Smokey and Bandit
Beschermde donatie
My story is about a feral female cat who suffered a severe, life-threatening eye injury. The story started two years ago when two adult feral cats came onto my property with a newborn family of three small kittens.
They were so small that they could walk through a chain link fence. My wife and I felt so sorry that these beautiful animals had to fend for themselves because there was no one to help.
We immediately started to feed the family and became involved in the TNVR (Trap Neuter Vaccinate Release) program within our county to help this family. Mom, who we named Smokey, and Dad, who we named Bandit, are remarkable parents to their three offspring Teddy, Sam, and Pete.
Mom was always intent on staying very close to her kittens and protective of them, while Bandit will not allow any other cats onto my one-acre piece of property. The kittens grew up healthy with a few visits to the Vet for minor problems. Trying to trap these guys to take to the Vet is another story.
Very recently, Smokey showed up for her morning meal and we observed a severe eye wound on her. It took two days of hard work, but we trapped her and brought her directly to our local Veterinarian. The Veterinarian advised us if we did not bring Smokey in, she would have died due to the severity of the wound. Smokey’s first operation was to try and save her eye, which was a long shot, but worth it if her eye could be saved. My wife and I set up a medical clinic in our house to care for Smokey who is a wild animal that never lived in captivity and never was handled by a person. For over a week, we hoped and prayed that the eye would heal. During this time we could see that Bandit, Teddy, Sam, and especially Pete were looking for Smokey. Pete normally is always at her side.
We returned to the Animal Clinic with Smokey, but after consulting with an animal ophthalmologist, the prognosis was that the eye had to be removed. Now, Smokey had to endure a second operation removing the eye and then back to our home for her to recuperate. During this time, we had a couple of complications that were resolved by taking her back to the Vet. On May 14th 2018 Smokey was brought to the Animal Clinic to have her stitches taken out but two stiches had to remain in for a few days.
On May 17th 2018 the last two stitches were removed and Smokey came home to be released, but we are concerned that with her handicap of having only one eye, and that eye has a haze to it, she might not be able to survive.
My wife and I are retired seniors and trimmed our way of living to pay for food and minor care for this wonderful feline family. But when this injury struck we have been overwhelmed with Veterinary Medical Costs. The funding will go to help pay for Smokey’s operations. If you could just see how this family that calls my land their home interacts with each other, it is beyond words.
To get a better understanding about Smokey and Bandit we started a blog called “Kitty Village News” containing stories and pictures of the cat clowder. Click the link below or type in kittyvillagenews.com into your browser.
kittyvillagenews.com
My wife and I have never asked for help in our lives as you can ask anyone who knows us, but today I need to ask that whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated to at least pay for the medical. I am presently starting a cat enclosure in my rear yard covering approximately 2000 sqft to make their home safer. All Funding goes to Momma Smokey and her family.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Betty and Steve
They were so small that they could walk through a chain link fence. My wife and I felt so sorry that these beautiful animals had to fend for themselves because there was no one to help.
We immediately started to feed the family and became involved in the TNVR (Trap Neuter Vaccinate Release) program within our county to help this family. Mom, who we named Smokey, and Dad, who we named Bandit, are remarkable parents to their three offspring Teddy, Sam, and Pete.
Mom was always intent on staying very close to her kittens and protective of them, while Bandit will not allow any other cats onto my one-acre piece of property. The kittens grew up healthy with a few visits to the Vet for minor problems. Trying to trap these guys to take to the Vet is another story.
Very recently, Smokey showed up for her morning meal and we observed a severe eye wound on her. It took two days of hard work, but we trapped her and brought her directly to our local Veterinarian. The Veterinarian advised us if we did not bring Smokey in, she would have died due to the severity of the wound. Smokey’s first operation was to try and save her eye, which was a long shot, but worth it if her eye could be saved. My wife and I set up a medical clinic in our house to care for Smokey who is a wild animal that never lived in captivity and never was handled by a person. For over a week, we hoped and prayed that the eye would heal. During this time we could see that Bandit, Teddy, Sam, and especially Pete were looking for Smokey. Pete normally is always at her side.
We returned to the Animal Clinic with Smokey, but after consulting with an animal ophthalmologist, the prognosis was that the eye had to be removed. Now, Smokey had to endure a second operation removing the eye and then back to our home for her to recuperate. During this time, we had a couple of complications that were resolved by taking her back to the Vet. On May 14th 2018 Smokey was brought to the Animal Clinic to have her stitches taken out but two stiches had to remain in for a few days.
On May 17th 2018 the last two stitches were removed and Smokey came home to be released, but we are concerned that with her handicap of having only one eye, and that eye has a haze to it, she might not be able to survive.
My wife and I are retired seniors and trimmed our way of living to pay for food and minor care for this wonderful feline family. But when this injury struck we have been overwhelmed with Veterinary Medical Costs. The funding will go to help pay for Smokey’s operations. If you could just see how this family that calls my land their home interacts with each other, it is beyond words.
To get a better understanding about Smokey and Bandit we started a blog called “Kitty Village News” containing stories and pictures of the cat clowder. Click the link below or type in kittyvillagenews.com into your browser.
kittyvillagenews.com
My wife and I have never asked for help in our lives as you can ask anyone who knows us, but today I need to ask that whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated to at least pay for the medical. I am presently starting a cat enclosure in my rear yard covering approximately 2000 sqft to make their home safer. All Funding goes to Momma Smokey and her family.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Betty and Steve
Organisator
Betty Baglietto
Organisator
Lake Worth, FL