Farewell

Sadly, rescuing an animal does not always end with them finding a home. Occasionally an animal is rescued after they have been denied shelter, food or medical treatment for so long that they have begun to die before we can reach them.

Under these circumstances we always continue fighting and try everything humanely possible to keep them alive – vets, specialists and intensive care – but if they fail to respond we are forced to make the devastating decision to euthanise them before their bodies begin shutting down.

As CatRescue is strictly no-kill, we only consider euthanasia in the true sense of the word. This is when all other options have been explored, and the animal has not only has run out of treatment options, but is also suffering. Our first question in these circumstances is “Is the animal suffering?” If the animal only has a short time left to live and is not treatable, but is not suffering, then we do not euthanase at that point. For CatRescue to choose euthanasia two criteria must be met: (i) The animal is dying and there are no treatment options, and (ii) The animal is suffering.

We don’t choose euthanasia because treatment is difficult or expensive; and we especially don’t choose euthanasia because they are “just a rescue cat or dog”. Animals have their own intrinsic value, not just the value ascribed to them as property of their human carers. So how could we consider euthanasia for a “rescue” animal, when we wouldn’t make the same choice for our own companion animal?

For however long – or short – these animals are in our care they are loved and valued, treated with respect and dignity, and given every opportunity to recover. It is so unjust and sad to know that if they do not survive, they will be denied the happiness (good food, lazing in the sun, a warm bed in winter, and cuddles from someone who loves them) that they deserve. That the only happiness we can offer them in the end is a peaceful and painless death.

If an animal does not survive we never forget them and they remain a part of our family of carers and friends. Often we have spent many weeks, or even months, fighting for them to survive so it is extremely hard for us to say goodbye, and to also reconcile their end with what they experienced before being rescued.

This page is dedicated to remembering these animals. They played an important part in our lives and will never be forgotten.