PAWS of Parke County

22/05/2024

I have been putting this off because it’s too difficult to put into words. I have been quiet and unresponsive lately because my family is going through the loss of my baby brother, Jacob Bryant, who lost his life in a car accident on May 6, 2024.

I wanted to make this post not only to explain that we will be taking a break from everything, including rescue, for an indefinite amount of time, but also to share what a caring, loving soul my brother was. He had a lot of struggles in his lifetime, but one thing was always certain…he loved his family, all of God’s beauty in nature and all of God’s little creatures, big and small.

Most know my family had a total loss house fire in 2016 where we lost the lives of 6 pets and had to rebuild our own lives and the rescue from the ground up. While it took a long time to recover from that tragedy, it doesn’t compare to losing my brother. It doesn’t even begin to touch it.

For as long as we live, we will never recover from the loss of my brother and it will take an amount of time that I don’t know before we are able to catch our breath enough to focus on rescue. We will get there, but for now I ask for your patience and understanding. Please, give us time to grieve.

A few people made donations in memory of my brother and we sincerely thank you so much for your generosity and support💕

🕊️In memory of Jacob Lee Bryant — January 3, 1993 - May 6, 2024🕊️

-Cara

17/05/2024

Yesterday we said “see you later” to Buddy aka ‘Little Old Manny.’ He is now young and healthy again🌈🤍

It was just four days short of a year that he’d been with us. Buddy came to us after his owner passed away and no one else wanted him. We couldn’t even fathom him going into a shelter setting at his age nor being put to sleep while he still had quality of life.

Buddy was 15 when he came to us and lived his last year in comfort and peace. His old body finally gave out but he was happy and we are grateful to have been able to give that to him. He was such a sweet little old man and we loved him just as if he’d been with us for his entire life.

Rest easy now sweet boy💕🐾

05/05/2024

Doby was neutered Friday. He will be a year old on July 2. I cannot believe how much he has thrived as a bottle-raised kitten after coming to us at one day old on July 3, 2023. The resilience of animals will never fail to leave me in awe!

PSA: we neuter male cats no earlier than 6 months old; mostly because of the higher risk of urinary crystals and blockages in male cats due to their very narrow urethras.

“The standard recommendation is to wait until a cat is around six months old before neutering it, as this age aligns with the cat's natural growth and development, and helps prevent certain health and behavior issues. Early neutering can cause the following problems:

•Stunted growth
⚠️Narrowed urethra
•Increased risk of bone disorders
⚠️Urinary tract problems
•Behavioral problems
•Higher mortality rates from surgery
•Obesity
•Growth plate fractures”

*Doby is adoptable!

04/05/2024

Poor Baby Cole (not a baby, just what I call him—he’ll be 11 around August) had 15 teeth pulled yesterday. Cats have 30 teeth. Most of them were already gone on their own. Cole now has only his lower canines and incisors left. I am sure he will just be super disappointed to live on a canned food diet now 😉

Several months ago, I posted about Cole having a very bad abscess in his mouth and he has needed some dental work since. We couldn’t afford the cost at our regular vet, so Dr. Lee Roberts, owner of Cat Snip, took care of Cole for us at a massively discounted rate. Still cost a chunk that we didn’t really have a budget for, but was necessary for Cole’s health and we simply cannot thank Dr. Roberts enough for providing these services to shelters and rescues!

Cole is going to be feeling so much better once he heals. He’s even sporting a full-body mohawk with his matted long hair having been shaved off❣️😸

Please feel free to make a donation for Cole and/or future needs!

Venmo:

01/05/2024

Oh my boy. Arrow knows better than to murder a possum. He roughed the old guy up a bit but all superficial that I could see. Possum is gone and on his way.

⚠️Wildlife PSA

Did you know?
A possum’s only defense is showing their 50 teeth, hissing and “playing dead?” (yes, they have the most teeth of any mammal and are also North America’s only marsupial). Playing dead is an involuntary defense mechanism so they are literally paralyzed by fear. Chances of being bitten by a possum are next to zero. They’re slow and docile scavengers, their body temp is too low to carry rabies, they eat tons of ticks and clean up the nastiest of crap so let them be to do their important jobs 🩶

27/04/2024

Thank you so much for your chewy donations, Marilyn Adams Hall❣️😻

25/04/2024

Gracie came home yesterday🪽

Thank you all for your donations and support in helping cover Gracie’s cremation costs🤍

🐾Karen Barnes Unser
🐾Jodi Williams
🐾Martha Holaday
🐾Eddie Augustus Woodrow Harding
🐾Toni Minniear
🐾Tracy Baldwin
🐾Diane Rowe
🐾Lynn Rickett

21/04/2024

I have been trying to explain this for years. Finally another rescue has put it into words better than I ever have. This is the best explanation I have read and it absolutely includes cats as well.

We get a lot less “can you take my dog/cat” requests than we used to, but they still trickle in. Rescues are NOT animal shelters. Know the difference before you get mad at us for not asking “how high” when you demand us to jump.

When we started this rescue 9 years ago, our mission was to help the abused, neglected and discarded dogs in our area and beyond.

Our mission has never been to relieve you of the commitment YOU made to your dog when you took them in.

People have babies and keep their dogs.

People change careers and keep their dogs.

Peoples schedules get hectic and they keep their dogs.

People move and find a way to keep their dog.

People run into issues with manageable/trainable behavior AND THEY KEEP THEIR DOGS.

These situations are not unique.

We didn't start this rescue to bail you out. I'm sorry, I know that may sound harsh-- and yes, we know that there are absolutely situations in which people can truly no longer care for their dog- and we help with those as much as we can. We also help with food, vet care, and other situations and resources.

But for the love of Dog-- step up for your dog. Show up for your dog. Show your dog the same love and commitment today that you showed them the day you brought them home.

Dogs are being euthanized every single day because the shelters do not have space. FRIENDLY. HEALTHY. HAPPY. ADOPTABLE. DOGS.

Your dog is no different than any of the dogs who have been losing their lives every day and if you give up on your dog-- they could be next.I

Thanks Philly bully team for the message. We are all feeling it 💯

19/04/2024

Today we celebrate the important bond between humans and cats. Yes y’all, this is a real holiday (I just looked it up lol). Thank you to all who care for our feline friends🐈‍⬛❣️🐈

Show us your kitties in the comments!

15/04/2024

Yesterday was a very hard day and we have some heartbreaking news to share.

We lost Gracie yesterday morning 💔😓 She developed acute onset congestive heart failure. No signs or symptoms at all until early yesterday morning. Dr. Joe explained that one of the little cords that keep the heart valves from staying open likely tore. It was less than three hours between the onset of symptoms and her passing. I will spare you the details but it wasn’t pleasant to witness. Her lungs filled up so fast that there was no option but to let her go peacefully. She would not have responded to treatment at that point and there is no replacing a dog’s heart valves. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge in my arms while we were at the vet.

Gracie came to us on August 31, 2021 after her owner went into assisted living and the family was considering having her euthanized. She had terrible skin issues, suspected Cushing’s disease and was morbidly obese at ~30 lbs —twice the weight she should’ve been.

We put a lot of TLC into bringing Gracie back to good health. She spent most of her life on and off steroids and a plethora of meds in attempt to control her skin issues. It was a long process, but we “fixed” her with proper nutrition, diet and acupuncture. She never took a steroid or other prescription drugs while under our care aside from an herbal supplement recommended by Dr. Julie. Gracie eventually got down to ~19 pounds, her skin cleared up nicely and she has been an absolute joy in the short amount of time we were fortunate to have with her.

Gracie was such a funny little character and had the best personality. She got to experience many things with us in her second life; from the simplest of things such as being able to run once she lost weight, to exploring the property as long as she wanted, to chasing the chickens, to making friends and being a beloved part of her very own pack, to leaving this world with dignity at a very old age. Gracie loved to make a bed out of anything that was lying on the floor and if she was rolling around in the yard, nine times out of ten, it was most definitely on a dead worm 😆 As Dr. Joe said yesterday, we definitely didn’t give up any good days.

We loved Gracie so much and she will be so dearly missed🌈🤍🐾

Side note: we opted for private cremation. If anyone would like to help with the expense of that and/or Gracie’s vet visit yesterday, donations would be much appreciated💓
💰Venmo:
💰PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/2153462
💰Credit on our veterinary account can be made at West Central Veterinary Services in Rockville or by calling 765-569-3210 to pay over the phone
💰Checks: PO Box 296, Bloomingdale, IN 47832

13/04/2024

Well, I changed my mind and had Penny spayed yesterday evening. She did great! I realize not everyone will agree with aborting kittens, but the risk just wasn’t worth it. I couldn’t let a baby have babies. There are too many unwanted cats already, and while it’s sad and it sucks, it’s also necessary.

Thankfully, Dr. Roberts, owner of Cat Snip is available at a moment’s notice and told me to bring her in last night. We are so grateful for her and the services she provides for rescues and TNR groups💓🐱

Penny is adoptable if anyone is interested!

10/04/2024

This is Penelope (aka Penny). I brought her home from work Monday night. She is a VERY pregnant kitten who is about to have kittens. I wouldn’t put her older than 6 months.

This is why spaying by 4 months is absolutely crucial because that is as young as kittens can start getting pregnant.

Please send good thoughts and positive vibes that Penny has an uncomplicated birth. She is too young for this.

07/04/2024

Big THANK YOU to Deputy Stonebraker and all who assisted in this rescue!

06/04/2024

Big delivery to Sugar Creek Resource Center this week. Cole thought he’d assist in loading 😸

A while back, I posted about Cole needing a couple of broken teeth removed. After having his pre-op bloodwork checked and come back good, he will be having that done this coming week.

Thank you to those who donated toward dental care expenses❣️

05/04/2024

I did not do a very good job with my picture taking here, but about a week ago we received information about a dog who got lost and was subsequently found by his owner after having been hit by a car. Blaze’s dad is currently going through a very difficult time in life and needed assistance for the dog, so we made the trip into the depths of rural Parke County to assess him and determine how to proceed.

“Blaze” was able to get up and greet us (super sweet doggo!) but had very limited use of his right hind leg. I was leaning toward pelvis fracture or dislocation, so with it being a Friday night and the vet already being closed, we knew it wasn’t a life-threatening emergency and decided to wait it out until Monday so we could avoid urgent and/or emergency costs. It had already been a few days since the accident, so a couple more wasn’t going to make a whole lot of difference.

Over the weekend, unfortunately Blaze declined in his mobility and was in a lot of pain so I gathered up what meds I knew would help give him some relief and we went back. Within a couple days of an anti-inflammatory, Blaze improved greatly. He is slowly starting to bear weight on the leg. By the time we assessed Blaze, if there is a fracture, it had already begun to heal, amputation would’ve been likely and we simply can’t afford it, so this is the best we could do.

Blaze might have a gimpy leg now but I’m glad we were able to provide a little relief and assistance to help his body heal itself ❤️‍🩹

30/03/2024

This is amazing news! Let’s all show them some love and support! Check out Happy Tails Animal Rescue 🐾❣️🐾

Terre Haute has a new animal rescue. It's called Happy Tails Animal Rescue.

29/03/2024

Beezle’s recheck appointment was yesterday. It’s been ~3 weeks since I first noticed the injury that started as a cat bite abscess. I took him to the vet about 4 days after I discovered it because I was fully aware something more was going on. By then the abscess had already mostly drained. He was given a convenia shot, round of pain meds and sent home.

Another two weeks went by. No improvement other than the superficial tissue wounds healing. Still very swollen, hot, painful and non weight-bearing. I thought it might be his tendon. It wasn’t. X-rays were taken yesterday to discover Beezle has osteomylitis (bone infection). The bacteria from the original cat bite made its way into his bone…which I knew within 4 days of it happening and is why I took him to the vet the first time. I didn’t know exactly what, I just knew there was something else wrong. Started out as a cat bite; cat bite WASN’T the issue by the time I took him in; it had already developed into something else.

Should’ve insisted on X-rays the first time. He could’ve lost his leg, or worse, over this had I not had the experience to know he needed to go back. By no means am I a vet, but 11 years of experience in rescue and the 100s of cats (literally) who have crossed my path in that time period has taught me a thing or two and I don’t appreciate being made to feel like I was the one who did something wrong. I had Beezle at the vet when I knew it was necessary and he didn’t get the treatment he needed. That is NOT my mistake.

Twenty one days worth of antibiotics to treat the bone infection and an X-ray pic I can’t even share with you due to “confidentiality” even though I just paid $300 more yesterday on top of the original $140 for the first appointment and Beezle still isn’t out of the woods yet. Out of respect for certain vets at the clinic, I will honor that request. Doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.

Bottom line is, know your animals and be prepared to advocate for them when you know it’s necessary. Not all cat bites are going to turn out like this. They rarely do. A cat with a strong immune system absolutely WILL be able to fight off a superficial cat bite abscess without antibiotic intervention but you need to be aware of when it’s more than that. And fyi, I could not care less who disagrees with that whether it’s a licensed vet or Joe Blow because I KNOW better and I will not be nickel and dimed to death with a bunch of unnecessary expense for meds an animal doesn’t need + create an antibiotic resistance at the same time. I realize not everyone has that experience, but common sense will go a long way. If you’re not sure, then go to the vet.

❣️THANK YOU❣️ so much to everyone who made a donation for Beezle to help offset the cost of his vet care!! We appreciate you🐈‍⬛

25/03/2024

This is a cat bite abscess. I drained it Thursday. Then again on Friday because the puncture closed up and held pus/infection in again. No vet visit, no meds. Second pic is today.

As long as these wounds can drain and the cat has a good immune system, they will heal on their own. They also rupture on their own eventually and the body will absorb the small amounts that don’t drain, but it’s a lot more comfortable for the cat to provide relief if you can, and it speeds up the healing process.

*Post edit: I am NOT telling anyone to perform surgery on their own animal. Cat bite abscesses are subcutaneous, meaning the pus and infection is just under the skin. You are not going into the muscle and will not cause any more harm than what has already been done. You can drain them by simply finding the scab of the puncture, removing it and gently applying pressure. If you’re not comfortable doing this and are able to afford a vet visit, by all means please do so.

25/03/2024

Approximately two and a half weeks ago, I noticed an injury on Beezle’s right hind “heel” area. At first I thought it was a cat bite abscess so I left it alone knowing it would drain and heal on its own. A few days went by and it was the same. That’s when I knew it was NOT a cat bite abscess, so I took him to the vet on March 13.

The vet, who we don’t normally see but they were able to squeeze him in the same morning I called, determined it was, in fact, a cat bite abscess. They took him in the back and attempted to drain it. Very little of anything came out…because it’s not an abscess. He got an antibiotic shot and was sent home with a round of pain meds. I was still not convinced it was a cat bite abscess and would have never taken him to the vet for that. I can drain them myself and once the infection is out, they heal on their own. Rarely are meds required and it’s an unnecessary expense.

It has been over two weeks and his leg is no better. It is very swollen, hot to the touch and he still can not bear any weight on it. I am pretty certain his “Achilles” tendon is damaged. Beezle is going back to the vet this Thursday. We have already spend $140 for something I knew was misdiagnosed.

If you’d like to help out with cost, any amount would be so very appreciated! Thank you in advance🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛

23/03/2024

Taffy had a visit with Dr. Joe on Tuesday for her teeth and enlarged mammary tumors. At 14.5 years old, she’s actually doing pretty darn good.

Her teeth basically only consist of her two lower canines. They have some infection going on, but are not loose so we are doing a round of antibiotics. Removing those teeth drastically weakens the bone there so it’s not without risk to remove them.

The majority of Taffy’s mammary tumors, although growing, are likely benign. Joe said in these cases it’s about half and half. They *could* be removed, but they don’t seem to be bothering her in any way and will likely outlive her at this age, so unless they become massive and inflamed we are not going to put her under anesthesia for surgery.

Ran some bloodwork just to have an idea of her major organ function *in case* surgery should become necessary and everything checked out good. Her heart and lungs are strong, and she is maintaining her weight as well, so overall a good report for little old gal 🩷

20/03/2024

Montezuma Police Department is taking a stand on their excessive “at large” dog issue. We fully support this decision and hope it induces greater responsibility among pet owners.

Indiana IC Code 15-20-1-4(c) states an owner of a dog commits a Class D infraction if the owner of the dog allows the dog to stray beyond the owner's premises, unless the dog is under the reasonable control of an individual or the dog is engaged in lawful hunting and accompanied by the owner or a custodian of the dog. However, the offense is a Class C infraction if the owner has a prior unrelated judgment for a violation of this subsection.

In the past we have tried to give one warning to every dog owner when their animals strayed beyond the owner's premises. We have now implemented a zero tolerance policy. If your animals stray from your premises you WILL be issued a citation.

The Parke/ Vermillion Humane Shelter is full and is not accepting our dogs due to lack of space. The last dog we took to them we were told to take it back to the streets of Montezuma and turn it loose. We also understand this is beyond their control.

We need your cooperation as a dog owner to take the responsibility to secure your pets. We will hold you accountable.

We have experienced an extreme increase in call volume regarding animal complaints. We appreciate your assistance in keeping your animals secure.

11/03/2024

Remember Old Man Lincoln? He was one of the 17 cats fixed a couple weeks ago from a colony in Bridgeton. Lincoln had severe stomatitis and had to have all 27 of his remaining teeth extracted.

Look at him now! Lincoln is looking and feeling SO much better after having the source of infection removed from his mouth😊 Animals, cats in particular, are very resilient little beings who deserve whatever help we, as humans, are able to give them. Whether they’re young or old, never assume it is too late to make their lives better. We are so happy Lincoln was given this chance♥️

Very grateful ❣️THANK YOU❣️ to M&F Mobile Services for covering Lincoln’s bill!!

11/03/2024

HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who donated for our visit to Indy Humane’s Rescue Relief Pet Food Pantry!!

We came back with ~925 lbs of pet food and supplies for $118 and we still have plenty of funds for the next trip, thanks to your amazing support❣️🐾

10/03/2024

This isn’t just an Indianapolis problem, it’s an Indiana problem. We need to recognize the issue and fight back against outdated legislation. We need to fight harder for these animals. Please watch this short video and sign the petition to show your support.

Our first video is here! Please share it and sign our petition here: https://chng.it/WWJTSgWTmV

07/03/2024

Tomorrow morning we go to IndyHumane’s chewy warehouse for our turn to purchase pet food and supplies at discounted cost. We usually spend *at least* $100, but we get a ton of supplies and if it weren’t for the ‘rescue relief’ program, I honestly don’t know what we’d do! Hopefully I will never have to approach a van like the one pictured 😂

Would anyone be willing to sponsor our cost of supplies for this month or make a donation toward the cost and/or gas for the trip? We would very much appreciate it! Venmo and PayPal links in comment section🐶🐾🐱

05/03/2024

Governor Eric Holcomb signed HB 1412 into law yesterday despite major public and professional opposition. This is a massive setback to animal welfare in Indiana.

03/03/2024

Sharing for Humane Society of Putnam County Indiana. Please consider making a donation and, if you haven’t yet, let this be your inspiration to contact Governor Eric Holcomb and ask him to VETO HB 1412. THIS IS EXACTLY WHY BREEDERS SHOULD NOT BE PROTECTED BY LAW!!! And no, I am not saying these are puppy mill dogs. I am saying that with breeders and pet stores being legally protected and having the green light to import MORE puppies from all over the country when there is nowhere near enough homes for the ones that are ALREADY here, we’re going to be seeing a lot more of these tragedies.

02/03/2024

I’m a bit overdue on these thank yous, but nonetheless, you all are tremendously appreciated!

Last month I told you about Buddy and Tootsie’s veterinary expenses, explained that Taffy, Gracie, Cole and Simon need checkups and dental work, and asked for donations to go toward unexpected expenses after we had a cat from a community colony need 27 teeth extracted during his neuter surgery🙀

We received $468.53 in donations through Facebook, PayPal and Venmo. $90 of that is specifically for Tootsie’s monthly Apoquel prescription for which a very caring and generous donor offered to sponsor anonymously♥️

A heartfelt ❣️thank you❣️ goes out to all of you for your gracious support!

🐾Karen Barnes Unser
🐾Debra Foxworthy
🐾Kathy Jones Gedrick
🐾Tracy Baldwin
🐾Jennifer Chapman
🐾Jodi Williams
🐾Erika Ramsey
🐾Monica Martin
🐾Sara Tilley
🐾Emily Hall