A Favor For A Relative
Paul Russell’s elderly relative had moved out of his home and the family had asked him to check in on the house every so often to see that everything was ok. It was no inconvenience for Paul as he lived close by.
A Favor For A Relative
Checking In
Paul went over to the house expecting it to be a quick visit. But he had no idea what he would encounter as he walked into the house. The house was pretty dark inside as all the curtains were drawn closed.
Checking In
An Unexpected Sight
As he walked into the bedroom he felt like he was seeing the scene from a horror movie. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He shone his flashlight to see clearer and then he saw it. A creature darted from under the bed and ran into the cellar.
An Unexpected Sight
A Difficult Decision
Paul’s distant relative was 82 years old and had fallen ill. The illness incapacitated him to such a degree that he had to be moved into a nursing home so he could be cared for appropriately. It was a difficult decision but a necessary one.
A Difficult Decision
No Pets Allowed
The elderly relative had a 17-year-old-cat named Siam whom he loved very much, but unfortunately, the nursing home had a no-pets policy. That meant that he couldn’t take Siam with him, and that’s why Paul felt he had to step in and help.
No Pets Allowed
One More Cat
Paul offered to take Siam in because he and his wife love animals, cats in particular, and have a few cats of their own. They felt that bringing one more cat home wouldn’t be such a burden. But was Siam the only animal left behind in that house?
One More Cat
Making The Trip
Paul was ready to walk into the house, find the cat, and leave. He walked into the house, went to switch the lights on, but when he flicked the switch on and off but there was no light. He needed to check the breaker in the cellar.
Making The Trip
Needing Some Light
Before heading down to the cellar, he went to fetch a flashlight from his car. He walked back into the house and shone the light to see where he was going and almost dropped when he saw what was in the hallway.
Needing Some Light
In A Bad State
It wasn’t just what he saw that shook him, but the smell was something else. Everywhere he shone the light he could see trash from floor to ceiling. There were boxes, broken furniture, and dirty dishes everywhere. There were even strange markings on the walls.
In A Bad State
Navigating The House
As Paul moved from room to room in the house, he had this eerie feeling that he just couldn’t shake. He felt like he was being watched, but by whom? He also couldn’t understand who or what had made the etchings on the walls…
Navigating The House
What Had Happened Here?
He shone the light onto the walls so he could get a closer look to make out what those markings were. Then he realized they were scratches. Someone or something had gouged scratches into the wallpaper. What happened here? Could it have been the cat, Siam?
What Had Happened Here?
Calling Out
He walked down the hallway calling out to Siam in the hopes that he’d come out and they could finally leave this eerie place. His heart was in his throat as he had no idea what else he was going to find. He just wanted to get the cat and get out as fast as possible.
Calling Out
Something Lurking In The Dark
He brought cat food so when he saw Siam’s food bowl in the kitchen he filled it hoping he’d come out of hiding. But it didn’t work, Siam was nowhere to be found. That’s when he realized he’d never find him in this mess in the dark.
Something Lurking In The Dark
Fixing The Light Problem
Before even attempting to find this cat, Paul had to check the breaker. He needed light if he was ever going to find Siam, so he headed towards the cellar where the breaker was. Then he heard a noise that sent shivers down his spine.
Fixing The Light Problem
Frozen With Fear
Paul heard a screeching echo throughout the house and then there was a loud thump. He was frozen with fear. The noise came from the bathroom down the hall. He made his way to the bathroom and with shaking hands yanked open the shower curtain.
Frozen With Fear
Finally Found Him
A sense of relief came over Paul when he saw Siam sitting in the bathtub. Who knows how long he’d been there. Poor kitty, he looked scared and hungry. As Paul was thinking about what to do with Siam he heard another distressing noise coming from the bedroom.
Finally Found Him
Anybody There?
That’s when Paul realized they were not alone. He heard a growl coming from down the hall but had no idea who or what was making that sound as Siam was with him. Maybe it was a raccoon that was scavenging off the trash lying around.
Anybody There?
What Is That?
He couldn’t just leave without seeing who or what was inside the house. So he made his way towards the noise and was shocked to see a huge creature dart out from under the bed and run down towards the cellar. Should he go after it or run?
What Is That?
Mustering The Courage
Paul’s wife Jill had been waiting for him in the car but he was taking so long that she decided to check on him. He told her what he’d seen and they decided to get a trap and try to catch the creature and get to the bottom of the mystery.
Mustering The Courage
Glowing Eyes Staring Back
They got a trap and went back the following day ready to catch this creature. They went down to the cellar and there it was hiding in a corner. They managed to push into the trap but they couldn’t believe its huge glowing eyes.
Glowing Eyes Staring Back
A Visit To The Vet
The pair were shaken and decided to take the creature with the big eyes to the vet. They had no idea what animal it was. The vets had never seen this before but were able to identify what kind of animal it was.
A Visit To The Vet
Another Kitty Cat
The strange creature with the big, glowing eyes was, in fact, also a cat. But they couldn’t understand what had happened to it to cause its eyes to become so enlarged. The cat’s eyes were so big that it looked almost alien-like. Was the cat suffering?
Another Kitty Cat
What Now?
Paul, Jill, and the vets wanted what was best for this cat. They weren’t sure if he’d suffered some kind of trauma to his eyes or if he was in any pain. Could he even see properly? What was the best form of action?
What Now?
The Final Decision
After much consideration, the vets decided that the best thing to do was to euthanize the cat. They believed that its quality of life would be compromised because of its disability. Paul and Jill were happy to have found him so he wouldn’t suffer anymore.
The Final Decision
But There’s More
While at the vet, Paul and Jill came across Hidey, yet another cat, whose elderly owner wasn’t able to care for her. This was a different case altogether, but they couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor cat. What happened to her wasn’t her fault.
But There’s More
Great At Hiding
Hidey was given this name because she loves hiding in unusual spots. Hidey’s owner was 83-years-old and unfortunately wasn’t able to provide appropriate care for her for a really long time. As a result, her fur matted so badly that she was unrecognizable.
Great At Hiding
Difficult To Groom
When cats are overweight, they’re not able to groom themselves properly and that results in matting. That was the case with Hidey, she was extremely overweight so her fur matted so much as time went by that it looked like she had dreadlocks.
Difficult To Groom
What Was The Solution?
Her owner wasn’t able to care for her so someone confiscated her and took him to the vet to see if they could help. The vet was shocked when they saw the state that Hidey was in. They’d never seen such a bad case of matting before.
What Was The Solution?
Only Thing Left To Do
The team decided that the best course of action would be to shave all of Hidey’s fur off. There was no other way to remove those dreadlocks without inflicting any pain. So they put her under general anesthesia and carefully started shaving her.
Only Thing Left To Do
A Complete Cat Makeover
The team of vets managed to shave off two pounds of matted fur from Hidey’s body. Not only does she look like a different cat, but she feels terrific now. That poor cat must feel so free without having to carry all that extra weight around.
A Complete Cat Makeover
Years In The Making
The vets believed that it would have taken years of neglect for her fur to mat so badly. Once all that intertwined fur was removed, the vets were able to see that she was also extremely overweight, plus now she had no home to go to.
Years In The Making
A Home For Hidey
Paul and his wife were feeling quite sad after the ordeal that they had just gone through with his relative’s cat. But when they heard that Hidey needed a home, they jumped on the opportunity. They just had to wait until she was discharged from the hospital.
A Home For Hidey
A Happy Kitty Family
That day, Paul’s feline family gained two more members: Siam and Hidey. If it hadn’t been for Paul, who knows what would have become of these beautiful cats. They now have a forever home together with the couple’s other three cats and their two dogs.
A Happy Kitty Family
Learning To Trust Humans Again
It’s very possible that as a result of carrying those two extra pounds of fur and being overweight and neglected may have caused Hidey to not trust humans. So now, she’s slowly trying to adjust to a normal life with the Russells.
Learning To Trust Humans Again
Still Hiding
Unfortunately, it is going to take a lot of time, patience, and love for Hidey to trust humans again because of years of neglect she had experienced. That’s probably why she has been hiding under the bed since arriving at the Russell’s home.
Still Hiding
Giving Her Love
Paul and Jill were very patient with her. At first, they carefully took her out from under the bed to hold and caress her so she could feel loved and safe. Now, she’s coming out on her own and she’s purring a lot and enjoying the cat bed.
Giving Her Love
Pets Are A Big Responsibility
Owning a pet comes with a lot of responsibility because they have needs that need to be met for them to thrive. An elderly person can benefit from owning a pet in many ways, but unfortunately, sometimes they’re not capable of caring for them.
Pets Are A Big Responsibility
Some Professional Advice
CEO of the Animal Rescue League Shelter and the Western PA Humane Society, Dan Rossi, has some advice when faced with a situation like this. He explains that it’s all about providing a support system for elderly people who have pets.
Some Professional Advice
Support From Local Shelters
He also states that local shelters should step in if they see that an elderly person isn’t able to provide adequate care for their pets. They should be willing to take pets in if there’s no other alternative where a family member can step in.
Support From Local Shelters
One Day At A Time
With each day Hidey is coming out of her shell more and more and is starting to trust the Russells. She’s a little standoffish, but when she wants attention, she loves being held and purrs when they caress her. We’re glad she has found her fur-ever home!
One Day At A Time
Not The Only One
Hidey isn’t the only neglected pet who has been through the mill. Unfortunately, a lot of people neglect their pets to the point where the poor animal’s health begins to deteriorate. This one Golden Retriever named Kai was on the brink of being put down before fate stepped in.
Not The Only One
They Gave Up On Him
One day, 173 pound Kai was brought into a shelter by his owners, where he was left behind. The highly overweight dog could barely walk due to all the excess weight on his frame, and things weren’t looking good for him.
They Gave Up On Him
The End Of The Road
Since his previous owners decided he was too much to handle, they brought him to the shelter in order to be euthanized. They fully gave up on him, and if it weren’t for a kind soul, he would no longer be here today.
The End Of The Road
He Captured Her Heart
Pam Heggie, a nurse, met Kai shortly after he was dropped off immediately felt for him when she first met him. She know that he was still full of life and just needed help with shedding the extra weight bringing him down.
He Captured Her Heart
She Took Charge
Heggie decided to take acton and offered to foster him. Once she got him home, she quickly put him on a strict weight loss diet and exercise regimen. The veterinarian working at the shelter informed her that Kai was “the fattest dog” he had ever seen, so she knew it would not be an easy journey.
She Took Charge
The Battle Ahead
Although Heggie immediately put Kai on his new health plan, she knew that it would not be a simple or quick fix. The poor dog needed to lose 100 pounds. All that extra weight made it very tough for him to walk, but she knew that she could help him do it.
The Battle Ahead
One Step At A Time
Heggie knew that she needed to slowly ease Kai into his new routine, and that meant that she started him with three short walks per day. In the beginning, Kai would only manage five to ten steps and then would immediately need to rest.
One Step At A Time
Hard To See
Heggie shared the emotions she experienced during the ordeal. She told The Dodo, “He could walk a few steps and then he’d pant and lay down. It would just bring me to tears.” That sounds so heartbreaking!
Hard To See
A Different Type Of Treat
However, Heggie stayed strong and said that Kai refused to give up. Since he could not be rewarded with treats, she instead gave him praise with affection each time he accomplished a difficult task.
A Different Type Of Treat
A Great Method
Heggie soon realized that taking Kai to walk in water greatly helped with his range of motion and helped him strengthen his muscles more easily. The support that the water provided helped him make great strides in his journey to a healthy weight.
A Great Method
Daily Commitment
As anyone who has embarked on a weight loss journey knows, it is a daily battle. Every single day counts, and each daily accomplishment adds up eventually to incredible results. Kai began slowly losing weight and was able to walk more quickly and without so much strain.
Daily Commitment
Continued Progress
Heggie took Kai to the local dog park, where he was able to socialize with other dogs and was able to exercise while playing with the other dogs at the park. The other dog parents there began to recognize him and encouraged and praised his ongoing progress.
Continued Progress
The Results Started To Show
With the continued hard work and consistency, eventually Kai was able to run and jump once again. Heggie was over the moon with pride and happiness. She knew that if he was given the proper care, Kai would be able to get back to a healthy weight.
The Results Started To Show
Kai’s Determination
Heggie praised the hard working doggie in an interview with The Dodo: “People might have given up on him, but he never gave up on himself.” She knew that he just needed to be given a chance, and through hard work and determination, Kai would do it.
Kai’s Determination
The Final Verdict
One year after taking Kai in, Heggie shared that he had hit his weight loss goal, losing an astonishing 100 pounds total! She emphasized that his determination and refusal on giving up on himself was key in his success.
The Final Verdict
The Changes Within
She also shared that Kai is no longer the same dog that she picked up at the shelter a year before. He was now full of energy and excited to play with other dogs. He loves running, jumping, and being active.
The Changes Within
Making It Official
After such a powerful yearlong adventure together, Heggie knew that she could not bear to part with Kai now. She decided to make things official and formally adopted him!
Making It Official
Keeping Up With Fans
Heggie documented Kai’s weight loss journey via a Facebook group called “This Is Kai,” where she shared photos and updates on his progress and daily updates on the ups and downs of the journey.
Keeping Up With Fans
Kai Today
Since his initial weight loss journey, Kai has been able to keep off the weight and spends a majority of his days running around with his doggie siblings. He frequently waits by the door impatiently, excited to get out and run at the park!
Kai Today
Continued Updates
Even though the weight loss journey is behind them, Heggie still shares up to date posts of Kai and his canine siblings in the “This Is Kai” Facebook group. It seems like this family has never been happier. It just goes to show that a little bit of kindness can go a long way and even safe a life.
Continued Updates
