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Special Needs Animals
Why Does Willow Weep?
December, 2008:
December, 2008 - Out the window, I saw a dark shadow at the back of the feral feeding shelter, and then out of nowhere appeared two beautiful, large yellow eyes, looking directly my way. Out wandered a new, all-black cat. Beautiful! Time to make another appointment for TNR! On December 29, this lovely kitty was trapped and spayed, then returned to her outdoor colony a few days later.Over the next three months, "Willow", as we named her, began to stay out during the day in plain sight, and ultimately became quite a talker with the on-site staff. But she never got close enough for anyone to touch. Occasionally Willow would enter the warehouse, and was spending more and more time in the parking lot, under cars, even darting across their paths. We began trapping again in hopes of catching Willow and evaluating her for potential adoption.
March, 2009:
March 16, 2009 - Our worst fears were realized when we received a call from one of the staff that Willow was under a car crying loudly, and they were concerned. When I saw her dragging the entire back half of her body, I was horrified! Willow had been hit by a car!At the vet's office, there was no response, not even in her eyes, when a hemostat clamp was applied to the tail. It fell lifelessly when lifted and released. No feeling or movement in the toes or pads of the left foot and leg. The vet looked at me and shook his head. These were not good signs. Willow felt a teeny, tiny bit on the other foot. She has a very painful, sensitive area in the mid-back, where she flinches and shudders with the slightest touch. Her bladder was quite large. We feared the worst, and I felt my heart drop into the pit of my stomach. X-rays revealed no fractures, and only the tiniest compression on one disc. But the size of the bladder gave us another one of those looks. The vet was definitely concerned. We decided to give Willow some time with some pain meds and bed-rest, to see if the damage was going to be permanent. She was going to need someone to manually empty her bladder several times a day, and we didn't even know her temperament!
By the end of the day, we had found a caretaker who could spend the time, and knew the technique for emptying a cat's bladder. She was willing to take on the care of this precious cat for the remainder of the week. We're happy to report that Willow has responded beautifully to TLC. She loves being inside where it's safe, and having a human pet her and talk to her. She purrs, and kneads, and has proven to be a wonderful, loving companion animal.
However, Willow was not eating or drinking. Her foster mom began to syringe-feed her. We were worried that she could have
more issues contributing to her paralysis, or that she had lost her will. That sinking feeling was starting to return to
the pit of my stomach. If she didn't eat soon, we were going to be facing much bigger issues, and the scale was beginning
to tip away from quality of life.
March 20, 2009 - At last, Willow is eating and grooming herself!!! These are
March 22, 2009 - This evening while I was sitting on the floor in her room, Willow kept reaching for my hand. She was trying to tell me something. She eventually left her bed and crawled to me, and leaned up against my legs, putting her head in my lap. Awwww, she wanted some love. After months of caring for her as a feral, wanting so badly to get my hands on her and take her in, I feel truly blessed to be able to hold and pet her. I'm so sad it had to happen this way, but thankful she has a chance to recover.
March 23, 2009 - Willow really is beginning to get into exercise! While we work with her legs, straightening and bending, as the vet instructed, Willow pushes both back legs out all the way and gives them a really good stretch. "Oh yeh, that feels sooooo good!" She even stretches her toes wide apart! Then as she relaxes, she bends her knees into a more natural posture. When she pulls herself across the floor, she is beginning to tuck her legs under her body, instead of dragging them flat out to the side. She has even started to make the stepping motion with one of her legs as she does this.
March 24, 2009 - This morning Willow did not want me to touch her and give her any meds! She got so put off by me, that her tail whipped from side to side, then "thump, thump, thump!" Atta girl! That tail is coming back to life as well! She'll need it for balance, and expression, throughout her life. This evening she returned to Karen's care where she can get more attention throughout the day.
March 26, 2009 - It's becoming a little easier to empty Willow's bladder. She begins to urinate as soon as just a little bit of pressure is placed on her bladder. We take this as a good sign that she'll be able to function normally as soon as she can stand on her own. She opened the door under the bathroom sink and climbed inside. Her back legs have quite a bit of feeling now, so we're not sure how she did this, but we're glad she's got so much spunk!
March 31, 2009 - When held like a baby cradled in your arms, with her hips and legs massaged, Willow begins shaking her legs, and eventually stretches them out straight. She's not complaining of pain during this time, no flinching except for the painful area in her mid-back. She also begins to urinate on her own when picked up and supported in the right position.
She climbed inside the cabinet under the sink again yesterday, and is getting more feisty. Willow was used to being free in the great outdoors, and has now been confined to a guest bathroom, only being carried out of that room for a change in scenery while still being held. So we think she's experiencing a bit of cabin fever, and might enjoy a little larger space to scoot around in. Karen is going to let her explore a little in a larger room with nothing that could prove harmful to her. She'll be able to see the sunlight and feel some fresh air again! We'll let you know how that goes.
April, 2009:
April 3, 2009 - I visited Willow at her foster home today, and she clearly is bonded to her foster mom! We brought her out to the living room and I held her and visited. She seemed to enjoy this time out of her little space, and purred while I stroked her, and massaged her legs. She did, indeed, enjoy the fresh air, and the view out the window, as Karen had indicated over the past couple of days. Willow's very interested in the other cats, too. Eventually we let her down on the carpeted floor. She immediately went to where the other cats were playing ambush and hide-n-seek with each other. Finally she leaned up against the sofa and got to work cleaning all my germs off her! She cleaned futher than she ever had, was able to sit up enough to reach behind the hips, under the tail. She even lifted her right leg about an inch off the floor, as though she was going to hike it up and give it a good cleaning! This is incredible! We're still very much believing Willow will walk again when the injury has recovered and is no longer painful. You go, girl!!!Willow's medical bills have already exceeded $200, and she's going to need several weeks, perhaps months, to recover completely. She may need additional medical treatment or tests, as well as potential physical therapy. If she's unable to regain use of her legs, this sweet girl may need equipment to help her remain mobile, perhaps a custom wheelchair designed just for her. Please consider helping us to care for Willow's special needs by making a donation in her name.
May, 2009:
May 21, 2009 - Willow continues to grow stronger and more confident every day, and has settled into her foster home quite nicely. Her foster mom loves her, and Willow feels right at home there, sharing all family activities now, with several healthy cats, and another cat just like her! We're so thankful to have found such a special person to care for Willow, and love her and give her a happy quality of life while she recovers.
While we still believe she is healing and will walk again one day, we hope to raise funds so that we can have her evaluated by a neurology specialist, to see if any additional treatment would help with her recovery. Initial tests typically cost more than $1,000. Please help if you're able, by contributing any amount to the Willow Fund.
September, 2009:
September 10, 2009 - We learned that our estimates for neurology specialists were likely way too low. We've decided to begin Willow on a course of acupuncture treatments. Her first treatment was yesterday, and the vet tells us her injuries seem to be consistent with a crushed sacrum and caudal (tail) vertebrae. Before the treatment, Willow had good pain response in the right leg, and slightly less in the left, but absolutely no pain response at all in her tail. She can move it, but can't feel what should be a painful pinch. During treatment, she began twitching all over, was definitely feeling it. So hopefully the healing will reach all those nerves in there. Immediately after the treatment, Willow got right to work cleaning herself, and licking, especially that tail! That was VERY good! We're hopeful this will make a difference for her. The vet did say that it's possible we'll get her walking again, but not urinating on her own. It's too soon to tell.
Willow will need a series of treatments before we know if it will help. We currently have enough for one month, but we still need your help! We're asking for
Willow has a new angel, who is donating a portion of her
Follow her blog and add your comment at alf-rescue.blogspot.com
ALF Animal Loving Friends
7650 S McClintock Dr
Suite 103-120
Tempe, AZ 85284
The full amount of your donation is tax-deductible, as allowed by law.
The Chronicles of Curious George
September, 2007:
Sept 9, 2007 - Little George was part of a litter of kittens born to a feral mom. When someone was trying to capture them, George tried to get away. The person got him by the tail and held tight, but George was injured in the process. His spine was completely separated, and he was more than 90% paralyzed! Within 3 days, he was able to walk again, although very wobbly. He began a long, slow process of recovery, but eventually lost most of his tail. We did not know if he would ever regain any feeling or control of his legs and bodily functions, but he did. George can now walk and run like any other kitten, but he still has fecal incontinence (meaning he can't control his poop all of the time). His reproductive organs were also traumatized, so he is unable to be neutered at this time.
Curious George, 2 days post-injury:
How quickly they forgive! Six days after the injury, and he's playing.
Trying to pounce on the ball! By Sept 24, George has amazing balance, standing to reach the edge of the bed, and meeting a new cat, meerkat-style.
October, 2007:
In one month, George developed CAT-titude! Oct 8:
Six weeks post-injury, Oct 21:
November, 2007:
George's siblings are ready for adoption. On his first play date, George had us all in stitches! He hated his sibs! Hissed and growled when they accidentally invaded his personal space during their olympics practice. His five littermates were completely oblivious to him, but George kept an eagle eye on all of them! On his second play date, he was much more curious, owning up to his name. November 14:
December, 2007:
George's first Christmas
February, 2008:
Curious George has passed a new milestone!
Curious George has made a lot of progress since he was injured five months ago. When his spine was separated, he was in excruciating pain and almost completely paralyzed. His prognosis was grave. George began a long, slow process of recovery. But with a lot of medical care, even more patience and love, and his own stubborn cattitude, he has survived!He has had difficulty controlling his bowels, and in the beginning George suffered constipation. This put him at risk of developing megacolon, a life-threatening condition - as if he wasn't in enough danger already! As he recovered, we discovered a pattern. On cleaning day, George would experience diarrhea. 10 steps forward, and 4 steps back!
He has recently made it through cleaning day without incident! 17 steps forward, and counting! Keep your paws crossed.
March, 2008:
Curious George Update
George has had little change this month. He suffered a slight decline when he became constipated for several days, and had to go back on medicine for a short while. But he bounced right back!His shape still resembles a camel, somewhat, and he walks like he has attitude. He really does have attitude. However, we believe the way he walks is due to a lack of coordination, an interruption of messages from the brain through the nerves that were damaged, which facilitate graceful movement of the legs. George can run and jump and climb again like any other cat, though! He reminds us of the kitten who looks into the mirror and sees a lion peering back.
April, 2008:
Curious George has reached new heights!
Remember that "can-do" attitude we told you about last month? You won't believe what George set his mind to this time!
Do you see him up there? This is a safe outdoor cat enclosure which George would live in if he didn't have to come inside to eat. He likes to play with those pods on the vine. He decided fresher is better, and went for the ones at the top! But close enough wasn't good enough for our King of the Jungle! No! George wanted the pods that were just out of reach. He stretched as far as he could. But then he couldn't figure out how to get back down. So Buttercup climbed up to help him. She couldn't carry him down, so she just showed him the proper way to descend a fence.
In the end, his foster mom had to get a ladder and rescue the poor little guy all over again! Hard to believe this little guy has a separation of the spine and was once
more than 90% paralyzed! He certainly doesn't believe it!
May, 2008:
In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb?
Curious George must have heard it was kitten season, and didn't want to share his personal version of the "Incontinental Suite". He has been steadily making progress, with his little system remaining gentle as a lamb, for about two months. But when there was talk of needing to foster some kittens in his room, his system roared back at us like a lion! His intestinal tract is all out of balance again, and we've had to adjust his food and supplement routine once again, and much as he hates it, confine him to his "suite". His surgery will have to wait a little longer. We need disinfectant wipes and baby wipes.
June/July, 2008:
Curious George's Surgery a Success!
George finally had surgery, and although the vet noted some abnormalities, he came through with flying colors! A hypericum treatment was given a few weeks before the procedure, and George has had no setbacks!
August/September, 2008:
Survivor: Eye Of The Tiger
We are pleased to announce that our Curious George has been nominated for a 2008 Hero Award from the Friends of Animal Care & Control. Each year this organization honors local animals for their impact on Maricopa County residents. George was nominated for the Animal Survivor category, which recognizes animals who have overcome devastating circumstances to survive against all odds and thrive. We certainly agree that George deserves this honor!Please visit the FACC web site to learn more about this event, and be sure to bookmark this page and check for an update after November 8, 2008, to see if George won!
November 9, 2008:
FACCs Hero Award Recipients Announced
ALF and Curious George would like to congratulate Bela, Indy, Kiki, Sadie, Toffee, Torsten, and Carol Ann Braun - this year's Heroes honored by Friends of Animal Care & Control. Curious George was not selected this year, but he doesn't mind. He's just happy to be alive and well! There are so many deserving heroes, and George didn't quite know how to don a Tux without a Tail, anyway.He does have some exciting news of his own to share, though. Curious George has been adopted! He will live out his life with his caretaker and guardian, and will be a permanent ambassador for ALF. We promise to keep you up to date with his progress and news.
Spring, 2009:
Curious George Thrives
We promised to keep you updated on George's progress, and happily, there really is nothing newsworthy to share. George is pretty much a normal, happy, healthy cat. He's still very confident, knows no bounds or limits. His incontinence is behind him (no pun intended), and he really would rather not even talk about his ordeal! He is quite stout and thick - not fat - he just feels, well..., solid. Most days you'll find George hanging out with his best friend, Boca, enjoying his outdoor enclosure. But at the end of the day, he still likes to climb on Mom's shoulder and try to sneak in some sucking on the earlobe!
May, 2009:
Early Warning Signs of a Potential Problem
We've been noticing that Curious George seems to be like a kid who is having too much fun playing outside, to come in when he feels the urge to go to the bathroom. George seems to be holding his stools til the last possible moment, then flying through the house to land in the litter pan, just in the nick of time. The others had just better hope they're not in his path! George's stools are like those of a medium-to-large dog! Long and wide. We didn't realize this was cause for concern until mentioning it casually in the presence of his vet. She alerted us that these are early signs of potential mega-colon! YIKES! She told us this is how it often starts in the Manx breed, and Manx-like cats. George received another hypericum treatment, and is being closely observed. You may recall that he was given this treatment right before his surgery, and he had no setbacks! Please keep positive thoughts for our George.
Please help contribute to George's special care. His food and litter needs can be met at Costco, Petsmart or Petco. Constant cleaning and bedding needs can be met at Target, Walmart, or grocery stores.
A $25 gift card to one of these stores will provide one month of food and litter, or one month of cleaning supplies. Please send to:
7650 S McClintock Dr
Suite 103-120
Tempe, AZ 85284
Holly's Christmas Miracle
December, 2007:
Dec 20, 2007 - While feeding ferals one cold, dark night, persistent, frantic meowing could be heard. "Help!", she was calling. Feral cats rarely make a peep, and the regulars at that station were right there in view waiting for me to finish and leave. As I'd turn toward the building, the meows became low warning growls, then meows again, a little more frantic. Finally with a flashlight, I found her - all the way in the back, wedged between these two old, well-established brick buildings. These buildings are about 40 feet high, and 40 feet deep, with another building perpendicular to them at the back.
The space between the buildings is only 3.5 inches wide at the front, and it narrows toward the back. The cat was in this very small space, with no way to get out but through the front. There is a piece of rebar at the front sticking up about a foot and a half. We figure the cat was chased in there, and with adrenaline pumping, somehow made it past, or over, that piece of rebar. But we also figured she couldn't get past it now that she was more calm. We bent the rebar downward but she still didn't come out. We thought she was surely stuck! We saw a pigeon carcass in the space between the walls. It looked pretty hopeless for this poor scared cat, who we feared was injured, or with kittens.
So we called the Arizona Humane Society. They came out late one night, but there was nothing they could do to reach her. We saw that she wasn't really stuck after all, as she was facing the other direction. But she couldn't turn around without standing up against the wall. She just stayed all the way in the back.
On the third night we were able to lure her closer to the front with food but she was too frightened to come all the way out. Early the next afternoon she finally came to the front to eat, and even allowed petting, but as soon as the pigeons came in and ruffled their feathers, and made noise and kicked a bunch of debris on top of us, she escaped and was right back between those buildings all the way in the back again. We went back at dusk when the pigeons were gone, and finally, after four days and nights of coaxing, this poor kitty could no longer resist the tuna in oil. She gingerly made her way to the front. This time we didn't risk losing her again, and the moment she stepped out, she was scruffed and placed into a carrier.
We decided to call this pretty girl "Holly", in honor of the Season. She spent the holidays with lots of blankets and bedding, a full tummy, peace and quiet so that she could get some much needed rest. Once she was comfortable and warm, she expressed her appreciation with a LOT of affection, purring, kneading, and head butts. She talked a lot, telling us all about how she got in that predicament, and how relieved she was to be rescued! She chirped and made that half purr/half mew sound - a LOT! She rolled over for tummy rubs.
Dec 28, 2007 - We noticed that Holly had a hurt paw, perhaps an old injury. She used it some, but not always, and it was kind of bent under. A trip to the vet revealed several old injuries. She was covered in fleas, and as a result, had tapeworm too! She had babies in the not too distant past, but was definitely not nursing any recently, so no worries that kittens were left behind.
Her right front foot had been broken at the elbow some time in the past, and has healed in the broken position. Her elbow had become deformed as a result. Her back left pinkie toe was broken, so that nail has to be kept trimmed. Her upper left canine tooth is broken about halfway up, and the upper right canine tooth is broken off at the gumline. At this point, Holly doesn't seem to have any pain, nor is she showing any signs of infection, so the recommendation is to leave the injuries alone. Her body and brain have compensated and she doesn't seem to have any discomfort. She moves around just fine. In fact when she scampers or runs away, she uses her leg and foot normally, otherwise she walks on her wrist. Even though she doesn't show pain, she does have sensation in that foot. She curls her toes and kneads with that foot just fine!
Poor baby has suffered some type of trauma out there, and had likely been lost and surviving on the streets for some time. The vet suggested perhaps hit by a car, maybe caught in something and chewed her way out. We'll never know. But we promised her it will never happen to her again!
Miss Holly needed a very special home, and not long after her rescue, she got her wish!
The full amount of your donation is tax-deductible, as allowed by law.
7650 S McClintock Dr
Suite 103-120
Tempe, AZ 85284
Email:
alfrescue@hotmail.com