“An Exceptional Creature” – Mischief’s Happy Tail
August 4th, 2026
By Savannah Verdon, Development Manager –
Catherine hadn’t been outside by herself for more than 20 years, but when her cat, Mischief, needed to see a specialist for his severe dental issues, his bravery in the face of pain inspired her to be brave, too.
“Mischief is my entire world. He gives me a purpose, and because I understand fear and panic so well, I can make adjustments to his world to help alleviate his anxiety. He is the ONLY reason I went out in public alone for the first time in almost 20 years. He HAD to go to that specialist, and I shook like crazy, but I did it for him and even asked the staff to take our picture to remind me how brave we were. Going out without a ‘safe person’ was only possible because of Mischief, and my therapist said his bravery is making me brave. I don’t know what I’d do without him to care for.”
She was his second owner; his first had been unable to properly care for him. On their first visit to a veterinarian after becoming a family, Mischief was diagnosed with stomatitis, a painful inflammation of his mouth and lips. To be safe, he was referred to a dental specialist, who correctly diagnosed him with a different immune disorder, paradental mucositis with resorption. It was something he’d been born with, and now, at eight years old, he was greatly suffering the effects. Though the diagnosis had changed, the result was the same: he needed a full mouth extraction to live comfortably. As long as his teeth were removed, he had a good prognosis and many more years to live with Catherine.
Though they had only been together for a few months, Catherine and Mischief were deeply bonded. Her therapist had even helped her designate him as her Emotional Support Animal. She had been diligent with his care from the first day, and even though his dental care would cost several times what she brought home per month in Social Security benefits, she was prepared to sacrifice for him.
The first kindness came when the veterinary hospital offered to take care of Mischief at nearly half the quoted cost, a massive relief for Catherine. They even offered a payment plan. The only remaining obstacle was the large deposit Catherine needed to secure his appointment. She had paid for his initial visits, and now had half the cost saved by skipping meals (while Mischief never missed a meal) and selling some of her appliances. At that moment, she wished he had insurance, but she hadn’t been able to afford the monthly premiums, choosing to prioritize his prescription food for an unrelated condition.
Catherine was just a few hundred dollars short of the deposit; it was the difference between waiting days and waiting weeks for his treatment. One more month might not have seemed like a long delay, but Mischief was hurting and often bleeding from his mouth. Fortunately, he had prescription medicine to keep him comfortable, but the anxiety of waiting was sending Catherine’s panic into overdrive. Needing some way to ease her fears, she looked online for anything that would get Mischief treatment as soon as possible.
“We are **so close** to a miracle; I just HAVE TO believe in it. I just can’t give up on him, not on such an exceptional creature who fights so hard to keep going.”
It wasn’t a miracle after all, but another kindness: a RedRover On-Call Angel waiting to fund Mischief’s RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant. With the grant, Catherine had enough for the deposit and could schedule Mischief’s appointment for just days away. She would need a plan for the future payments, but the important thing was that Mischief would get his treatment and no longer be in pain. Finally, the anxious wait was over – for Mischief and Catherine.
“I just wanted to thank you all again so very much for your generosity. Mischief had all of his teeth out this week. The surgeon said it took a little longer than expected, as there was a ‘severe, severe infection’ in his two upper canines and that the infection had [worked] its way up the roots. My goodness, my poor angel. I truly believe we dodged a systemic infection and it just wouldn’t have been possible without RedRover. I don’t know what I’d do without my best friend. Again, I can’t thank you enough.”
Now that Mischief was home and feeling good, and Catherine had seen how brave she could be, the two had much to look forward to together. They would be moving soon to a subsidized apartment that she qualified for. Her goal, with her therapist’s help, was to take Mischief on walks in a secure carrier so he could help her with micro-exposure therapy. His presence kept her calm and was a constant reminder of their mutual growth. As long as he was by her side, they could do anything.
We’re grateful not only that Catherine and Mischief will have many more years together, but that their lives will no longer be dictated by pain, fear, or anxiety while they have one another. That’s the lifesaving difference an On-Call Angel – and your support – makes possible!
