It was April of 2020 when I met the monster. It was a day I'll never forget.

Ronnie - a 12 week old handsome orange tabby boy had arrived from our rescue partner in VA. He arrived happy and healthy but within days developed a fever that would not subside. He would not eat for days. He became listless and his little body started to just wither away. A gut wrenching decision needed to be made to help this boy cross over. We could not continue to see him suffer.

Our vet was called and would arrive at Pet Tails Rescue in 2 hours. I remember vividly sitting at the bottom of my stairs never having felt so defeated and ravaged by this impossible decision. It was not fair for this beautiful baby to have been so close to finding his family and then to have it stolen by an unknown monster that would not reveal itself.

I dug deeper than I could ever remember and refused to give up without a fight. A Hail Mary pass into the darkness. I came face to face with FIP with no proper introduction. No ugly face to witness and totally void of armor it just permeated every breathe I took...and exhaled.  

The night is one that I will never forget. It is engrained in my entire being. Within those two hours I made call after call requesting urgent assistance. Volunteers from near and far heeded my plea.

By the time I arrived at rescue our vet was already there, her bag unpacked and the syringe already drawn. Ronnie was cradled in our vet tech's arms.

And I said no..."not tonight". This is not going to happen. Meds were already on the way and this boy was going to survive. An unlabeled black market drug vial blindly held every single prayer we could muster. 

And now...6 years later Ronnie is living his best life right where he started...with his mom that originally fostered him in VA and blindly took on the challenge to save Ronnie's life with an unwavering commitment and blind faith.

Over the years we have faced this battle over and over again. We have seen the worst of this devious monster and continued to forge ahead. Of the 20 kitties we have treated since then 18 have survived and are with their families this evening awaiting the magic of Christmas.

Today we are fighting this battle for two kitties in our care...Lainey & Pickles. They both have presumptive FIP (There is not definitive test for FIP which makes this all the more challenging at times). There is test upon test, x-rays, medication that are all so very expensive. The average cost per kitten is between $1,500 and $2500. We typically see 3-4 FIP kitties every year during he winter months. It is just devasting every single time. But having two at one time has pushed us a bit over the edge....

LAINEY 16 weeks old

PICKLES 12 weeks old

I am asking or your help for Lainey and Pickles.

Our well has run dry.

I abhor asking for money....It breaks me sometimes. But here I am with my hands in prayer asking if you are able to donate. Times are hard...and this is a difficult ask. If you can help us fight this fight together we can save these precious babies. If you can share that would be wonderful and if you pray...well these babies could use a Christmas Miracle.