Thank you so much for your interest in supporting Save-A-Pet. Woody and the rest of the residents thank you in advance for your compassion, and we know Socrates would be so proud to know you are helping.

Please click HERE to make an online donation to help us save more lives and care for the residents.

Please click HERE to download a PDF copy of the 2010 Spring Injured Animal Mailing.

A Fighting Chance: Socrates’ Story

Socrates was found wandering local streets by an officer of
Lake County Animal Control, and brought to their facility to
be checked for any kind of identification. Lucky for Socrates,
he was micro-chipped and quickly traced back to Save-APet
where he was originally adopted in 2004. After several
unsuccessful attempts to contact his former adopters it
was concluded that this poor guy had been dumped by
his previous family.

Soon after his return to Save-A-Pet, Socrates developed
a very low body temperature and became somewhat nonresponsive.
After being rushed by our dedicated staff to Animal
Emergency and Treatment Center (AETC), an abscess was
found on Socrates’ head that had spread deep into his right ear
canal due to a previously untreated skull fracture. The doctors
recommended euthanasia, but also told Save-A-Pet there was
a slight chance that antibiotics may improve his condition.
Staying true to our no-kill mission, Save-A-Pet didn’t give up
on Socrates. He was kept at AETC where he was placed on
antibiotics and closely monitored for signs of improvement.
After four days, Socrates showed signs that his neurological
functions were returning to normal. His eye sight and ability
to walk with a normal gait were coming back as well.
To this day, it is unclear how Socrates suffered the skull
fracture. Most likely, he was either attacked by another animal
after being dumped, or abused by humans before being
abandoned. Socrates’ medical bills have exceeded $5,000, and
it was thought that he would require additional testing and
ongoing antibiotic treatments.

With great sadness, Socrates passed away during the preparation of this mailing.

Socrates will be dearly missed by staff and volunteers. Socrates
loved attention and petting. He loved to be held and purred with
his tongue out when his favorite staff member or volunteer held
him. Socrates fought for another chance to find a compassionate
home that would protect him and love him as he deserved, and
one that would not discard him and abandon him on the streets.

Unfortunately, stories like Socrates’ and the suffering he endured
occur on a regular basis at Save-A-Pet. Cats are dumped in the
middle of the night—even on Christmas. Cats are brought in
with severe, untreated injuries. With your continued generosity,
Save-A-Pet can practice our no-kill mission of helping those
who cannot help themselves.

We’ve seen so many more stories of cats like Socrates who have
come to Save-A-Pet and who have beaten all the odds to find
a second chance at a loving, forever home. This makes Socrates’
story touch our hearts even more. With your help—more lives
can be saved and more cats like Socrates will get a second chance
to find the care and affection they’ve been longing for their
whole lives.

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The Lucky One: Woody’s Story

After ten years of mistreatment, loneliness, and neglect:
Woody is finally safe.

Woody’s story, as we know it, began when he was only a year
old when he was abandoned by his family. Another organization
took Woody in as a rescue, but that rescue almost became a death
sentence. Woody was already very fearful when he arrived at the
facility. Instead of working with him, staff members put Woody
in a crate and took him to a dark basement. After a short time
Woody was almost completely forgotten.

Given his living conditions, Woody’s fear of strangers grew -
including the few volunteers who actually tried to help him.
Woody had no exposure to the outside world and was shown zero
compassion. Imagine spending just one day in a situation like
Woody’s - let alone nine years of your life. It makes you wonder:
what keeps them going? What are they living for?

In April of 2010, Woody’s life took a drastic turn. After years of
questionable practices, the facility “housing” Woody was finally
shut down. Save-A-Pet opened its doors to twenty animals,
including Woody. People who had for years advocated the closing
of this facility refer to these twenty animals as “the lucky ones”.
Who would ever have thought Woody would be considered lucky?
Woody arrived at Save-A-Pet terrified, lonely, and lost. You could
see it in his eyes. It was now up to Save-A-Pet to begin mending
ten years of physical neglect and emotional abuse.

Recently Woody went to the vet because he had difficulty walking.
The news wasn’t good. Woody’s pelvis had been broken at some
point and it had never been properly treated. As a result, Woody
now suffers from severe arthritis in both front shoulders and
wrists. Woody also has a degenerative vertebrae in his spine and
suffers from severe hip dysplasia. Woody’s exam revealed a tumor
which, although benign, needed to be removed due to the pain it
was causing. Woody’s medical treatment also required extensive
dental work due to infection.

In spite of all of his suffering, Woody still allowed a new Save-APet
friend to leash him up and walk him within two days of his
arrival. One day later, Woody let his new friend gently touch him.
Spending time outside was a new experience for Woody - for ten
years, he was denied the opportunity to run and play in a yard.
Now he spends time outside every single day.

Woody’s medical and emotional recoveries will take time. That
being said, he has a new outlook on life. Woody still has trouble
walking, but he’s finally being treated for injuries and pain.
Naturally, Woody distrusts some strangers who pass by his kennel,
but the light has returned to his eyes and the “wag” to
his tail. He only has one Save-A-Pet friend, but trust is not
earned overnight.

The possibility of compassion and commitment from the people
at Save-A-Pet is what kept Woody going all those years. Your
generosity will help all twenty of the “lucky ones” and others like
them to be healed and to love again – just like Woody.

Save-A-Pet Fall Wish List