Abandoned Cats Rescued With One Pregnant, Animal Shelter Has Advice

BRANFORD, CT — Late last Thursday night, Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter got a call about two cats that had been abandoned near donation bins outside the Branford Walmart. Rescued "right away," they were named Pumpkin and Spice. The latter, a dilute calico female, she's pregnant.

The animal shelter, which bangs the same drum day after day, week after week, year after year, is pleading with folks to spay and neuter their pets, cats in particular.

From its Facebook post, here are what shelter workers call "fun facts."

• Shelters in New York and Los Angeles are nearing capacity as more and more people who got pets during the pandemic are dumping them as the world inches back to normal.
• New York City animal centers took in 1,393 animals in a single month. That’s double the usual numbers.
• In general, a cat can have up to four litters of kittens per year, with an average of four kittens per litter, although litter size can range from one to twelve kittens. Just using the average number, means that unchecked, a cat can have 15- 20 kittens per year.
• Animal shelters, rescues, foster based organizations and street rescuers across Connecticut are all overwhelmed.

"We are overwhelmed with requests for intakes, we are overwhelmed with our own medical cases, from taking in owner releases or those abandoned outside while sick. We are overwhelmed with people threatening to dump animals. We are all trying to help as many as we can," its post reads.

What can pet owners do to help ?

• Spay and neuter your pets.
• Don't abandon them because you are going back to the office and "you don't feel like it's fair to the animal now that you won't be home all of the time." Moving, having a baby, broke up with your boyfriend/girlfriend, decided orange cats are not your favorite anymore, etc. Yes unfortunately we have heard all of these reasons.
• Plan in advance: 'If I get an animal and life changes, who can take him/her?'
• Buy pet insurance to help cover unforeseen costs.
• Check out research resource lists. Click here.
• Contact your state rep, state senator about creating tougher animal laws to protect animals.

"Pumpkin and Spice are safe with us," the post reads. "But animal shelters, rescues, and fosters who are at capacity cannot continue to take in more. Please be responsible. Please be good humans and stop abandoning your animals."