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The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine holds frequent spay/neuter clinics, in partner ship with regional animal shelters. This is the March 9, 2003 clinic, where Petey, Wendel, and Whisper were neutered. The particular clinic took place in partnership with Animal Aid of Cortland, and the Schuyler County Humane Society. SCHS requested a very reasonable donation to permit us to bring in our cats. It is very generous of these organizations to permit us access to their clinic, since the cats we captured were not from Cortland or Schuyler County.
Checking inPeople sign up their animals weeks ahead of time.Registering cats you haven't caught yet can be an adventure. This time we put in for one female and three male spaces. Luckily, we did in fact capture one female, Whisper, and two males, Wendel and Petey. We didn't catch a third male by the weekend, so we went "trolling for unneutered cats" and took a rescued barn cat from a neighbor in to fill the third male spot. Cats are signed in at the admit desk. After lots of paperwork (health sheets, rabies certificates, permissions and waivers), the cats proceed to one of many exam tables. Our feral cats are only given a visual exam, since handling them is unwise. We weigh our cats before we even get to the clinic, by weighing the cat in the trap and then subtracting the weight to the trap. A pet cat would receive a full physical exam.
Getting her exam
Here, a fellow rescuer (who specializes in helping low-income families, the way I specialize in ferals), has one of her furry charges examined.
Waiting their turn.Here a volunteer checks the weight entered on Petey's health sheet, and figures the exact amount of anesthesia required for surgery. Traps should be covered so frightened ferals don't panic and elevate their heartrates. Covering animals also reduces the chance of exposure to airborne diseases. |
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