08/13/2026
🚨 KITTEN EMERGENCY UPDATE #1 🚨
We have named her Denali. ♥️
Her injuries were severe, and they were not recent, definitely over a week old. The most likely cause of injury: 🐈⬛ vs 🚙.
Her mouth suffered the avulsion / degloving injury but, unfortunately, that was the least of her worries.
The horrible smell 👃 coming from her tail wound can now be explained by extensive tissue necrosis (death) and infection. This was causing her horrible pain. 😫
When Dr. Nelson called us with the update on the extent of the injuries, we discussed the 🔴 risks and 🟢 benefits of proceeding with surgery….to amputate her tail. The primary risk being paralysis and/or bowel + bladder incontinence.
Given that she had suffered this long on her own, and was still demonstrating an immense will to live (eating, drinking, asking for affection, etc…) the decision was made to proceed with surgery ✂️ BUT with a plan for compassionate euthanasia if she woke up and could not move her legs. You see, the spinal cord runs through the tail at that level (where tail meets the back).
Now, drum 🥁 roll please……!
After tail amputation surgery, our strong girl woke up, and STOOD UP on her own!!!!! 🥺 We will have to monitor her bowel and bladder function, but the first big hurdle has been 💪 conquered. She also had her jaw injury repaired with a surgical wire but will not have any eating restrictions. There is a chance the wire may not hold, but if it doesn’t, she can live pain free with the cosmetic defect that would remain.
This serves as yet ANOTHER reminder of why TNVR (spay / neuter) is SO crucial in our communities. We HAVE to prevent as many kittens from being born as possible ❗️Denali did NOT deserve to be injured, SUFFER IN SILENCE, and nearly die a horrible (drawn out) death from septic shock all while being in excruciating pain. 😞
➡️ The cats do NOT ask to be born and live on the streets.
➡️ The cats do NOT ask to struggle to survive.
➡️ The cats definitely do NOT ask to suffer prior to their (often gruesome) demise.
It is UNBELIEVABLE 👀 that $60 could have saved this sweet baby from suffering this fate. JUST $60 IS ALL IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN TO GET HER MOTHER SPAYED (and another $60 to have her father neutered).
Instead of spending $120 for spay/neuter for her parents, we now have a vet bill of close to $1,000! Oh, and to make things even worse, her parents are still out there reproducing (and now so are her siblings)!
Let that math 📊 sink in 🧠 deep….
We can ALL contribute to animal safety and welfare. It just takes COMPASSION and willingness to cut out something non-essential in order to support humane control of our community cat population(s).
Please, do not let this happen to anymore innocent animals.
💰 Venmo:
PayPal 💵: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SDJUFGT6QRBVL
📬 : PO BOX 24 Tipton, Ia 52772
You may also call Goosetown Animal Hospital 🏥 directly and put money on Denali’s account.
