Give Hope Her Chance At Life
Donation protected
On April16th of this year, we noticed some people swerving around something in the road up ahead of us; we then could see it was an animal in the road, legs flailing around, and we stopped the traffic to help. It turned out to be a one year old cat, struck by a car, bleeding but very much alive. We picked her up, and rushed her to the Emergency Clinic in Mishawaka where the X-Rays told the story. She was hit in the jaw and the leg, but since we do not turn our backs on those in need, we paid to have her jaw fixed so that she could eat, and an emergency cast put on her leg in the hope the bones would fuse and grow back together. She was given the name “Hope”, and as we held her, you could sense gratitude from her as the doctors went to work, and even the people at the Emergency Clinic noted that she was calm, affectionate and loving, despite the pain and the blood. The jaw was wired to help heal it, and she is taking food normally (soft food, as she has a broken tooth and that must be removed as well).
Just yesterday, we discovered that the bones are not healing; this forced us into a terrible decision. Yes, surgery could possibly reconnect the bones but there might be extensive circulatory damage in which case it would be all for naught. Then there would be repeated visits and pain medication as well as medicine to prevent critical infections from killing her. The other option was amputation. It would reduce the risks of infection and rejection, and cats have been noted to do well after amputations. I myself have seen one done once in the field (I am former military), and while the practical side of me realizes that it had to be done, the human side of me knows the pain that trooper has sustained during that and over the years since then – and I am sure it is no less for an animal, either. But the operation to help save Hope’s life will not be cheap, and that is why I am asking for help for her. We’ve established an indoor home for her, for the rest of her natural life, and she is free of feline leukemia and other diseases, Thank God.
The sad part is that since the rescue, I have run into “intelligent” people comment on the fact that we spent $500 to save a cat that was hit by a car. "Why would you waste your money?" "I would have left it there." "Oh well, it gets squished, stupid cat." One I even had a conversation with that said "I'm not a fan of cats, I'd have left it there too." My response was "Even if it was ALIVE? You'd leave it to get smashed?" "Yep, I don't like cats". REALLY? I realize that everyone has their own likes and dislikes...that's what makes us individuals, but to turn your back on any living creature in need, even if you personally don’t care for it, seems heartless, cold, cruel, self-centered. Would this same person leave a wounded person on the side of the road? Probably not, because it would be a "human" and humans are worth SO MUCH MORE than any other of God's creatures. I'm completely blown away that people are like this. I was taught that ALL creatures matter...I don't like everyone/everything, but I respect them and always will. And yes, I would and have spent money to save a life...and I'll do it again and again. Think of how much love and affection you get from your pet, no matter what kind of pet it is; you cannot quantify the cost in dollars for all the years your friend, be it furry or whatever, listens to you on your hard days and good days, and gives you unconditional love – which gives them an edge on we humans, I think. Something to learn there. Can’t tell you how many of us in the military have brought home abandoned animals from combat zones.
We desperately need help to fund the amputation since the cost is way beyond us as we are providing everything else for her. It would be paid to Magrane Pet Medical Center for her surgery, and the wonderful Dr. Neuhoff who wants to see Hope live a full life – she’s commented that Hope “is a fighter, and with the surgery, she will have a normal life.” I posted the costs for both surgeries, so everyone can see what Hope will need.
Her surgery is scheduled for Friday, May 13th, and the bill will be due 45 days from that date. In short, we don’t have much time at all - this truly is an emeregency, and I beg of you to do this for Hope and to show that we haven’t lost our humanity in our “modern world”, and that even the smallest life has value. I would be forever grateful, along with the children who are caring for Hope's every need, and doctors and nurses at the magrane Pet Medical Center who want to give Hope a chance.
Just yesterday, we discovered that the bones are not healing; this forced us into a terrible decision. Yes, surgery could possibly reconnect the bones but there might be extensive circulatory damage in which case it would be all for naught. Then there would be repeated visits and pain medication as well as medicine to prevent critical infections from killing her. The other option was amputation. It would reduce the risks of infection and rejection, and cats have been noted to do well after amputations. I myself have seen one done once in the field (I am former military), and while the practical side of me realizes that it had to be done, the human side of me knows the pain that trooper has sustained during that and over the years since then – and I am sure it is no less for an animal, either. But the operation to help save Hope’s life will not be cheap, and that is why I am asking for help for her. We’ve established an indoor home for her, for the rest of her natural life, and she is free of feline leukemia and other diseases, Thank God.
The sad part is that since the rescue, I have run into “intelligent” people comment on the fact that we spent $500 to save a cat that was hit by a car. "Why would you waste your money?" "I would have left it there." "Oh well, it gets squished, stupid cat." One I even had a conversation with that said "I'm not a fan of cats, I'd have left it there too." My response was "Even if it was ALIVE? You'd leave it to get smashed?" "Yep, I don't like cats". REALLY? I realize that everyone has their own likes and dislikes...that's what makes us individuals, but to turn your back on any living creature in need, even if you personally don’t care for it, seems heartless, cold, cruel, self-centered. Would this same person leave a wounded person on the side of the road? Probably not, because it would be a "human" and humans are worth SO MUCH MORE than any other of God's creatures. I'm completely blown away that people are like this. I was taught that ALL creatures matter...I don't like everyone/everything, but I respect them and always will. And yes, I would and have spent money to save a life...and I'll do it again and again. Think of how much love and affection you get from your pet, no matter what kind of pet it is; you cannot quantify the cost in dollars for all the years your friend, be it furry or whatever, listens to you on your hard days and good days, and gives you unconditional love – which gives them an edge on we humans, I think. Something to learn there. Can’t tell you how many of us in the military have brought home abandoned animals from combat zones.
We desperately need help to fund the amputation since the cost is way beyond us as we are providing everything else for her. It would be paid to Magrane Pet Medical Center for her surgery, and the wonderful Dr. Neuhoff who wants to see Hope live a full life – she’s commented that Hope “is a fighter, and with the surgery, she will have a normal life.” I posted the costs for both surgeries, so everyone can see what Hope will need.
Her surgery is scheduled for Friday, May 13th, and the bill will be due 45 days from that date. In short, we don’t have much time at all - this truly is an emeregency, and I beg of you to do this for Hope and to show that we haven’t lost our humanity in our “modern world”, and that even the smallest life has value. I would be forever grateful, along with the children who are caring for Hope's every need, and doctors and nurses at the magrane Pet Medical Center who want to give Hope a chance.
Organizer
Drew Pooters
Organizer
Middlebury, IN