Six years ago today, we said goodbye to Rocky. A year earlier he had appeared as a sick
feral cat in someone’s yard. She called a local humane society who referred her to us. Helen's Haven is different than most traditional rescues. We take in the ones who would be refused by other rescues or euthanized on intake at most shelters - even no kill shelters. No kill does not mean no euthanasia.
We were happy to try to help. We got him trapped and brought him to our favorite veterinarians to see what he needed. Sadly, we learned he was an extremely sick boy. He had not been neutered. He was FIV positive - no doubt from all the fighting a tomcat ends up doing just to survive. He had a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). He had a bad cold and he needed dental work. But, he surprised us! He was not feral at all. He was just really sick and really scared.
We were able to get him the care he needed. Once he was feeling better, we learned he LOVED to be snuggled! Although he was a wonderful boy, his underlying health was not good and he needed ongoing health interventions. His adoption prospects were zero. Although we knew we couldn’t cure him, we knew we could give him a warm bed and
a full belly and all the snuggles he wanted. He was a truly happy boy! And, he had a community of supporters. The woman in whose yard he had appeared was a horse trainer and taught riding. She and her students fund-raised to help support Rocky’s ongoing needs. For almost a year he received the love and attention we wish he’d had for his whole life.
In the morning of what became his last day he was his usual cheerful self, but midday he suddenly threw a blood clot. This can happen to cats with a bad heart. Rocky let us know it was time. He left this world with his caregiver and some of the veterinarians who had made sure he had a good life by his side. He was purring and head-butting them right until the end.
Rocky was a sweet boy who’d had a hard life. We were happy to give him a great final year.
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