Disaster

I have bad news to report, though it doesn’t directly affect my cats or me. It is, however, something that involves felines in the town in which I live.

The Last Chance Cat Ranch is a rescue-group operating in Lethbridge, Alberta, and the surrounding area. It is run by Elizabeth Ginn, who has, for more than a decade, taken on the task of helping stray felines, sheltering them and finding them homes. She has worked closely with the rescue-group with whom I volunteer, the Lethbridge PAW Society, and she and the PAW executive have co-operated on projects through the years. Ms Ginn is friends with, and highly esteemed by, the members and friends of the PAW Society. The Last Chance Cat Ranch has no web-site of its own, but you may read about it at this one (http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/AB52.html). Yesterday, in the late afternoon, Ms Ginn’s home burned down.

There are approximately forty cats missing, many likely dead. This was not a hoarder’s house; Ms Ginn is a conscientious and caring woman, well-versed in feline care and current on all matters relating to it, whether to do with health, legislation, diet or general well-being. She oversees more than a dozen foster-homes, as well. Ms Ginn was not at home at the time of the fire, though her son, who was, opened the doors and attempted to save as many cats as possible. Unfortunately, the heat and smoke were overwhelming within minutes. He was lucky not to have been hurt. The family dogs were saved. Some cats were evacuated, but the fire spread too swiftly for much to be done. A number of animals are in a local veterinary hospital. News coverage in this town is rather abysmal but the fullest report so far may be found on-line (http://www.country95.fm/news.asp?ID=6634).

Ms Ginn has lost everything, but this means little to her compared to the loss of the animals to whom she is devoted. Veterinary costs for the surviving animals will be high, and Ms Ginn’s own needs will require help.

If anyone reading this can spare some money in these bad financial times, it would be most appreciated. Please let me state that I will not have a say in its disbursement; I am told that a fund will be set up at a local credit union. Until then, donations may be received through the PAW Society. If you wish to give to help The Last Chance Cat Ranch, those involved in this disaster would be most grateful.

To donate, just go to the PAW Society web-site (http://www.pawsociety.com) or click the link on the side-bar to the right, on this blog. You’ll see a donation button on the left-hand side-bar of the PAW site. The process will give you an opportunity to choose where you would like the donation to go, and to comment. Specify that it is for The Last Chance Cat Ranch, and PAW will see that it goes to Ms Ginn’s organization.

Thank you for indulging me by reading this article.