Here is our latest rescue--Tiny Tigger. Our volunteer Sabrina was feeding the mama cat and other community cats in rough neighborhood (Overtown). Unfortunately she was told by reps of the building she can not enter private property to feed. No time to explain the gravity of situation, she took in the mama cat and all her seven kittens.
Mama cat and six kittens
The smallest, Tigger, next day was crashing and turned ice cold. Sabrina rushed him to local vet (VCA) and was told it looks grim but were able to give him glucose (levels were very low) and revive him. Sabrina took Tigger home and monitored him the entire night and day, keeping him warm, bottle feeding her every 2 hours but unfortunately he started to crash again. This time Sabrina rushed him to MVS the 24 hour pet hospital. The vet instructed that Tigger is delicate and needs to stay overnight a few nights.
The current bill is $650 and expected to increase to double that amount.
We need your prayers, support and donations. Please remember no amount is too small!
Thank you for your kindness in supporting our efforts.
Helio, a handsome, big green eyed, gray tabby, is fighting for his life.
One of the first ten kittens rescued by founder Christine Michaels, now seven years old, he is suddenly gravely ill with severe anemia.
Helio (pronounced "Eh leo") as a kitten at 4 months
Healthy and playful one day, he started to show signs of loss of appetite, lethargy and sleeping in the closet. Three major red flags of a health issue. Upon examination at the veterinary clinic, the vet observed his white gums. After a comprehensive blood test it showed Helio had severe anemia. The X-ray did not show any anomalies. So after a Vitamin B12 shot, IV fluid, and some appetizing canned cat food prescribed, Helio was sent home. Unfortunately he refused to eat at home. And after three days he returned to the vet. Further blood tests showed his blood platelet count dropped even lower. His condition was now critical.
The next day Helio was admitted to the emergency pet hospital at MVS. Miami Veterinary Specialists provides 24 hour pet medical care. Hooked up to IVs and machines, Helio shows no signs of responsiveness, typical for a cat that is afraid of strange environment. He was lying in the corner, his body inward and sullen, eyes suspect, sheepish, and scared at the same time... a quiet living hell. Only when Christine came to visit did he muster every ounce of strength to stand and greet her. She opened the cage and his bowed insistent on petting and head butts. Helio would not stop crying. He was grateful to see a friendly face. At the same time he was pleading to get out. Our hearts were torn as she had to say goodbye, but Christine repeated a familiar phrase "Ill be back, I promise I'll be back." The vet observing shared that Helio understood Christine and it seemed to give Helio hope. The vet said there is hope for Helio.
Helio cries for affection
A key treatment was a blood transfusion. According to the vet most pets respond well to one transfusion, however, Helio did not improve with the first transfusion. The vet indicated a second or third transfusion may be needed but not a guarantee he would live. As each transfusion costs $900 (for all costs related to the treatment), payments must be made upfront at the hospital. Some families are forced to choose euthanasia when they lack the funds. How tragic!
The vet awaited our answer. Of course we would try again. Helio was a survivor, a rescue kitten from the streets of downtown Miami. Money could always be raised. We wanted to set an example that pets as family members, deserve the same respect and dignity of life as human family members. Money should not determine whether a pet lives or dies if there is a chance he will survive.
DONATION TO HELP HELIO
So a fundraiser was started to help Helio and to offset the cost of hospitalization and treatments now totaling close to $4,000. Copies of all vet bills are also uploaded.
Visit the YouCaring website. Remember no amount is too small and greatly appreciated!
Or you may make direct donation via PayPal to riverfrontcats@yahoo.com
The heartbreak was becoming unbearable for Christine and caretakers. Helio has many nicknames:
Cutie Patooty because of his cute sleeping poses, moreso than his siblings.
Curious George because of his big eyes and curious, baby face.
Bocelli after Andrea Bocelli because he literally serenades his pet owner for attention and affection.
Yes, Helio is a very special cat. Sadly his mother Cosette who has been pictured on a number of blog posts and on social media, had died suddenly this summer. It is strongly believed she was poisoned. This is just another undertaking, another battle, another part of our mission in educating residents and communities about stray cats and the law against animal cruelty. Helio was her only kitten. In this effort we fight for all homeless cats who deserve a chance to live out their
You may follow Helio's progress on this website and on Facebook and Twitter.
Sinbad, licking his lips after yummy dinner.
He may live outdoors but he's well taken care of by dedicated volunteers.
The most important day of the year is here- National FERAL Cat Day!!
(October 16, 2015).
In the past we had fun dressing in costume, and making hilarious music videos all in an effort to raise awareness about the most misunderstood cat--the community, feral cat.
But this year it's a serious matter. With kitten season over and the burgeoning of homeless cats, we uncovered other colonies. In a recent challenge to rescue kittens from several old homes to be demolished to make way for shiny skyscrapers in the heart of downtown Miami, we discovered an established colony of cats. Some quite old with injuries and illness, other cats were teenagers or younger.
At first we counted 10, then 20, 30..."Houston we have a problem in Miami". It's time to get in the trenches and fight this battle. Time to TNR and build new shelters!
But we need funding to spay/neuter 30+ cats and treat any cats for injuries and/or illness--mange, cuts, infections... We also ensure that during construction, the cats are safe and accounted for every evening at feeding time. Construction sites are dangerous for kittens. We've encountered too many horrific accidents. But it's nearly impossible to relocate feral cats. It's best for them to stay in the neighborhood to minimize danger and injury. We build shelters and place them nearby (if possible) so mama cats have a safe place to receive food for kittens when volunteers come around.
No cat should suffer, even community, stray and feral cats!
Artemis thrives in the outdoors but she has mange.
It can be treated with your help.
She also needs to get spayed.
So it's that time again to raise funds and we have not asked for monies since last year--that's a very long time!!! We need to raise at least $700. For some human cat nip, we are giving away a Cat Prize Pack worth over $200! For every donation, you will automatically be entered in our drawing to win this prize package for you and your cats!
Christine feeds one of the colony cats in downtown Miami
Truck for wrecking crew
First house demolished
Rescued from empty home scheduled for demolition
Scared kittens, rescued from demolition
Christine pets Tabitha, a friendly stray.
No Amount is too SMALL!
Please use the widget on right column or click on DONATE NOW button. Contest open to anyone on Planet Earth! Be sure to leave an email address to be entered into the drawing. Contest ends on Wednesday, Oct 28 at 11pm PST. Winner will be selected October 31. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm otherwise another winner will be selected.
Thank you for caring! Thank you for making a difference for the most misunderstood cats!
