I started doing TNR (trap neuter release) in my neighborhood not so long ago. Last Sunday, we intended to trap a female but accidentally trapped the neighborhood tom cat who was impossible to trap by other TNR rescuers for years (just have to work harder to spay all the females to control the over-population). I was very happy and TNR him would mean a much safer and healthier life for him in the community (we live in Astoria of Queens in New York). Yesterday morning I dropped him off at ASPCA and later that day I received the phone call of him passing in anesthesia after his surgery was completed. The vet and their staff found his neck was bending at the corner of the trap with his heart stopped, they immediately performed CPR but it didn't bring him back.
My heart is broken, especially knowing the fact that trapping him was completely a coincident, and he could have been running free right now if we hadn't gone to the wrong place at the wrong time (he literally has no fixed feeding spot but roaming all over the the neighborhood, which made him impossible to trap all those years besides he was super smart and vigilant), it also hurts so much knowing he lived his entire life strolling freely in the streets of Astoria but had to spend the last few hours of his life in a small trap with his urine. Was it an existing heart condition? Kidney disease? We will never know. All I know is that it hurts so much to go feed other cats but will never see him again.
Since then, I had been doing a lot of research and spoke with a lot a experienced TNR rescuers about what could have happened. I know nothing I can do now to bring him back. But I really can't just let this one go, he was not another statistics, or another deceased cat ended up in group cremation, he meant something to me and to our community.
If anyone of you have similar experience, possible theories or knowledge, I would really appreciate your feedback and comments.
RIP O.G. Jack, Astoria feral cats community lost a great leader and a father (literally and figuratively). You will always be remembered by all of us.
My heart is broken, especially knowing the fact that trapping him was completely a coincident, and he could have been running free right now if we hadn't gone to the wrong place at the wrong time (he literally has no fixed feeding spot but roaming all over the the neighborhood, which made him impossible to trap all those years besides he was super smart and vigilant), it also hurts so much knowing he lived his entire life strolling freely in the streets of Astoria but had to spend the last few hours of his life in a small trap with his urine. Was it an existing heart condition? Kidney disease? We will never know. All I know is that it hurts so much to go feed other cats but will never see him again.
Since then, I had been doing a lot of research and spoke with a lot a experienced TNR rescuers about what could have happened. I know nothing I can do now to bring him back. But I really can't just let this one go, he was not another statistics, or another deceased cat ended up in group cremation, he meant something to me and to our community.
If anyone of you have similar experience, possible theories or knowledge, I would really appreciate your feedback and comments.
RIP O.G. Jack, Astoria feral cats community lost a great leader and a father (literally and figuratively). You will always be remembered by all of us.