Cat found with Shotgun pellets embedded throughout body
Ethan is a fluffy ginger cat who was found near Mountcharles
Examining a badly matted rescued cat called Ethan took an unexpected turn when the Animals In Need (AIN) volunteers discovered that he was riddled with shotgun pellets. Ethan is a fluffy ginger cat who was found near Mountcharles.
AIN’s volunteers were grooming the cat in stages as his long fur was so tangled but under the matted hair they were horrified to find shotgun pellets embedded in his skin.
Seven shotgun pellets were initially removed and an x-ray at a vets revealed that there were another seven pellets scattered throughout his body, from his bottom up to one in his nostril.
The pellets found by x-ray were embedded deeper in his body and it is safer to leave them there rather than operate as they are not causing him any distress or harm.
Ethan is a lovable young cat and for someone to shoot this defenceless boy is unbelievably cruel and also illegal.
Ethan had shotgun pellets embedded in his skin
Thankfully, Ethan is doing well in his foster home and is feeling much better now that he has been groomed and fed.
Damian is another long haired kitten who was rescued this week, his fur badly matted to the point that it felt like sheets of thick felt, with twigs and foliage mixed in with the matts.
He was beyond grooming and the only option was to have him shaved under sedation whilst he was at the vets being neutered.
Damian is much happier now that he does not have a carpet of fur pulling him down, which would have been painful.
He can now look forward to finding a new home.
A heavily pregnant, small cat called Muffin was rescued on Monday.
Sadly, she has a number of large mammary tumours. A vet has taken biopsies from the tumours and the results are awaited.
The rescued puppies
Not every rescue can have a happy ending and when AIN were called out to help an injured feral cat, they found that both of his front legs were badly broken and he had serious injuries to his mouth.
In this case, the only help that could be given was to take him to the vets where he was put to sleep to end his suffering.
AIN’s dog fosterers have also had a busy week with the arrival of eight Collie-Labrador puppies from the Rosses.
These lively pups are six-weeks-old and in good health but have kept their fosterer on her toes with all the toileting, cleaning up and general work that goes into caring for a large litter of bouncy puppies.
The pups are being transferred to a rehoming sanctuary that AIN works with, where they will all be found good homes when they are old enough to be adopted.
AIN are selling their dog transporting van as they are getting a new one.
The van for sale is a 2017 VW Crafter in good condition. The CVRT test is valid until May and the van has 117,000 km on the clock.
The shotgun pellets removed from Ethan
The van is for sale for €15,000 O.N.O. Please contact the helpline for further information.
Finally, AIN’s Charity Shop in Donegal Town is having a stock clearance sale this week.
All clothes are €1 per item and other items are buy one get one free.
New items will be added to the sale daily, so why not pop in and grab yourself a bargain whilst helping the rescued animals of Donegal.
To help AIN’s animals, please donate €2 to AIN’s ‘Help Us To Help Them’ fundraising appeal via your phone by texting the word ‘KITTEN’ to 50300. Every last cent goes directly to the rescued animals for their food, bedding, vet bills, worming treatment and vaccinations.
For further information on adoption, fostering, volunteering etc, please contact the main helpline on 087 1356188. For cat/kitten enquiries please call 087 7644420. Animals In Need Donegal is also on Facebook and has a website at http://www.animalsinneeddonegal.com.