The Kewanee Police Department issued Gus Blanks and Amy Vermost, both of Kewanee, a Notice to Appear after they allegedly dumped a neglected cat on Page Street last Friday, June 14, 2024. Residents in the area of Page Street and Ridge Road watched as a truck stopped on Page Street by Ridge Road, opened the door, and tossed out a white cat. The cat made her way to the home of Councilmember Steve Faber and his wife Peggy Faber. Steve and Peggy found a scared, very underweight, weak cat. Steve’s sister, Terri, wasted no time taking the cat into her home, and gave her food and water, but she was so weak, that she could hardly drink or eat. Terri took the cat to an emergency vet in Bettendorf over the weekend. where they gave her IV fluids and conducted an exam, she only weighed 3.6 pounds. They named the cat Maggie after their late mother, who loved cats. Maggie quickly learned to trust the new people that saved her life. However, Maggie needs specialty care and it will take a long time for her to recover, according to the veterinarian at the emergency vet clinic. Maggie is now at a Quad Cities Animal Health Center to get specialized care.
The power of Social Media worked for the good in this incident. The cat dumped in the street went missing from her original home in April after she got out a screen window. The original owner of Maggie, Ti Melchert, reached out to me after seeing the post with her missing cat. Ti said she has been looking for her since she went missing in April. Her real name is Butterscotch, or Butters for short, she is 6 years old, and she is blind in one eye from an injury when she was a baby. Ti has reached out to the animal hospital in Bettendorf to bring the family cat home when she is seeing enough to go home.
Councilmember Steve Faber wants people to know that you have options, instead of abandoning your pet on the road. Call the Kewanee Police Department, the Kewanee Animal Shelter, and the City of Kewanee Pound, and ask what your options are. You can contact Friends of the Animals or get an application at vet offices in Kewanee for help with emergency bet bills. Contact Big Tom’s Community Cats for spay or neuter options. The Rock Island Animal Care and Control offers low-cost vaccinations and spay/neuter.
All person are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.