This is little Joan, who arrived at the Linda Kelly Animal Shelter in Calvert County, MD, near death. She was cold and limp, with a fever coat. Her front left elbow was swollen, and her back right hip was misshapen and of no help supporting the back leg, and the knee swollen. Although she was so tiny she looked like a 1 week old kitten, in fact she was about 2-3 weeks old. The person who brought her to the shelter thought Joan would need to be euthanized.
But the veterinarian at Linda Kelly thought this kitten deserved a chance and she was going to give it to her. The shelter named her Joan, the medical staff popped her into the incubator, and when she'd warmed up, a volunteer gave her some drops of formula. The vet then personally cared for Joan, taking her to and from the shelter, administering antibiotics, and bottle feeding her for two weeks. By that time, Joan was a different kitten: the swelling in her knee and elbow was nearly all gone. She was starting to eat slurry. Her back leg kept getting underneath her as her hip still couldn't control it, and she stumbled to walk, but she was ready for a foster mom (me).
At this point, she needed TLC, rest, and massages, which I happily provided. Within a week she was walking with only a few stumbles, and trying to run. She has gained weight steadily (although she is still very small!) and is now running and jumping and getting up onto furniture all on her own! That back leg is normal! Her fever coat is almost all gone and she's turning out to be a darling tuxedo kitten!
Joan is testimony that every kitten deserves a chance, and trained kitten caregivers can and do save lives!
Laura Baughman
The National Kitten Coalition
#AccesstoCare#EducationandTraining------------------------------
Laura Baughman
The National Kitten Coalition
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