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Thanks to You

by Joan Abbott

All the success stories in this newsletter are, indeed, thanks to you. Your support inspires us to do what we do. To know that we can accept the direst medical cases; to be able to offer low fees at our spay & neuter clinics; to cover our vet bills and food for our foster homes and feral colonies. Here is a story about one of the cats whose life, but for your support, would have come to a tragic end.

Lasso came from a neighborhood overrun with cats that we had been working on for over a year. We received a call saying that a new cat had been seen with a bad wound and a limp.

It was a dreadful rainy night, but when the KA volunteer heard the condition of the cat she went to see if she could find it. She located the cat hiding in a dark crawl space beneath a porch, but it was too skittish to approach. The volunteer strategically placed a trap, baited with the tantalizing scent of food, and retreated to a distance to wait. The hungry cat, unable to resist the lure, was soon caught in the trap.

It was a six-month-old kitten, soaking wet, shivering in fear and pain. The wound on his neck was larger than expected. Once at the house, the volunteer set him up in a warm, safe cage, fed him, and left him alone to decompress.

When she returned to check on him, she noticed something strange around his neck, separate from the initial wound. Parting his fur, she discovered an extremely tight wire bracelet wrapped around his neck and under his front right leg, embedded in his skin. It took wire cutters to remove it. The wound on his neck appeared to be a burn, requiring a long stay at the vet's. He underwent two surgeries to debride the dying tissue, medicate the area, and suture the wound closed.

And that was by no means the end of Lasso's problems. He also had a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), a neurological disorder that affects the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordination and movement. Despite his condition, he remained blissfully unaware that there was anything wrong with him. He was continuously cheerful — he would fall over and get right back up and start playing again. He was fearless.

Due to his poor beginning he also had digestive issues right from the start, and it took several months of trying different diets and medications before we finally found a diet that worked for him. BUT who would adopt this silly boy with CH and a very expensive prescription food needed for the rest of his life? Well we did find the most amazing couple who have given Lasso the forever home that he so richly deserves.

You have encouraged us, supported us, adopted from us, and we are grateful for every one of you. We will face more challenges next year but our commitment to make more happy endings continues. Our heartfelt thanks for your support.

HOW YOU CAN HELP KITTY ANGELS

• Money...to pay for the daily care and medical bills of the cats.



• Donate through Venmo, PayPal or Network for Good (for anonymous and/or recurring donations)...see kittyangels.org/howtohelp.html
• Visit the Kitty Angels Facebook page and click Donate. (If you're on a mobile device, use the Facebook app to see the Donate button.) Facebook doesn't give us your contact information, so hold onto the Facebook email receipt for your tax records.
• Do you have a Donor Advised Fund through Fidelity, Schwab or BNY Mellon? You can make a charitable grant to Kitty Angels using DAF Direct, at no cost to you or to Kitty Angels. Please check with your Donor Advised Fund on their requirements.
• Shop at online stores through igive.com or Giving Assistant - see kittyangels.org/howtohelp.html
• Use your employer's Matching Gift Program.
• Specify that your United Way payroll donation go to Kitty Angels.
• Consider a Bequest to Kitty Angels in your will or estate plan.
• Donate Gift Cards, Cat Food, Medical Supplies, Cleaning Supplies, Towels.

For these and other ways to help, please visit the How to Help page on our web site at kittyangels.org/howtohelp.html
If you wish to send a donation by check, our address is Kitty Angels, PO Box 638, Tyngsboto, MA 01879.

Rescue Stories

Burberry

Someone feeding a stray cat in their backyard sent us a picture, concerned that he might be blind. It was obvious he was in trouble and needed help, so we immediately set a trap.

He was one of the saddest cats we have ever encountered. His fur was so badly matted you could not feel his skin through the mats. His tail was broken and infected with a section of bone exposed. Compounding his misery, he had an eye condition called entropion, where his eyelids curled inward, causing his eyelashes to constantly scrape his corneas

He has now been neutered, had a full body shave, had the end of his broken tail amputated and had surgery on both eyes.

His foster home says "I don't believe he is feral, but due to years of neglect and struggles, he has some severe fear aggression. We make baby steps of progress daily. Once I have my hands on him, he kind of enjoys me rubbing his cheeks and chin. I know there is a sweet cat under those many layers of fear. I think about just how cute he must've been as a tiny, fluffy kitten when somebody gave him away. But I'm going to try and focus on his future instead of his horrific past. He's got a long recovery journey and I expect to have him for a while. His name is Burberry. His life is going to get a million times better. I believe in him."

Meatloaf

For a decade, Meatloaf had lived outdoors, fending for himself 365 days a year. After we received a picture of him, a KA volunteer drove for over an hour to trap him.

The moment he was safely in a cage, he flopped over in exhausted relief, seeming to know that he finally was safe. The years of neglect were evident: his ears were crumpled from chronic ear mites, his remaining teeth were broken and infected, and both eyes suffered from entropion, a painful condition requiring surgery. To call him "pathetic" would be an understatement.

After months of intensive veterinary care and surgeries, this resilient cat has left his outdoor life behind and found the most incredible, loving home.

They Rely on Your Generosity

Each year brings greater numbers of cats into our shelter, requiring that we supply more veterinary ser-vices, food, litter and shelter space — and care for an increasing number of feral cats and colonies. We're so grateful for your donations — without them so many of the cats that we have been able to save would have simply been added to the grim statistics of animal suffering. Thank you so very much for your help — but please understand that our task never ends and that we need your continued support to continue our work!! There are so many ways to help — you can find more information on our. web site.

Please help break the cycle of overpopulation...

We are so proud that Kitty Angels has been offering a Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic for 16 years. We spay and neuter approximately 450 cats each year. Clinics are held twice a month at Animal Rescue Veterinary Services in Londonderry, NH. And thanks to your donations we can offer services that other clinics often cannot. Cats are spayed or neutered, receive distemper and rabies vaccinations, a physical exam, and are microchipped. Kittens must weigh a minimum of 2 pounds. Although a $120 donation is suggested, the generosity of our supporters enables us to adjust or eliminate the fee, on a person-by-person basis, based upon need.

The BEST WAY to make an appointment is to visit our Spay and Neuter page and follow the instructions there. If you don't have internet access, call us at 978-649-4681 and someone will get back to you. Cats are dropped off in the morning and picked up later the same day.

Requests for assistance grow every year. The cats we deal with at the low-cost clinic would not otherwise be neutered or spayed. Your donation, in any amount, will help us continue to run this much needed clinic.

Vintage and Contemporary Collectibles

Gail Mosher, a longtime Kitty Angels supporter and volunteer, and an expert in collectibles both vintage and contemporary, has created an eBay store devoted entirely to selling items that have been generously donated by our supporters. 100% of the proceeds go to Kitty Angels. She currently has over 150 items listed in many different categories: Jewelry, watches, Franklin Mint cars, pottery, art glass, vintage items, collectible figurines, etc. See it all at:

https://www.ebay.com/usr/kittyangelsma/

Check back frequently as the items and categories are always changing.

Before and After

Sometimes pictures tell a story better than words. These are a few of the success stories that you made possible with your donations.