PAWS TO PONDER

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by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.

Did you know some people choose to hold a birthday fundraiser for a cause they believe in in lieu of receiving gifts?  My brother and I, although 4 years apart in age, share the same birthday week in mid-March.  This year we decided to go out to dinner spending some quality time together instead of exchanging  presents which is age appropriate at this stage in our lives.  But raising money by asking people to celebrate one’s special day with a donation to a worthy cause does the heart good.  So this year my birthday fundraiser is obviously for Warwick Valley Humane Society, but more specifically for Pearl, a five month old sick kitten rescued by one of our TNR (trap-neuter-release) volunteers from an unmanaged colony where not all of the cats have been sterilized. Sadly, 75% of kittens born outside die or disappear before 6 months of age. Due to the overwhelming number of surgeries on TNR rescues for ruptured eyes and leg amputations this past year, our Critical Care fund is critically low.  But we want to save Pearl who upon intake was suffering with a bad upper respiratory infection.  She became active and playful once the prescribed medications kicked in.

Pearl was on the road to recovery even though now at 6 months she is only the size of a three month old kitten.  Recently her energy decreased, along with her appetite. She started to lose weight, had difficulty breathing and her belly became swollen. She had no strength to play with the toys she loves.  After numerous tests, evaluation and extraction of fluid from her abdomen, Pearl was diagnosed with FIP or feline infectious peritonitis, a virus caused by a certain strain of feline coronavirus spread by unvaccinated cats.  This diagnosis is usually a death sentence, however, recently there has been a new antiviral drug that has been highly effective in the treatment of this disease. And it’s now available in the U.S. through the veterinary hospital. Unfortunately, it’s very expensive and requires that she be on medication for 84 days with repeated bloodwork to monitor its effects. Pearl has the chance to be cured if the shelter can raise the $2000 needed to help her possibly fully recover with the 80% cure rate.  We purchased a short supply to see if she would respond and voila! Pearl is back to eating, playing and being her spunky self.  The medication is working and we need to order the balance for her complete treatment.  Therefore, Pearl is my pick for my birthday fundraiser.  Please consider a donation to the Critical Care Fund to give Pearl the gift of life at wvhumane.org or to PO Box 61, Warwick, NY 10990 thus giving me a very Happy Birthday.

“The best gift is giving from your heart” ~ Kevin Heath

Pet  week is: