Warning – Graphic Images
One Sunday afternoon we received a call regarding a deceased estate, where animals had been left behind. Nothing prepared us for the sadness and horror we found. It was a case of not just animal hoarding, but extreme abuse. What we did next was done with love and empathy for those existing in the horrific conditions, knowing that not one animal could be left behind for even a minute longer! They were coming with us, right then. Every one of them, no matter what.
On entry, we saw a young Border Collie. Then another. The older one had only 3 legs and was struggling to walk through the rough terrain of rubbish, faeces and urine – the combination of which had created a hardened stone-like floor surface.
There were rats as big as 12 week old kittens. They were not afraid of us and didn’t scurry away. This was not an environment that any animal should be in.
Not for a single minute! Not a minute longer!
To get into the next room we had to chip at the door to get it to open wider. What we found made our stomachs flip and hurt our hearts deeply. So many many cats. Some alive in cages with deceased cats in varying stages of decay. One deceased girl still had her teeth surrounding the bars of her prison in a last ditch effort to save herself. Some so decomposed they were just piles of fur. It was gut wrenching, and horrific.
Water bowls were empty, some filled with faeces. Not one minute longer would we leave them there! It was so hard looking at these cats and working out who to load into carriers first. We kept telling them no one will be left behind. All would leave with us!
Then we saw a room with a cage style door.
Another heart-breaking sight. Inside were two little elderly white dogs with bloated bellies and not much fur. Cages within the room contained remnants of more deceased cats.
NOT another minute!
Hallway contained even more cats . One beautiful boy was straddling the sides of the rabbit hutch he was in, desperately trying to avoid the putrid mess within his cage. We found another dog in this area, too.
We found a bedroom with yet more caged cats. Then we heard growling of a teeny female dog. She was unsure, but we told her she was coming too! No one was going to be left behind !
As we were loading all the cats and dogs and about to do a walk through, a little old dog appeared from nowhere and looked up at us. We swear he said “Don’t forget me please! I’m coming too.” Yes little one, you too will leave this place and spend NOT another minute here.
A total of 23 cats and 7 dogs we rescued. Every animal was seen by a vet within 24 hours of rescue. Many of the cats and dogs are now safely within our rescue, and other dedicated rescues, who kindly banded together to assist. These animals will now only ever know love.
Note: Although we would have loved to say this story had a happy ending for all the animals – it didn’t. Some of the cats were so malnourished that they were not able to walk and sadly, passed away a few weeks later. Others remain in care with serious medical issues that require ongoing vet care. But, our care and dedicate for them will continue. If you can in anyway contribute to their care, it would be greatly appreciated.
