Frequently Asked Questions
When Donna MacRae started Furry Tales she originally intended to help one or two cats per month find homes. At the time, she was volunteering as a Freedom Driver, an agency that provides free transportation for rescue animals to be safely removed from high kill pounds to rescues along the Montreal to Hamilton corridor and far beyond. Once she had the opportunity to view the eyes of these animals, scared, bewildered, and often steps away from death’s door, she realized the importance of helping, by any means possible. It truly becomes an obsession. They say the eyes are the window to the soul and the eyes staring back at her moved her to action.
After starting in August 2015, Donna was beyond thrilled with 87 lives saved from August to December 2015. In 2016 the numbers grew and grew and now Furry Tales Cat Rescue averages up to 200 cats in care at any time and 1000 adoptions per year
We are a foster-based agency so many of our longer-term residents, birthing Moms, and seniors are in our foster homes. We have usually 30 foster homes at any given time. With the help of the community, we built a Cattery that allows Furry Tales to emergency house 20 to 25 cats at any time. Most severe medical cases remain with Donna, until they’re safe to transfer.
During kitten season, we increase our numbers of fosters, however year round the demand is constant to place the vulnerable such as shy or senior cats . We will not place them in our adoption centres, due to stress. We have a Foster Application on our website at www.Furry-Tales.ca where the process starts. We then screen for suitability and security and contact the foster for an interview. Our Foster Coordinators then meet with the foster and we try to match the best cat however sometimes circumstances such as emergencies can change our process. We supply wet and dry food, litter and boxes for our foster and of course vet costs. The foster provides a safe environment, isolation period, love and socialization.
Donate, Share, Adopt – every person can do something to help. We are 100% volunteer-run – no one receives a wage including Donna – I generally work at the rescue 10 to 14 hours a day 7 days a week. We have a high need of people that can volunteer at events, and volunteer their time socializing cats at the cattery as socialization is so important for their well-being, share, and posts, and most importantly donate! We cannot exist without support from the community. We receive zero government funding and our adoption fees nowhere cover our vet costs. We fundraise and do raffles and online auctions and events. It is a daily need to fundraise to cover costs.
We ensure that each cat we take in is properly vetted prior to adoption. This includes Vaccines, rabies, spay or neuter, Revolution, and Milbemax dewormer for our basic care. Then there are many many others that require Snap testing, bloodwork, xrays, pyrometric surgery, and medications. These costs again receive no funding than our generous supporters who by their contributions have saved lives after lives. We are a no-kill organization and we only euthanize in cases of extreme medical criteria, being no chance of success at the surgery to resolve the issues. Last year we covered numerous eye removals, amputations, feeding tubes, and more. The vet bill a single vet clinic was $87500.00 for the year- and we used over 5 vets.
We gratefully accept donations of all kinds – financial contributions can be made by etransfer or Paypal to [email protected]
Canada Helps Page – https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/furry-tales-cat-rescue/…
Paypal – https://www.paypal.com/ca/fundraiser/charity/3432016
We also are always in need of canned cat food (we now get all of our cat kibble through Hills Science Diet as part of their generous Food Shelter Love Program) – these can be dropped off at our partner stores. Litter is always a huge need for us as well as ceramic dishes, litter boxes, and scoops.
Furry Tales has been blessed with some wonderful partnerships. We have adoption centres at PetSmart on 1585 Merivale Rd and 1600 Heron Rd. We have the most wonderful supporters and friends.
We need volunteers of every age level – from knitting to cat cuddling there is a job for everyone. We are happy to do an educational presentation at elementary schools and have some successful opportunities to do this – meeting with children and hearing their ideas benefits the rescue and the children. I have taken the Red Rover Course on teaching empathy to school children. We also do a variety of fun projects like growing cat grass and cat nip toys. The schools have challenged themselves to raise donations of toys, food, and litter and have been overwhelming in their support,
We truly would love to help every cat in need but this just isn’t a possibility. It comes down to space and money. We then have to sort out who is most in danger. Furry Tales Cat Rescue is not governed by local pound contracts. Other local pounds and shelters are there to provide resources to stray or lost cats. Who will not survive if we don’t help? – often that makes the decision for us whether we have space or funds or not (most usually not). Who is going to give birth outside in the cold?, who is wounded or abandoned in an apartment ?(this actually happens more than anyone could imagine. Who will be euthanized for space at a pound ?- this is the decision we have to make for each and every animal that comes into our care.
Because for each cat we save the feeling is beyond incredible for watching them blossom into health, into feeling safe. For someone like Moochie who was found begging outside a restaurant, an adult male at 5 pounds fending for himself and at death’s door – to becoming the most endearing heartwarming little man. For cats like Lucky found in a sewer in starvation mode – watching him become a healthy adult male that went from 4.85 pounds to 8.8 pounds, for our lovely 11-year-old senior boys destined for a high kill pound who deserve to enjoy their sunset years in peace and comfort. Each of these cats has overcome insurmountable odds and now has a chance at security and happiness – and most important love. The love they give back tenfold,
Surrendering a cat is a huge decision. It may take your cat months to emotionally adjust to the change. Whenever possible, please find other solutions. There are several low-cost spay/neuter initiatives in the Ottawa area. We can even help you with a subsidized spay/neuter for your cat. Pet food banks are often available and many local vets work with the Farley Foundation to help lower income pet owners seek veterinary care for their cats. Realistic expectations are important. If your cat is aggressive or not using its litter box, it will be extremely difficult for FTCR to find a foster home willing to care for the cat. Always speak to a veterinarian to rule out medical conditions as the cause of your cat’s issues. Ask friends for help. Shelters, such as Furry Tales, are often filled-to-capacity, financially strapped and pleading for foster homes to help. If you have exhausted all responsible and available options, please download and fill our this surrender form and we will contact you after we review it
Policy on Reclaiming Stray Pets
We will advertise any stray cats on our website and social media. We also immediately check for a microchip on the pet to try to reunite the pet and owner.
Cats will be held for 3 days as strays before becoming part of our adoption program. If pets are not reclaimed within this time they become a FTCR adoptable pet (once health processes are complete.
Sometimes an owner may want to reclaim a pet after the “stray” period has expired and it has become an adoptable pet. This may be possible if the owner comes forward within a reasonable timeframe (such as a day or two). All relevant fees for costs incurred by FTCR must be reimbursed. This is generally the sum of impound and boarding fees and will include the cost of necessary medical treatments which have been started.
Many people have a kind interest in seeing pets return home and we appreciate the efforts of the public to spread the news on strays. We do have the right of discretion to ensure the welfare of the pet. In order to access and reclaim a pet we will need some form of proof of ownership such as animals health records from a vet stating owner name and address. A city license is another form of ID or a third option is a valid adoption contract. Owners will be required to show valid photo ID.
Return to Owner Form
When lost or stray animals come into the shelter, we are unaware of their health and vaccination status. Our policy is to vaccinate all animals on arrival. The return to owner fee covers vaccinations, feeding and housing. If the animal is with us and has surgery, a full adoption fee is required to reclaim the animal. Please refer to adoption fees listed on our website at Furry-Tales.ca
Name:
Address:
Driver’s License/ID:
Home phone: Email Address:
Animal Name: Microchip Number:
Owner Signature: Date:
Staff signature: Date: