The story of Sinnamon

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This article was published 11/02/2019 (2639 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We have had some pretty cold days recently. Almost record breaking. But it is Winnipeg after all. 

The winter, for me, seems to have gone by really fast for once. Usually it seems the warm months fly by. And we have actually had a really mild winter. It’s the first winter I can remember having very little heat on in our house.

Every year I think a lot of us ask ourselves “Why do we live here?” It’s so cold. Who wants to spend months living in a freezer? 

But we get through it because we are Winnipeggers. We can handle it. 

On those freezing cold nights I’m always thinking about the stray animals that aren’t so lucky. They have to survive outside in the cold. In the extreme temperatures, lots of animals don’t make it.

This is why it’s so important to spay and neuter your pets. There are too many strays, especially cats, in the city. 

Also do not let them roam outside. It is illegal to let your cat outside unattended. Cats will take off. Too many times I’ve heard “I let my cat go outside but he always comes home.” It only takes a second for him to get away. Scared by a noise or chasing a bird or other animal. 

Lots of cats go into garages or sheds and get stuck inside. Now think of them trapped in the winter. 

Now there’s roaming cats that are not spayed or neutered. Multiplying cats. There are cats that are left outside to survive through these cold temperatures. Not only do they have to find food and shelter and survive from predators and cruel humans, they suffer injuries from the cold such as frostbite. 

Eight years ago a kitty followed a family friend home. She was outside in -45 degree temperatures which continued for a few days in a row. 

This kitty was apparently six months old. Cold, hungry and dirty. She had frostbite and most of her ears fell off. I took this kitty, that I named Sinnamon, and added her to my family. Within a few days about two inches of her tail fell off. We weren’t surprised because it didn’t look great. It was really thin. 

Sinnamon is such a beautiful kitty. If she hadn’t have been rescued she may not have made it. 

I don’t know her story or how she ended up on the street. I’m just happy she came into my life. Sinnamon is one of the lucky ones. 

If you see any animal suffering from the cold, please contact the Animal Care Line at 204-945-8000 or toll free 1-888-945-8001.

Jennifer Laferriere is a community correspondent for Garden City. 

Jennifer Laferriere
Garden City community correspondent

Jennifer Laferriere was a community correspondent for Garden City.

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