Rescued a kitten on highway?

Question

My dad rescued a kitten on the highway this morning. It had a broken leg and its jaw was bleeding and kind of busted up. I haven't seen it, this is just what my dad told me. He brought it to a no-kill shelter by us, and they said to give them a call this afternoon to see how it's doing. I think it's going to be ok because it was still trying to run away from traffic after it was hurt. Poor thing is only 3-4 weeks old.

But um...who pays for the medical attention hurt animals receive at these shelters? Does it come out of taxes, because I can't imagine that donations are enough to cover these costs.

And if we were to keep the kitten, would we have to pay for these expenses? I don't think we will b/c we already have 2 cats and my parents dont want anymore...but I'm curious.

Answer 1

Well, I volunteer with a rescue group that is a non kill, non profit and this is how it works for us: Basically we get low cost vet bills (not low in reality, but lower than normal prices) and with the adoption costs we make enough money for food, litter, and other medical expenses for the next cats. Occasionally we will get a cat that we did not have to do any medical work on because it has already been done, the money from this cat's adoption would be put towards a case such as the one you listed.And our last source for injured cats comes from donations. We get smaller donations from the public an almost daily basis, but there are rare times that we will get large donations from different sources, these help with the injured cats also. Lastly, there are grants. Some rescue groups are lucky enough to receive grants from things such as the Animal Friendly License plate fund, and other fund raisers.

If you guys wanted to adopt the kitten, you would follow the normal procedures for this rescue group. Usually, that entails you to fill out an application, and if approved to fill out the necessary paperwork, and pay an adoption fee. It really depends on the particular group whether or not this kitten's adoption fee would be higher or not.

Answer 2

Independent shelters use money donated to them.

Government shelters ( such as animal control ) use money from taxes.

Your dad did a great thing helping the kitten.

Answer 3

Unless the shelter is a government funded county pound, donations and out of pocket money from the shelter owners pay the bills.  Private shelters get no government funding. Most shelters struggle but somehow manage. Volunteers are sometimes the only staff they have and vets and techs donate time to help the sick. That's why it's so important to support them. People complain about adoption fees but when you adopt, that money goes towards saving another animal. Since you turned the kitten in, you'll probably have to go through the adoption process and pay the same adoption fee as anyone else. If you decide not to adopt the kitten, it would be a very nice gesture to make a donation since they took it in and helped it for you. So many people jump dump animals off at shelters and never think to make a donation.

Answer 4

Those are good questions to ask the shelter!  Our local no-kill shelter works with a local vet, who donates his time.

Answer 5

There are some shelters who do receive government funding but in most cases they operate using the money donated and raised for them.  So to answer your next question, if you did keep the cat, the shelter may ask you to "donate" $60.00 or so and if you don't keep it they will have to decide if they can afford to pay for these injuries.

I also found a blacki kitten who had been thrown from a vehicle in front of us, my husbands quick thinking not only saved the kitten but also caught the jerk who threw the kitten out.  The kitten cost us $500.00 bucks and I couldn't even keep it as I have 4 already but I did make sure it went to a great home (the vet who operated on it) couldn't bare to part from this little guy.  I get a Christmas card each year :-)

Either way your father has a great big heart and I wish there were mroe people in this world like you guys.

Best of luck, let us know if you keep it.....

Answer 6

GOOD JOB DAD!!!  if the cat is put up for adoption that is what the money goes to is to help take care of animals and cover some of the expences.. i hope you get to keep it if so u should name it something like freeway or highway