Dozens of cats need help after Calgary owner surrenders them

A Calgary animal rescue society is turning to the public for financial support to care for a large amount of felines that have found their way into its shelters.
The Canadian Animal Task Force (CATF) says this year presented a challenge when a family member of a pet owner reached out for assistance.
An official with the organization says the caller was distraught and "desperate for help," so CATF couldn't ignore them despite the immense financial strain it would cause.
"We couldn't say no in this situation. The cats had nowhere to go, their owner recently passed away, leaving dozens of cats in need of help," said R.J. Bailot, CATF's executive director, in a statement.
CATF says all of the surrendered cats need medical attention, including vaccination and parasite treatments along with spay and neuter procedures. Several of them need more serious interventions such as dental work and medications, the group says.
"We are asking for the community's financial support to help us raise the much-needed funds as an intake this large will have a large impact on our resources," Bailot said. "It is important to us that each animal receives the care they deserve and we will do everything possible to make it happen."
Once all the cats have received appropriate care, CATF will work with partner agencies to ensure each cat is adopted.
As the group is looking for support, a local realtor says she will do her part to help out by creating her own campaign for CATF.
Heather Waddell says she will match donations, dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000 toward what's needed.
Further information about CATF and its mission can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates | Daniel Jolivet insists he's not a murderer and says he has proof
Convicted murderer Daniel Jolivet, in prison for the past 30 years, has maintained his innocence since the day he was arrested. W5 reviews the evidence he painstakingly assembled while behind bars. W5's documentary 'Buried Evidence' airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV.

China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky
The massive white orb drifting across U.S. airspace has triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and is blowing up on social media. A look at what's known about the balloon crossing the U.S. and what isn't.
Marit Stiles set to officially take over as Ontario NDP leader
Marit Stiles is expected to be confirmed as the new leader of the Ontario NDP today.
One in four Canadian cancer patients still experiencing cancelled appointments: survey
In the field of cancer treatment, nothing is more important than diagnosing and treating the problem as quickly as possible — but according to new survey data, about one in four Canadian cancer patients report that they are still experiencing cancelled or postponed appointments.
Dozens of soldiers freed in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap
Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war have returned home following a prisoner swap, officials on both sides said Saturday.
Oldest preserved vertebrate brain found in 319-million-year-old fish fossil
The oldest preserved vertebrate brain has been found in a 319-million-year-old fossilized fish skull that was removed from an English coal mine over a century ago.
50-car train derailment causes big fire, evacuations in Ohio
A train derailment and resulting large fire prompted an evacuation order and a declaration of a state of emergency in an Ohio village near the Pennsylvania state line on Friday night, covering the area in billows of smoke lit orange by the flames below.
Canada tracked suspected Chinese spy balloon over Canadian airspace since last weekend: sources
The suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that was found floating over sensitive military sites in the western United States had been tracked by Canada's government since last weekend as it passed through Canadian airspace, sources tell CTV News.
Former NHL-er Ted Nolan among Indigenous players honoured in new hockey card series
It took 40 years, but former NHL player and coach Ted Nolan is now one of eight Indigenous ex-NHL-ers being honoured hockey trading cards as a part of Upper Deck's First Peoples Rookie Card series.