Save Courageous Orange's Life
Donation protected
When this beautiful cat first came to us, we named her Courageous Orange. Little did we know how much she'd live up to her name. It wasn't so much that we adopted her, but rather, she adopted us. Orange was content to live on our front porch, giving us cuddles as we came and went. She's beautiful and has such a sweet nature. Can you blame us for wanting to save her life?
Orange had to be an outside cat. We already had a rescue cat (as all our cats have been). Lucky was another cat we saved from euthanasia several years earlier. While she's come a long way from her rescue days, some of her anxiety still remains when it comes to other animals. Thus, Orange lived as Outside Cat and Lucky as Inside Cat.
Last week, Orange disappeared. We had no idea what had happened to her, and we grieved over the unknown. Then two days ago my daughter found her in the bushes of our front yard. She wasn't there the day before. Turns out, she had been hit by a car. This courageous kitty had spent a week dragging her poor broken body home to the family she'd adopted. She was starving and thirsty and her back leg had been shattered by the impact.
We rushed her to the vet who gave us two options: we could have her euthanised, or we could opt for surgery. Amputation was the most likely option, and poor, brave, tripod Courageous Orange would need to have a safe place to rest and recuperate.
That meant inside.
Oh dear. Lucky and Orange never got along, no matter how hard we tried (which is why Orange was an Outside Kitty). If we brought Orange inside, the quality-of-life impact on Lucky would be tremendous. But if we didn't opt for surgery, the only option was death.
I spent the rest of the night torn between an agonising decision. In the morning I went to the vet, where I broke down. I just couldn't bring myself to make the decision of death.
"There is a third option," said the vet. This clinic has close ties with Cat Haven , a local WA cat charity that is actively working towards reducing the euthanisation rate. If we voluntarily surrendered Orange, they would perform the life-saving surgery and work with Cat Haven to find Orange a Forever Home. If Cat Haven couldn't help, the RSPCA could. They also have a strong anti-euthanasia policy.
What a wonderful option! Courageous Orange's life can be saved and we can find her the home she deserves.
This is a small clinic with only two vets and a handful of nurses. It was a tremendous act of love for them to offer this option for Orange. If I had the money, I would have paid for everything myself and helped them rehome her. But I can't.
Here is where you can help: I am asking for $1800 from my fellow pet lovers to cover the cost of the X-rays and the surgery; I have paid for everything else. Any donations above my goal will go to Cat Haven or whatever good organisation helps her find a forever home.
Courageous Orange is a 3 year old silver tabby with a beautiful temperament. She is loyal and affectionate and adores being scritched behind the ears. She has been excellent with my daughters and their hugs. If she's had enough, she opts to run off, and has never bitten or scratched us at all. She has never hissed at Lucky and will choose to back off from a fight if she can. She has the potential to get along with other cats, but NOT dogs. She does not like dogs. As soon as she heals from her surgery (approx 2 weeks), it looks like she'll be available for adoption. More details on this as I learn them.
I am so grateful to the Rockingham Vet Clinic for their generous offer to save Courageous Orange's life and for their assistance in finding her a good home. If it wasn't for their help, Orange's only other option would have been death.
Orange had to be an outside cat. We already had a rescue cat (as all our cats have been). Lucky was another cat we saved from euthanasia several years earlier. While she's come a long way from her rescue days, some of her anxiety still remains when it comes to other animals. Thus, Orange lived as Outside Cat and Lucky as Inside Cat.
Last week, Orange disappeared. We had no idea what had happened to her, and we grieved over the unknown. Then two days ago my daughter found her in the bushes of our front yard. She wasn't there the day before. Turns out, she had been hit by a car. This courageous kitty had spent a week dragging her poor broken body home to the family she'd adopted. She was starving and thirsty and her back leg had been shattered by the impact.
We rushed her to the vet who gave us two options: we could have her euthanised, or we could opt for surgery. Amputation was the most likely option, and poor, brave, tripod Courageous Orange would need to have a safe place to rest and recuperate.
That meant inside.
Oh dear. Lucky and Orange never got along, no matter how hard we tried (which is why Orange was an Outside Kitty). If we brought Orange inside, the quality-of-life impact on Lucky would be tremendous. But if we didn't opt for surgery, the only option was death.
I spent the rest of the night torn between an agonising decision. In the morning I went to the vet, where I broke down. I just couldn't bring myself to make the decision of death.
"There is a third option," said the vet. This clinic has close ties with Cat Haven , a local WA cat charity that is actively working towards reducing the euthanisation rate. If we voluntarily surrendered Orange, they would perform the life-saving surgery and work with Cat Haven to find Orange a Forever Home. If Cat Haven couldn't help, the RSPCA could. They also have a strong anti-euthanasia policy.
What a wonderful option! Courageous Orange's life can be saved and we can find her the home she deserves.
This is a small clinic with only two vets and a handful of nurses. It was a tremendous act of love for them to offer this option for Orange. If I had the money, I would have paid for everything myself and helped them rehome her. But I can't.
Here is where you can help: I am asking for $1800 from my fellow pet lovers to cover the cost of the X-rays and the surgery; I have paid for everything else. Any donations above my goal will go to Cat Haven or whatever good organisation helps her find a forever home.
Courageous Orange is a 3 year old silver tabby with a beautiful temperament. She is loyal and affectionate and adores being scritched behind the ears. She has been excellent with my daughters and their hugs. If she's had enough, she opts to run off, and has never bitten or scratched us at all. She has never hissed at Lucky and will choose to back off from a fight if she can. She has the potential to get along with other cats, but NOT dogs. She does not like dogs. As soon as she heals from her surgery (approx 2 weeks), it looks like she'll be available for adoption. More details on this as I learn them.
I am so grateful to the Rockingham Vet Clinic for their generous offer to save Courageous Orange's life and for their assistance in finding her a good home. If it wasn't for their help, Orange's only other option would have been death.
Organizer
Heidi Wessman Kneale
Organizer
