09/12/2025
We had a tragic thing happen at FieldHaven last night.
A large carrier was left on the back lawn outside the gate to FieldHaven Feline Center. It was discovered by staff when they came into work this morning.
Unfortunately it was out of the reach of our cameras so we have no video footage of the incident.
Inside the carrier was four terrified cats sitting in their urine and f***s. We have no idea how long they were in the crate but as you can see from the picture it was enough time for them to have eliminated in desperation several times.
As our staff quickly went into action and started to triage the cats, they realized that they were not only horribly terrified, but one of the cats was in extreme medical distress. The kitty was rushed to Companion veterinary clinic where, after an exam, it was found the kitty was in severe cardiac stress and actually cardiac arrest. She was gently relieved of her suffering.
The other three kitties are being examined by our in-house medical team.
No microchips or other identifying information is on the cats.
Like me, you probably reacted with anger. I am not at FieldHaven so I am learning all of this from afar as I am traveling in the southeast right now. But through messages and photos, I and piecing together with our team as much information as we can.
Our team is working on the other three cats and we will have more information on them later. They have no time for anger. Only time for trying to save their lives and to reassure the kitties they are safe now.
As for me, my anger is evolving into curiosity. Curiosity as to how these kitties ended up on our back lawn. Was it a random act of cruel abandonment for reasons that we can all come up with in the depths of our imagination. We could write the story in 100 different awful ways. That is where our minds always go. We go on the defensive and want to rage against the people that did this horrible thing.
But, what if the story was different? Was someone desperate to get veterinary care for the kitty they knew was very ill? Maybe they didn't have the money to go to a vet? They couldn't get an appointment? They didn't know where to reach out for help? Or maybe they did and were turned away. (FYI our CAT Crew is checking all messages from this week to see if any of them possibly had communication with this person)
What if, in absolute desperation, they placed the cats on our lawn because they knew they would be cared for. I do know that there had to be some inkling of caring because we are not exactly in an area that is convenient for people to get to and, a sheet was covering the carrier. That means they cared enough to try and comfort the kitties.
Just as I can think of 100 situations where somebody truly abandoned the kitties, I can also think of 100 situations where someone felt they had no other choice.
We may never know but I am hoping if the person that did this sees this message, please reach out to me privately. I promise no judgment until I hear your side.
In the meantime, it is with incredibly immense gratitude to our supporters that we are able to take care of these kitties. It is a huge hardship on us. I won't sugarcoat it. We've had more than our share of medical cases so far this month. Each of them comes with huge expenses. But with you at our side and our back, we can do it.
As soon as I know more, I will post an update on these kitties. They need us and all of you right now. And perhaps their human does too.
Joy (Kimberly, who regularly manages this page is on vacation)