Spay Day

 

It’s been four days since our low income spay and neuter day at Bangor Humane Society and I can almost feel my feet! Ten hours standing doesn’t bode well for these old bones but it sure was worth it.  We did 123 cats that will not be out populating the world with unwanted kittens that are just scrumptiously cute but if they don’t have a warm loving home it’s a horrific life for them.

It was an amazing day with so many people gifting their time for this fabulous project which is the brainchild of our Executive Director Suzan Bell.  Suzan has the gift of organization and when she decides to do a project you can bet your boots it will get done.

Last year we did about 90 cats if my memory serves me right, (which is always iffy), so it was nice to have upped that number and I hope it continues to grow each time we do this.  We had more vets this year that not only worked very hard operating on the cats but they brought in extra surgery tables, supplies and instruments which of course all had to be reloaded and taken back to their offices after putting in a full day at BHS.  We have two operating rooms which can accommodate one vet each and the rest were in the big room that we cleared out for the day.

Everyone had their job to do.  I was handed the cats after their surgery was done, my co worker and I cut their toe nails and then wrapped them in a towel to be held by one of our many cat cuddlers until they woke up from the anesthesia, the cats not the cuddlers.  :o)   Each kitty was loved on and monitored until it was time for the owner to come pick them up.

It was a great day, I look forward to it each year.  Special thanks to Dr. Mark Hanks, Dr. Dave Cloutier, Dr. Maryla Cutcliffe, Dr. Julie Keene and Dr. David Monnier.  Without them giving of their time on their day off none of this would have happened!

Just a few statistics for those of you that like numbers, unlike me who never even balances my checkbook, these numbers will floor you!!!  A female cat can start having kittens at four months old.  If not spayed in her lifetime she can have up to three litters of kittens each year with the average of four kittens each time.  In a seven year period she can be responsible for over 400,000 kittens!!!  She has four then those four can have four then those four more can have four and so on and so on. Unbelievable isn’t it?  Sad but true.

Speaking of vets, it was time for Noodles and Munchkin to go in for their yearly shots and check ups.  I dread this every year.  They do not travel well.  You might remember my flight home from Florida with Noodles and he had an accident in his carrier and I had to give him a bath in the airplane bathroom………..Anyhow, just going the three mile drive to the vet office is traumatic for him and he has passed that on to Munchkin.

When I was leaving the spay and neuter clinic I said to Dr. Monnier that if he heard yowling and howling plus smelled a horrible smell on Wednesday morning that would be me with my two cats coming in for their shots.  Maybe this is TMI but does anyone else have this problem with their cats going in the car? Good grief, it’s not like I am asking them to go to the moon.

Our drive over was as expected, howling and all windows open so that I could breathe.  I thought if I put them in a big crate together it would help but let’s just say that was a disappointment………they both needed a bath by the time they arrived…….

I walked in red faced and one of the nice techs said “follow me out back” (they probably didn’t want to drive out the rest of their clients) so I did and she graciously said she would take care of things and I could go sit back in the waiting room until our number was called. I gladly agreed.

When it was time to be seen they both smelled like a rose, the cat crate was all washed out and their blanket had been thrown in the wash.  Now is that good service or what?  I’m glad they only have to go once a year!!!!!

Doesn’t he look like a little angel?