WAWOTA - Angie Werner-Paterson runs A+ Animal Rescue, a not-for-profit organization, out of Wawota.
She started up a rescue after seeing there was definitely a need for it. There are 12 foster homes for the 60 cats in their care at the moment.
Werner-Paterson suggests that every foster home has no more than 10 animals at a time.
“It’s simply not healthy to take any more on. You have to think about yourself and your own family as well.”
Keep in mind that this organization is run completely by volunteers and relies on donations to operate.
“Every rescue in Saskatchewan is on a freeze right now,” explains Werner-Paterson. “Nobody is taking in any cats right now because everyone is over full.”
“There’s always a lot….it’s a constant. I will get three, four or five calls every day. This year there were litters of seven or eight kittens instead of three or four. At this time of year with this weather we get a lot of sick kittens.”
When they’re sick, they need a lot of vet attention, which again adds more cost.
Werner-Paterson goes to explain it’s been a lot of work on her part but she does have dedicated volunteers which is very helpful.
Donations as little as $5 can go a long ways in helping with the vet supplies, vet checks, spay and neuters, and so on.
Every dollar helps.
If you’re looking to spend a little time with some of these furry friends to help socialize them, feel free to volunteer your time. It will be gratefully appreciated. Please email Werner-Paterson at [email protected].
As soon as December hits, Werner-Paterson says people will call to adopt a cat to give away as a Christmas gift.
A+ Animal Rescue has an adoption application form that needs to be filled out prior to adopting a cat.
The adoption co-ordinator goes through the form with a fine-tooth comb before any approval is made.
“Since January we’ve adopted out 500 cats. Some of those have been adopted out to B.C. For some reason B.C. has a cat shortage. We’ll sometimes send up to 65 at a time. We work really close with the rescues in B.C. and fellow rescues throughout Saskatchewan. All of the small rescues work together. We have a network where if one rescue is at their limit, another rescue will take some.”
“It’s amazing…I love it!” said Werner-Paterson.
“We’ve started a Barn Buddy program. Any of wild cats that have lived outside for up to two to three years already aren’t fans of being indoors and don’t use a litter box, it’s a $50 fee for a spayed or neutered cat to be purchased strictly to go to farms.”
Werner-Paterson can’t stress enough the importance of her message - spay and neuter, spay and neuter. It’s the difference between life and death for a lot of cats.
If you have inquiries regarding adoption please send an email to Angie at [email protected].
