Special Needs Susan Tarczewski
O
ne of the challenges of animal rescue is dealing with the many types of special needs that come up. Situations ranging from animals with chronic illness to cases of neglect or abuse can arise with no notice. Staff and volunteers at Claremont’s Sullivan County Humane Society are ready to handle such situations urgently. Here are just a few stories of cats with special needs who received the help of SCHS. A neighborhood stray, Balboa was brought to the shelter when a member of the public realized he needed help. Like many strays, he had to fight for survival and has the scars to prove it. Another unfortunate relic of his time on the streets was his diagnosis of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This virus is spread primarily through bite wounds. With good veterinary and home care, an FIV+ cat can live a long and good quality life. Once considered unadoptable, it is now known that FIV+ cats are highly adoptable. Lucky Balboa found his furrever home and is now ruling the roost with his new family!
Sugar and Her Babies
The story of Sugar and her babies gained a great deal of publicity during the summer of 2020. A woman found a box on the side of the road in hot summer weather. Inside the box was a mother cat who was actively in labor and in distress, and several newborn kittens. The mom, a beautiful tortie, was rushed to the vet and had an emergency c-section. The vet removed three more babies, only one of whom survived.
The surviving kittens were moved into an experienced foster home to be bottle-fed, no small task. The mother, named Sugar, was given care including a blood transfusion until she was able to be reunited with her babies. Sugar and her surviving kittens ultimately healed and did well. Sugar’s story generated an outpouring of generosity from the community, and in fact from across the country! Reggie, an elderly male cat with gorgeous gray fur and regal posture, was brought in the SCHS recently as a stray in rough shape. A visit to the vet determined that he has advanced kidney failure, not uncommon in older cats. He also has a growth near one eye, rendering it nearly useless. The vet estimates his remaining lifespan to be no more than six months. While he would be safe and well-cared-for at the shelter, it wouldn’t be the warm and affectionate home environment that such a lovely boy deserves. Fortunately for Reggie, his sweet nature struck a chord with one of SCHS’s dedicated volunteers. He has left the shelter to live out his remaining time with an experienced “fospice” provider. Fospice is a combination of foster care and hospice for cats with a terminal diagnosis. Reggie will be loved and cherished for whatever time he has. The mission of the Sullivan County Humane Society is to preserve, protect, and provide for stray, neglected, and abused animals in Sullivan County, NH. As we’ve seen, there are many ways that this mission is carried out. The common thread in all these stories is the devotion of volunteers, shelter staff, and the public to provide a safe harbor for these animals, whose terrible situations are no fault of their own. The Onyx Fund at SCHS was established shortly after the shelter doors opened and exist to provide medical care for cats with special needs. Donations to the fund are always needed, always welcome, and can be mailed to PO Box 111, Claremont NH 03743. SCHS is a no-kill shelter, and provides many other services to the public, including regular low-cost spay and neuter clinics, and a pet food bank. For more information about SCHS, please visit their website at https://sullivancountyhumanesociety.org/, or their Facebook page, Sullivan County Humane Society of NH.
Balboa chills at his new home.
4 4 Legs & a Tail
Winter 2021
