St. Francis Society Animal Rescue: Emergency Medical Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The $1,000 Emergency Medical Grant was used to help Norman, a critical-care feline.

The grant was used to help offset the more than $10,000 in veterinary bills we accrued for Norman's care.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Norman is a 2-year-old domestic shorthair cat. He was brought to our county animal shelter by a good Samaritan who found him lying in the middle of a main highway, having been hit by a car. Norman was saved from euthanasia by a local animal lover, George. George brought Norman to a private veterinarian, who diagnosed him with bilateral luxating patellas. As if that wasn’t terrible enough, Norman contracted a severe upper-respiratory infection that quickly overtook his body. Unable to afford the proper care for Norman, George surrendered him to St. Francis Society. Norman needed 24-hour critical care at a veterinary specialist (Blue Pearl) as he fought the infection in his body. In addition to the infection, he was also suffering from a critical electrolyte and sodium imbalance and had to be in an incubator, as his body was unable to maintain its temperature. He had a feeding tube as he was unable to eat on his own.

Today, our special cat, Norman, continues to progress in his journey to recovery. Several weeks ago, he was released from his specialists at Blue Pearl and also VCA Carrollwood Cats after treatment for the condition that nearly took his life. All of his medical professionals attest that Norman truly is a “miracle cat” in that there was very little hope early on that he would make it through the severe URI that compromised his entire immune system. But with the extensive medical care and love he received from his St Francis foster family, Norman flourished, and is now nearing the time when we will be able to have his luxating hip injury corrected. Following his FHO (femoral head ostectomy) surgery, he will undergo rehabilitation for a period of 6-8 weeks. After this period, we are very hopeful that Norman’s mobility will be much improved and a forever home can be found for him.