5 min read
3 of our dedicated veterinary technicians found, healed, and adopted abandoned kittens, giving them a second chance at life and love.
Stanley: A Parking Lot Miracle
One of our Client Service Coordinators, Michelle heard a sound as she entered Goodheart Broadway last July.
A tiny kitten was meowing for help underneath a car!
We used food to entice him from his hiding place and then raced him inside Goodheart to clean him up. We estimated that this kitty was about 3 weeks old. He weighed only 1.1 pounds. We scanned for a microchip and looked online to see if neighbors posted about a missing, orange-furred cat. We found nothing.
Based on the motor oil and dirt in his fur, we think his family had been living inside the car’s frame. While his mom and siblings likely ran away once the engine turned on, this ‘lil guy made it the whole way to Goodheart!
Our teammate Danae soon fell in love. “The choice to adopt him was easy,” says Denae, a Veterinary Care Professional. “I felt an immediate connection to this little guy and named him Stanley Yelnats IV 😊.”
Anime lovers will appreciate how Denae chose his name. “He just looked like a ‘Stanley’ when I first saw him,” she says. “My pets are all themed with Anime characters, so I wanted to keep him in the character theme.”
Stanley was malnourished and had parasites but was otherwise in good health. “It wasn’t a totally smooth transition,” she continues. “Stanley had a couple of health scares, and we weren’t 100% sure he was going to pull through.”
Stanley resting once we cleaned him up.
Luckily, the veterinarians at Goodheart are awesome and Stanley is strong. He’s now a happy and healthy boy.
He loves his siblings: a cat named Appa, a 95-pound shepherd named Jiraiya, and a mixed-breed dog named Korra. Korra loves her baby brother. Their favorite morning activity is snuggling together.
“I’ve always wanted an orange cat, so it was a bit of a running joke that I called (Stanley) into my life,” says Denae. “I feel incredibly lucky 🍀.”
Stanley & Denae
Midna: A Roadside Rescue
Eagle-eyed Miranda, a Goodheart Veterinary Care Professional, was driving to work in September when she spotted a tiny black kitten beside the road.
Her big heart took over and she brought the little one into the hospital. The abandoned animal weighed only 2 to 3 pounds, was cold, had shallow breathing, and her eyes were closed shut with crusted discharge.
We named her Midna (like midnight, to coordinate with her dark coat) and began treatment. She had a badly infected ulcer in her left eye and a terrible respiratory infection. “We all loved Midna and cared for her each day,” says Miranda.
Holly, a Veterinary Care Professional at Goodheart, has a soft spot for black cats because of her childhood kitty. Bonding was immediate. This felt like the right time for a new addition to her home.
“I feel like Midna, being found the way she was and landing herself at Goodheart, was fate,” says Holly. “I felt such an overwhelming pull at my heartstrings to help on her uncertain road to recovery.”
While it hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine, Holly is in love 💖. Despite many signs of Midna being feral, she’s getting more relaxed in Holly’s home.
“It’s taken her a while to become comfortable,” says Holly. “We think her infected, crusty eye was from abuse,” Holly continues. “So, it makes sense why she is not eager to be held or touched by anyone.”
Holly and her other pets are slowly earning Midna’s trust. She eats treats from Holly’s hand and sits nearby when watching TV.
“Caring for a sick, helpless animal has been so rewarding,” recalls Holly. “It’s wonderful to see the difference a few months of love can make. It has completely changed the outcome of a cat who didn’t have much chance. She is worth every ounce of patience and love she gets.”
Yessenia’s Hiking Surprise
Yessenia, another Goodheart Veterinary Care Professional, was hiking after work one Friday evening last summer when she heard a few children calling for help. They had found a kitten under the creek’s bridge!
“I pushed aside the tall grass, put out my hand, and a 4-week-old brown tabby walked onto my palm!” says Yessenia. “I couldn’t believe it!”
The kids were super excited and took turns holding the kitten. They were also concerned about what would happen next. “I told them not to worry,” says Yessenia, “and that I’d take her to Goodheart.”
We said our goodbyes and I thanked them for finding this cutie.
“I headed home with the kitten, who nestled into my chest,” Yessenia remembers. “He was all purrs and snuggles.”
Once at Goodheart the following Monday morning, we scanned the kitty to see if he was microchipped. We also checked local ‘lost cat’ listings to ensure he didn’t already belong to a neighborhood family.
“I’ve been so lucky to make a new home for this little one. He and my other cat are learning to get along. Now we are a happy family of three,” says Yessenia.
Love truly comes in all shapes, sizes, and even fur colors. These heartwarming rescues remind us of the incredible power of love and care to transform lives. Feeling inspired? Contact us to discover ways you can support pets in need or welcome one into your home.
As always, we’re here to provide the best care for your furry family members. Schedule your pet’s appointment online today — we’d love to see you!