A Wish Come True: Danielle and Wish’s Happy Tail
June 3rd, 2024
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager
Danielle was just weeks away from what so many young adults strive for: her own apartment. No roommates, just her and her two cats. She’d been saving money for the security deposit and first and last month’s rent, selling what she could to supplement her income. But just as the best-laid plans often go awry, so too did Danielle’s.
Life carried on as she counted down the days until her lease expired. Wish, her younger kitty, was due for her yearly rabies vaccination, so off they went to the veterinarian for what Danielle thought would be a quick appointment. When she was asked if she wanted to have Wish examined, Danielle said yes, figuring why not if they were already there. It was a good thing she did. The veterinarian found that Wish’s teeth and gums were in terrible condition.
Wanting a second opinion, Danielle brought Wish to another veterinarian, but they only confirmed that the little kitty’s gums were severely affected by gingivitis.They were especially swollen toward the back of her mouth, and there were signs of a rash developing in her throat. Wish had stomatitis, and all but her four front teeth needed to be removed. Danielle was devastated.
Wish, proud feline that she was, never let on that she was in pain when she ate or groomed herself. As bad as her teeth were now, she still seemed to have no trouble eating. The only thing that pointed to something being off was that Wish was hiding and sleeping much more, but even the most extroverted among us need a break sometimes. It was only happenstance that Danielle learned about Wish’s teeth; she hated to think how much worse it could have gotten for her sweet girl. But now that she knew, it had to be addressed regardless of her plans.
The estimate the veterinarian gave Danielle was expensive and expired after a certain amount of time. Danielle would have to come up with the money while she was in the middle of her big move; otherwise she would have to pay for diagnostics again, and the estimate could potentially increase, not to mention Wish would be in pain the entire time. She couldn’t back out of the move and use that money for Wish’s dental care either as she had already signed the lease and paid her deposit. For the moment, it seemed as if they were stuck.
“My cat Wish means everything to me, I got her as an ESA animal to help with symptoms from my severe depression and PTSD and my two cats are what keeps me alive and motivated. She has such a bright and bubbly personality, and she loves affection and just to be by my side everyday. She makes me smile and cuddles up to me in my lowest moments with my mental health so worrying about her health has also taken a toll on me. I want the best for my baby. She’s like a child to me.”
Danielle would do anything for her baby, but when she found out that she exceeded the annual income threshold for assistance from her local humane society by just $1,000, she wasn’t sure what to do next. She only needed a little bit of help after figuring out what she could contribute on her own, and a little bit of help is exactly what the RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program is for. In between packing boxes and checking in on Wish, Danielle applied for an Urgent Care grant. The estimate would expire soon and Danielle was hopeful that she and her baby would get the help they needed so they could enjoy their new home without worries. All she could do now was…wish.
Her wish came true when she got the call from one of our case managers. She’d been approved for a RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant and could finally schedule Wish’s dental surgery. In a few days, Wish would be pain-free and back to her bright and bubbly self with her kitty sibling and Danielle in the comfort of their own apartment.
Wish spent three hours under anesthesia. The veterinarian removed seven teeth and cleaned and polished her four canines. Her gums were much more infected than they had previously thought, and she would need a second surgery to remove the rest of her teeth, but Danielle would be able to save money for that. In the meantime, she would wait for the swelling to subside then spoil Wish with delicious wet food and treats.
Danielle and Wish got their little bit of help from friends, our FurEver Friends. Because of your recurring support, hundreds of loving pet parents like Danielle are able to get their pets the lifesaving veterinary treatment they need to spend many more years together in good health and happiness. Thank you for bringing this family from crisis to care!
