10/31/2026
Our vet bill JUST got paid off.
And almost immediately, we found ourselves facing two more emergencies.
Neither of these cats belongs to our rescue. Both have owners who love them. Both are in life-threatening situations. And both have owners who simply cannot afford the emergency veterinary care needed to save their lives.
So here we are again. 💔
🐈 EMERGENCY #1 — SUSPECTED RAT POISON INGESTION
We received a call from a homeowner who believed that two of their cats had gotten into D-Con rat poison.
Both cats needed to be evaluated immediately.
Thankfully, one of the cats turned out to be okay and had not ingested the poison.
Unfortunately, the other cat was not so lucky.
💔 His kidneys were failing.
He needed immediate hospitalization and intensive treatment to support his kidneys and attempt to prevent further damage.
The veterinary team is planning approximately FOUR DAYS of hospitalization, including IV fluids and monitoring, in hopes that his kidneys can recover.
Estimated veterinary bill: $1,250.
We were really hoping we wouldn’t have to take on another large veterinary expense so soon after finally paying off our balance.
But the owner simply couldn’t afford the treatment.
And I knew that if we said no, this cat might not get the chance to survive.
So we said yes.
Right now, this kitty desperately needs your prayers. We don’t know what the outcome will be, but we’re giving him a fighting chance. 🙏❤️
🐈 EMERGENCY #2 — A COMPLETELY BLOCKED MALE CAT
This one is especially heartbreaking.
Four days ago, a pet owner reached out to me about her male cat who wasn’t doing well.
He had been going in and out of the litter box for days, struggling to urinate or defecate.
I offered to help with part of the veterinary bill, but because we still owed so much at the time, I explained that I could only contribute a limited amount.
I didn’t hear back right away, so I assumed she had gotten him veterinary care.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
With no current income, she had been trying to treat him at home.
Today, he started crashing.
He was covered in bloody urine and was rushed to Rosebird Veterinary Center.
💔 HE WAS COMPLETELY URINARY BLOCKED.
He had been straining so severely that he managed to pass what appeared to be a piece of a stone or crystal, temporarily allowing some urine to escape.
But almost immediately, another obstruction blocked him again.
Anyone familiar with male cats knows how incredibly dangerous urinary blockages are.
A complete urinary obstruction is a life-threatening emergency. Without treatment, a cat can die within 24–48 hours.
These cats can develop dangerous electrolyte imbalances, kidney damage, and cardiac complications.
And this poor boy had already been suffering for days.
Dr. Andy stayed after hours tonight to perform the emergency procedure needed to relieve his obstruction.
He is NOT out of the woods yet.
Estimated veterinary bill: $2,500.
He will also need a prescription urinary diet going forward to help manage his condition and reduce the risk of recurrence.
We offered to purchase his first bag of food to help his owner get started while she works on getting her financial situation stabilized.
Because saving his life is only part of the equation. We also want to help make sure he can stay healthy and remain with the person who loves him.
❤️ AND THIS BRINGS ME TO SOMETHING I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT OUR RESCUE.
A tremendous amount of our veterinary expenses every single year goes toward helping animals who already HAVE owners.
Animals who are loved.
Animals who have homes.
Animals whose families have simply fallen on hard times.
We could have a lot more money in our rescue account if we turned these people away.
We could say, “That’s not our problem.”
We could tell people to figure it out themselves.
We could refuse to help anyone who doesn’t have the financial means to pay for emergency veterinary care.
But I won’t.
Because I WAS once that pet owner.
I know what it’s like to have an animal you love desperately need medical care and not have the money to provide it.
I know what it’s like to be told that if you can’t afford a veterinary bill, you don’t deserve to have animals.
And I know what it’s like to face the devastating reality that your cat might die simply because you don’t have enough money to save him.
If it hadn’t been for Dr. Lewis helping me all those years ago, I would have had to let my own cat go.
I have NEVER forgotten that.
And I never will.
That experience is part of why I do what I do today.
Helping people KEEP their beloved pets in their homes is a huge part of my mission.
Not every struggling pet owner is irresponsible.
Not every person facing financial hardship is lazy.
Not everyone who cannot afford a $2,500 emergency veterinary bill is someone who shouldn’t have animals.
People lose jobs. People get sick. People face unexpected hardships. Financial situations change, sometimes overnight.
And emergencies don’t wait until your bank account is ready.
I refuse to look at an animal who is suffering and say, “Well, your owner should have worked harder.”
THE ANIMAL DIDN’T ASK TO BE IN THAT SITUATION.
That animal doesn’t understand money, employment, or financial hardship.
It only knows that it’s hurting.
And if I have the ability to help relieve that suffering, I’m going to try.
Even if the person has wronged me.
Even if they’ve spoken badly about me.
Even if they’ve smeared my name.
Because at the end of the day, I’m not helping the person because of who they are. I’m helping the animal because of who I am.
And I stand by that.
🐾 THERE IS SO MUCH THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.
We handle numerous calls from pet owners every single week.
Some need emergency veterinary assistance.
Some need help with food or supplies.
Some need assistance getting their animals spayed or neutered.
Others are desperately trying to keep their animals rather than surrender them.
Then there’s the enormous amount of TNR work we do, much of which also never makes it onto Facebook. And the amount of food we give out to help pet owners and colony caretakers.
People see how much I post and probably think they know everything we’re doing.
But trust me, not everything makes it onto Facebook.
Not even close.
There are countless phone calls, appointments, expenses, emergencies, and animals being helped that the public never sees.
And the financial burden of all of it adds up quickly.
💔 WE JUST HAD OUR VETERINARY BALANCE PAID OFF, AND THESE TWO CASES ALONE ARE ESTIMATED TO COST $3,750.
That’s before any additional treatment or complications.
But tonight, two cats who might otherwise have gone without lifesaving veterinary care are receiving treatment.
And to me, that matters more than anything.
🙏 PLEASE KEEP BOTH OF THESE BOYS IN YOUR PRAYERS TONIGHT.
One is fighting kidney failure following suspected rat poison ingestion.
The other is fighting to recover from a severe urinary blockage.
Neither is guaranteed to survive.
But both deserve the chance.
And thanks to the veterinary team at Rosebird, they’re getting one.
❤️ If you’d like to help us cover these unexpected emergencies, every donation makes a difference.
🐾 Givebutter:
https://givebutter.com/Heidisfurryfriends
🐾 Venmo: -Furry-Rescue-2
Last four: 6994
🐾 Cash App: $Heidisfurryfriends
🐾 PayPal: [email protected]
🐾 Zelle: 570-971-6994 or [email protected]
🐾 Facebook Pay, cash, and checks are also accepted.
🏥 DONATE DIRECTLY TO OUR VETERINARY ACCOUNT:
Rosebird Veterinary Center
204 Thomas Street
Jersey Shore, PA 17740
📞 570-865-6735
Simply ask for your donation to be applied to Heidi’s Furry Friends Rescue. Donations can be made by phone, in person, or by mailing a check.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support us, believe in our mission, and make it possible for us to say YES when an animal desperately needs help.
Rescue isn’t always about taking an animal out of its home. Sometimes, it’s about helping that animal stay in the home where it’s already loved.
Heidi’s Furry Friends Rescue Inc.
Williamsport, PA