This very sweet boy is still healing from his neck wound. I’ve been doing regular bandages and the wound is shrinking. Doctors suspect it was from some sort of trauma or infection. Some very awesome technician friends are helping me with watching him on days that I’m not available. He has the largest jowls I’ve ever seen and he is a ham. It will take a little time for him to adjust but I’m sure he will be an amazing pet. His rescuer is willing to keep him if he is not combative with ger existing cat. That’s how FIV is transmitted, and he is positive. For more information on Snow please Email me. [email protected]
8/28/23 – Poison, was an outside stray who showed up in Martha’s backyard in January of 2022. It was bitterly cold and he was crying and crying and he looked very sick. He was foaming at the mouth. Martha was afraid to help him because, as she said “his sickness was so scary”. She named him Poison because she thought maybe he ate a poison rat in that she lived in an area with a huge rat problem. Martha put food for him and he ate a little and then got into and sat down in the dish. The other cats had an abandoned garage that she had put straw in but he didn’t have anything. So, she made a little pad with an old blanket so he could get his feet off the cold cement. Then she ordered a small tent from Amazon for him. A couple of days later she put a heating pad in there for him. The first 5 to 7 days he spent most of meal time chasing the other cats away from the food. He was afraid there wouldn’t be enough. He soon figured there is plenty for everybody. He quit foaming at the mouth but his breathing continued to be awful. Martha was able to get him in a trap and take him to a vet one time but she couldn’t afford all the treatments they wanted to give him. So, they gave him the antibiotic shot and she took him back home where he continued to live outside.
Martha, contacted us in early July. At that time, Poison also had a wound along with his continuing breathing issue. Poison was again trapped and taken to a partner veterinary clinic and was diagnosed with asthma and pneumonia. He also has something in his digestive tract that may have been from liver disease. He had maggots in a wound. The veterinary staff was able to remove all maggots and he was given antibiotics for the wound , medication for his asthma/pneumonia, and medication for flea and ticks. Martha kept Poison inside while she needed to give him medication but then he was again released outside. In mid July, Martha contacted me to report that Poison’s breathing was still bad and he seemed to be failing. After two years of struggling with infections, Martha didn’t think there was much hope. We continued to try and get him the help he needed but he was so difficult for Martha to trap and yesterday Martha messaged me that she found Poison, passed away in her yard. He had been to her porch to eat earlier in the day and seemed fine but we guess his illnesses were just too great. Martha saw Poison’s ‘girlfriend’ sitting by his side as he laid in her yard.
Poison has been buried and he is now in peace, no longer suffering. Please keep Martha in your prayers. So many people, like Martha, spend their own money and work so hard to reduce the over population of animals in our communities. And, then, when they find an ill or injured animal, once again they do everything possible to help. I wish we could have done more. – diana
Thank you so much for the nice memorial on your Facebook page. I love caring for my colony and I feel sad each time one dies. I had 7 cats. Now I have 6. Poison was the king of my backyard and would chase off any new cat that tried to eat at the feeding station. I could not get him nutered because his poor health would not stand the surgery. There are many stray/feral cats around here. Maybe there is room for another to join the colony now. RIP Poison. – Martha
8/28/23 – Last week we were asked to help with Viva whose eye was scratched by litter mates and then suddenly ruptured. Our friend, Emily K., who has helped with special needs dogs and cats contacted us to help out. Here is Viva’s story:
“Viva is a kitten I’ve had since she was 2 weeks old. She came to me as part of a litter of five in absolutely shocking condition, paralyzed to the point she almost couldn’t breathe on her own, and same for the rest of the litter. We lost three to this paralysis when they lost the ability to breathe, but we have two survivors, Viva and Sparkle (my paper towel litter lol). It was determined the babies had botulism – extremely rare, but it does happen and it is reportable to the state of Michigan. Very interesting case! Through their recovery, we’ve struggled with weight gain and lasting neurological deficits, but they are mostly normal kittens now, just extra tiny. Unfortunately, this past week, Viva got scratched on the eye during a wrestling match with her sister. In a matter of 48 hours, the eye went from watery to ruptured and infected, bulging out of her head, despite eye drops and oral antibiotics. Her eye was removed at Orion on Wednesday with your help that we are so very grateful for. Dr Blasses dissected the eye and it appears she had a deep ulcer that must have made it especially fragile. We had no idea she had an ulcer, she had no symptoms before this scratch. She is doing well, healing and back to her normal, goofy self. She is getting warm compresses to help drain some fluid from inside, but otherwise all is looking good. Thank you so much for your help with sweet Viva. She has had such a rough life so far and I want the best for her. We couldn’t have taken care of her eye without your generosity.
I’ve attached before and after photos for you. – Emily”
Please consider donating and/or participating in our fundraisers because without our supporters, little ones like Viva and so many others would not have that second chance at life. Thank YOU – diana
On August 18, 2023 4 Paws 1 Heart celebrated 13 years of making a difference in the lives of stray, abandoned, and abused animals. But without the generosity and expertise of the many veterinarians who have trusted us in our mission, thousands of animals wouldn’t be alive today. Dr. Catherine Roach has been one of those doctors and today we want to ask all of our supporters to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
On August 22 Dr. Roach’s loving husband, Dr. Mark Lamb, of 25 years unexpectedly passed away. Dr. Roach is a close friend and advisor to our co-founder, Gina DeLuca Jenio. They worked together early on when they both worked in an emergency veterinary hospital. Through the years, Dr. Roach continued to be a friend to 4 Paws 1 Heart and helped when Gina’s loving pets had to cross the Rainbow Bridge. And, even in her loss, she is again thinking about those animals who have no one else. She has asked that Dr. Lamb’s life be remembered through donations to 4 Paws 1 Heart.
Dr. Lamb’s family and friends are in our prayers and we hope that they will find some comfort in knowing that Dr. Lamb’s legacy will live on in the many animals who will be saved because of their love.
8/27/23 – This past week I received the following e mail:
“’Im looking for help in finding a vet and resources for a cat that was left outside a pet store where I volunteer to care for rescue cats waiting for adoption. This sweet little cat was left in a carrier with a note attached stating she is pregnant and was abused (see attached). I took her home to give her a safe place with all the food and water she wants. Her previous owner has been contacted and the sad fact is Ivy hasn’t had much of a stable life.
She’s just over a year old, her littermate was killed in the home by a dog, she was re-homed to another person and that was who dumped her after about 6 weeks. She is very thin, she has many shave marks from electric clippers all over her body and her whiskers were cut on one side. She appears to be pregnant.
Despite all of this, Ivy is affectionate, sweet, and loving. She just needs a little help getting through this so she can find a loving home where she can know love and security. Can you help me find a vet that can make sure she is and remains healthy? – Erin”
Fortunately, we were able to get Erin and sweet Ivy into Orion Animal Hospital where the doctor confirmed the pregnancy. In fact, Ivy is expected to have her babies any day now. With the exception of Ivy’s physical appearance and the obvious proof she had been abused, Ivy appears to be healthy. Erin is preparing herself to monitor the births and will let me know if anything is needed. This will be Erin’s first experience with a pregnant cat but I told her that the great staff at Orion Animal Hospital (which she absolutely loved) would be happy to answer any questions she might have. – diana
Thank you to everyone for the encouragement and kind words. Ivy is safe and warm. She has as much mother/kitten food as she wants, clean blankets and a bed, a private nesting area for her to have her kittens, and most of all she has love and affection.
I am nervous but excited to help this sweet soul bring her kittens into a world where they will all know kindness. – Erin
8/25/23 – It began August 7 when I was contacted by one of Black Jack’s caretakers. He was a stray who was fed by Jennifer and her neighbor. Jennifer noticed that Black Jack was having difficulty eating and drinking and was getting weaker each day as she sought a rescuer for help. She was able to get info one of our partner vets that same day. The doctor advised that Black Jack had fluid in his stomach and couldn’t get a clear x ray. He was given medications and Jennifer was told to return in 3 days. Upon returning, Black Jack still couldn’t open his jaw and Jennifer had been syringe feeding him. The doctor thought that Black Jack was suffering from a toxicity but did seem to improve somewhat. The next day Black Jack returned to the vet. There was no longer fluid in his stomach but in reviewing the x rays, the doctor now believed Black Jack had suffered a trauma to his spine. The spine wasn’t broke but it was thought that someone had done something to him to cause the trauma. Jennifer had been keeping Black Jack in a crate, free to roam and finally he began to start walking, a little wobbly, and he seemed to be interested in food. A week later, Black Jack again returned to the vet where he was given more steroids and muscle relaxers. The doctor thought Black Jack would recover but it would take awhile. At that point, I offered to have Black Jack seen by another doctor for a second opinion; an appointment was scheduled. But, unfortunarely, yesterday afternoon, when Jennifer went to feed Black Jack, she found that he had passed away. Jennifer had just lost another furbaby in April and to say her heart is broken is an understatement. Too much sadness but it’s important for people to know what is happening on our streets every day. If only would could save them all. – diana
This was Black Jack in May. He was an outdoor cat that my neighbor and I took care of since he was a kitten . He was a lovable, sweet,handsome boy who was loved . My heart is shattered . Trying to wrap my head around why he was taken at 16 months old. At least he didn’t spend the last couple weeks outside suffering . He had a warm and safe place to sleep,he was fed, he knew so much love before left this earth . I miss him terribly .
RIH my sweet sweet boy. – Jennifer
I’m going to miss him so much. It has been so hard watching him go through all that. From how he was. Now that he’s gone I have a broken heart also. BlackBlack is what I called him he was my boy also. I loved him very much. – Jaclyn
8/24/23 – It was yesterday when Dawn again contacted us about another of her furbabies who are members of her small cat colony. His name is Elliot. Elliot had been ‘dumped’ at her house about a year ago and quickly was able to fit in with the other community cats. He became a fast friend of Tipper. But, again, Dawn was faced with the fact that she had another very sick cat in her colony. The signs came on quickly, lethargic, throwing up bile, didn’t want to eat. An appointment was made for him to be seen at Orion Animal Hospital today but, sadly, he just passed away before he could get there. Again, Elliot crossed the Rainbow Bridge in the arms of his loving caretaker. He is now in peace and no longer in pain.
Please remember the many rescuers, community caretakers, and animals on our streets when you say your prayers tonight. We all do what we can and your support does make a difference even when it means a peaceful passing to the next journey. – diana
8/24/23 – Sorry for the Sad News lately but it truly has been a heartbreaking couple of months for the many animal advocates in our communities.
In the past month, our friend, Dawn, who cares for a small cat colony and whom we’ve helped with medical treatment, has lost two of her furbabies. Last month, she contacted us about Tipper who was born in her garage while the mom was waiting to be taken to All About Animals for ‘tnr’ She’s 6 years old now. When Dawn contacted us on July 23 she said that Tipper was very weak and lethargic, and had barely eaten in 4 days. Tipper was being treated with sub-q fluids but it wasn’t helping and Dawn was fearful that Tipper had FIP or FeLV. Dawn mentioned that we had Tipper’s mother and both her brothers to be seen and treated in the past few years. Unfortunately, all 3 of them had to be put to sleep from either FIP or FeLV. And now, after 6 years, Tipper was seriously ill.
Gina was able to arrange a quick appointment for Tipper at Moore Veterinary Hospital. Blood work was performed but the diagnostics indicated that Tipper was severely ill and although the doctor and staff did everything possible, it wasn’t going to be enough. Tipper was humanely euthanized in the arms of her loving caretaker. RIP Sweet Girl – you were loved. Here’s her photo during a better time. – diana
