We are grateful for this day to raise awareness of the ongoing plight of homeless cats.
Recent past years have witnessed improvements in educating the general public about feral cats:
Residents taking an interest in helping cats in their own neighborhood by feeding, trapping, fostering, donating, and sharing information on social media.
Launch of several Facebook pages for local communities to network, communicate and work as a team to help cats.
Municipalities starting TNR programs and offering low-cost or free spay/neuter.
In showing neighbors what we do, they respond
"It's like a mini National Geographic! Look at that mini black panther ,"says one child.
Love it when that happens! Education working...
Miami may have a high rate of homeless cats, but we are also on the forefront of addressing solutions to reverse this trend. It's an ongoing challenge. There are good days and bad days.
Christine confident that sudden disappearance of 4 cat is due to poisoning,
she talks one on one with security guard about Florida law and poisoning of animals.
Through regular education, communication and involvement, we as a city and country continue to make strides.
Christine greets Tabitha with a pet
Tabitha does not wait until Christine finishes serving
Add caption
Incoming...
Romeo smells lunch
Romeo dives into his food bowl.
So be sure to share your stories and photos all across social media of any feral cats you care for outdoors or ones that you helped socialize that now live indoors and bring great joy to your family.
Helio, a handsome, big green eyed, gray tabby, is fighting for his life.
One of the first ten kittens rescued by founder Christine Michaels, now seven years old, he is suddenly gravely ill with severe anemia.
Helio (pronounced "Eh leo") as a kitten at 4 months
Healthy and playful one day, he started to show signs of loss of appetite, lethargy and sleeping in the closet. Three major red flags of a health issue. Upon examination at the veterinary clinic, the vet observed his white gums. After a comprehensive blood test it showed Helio had severe anemia. The X-ray did not show any anomalies. So after a Vitamin B12 shot, IV fluid, and some appetizing canned cat food prescribed, Helio was sent home. Unfortunately he refused to eat at home. And after three days he returned to the vet. Further blood tests showed his blood platelet count dropped even lower. His condition was now critical.
The next day Helio was admitted to the emergency pet hospital at MVS. Miami Veterinary Specialists provides 24 hour pet medical care. Hooked up to IVs and machines, Helio shows no signs of responsiveness, typical for a cat that is afraid of strange environment. He was lying in the corner, his body inward and sullen, eyes suspect, sheepish, and scared at the same time... a quiet living hell. Only when Christine came to visit did he muster every ounce of strength to stand and greet her. She opened the cage and his bowed insistent on petting and head butts. Helio would not stop crying. He was grateful to see a friendly face. At the same time he was pleading to get out. Our hearts were torn as she had to say goodbye, but Christine repeated a familiar phrase "Ill be back, I promise I'll be back." The vet observing shared that Helio understood Christine and it seemed to give Helio hope. The vet said there is hope for Helio.
Helio cries for affection
A key treatment was a blood transfusion. According to the vet most pets respond well to one transfusion, however, Helio did not improve with the first transfusion. The vet indicated a second or third transfusion may be needed but not a guarantee he would live. As each transfusion costs $900 (for all costs related to the treatment), payments must be made upfront at the hospital. Some families are forced to choose euthanasia when they lack the funds. How tragic!
The vet awaited our answer. Of course we would try again. Helio was a survivor, a rescue kitten from the streets of downtown Miami. Money could always be raised. We wanted to set an example that pets as family members, deserve the same respect and dignity of life as human family members. Money should not determine whether a pet lives or dies if there is a chance he will survive.
DONATION TO HELP HELIO
So a fundraiser was started to help Helio and to offset the cost of hospitalization and treatments now totaling close to $4,000. Copies of all vet bills are also uploaded.
Visit the YouCaring website. Remember no amount is too small and greatly appreciated!
Or you may make direct donation via PayPal to riverfrontcats@yahoo.com
The heartbreak was becoming unbearable for Christine and caretakers. Helio has many nicknames:
Cutie Patooty because of his cute sleeping poses, moreso than his siblings.
Curious George because of his big eyes and curious, baby face.
Bocelli after Andrea Bocelli because he literally serenades his pet owner for attention and affection.
Yes, Helio is a very special cat. Sadly his mother Cosette who has been pictured on a number of blog posts and on social media, had died suddenly this summer. It is strongly believed she was poisoned. This is just another undertaking, another battle, another part of our mission in educating residents and communities about stray cats and the law against animal cruelty. Helio was her only kitten. In this effort we fight for all homeless cats who deserve a chance to live out their
You may follow Helio's progress on this website and on Facebook and Twitter.
