Collie Dogs still the most rescued breed in Donegal says Animals in Need

The number of fostered dogs in the care of Animals In Need (AIN) rose sharply this week when eight little collie pups arrived.

The mother of the puppies is still a pup herself and had given birth to ten pups but sadly, two of the pups died.

The surviving eight pups are now six weeks old and are in very good condition but it was extremely draining for their young mother to feed and care for so many babies.

Fortunately, this will be her only litter as she will be neutered as soon as she has regained her strength.

AIN are appealing to people to please neuter their dogs.

Caption: Chloe's eye infection is finally healing 

The charity can help with veterinary costs at their discretion if a dog’s owner cannot afford to pay the full amount.

In addition to the pups, six adult collies were rescued from the Letterkenny Pound during the week and the waiting list for dogs to be surrendered grows longer by the day.

The six adult collies from the Letterkenny Pound are doing well in foster homes and will be neutered next week before they are rehomed.

AIN’s cat rescuers have also had a busy start to the year, with 22 cats and kittens rescued and 30 felines rehomed during what has turned out to be the busiest January for cat rescues since the charity formed.

There are also 42 cats waiting to come in to the rescue when there is space for them.

There is no 9-5 in animal rescue, it is an around the clock job, 365 days a year, and the volunteers responded to two emergency cases during the weekend.

On Saturday night, rescued cat Amelia had to be rushed to the vets as her paw swelled.

Amelia had been taken into a foster home after her owner passed away, which had left this lovely cat homeless.

After arriving at her AIN foster home, it soon became clear that all was not well with Amelia and a veterinary examination discovered that she had a number of infected bite wounds on her body, including her front leg, lip, back leg and her tail.

The vet surmised that Amelia had had a run in with a rat.

Amelia had been attacked by a rat 

The bite wound on her tail was the most seriously infected, to the extent that she had to have her tail amputated.

Amelia is recuperating in her foster home and should make a full recovery, after which she will be available for adoption.

Unfortunately, it was a sad ending for a tabby cat called Joshua who was found on Sunday.

Joshua was emaciated and clearly unwell when he was found and was rushed to the vets.

He also had an abscess on his eye and only two teeth left, which were infected.

Tragically, Joshua was also suffering from kidney failure and, after consultations with the vet, the kindest thing to do was to end his suffering.

It was too late to help this big, friendly, tabby boy but before he passed away, he was named Joshua.

In better news, kitten Chloe is doing well and the infection that developed after she had her eye removed a fortnight ago is finally healing.

Despite all this, Chloe is in great spirits, rolling around to get her stomach petted and she is a lively, playful little girl.

Hopefully she will soon be well enough to go to a home of her own.

If you are interested in offering any of AIN’s cats a home, please check their Facebook page for the cats and kittens that are available or call the helpline for further information.

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.