09/11/2025
After four years running Rocky Start Rescue, volunteering at other rescues for 10 plus years, and working in vet med, not a lot brings me to tears at the sight of it. No animal deserves the suffering this one has been through. She was "rescued" from the wild and instead of being brought to rehabber who knew how to help her, she was kept as a pet, her docile demeanor mistaken for friendliness instead of a plea for help. She's at least 6 months old and has been fed bananas, baby food, and kmr for her entire life. She was kept in a bare cage too small for her, with no comfort items. She has at least some vision loss and cognitive impairment. Her feet are crusted with p**p and she stinks. Worst of all, she began having seizures over a week ago and has been suffering over and over again without relief. I will not be posting the video of her seizing because it's extremely hard to watch.
Her keepers were not willing to drive her here, so Jamie drove an hour each way to save her. We immediately started anti seizure medication and shortly after I took this photo because she was sleeping so deeply, and breathing so smoothly. She just seems to be comfortable for the first time in a long time. I cried again, but for a different reason.
I'm not certain I can save her, I don't even know how to yet. But I promised her the minute she came through my doors that she wouldn't suffer any more. Even if that means helping her cross to ease her pain. I will not mince words, she was neglected and kept illegally for human gain. No animal deserves that. We need to do better. Wild animals are not our belongings, our pets. They are a part of something much bigger than us and without them, we wouldn't be here.
They gave her a name, but I will be giving her a new one that reflects her strength. Thanks for reading, and thanks for your support that allows me to do this.
