On Monday, while pulled over at a rest stop between Merritt and West Kelowna, a kind samaritan spotted a fluffy grey cat peeking out of the ditch. Concerned for his well being, she approached the cat, only to realize that he was having trouble walking on his back leg, and needed help.
Thankfully, despite being very scared, the cat allowed her to scoop him up and into her car to be brought safely home with her in Kelowna.
She created a safe space for him in her bathroom and gave him food, water and warmth then reached out to one of our partner veterinarians, who helped facilitate his intake for urgent care through OHS.
Upon vet examination, Malachite, the name given his rescuer, was infested with fleas, quite thin, and worst of all, an x-ray revealed that he had a recently fractured pelvis. He was not previously neutered, and had no form of identification by way of a collar, microchip or tattoo.
Based on his condition, it is suspected that Malachite was possibly hit by or thrown from a car, and abandoned on the side of the highway.
Unfortunately, without massive surgical intervention, there isn’t another solution for Malachite’s broken pelvis other than pain management and rest in a low activity crate for 2 weeks in hopes of him healing naturally from the painful ordeal. With time, treatment, and kindness from his rescuer under the veterinary care and guidance provided by OHS, we hope he will heal up and be able to walk and live normally again.
In addition to parasite treatment, pain management and a complete veterinary check up, Malachite also received essential medical care including neuter, vaccines, microchip and deworming.
Thanks to the generosity of his rescuer, and the support of our community, Malachite has been given a second chance.
OHS has seen a significant increase in cases of animals being dumped or abandoned this year, with the inflationary economy, desperate housing shortage, and reports of shelters turning animals away.
Despite having made it through “rescue season”, cases continue to pour in at a rapid rate.
Malachite is just one of more than a dozen lost, abandoned and homeless animals that OHS has helped this week alone.
This is in addition to requests for low income spay/neuter and emergency medical which is at an all-time high. The average cost of care for an OHS animal is $300. OHS has now helped over 3,200 animals in 2024 alone.
Please consider donating to help us say “yes” to local animals just like Malachite when they need us the most.
