4/6/24 – First, I’d like to thank everyone who helped us meet the goal of $1,000 during the “$1,000 Irene Memorial Match”. It’s only your donations and support at our fundraisers which enable us to continue to help in so many heart wrenching situations involving those most vulnerable in our society.
These beautiful cats were dumped by their owner when they moved. Fortunately, they found their way to the home of the cousin of a good friend of 4 paws 1 heart, Courtney, who happens to also work at one of our favorite partner clinics, Orion Animal Hospital.
Mr. Feeney is one of 5 cats thrown outside who is currently in a foster home. The calico you see in the photo amongst the five at the home, has found a home and Courtney is caring for one of the cats who is pregnant. Courtney volunteers with a rescue who has taken on finding fosters and we have committed to taking care of medical needs while Courtney also seeks donations at the clinic.
So far everyone is doing well. They are battling severe ear and skin infections but they will be better in no time
It literally takes a village to help these animals. – diana
It’s been 141 days since Soup went missing, everyone has searched, and tonight about 8:15 pm he was found! A few days ago, a mailman in Saint Clair Shores knocked on Soups mom’s door claiming he was seen. Then, a trap was set and Soup was captured and brought home. I scanned him to confirm his microchip and it was a match! There were some true angels involved in this rescue mission that began in November. Nadia, a kind selfless guardian angel, never gave up until Soup was home. Thank God he was microchipped. Countless hours, time, money, exhaustion, defeat, worry, and endless love has resulted in a happy ending. There were many tears of happiness and relief tonight. The message here is to never give up, Microchip your animal, and Believe...
Thank you to everyone who helped bring Soup home especially Nadia and Mary Beth. This was a stray who came from the streets bruised and broken, was adopted 10 years ago, and escaped his home almost 5 months ago.
For those who don’t know, Soup was found in 2014 as an injured stray. He had a broken pelvis and dislocated femur and his head was stuck in a Soup can. 4 paws covered medical and I took him in for one year and then found a loving home with Mary Beth. Fast forward 10 years he escaped from his home Nov. 17th. 2023.
Gina
12/20/16 – A HUGE thank you to all of our old and new friends who stepped up to our Secret Santa Challenge and exceeded the Match. The over 4,000 animals we have helped since 2010, thank you for their second chance at life. You might remember that on December 26, 2013, a beautiful feline boy Gina named Soup was found on a lawn with his head stuck in a soup can. The caring homeowner brought him to the emergency, where fortunately, Gina was on duty. His tail had punctures, he had a broken pelvis, a dislocated femur, and horrendous bruising. It appeared that he was attacked while he couldn’t defend himself. Of course, 4 Paws 1 Heart took this baby into our arms and he was taken to an orthopedic specialist and we found a wonderful, loving person to take him in so his pelvis and femur could recover. That wonderful person happened to be our friend who later became the mom of Chance, Carlos, Phoenix, Rosie Roo, Bridgette, and many fosters — Denise. After Soup recovered from his injuries, Gina took him into her home and finally, a little over 1 year later, Soup’s final, loving family was found. In celebration of exceeding the Secret Santa Challenge, I bring you an update from Soup’s loving mom, Mary Beth. ~ diana
“In 2012, we had to let my beloved cat Drake cross the rainbow bridge, as he had cancer. I was so distraught over losing Drake, and I wanted another cat to keep our cat Whiskers company, but I wanted to wait a bit of time. About a month went by, I was seeing different cats on Facebook rescue sites. One day, a cat named Soup caught my eye. Not so much the way he looked, but his story.
A year earlier, he was found outside with his head stuck in a soup can. He was taken to a veterinarian where they discovered that he also had a crushed pelvis. Something had gotten him when his head was stuck in the can. He had surgery and was on cage rest for three months, and remained at his foster mom’s house for another nine months because she loved him so much.Then she decided he should find a home so she could make room for more fosters.
I made arrangements to meet Soup, as well as another cat, that had only three legs. When the foster Mom brought Soup into the room to meet my daughter and I, he immediately plopped on the floor and wanted us to pet him, he did that the whole time during the meet and greet. We thought it was hilarious and it was love at first site.
The foster Mom wanted to bring him for a home visit, and my whole family wanted to meet him, including my son in law. There were seven of us, and everyone fell in love with him. Needless to say we adopted Soup, his foster Mom says that she couldn’t have chosen a better home for Soup. It brings tears to my eyes just writing this because we love him so much. He is such a good cat, he has so many nicknames, I akways say he is super duper, the superest guy ever, and so on.
I always tell him he is famous, because I still see flyers for his rescue organization , 4paws1heart, with his picture on it displayed in pet stores and such. ~ Mary Beth”
4/5/24 – He was “just a stray who came around once in awhile” and then one day he showed up like this. The family brought him to a nearby veterinary clinic where it was determined that he would need his eye removed. The family covered the visit which included fiv/felv test and treatment for the infection but they could not afford the cost of the eye removal. Someone told the family to contact 4 paws 1 heart. Thankfully, we are able to help and Lucky has an appointment on May 1. If Lucky has not been neutered, that will be done at the same time and he will get vaccinated. The family will keep in touch with the clinic just in case they can get Lucky in sooner. Lucky is lucky to have found a family who will give him a loving home. – diana
4/4/24 – Elusia’s journey began in early December. The caretaker of a cat community contacted Milad, who had earlier been responsible for trapping and spaying/neutering the community. The caretaker thought one of the cats was pregnant although the ear was tipped. Still thinking she was pregnant, Elusia was taken to All About Animals. There the rescuer was told that Elusia was already spayed but showed symptoms for FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). Unfortunately, the location did not have the ability to run the appropriate test so we were contacted and Elusia was taken to Orion Animal Hospital. Dr. Zalac wasn’t sure of a FIP diagnosis and over the following months, Elusia continued to have high amounts of fluid drained from her body. She received treatments for FIP but on March 11 it was determined that this poor baby, who turned out to be a boy, was just too severely ill and it was decided to let him cross the Rainbow Bridge. May he rest in heaven and may God be with all of the amazing people who continue to rescue in spite of the heartbreak. – diana
4/3/24 – We are thankful to help another beautiful animal be removed from a municipal shelter. Bodhi is an 8 month old Lab mix who was just pulled from the Genesee County Animal Control by Underdog Rescue Ranch and is in a foster home. She will be spayed, vaccinated, and heart worm tested at the Animal Clinic of Sterling Heights complements of the 4 paws 1 heart donors. Anyone interested in this sweet dog should contact the rescue. – diana
4/2/24 – Prayers for Mamma (aka Martha/Koa). She’s been bred multiple times in Detroit and is not socialized. She tries to avoid humans and is very hesitant. When she was first rescued she wouldn’t even take a step or make a move in the rescuer’s presence. The rescuer said it was painful to watch. Mamma would turn her body as far away as possible and you could feel the energy she was giving off, basically begging the person to not look at her. She had no confidence and was completely shut down. She has been living in an abandoned house in Detroit for an unknown period of time (possibly a month or more), in a cage that was too small for her. A kind woman in Detroit found out about her and began to feed her and tried to let her out regularly, but the woman could not find a rescue or a place for Mamma to go so in the house the stayed. Unfortunately she is heart worm positive. Mamma is extremely sweet, not aggressive, but she is definitely the most shut down dog the rescue has ever encountered.
Mamma (aka Martha/Koa) will receive her heart worm treatment at Patterson Veterinary Hospital and we are praying that once she starts to feel safe and loved, she will no longer be afraid of humans and will find her way into a caring home.
4/1/24 – She was a feral living at the Detroit City Airport. A friend of 4 Paws 1 Heart, who spends a good part of her life rescuing, contacted us after what seemed to be an upper respiratory infection got worse. This past Friday she was seen at Five Mile Animal Hospital. Dr. Mina contacted me to advise that Big Momma was severely ill and recommended she be allowed to cross the rainbow bridge. Her rescuer agreed with the doctor and Big Momma is no longer suffering alone on the very mean streets. – diana
3/30/24 – Rest in Heaven Sweet Cookie (aka Lucy). You were very loved and we are all thankful that you came into our lives. – Diana
Double Your Donation During the $1,000 Irene Memorial Match. Your donations will change the lives of so many who have no one else.
On March 15th 2016
A 7 yr only dog was dumped in a school parking lot. She made her way to a familiar relatives house where she allegedly stayed on the porch for 3 weeks.
They claimed she was a stray who showed up and was dying. At least they called the emergency and surrendered her to me that night because she was heading towards death. Her body was thin, weak, frail, and hurting. She screamed and twitched when they handed her over to me.
I took her under my wing and 4 paws 1 heart backed all of her medical.
On that day, I named her Cookie, and I made her a promise. I told her that from now on she will have a good life and that I will make sure she is loved and cared for until her last days.
On March 20th 2024 Cookie took her last breath while in the hands of the most loving and dedicated family that I could’ve asked for. They were truly heaven sent and adopted Cookie from me 7 years ago. Jean McAlees Winteringham and her husband took Cookie everywhere. They traveled, enjoyed boating, and with tears in my eyes I can say that my promise was fulfilled.
Rest In heaven sweet Cookie. You will never be forgotten. Loved forever. – Gina
3/29/24 – Scott’s story started July 31, 2023 when we received the following e mail:
“Hi Diana, I, along with a few other people have been caring for Chrissy Brandon’s colonies. We noticed this guy at one of her colonies over the weekend. He’s an older guy and we don’t want to trap until we for sure have a plan for him. I’m not sure if his front paw is hurt and he was walking on it. His back paw he keeps up and jumps around. It also seemed to take a toll on him. Thanks, Danica”
Chrissie was an amazing woman who cared for cat colonies and also rescued a cat or two. 4 paws 1 heart helped with medical funding several times. Unfortunately, Chrissie passed away and thankfully people like Danica stepped in to help. Of course we said we’d help. Scott was seen within a couple of days at Orion Animal Hospital.
Scott was sedated to be x-rayed. Unfortunately the infection around the leg bone was so severe the doctor couldn’t see anything. Scott was prescribed 3 different meds to be given over the next couple of months and a 2-week follow up appointment was made. On January 30, 2024 I contacted Danica to get an update on Scott. After the infection cleared, the doctor was finally able to see a fracture which would heal itself. Scott does have arthritis in his leg so he still has a limp. Danica was unable to find anywhere for Scott to go so he’s made himself at home with her. Danica says he’s not snuggly at all but does get close. When feeding she gets a thank you hiss, and he loves hanging out on the couch. So, another happy beginning for an ‘old man’ who was living in a cat community but is now comfy, healthy, and loved because of our amazing village. – diana
