“A Joy and A Bit of A Ham” – Bo’s Happy Tail
February 2nd, 2026
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
Fareed and his wife, Sandy, couldn’t stand by and let a sickly, neglected cat struggle to survive. They had been watching him living outside for some time, looking for signs that someone was caring for him, but soon it became clear that the little fella desperately needed their help.
“We recently found a stray cat outside a local building who appears to be suffering from a skin condition and some kind of injury. He typically shows up each evening, but no one in the neighborhood seems to know where he comes from or who he belongs to. We have been told he has been wandering the streets for a while. Sadly, I have seen people kicking him when he blocks store entrances, and local teens have been seen taunting and bothering him. Despite this, he is still gentle and affectionate towards people.”
The cat was in rougher shape than they had thought.
“The cat has large patches of missing fur along his back and sides, which initially raised concerns of mange, ringworm, or another condition. Thankfully, after taking him to a local clinic, we learned it’s not mange but rather over-grooming – possibly due to stress or discomfort. The clinic was able to neuter, deworm, and flea-treat him, but unfortunately, he also has a severely dislocated back leg. The vet tried to manually realign the joint, but it didn’t work, and surgery is now needed to properly set the leg.”
From the moment they rescued him, the cat had become a part of their family. And like the four rescue cats they already cared for, he would get all the love and attention he deserved – including surgery, even if Fareed wasn’t sure how he could make that happen for their unexpected addition.
“He is currently recovering in my bathroom, where he is safe and warm…and he will never be on the streets again. I have officially welcomed him into my home alongside my four other rescued cats. I am humbly asking for your help as I am currently unemployed. The cost of this necessary leg surgery is more than I can manage alone. Any donation, no matter the amount, would make a meaningful difference toward getting this sweet boy the care he needs.”
He had been out of work for more than six months at that point, and their savings were running low. Fareed was grateful to get the cat the care he did, but he knew it couldn’t stop there. When the veterinarian told them about the RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program, he felt confident that he would be able to give the cat all the care he needed. While Sandy looked after the cat, Fareed applied for a grant. Once they had been approved, they brought the cat, already doing much better, back to the clinic for surgery.
“Our little corner store kitty, now renamed Bo, is doing well. Bo is short for Bodega, as we found him in front of a mom-and-pop corner store. He had a really rough first night after surgery, but he is back to being as sweet as a button!! He’s in a big crate in the bathroom for now, and is taking his meds on schedule with paté food (spread throughout the day and night). We let him out of the crate for three to five minutes at a time in the bathroom so he can get head rubs and stretch his legs a little. He is not a fan of the physical therapy the vet recommended, but we are still trying. Thank you all again for everything!!! Bo is a joy and a bit of a ham! If we leave him in another room too long, he will pout until he gets to cuddle up in our bed again 🙂 He sure does love attention!”
They had a RedRover On-Call Angel on their side to make Bo’s surgery possible. With their generous support, Bo not only got to live a life without pain but one full of love from his new family. He would never know what it’s like to be hungry or cold again, and no one could kick him or taunt him again. He was safe, healthy, and loved – and his journey was only just beginning.
Grateful for the help he received, Fareed kept in touch with RedRover about Bo’s healing progress. He was recovering well and finding his place with his four siblings.
“Bo still isn’t the biggest fan of his leg therapy stretches, but we’re happy to report that his follow-up vet visit last week showed that his recovery is going well! He’s starting to use his surgery leg more – for jumping and even climbing! While we were at the vet, we went ahead and got him microchipped for safety. He wasn’t thrilled about that part, but once we got back in the car, he turned into a cuddly little guy again. Somehow, he has already been dubbed a new nickname, ‘Meatball’ (it seems that all our fur babies get a few nicknames)!
“Bo still believes that his mommy and daddy’s bedroom belongs to him alone… but he’s slowly warming up to his four cat siblings. He’s not too impressed with PetSmart toys, but give him a shoelace, and he’s good to go. Oh yeah, and no more surgery cone-head! And is he excited about that!”
Five weeks after surgery, the signs of his previous life were fewer and fewer. Bo was a new cat.
“So far, Bo (aka Meatball) is now in the general population in the house – he is finding his place in the tribe. Bo is still a little aggressive and guarded at meals and snack time, as he may have food insecurities from living on the street while he was abandoned. The adjustment for Bo will take a little time and patience. The integration is going better than expected with fewer growls and hisses as all five cats get used to each other…grace is truly our common ground : )
“Thank you so much again for all your support and help. We truly wouldn’t be where he is today without the splendid generosity of people like you and your organization.”
On-Call Angels and all of our generous supporters make a lifesaving difference for families like Fareed, Sandy, and Bo through the RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program. Thank you!
