The birds arrive without their cages. At another rescue, kittens are left in boxes at the door. For the people who take them in, the first question is where to put them. Then comes the cost of keeping them fed and cared for while they wait for a new home.
Well-known animal lover and bird expert, Zonelle O’Kennedy (Zee), who rescues birds, including parrots, told Die Hoorn that some owners sell the cages their birds lived in before handing the animals over.
In most cases, they leave without even providing a bag of the food or seed the bird is used to.
That leaves her having to look for a suitable cage or paying for one herself. An occupied cage offers little help. She explained that birds unfamiliar with one another cannot simply be put together to make room for a newcomer. Even when she has space for another bird, she still needs somewhere to house it safely.
At another local rescue, The Cat Hotel, the pressure comes in cardboard boxes. Lee-Ann van Sittert who runs it has been inundated with kittens, some left at her door without prior arrangements.
An unexpected litter means finding room for several animals at once, even when the space and supplies she has is already being used to care for other kittens.
overfull rescue with limited sources. Photo supplied
In a recent letter to Die Hoorn, an anonymous volunteer described what that pressure looks like over time. Rescue workers give up family time, use their own fuel and money, and respond to calls after hours.
The writer recalled the demands that can compete for a volunteer’s attention on any given day, from taking an injured animal to the vet to cleaning cages and arranging transport. By the time the next call comes in, every available enclosure may already be occupied.
For a family facing bereavement, financial hardship or a move, contacting a rescue early gives both sides time to make a plan. The rescuer can check whether there is room and explain what to bring. Sending a bird with its cage and some of its usual food, where possible, helps cover two immediate needs. For cat owners, arranging sterilisation can help prevent unwanted litters.
The volunteer who wrote to Die Hoorn also pointed to practical ways residents can help, including donating food, offering transport or providing temporary care in coordination with a rescue.
Asking what is needed can be a good place to start. One rescuer may need a suitable cage. Another may need kitten food or someone who can take in a litter temporarily.
For the person leaving a box at the door, the handover takes a few seconds. For the person who opens it, that is when the work begins.
Also read:
Horse owners urged to stay vigilant after outbreak
Warmer dae bring waarskuwing oor honde in voertuie
Diere-uitreikprojek lei tot redding van kind in nood
Be the first to comment on "The dark side of animal rescue"