July 14th, 2023

We rescued Tina and her kitten Tammy from Hamilton Animal Services where they arrived as strays. Both mom and baby are not well, and Tina was not nursing Tammy. We got mom and baby out of the shelter and to the vet for immediate care. We’re not sure if Tammy will make it, but our vets are doing everything they can.

Please send all your love and well wishes to Tina and Tammy.
More updates coming soon.

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July 15th UPDATE!

Tammy made it through the night! We’re so happy! She’s still not eating on her own, but she is accepting of the kitten formula and medication she is being given. Wee Tammy is in the very best hands with Dr. Stubbs, one of the amazing vets we work with.
Go, Tammy! You got this!

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July 17th UPDATE!
These are two more of Tina’s babies who were were brought in to Hamilton Animal Services today by the same person who found Tina and Tammy. We’re not sure the exact circumstances surrounding the situation, but we’re thankful these two were also brought to safety.
We’ve named them Tony and Tiffany, and they’ve been reunited with their mom and sister at the vet.
Their prognosis is guarded, as they seem to have all the same symptoms of illness that Tammy has, but we’re hopeful.
❤️
Welcome to Ladybird, Tony and Tiffany.
We’re gonna do everything we can to help you feel better.

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July 18th UPDATE
Not the update we wanted to give you this morning.
Despite supplemental feeding, medical treatment and around the clock care, Tammy, Tony, and Tiffany passed away one by one during the night.
It’s suspected they had panleukopenia, but test results haven’t yet come back to confirm that.
We are heartbroken.
Thankfully, mama Tina’s health is improving and her diarrhea has mostly subsided. She’ll need a few more days at the vet before she can be moved to a foster home.
We want to extend a huge thank you to Dr. Stubbs and the staff at West Park Animal Hospital for going above and beyond for this little feline family. We’re so thankful for their kindness, and their willingness to take in emergency rescues like these without hesitation.
Thank you as well to everyone who sent their love and donations.
This is yet another reminder of what shelter staff, animal rescue organizations, and the veterinary community are dealing with every day. Pet owners are abandoning and surrendering their animals at an astonishing rate. Backyard breeding is out of control.
The number of animals ending up in situations like this are at a critical level right now, and none of us can see any relief in sight.
Please – Do your research before getting a pet. Adopt your pet. Spay or neuter your pet. Commit to making that pet a member of your family for the life of the pet. Don’t make your responsibility, someone else’s responsibility.
We try to post the lighter side of rescue, but behind the scenes it can be overwhelming, frustrating, and exhausting. Now we’re grieving the loss of these sweet babies who didn’t have to get sick and pass away, but they did because of someone else’s carelessness.
We are grateful they were warm and loved in their final hours, but it’s little comfort.
Tammy, Tony, and Tiffany… we are so sorry. We tried everything we could. We hope you know that, and we can only hope you know just how loved you were.

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July 27th UPDATE

Tina is done her medications and she has made great progress since coming into our care. Her poop is no longer runny, and she has gained some much needed weight. She’ll be transferred from the vet to a foster home tomorrow, and we’re looking forward to watching her continue to thrive after her ordeal. She’ll get a much needed grooming, and be spayed when she has gained a little more weight. Once she’s healed from her surgery, she’ll be made available for adoption.
Big thank you to the vets and staff at West Park Animal Hospital for caring for Tina and her late kittens.

Go Tina!

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August 10th UPDATE

Please send your love and well wishes to Tina for her spay surgery today!
Tina has been doing great at her foster home. She is eating well, and getting along with the other animals in the home. Only issue is that she isn’t 100% consistent with using the litter box. Her foster family have even found Tina poops in their bathtub. 😂 That’s okay though. She’s been through a lot, and we can’t blame her. Hopefully she’ll eventually get better with that, but otherwise she’s a very sweet little kitty.
You got this, Tina!

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August 12th UPDATE

Tina did great for her spay surgery. She is eating well and purring up a storm in her foster home. She’s such a lovely kitty!
Tina will have a follow up vet appointment in a couple of weeks. Hopefully she will heal up well, she can start the search for her forever home shortly after.

Way to go Tina!

September 27th UPDATE

Tina has had some ups and downs with her health since her spay surgery. She developed an abdominal hernia that required repair. Thankfully that surgery went well and she recovered without issue. Tina has a form of IBS, and has gone through a few food changes to try to get her stomach issues sorted. She still has occasional bouts of runny poop, and when that happens, her foster family will find Tina poop in the bathtub. But this last food adjustment seems to have mostly done the trick.
And the best news! Tina’s foster family told us they would like to adopt her! After all Tina has been through, we couldn’t ask for a better outcome. She has a loving forever home where she’ll never feel the pain of neglect and abandonment again.

Congrats Tina! We’re so happy for you!