In Gatineau, Canada, a resident was horrified to find a kitten covered in black goo in her yard. It turned out that the kitten and her two siblings had been deliberately doused with tar. One kitten was found in much worse condition and was named Ashley. Thankfully, after the rescue, the local community came forward to save Ashley’s life.
Sandy Lawson of Adopt Me Cat Rescue was part of the team that rescued the kittens. Sandy says, “Someone came onto his property to put tar on it. Probably because he knew there were cats and wasn’t a fan.”
All three kittens were taken to the veterinarian for treatment, with Ashley sustaining the most severe injuries. If she lives through this, she will have a long rehabilitation ahead of her.
“She was coated in tar and had her eyes closed,” Lawson adds. “She had no mobility at all. She didn’t seem to eat much either,” Janice Richard says of Ashley’s condition while raising her.
“The community came together around this kid.”
Ashley’s 24-hour stay in the intensive care unit would have been entirely unaffordable without the support of strangers. Thanks to people like Richard and others who donated, this kitten has a chance at survival.
However, because the resin is poisonous to cats, we don’t know if there will be any long-term effects. “I have to wash off the tar every three hours,” Richard states. “She was a huge challenge to get rid of; it was a significant job.”
The two other kittens, who were not as severely injured, have already been adopted. Ashley is still in the care of Janice Richard and will be available for adoption once she has recovered.
This story goes to show the power of community. In the face of tragedy, people came together to save a life. We can all learn from this example and be there for each other in need.
