MOGGY COMES UP SMELLING OF ROSES AFTER ACCIDENT
Amuch-loved family cat from South East London has overcome the odds to make a full recovery following a traumatic traffic incident which left her with a fractured pelvis.
Rosie required emergency treatment from vet charity PDSA after her owner discovered her struggling to walk and unable to bear weight on her hind legs. Laura took Rosie to a local emergency out-of-hours vet who confirmed Rosie had been hit by a car and would need expensive, specialist treatment, which as a nursing student with limited income, Laura knew would be a challenge to afford.
Laura says:“After learning of Rosie’s severe injuries, I had to prepare myself and my seven-year-old daughter, Sophia, for the worst — that we might have to say goodbye to our beloved cat. It was heart-breaking, but I explained that we had to do what was best for her.”
Laura turned to PDSA, which provides emergency veterinary care for pets in need and Rosie was admitted to its Thamesmead pet hospital, where she was given urgent pain relief, while vets examined her injuries.
Several X-rays revealed the full extent of Rosie’s injuries, but there was also good news — Rosie had escaped any damage to her internal organs, so if her pelvis could heal, she had a chance at surviving.
PDSA vet Jo Milne says: “Complex pelvic fractures, such as Rosie’s, often require a surgical repair with a vet who specialises in such cases, but some will heal given enough time and strict rest. In Rosie’s case, her owner couldn’t afford a costly referral, so the next 48 hours were crucial.We needed to manage Rosie’s pain and ensure her injuries would heal without an operation; it was also important to ensure she did not have serious nerve damage that could cause her long-term problems.”
Happily, when Rosie was examined again, PDSA confirmed there was a good chance she would recover.
Laura says:“I was concerned Rosie may need a major operation, but there was no way I could afford thousands of pounds for specialist vet care. So, I was over the moon when the vets said there was a chance she could recover without surgery and that we could take her home under strict cage rest.”
Gradually, Rosie regained strength in her back legs and within a few weeks she was eager to start walking around again. Laura adds:“I cannot believe Rosie’s recovery. She was in such a bad way, but she’s come on leaps and bounds. It was a huge relief to see her gradually returning to her usual self as she started to enjoy wandering around the house, while still having plenty of naps on our beds. My daughter, Sophia, was over the moon to have her best friend back and made sure she had plenty of love while she was recovering.
“Thanks to support from PDSA and players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the cost of Rosie’s pain relief was covered — without it she would have been in substantial pain. I have signed up to a monthly donation to PDSA and encourage others to do the same because you never know when a pet might need help in future. I never imagined I would be in that position, but thankfully, PDSA was there to help us.”
Rosie has now made a full recovery and loves exploring her garden again.
Vet Nicola Martin has been announced as the new CEO of charity International Cat Care (iCatCare), taking over from Claire Bessant, who will be retiring in the summer after 28 years in the role.
Nicola is currently chief executive of Canine Partners; chair of trustees of Assistance Dogs UK; and was previously a trustee of the Animal Welfare Foundation. Also, while Head of Pet Health and Welfare at the PDSA, Nicola helped to develop and deliver pet welfare strategic plans and veterinary services, and designed and grew the ground-breaking annual PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report in conjunction with YouGov.
Nicola, who is “thrilled” to be appointed,says:“I look forward to working with the trustees [of the charity], the passionate team, and diverse and expert stakeholders to continue to improve the lives of cats worldwide.The charity has been close to my heart throughout my veterinary career and the opportunity to lead the next phase of its development is extremely exciting.
“Over the past 28 years, Claire and the team have worked tirelessly with all those who share International
Cat Care’s vision, and have made significant strides forward in so many areas of feline welfare. So much has been achieved for cats, but there is still so much to be done, and I look forward to taking on the baton and finding new and innovative ways to work with others to make a real difference to the mental and physical well-being of cats worldwide.”
Lynne Hill, chair of trustees for iCatCare,adds:“Recruiting a new CEO after Claire’s stewardship of the charity was always going to be a challenge, but the trustees feel that Nicola, with her passion for cats and experience in the charity, education, and welfare sectors, is the right person to build on Claire’s legacy.We look forward to working with Nicola to deliver the vision of iCatCare and improve cats’ lives all around the world through education, welfare initiatives, and through working with our sponsors, vets, nurses, and the public.”
iCATCARE ANNOUNCES NEW CEO
info For more information on iCatCare and its work, link visit icatcare.org