Robert’s Rescues: FIV prevention and care - Brazil

Robert’s Rescues: FIV prevention and care in Brazil. 

Robert was rescued in May 2018 after 7 long years of suffering on the streets, as a result of facing prejudice because of being FIV+ he started #clubefiv an online group to bring FIV+ cats together, and a project called ‘Corrente do Bem’ (Pay It Forward) to slow the spread of the disease through castration as well as help other FIV+ cats from the same colony of street cats where he was born. This campaign started in support of that project and has expanded to help street cats and cats from low sócio economic homes. We focus on FIV+ cats in need but also help others where we can.

Objective 1:

Prevention

In 2019 we started with a goal of castrating 25-30 cats, focusing on Robert's old colony to stop the spread of FIV as well as the suffering of kittens born into the terrible conditions there.

To date Robert's Rescues has castrated 67 cats, more than double out original target. Unfortunately the pandemic lead to a decline in donations so the castration project has stalled. To castrate another 30 cats we need to raise R$3000. (AUD$850)

Objective 2:

Care

In 2019 we started by helping Vovô and Lelepe (Lippy), both received foster care, surgery, medical treatment and went on to be adopted. Sadly FIV+ Vovô' passed away after a year or so of love with his adopted parents. Lippy took almost two years to find a home, but what a perfect home it is! We get regular photos and updates.

In the three and and half years we have been operating Robert's Rescues has assisted over 40 cats and kittens. Seven of those have been FIV+. We have also assisted four dogs and a wild bird. We had some trouble accessing Go Fund Me from our home over the past few years, but will do a retrospective post on who has been helped by your amazing donations!

Objective 3:

Testing

Robert's Rescues has tested all street cats we have helped for FIV/FeLV. Unfortunately the cost of rapid tests has risen a lot, it now costs R$140 per cat. (AUD$40)

Objective 4:

Feeding

Robert often went hungry, the volunteer at his old colony never has enough food. We have donated countless 20 kilo bags over the past few years. Also to some cats that lost their human mother to COVID and to other needy causes on a case by case basis. Robert's Rescues now has a feeding station for our local street cat Ebony and various other cats that get abandoned here. As we've had no donations in 2023 maintaining the feeding station is now an out of pocket expense for Robert's family.

Robert's old colony uses about 8 twenty kilo bags of dry food per month, at a cost of R$1440 per month. (AUD$410). For every AUD$50 raised for food, we can donate twenty kilos of dry food.

Objective 5:

Education

Robert posts on Instagram and appears at seminars and events to break down some of the myths about FIV. We don't request donations for this but it is a key focus of Robert's Rescues that has already saved the lives of other FIV+ cats. His Instagram @bob_o_fenix_felino

Thanks to all our supporters!