Monthly Archives: January 2025

Dear Friends of 4 Paws 1 Heart

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1/31/25 – Dear Friends of 4 Paws 1 Heart,

Effective tomorrow, February 1, 2025, 4 paws 1 heart will be turning over a new chapter in the journey of 4 Paws 1 Heart. With much thought, I will be moving on to my ‘second retirement’ and turning over leadership to our Co-Founder and Passionate Animal Advocate, Gina DeLuca Jenio. As many of you know, Gina is a licensed veterinary technician whom over the past 15 years has not only been an integral part of 4 paws 1 heart but has continued to be a rescuer, a foster, and an adopter. Gina is the reason that I, along with a couple of colleagues from Leadership Macomb, created an organization that would fund the medical treatment of stray, abused, and abandoned animals in Michigan–predominantly in Macomb, Wayne, Oakland, and Genesee Counties. To date, we are $5,000 away from reaching the $2 million mark of funding medical treatment for stray animals. And, this could not have happened without the financial support of so many generous animal advocates in our communities.

I sincerely appreciate the thousands of people who have supported our organization and helped make our mission a reality. We’ve been blessed to have so many veterinary hospitals as our partners — Patterson Veterinary Hospital, Orion Animal Hospital, Five Mile Animal Hospital, Moore Veterinary Hospital, Center LIne Animal Hospital, Comfort’s Place Affordable Spay and Neuter Clinic, Animal Rescue Services, all of the All About Animals locations, Groesbeck Animal Hospital, West Flint Animal Hospital, The Kitty Clinic, The Paws Clinic, Humane Society of St. Clair, Pawsitive Steps Rehabilitation & Sports and Advanced Animal Emergency. The doctors and the staffs have been beyond amazing to work with especially during a very difficult time which started with Covid and continues to impact the ability of our veterinary hospitals to meet the needs of our stray animal communities.

And of course, we would not be needed if there weren’t the many good Samaritans in our communities saving and caring for stray and abused animals every day. I can’t express my sincere appreciation for the many relationships I’ve built with rescuers, donors, doctors, and vet staffs over the past 15 years. Some of which will be lifelong.

So, in closing, I’ll still be around to assist Gina with some of the ‘back office’ stuff but no longer the ‘face’. Thank you and sending much love and God’s blessings to our many friends. diana

P.S. Gina’s e mail address is: [email protected] https://4paws1heart.org/donations/ P.O. Box 84, St. Clair Shores, MI. 48080

Pooh Had His Entropion Surgery

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1/31/25 – To close out January–a Happy Update but first:

11/25/24 – On October 31 we posted Pooh’s story. He was found on the street by a friend of Brooke’s. The friend took care of having Pooh vaccinated and neutered but it became obvious that he had something wrong with an eye — it turned out to be a condition called entropion which will result in blindness. The friend could not afford this and Brooke decided to take him in and ask us for help.

Pooh had his surgery and this past Friday Brooke sent us the following update: “Living his best life we moved to a bigger home and he’s loving it with his kitten brother 🩷 – Brooke” Today his new mom advised that Pooh has gained 4 lbs. since his rescue and is now the “King of the House”. Here are some photos of Pooh’s journey. – diana

https://4paws1heart.org/donations/ P.O. Box 84, St. Clair Shores, MI. 48080

Scottie, a Neighborhood Stray

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1/30/25 – Scottie, a neighborhood stray, is said to have been thrown out by his family when they were evicted from their home. A good Samaritan, Shannon, had been feeding him but one day he showed up looking as if he had a face wound (although it looks like he is bleeding from the eye, it wasn’t); she could also see a small chest wound. Eventually she was able to get within 20 feet of him and catch him. Shannon brought Scottie (named after her uncle who also was “a rascal”) to a vet where he had two visits to treat his wounds and an upper respiratory infection but he still needed full vetting and she did not have enough funds to cover that. Shannon had Scottie in a large crate in her basement while he was recovering and hoped to make him her inside pet once he was tested for fiv/felv, vaccinated, and neutered.

We authorized Scottie to be treated at Five Mile Animal Hospital. Today Scottie is being tested, vaccinated, and neutered. We hope that Scottie will learn the value of being a family cat and be fully recovered soon. – diana https://4paws1heart.org/donations/

Jack is Scheduled for Eye Surgery

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1/29/25 – It was January 3, 2025 when I was contacted by Julie who is with Kitty Kat Rescue. Jack had showed up at a cat colony which had a caretaker. The poor kitty, at 16 pounds and intact, was being picked on by the other cats in the colony and his food was being eaten by the others.

The owners of the colony said they thought maybe he had something wrong with his eyes so Julie agreed to take him in and once Julie had him she thought he was partially blind and also thought he had the “eyelid condition where his eyelashes are scratching the corneas”. She estimated Jack to be four or five years old and said he is a little teddy bear. Julie did take him to All About Animals where he tested negative for fiv/felv and he received his rabies vaccine. But she did not have the funds to take care of his eye issues.

Jack was seen by one of the veterinary doctors at Orion Animal Hospital where it was determined that Jack does have entropion of his lower lid. Again, this is a condition where the eyelashes have grown into the eye and if left untreated, will result in blindness. Jack is scheduled for surgery which will include neutering and a distemper vaccine. He will be looking for his furever home but is safe and happy in the mean time. – diana

https://4paws1heart.org/donations/ P.O. Box 84, St. Clair Shores, MI. 48080

Baby Boots

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1/27/25 – Baby Boots, about 9 months old, showed up at the right house in early December. The family took her into their home and contacted us to see if we could assist with getting Baby Boots tested, vaccinated, and spayed. Baby Boots was taken to our partner veterinary hospital and her rescuer made sure she was microchipped so she would never be homeless again. – diana

https://4ppaws1heart.org/donations/ P.O. Box 84, St. Clair Shores, MI. 48080

Toucan Jumped in Kim’s Vehicle

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1/27/25 – Toucan jumped in Kim’s vehicle while she was trying to rescue an injured kitten. Toucan was very emaciated and his fur was severely matted. Kim took him to get groomed and with a little time he started to gain some weight but now it appears he is having trouble eating. He will be seen at one of our partner clinics for an assessment of the issue and what will be required to get him healthy. Kim named him Toucan because he loves to hang out on shoulders. – diana

https://4paws1heart.org/donations/ P.O. Box 84, St. Clair Shores, MI. 48080

Sophie Had Her Seven Babies

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1/18/25 – It was 11/30/24 when we were contacted about Sophie. She was rescued while on the streets in the freezing rain. Her rescuer, Kelly, estimated her to be about 1 year old. Sophie was seen at our partner veterinary clinic, Five Mile Animal Hospital, Unfortunately, Sophie was pregnant but thankfully, Kelly was willing to make sure Sophie had her babies while in her care and she would foster the family until everyone could be fully vetted and adopted out. We committed to finishing Sophie’s medical when appropriate and making sure the babies were vaccinated and neutered/spayed when of age.

Today, Sophie had her babies!! SEVEN!! Rosie is being a great mom and I’m sure that these photos will melt your hearts on this very soon to be frigid day. – diana

https://4paws1heart.org/donations/

P.O. Box 84, St. Clair Shores, MI. 48080

His Name is Max

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1/17/25 – His name is Max.

He’s been in solitary for years–locked in a cage or bathroom. Standing in his own urine and feces. He was never allowed outside. He received no love and his only communication was someone yelling at him. He was flea infested, had a wounded tail, and most of his teeth are missing from trying to bite out of the cage he was kept in. He was finally rescued by someone aware of the situation but unable to help for years.

That person immediately took Max to All About Animals to be treated for fleas, and tested for heart worm. Unfortunately, Max tested positive for heart worm and was started on his 30-day pre-treatment.

4 paws 1 heart will cover his heart worm treatment and neuter at one of our partner veterinary clinics. Please pray for Max that his body and spirit can recover from so much abuse. – diana https://4paws1heart.org/donations/ P.O. Box 84, St. Clair Shores, MI. 48080

Hollow the Kitten

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1/17/25 – Hollow was one of two, black, 12 week-old kittens who were rescued with their mom. Their rescuer, Amber, who contacted us on October 20, discovered a colony of cats/kittens near her job. Her plan was to TNR approximately 5 other cats she had seen but was able to catch the mom and two kittens more easily and felt she could socialize them first.

The one kitten, Hollow, had an infected eye which was oozing pus and Amber was afraid she was blind. We authorized the sick kitty, Hollow, to be seen at a full service partner veterinary hospital and the others were authorized at All About Animals. Hollow was seen and thankfully did not need the eye removed.

She was given meds which cleared up the infection totally. She was also tested, vaccinated and spayed there. In my follow up with Amber,

I learned she had a horrible house fire where only Hollow had survived; her other pets and mom and baby were also lost. Please say an extra prayer for Amber and her family. – diana https://4paws1heart.org/donations/

Summer’s Story

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1/16/25 – It was mid-October when we were contacted about Summer who had taken up residence between the rescuer’s home and her neighbor’s. After about a week of feeding Summer and carefully offering her pets, Summer started to feel comfortable enough for Colleen, the rescuer, to have her checked for a micro-chip; unfortunately, there was none. Colleen couldn’t take in the cat because she had a prey-driven dog and her son was allergic to cats. She had contacted several rescues without success.

I suggested she contact Rosie’s Kitty Catfé and tell them that if they could help with placement, we could take care of the medical–we’ve worked together in the past. Happily, Rosie’s was able to get a foster and Summer was transferred within a couple of days and was tested, vaccinated, and spayed complements of 4 paws 1 heart.

In December I checked in with Colleen and learned that Summer was doing great, was still with the foster, and had a possible adopter. It truly takes a Village.- diana https://4paws1heart.org/donations/