30/12/2023
👉 MARCH 9th, 2022...
A wet, crusty-eyed, skinny, mud-caked kitten was sitting in the middle of Buckland Ave. facing oncoming traffic. If I had not stopped abruptly I'm certain the car right behind me would have run over her, assuming she was already dead.
When I jumped out of the van to scoop her up, I soon realized she couldn't see or hear. She was extremely underweight and obviously suffering from a severe infection.
We rushed her to Fremont Animal Hospital.
Dr. Reineck said he doubted she would make it, but they'd do all they could. She tested positive for Feline Leukemia (FeLV).
As most of you in the rescue world know it's often customary to euthanize felines who test positive with FeLV. Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA OHIO) has never held that view.
We named her Melanie Sunshine. She was placed in isolation and received excellent medical care at Fremont Animal Hospital for 12 days.
👉 On March 21st, 2022, I brought Melanie to my mom's house, where I'd been busy working to prepare for an estate sale. My mom passed on February 8th, a month before.
Feline Leukemia cats often only live for a couple of years. They should not be around other cats who do not have Feline Leukemia because FeLV is contagious to other cats.
Although a diagnosis of FeLV can be emotionally devastating, it is important to realize that cats with FeLV can live normal lives for prolonged periods of time. The median survival time for cats after FeLV is diagnosed is 2.5 years, but sometimes they live much longer!
On occasion, cats that are exposed to FeLV and test positive for FeLV can mount an effective immune response that suppresses the virus (called regressive infection); these cats can test negative on subsequent tests, are asymptomatic, and are then at low risk of transmitting the disease to other cats.
Melanie is an absolute sweetheart.... a pure purr bucket... and she's absolutely the friendliest cat SPA has ever rescued.
👉 NOW, 1¾ YEARS LATER....
When I think of her sitting in the middle of the road that day with infected ears and eyes, shivering as I held her under my coat (but still purring and making bread despite her suffering), compared to now, well... that's the magical stuff rescuers get to store in the happy room of their hearts for the rest of their lives.
She's now 2+ years old and just look at her!
We'll keep her happy and safe for the rest of her life, unless someone exceptional with no other cats shows interest in adopting her, understanding that she might require future vet visits to manage possible FeLV symptoms, which may or may not arrise.
For now, she's healthy, happy, and beautiful!!!
This is what SPA Ohio continues to do.
👉 MARCH 9th, 2022...
A wet, crusty-eyed, skinny, mud-caked kitten was sitting in the middle of Buckland Ave. facing oncoming traffic. If I had not stopped abruptly I'm certain the car right behind me would have run over her, assuming she was already dead.
When I jumped out of the van to scoop her up, I soon realized she couldn't see or hear. She was extremely underweight and obviously suffering from a severe infection.
We rushed her to Fremont Animal Hospital.
Dr. Reineck said he doubted she would make it, but they'd do all they could. She tested positive for Feline Leukemia (FeLV).
As most of you in the rescue world know it's often customary to euthanize felines who test positive with FeLV. Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA OHIO) has never held that view.
We named her Melanie Sunshine. She was placed in isolation and received excellent medical care at Fremont Animal Hospital for 12 days.
👉 On March 21st, 2022, I brought Melanie to my mom's house, where I'd been busy working to prepare for an estate sale. My mom passed on February 8th, a month before.
Feline Leukemia cats often only live for a couple of years. They should not be around other cats who do not have Feline Leukemia because FeLV is contagious to other cats.
Although a diagnosis of FeLV can be emotionally devastating, it is important to realize that cats with FeLV can live normal lives for prolonged periods of time. The median survival time for cats after FeLV is diagnosed is 2.5 years, but sometimes they live much longer!
On occasion, cats that are exposed to FeLV and test positive for FeLV can mount an effective immune response that suppresses the virus (called regressive infection); these cats can test negative on subsequent tests, are asymptomatic, and are then at low risk of transmitting the disease to other cats.
Melanie is an absolute sweetheart.... a pure purr bucket... and she's absolutely the friendliest cat SPA has ever rescued.
👉 NOW, 2¾ YEARS LATER....
When I think of her sitting in the middle of the road that day with infected ears and eyes, shivering as I held her under my coat (but still purring and making bread despite her suffering), compared to now, well... that's the magical stuff rescuers get to store in the happy room of their hearts for the rest of their lives.
She's now 2+ years old and just look at her!
We'll keep her happy and safe for the rest of her life, unless someone exceptional with no other cats shows interest in adopting her, understanding that she might require future vet visits to manage possible FeLV symptoms, which may or may not arrise.
For now, she's healthy, happy, and beautiful!!!
This is what SPA Ohio continues to do.
Society for the Protection of Animals, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3, so your Donations are Tax Deductible.
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MC7DDDJV9ZXN4
Photos of Melanie's Transformation:
