Donegal's unwanted pet crisis continues into 2024

Animals In Need (AIN) are seeking a new home for two tabby cats called Nat and Jax. These lovely young cats were adopted from AIN last summer and were much loved by their new family.

Unfortunately, the family’s two resident dogs were not so keen and would not accept them, although the kittens were happy to be around the dogs.

Eventually, their owners had to make the decision to find Nat and Jax a new home as the situation was not going to improve, and the cats are now back with AIN.

Nat and Jax are siblings, born in May 2023, so they are still big kittens.

They are very bonded and are looking for a home together.

ABOVE: Albert is making a fantastic recovery

Both cats are very friendly and are fully vaccinated, neutered/spayed, microchipped and wormed and get along well with other cats.

If you are interested in offering them a home together, please contact the cat helpline or message AIN’s Facebook page for further information.

One lucky cat, who has a new home lined up, is a tabby and white kitten called Albert, who was found in a poor condition out in the snow and ice a couple of weeks ago.

He was very sick when he arrived at AIN but has made a fantastic recovery and is now ready to go to his new home.

Until recent years, there was a distinct ‘Kitten Season’ that began in early spring and tapered off during October.

Nowadays, kittens are being found all year round, and a family of five orphaned newborn kittens were even found at Christmas.

The kittens had to be hand reared by their AIN fosterer, which involved bottle feeding them with special kitten milk formula every 3-4 hours around the clock, including during the night.

The kittens have all thrived despite their rocky start to life and are available to book to go to new homes when they are eight weeks old. Two kittens are still available.

AIN have been extremely busy helping colonies of feral and semi-feral cats so far this year, with another colony of seven cats needing relocation this week.

Sadly, their carer was diagnosed with dementia and was no longer able to feed them.

A kind neighbour caught the cats and brought them to AIN and they have all been neutered and treated for parasites.

Five of the cats have gone to secure release spots where they will be fed and given shelter and the final two cats have been booked to go to their new home this week.

ABOVE: Nat and Jax are looking for a new home together

Meanwhile, AIN’s dog rescuers are receiving an overwhelming number of calls from people who want to surrender their pet dog and the waiting list grows by the day.

The priority has to be rescuing dogs that have ended up in the Letterkenny Pound and who have spent the mandatory five days there without being reclaimed or adopted.

AIN’s dog foster places are continuously filled and a number of dogs are in boarding kennels as there is not enough space to keep so many dogs.

The rescued dogs are mostly collies or other large breeds and bigger dogs are harder to rehome.

Thankfully, collie dogs are very popular as pets in the UK, but to get them to their new homes is a lengthy process, which involves a huge amount of paperwork, trips to vets to have the dogs fully vaccinated and health checked, microchipping plus the organising of transport.

AIN are appealing to people to neuter their pet or working dog.

There are far too many pups being born when there are no homes for them to go to and charities such as AIN are left to pick up the pieces.

Please be a responsible owner and neuter your pet to help to stop this never-ending cycle of unwanted dogs and pups in Ireland.

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 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.