We were called upon earlier today by a neighbor, alerting us to a house that has been empty for at least a month, and the cats who were left behind to fend for themselves.

I expected to find two, maybe three cats. When I pulled up and shook a bowl of food, starving, crying cats came running out from everywhere, covered in flies, all skin and bones.

This desperate situation was completely overwhelming to witness.

within a week, we trapped 23 cats who all received immediate vet care.

We called every shelter and rescue in our area - everyone is over capacity and unable to help. They earnestly suggested we try to do it ourselves.

We called every vet in the area, and finally VCA Flannery Animal Hospital in New Windsor said that Yes, they would help us.

Flannery has generously offered to spay/neuter and vaccinate each one of these cats at a discounted rate complete with a no-cost physical examination. Every single day that we are able to trap someone, until they are all cared for.

I will begin trapping tomorrow, Friday the 25th. I took home the orange cat with the hole in its leg today, and he will go to Flannery first thing tomorrow.

We are fundraising to cover the vet costs for the 13 cats we saw. There are likely more. Any additional funds will go toward food for them, as many need to gain weight before they can safely undergo surgery.

Huge Thank You to Louie at the Shawangunk Sewer Plant for alerting us to this suffering. To My Saddlebrook Farm in Walden, for the donation of dry food, eggs and milk. And to Flannery, for being an incredible resource for our community, and for never turning away a soul in need.