By Karen Menczer | Executive Directive, Animal-Kind International
Usually I send as many Emergency Fund stories and pictures as I can reasonably fit into a GlobalGiving Progress Report. Instead, for this Progress Report, I'm going to send a few of my recent favorites. If, after you read this, you’re thirsting for more, check out our updates in AKI Blog posts (links below).
Little Wink from Walvis Bay was brought to a vet clinic to be euthanized. She had been at a local shelter and had caught a virus. It spread to her eye and caused swelling and she would need surgery to remove the eye. Other than that, Wink is a gorgeous, healthy, and playful kitten and the vet was convinced that Wink had a 100 % chance - minus one eye - to live a happy and healthy life.
The shelter had made the difficult decision to euthanize Wink since they felt that a one-eyed kitten wouldn’t get adopted. But in a happy coincidence, trap-neuter-release volunteer, Emilia, was at the clinic when Wink was brought in. Emilia knew about the Animal-Kind International-Have-a-Heart Emergency Fund and suggested that the Fund might be able to help Wink.
As always, we first heard Wink's story from HaH’s Geesche, who added, “We simply love our vets, they have so much passion for Namibia's less fortunate cats and dogs and despite the fact they are making much less money with the discounted rates HaH/AKI gets, they care about the animals so much and with a big heart!”
Of course we agreed to use the Emergency Fund to help cute Wink.
Wink got the surgery she needed and Geesche wrote, “Because of AKI, Wink was helped in no time. She took the operation like a champ. She is a perfect little girl and is now with her caring foster mom and hopefully she will soon find her forever home. Thanks to AKI little Wink has a chance to live the carefree life she was supposed to live when she was born. THANK YOU!”
(see the 2 photos of cute Wink)
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Stardust is from Rehoboth and he was neutered via HaH a couple of years ago. His family really loves him and when they noticed he wasn't feeling well, they took him to Aanwo Vet Clinic, where Dr Rakel diagnosed kidney stones. Having been neutered and having a caring family meant that Stardust easily qualified for the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund.
Dr Rakel was able to flush the urethra, but when that's done, the stones usually go back to the bladder, and from there, move again into the urethra and block the urine again.
But for now, Stardust was feeling so much better. Knowing this wasn't a long-term solution, HaH tried to find a ride to Windhoek for Stardust so that he could go to a larger hospital where x-rays could be taken and the stones could be surgically removed. But as much as HaH tried, they couldn't find a lift for Stardust.
After a few days, Dr Rakel decided to try to remove the stones surgically herself before they ended up doing real damage to Stardust.
Stardust's family was in tears and desperate to stop Stardust's pain, and they wondered if it wouldn't be the kindest thing to have him put to sleep. But Dr Rakel was determined to help Stardust, even under the difficult circumstances -- with no way to take an x-ray. Stardust was put on IV fluids and antibiotics and Dr Rakel performed the surgery (see photo).
His urine became more clear with fewer crystals. The surgery was a great success!!
Stardust was on anti-inflammatories and antibiotics for a while, and he is using his litterbox, drinking water, on a soft diet, and being monitored closely for now.
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Spokie was found by Charlotte a bit outside Rehoboth. He may have been dumped there because of his terrible eye injury. But other than that, he was in good condition.
Charlotte rushed Spokie (which might be pronounced Spooky, we're not sure) to Aanwo Vet Clinic in Rehoboth, where she knew he would qualify for the AKI-HaH Emergency Fund. Poor Spokie, he must have been in unimaginable pain. And--this part is really bad-- it wasn't a new injury, there were maggots in his eye. (see photo)
After arriving at the clinic, Spokie immediately went into surgery. He was in so much pain and he smelled horribly, as if his eye was already rotting, no time to lose!
The surgery went well, he got all the medication he needed to heal and be pain-free. He had to stay at the clinic on a drip for two days (see photo of Spokie after the surgery). When he was discharged, Charlotte took him home to foster him until he was fully healed. And he already found a forever home--Spokie finally was graced with some good luck!
And Geesche wrote to us, "Thank you so much AKI for being there for Spokie when he needed a life line!"
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Thank you to all of our kind, generous supporters. These happy stories are only possible because of your help!
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