Connie's Story

I am Sue and have been involved in cat rescue in East London for over 26 years. As an independent cat rescuer not affiliated with any charity, I receive calls from the public to help with stray cats. If I am able to assist these cats, they become my personal responsibility for the duration of their treatment and rehabilitation until potential re-homing. During this time I am liable for all their vet bills, vaccinations, food, and care. This is voluntary and I receive no funding. There are no national charities involved in this area. All the work I do is paid for out of my own pocket and by occasional donations from members of the public and through re-homing strays.

Last week I was asked to trap a cat in a pitiful condition in Barking, Essex. The cat had only been seen for 3 days by a very kind cat owner who had given it food. However it was struggling to eat, drooling, with saliva all around it's face and stained front legs. Flies were settling on its face and feet attracted by an awful smell. The poor cat was scared and wouldn't let anyone near it.

Thankfully I was able to attract and trap it (using a humane cat trap) and it was rushed to the Celia Hammond Animal Veterinary Clinic at Canning Town. The clinic provides low cost treatment. They, like me, have a non-destruction policy unless an animal is suffering a terminal condition or is beyond veterinary aid. The vets are willing to give every animal a chance for survival. When rescuing cats my first priority is making them safe and checking for an owner, through scanning for a microchip. Unfortunately this little one was not micro chipped. It was discovered to be a little girl and I named her Connie. Her jaw has been fractured affecting the temporomandibular joint (the part that "hinges" open and closed) and has subsequently fused, she can not open her mouth. The vets were shocked she had even survived, she must be a real fighter! From what little they could see her teeth and gums are infected. She was also, understandably, dehydrated.

Currently, she is hospitalised in the vets, being tube fed and on a drip for fluids. The plan is to operate as soon as she is strong enough and to remove part of the jaw bone and give a full mouth extraction. Other than the surgery itself the treatment involves sedations and x-rays, together with medications. The cost of this treatment even at this low cost clinic is estimated to be nearly £1000. This is still a fraction of the cost had I taken poor Connie to a private vet. Without this she cannot survive nor in the future find happiness in a forever home!

I could not do my voluntary rescue work without the availability of this low cost clinic. The cats I rescue become my responsibility to fund and unfortunately I already have a large outstanding bill for previous individual emergencies and stray colonies. I will not be able to afford Connie's bill.

I am appealing to your generosity to help towards the cost of Connie's treatment which will enable her recovery and her eventual re-homing. Donations will help pay for; initial emergency treatment to stabilise Connie, X-rays, surgery, post-operative care, vaccinations, microchipping and her day to day needs in my foster care. Once she has made a full recovery, which I am hopeful she will, the next step will be finding her a loving home.

If you wish to check the validity of this cause, please feel free to ring the Celia Hammond Animal clinic in Canning Town and they will verify I am a local independent rescuer and Connie's story. At this stage I would like to thank you for reading this, and give thanks to Connie's finder for showing such concern and contacting me. Thank you to the vets for the unquestionable care and devotion they are showing her.