Rikki's Refuge, a division of Life Unlimited of Virginia, Inc.: Shelter+ Challenge Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
Medical care: It enabled us to provide surgery to a resident pigeon, treatment to a resident cat, intake and preparation for adoption -- or life care if needed -- for two cats and three hound dogs.
Gave them needed medical care and saved their lives.
How many pets did this grant help?
7
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Jeff the pigeon had broken his leg. It was a shattered break at the hip. Though the doctors tried, it would not heal. Amputation was required. This is a pretty special and delicate surgery on a pigeon. He came through the surgery and is doing well now. Semi-feral sanctuary resident Flower the kitty had some gastric problems that turned out to be from a hernia. She had surgery and has recovered well and is out playing with her friends and anticipating the coming spring. Yetti was tossed over our fence in a snow storm on one of the coldest days of this year. We found the poor kitty wondering around scared and lost. She’s now had all the medical work necessary for adoption: spaying, vaccinations, parasite control and blood testing. She’s at our adoption center.
Joseph was living in a little area under an ATM machine at our local bank. He was terrified and several people complained to the bank about the poor cat out there. The bank asked us to remove him. It took waiting up late at night with a trap set to catch him. During the cold winter months you can’t just leave a trap set and come back later. We were expecting him to be feral and to join the feral colony at our sanctuary. He turned out to be quite friendly and now that he’s medically all fixed up, he’s ready for adoption.
We were able to save three hound dogs, Anna, Oscar and Moose — used-up hunting hounds, no longer wanted and destined to die. After vetting, they’re enjoying life at Doggy Downs at our sanctuary. Though available for adoption, being elderly and with some ongoing medical problems, they may spend the rest of their lives with us.
