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Injured and neglected felines helped at MEOW Foundation

The Make Each One Wanted (MEOW) Foundation is a Calgary-based animal rescue group that prides itself in its no-kill policy. This means that any cats that come through its doors will not be euthanized — no matter what.

In the winter months the foundation sees a number of stray cats come in to their shelter with frostbite or severe dental injuries. At any given time, the MEOW Foundation is caring for 150 cats or more. In December alone, the foundation rescued 29 cats from the streets.

“We try our absolute hardest to adopt each and every one of our cats, no matter how long it takes,” said Debbie Nelson, executive director of the foundation.

Corinne Fish is active in fostering cats through the MEOW Foundation. Currently she is fostering a cat named Raja.

Produced by: Matthew Hayhurst

Eight months ago, Raja, a Siamese cat, was rescued from a feeding station that was built by the foundation to provide homeless cats with a means of getting some food.

“He was in no position to defend himself or defend territory,” said Fish.

The volunteers running the feeding station noticed that Raja was limping and looked like he was in pain. When he was brought in to the MEOW Foundation, Fish took him home to keep an eye on his injury.

“He had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury in one of his hind legs,” she said. “It’s basically a knee injury. If you know anybody who plays sports and they’ve had a similar injury, they know it’s painful.”

Fish said that cats with an ACL injury normally heal on their own in about three months, but Raja was still in pain. He needed an operation to fix his leg or else he would be in agony for years to come.

Corinne Fish plays with Steve, one of the cats she is currently fostering, while Raja watches on from the stairway behind her. Raja, underwent surgery on his leg while at the Meow Foundation.
Photo by: Matthew Hayhurst“We took him to the vet and he underwent surgery,” she said. “Now I’m just watching over him to make sure he’s healing okay. He’s looking pretty healthy again and he acts like a completely different cat. He’s much happier.”

A few months ago, a cat named Khazab was also brought in to the MEOW Foundation’s adoption centre. He had a condition called entropion eye, a genetic condition that caused his eyelid to be flipped inwards. This condition caused him a lot of irritation and pain.

He underwent a $500 procedure to correct his condition and is now on the way to recovery.

“We believe that every animal deserves a chance, and that’s what we’re trying to provide for cats like Khazab,” said Nelson.

Both Raja and Khazab will be put up for adoption soon on the MEOW Foundation’s website.

 mhayhurst@cjournal.ca

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