Hello Handipets! This is Michelle Lyon, of Operation Fuzzy Mice. I have received a copy of the email from @FelineUnit.

YOU CAN DONATE HERE:  http://pledgie.com/campaigns/10799

My mission with Operation Fuzzy Mice is to provide vet care and other pet-related resources, either by paying for it directly or by referral and networking, to low-income families who own pets, and who would otherwise have to relinquish, abandon, or euthanize their pets for inability to provide care financially. Nearly all of these families have fallen on hard times due to illness, injury, family disaster, or national economic recession resulting in loss of jobs or homes. Pets are given up tearfully and reluctantly by owners, because families see no other choice. This of course does no justice to the pets, nor to California’s already-struggling economy when the state must support overcrowded shelters as well as euthanize and dispose of so many homeless animals. I have only known one case where an owner gave a pet up in coldhearted fashion. All others were tearful and reluctant, not just “dumping.” Even in abandonment cases, animals are purposefully left in places where someone else may find and care for them, and this happens because the owners can’t afford to pay the relinquishment fee at a shelter.

On the flipside to those who relinquish pets, are folks who have gone as far as moving to tent-cities or living in cars before giving up their pets, refusing to turn their back on a fellow member of the family. I have also met a lot of lifelong homeless folks who do things like attend mission meal lines, and take an extra plate home to the pet, or give their whole meal and themselves go hungry before that pet goes without, the way many parents would do for their children. For a lot of these folks, with no money, family, home, health or future, that pet is the only thing they’ve got. I’ve even met one man who believes if he didn’t have his dog, he would have no reason to stay sober.

I believe that these folks, with such love and devotion to their pets, deserve a chance, and their pets deserve to keep their homes and humans. This public assistance is our primary mission.

We do have some cats in our care, as we got started by taking in abandoned pregnant strays so that kittens would not be born feral. (It is mostly female cats who are abandoned, because owners cannot afford spaying them nor feeding more kittens.) Most of those cats are adoptable, but still live here, because in Bakersfield culture, no one wants to go through adoption proceedings when a neighbor or a newspaper ad is giving kittens away for free with no strings attatched. There’s a major cultural mindset of apathy towards cats that must change if Bakersfield is to reduce staggering cat overpopulations, and Operation Fuzzy Mice would like to take some small step in making that change.

Conan, who FelineUnit mentioned, is one of these foster cats. He and three littermates were bottle fed orphans. Conan sustained an injury at an interested adoptive home, and was reclaimed. It has been almost two months, and the paw has still not healed. The vet suggested irrigation surgery, but all we could pay for at the time was lancing. There have been other pets; Tiger was stepped on by accident, suffered head trauma, and was making a turnaround before dying. We await necropsy results, but there is no doubt that if Tiger received full IV meds and diagnostics immediately, his chances would have been far better. Tiger’s sister, Tina, was a runt, and diagnostic testing might have led to surgery to improve her chances. Survivor succumbed to flea anemia, which might have been reversed with a blood transfusion. Middy2 died of septic shock, avoidable if his giardia were diagnosed and treated immediately rather than waiting for funding. His sister, Nymph, carries the giardia and shows stunted growth among other health problems, waiting for funding. Buttercup is a terrior mix who has an unidentified skin fungus, the shampoo alone costing the elderly owner $25 per month. There are countless other pets in homes dealing with flea infestations, respiratory viruses, worms, unwanted pregnancies, and many other very treatable conditions, but the families, many homeless, unemployed, or on social benefits, have choose between providing this care or putting food in their stomaches.

There is a CareCredit account for Operation Fuzzy Mice, but it is maxed. The pets who were vetted in full on this credit line are thriving now. Those who had to wait for fundraising and then get minimal vetting have done poorly or have died. Our request to you is to drive to pay off or pay down the CareCredit, or, start up a fund for supplies or for spay and neuter assistance to families. Even more in need than money, are volunteers to serve on our executive board so we can apply for nonprofit status.

I hope your organization can help us, and I look forward to working together.

Michelle
http://fuzzymice.typepad.com/

We had a few fundraisers going but time was running out.  We did raise enough funds to get a few panels but finally we asked my sister if she could get us a small loan to get the rest of the panels because the kennel continues to collapse inward and it’s becoming dangerous to humans and soon will be a danger to animals.  Between the donations we did get and the loan we were able to get enough panels and lumber to build two solid walls.  We are still trying to raise donations for a wire wall to complete the structure and for the materials needed for the feline containment trap netting that must be in place around the perimeter of the fence in order for us to tear out the ruins of the collapsed kennel and allow the animals to use the new one.

Here is a slideshow of the work in progress

If you cannot view the slide show CLICK HERE to view the photo album

If you can help out please do, we are making progress but without your help we will not be able to finish.

First we wish to thank Lisanne Walke of Rockin’ & Ridin’ for Autism for assisting us in this fundraiser.  They created this awesome flier for us and are helping us promote this fundraiser in hopes that we can get our “Crippled Critters” into a larger, safe, private, community accepted, stockade kennel with feline containment netting.

Misty Raine of Rockin’ & Ridin for Autism says: ” My *Burp Day* Request is to HELP fellow critters via Rockin’ & Ridin’ for Autism Non Profit 501(c)3 Charity public ID P15719 Tax Deductible Receipts Available”If you wish to donate to a 501c3 Tax Deductible Charity raising funds for Handipets please use this link:http://tinyurl.com/yatxkv2

Dixie Thunder of Aiken County SC helped us raise funds to build a small lumber and wire mesh kennel for our special critters.  Unfortunately weather and outside animals trying to get in took it’s toll on the kennel through 2009 and the 2010 South Carolina snowstorm finally destroyed it.  We are spending precious funds on temporary patchups of a collapsing kennel when what we need is to build a new one.  We can’t keep patching the existing one AND buy new fence panels at the same time.  This is where we need help.  We can keep patching the existing damaged kennel as long as someone is willing to help us buy new fence panels.  Once we have all the fence panels we need we can begin erect the new fence, tear down the remains of the old one and recycle whatever we can to finish off the new one.

We run our kennel out of pocket and with the annual Crippled Critter Benefit Events held by Dixie Thunder.  This alone helps us care for the animals, providing them high quality grain/gluten free commercial foods such as
Taste of the Wild Roasted Venison and Smoked Salmon dry food,
Dick Van Patten’s  Natural Balance® L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets® Venison & Green Pea Canned Formula,
Honest Kitchen dehydrated raw food for cats as well as raw foods a diet known as BARF

We also use botanical and holistic care and buy items locally at Aiken County’s Herb Store

How you can help

We can accept gift cards for Superpetz as this is the only local store that sells the dry and canned foods we feed our crew.  Helping us with animal food helps us put our funds toward fence panels.

We can accept gift cards for Home Depot which has the lowest price stockade fence panels in our area and they have an E-Gift card program.

We can accept gift cards for The Tractor Supply Company which has the right size wire mesh at the lowest cost in our area.

We can pick up items purchased if you wish to just purchase one or more of the items we need and let the store know Amy Hawkinson will pick up.

The Store addresses are:
Home Depot
Aiken #1117

1785 Whiskey Road
Aiken, SC 29803
(803)648-6291

Superpetz
1589 Whiskey Road
Aiken, SC 29803
803-641-1146

Tractor Supply Company
AIKEN
#724

2655 WHISKEY ROAD – AIKEN, SC 29803
(803) 648-4449

Finally we are accepting Credit/Debit/Paypal donations here:
http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/e39514f608b80ed7

Handipets is NOT a 501c3 charity.  Donations to Handipets are NOT tax deductible.  If you wish to donate to a tax deductible charity please scroll back up and donate to the Rockin’ and  Ridin’ fund raiser to benefit Handipets.



I WISH Financial Assistance to Help With Vet Bills For My Sick Kitty

I am a disabled individual on SSI, who has been struggling monthly with
what the system provides. I have a wonderful 12 year old companion
kitty, Bandit, who has been diabetic for the last 2 and 1/2 years. He
has been up-chucking his food every now and again recently, and needs
to be checked out by a Vet. [He's previous one is no longer with us].

I
very much need your kind financial assistance in being able to get
Bandit a thorough Glucose panel [involves all day testing], complete
blood panel and tox screen, with liver enzymes, UA testing, possible
fecal testing; and whatever else a new Veterinarian would require, plus
medications.

Bandit means the world to me, and is more than just
a pet. . .he’s therapeutic value is invaluable, and truly is beyond
description.

Bandit is my Baby; and because of huge Emergency
Vet Hospital Bill [over %3,500], I often due without basic necessities,
to make sure he is taken care of, and the huge monthly payment is made.
It is hard, what with two mortgage payments, Prop. Taxes, Prop Ins.,
Car Ins., meds that are not covered…and the list goes on.

Bottom
line is to get my Baby seen and evaluated; re-adjust his insulin if
necessary, a ‘good’ special diet that agrees with his tummy, and all
the other things he needs to manage his diabetes, so there will be more
happy, healthy, mischievous years left in my BBB![Big Beautiful Boy]

Thank you for reading. And, I want you to know I most greatly support any help you can offer!

If you can help please visit:

http://wishuponahero.com/wishes/?id=16037

I WISH for monetary help to save my kitty!

I have posted this as a wish before, but there have been some increases
in the costs due to “unseen charges” as the vets put it. Please I am so
desperate for help! My kitty has been diagnosed with an aggressive
systemic nasal lymphoma and she is deteriorating quickly. She is still
eating and drinking, but I don’t know how much longer that is going to
keep up. She desperatly needs an aggreesive form of chemotherapy that
is going to cost $5500 if there are no complications. She was supposed
to get radiation therapy and chemo, but because the radiation was $5500
and the chemo is $5500, there is no way could raise the $11,000 for
both. I have chosen to try chemo as her last figting chance (although I
am still $3500 short). This kitty is my everything, I love her with all
my heart and soul. Please if you could help, it would be greatly
appreciated by the both of us. If you would like to know more my email
is argonautkatie@hotmail.com if the paypal link doesnt work, here is
another link:

Paypal addy argonautkatie@hotmail.com

or you can contact the vet:
Cordova Animal Medical Center
2433 E. Langley Ave.
Pensacola, FL 32504
Phone: (850) 479-2222
Veterinarian: Dr. Shelly Ashley
Patient: Sydney
Species: Feline
Owner: Katharine G. Herman

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

If you can help please visit
http://wishuponahero.com/wishes/?id=36794

I WISH to receive help for Jewels Vet Care

Crosspost ok and welcome

The following message is also contained at this link:

http://www.lizardmarsh.net/2008/05/merced-ca-chi-with-broken-pelvis10-lbs.html

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Merced CA: Chi with broken pelvis.10 lbs.

Crossposting for A042181 in Merced County pound in Merced, CA whose record may be found here . To save him contact Dana ddulaney@wac.com wac.com at Merced County Animal Control
at (209) 385-7436 — “I am a male, brown and white Chihuahua – Smooth
Coated mix. Maybe 2 yrs old. Been at shelter since May 13.”

Toby and Lucy are approximately 8 weeks old. They were both born
missing a portion of one of their hind legs. They get around well by
hopping. Toby is missing only his toes, but it seems to be painful
for him to put any weight on the rest of his limb. He may require
another amputation in the future. For the meantime, he just hops
around like Lucy. Lucy is missing her leg right below the knee. She
is slower to get around than Toby, but gets along just fine.

Toby is the adventurous brother. He is very curious and was always
the first kitten to figure things out. He learned how to eat dry
food when he was 3 weeks old! He also loves attention and has a
mighty purr!! He is also extremely patient and has a wonderful
temperament.

Lucy is the cuddler. She developed a tad slower than her siblings
because of her more significant disability. Because of this, she was
always sitting in my lap. Whenever I walk into their room, she looks
up at me with the cutest face that is begging me to sit down so she
can crawl into my lap. She is the sweetest girl with a calm and
loving personality.

Toby and Lucy need a family who will love them for who they are.
They need someone to constantly inspect their limbs to make sure they
don’t develop sores that could lead to an additional amputation.
They also need a family that is financial able and willing to pay for
any additional surgeries if it becomes necessary. These two kittens
are precious and full of energy. They will make a wonderful addition
to any family!

Please email me if you are interested in meeting these sweet babies.

laura.ramsower@gmail.com

I am a very special kitty who is looking for someone very special to take care of me. I only have three legs and have had a bit of a rough life. My family had gotten some kittens and we didn’t get along very well so they gave me up. I am extremely talkative and would love to have someone to chat with. Someone who could pet me and love me and brush me. I don’t care much for other kitties or dogs because I think they will make fun of me and my three legs. I may need a little bit of an extra hand now and again and someone who can be a little sympathetic to me and my needs but I promise that the love I would give back to you makes it all worth it.

Email info@fancycats.org to help “Kelsey” find her way.