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Our most recent special needs animal is featured here. For updates on other special needs animals go here.

Susan - DSH Brown Tabby

APAWS is frequently contacted by animal control facilities all over Louisiana looking for help with special needs animals. These are the animals either surrendered or found as strays that will never make it to adoption row due to health problems. Rescue is their last hope, if a rescue can't be found they will be euthanized - usually just a day or two after they come into the facility. We were contacted about a kitten with a severe birth defect that causes her legs to be bent backwards and some urinary and bowel incontinence. Our adoptions are down, our donations are down and we are trying make it through this economic downturn. Logically, we should say no, but we have decided to help this little girl. One of our cat fosters has experience with a similar birth defect in her personal cat. The difference is her cat has paralyzed back legs that are fused straight. Her cat is currently nine years old and still going strong - many of the vets she saw in her early life didn't think she would make it six months. If anyone can help little Susan, she can! We do not expect Susan to ever go up for adoption due to her special, life long needs, but we will provide her sanctuary throughout her natural life.

Caesar - DSH Grey Tabby

One of our volunteers noticed a grey tabby in her neighborhood. He didn't come up to her and appeared well fed and healthy. Since most of her neighbors let their cats outside she figured he was an owned cat allowed to wander the neighborhood. After a year of seeing him on and off, he approached her one evening crying. His coat was rough and he had lost a lot of weight. She got him some food and he came right to her allowing her to pick him up. Many people leave their pets when they move to a new home assuming the pet will be able to 'fend for themself.' A statement that is very untrue for our domesticated animals. She brought him in and set him up in a crate, it is APAWS policy to separate new animals until vet care is received. She was able to secure the first available appointment for his checkup and neuter after the hold was up to make sure he didn't still have a family.

On the day of his appointment the vet called for authorization to perform further surgery. Caesar had been shot with a pellet gun in his side and the pellet needed to be removed. We can only speculate what this guy has been through, but it certainly wasn't good. He is a young cat, most likely around two years. In his short life he has been abandoned, shot and starved. He is now in the care of his foster mom as he gains weight and recovers from his surgery. He seems very happy to know that getting food is a daily occurance along with lots of cuddles and kisses. He is incredibly sweet and will make a great feline addition to any home.

Caesar looking for loves

After the surgery to remove the pellet

The pellet taken out of Caesar