Nantucket Safe Harbor for animals has faced some difficult decisions in recent months regarding the humane care for animals in their charge. This is the story of Bunny, a small cat whom NSHA, along with Offshore Animal Hospital, was able to assist — a happy tail!
A few weeks ago, a small kitty who was obviously hurt, was found running along Hummock Pond Rd. It was bitterly cold on the day she was found, and her little ears had frostbite on the tips. The couple who spotted her stopped immediately to scoop her up. They took her to Offshore Animal Hospital on a Saturday afternoon. If you own a pet, you are probably aware that on weekends the animal hospital is available by emergency call only. Dr. Jen Fraker responded to the emergency call, and came to the hospital to give the small cat fluids and antibiotics. Dr. Fraker determined that the cat had been shot with buckshot in both back legs, possibly by a rabbit hunter.
Dr. Fraker reached out to NSHA Board President, Pam Murphy to discuss the options. Had the cat been feral (noticeable by a notch in the ear) this situation may have been passed along to Cattrap Nantucket. The kitten was covered in ticks and fleas, but ate voraciously and seemed quite friendly despite her obvious pain and fear, purring with gratitude. Dr. Fraker and Pam decided that NSHA would take temporary ownership and cover the cost of the required leg amputation. Dr. Fraker named the tiny cat Bunny and performed the surgery on Monday to remove the shattered leg and take the buckshot out of the other. Bunny has broken toes on the good leg, which will heal on their own.
Dr. Shanna Minor, another vet at Offshore, fell in love with Bunny. She is a sweet, most affectionate kitty, and yet so stoic. Dr. Minior has two birds and thought Bunny would be less of a threat to them to to her diminutive size! After she recovered from her surgery, Dr. Minor officially adopted Bunny from Nantucket Safe Harbor for Animals. We at NSHA are delighted to have been able to finance her initial care and surgery and are grateful to all our donors who make it possible for us to do this work. Bunny now spends her days at the hospital, where everyone gives her attention, and spends here evenings at home with Shanna, the birds, and Mobey the dog.
NSHA operates solely on donations and grants. They apperciate the community’s support, and so do animals like Bunny! If you’d like to consider making a tax-deductible gift to this island animal shelter, click HERE <https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=YN0r5Ei7aU04vysl4UDHZUgAWzZ5B1oSDLuo2rcJrvbX4jqmpCxO3xuMNfm&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d569c51c61ce57e9125f793ea33988004> to make a secure donation online.