Ti's forgotten souls forgotten no longer

TICONDEROGA | In the North Country, it's not unusual to spot animal tracks in the snow. On Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga, it's even less unusual to see little footprints winding and leading to the dumpsters, alleys and back of storefronts. However, these don't belong to woodland creatures; rather, these trails are the sad visual evidence of the area's stray and feral cat problem, an issue that the Angel Connection is tackling like never before. "There's a lot of owned cats that need that financial help, and there's a lot of cats right in and around town that need help," said Dr. Katie Alexander of Ticonderoga Animal Hospital. Many in town may already be familiar with the Angel Connection and Joanne Drinkwine, who has assisted for years in offering people a low-cost spay and neuter program to help keep kittens who will only know suffering and hardship from being born. Now, Alexander and her husband, Ash, and Julie Putnam have come on board and are expanding Angel Connection, with a long-term goal of bringing a real animal shelter to Ticonderoga. "You don't think there is a big problem, but when you go out and see it, you realize it's never-ending," Putnam said, recalling her early days when she began trapping stray area felines. Since October 2022, Alexander and Putnam have been running a "mini shelter" at Ticonderoga Animal Hospital, where stray or abandoned animals are able to get a second chance. Residents can drop in and meet the animals in person during business hours- thus far, the little shelter has been extremely successful. In just three and a half months, 70 felines have been adopted out. Last month, the sheriff brought 25 cats to Putnam, all from a hoarding situation. A test, of sorts, was also conducted in conjunction with the Westport vet over a 30-day period. On just weekends, 119 strays ranging in age from newborn to eight years old were trapped from Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and Port Henry. All 119 were spayed or neutered. One girl's long fur was so painfully matted down to the skin she had to have her entire body completely shaved. "Of the 119, only 19 were too wild to rehome," said Putnam. "100 cats were successfully adopted." That's both joyous and tragic news- with numbers like that just the tip of the iceberg, there's clearly much work to be done. With the Alexanders and Putnam on board, the Angel Connection will now have three separate branches; Drinkwine will continue to handle the low-cost spay and neuter program, Putnam has taken on the TNR and adoption side, and Alexander will be starting her new program, Feral Cat Fridays. "Anyone who knows of a feral cat will be able to rent a trap (and receive full reimbursement when the trap is returned). Trapped cats will receive a spay or neuter, ear tipping (which lets people know the animal has been fixed and re-released), as well as a rabies vaccine," Alexander explained, adding Putnam will be able to assist with the trapping in the event someone is unfamiliar. "One part of this program we are particularly excited about is that it gives community members a tangible way to reduce the number of stray cats in their area," Alexander noted. "If someone knows of a feral cat colony, or they currently feed an outside kitty that needs to be fixed, this program would be perfect for that," she said, encouraging people to get active as a public service and as a huge kindness to the cats. The cost is $30 per feral cat. Putnam has been taking it upon herself for the past four years to offer her heart and home to strays and kittens, her bedroom serving as a boarding house for the little wayward souls that are in need of TLC and adoption. It isn't always easy work to see innocent animals come from horrendous situations or to witness kittens pass away, never having the opportunity to know the love of a forever home. But Putnam says the good always outweighs the bad. "We're holding them while they are dying, so at least they are loved," she acknowledged. "But many more are saved than pass on, so we keep going." An all-too-common misconception is that cats are born to thrive and are naturally equipped to adapt to life outside and in the elements. People, unless deeply involved in rescue work, don't often see the sad reality of the harshness that life entails, stray cats being exposed to feline FIV, FIP, FeLV, distemper, animal attacks, abuse at the hands of humans, starvation, frostbite, automobile injuries, severe upper respiratory infections that rob them of their eyesight and ability to breathe, the list is endless. Yes, they may survive, but what quality of life is it and at what expense? This is where the plan to bring a municipal animal shelter to Ti will be a game-changer. "I'm really eager to take these next steps to try and come up with a plan," Alexander said. "There's a big need and a big potential." The shelter will house both cats and dogs, with the ideal facility having separate space for both. It would be non-residential and not located downtown due to the noise and have outdoor space for the dogs to be walked and played with. Finding the right space will be crucial, as well as securing funding via grants and donations from the community to get the shelter off the ground within the next five years, if not sooner. "The community and far reaches of the community have been very generous already," acknowledged Alexander. "We can do a lot with a little bit of money." Monetary donations may be made directly to the Angel Connection via Paypal, or checks may be mailed or dropped off to Ticonderoga Animal Hospital. Food, litter, blankets, and toys are always happily accepted, and people interested in offering foster homes to cats and kittens, or volunteering, may contact Alexander or Putnam at 518-585-6232. Putnam's bedroom is currently empty, but not for long. Kitten season begins in March, and the cycle will continue; whatever help residents can offer will make all the difference in the world. Follow the Angel Connection on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/340624583275015. Putnam posts available cats and kittens regularly, as well as heartwarming photos of her current bedroom residents. Shelter development will be posted as it unfolds.

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Ti's forgotten souls forgotten no longer

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