We received information that there was a dog breeder who had decided to move out of state. The information stated that they had left behind several cats, two dogs and a rabbit. A group of volunteers went up to assess the situation and discovered that there were indeed animals in need. That evening we set out humane traps for the cats, and captured some immediately. We also took the rabbit and one of the dogs.
Returning the next morning, we took the rest of the cats that were in the traps. One of the cats appeared to be injured. Her mouth was unable to close properly and she was clearly drooling and having difficulty eating. She was taken immediately to the vet where an x-ray showed that she had been shot in the jaw by a bb gun. Surgery was scheduled and fundraising began to save her life.
During the surgery the bb was removed, however, repairing her jaw was going to be difficult. The vet indicated that the surgery may not hold and she might need to be fed. He also indicated that he was unclear about her quality of life but would do the surgery. One individual was notified and decided to have the cat put down.
The reason that Dakota’s Dream began was to ensure that every cat received the best chance at life. That no one person would determine the future of a cat. An animal’s health would be reviewed with the vets by at least two volunteers and, if necessary, a second vet opinion would be obtained.
The person who had been fostering Dakota felt that she had a strong will to live and could have survived after surgery. Before surgery she had been able to get her to eat and she was extremely friendly in spite of the pain she was in. The other five cats, the rabbit and the one dog all found great homes. Sadly when we went to go back for the second dog he had passed away.
Dakota’s memory will live on in every animal we rescue and give them the opportunity for a better life.