Special Needs Susan Tarczewski

Special Needs

Susan Tarczewski

One 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.

Castaways –

The Story of Wilson and Chuck

Jackie Stanley

On February 15, 2020, in the midst of a frigid winter, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society received reports of two stray dogs that were running injured and scared in the town of West Windsor, VT. Both dogs were malnourished and were riddled from head to paw with porcupine quills.

It would take three days for the first of the two dogs to be humanely trapped. Staff at Lucy Mackenzie named him Wilson.

Six days later, the second of the two dogs was also successfully trapped. The staff named him Chuck.

Amid the pandemic that struck the world a few weeks later, both Wilson and Chuck received their rehabilitations at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society.

As the days and weeks passed by, each of these beautiful creatures grew in confidence and recovered to full health. During that time, each of their unique spirits also began to flourish, and the days of them having to rely on each other for

Chuck before better days

survival were now long left behind them.

In late April, Wilson was the first of these two plucky, little adventurers to be adopted. A few weeks later, Chuck, too, would start a new chapter in his life alongside his new, loving family.

Both went from the icy-cold temperatures of roaming stray outside to the inviting warmth of newfound families and homes.

This past summer, Wilson and Chuck both dropped by Lucy Mackenzie again to participate in dog training classes – both, of course, graduating with flying colors!

During their amazing journey, though, something else special had occurred – both dogs had now unexpectedly become the stars of a short film called Castaways.

When Lucy Mackenzie’s largest fundraiser of the year – the Paws for the Cause Auction and Dinner – had to be canceled due to the pandemic, a longtime supporter who is a writer and filmmaker donated the film as an online alternative.

To date, Castaways has raised over $32,000.00, all of which has gone directly towards the care of the animals at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society.

Wilson and Chuck’s amazing, transformative journey may have once been their own, but in going through it – and coming out successfully on the other side – they have now selflessly helped all other animals at Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society who are desperately in need.

To see more of Wilson and Chuck’s amazing story, watch the short film “Castaways” on Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society’s YouTube channel, or visit lucymac.org for more information.