Starved Pup and Mass Cat Abandonment Strain Shelter’s Resources

Best known for saving strays and abandoned pets, the nonprofit Seal Beach Animal Care Center is going on the offensive, offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the person who dumped roughly 20 cats at the Seal Beach jetty recently.

Found at the jetty on July 27, the rescued cats put a financial strain on the shelter already grappling with the expenses associated with rescue of an emaciated dog found at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station and a back surgery for a rescued German Shepherd mix.

Too Friendly to be Feral

Gail Bowers, a volunteer and board member at the shelter, said the SBACC is currently housing eight of the jetty cats, all of which will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped before they’re ready for adoption in about ten days.

“These are all pretty people-friendly cats, that won’t run away. Feral cats—they won’t let you near them,” said Bowers. “They don’t belong out in a feral colony, they can not defend themselves.”

According to Bowers, unfortunately one cat did not make it to the center. A car hit it before volunteers could save it.

She said the center will soon have five spayed girls and four neutered boys that will be healthy, vaccinated, and ready for forever homes.

“We want to be sure our animals are going into safe homes, are going to be apart of the family and cared after, for life.” She said.

The eight young survivors are all between 6 and12-months-old with black or brown fuzzy tabby coats, Bowers said.

Faith In Need

Faith was in critical condition when the SBACC first brought her into the Animal Hospital of Huntington Beach on Aug. 7., around the Naval Weapons Station, across the street from the center. She was found starved to near death, and weighed in at only four pounds.

“At the hospital, they said it was the skinniest dog they had ever seen that was still alive,” said volunteer Gretchen Shegina.

Faith, possibly a Maltese or a Shi Tzu mix, is slowly getting better and has moved from critical to serious condition, no longer requiring a feeding tube.

“She can’t stand on her own, but she did get up and down at least once and is trying to be able to hold up her head,” Shegina said.

Sweet Shiloh

Sweet Shiloh appeared relaxed and happy as she rested in her kennel Tuesday afternoon, but she couldn’t help but stand and offer a cheerful greeting when volunteer Gretchen Shegina visited. A shaved stripe on her ultra-light blonde back reveals a recent scar and a few staples from a back surgery, thanks to the SBACC’s friend and local Veterinarian, Dr. Kim, of the Animal Hospital of Huntington Beach.

After Shiloh was brought in on June 27, they noticed her legs weren’t quite straight underneath her large four-year-old frame.

“Her nerves were wrapped around one of her discs,” said Shegina, causing Shiloh chronic-like pain.

Shiloh is now well on her way to recovery, and hopefully, her own forever home.

That could be a couple weeks to a month, depending on how ready her future owner will be suited to care to Shiloh’s recovery needs, according to Shegina.

According to the center, medical bills are often the largest and most difficult costs, but any and all donations help. People may donate online at their website, through the center’s facebook page, or by sending checks in the mail.

“We are begging people to please, send whatever you can,” Shegina said.