Humane society says kitten’s case shows need for spay/neuter clinic

FLORENCE — A three-week-old kitten with a broken leg who was abandoned next to a veterinarian’s office has renewed a call by the Florence Area Humane Society for the establishment of a spay and neuter clinic.

Jayne Boswell said the abandonment of the kitten was a “sad commentary,” but illustrates the need for a spay and neuter clinic in the wake of the number of animals taken in at the FAHS animal shelter this year.

Boswell said the number of unwanted litters of dogs and kittens has mushroomed. She said 2,000 animals have come in already, and that doesn’t include the number Florence County has taken in.

“We all deserve a chance and we need to take a stand on abandoned animals,” Boswell said. “We need the public’s help in combatting the overpopulation of animals. We need a new shelter and a spay and neuter clinic.”

Meanwhile, the kitty who was abandoned is doing well in Windsor Animal Hospital. She is black with white paws and a swath of white on her chest.

Teri Ridley is the office manager at Windsor. Dr. Allen Causey is the veterinarian.

“We named the kitty Firecracker,” Ridley said. “We named her that because she was doing some kind of hissing and spitting when she came in here.”

Ridley said her right hind leg is fractured, but she is too small to have anything done to it. She hopes it will heal on its own.

She said Firecracker has calmed down and is adapting to being spoiled by the staff at Windsor. She’s had a bath and has been wormed.

“Firecracker will make a great pet for somebody,” Ridley said. “She’s definitely a survivor and she loves to be held. She’s also got the most beautiful eyes you’ve ever seen.”

Lisa Anderson is a financial representative at Sharonview Federal Credit Union next to Windsor Animal Hospital. She saw a car drive up and somebody abandon the kitty.

“The person put the cat down very carefully, ran back to the car and left before I could get outside,” Anderson said. “I took down a license number, but didn’t get it right because they couldn’t find a license with that number.”

Anderson took Firecracker over to Windsor.

“Abandoning a poor little kitty like that really upset me,” she said. “I don’t understand why people do things like that. Why didn’t they take her in the animal hospital and leave her? I guess they took the easy way out and thought somebody else would do it for them.”

Boswell was furious about Firecracker being abandoned the way she was.

“This kitten could have been killed if somebody hadn’t seen her being let out,” she said. “It was a Friday afternoon and there was a lot of traffic in the area. The parking lot is located just off Beltline Drive near both West Florence High School and Walmart (SuperCenter).”

Firecracker is beginning to gain a little weight and she is looking for a loving home. The number at Windsor is (843) 669-1544.