RescueConnect Animal Rescue

Near the end of May one of our crazy cat ladies were contacted by a lady, asking us to take in a kitten, happens everyday for rescues' right?

The story goes that Penelope was 'found' on the white line of the highway. But on intake, she had no dirt, no fleas, and was in remarkably good shape. The person surrendering was not able to care for Penelope. Penelope by all appearances was a young, cuddly, Siamese type kitten (a ragdoll), that should have been adopted very quickly.

She was quickly placed in foster, and per rescue protocol, a routine vet appointment was made.

On intake, during her bath, her foster mom noticed that Penelope's private parts didn't look 'normal'.

One close look was all it took for our vet to determine that Penelope had a serious congenital deformity called Ani Atresia. In simple terms, Penelope's bowel is not attached to her rectum/anus, but to her vagina. She defecates through her vaginal opening. It is obviously uncomfortable for her, and some days she needs help, but mostly we keep the stool soft with softeners, to help make her as comfortable as we can.

Ani Atresia:

"This incredibly rare condition is when "the pouch at the end of the GI tract and the anal membrane fail to open," explains The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

The GI tract swells so much that it can get distended where it becomes dysfunctional," they describe. When it comes to kittens who have an imperforate anus, treatment and surgery is necessary for survival"

Surgery. Survival. In everyday words, this sounds simple right? Let's do it! If only it was that easy.

Our primary vet knew immediately that Penelope needed a referral for a consult by a surgeon affiliated with Eastern Carolina Veternairy Medicine, affiliated with NC State Veterinary School.

After an exam it was agreed that Penelope needed this life saving surgery, but first, she needed to grow a little to allow the surgery to have its best outcome.

So for two months, this little ball of sweetness and fire, has been mothered by all the resident foster cats, all accepting of the strange way this little girl uses the box, or sometimes not.

But she has reached the age, the weight, and the time, for her surgery.

RescueConnect has arranged to have her surgery done by Dr Putterman at ECVR on July 13th.

The cost for her surgery on the high end, is 3500.00. But the cost without the surgery, is her survival. Because without this surgery she cannot survive. And that cost is too high for us.

We've committed to Penelope to give her the best outcome possible. Can you help us help her?

It has been a hard year for everyone, kitten season has been hard THIS year. So many needing so much help. We're asking once more, for donations, for Penelope's survival.

As always, RescueConnect is committed to our mission to save homeless animals from lives of homelessness and abuse. To give them the best life possible.

Will you help us give Penelope her best life possible?

Donations can be made directly to Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medicine, at [phone redacted], for Penelope Cream Patient ID # 22705. Note, that this is also an emergency vet hospital so please be patient and if you are disconnected please try again, they may have emergency and are unable to get to you right away.

Donations can also be made through this GoFundMe page, or by paypal to:

[email redacted]

please send as a friend or family and make a note as a donation for penelope

Thank you for being our lifeline for Penelope and so many others.

On behalf of the RescueConnect cat team,

Shelley