to the cats from A Tonk's Tail! How did Wayside Waifs get involved with the Caboodle Ranch cats?
Sarah: Well, Wayside is a partner organization with the ASPCA. Among other things, what this means is that they can call from time to time asking for our help. Usually it’s because of a natural disaster or a court case where the ASPCA is involved. This time, it was a call for help from them in caring for and treating the cats who had been brought to Jacksonville from Caboodle Ranch.
Me: How often does the ASPCA call on you for assistance?
Sarah: Last year, they asked for our help three or four times. It included the flooding that happened in southern Missouri, a large puppy mill that was shut down in Kentucky and – of course – the Joplin tornado just about this time last year.
Me: How does that work? And what does the ASPCA expect from you?
Sarah: They have a “responder coordinator” who reaches out to their partner organizations across the country. She then asks us if we have resources available we can send to help them, either in rescue efforts or efforts to maintain animals temporarily in their care.
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| One of the cats from Caboodle (photo used with permission via photostream Caboodle Ranch Animal Cruelty's FB page) |
Me: Tell me what it was like down there.
Sarah: Well, it was hot, and the ASPCA was very concerned about the temperature. They had us checking temperatures and the environment twice a day to ensure there was good air flow and the temperature stayed in the safe range.
The cats were all divided into Wards: the “A” Ward is for feral cats; “B,” “C” and “D” Wards are the general-to-healthy animals. There is the Iso Ward for the many cats suffering from upper respiratory infections.
Then there are two special Wards they’ve set up to meet the specific needs of this situation: the Ringworm Ward and the Maternity Ward.
Me: Wow, there were enough cats who were either pregnant of had ringworm to merit their own Ward?
Sarah: Yes, apparently no arrangements were ever made to spay or neuter these cats. As a result, there was a litter of kittens born each day we were there!
As for the Ringworm Ward, kudos to the one volunteer who traveled down there with us – she drew the short straw. When we arrived, we were all assigned as leaders over a Ward. And Penny (the Wayside volunteer) got the Ringworm Ward. That honor came with a position on the twice-a-week “Dipping Team”! (cats with ringworm are often subjected to a “lime bath” as treatment for the disease. FUN.)
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| Another Caboodle cat (photo used with permission via photostream Caboodle Ranch Animal Cruelty's FB page) |
Sarah: We were each responsible for our wards, and that included feeding, cleaning kennels, and taking note of any unusual status or behavior changes such as unusual hair loss – these we recorded twice a day.
And I got to do something I’ve never done before – for two days, the ASPCA had me in their office, functioning as their on-site responder/coordinator.
Me: What does that person do?
Sarah: Basically, they’re the team cheerleader. I took care of arranging hotels, lunches – things to help keep everyone’s spirits up. Especially the Ringworm people, who had to remain fully gowned at all times, and it was hot!
I think the two coolest things about being a responder partner with the ASPCA is that, when we get deployed to help with situations like this, we get to meet people from other animal shelters all over the United States. And that’s a great opportunity to network and swap information on how things are run at other shelters. And of course there’s the fact that the work is just very rewarding.
One thing people may not realize: when the ASPCA engages in a rescue operation of this magnitude (and this is the biggest one they’ve ever done!) they’re in it until the courts have handed down a decision. And that can – and does – take months and months.
And legally, the owner of Caboodle Ranch still owns these cats. So they’re in the care of the ASPCA but they cannot alter them in any way. So no cats can be spayed or neutered. All we can do is treat illness and injury and see to their well-being. Until the courts decide their fate.
Once that happens, who knows? That’s the other cool thing – some of these cats we’re taking care of may some day make their way to Wayside where we will have the opportunity to place them in loving, responsible forever homes. And that’s exciting.
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| Please feel free to click the link below to see images of other cats, taken by Univ. of Florida, etc. All now in the care of the ASPCA in Jacksonville. (photo used with permission via photostream Caboodle Ranch Animal Cruelty's FB page) |
