Pets4Vetsoftheozarks

01/09/2026

We live in a world that is obsessed with perfection, often overlooking the profound beauty found in the broken, the scarred, and the rejected.

We assume that a "damaged" past means a "damaged" soul, but the truth is often the exact opposite. 💔

The ones who have been overlooked time and time again are not empty of love; they are overflowing with it, desperately waiting for someone brave enough to see past the cracks to the gold inside. 🥺

True connection isn't about finding someone perfect; it's about finding someone whose broken pieces fit perfectly with your own. ❤️‍🩹

01/07/2026

Good morning from the land of “I’ve already lived three days and it’s barely morning.” ☕🐾

Yesterday was actually a really good day. One of those rescue days where I got SO MUCH DONE — deep cleaning, scrubbing cages, moving cages, rearranging rooms, vacuuming, and upgrading kitties to their new rooms after quarantine. I went to bed around 10:30 feeling accomplished, productive, and slightly impressed with myself.

At 11:30, Monster woke me up crying.
Which is how I learned that feeling accomplished is apparently a trigger for chaos.

Something was clearly off, but it seemed like he just needed to go outside. Back to bed we went… until midnight. Then came round two. Pacing. Crying. In and out. In and out. At some point he decided sleep was optional, so I relocated to the couch with him — which happens from time to time.

All night long he paced like he was training for a marathon, and yes — he peed on the floor a couple of times. Not ideal, but thankfully I own a carpet shampooer and zero illusions about what life with animals actually looks like.

Morning arrived entirely too fast. I had to get up early to meet Tanya at Pets4Vets so she could drop off Alex for his vet appointment later today. I also had to get Asha packed up for her spay at Fair Grove, plus the normal morning routine for rescue cats, personal cats, and Monster — who, of course, did NOT want to eat. Which I fully expected.

We loaded up Asha and headed out, and on the way home Monster finally decided to throw up… in the car. 🚗🤢
Honestly? I was relieved. He hates throwing up and will fight it with everything he’s got. Once he did, he immediately felt better and even ate his breakfast (just a little late), so we’ll be doing some creative math with his insulin schedule today.

Later this afternoon I’ll be picking Asha up from her spay and taking Teddy and Alex to the vet. Alex has had a little blood in his urine and is prone to bladder stones, so we’re getting that checked out. Teddy, as we discovered yesterday, has some pretty serious inflammation in the back of his mouth, so today is about a dental evaluation and likely scheduling a cleaning and possibly extractions.

So yes — I’m exhausted.
Yes — it feels like I’ve been awake for three days already.
And yes — I am absolutely paying dearly today for how productive and accomplished I felt yesterday.

But we’re showing up anyway. One coffee at a time. One vet visit at a time. Laughing where we can — because there’s enough sadness in this world, and rescue life is messy, loud, exhausting… and also full of love, purpose, and the occasional car puke reminder to stay humble. 💙🐾

01/07/2026

For the longest time, I was absolutely convinced that Thelma and Louise were identical twins. Like… no amount of staring could convince me otherwise.

But as they’ve gotten older, the differences have finally revealed themselves. Louise’s tummy has become more of a warm brown, while Thelma is more of a soft beige — and Louise is definitely the bigger girl. Because of this discovery, we can officially retire Louise’s collar (though I’m fairly certain this will confuse Jean tomorrow 😂). I’m curious to see if she can tell them apart now too.

And yes… these are that Thelma and Louise.
They may or may not be planning something. Maybe a small crime spree. Maybe just stealing your heart, your couch, and your entire daily routine. Hard to say. 😌

These two girls have been available for adoption for quite a while, which honestly surprises me. They remind me so much of my own tabby brothers, Ivar and Ragnar. They were strays as well, and they grew into two of the most wonderful, affectionate boys in the world.

Former strays have a special way of turning into incredible companions, and Thelma and Louise are no exception. Sweet, funny, and full of personality — just patiently waiting for the right partner in crime to take them home.

If you’ve been thinking about adding a little tabby mischief and a whole lot of love to your life, these two might be your girls. 💙🐾

01/07/2026

Teddy Update 🐾💙

Teddy did great during his neuter. He woke up like a champ and handled everything like the big, fluffy pro he is.

Unfortunately, I was right about his mouth. 😞
Since the day we brought Teddy in, I’ve noticed a very distinct gulping sound every time he eats. That’s a sound I’m very familiar with after dealing with quite a few stomatitis cats over the years. Bob does the same thing when his gums are inflamed and his meds need to be adjusted, so I was really hoping I was wrong this time.

When I examined Teddy myself, the front of his mouth actually looked good. Unfortunately, getting a clear look at the back of the mouth is much more difficult with a wiggly cat, so we really needed him to be under anesthesia to properly see what was going on back there.

While we don’t have a definitive diagnosis yet, Teddy does have dental issues toward the back of his mouth. It could be the beginning of stomatitis, or it could be gingivitis, and there may even be a couple of ulcers as well. Either way, his mouth is definitely uncomfortable.

I’m hoping to add Teddy onto the appointment I already have for Alex tomorrow at Fair Grove. It should be a basic exam so we can get a better look and make a plan moving forward. More than likely, Teddy will need a dental cleaning and possibly some extractions down the road.

On a happier note — Teddy graduated into the large cat room today! 🎉
He’s still hanging out in a cage for now while everyone adjusts to having a new roommate, but this is a big step for him and a great sign.

We also learned that Teddy is about two years old, so he’s still a young guy — which definitely works in his favor. 💪🐾

I’m incredibly grateful to the staff at SAAF Spay Neuter Clinic for helping get a clearer picture of what’s going on in Teddy’s mouth. Now it’s time for the next step.

If you would like to help Teddy get the care he needs, donations can be made directly to Fair Grove Veterinary Services at (417) 759-7803.
The account is under Pamela LaHaie — please note Teddy.
Just a quick disclaimer: Fair Grove does not have a chart for Teddy yet, but they will after tomorrow.

Not the update I was hoping for, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Teddy is being such a good boy through all of this, and we’ll make sure he gets exactly what he needs to be comfortable and pain-free.

Thank you all for continuing to support Teddy and cheering him on. ❤️

01/06/2026

Found cat alert:

I’m always happy to share to reunite kitties with their people.

https://www.facebook.com/100064368294400/posts/1316851520470445/

FOUND CAT
SPFD

This little cutie wandered up on my porch on the 30th, and has been hanging out since then. Very healthy and friendly so thinking it may have escaped home. Its currently chilling in my garage. I'm at the corner of Talmage and Grant.
Diane Minge

01/06/2026

I do get asked now and then about working cats (barn or shop cats). That’s not something I typically have available, but Rescue One occasionally does—and right now they have a few that are in need of new homes. If that’s what you’re looking for, I’d definitely recommend reaching out to them.

🐾

01/06/2026

Just when I thought I was done for the night… rescue said ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I’m wrapping up evening kitty chores, getting Teddy all prepped for his neuter tomorrow, paperwork finished, keys basically in my hand… when I hear what can only be described as the loudest, most aggressive fart ever produced by a domestic animal.

Before I can even react, a weapon-grade cloud of stench hits me like a jump scare in a horror movie. Immediate regret. Immediate laughter. Immediate concern for humanity.

So I do what any seasoned rescuer does — I follow the smell.

It leads me to Bob.
Bob, who was IN the litter box.
Bob, who was DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Bob, who somehow still managed to p**p directly on his own foot.

I don’t understand the mechanics.
I don’t want the science.
All I know is that moments later I’m chasing tiny p**p paw prints across the floor like it’s a CSI episode I never asked to star in. 💩🐾

And yes — I knew this was coming. Yesterday Bob got into Callie’s dry food for half a second. Maybe three or four pieces. But with Bob? That’s all it takes.

Every single time he sneaks dry food → diarrhea.
Every single time I beat myself up.
Every single time Bob proves that chaos lives in his digestive system.

But honestly? I’m laughing my butt off. Because if you don’t laugh in rescue, you cry… and tonight we’re choosing laughter, disinfectant, and acceptance.

Perfect. Way. To. End. The. Day. 😂

01/05/2026

The next couple of days are shaping up to be busy around here, even by our usual standards.

Tomorrow, Teddy (pictured) is headed in for his neuter — and not a moment too soon.
The following day, Asha will be heading in for her spay, which means our current cats-in-heat circus will finally come to an end. Praise be. 🙌

Also on Wednesday afternoon, Alex, who is currently in foster care, will be heading to the vet as well. His amazing foster mom Tanya was the one who noticed a small drop of blood in his urine. And since Tanya is a bit of a worry wart — which I 100% am too — we’re not messing around. Given Alex’s history of bladder stones, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. He’s not showing any other symptoms, but with urinary issues, staying ahead of things is key.

And because I apparently enjoy chaos, I’m also going to start very slowly introducing Gizmo and Gremlin to other kitties. Emphasis on slow. These two are still very much in the “we don’t trust anyone or anything” phase. That said, progress is happening — they now meow at me when it’s time to eat and are clearly interested in attention… they’re just also terrified of it.
Gremlin is doing better than Gizmo, but she’s been here a little longer and has decided I might be tolerable.

If anyone would like to help with the many vet appointments coming up, donations can be made directly to Fair Grove Veterinary Clinic:
📞 (417) 759-7803
📌 Account under Pamela LaHaie

Busy days, lots of moving parts, and a whole lot of cats. Thank you for supporting these babies and cheering them on with us. 🐾💙

01/05/2026

🚨 Spring kittens are being conceived NOW 🚨

Did you know?

An ear-tip is the universal sign that an outdoor cat has been spayed or neutered and vaccinated.

If you see a roaming cat in your neighborhood WITHOUT an ear-tip, that cat is likely unfixed—and breeding season is already here.

Spring kittens are being conceived NOW.

Early action through Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, + Return prevents suffering and overpopulation.

Learn more about how to help outdoor cats & TNVR here: https://www.alleycat.org/our-work/trap-neuter-return/

Please don’t wait. ✂️💉 😻

01/05/2026

📣 Adoption Spotlight: Callie

Yesterday, while I was deep-cleaning, I introduced Callie to Kitty Cat TV on YouTube—and y’all…
She sat in front of my computer monitor for almost two straight hours, completely mesmerized.

Lizards.
Grasshoppers.
Crickets.
Basically anything that moved on the screen.

Every once in a while she’d pop up and try to smack one (because obviously she was going to catch that digital lizard), but for the most part she just calmly watched TV like a polite little house cat who has discovered her favorite show. Occasionally Asha joins in too, because apparently it’s a group activity now. 😹📺

And honestly… watching Callie like that really hit me.

💔 Callie has been here for over a year.
She was returned to us earlier last year, but the Callie you see now is not the Callie she was back then.

That Callie was a broken cat.
She was completely shut down.
She was terrified of every other cat—and that fear came out as aggression.

This Callie?
✨ This Callie is healed.
✨ This Callie is learning trust.
✨ This Callie is doing amazingly well.

She has adapted beautifully to being around other cats and is no longer showing the aggression she once struggled with. What she needs is slow, respectful introductions—and once she has that, she settles in just fine.

I truly don’t believe Callie needs a special category anymore. She doesn’t need to be written off for who she was at her worst. She just needs the right home—one that understands that growth takes time and that second chances matter.

Callie is funny, curious, engaging, and clearly ready to be someone’s couch-sharing, TV-watching, bug-hunting companion (even if the bugs are virtual).

🏡 She deserves a home of her own.
A place where she can finally exhale, settle in, and be someone’s cat.

👉 Interested in adopting Callie?
Please fill out our adoption application here:
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/P4vadoption

Please share for Callie. Let’s find her the forever home she’s been waiting so patiently for. 💙🐾

⸻

01/04/2026

💔 A Memory From Last Year… and Alex Is Still Waiting 💔

I’m resharing this because somehow, unbelievably, Alex is STILL looking for his forever home — and this sweet boy deserves so much better than being overlooked. Please share as much as possible so we can find this lovely little boy his forever home. He has more than earned it!! 

Here is Alex’s updated Petfinder link: Check out this pet on Petfinder https://www.petfinder.com/cat/alex-3df4aa69-80b8-453b-b049-8bce97563432/mo/springfield/pets-4-vets-of-the-ozarks-mo826/details/

01/04/2026

This post right here deserves to be shared far and wide.

It says out loud what so many of us in rescue live every single day:
spay and neuter is the root of the solution.

Nearly every heartbreaking situation we see — dumped kittens, injured cats, overflowing shelters, euthanized animals — can be traced back to one thing: animals not being altered.

Most people only see a stray or two.
Rescues and shelters see the full, overwhelming picture.

For 2026, this challenge is so simple and so powerful:
🐾 Spay or neuter ONE animal.

Help a family member.
Help a neighbor.
Fix your own pet.
Support TNR.

One animal may not feel like enough — but together, it’s everything.

Please take a moment to read and share the original post.
Be part of the solution.
Let’s make 2026 the year we turn this tide. ❤️🐾

"Can you shut up about spaying and neutering animals!" 😀 Nope! .... Because the number one reason that we see animals dumped in boxes on the side of the road or dying under woodpiles or hit by cars or suffering terribly outdoors, is because people are not getting their animals altered.

I know that it can be challenging for the general public ... to connect all the dots and see the full scope of what is happening. Most people just see a few stray cats in their neighborhood or a random dumped dog. But as a rescue or a shelter, you are seeing these unprecedented numbers of animals. Millions all over the US.

With shelters euthanizing healthy, adoptable animals daily (California is euthanizing 500 animals per a day on average, 180,000 per a year)..... Every single person who loves animals, should be actively playing an role in getting animal-companions altered.

Nearly every sad animal story that you read, circles back to lack of spay/neuter. Every hoarding situation, every colony, every litter of feral kittens outdoors. It is all connected. These animals only exist because someone did not get them altered

2026, I challenge all of you to spay/neuter ONE cat. It would be great if you could fix more than one, but just ONE cat would be incredible.... Help grandma fix her cat. Help the neighbor fix his cat. Fix that cat on your front porch... Please be part of the solution this year 🙏

Animals deserve a world where they are not unwanted, suffering outdoors or sitting in the shelter systems waiting to be euthanized.

Resolution 2026! "I will spay/neuter one cat this year! I will be part of the solution!" ❤️🙌