8/17/20 – It seems like only yesterday when Gina contacted me while I was bowling. She was so upset because she just learned that the little baby she fostered from the time he was days old, had been given away by the adopter to a person unknown and un-vetted by Gina. Fortunately, our friend, Dennis, was with us and after a little thought decided he would take Dexter into his home if Gina could save him. Ten years later and Dexter is still the ‘wild one’ and Dennis always says that “it’s the Gina factor”. Without our Village, stories like this wouldn’t be possible. – diana
4paws1heart.org/donations/
Category Archives: Cats/Kittens
Gronk and Sunny – Adopted
8/16/20 – Happy, happy news for two abused babies! And, it couldn’t happen without the Village — the rescuer, the foster who provides love and care and searches for the furever home, our donors, the adopters, and our veterinary partners. Usually the term ‘perfect storm’ is negative but in this case, the “Purrfect Storm” is what it’s all about.-diana
4paws1heart.org/donations/
“Hi Facebook….Gronk here…oh wait…correction…SUNNY here. I guess that just gave it away….I have been ADOPTED! Adopted into the purrfect family – 3 crazy young boys so I fit right into the craziness and the family adopted a pretty girl kitten just my size – we are going to be BFFs! So…I must turn over my Foster throne and it goes to Stefan James who also was rescued off the streets of St Clair Shores and is in the same foster home with Momma Dee and Daddy Rick.
He is the polar opposite of me…NOT CRAZY – he was feral now lays on laps instead of hiding in the corner, he traded his hisses for purrs,…a lot of purrs…like really loud purrs… he must be happy to be off the streets too. He had it tough…something tried to bite his head off- true story. The tip of his ear is ripped off and he has 4 scraps on his head that match up to a bite. But he is a tough dude THAT PURRS SO LOUDLY…he can keep a crazy dude up at night. So this Wednesday both Stefan and I go to the vet…me for my second shot and Stefan for his 1st medical visit….all compliments of
4 Paws 1 Heart…They rock don’t they? Well I got to go join my crazy boys! And remember….don’t turn your back on an animal in need…our lives matter too. – Dee”
4 Paws 1 Heart
Snickers – Found in an Icy Puddle in the Alley
8-16-20 – On August 18, 2020 I will be announcing the beginning of our 10th Anniversary Celebratory Donation Match. In the mean time, here is another case that, at first, broke our hearts and then. It seems like only yesterday when I came home from a visit with my parents only to find a lot of activity on fb about a little kitten needing emergency medical assistance. A mom of a caring little boy, who had no transportation, worked her fingers to the bone to find some help for this near death baby. The Village came together and today, 7 years later, Snickers is loved and the family member of our Board member, Dee, and her kitty-loving husband, Rick. The many journeys of these animals are captured on our website just in case you’d like to learn more. – diana
4paws1heart.org/donations/
Kitty – Found with a Severe Upper Respiratory Infection
8/14/20 – This little angel, Kitty, was hanging around the home (with others), when the family moved in. From the beginning, the family made room in their garage for the cats to be out of the elements and the family fed and cared for them. A couple of days ago, I was contacted because Kitty was lethargic and having difficulty breathing; the caretaker truly believed he would not make it if he weren’t seen by a vet within a day. We tried every vet who we work with and no one could see Kitty for at least a week. We even tried vets we do not normally work with and they were not available for days. Finally, our partner emergency vet said they could see Kitty — eventually that day—but the wait could be 5 hours. Well, they weren’t lying. The huge-hearted rescuer waited in her car for 6 hours before Kitty was released with meds to treat him for a severe upper respiratory infection. Two days later and Kitty is doing great while a close eye is being kept on the others. Again I say, may God bless all of our vet staffs, the kind people who don’t turn their backs on animals in need, and to all of you who donate and make our mission possible. – diana
4paws1heart.org/donations/
Van Gogh – Found in a Yard – Dehydrated, Lethargic, and Infested With Parasites
8/13/20 – Unless you are active in the world of rescue or have a sick pet, you probably don’t know what a nightmare it has been for most animal owners/rescuers to find a vet who can see an animal in immediate need. On Tuesday I received a call from a good friend of 4p1h. She and her husband had rescued a kitten they found wandering in their yard. The kitten was sick and Gina helped with some meds but by Tuesday morning the baby was lethargic, had a high fever, was not eating or drinking, or defecating/urinating. We tried every one of our partner vets, vets in the area who we’ve worked with but not necessarily have a relationship with, and even the emergency hospital we work with — nothing–everyone was backed up and the clock was ticking on this little baby’s life.
In that our friends live in Eastpointe, I called our friend, ACO Pylar, who was happy to help us get little Van Gogh into the hospital the City works with. Van Gogh spent the night at the hospital where he received fluids for his dehydration and also received meds for parasites. He is back home with his rescuers but still not eating as he should so we will be following up to see if some appetizer stimulants might be in order. This has absolutely been a very stressful time for the many veterinary staffs, pet owners, and animal rescuers. The severity of the issues we have been confronting has been like no other time since we created 4 Paws 1 Heart. We are forever grateful to our veterinary staffs and the many kind-hearted, amazing people who never turn their backs on animals in need. – diana
4paws1heart.org/donations/
Cinder – RIP – You Crossed the Rainbow Bridge with Much Love
8/11/20 -It’s not about thinking you can save them all (and I hate when people say that), because anyone who truly does this knows the heartbreak that comes along with it..
We get the reality and watch many of them die..
The hardest thing to accept is not having an answer for why they died.
Did you did everything right..did you do something wrong..could you have done something more…
It’s even harder when you see improvement because that gives you hope..
There is no preparation for death and it hurts to watch a kitten or a puppy waste away before your eyes. It sucks to hold them and watch the life fade from their tiny body…and it burns your heart inside to have no choice but to accept it.
They are so dependent on your every move, your every decision, and your ability to make the right choice. To not allow suffering…and to not be selfish.
How do you not get attached to the concept that you are saving a little life for someone to love and cherish.
That’s really what it’s all about. Each life you save changes someone else’s life forever.
This one is hitting me hard. I think it’s because I saw improvement which gave me hope.
With everything going on right now Cinder was a little spark of light in my life and I was so excited to get her started on her new journey..but it didn’t work out that way.
I woke up to check on her at 4 am and her little 1 pound body was deceased… Thank you all who kept rooting for her. 💔💔💔
Gina
Zeus – He’ll Grow into his Ears
8/10/20 – Look at our boy, Zeus. I think his ears are bigger than his body. One moment there was no way we thought he would make— now look at him. Lots of love and the support of our donors!! – diana
4paws1heart.org/donations/
Cinder – Update
8/10/20 – Cinder update:
Today she is hooked up to IV fluids for extra support because she is still not eating on her own and she is weak.
Paws crossed🙏Gina
Cinder – Found in a House Fire
8/9/20 – 
On Tuesday this baby was found in a house fire in Detroit. A firefighter rescued her and took her to the station. His daughter posted 911 help and a kind person named Molly offered to foster. Everything was going great until 48 hrs later when the kitten began to have bad diarrhea, she stopped eating, and rapidly declined. By morning she was ubable to move.
That’s when I was contacted and I offered to take the kitten if she could be transported to the vet hospital right away.
Molly rushed the kitten to where I was working. The baby was barely breathing and she had just seizured. I immediately placed an IV catheter and after lots and lots of aggressive hourly care for over 48hrs, this baby is finally making baby steps of improvement.
You can see the before and after pic here.
We don’t know exactly why she crashed, but we do know she was infested with worms and she got sick with horrible diarrhea.
A 1 pound kitten cannot last long when they are that tiny. She became dehydrated and critical fast. Her tiny body has been through a lot and the goal is to get her eating on her own. I’m thinking of calling her Cinder.
I’ll keep everyone posted. ♡ Gina
Stephan James – Found Under a Propane Exchange Rack — Very Frightened
8/2/20 – Another life saved by the Village. – diana
“Please meet….another St Clair Shores homeless kitten off the streets….Stephan James…. Our little purr machine with a side of hiss..
I was eating my lunch at work on Wednesday and my cell phone rings – I don’t pick up calls of numbers I do not recognize but something told me to do so….. and I’m so glad I did. A woman, named Stephanie was frantic talking to me about this kitten she found in front of a drug store under the propane exchange rack. She called rescues and no one could help and she won’t leave it and didn’t know what to do…she started to cry… She said she saw my name on facebook and asked if I could help. I told her to hold on and I called my husband on my desk phone. He was close to home so he went and got a carrier, went to the drug store (local) and with super teamwork and super speedy catching skills of Stephanie -the kitten was in the carrier and on the way to our house.
The kitten was super scared, super hissy and super skinny….3 days later we only have to work on the super skinny part. He has a recent chunk out of his ear, and a scratch on his head but in good health it seems. He did throw up foreign items that he ate for food, pieces of mulch, and cedar greenery….broke my heart.
Thank you Stephanie for not turning your back on this helpless animal. My hubby (aka Foster Daddy) who stepped up without hesitation and 4 Paws 1 Heart that is backing his medical so he can go on and find his happily ever after.
Please help 4 Paws 1 Heart during these difficult times when fundraising events have been canceled due the covid pandamic’ www.4paws1heart.org/donations dee”