A few of the kitties we've helped in recent months.
Storm had a horrible upper respiratory infection. His family loved him so much, they were willing to surrender him to a rescue just to get him treated. He was rescued after Hurricane Irma, and since he survived that, we knew he'd get through this, too! After some medication, he was as good as new and is still happily at home with his family.
Poor Little O! He had the worst allergies. And as a result of all of the scratching, he started developing skin infections. We sponsored his trip to the veterinarian and his medications to help him feel more comfortable and happy with his brother dog and loving mom.
Poor Little O! He had the worst allergies. And as a result of all of the scratching, he started developing skin infections. We sponsored his trip to the veterinarian and his medications to help him feel more comfortable and happy with his brother dog and loving mom.
Yoshi was found and rescued by a loving family - and soon after got hit by a car after a crafty escape. We contributed to his veterinary care for broken bones. He is back to his old rambunctious self and safe in his forever home.
Alien became a therapy cat for his mom after she was assaulted and suffered a traumatic brain injury. We partnered with Cats CAN Inc. to pay for the cost of hospitalization and care after Alien became blocked. We're so happy this boy is back with his mom and working his magic.
Bubby is a much-loved family pooch with some major mouth problems. Some infections in his mouth and rotting teeth were causing other health concerns. We helped pay for a portion of his dental procedures so that he could go back to smiling with his family.
Lucky is the perfect name for this kitty cat. He was found outside in a parking lot, unable to move and being swarmed by ants. A kind lady found him and we helped her get veterinary care for him, heal his wounds, and start his life over again. The veterinarian couldn't believe how amazing his turnaround was. He is FIV+ - but did you know that FIV positive and negative cats can live together safely? We are so happy for Lucky.
Poor Smokey! Smokey had a tear in his intestines and was unable to pass stool. He was miserably uncomfortable and in danger of becoming septic. We matched what his family was able to pay - and Smokey went home to his happy and relieved family on his dad's birthday! Thanks to our friends at Kirkpatrick Veterinary Hospital for helping this 9-year-old live out his years with his family. And enormous thanks to our donors for helping us help Smokey.
When Whiskey showed up on the doorstep injured, her rescuer had hope that someone would fall in love and claim her. Seminole County Animal Control kept her for a week and treated her wounds....and her rescuer - who was 9-months pregnant - couldn't stop thinking about her. She went back and adopted Whiskey and we covered the costs of her additional vet care and antibiotics. Now Whiskey and her new human sibling are both comfy and at home.
It's been a busy few months, so here's a summary of some of the good stuff we've been up to:
- Reinhardt and McCree - found as friendly strays in an apartment complex. Both were neutered, vaccinated and treated for eye issues.
- Nibbles is part of an outdoor colony loyally fed and cared for by an older gentleman. Nibbles needed help with some rotting teeth, so we sponsored his dental work.
- Bo's owners thought they might have to euthanize him because of a urinary blockage. Thankfully, the vet care we sponsored proved that that he had different medical issues that could be treated.
- This is a sad one - Trooper, we think, was hit by a car and found in Apopka. We sent him to the vet to end his suffering.
- Emmie stopped eating and was yelping in agony. It turns out she had problems with her teeth and and infection. We sponsored her care.
- Sweet Pea's owners spent TONS of money on her care for ongoing health issues. We donated a bit to offset the cost of her vet bills.
Princess and Khloe's parents needed to move to a different apartment and wanted to be sure their furry family members were welcome in their new living location. We worked with the apartment management company to provide one of the pet deposits so that both girls could stay with their family. We are so appreciative when people take ALL of their family members into consideration as they look for housing.
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Poor Tiny the tabby kitten was urinating blood and his mom was at a loss of what to do! We were able to find a local vet who would treat his severe UTI and lethargy (poor buddy had an awful infection) and he is now as good as new and able to play with his animal siblings, like the crazy little kitten he is!
This is Bella! She was diagnosed with pyometra - an infection in her uterus - and had to be rushed into surgery. Bella means the world to her people and is not a pet; she's 100% family. She's become an emotional therapy dog of sorts for the kids, helping them deal with losses and sickness in their family. The thought of losing her was too much to bear. Dr. Melissa at Vineland Animal Hospital saved the day and performed Bella's surgery yesterday - removing a uterus with fluid that weighed TWO POUNDS from this little dog. We are so glad we could help with Bella, but pyometra can be avoided by SPAYING. So please, spread the word about spaying and neutering - for the health of the animal!
How could we NOT help a doxie named Weenie! Thanks to the ongoing donations from some of our loyal contributors, we are able to continue helping Weeny and his family. Weeny suffered from a slipped disk and without treatment, could have found himself permanently paralyzed in his back legs. With a series of laser treatments and acupuncture through Chickasaw Animal Hospital, it is very likely that he will make a full recovery.
Whiskers, AKA Boogie is a miracle kitty. She was so sick as a baby, there was a very good chance that she wouldn't make it. After tons of TLC from her rescuers, and lots of medication from our vets, her upper respiratory virus finally resolved and we were able to sponsor her spay, vaccinations and microchip. She's a much-loved family member and best friends with her pit bull big brother.
We are dedicated to the mission of spay and neuter and with the help of amazing organizations like CARE Feline TNR and Spay N Save, we're able to assist with facilitating free and low-cost spay and neuter services for feral cats. Trap/Neuter/Release, or TNR, is a humane way to manage the population of feral cats and to ensure that no homeless kittens are born within these colonies. This is a group of kitties in Apopka that we helped to spay and neuter. If you see feral cats in your neighborhood, contact CARE! They will lend you traps and help get them fixed.
Handsome Devil developed fibrosarcoma in his hind leg. His human dad did everything he could to get help for his sweet boy, but the cancer had already spread too far. While we are sad for Devil and his daddy, we are glad that Devil is no longer suffering and that we could provide a bit of peace in the midst of a heartbreaking end.
After a week of awful back pain, Tank woke up one morning unable to move his back legs. With their long backs and tiny legs - unfortunately - disk problems are not uncommon in doxies. After assessment and care, it was determined that Tank had a fighting chance to walk again with crate rest, acupuncture and ongoing laser therapies. We were able to pitch in to help with the cost of his ongoing therapy. So happy that Tank has a bright future ahead.
Stella was a shelter dog who became a PTSD service dog through a prison rehabilitation program. She, in her mom's words, "saved my life." When she retired and got older, she stayed with her mom as treasured pet. Recently, she experienced a CCL and meniscus injury that required major surgery. We were able to contribute a bit to take at least some of the financial burden off of Stella's grateful and loving mom. In her mom's words, "Stella is more than a dog to me, she is my savior, and the least I can do for her is provide her a comfortable life."
Lest you think we're limited to cats and dogs....meet Mistletoe. This sweetheart was rescued from a farmer's market. Her owner couldn't afford to keep her and her rescuers simply couldn't say no. However, she was someone of an unplanned addition to the family and the expense of spaying her wasn't budgeted. We were happy to step in and fund her spay at the local humane society in Tampa. Now she's a happy, healthy bunny and a treasured part of the family.
Never have we been so broken hearted. Rico's dads contacted us after he had become very ill and they had spent tons of time and money trying to find out what was wrong with their little man. We proceeded to get some more tests done and confirmed what was suspected: Rico had a liver shunt - the blood supply to his liver was being diverted around it instead of through it. We found an outstanding surgeon and Rico underwent the necessary surgery for this condition. Unfortunately, he experiened complications after the surgery and he passed away. We all know we did what was best for him and we are all at peace with the decision, as painful as it is. Rest in peace, Rico. You mean the world to us.
We were in the process of getting a plan in place for Max to have surgery for his hernia when the muscles in his little body gave out and he was in imminent danger of dying from the hernia's complications. His mom rushed him to one of our AMAZING rescue vets and he undertook a lengthy surgery to save Max's life. Miraculously, little Max made it through and just had his sutures removed. He's looking forward to a happy healthy life ahead with him mom. We're so happy for you, Max!
Roger was a friendly stray who decided to adopt a family who offered to feed him outside. They, being responsible citizens, took him to get neutered and vaccinated (YAY). It was determined that he was FIV+, but they decided that since he was friendly and neutered, they would keep caring for him. Well poor Roger showed up with a nasty wound on his face and his family, who had become very attached to him, hadn't planned on the expense of treating him. We agreed to cover the cost of his care if they agreed to keep Roger safe and sound inside. It was a win-win-win! Roger got his wound treated and a new home, the family got a new loving pet, and we got to sit back and smile.
Meow Meow's mom contacted us because of a horrible injury to his paw. We're not sure what exactly happened, but she things it got crushed between the car door and window. We sent him to the vet and were so relieved that it wasn't broken. BUT, the x-rays revealed that poor Meow Meow had pneumonia. AND he'd previously been shot and had a pellet inside of him. He was actually lucky to have sustained the injury because we caught the pneumonia and were able to treat him. Meow Meow is quite the little survivor.
One of our outstanding veterinarians contacted us about the case of poor little Lucy. She was rescued with a number of other dogs from a backyard breeding situation. The healthy dogs all found homes and the rescuer kept the dogs with the worst medical problems. Poor Lucy had been bred so much - litter after litter. Her last required a cesarean section that was barely sutured closed. As a result of the poor closure, Lucy developed a dangerous hernia and needed surgery. Family Forever stepped in to assist her rescuer by covering the cost of the surgery. Thanks to Dr. Christmann for saving Lucy!
This is one of our favorite sponsorships EVER. Little Marco was found all by himself in a parking lot. His rescuers wanted to keep him, but they weren't sure how to care for such a tiny kitten. We gladly took over the care of this little guy until he was able to eat on his own. He was an overachiever and took to the bowl very quickly, so we were able to return him to his happy, loving rescue family. We adore you, little Marco. Have a great life!
Nothing breaks our heart more than an untreatable illness, but sometimes these things happen and all we can do is offer our comfort and sympathies. Kit Kat's family contacted us because of signs of weakness and loss of appetite. After some tests, lots of treatment and hospitalization, Kit Kat passed. We were glad, at least, we could give her family the peace of mind to know that everything possible was done. Rest in peace, Kit Kat.
Poor Sarge was a pet cat who was abandoned by his family and dumped outside. A neighbor was feeding him and caring for him when she noticed a nasty injury on his paw. It was infected and clearly very painful for him. In addition, this good samaritan was working to trap and fix other cats in the neighborhood, so we jumped at the opportunity to help her and Sarge. After some antibiotics and wound care, Sarge is recovering in his foster home. Thanks to Sarge's good-hearted neighbor for looking out for this handsome guy.
This is Sally Wampous. Adventurous little Sally snuck out of the house and got herself a nasty wound. Her mom, a new Orlando resident, tried to swap free work at a vet for care, but couldn't find any takers. We reached out to one of our partner vets and we sponsored Sally's care. After treatment and a brief hospitalization, silly Sally is as good as new. This little girl will be staying safe and sound INSIDE now.
We received an urgent call from Bella's family. It looked like she had pyometria and that if she didn't receive intervention quickly, they would lose her. We moved as quickly as we could and one of our amazing partner vets agreed to help Bella late on a Friday afternoon. Her emergency surgery went beautifully and she was at home recovering with her family the very next day. We are so grateful to our vets and our donors who make happy endings like this possible!
Domino was a dumped pet living in an apartment complex and being fed by a number of neighbors. Well, one neighbor made life difficult for everyone: complaining to management, threatening the feeders and even going so far as to kick the poor cat! One resident loved the little guy so much and wanted to bring him inside, but the pet deposit was prohibitively expensive. Our favorite low cost spay/neuter clinic, Spay N Save, helped fix Domino and get his shots up to date. and Family Forever paid the pet deposit. Now Domino doesn't have to worry about getting kicked and has returned to the happy, safe life of a spoiled indoor cat.
We made contact with this family when they posted in a message board that Kovu was having extreme neurological difficulties making it impossible for him to walk, use the litter box or eat. We worked over the weekend and into the beginning of this week trying to find the right vet care for him. Sadly, after a myriad of tests, it was determined that his condition was not curable and we said goodbye to this precious family member. RIP Kovu
Family Forever paid for exploratory surgery for a sweet 7 year-old Boston Terrier named Baxter that was having trouble holding food down. His owners were financially strapped, but knew their little boy needed help. We were hoping to find a bowel obstruction, but instead found his small body riddled with cancer. His family said good-bye to him today and we are mourning with them. In the end, we are glad we helped this family know they did everything they could to help Baxter. Rest in peace sweet soul, you left tiny footprints on so many hearts.
Colin - Colin was found as a stray and taken to one of our partner veterinarians. Not only was he malnourished and infested with internal and external parasites, he had also been in a traumatic event that left him with a broken femur! Ouch! Luckily Family Forever was able to organize a fundraiser and our faithful followers contibuted enough to get this guy the surgery he needed. After extensive rehabilitation, we are happy to report that Colin is well on his way to a complete recovery.
Bobby is 18 pounds of pure love, and his mom was quite desperate when she contacted us for assistance with the dental work he desperately needed. He had a severe infection in his mouth and he required several teeth extractions. We were all distraught when his pre-anesthesia bloodwork indicated some awful kidney issues. After weeks of antibiotics and a special kidney diet, Bobby pulled through his infection and was able to get the dental treatment he needed. He is now happy and healthy - mouth, kidneys and all. We are so happy that this big hunk of cat and his mom will have many meals together to come!
Puppies? Stray puppies in a bad part of town? In danger? Well it's Family Forever (and friends) to the rescue! We are so lucky that we have dedicated friends who stood outside all day to help us trap these two beautiful and scared stray puppies. After they were send to the vet for care - fixed, vaccinated and chipped - little Licorice and Poppy were fostered by a partner rescue of ours and then adopted into loving homes. Even better - their new families are friends - so they get to see each other all the time! Nothing like a little puppy love.
Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is to help our beloved friends cross over to end their suffering. It's a time of great sadness and heartbreak and anyone who has ever lost a furry family member knows how difficult it can be. In order to ensure that Prince could have a peaceful end to a life of love (after being rescued from the side of the road years before), we provided financial assistance so that he could be euthanized at the vet in the arms of his mom and grandma.
This goofball is Onyx. He showed up wandering around in a parking lot in Apopka. He wasn't microchipped, so although we knew he belonged to someone, we couldn't find his family. One of our Petco employees made sure he had a safe place to stay and luckily, his folks saw his "found pets" notice. We helped his family get him neutered - so it was less likely he'd run away - and microchipped - so we could find them again if he did. Silly Onyx! Stay home and get spoiled.
When MooMoo and Smokey's dad had a stroke and required a long stay in rehabilitation, his number one priority was ensuring that his beloved senior kitties would be ok. We happen to have some amazing supporters and fosters, one of whom opened her home to these two kitties for a half a year while their dad recovered. When dad got home, there was a beautiful tearful reunion with his babies.
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Bradley was found wandering in the woods. We think the poor guy got dumped. He was taken in by a rescuer who found herself with an unneutered, unvaccinated, untrained dog. We all know that shelters are overflowing, so we did all we could to make sure Bradley and his new mom could live together in perfect harmony. We got him neutered and vaccinated (thanks to our friends at Spay N Save) and paid for some professional dog training. We hope Bradley has a long happy life in his forever home! |
An animal lover and rescuer pulled a senior dog out of Animal Control because a man said he wanted to adopt her. However, soon after, the dog was diagnosed with a bladder stone and the man refused to take her. (grrr). So what did our rescuer do? She kept Lacey, the 10-year-old shepherd and we contributed to the surgery to have the stone removed. If only more people were like Lacey's rescuer. Hats off for stepping up for this sweet dog.
We heard from some folks who give so much of themselves to others, they found themselves unable to afford the vet care for their beloved cat and dog - Miss Hazel and Buddy. Miss Hazel gets UTIs from time to time and the regular visits and medications can add up We are ensuring that these two get all the care they need as their human parents minister to the community.
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Molly's mom is a great rescuer and foster and promised to care for Molly throughout her golden years. She adopted Molly as a blind senior dog. But life took some awful turns and Molly's mom found herself unable to afford the vet care Molly needed for congestive heart failure. It's extra special when we can help a fellow rescuer, so paying for Molly's care was a true pleasure for us. |
Sansa was in the care of a family friend while her family was going through a transition. But soon it became clear to her new guardian that this temporary situation was going to become permanent. Since Sansa and the resident little girl had gotten so attached, everyone wanted her to become a permanent family member. There hadn't been financial plans to take on a second cat, so we are happy to help with food and veterinary care for this beautiful cat and her new forever family.
We were contacted by a wonderful lady who was in a very sad situation. Her grandmother passed away and left two beloved dogs behind. Her mother had planned to take them, but she became very ill and could not care for them. The younger one could easily find a new forever home, but the older dog, Mr. P. is missing teeth and can't see or hear very well. The granddaughter wanted to care for her grandmother's dog, but didn't have the money for the pet deposit at her complex. We were happy to cover these costs to ensure that Mr. P. has a safe and loving place to live out his days. Thanks to this wonderful granddaughter for her dedication to this little old man!
UPDATE: Poor Mr. P had a nasty infection in his gums. We funded his trip to the vet and his surgery to take care of the infection. We really hope Mr. P. continues to feel better.
Not all beloved pets are covered in fur. This is lovely Valentine (note the heart on her little head!), rose-hair tarantula Rosie-Tea and bearded dragon Mr Bojangles. We were happy to help fund supplies for the care of Valentine & co. so that she could stay at home with her loving family, which includes several other species.
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Armin and Nala's dad loves them so much. And he lives in a place with a ridiculously high pet deposit. In order to ensure that these beloved kitties could stay safe and loved at home, we helped pay a large portion of the pet deposit for them. Did you know that we can help call leasing offices and property managers to help negotiate pet deposits? We can't guarantee lower prices, but we can guarantee we'll do whatever we can to keep fur kids with their families!
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Bebe belongs to a true blue animal lover. Her animals are her kids - 100% When Bebe got a rare diagnosis, mom was ready to take him to a specialist in New York to get treatment - which would have cost thousands. Thankfully, the amazing folks in Gainesville were able to intervene and help Bebe in the path to recovery. Family Forever pitched in to offset a bit of the enormous cost Bebe's mom incurred.
Hi everyone, my name is Dobby! My story is an odd one (just like me!), and I have Jessi, Stephanie and everyone from 'Family Forever Animal Foundation' for helping me get better!
I was born with a rare and odd condition where a hair follicle was growing inwards on the top of my head. It would get infected and swollen all of the time. It hurt and made me feel sick a lot, so I wouldn't play that much with my brothers and sisters because my head hurt a lot. All I could do was lounge around and feel really bad all of the time. I went to 'Hunters Creek Animal Hospital' and Dr. Bayer told me what was wrong with me. We couldn't afford the surgery I needed, but 'Family Forever Animal Foundation' helped us cover the expenses. Me and my family were really scared, but with the help of FFAF and Dr. Bayer I was able to have the surgery and now I'm good as new! Thank you all for helping me, I'm happy, feeling great, and with my family! |
Poor Gordo! We were told that he had a little bit extra in the "male dog department" and needed to be neutered. What his folks didn't realize was that he had a very large tumor in his scrotum. We took him to our heroes at Spay N Save for his neuter and they removed a 1.5 lb tumor from Gordo. Now feeling a million times better and lighter, Gordo has a new lease on life and is playing and eating like a new dog. We love this sweet old man.
Bailey is a therapy dog to his mom, so when he developed tumors, she feared she would lose her best friend AND her medical companion. She couldn't afford the costs of the extensive testing and possible surgery- and she reached out to us for assistance. We paid for Bailey's tumors to be biopsied and we prepared for surgery to have them removed. We were all delighted to learn that the tumors were non-cancerous and that Bailey would NOT require extensive surgery. We're delighted that Bailey will continue his service as therapy dog and much-loved companion for some time to come.
We love being able to help people who truly embrace FFAF's philosophy of animals as family members. We were happy to provide dog food, rabies vaccination vouchers, and heartworm & flea preventative for a family of seven well-loved dogs, including these two cuties! Many people have been hit by job loss and economic problems and would give all they have to take care of their animals. We're so glad we could lend a hand.
There are sweet dogs - and then there are sweet dogs. Hercules is THE SWEETEST. He enjoys making friends with people by sitting on their feet and staring up until he gets his head scratched. Poor Herc had painful hematomas in his ears - collections of blood beneath the skin. His family couldn't afford his surgery. We offered to help Herc with his surgery if his family would allow us to get him neutered as well. They agreed! Thankfully, our friends at Spay N Save were able to fix his ears while he was under anesthesia for his neuter. Hercules now has cute floppy ears again, and they were repaired in a way that would prevent the hematomas from returning. Hercules is recovered and enjoying his life at home, napping comfortably on his dog bed and snoring louder than a freight train.
We were working with a very kind-hearted gentleman to spay and neuter a number of stray cats that live on his property (trap/neuter/release really isn't our thing, but this guy is good people). He told us about a little cat he rescued who had a horrible eye problem. We took one look at her and knew she needed surgery. Her eye had actually ruptured and she was in danger of horrible infection and further injury. Thanks to Spay N Save, our local low cost spay/neuter clinic, we were able to get her fixed AND to have her eye removed. We returned her, healthy and happy, to her loving dad, who continues to (during very tough times) feed and care for so many animals. She is one of the sweetest cats we've ever encountered and we're so happy that we could help her.
We were contacted by a woman who had taken in a stray from her apartment complex. She is a true blue animal lover, and although she had hit some hard times, she'd been sharing whatever she had with her new best friend, Prince. One day Prince came back with an really nasty eye injury. Prince's mom had offered to barter cleaning services for veterinary care, but she couldn't find a vet who would help. By the time we heard of the situation, Prince's eye was so infected and deformed, he had to have emergency surgery to have it removed. We gladly fundraised for the surgery - THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS - and Prince is now happy and healthy and living inside in his forever home with the woman who loves him so much. Much love from the FFAF family to Prince and his mom.
Poor Miko! He was having trouble going to the bathroom. His mom could barely afford the medication for "her baby" - and there was no way she could afford the diagnostics to find out what was wrong. She contacted us begging for help. It turns out that this little chihuahua had more than 15 large bladder stones clogging up the works. We paid for the surgery to have the stones removed and to (hopefully) prevent this from happening again. His mom told us nothing she could ever say or write could properly express her gratitude.
THE SAGA OF LOU/TUT/LT/LOVIE: This cat has lots of names and lots of stories to go with them. He was found outside declawed on all four paws. We found him a home and during that time, he went into what we thought was congestive heart failure - at age 2! We raised as much money as we could to help offset the cost of the vet bills for his mom, as she got him the care to save his life. It's a long story, but he ended up back with us and we took him to the specialists at AVS to determine what was REALLY wrong with his heart. It turns out, he had heartworm! Cats' bodies are able to kill the worms, but as the worms die, they can release substances that can be deadly to their hosts. So he is now heartworm negative and safe and sound in his new home. His name is now Lovie (which is totally fitting). Here is Lovie sitting on his mom's feet and keeping watch over his kingdom.