Diamonds in the Ruff CSRA Inc. dba Kitty Konnection

Bruno is a 3-year-old chocolate male who has had a rough start in life. Bruno came to us when a concerned citizen rescued him running along a busy highway, darting in and out of traffic. Skittish at first, he knew the stranger was trying to help as he carefully approached her. Bruno wanted to be saved, and he was. A wellness check at the vet the next day revealed Bruno was emaciated and heartworm-positive but otherwise healthy. The vet techs loved him and showered him with their affection. Bruno returned the love, tail wagging, finally able to relax. Bruno is safe and loved in foster care and has begun the long journey to good health, including costly heartworm treatment. As a rescue, we can only provide extraordinary care with donations. Bruno has a ways to go, but with your help, we can give him the life he so deserves.

Since Hurricane Helene devastated the CSRA this past September, Kitty Konnection has been overwhelmed with helping so many homeless and displaced animals. Each of these animals required some sort of medical attention, and the cost has been tremendous. Like so many rescues, we have been struggling just to keep going. Grant opportunities have not been as plentiful as in the past due to the increase in cost of essential items and individual donations have been few. Our only steady source of revenue is from adoption fees which absolutely do not cover everything.

During this season of giving, could you please consider making a donation to help our organization continue its lifesaving mission? Your donations are tax deductible and so very much appreciated.

Every three days, we will feature a hurricane Helene kitty/puppy that Kitty Konnection is helping! Following is a brief bio of our rescue. Thank you and God bless.

Kitty Konnection was founded in September 2012 as a cat and kitten rescue in Richmond and Columbia County Georgia. Since Kitty Konnection began, we have rescued and adopted out more than 6,000 surrenders from local citizens for a variety of reason. Our animals are thoroughly vetted and care is provided if needed including extraordinary care for serious injuries and illnesses. Animals are cared for in homes with incredible fosters who are trained where they remain until permanent homes are found. Our adoption venue is the local Petco Store in evens Georgia where we have been a partner since the beginning. Our goal is to educate the community, spay/neuter and vaccinate as many animals as our budget allows us to each year. We are considered the “Go To Rescue” for acquiring healthy animals.

Hazelnut was found near midnight, face down in a driveway and unresponsive. She was around 3 months old and one of her eyes had ruptured due to a past injury or infection. She was also extremely underweight and covered in fleas and small bite wounds. At the vet, despite being in pain, she purred the whole time the staff helped her. Hazelnut will receive necessary surgery to remove the dead and infected tissue of her eye and prevent life threatening infections. Her surgery is scheduled for Thursday, 11/14. Please donate if you can to help us save Hazelnut.

Duke was discovered wandering the streets in a rural community. Abandoned and suffering, a concerned citizen contacted us to report the situation. Duke is a young man, approximately 2 years old. He is the victim of trauma which broke his femur and pelvis. He also suffers from malnutrition, severe skin issues as well as advanced heartworm disease. When rescue arrived, Duke was wearing a collar that was too tight and beginning to adhere to the skin around his neck. He was seeking help and about to give up when he was found. Duke has turned out to be a true sweetheart despite his enormous suffering. Immediately transported to a vet, he was evaluated and treatment for his issues began. The vet who worked with Duke stated that he is a "very sweet boy". You can see the relief and gratitude in his eyes and he will finally be sleeping in a safe place, on a soft bed never to have to be ignored again. Duke's medical bills will be hefty and we are asking for your help to ensure that he receives the care he so deserves. Thank you for your support.

Recently, Kitty Konnection was notified of a large number of cats and kittens living in unspeakable conditions. When a volunteer visited the residence, they found these animals living in a garage that was neither lit nor heated. The only source of light was a a few small windows near the top of the garage door. The smell of cat urine and feces were overpowering, and cats and kittens hid among boxes or in the exposed rafters. Minimal food was available and litterboxes were dirty. One adult male cat was locked in a tiny crate with no food, water, or bedding, only a dirty litter box. More than 34 adult cats were continuously breeding. There were pregnant cats, nursing moms and newborn kittens and upon further inspection, dead kittens were discovered.

Kitty Konneciton was able to remove 34 cats and begin medical treatment immediately. We also began moving cats into foster as quickly as we could. Every cat who has been moved into foster has had severe health and emotional issues stemming from neglect. The kittens were all critically underweight and many were near death upon their removal from the garage, with eye infections, flea infestations, and internal parasites including giardia and coccidia. The adult cats are also underweight, with emaciated appearances, and scabs and scars from fleas, fighting, and continuous breeding covering their bodies. Of the female cats, most have had multiple litters of kittens per year, every year since coming to the owner's “care”; they are emaciated, scarred, and frightened of other cats from their time with this owner. All the cats required emergency refeeding, medications to combat fleas, ringworm, eye infections, giardia, and coccidia, and of course spay/neuter appointments.

In all, it has taken over $4,000 in medical expenses, 11 foster homes, and countless volunteer hours to complete this project. Our organization is struggling with medical expenses and it has been a particularly hard hit as we try to prepare financially for the coming kitten season. We appreciate any assistance you can provide.

On Friday, February 9th, Bibi, a 2 month old kitten, was surrendered to an Augusta animal shelter. Bibi was severely underweight, covered in what appeared to be motor oil, and had open wounds on her back feet; most concerningly, her front left leg appeared to be broken and she could not straighten it. We will never know for sure, but like many kittens in winter, Bibi may have been sheltering in a car engine for warmth when the car was suddenly turned on and began to move. Either way, the shelter put out an urgent call for a rescue to take on her case, and a Kitty Konnection foster picked her up that day.

After several vet visits, and a trip to an orthopedic specialist, it was discovered that Bibi's front left leg was severely dislocated. Due to her young age, scar tissue had quickly formed around the site, making a surgical fix her only option. Due to Bibi's age and the fact that she is still growing, a simpler bone fusion procedure was not an option. The cost is estimated at $3,000. Without swift surgical intervention, Bibi will likely lose her leg. Surgery is scheduled for March 4th. If you can help Bibi reach her goal, please donate here. Despite all that she has been through, Bibi remains the sweetest, gentlest kitten, who instantly befriends everyone she meets. Bibi has a long journey ahead, but with help, she will be able to live a full and wonderful life.

Donations may also be made directly to Capital Animal Hospital, 511 Beltline Blvd., Columbia, SC 29205. Call (803) [phone redacted] and tell them the donation is for Bibi's surgery under Kitty Konnection. Thank you in advance.

Please help Kitty Konnection with extraordinary surgeries this kitten season!

Hope is just one of many kittens in immediate need of our help. Hope's story is that she was found on the streets of Richmond County, Georgia suffering and unable to see at all. Both eyes matted shut and wandering on a busy street Hope was unable to see her way to safety. Noticed when a passerby saw her, she was picked up and Kitty Konnection was contacted for help. We immediately took Hope into foster care and began treating her eye infections. One eye can possibly be saved, however the other looks bleak and will need removal. This little two pound kitten is a fighter! With multiple visits to our vet and specialized care required, we are committed to ensure Hope receives the surgery and aftercare that she needs.

Hope's story is one of many. Broken limbs, amputations, life threatening illness and disease is rampant especially when there are so many kittens born in the warm months. We are overwhelmed and struggling to make ends meet. The rise in costs including vet visits, surgeries, medications, food and litter are hitting us hard. Our fosters are committed and work around the clock to help as many as we can.

A different emergency surgery was performed over the weekend when a local citizen was feeding a pregnant mom cat who showed up with 2 newborn kittens. Mom was in total distress and after a visit to our local vet, it was determined that there were 3 additional unborn kittens which she was unable to deliver. This was an "after hours visit" and a very expensive one.

The county animal shelter in Augusta, Georgia has the highest kill rate in the entire state. We work as hard as we can to keep cats and kittens from entering this shelter if we can possibly do it but we need your help. Your donations are so appreciated and no amount is too small. Many kittens, just like Hope, are counting on you.

Kitty Konnection is the only dedicated cat and kitten rescue in our area. We service the Central Savannah River Area , which includes many rural areas where there are no county shelters available. We are a 501-c3 non profit, all volunteer organization with dedicated volunteers who take these animals into their homes for care.

Thank you!