Home > The Alliance in the News > 2007 Alliance News Items > Four saved by a whisker: Kittens plucked from soaked alley, now join flood of summer homeless

Four saved by a whisker: Kittens plucked from soaked alley, now join flood of summer homeless

by Amy Sacks, New York Daily News

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Four young, feisty stray kittens had to struggle to keep from drowning this week as fierce rain, thunder and lightning pounded the city and flooded the Queens alleyway they called home.

But a collaborative neighborhood rescue effort helped to save the struggling 4-week-old black-and-white siblings — that are on the mend and eagerly awaiting adoption.

"They were floating around in the [water] and crying," said Mary Genova, 68, whose Forest Hills apartment overlooks the courtyard alley.

"I looked out the window and saw a man running around with one kitten under his arm, one on his shoulder, and trying to scoop the others up," she added.

Once inside, the big-hearted rescuer, a friend of a social worker who works in the building, wrapped the kittens in towels and placed them in a cardboard box next to a heater. The mother, a frail, tiny cat, was nowhere to be found.

Intrepid animal rescuer Joanne Harper, who lives nearby, took the kitties in and the next morning hid them beneath her desk at a midtown law firm, where Doug Halsey, who runs cat adoptions for Cause for Paws, a nonprofit rescue group, quickly fetched the foursome and rushed them to the New York Cat Hospital on Manhattan's upper West Side, where veterinarian Peter Soboroff treated the kitties for shock and fleas.

"Everything worked out like clockwork — thanks to the almost divine intervention," said Harper, who has rescued and found homes for about 40 cats from the same alleyway, a popular spot for strays. "It's a real example of how wonderful things happen when everyone joins in to help."

Still, thousands of cats aren't as lucky, as shelters become overwhelmed with cats and kittens that need homes at this time of the year when, besides heavy rains, summertime can bring on other weather and safety hazards.

Pets that get overheated in the summer face serious health risks, and alerts from the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States ask that if you are leaving your dog or cat for any length of time, make sure there is plenty of water for them.

Leaving an animal alone in a vehicle — which can quickly become a furnace even in the shade — or forcing your animal to exercise after a meal can be a death sentence.

Also, proper grooming habits help pets stay cool and comfortable during the hot weather. The FURminator deShedding Tool reduces shedding up to 90% by removing pets' loose hair and undercoat, keeping your pet cooler.

Water safety is also an important key to keeping your pet healthy and happy.

An estimated 5,000 pets accidentally drown each year, but several products can help prevent disaster.

The Safety Turtle, a small, color-coded, turtle-shaped sensor, that attaches to the pet's collar, will set off an ear-piercing alarm, indicating the animal has fallen into the water. Go to their Web site at safetyturtle.com. Another water protection product is Ruffwear's K-9 Float Coat (ruffwear.com), which will help to keep your excited pup afloat.

And, last but not least, with the Fourth of July just around the corner, keep in mind that pets are easily frightened and disoriented by fireworks. The HSUS strongly encourages pet owners to leave their pets at home — in a comfortable and, if possible, sheltered area from outside noise and lights.

Never leave pets outside unattended for the big celebration, as exploding fireworks can panic an animal and cause it to "jump the fence" and flee.

To inquire about adopting the kittens pictured here, or other cats or dogs, contact A Cause for Paws, acauseforpaws.com, or e-mail cause4pawsny@aol.com.

Copyright © 2007 Daily News, L.P.