Part of the RSPCA’s CAWS (Community Animal Welfare Scheme), the outreach team targeted Greenacre owners this time in an effort to reduce the high intake of felines at its Yagoona shelter.
Since July 2020, RSPCA Yagoona clinic, thanks to a few CAWS days thrown in, has desexed 1,123 cats from Canterbury Bankstown.
“To make this day happen we distributed flyers, took bookings and dropped off carry cages to people if needed; owners dropped off their cats in the morning and collected them that afternoon,” an RSPCA spokesperson said.
There were, however, a few surgical curveballs.
The owner of a cat with pyometra (infection in the uterus and life threatening), Mariam Slim, is grateful her pet ‘Yasmine’ will now be healthy for many years to come.
“She’d had kittens but her tummy was big and I thought she was pregnant again,” Mariam said.
“When I rang the vet they said it would be $340 to desex her and more if she was pregnant but I couldn’t afford that and then saw the flyer advertising the free desexing day.
“I was so happy, especially when they diagnosed the big tummy was an infection.
“She could have died, the day was an absolute lifesaver and I am so thankful.”
With the council providing ongoing funding for CAWS, residents are also invited to make a donation of cash, toys, bedding, towels, water bottles, heating pads and treats by going to rspca.org.au.
