Cat stuffed in paper bag, left in dumpster now safe thanks to rescuers

For animal lovers (or, really, anyone with a heart), it’s hard to imagine abandoning or harming any animal. It’s even harder to imagine doing this to a tiny, helpless kitten. On July 10, an animal shelter in Roanoke, Virginia, posted a sad story with a happy ending about a rescued cat that they recently had in their care. How this kitten came to be in their care, however, is incredibly cruel.

Rescued Cat Gets New Life Thanks To The Kindness Of Strangers

The Angels of Assisi recently posted a now-viral story of a tiny kitten who recently came into their care. A worker at the nearby hospital heard a strange sound coming from one of the dumpsters. Unsure of what it was and afraid to go find out for themselves, they called the police to come and investigate. The officer arrived and lifted the dumpster lid and was quite surprised to find the source of the noise. There, in the hospital dumpster, was a tiny, abandoned kitten in a paper bag. The poor little thing was only about six weeks old. (1)

The officer took the small kitten to the Carilion Clinic for some important veterinary care. From there, the officer took the kitten, who he named Toby, to Angels of Assisi animal rescue. They began trying to find this sweet little guy a forever home. For now, they have placed Toby in a foster home, where it is reported that he is receiving “lots of love.” Once he is old enough, he will be put up for adoption.

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Outrage on the Internet

Naturally, people commenting on the Facebook post were quite upset about the whole situation. While they were grateful to all of those involved in this small cat’s rescue, they were shocked at the circumstances the kitten found itself in. No one could fathom how someone could be so heartless as to put a small kitten in a paper bag and leave it for dead in a dumpster like that. Thankfully, the cat was rescued on time before garbage day came around.

“Nothing but a monster would do that to a baby. Thank you all for saving the baby,” said one commenter.

“I’m not going to say all that I’d like to say, but what kind of person does something like this??! Thank God he was rescued,” said another.

Many mentioned that they hoped that there were cameras to catch whoever did this, or at the very least, that karma would have its way with them.

Read: Woman Dumps Water On a Kid After He Dumps Water On Her Cat And It Sparked A Debate

Stray Cats in America: A Growing Problem in Shelters

In recent years, the issue of stray cats in shelters has become a growing problem in America. Stray cats are usually homeless and unowned cats that roam the streets. Unfortunately, many of these cats end up in shelters, adding to the already mounting population of cats needing homes. (2)

The Root of the Problem

There are several reasons why stray cats are such a problem in America. For one, cats are able to breed at a rapid pace, resulting in a surplus of unwanted kittens. Additionally, many cat owners fail to spay or neuter their pets, which leads to even more cats on the streets.

Moreover, some people abandon their cats when they can no longer afford to keep them or when they move away and don’t take their cats with them. These cats are then forced to fend for themselves, leading them to become strays. In some cases, cats are also let outside to be “free roamers” without proper supervision, putting them at risk of getting lost or injured.

The Impact on Shelters

The increasing number of stray cats in America has put a significant strain on animal shelters. Shelters are overcrowded and under-resourced, leaving many cats without proper care and living in cramped conditions. As a result, many cats are euthanized or put down unnecessarily when their shelter stay exceeds a certain number of days.

Moreover, the cost of caring for and treating so many cats can be astronomical for shelters, leading to a drain on their already tight budgets. This leaves shelters struggling to provide quality care for all cats in their care. It is imperative that something is done to address this issue.

The Solution

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the problem of stray cats in America, there are some effective ways of minimizing it. One of the most effective ways is to promote spaying and neutering and responsible pet ownership. This can help to reduce the number of unwanted litters, leading to fewer homeless cats on the streets.

Another solution is for local communities to practice Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs. This involves trapping cats, sterilizing them to prevent future breeding, and then releasing them back into the community where they were found. This practice has effectively reduced the number of stray cats in communities that have successfully implemented it. (3)

Finally, the adoption of cats from shelters can also help alleviate this issue. Adopting a cat from a shelter not only provides a cat with a loving home but it also frees up space and resources for more cats in need.

The Bottom Line

The issue of stray cats in America is a growing problem in shelters. The root cause is multifaceted, but several solutions can help alleviate this issue. Promoting responsible pet ownership, practicing TNR, and adopting cats from shelters are all effective ways of fighting the problem of stray cats in America. By joining together to address this issue, we can help cats find their forever homes and ensure that shelters have the resources needed to provide quality care for all cats in their care.

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