Penny, one month after being rescued. PHOTO/CAL ROBERTS
CAL ROBERTS
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Last month, the Times-Age brought you the story of Penny, a kitten left to die in a rat trap, surrounded by filth at Masterton’s landfill.
She was rescued after a member of the public heard her crying.
Penny was rescued by Tamara Olliver and Sally McLennan of Dump Cats, a volunteer group who scour Masterton’s landfill for wild or displaced cats.
The kitten was found starving, and dehydrated. She had cat flu and both eyes were infected.
A month later, she’s healthy, clean, and looking for a new home.
Penny has been de-sexed and vaccinated, but before that, she required plenty of nursing to get back to a healthy weight.
“And washing, to get all the dump out of her.”
These days, Penny weighs in at just over 2kg, almost triple what she weighed when she was rescued.
McLennan said now the kitten had more energy, it became apparent she needed a playmate.
But the process of getting her adopted had been “surprisingly slow”.
Though more than 3000 people had viewed photos of Penny on Facebook, McLennan said she was yet to receive a complete application to adopt the kitten.
“I thought we’d be inundated,” she said.
The charity, Dump Cats, was enjoying an influx of volunteers coming on as fosterers, with six cats being looked after at present.
With the operation expanding, the volunteers are seeking help in any form.
“We’d love extra hands,” McLennan said.
“We sure could use an accountant if anyone out there is willing.”
Olliver and McLennan tried to get out to the landfill at least once a week, to seek out and humanely trap cats.
Olliver said there was one sick cat, in particular, that was of concern to them.
McLennan said the charity tried to find balance between rescuing as many cats as they could, while being able to suitably home and nurse them.
She said staff at the landfill had been great, allowing them to search for cats, and alerting them to any sightings.
“They’re so kind and supportive of what we do,” she said.
“For them, seeing the cats taken care of is a big relief.”
To donate, volunteer or adopt with Dump Cats, visit Facebook.com/Dumpcat/
