9/28/22 – I didn’t post this photo earlier because I was afraid it would be taken down but this is what this poor baby has been going through. She was found on a friend’s property, as just a kitten, with this condition. Our co-founder, Gina DeLuca Jenio, and Muffins’ foster and medical caretaker has been tirelessly trying to figure out how we can help her. You’ve seen the posts. Please keep her in your prayers. Also, remember that Muffins’ finder, Bambi, is still collecting returnables and donating the $ to 4p1h. So, if you live in the Macomb County area, please message her on fb and she will get back to you. – diana.
9/26/22 – Update on our appointment at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services. Today we saw the internal medicine specialist, Dr Kustaz. She was very nice and spent time listening to the history on Muffins as we talked about a plan.
The next step is to put her under anesthesia and examine for a polyp. If there is one remove it, but depending on where it stems from and how invasive it is the surgeon may have to do a separate procedure which involves going through her ear. If the internest can remove it easily that would be done the day of. If no polyp is seen a CT scan will be done to look for evidence of a foreign body or a cutereba larva. If something is suspicious on CT then a separate surgical appointment will need to be made when she is bigger and can be guided with a scope. Right now she is to small for a scope. If there is no polyp and CT is normal then nasal biopsy of the tissue to see if she has immune meditated rhinitis, fungal, or a bacteria infiltrating her nasal passages. She is tentatively scheduled for the procedure on Tuesday Oct 4th if private funds can be raised. The estimate is $2800. The consultation today was just under $200. If you would consider donating to help this sweet girl donations can be made or check can be mailed to our P.O. box on our website under donations. Thank you – Gina
9/26/22 – This past summer we covered the removal of more botflies than we have had in our 12 years operating as 4 Paws 1 Heart. This is what one looked like on a recent rescue and what it looked like after the removal. Hopefully, though a little graphic, this is meant to help with anyone coming across such a ‘thing’. For more information, look up ‘botfly’ or the ‘Cuterebra’ through your favorite search engine. You’ll be surprised that cats are not the only hosts of this invasive parasite. – diana.
9/26/22 – These babies were found by our rescue friend, Bonnie C. Zara and Prince needed more than just a snap test, vaccines, and spay/neuter; Prince had sever diarrhea and Zara had an upper respiratory infection. Again, many of the stray cats we helped this past summer and who will find their way into furever- diana
9/26/22 – This past summer 4 Paws 1 Heart took on more cases of multiple cats/kittens needing help than ever before in 12 years of our existence. This is a group of kittens the rescuer saw on facebook being offered for free. One of the babies had a huge botfly and needed special attention for the removal. Thankfully, we were able to take care of everything needed and the rescuer worked to find them forever homes. – diana.
P.S. I want to thank everyone who has been donating as we are still on hold until we can get all of our invoices in for prior commitments. BUT tomorrow I will be announcing an exciting new offer from a long-time friend of 4p1h.
9/25/22 – We are on our way over to the specialist. I hope Oakland Veterinary Referral Services can help find out the source of this infection. I’ll update as soon as I know more. Thank you -Gina
9/24/22 – Please pray that Dr. Zalac can figure out what is causing Chance’s urinary issues. – diana
MOM: Good morning Team, Happy Saturday! So, I wanted to give everybody an update on our Superhero Chance.
On Sept 4th I knew something was wrong when Chance peed his pillows in my bed. Then he was straining to go in his box, but nothing was coming out. I called Dr. Zs at Orion Animal Hospital and was told to bring him right in and I was to drop him off and they would squeeze him in. When Dr. Z called she said she was able to get some urine from him so he was not blocked but his urine was full of blood. She did bloodwork and a urine culture, also an ultrasound that showed his bladder was very inflamed and thickened and it was decided that because we live quite a ways it would be best he stay the night in case he blocked. On the 5th his culture came back with no bacteria, so no uti. But…again he was not out of the woods so he stayed another night. Although he was not using his box, he was peeing. The thought was that he was suffering from a Cystitis flare up and with prednisolone & gabapentin it would clear in a few days. But there was no change and a script was called in for an antibiotic, still no change. On the 19th Chance went back to see Dr. Z and she repeated his ultrasound. His bladder looked great although he still had blood in his urine and still peeing himself in his crate. It was decided due to his mobility issues he needed to be out of his crate during the day so he wouldn’t lose use of his legs and maybe that would encourage him to go in the box. What is happening now…he goes in the box only a few dribbles but he pees when he’s walking around downstairs where he has been confined and goes in his crate at night. Just randomly pees as he’s walking like he has zero control of his bladder.
So after contacting Dr. Z and her researching and speaking with colleagues Chance will be going in Monday morning for a drop off with Dr. Z where she will do repeat xrays looking for any spine lesions that could contribute to nerve damage of his bladder and she will also anesthetize him to pass a urinary catheter to check for urethral strictures that are blocking his urine flow. Keep in mind that we dont know exactly how Chance became paralyzed in the 1st place other then it was following his neuter procedure before he came to us. We have no idea if this has anything to do with that.
Please keep Chance in your prayers that we get this figured out soon, we need to get back to our Nightynite snuggles. We are so thankful to Dr. Z, we know how hard she’s working to get Chance back on his feet and there’s no one we trust more to do that. And please keep 4Paws1Heart in your thoughts & prayers who have been by Chances side throughout his journey starting in 2015. Money is going out faster then its coming in and they are unable to take on any new serious cases or projects at this time. Your donations are needed more then ever before Team! If you would like to help please go to:
9/22/22 – Prayers for Maddie. We were contacted before we had to put a hold on future medical cases. She had been rescued by a very kind person after being seen hit by a car on I-94. Her rescuer took her to an emergency hospital and paid for an x ray which indicated a fractured tibia. Her leg was splinted and the rescuer was advised to see an orthopedic specialist. The rescuer then contacted us. First we tried to see if our “go to” doctors who do some orthopedic surgery could help but that was unsuccessful. Then we tried specialists to get a consultation — did she need surgery or could the fracture heal without a significant impact to her quality of life? That was taking too long and Maddie now needed to have the splint re-wrapped so again we authorized a visit to our doctors at Patterson Veterinary to at least re-wrap the splint and provide pain medication if needed. Well, thankfully, Patterson worked it out for Maddie to be seen the same day of my authorization. Dr. Lynch saw Maddie and decided that a pin would work and asked if we could cover that and I authorized the surgery. Tomorrow she will have her surgery. Maddie is a very sweet girl who will now have a wonderful home and, hopefully, a long, loving life. – diana.
9/21/22 – One of the many TNR projects we have been assisting produced this very sweet girl, Patty. Yvonne contacted us about many cats living on a golf course in Oakland County, MI and asked if we could help. We said ‘yes’ and most of the cats are being spayed/neutered/vaccinated and returned to the course (with the course’s approval). But, Patty was different. Here’s what her rescuer had posted on our Petfinder site:
“Hello, my name is Patty. I’m a sweet, adorable, 6 month old kitten. I’ve had a tough life trying to survive without humans until these nice people took me in to get fixed and vaccinated. I’m currently learning how to be a house kitty. I’ll be ready for adoption the week of September 12. Could you be my FUR-Ever home? Adoption fee is $45, which will go to 4 Paws 1 Heart.”
Well, Patty has been adopted and we are all thrilled. Unfortunately, though, we have had to stop assisting in any future cases due to a shortage of funds. Money has been going out faster than it’s coming in. It truly breaks my heart to have to say ‘no’ to those needing us but we have taken on some significant cases which include 2 cats getting experimental FIP treatment, heart worm, eye removals, amputations, and large TNR projects. I need to make sure we have enough money to cover those over the next month or so before we can continue. This is the first time in 12 years but as I’ve said, the economy and the pandemic has had a significant impact on all of the animal advocacy groups and we are just one of them. Thank YOU for your continued support. – diana.
9/19/22 – Yesterday, I was contacted by the owner of Comfort’s Place, Deb Friendman, (an animal ‘angel’ in her own right) about Shelly. Shelly also has a tumor which the doctor was removing as Deb and I talked. “This little girl was found in an abandoned house in Inkster, surrounded by used needles and decaying floors. We posted and reported finding her and no one stepped up. When we scanned her, much to our shock, she was chipped!!! After contacting the person on the chip registry, we found out the owner passed away last year and the dog has been surviving on whatever she could–alone! With an amazing personality and love for other dogs, cats, and humans, we found temporary placement that we hope turns into permanent placement. I’ll keep you posted on her living situation. (and on the tumor too). Thanks for the help!! – Deb”
Dear 4paws1heart Friends, If you’ve been following us, especially over the last 12 years, you will know that we’ve taken on several serious cases over the year, most of which have turned into happy beginnings. And besides the serious cases we have paid for thousands of cats and dogs to be spayed/neutered and vaccinate. But, unfortunately, the economy is hitting us from both ends. The cost of medical is increasing while the donations coming in our decreasing. And we can truly understand on both counts. The cost of doing business is getting out of reach for most small businesses and people are struggling to feed their families. But, anything you can do to keep us going will be very much appreciated. For the first time in 3 years we are finding ourselves in the position of turning away serious cases until we are on firmer financial grounds. We are looking for opportunities for fundraisers and hope to have something in November so stay tuned. Thank YOU! . – diana
