Mere moments after the story of Dan Lapotac, and the dozens of pets he had been looking after went to air, Janice Dodd’s phone started ringing, and it hasn't stopped.
“The calls started literally one minute after it went to air, one minute,” Dodds said.
Dodds is an animal advocate who took up Lapotac’s cause after hearing about his living conditions.
Lapotac has been living in a makeshift tent on the Enoch Cree Nation for four years – while he started with only four cats, the number of pets in his home has grown steadily.
Recently, two litters of kittens and another litter of puppies were born, adding up to nearly 50 cats, and eight dogs.
It was a living situation Lapotac described as stressful in an interview with CTV News on Monday. Dodds had been doing what she could, getting some of the animals spayed and neutered, and facilitating food donations for the animals from local charities and shelters.
On Monday, Dodds said an SPCA officer had assessed the situation, but said the animals had the necessities of life, since then had food, water and shelter provided.
Now, Dodds has received dozens of calls, with people wanting to adopt the pets, or help – but before the pets can go to their new homes, they need proper veterinary care.
The Edmonton Emergency Vet Clinic has offered to look after each of the animals, at no cost.
“We know that a lot of people are going to come to the table, and say we really want one of these cats,” Marketing manager Susie Sykes said. “But, until they’ve been spayed or neutered, until they’ve had their vaccinations, they’re not ready to go into a home.”
On Thursday, the first kitten will head to its forever home.
With files from Brenna Rose
