Ava’s story is one of quiet resilience and the power of kindness. She was discovered in a rain-soaked wooded area of East Orlando, curled protectively around her two tiny kittens. A compassionate passerby spotted them and immediately reached out to a rescuer for help. Sadly, a third kitten had also been seen, but by the time help arrived, it was too late to save her.

Ava and her babies were brought into foster care, where they could finally be safe and dry. Once the kittens were weaned, Ava was slated to be returned outdoors, but her foster realized something deeply troubling — the place where Ava was found wasn’t just lonely, it was dangerous. She was a gentle soul, not quite suited for adoption, but also not safe to return to life on the streets.

That’s when Blueberry Heaven Sanctuary became her haven. We were contacted about giving this graceful, tuxedo-coated mama a permanent home, and without hesitation, welcomed her into our sanctuary family. For the past two years, she has lived peacefully among her fellow rescues, surrounded by love.

Recently, at the age of ten, Ava developed a severe case of stomatitis — a painful, fast-spreading infection that required emergency surgery to remove all her teeth. Thanks to swift veterinary care and her own fighting spirit, she came through the operation beautifully. Now she’s recovering in a cozy crate in the cattery, surrounded by familiar faces, resting comfortably as she finishes her antibiotics.

While Ava was recovering, one of our two barn cats, Mr. Bond, got into a scuffle - we're not sure if it was a cat bite or possibly a snake - and got a severe infection in his paw, requiring treatment to save his leg. As Ava vacated the "sick bay", Mr. Bond is now occupying it for the next 4 - 5 weeks while healing. This added another $700 to our unexpected veterinary bills for July, and it's a heavy lift for BHS. We're asking our community for support in paying off these two bills, and here's hoping everyone stays healthy and out of trouble for a while :)

The cost of her urgent care reached $1,973 for Ava and $700 for Mr. Bond, and we are humbly asking fellow animal lovers to help us cover their expenses. Your support will ensure that Ava continues to live out her golden years pain-free, surrounded by warmth, friendship, and dignity, and Mr. Bond fully recovers from his ordeal.

Thank you so much for reading about Ava’s journey and Mr. Bond's unfortunate adventure — every gift, big or small, means the world to us.

You can make a difference by donating today to Blueberry Heaven Sanctuary.