A Voice for Kristen & Pela: Spreading Hope in a Time of Need
Kristen and Pela share an unbreakable bond, but when Pela was diagnosed with a dangerous spleen mass, their time together was suddenly at risk. With limited income due to severe health struggles, Kristen gave everything she had to get Pela into surgery. Sadly though, it still wasn’t enough.
Guardian HEALS stepped in not only to provide some financial support but also to help share their story far and wide. Thanks to our incredible community, more people learned about their urgent situation, bringing in much-needed awareness and support.
While their journey isn’t over, the love and generosity of so many have given Kristen and Pela hope—and a fighting chance to stay together.
For the Love of Kitties, Leave the Lilies Alone
By Joan Eve Quinn, HEALS Program Director
Who’s not thrilled to see happy flowers popping up their cheerful heads after a long, cold winter? In particular, lovely-looking lilies start appearing everywhere at this time of year, both indoors and out, especially as the spring holidays approach. The Easter lily, an alluring trumpet-shaped flower with waxy white petals and a distinctive scent, is a perennial favorite.
Cats and lilies don’t mix!
But these pretty plants can be fatal to felines. These flowers don’t come with warning labels–but maybe they should! Who knows what might pique the interest of our feline friends? Kitties that are bored, curious or attracted to a different texture or unusual scent may be tempted to taste the new lily plant addition to the home.
Beauty can be dangerous
Easter lilies can cause acute kidney failure in cats, which is very serious! Some other lily culprits include:
- Tiger Lily
- Rubrum Lily
- Stargazer Lily
- Red or Wood Lily
- Asiatic Lily
- Japanese Show Lily
- Day Lilies
Any Lilium or Hemerocallis species should be considered potentially poisonous to cats. Calla Lilies and Peace Lilies, which are common houseplants, can cause mouth and GI tract irritation. Lilies of the Valley, omnipresent outdoors in springtime, can cause heart arrhythmias.
A few other popular spring flowers that are dangerous to cats include daffodils, hyacinths, azaleas, and tulips.
Dog owners should be wary as well. “Dogs can have some gastrointestinal upset from ingesting lilies as well as some other flowers, but it won’t result in any fatal complications,” advises Dr. Jason Berg, board-certified veterinary neurologist/internist and HEALS Chairman of the Board.
Signs of lily toxicity in cats
Signs of poisoning develop quickly. Initial signs can appear within two hours of ingestion and include vomiting, refusal to eat, and lethargy.
Initial symptoms may subside, but don’t be fooled. Cats will become symptomatic again within 24-96 hours as kidney failure develops. These later signs can include:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Dehydration
- Oral ulcers and uremic breath
- Hypothermia
- Increased respiration rate
- Slowed heart rate
Life-saving veterinary treatment
The onset of kidney failure can be prevented with aggressive veterinary treatment within six hours of ingestion. Treatment includes inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal products. This therapy is followed up with intravenous fluids for at least two days. If medical treatment is delayed for longer than 18 hours, kidney failure will develop. If not treated, death will occur in as little as three to seven days. Lily toxicity is to be taken very seriously!
The safest bet
It’s best not to purchase lilies of any type indoors or outdoors if you own a cat. But even if you don’t purchase lilies, keep all flower arrangements out of the reach of curious kitties. If your me-ew likes to chew, try some fresh cat grass or catnip plants, which are available at most pet stores.
If you think your cat may have gotten into a lily plant, seek emergency veterinary medical attention immediately! Know where your nearest 24/7 veterinary clinic is located and keep the phone number handy. For further information on this subject, you can contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline at 1-888-426-4435.
Would you like to donate to help save animals? HEALS is one of the best, most effective animal charities to donate to. Your gift provides financial help for pets in need of life-saving veterinary care–when their owners truly can’t afford it–right here in your own community. If you need help paying for dog or cat veterinary care, contact us at 914-996-0001 or email us at info@healspets.org.
Kolija’s Homecoming: Coming Back From the Unthinkable
Kolija is seen here making his emotional return home.
Last week we shared the sad story of Kolija, the beloved pet dog at And-Hof Animals, an upstate New York farm animal sanctuary. Tragically, Kolija was shot on purpose at close range while running away from the shooter on New Year’s day.
A police investigation is ongoing and this compelling story has been covered by major news media.
Thanks to so many of you who donated–and with HEALS’ financial aid intervention–Kolija was able to have the complex, specialized leg-conserving surgery he needed. He will have a long recovery and rehab ahead, but is doing well so far and is expected to return to normal eventually.
Please consider donating to HEALS so we can help other pets like Kolija whose owners are financially struggling and would otherwise have no other choice but to euthanize their cherished companion animal. The need is great and the costs of veterinary care have risen dramatically!
Thank you once again for your generous donations to help Kolija. Large or small, your contributions make a big difference in the lives of local pets and their devoted families living right here in our own communities.
HEALS is one of the best animal charities to donate to. Your donation provides financial help for pets in need of life-saving veterinary care–when their owners truly can’t afford it–right here in your own community.
Answers for Bruce: A Critical MRI Made Possible by You!
After six long months of unexplained seizures, Bruce and his family were desperate for answers — but the cost of an MRI was out of reach.
Thanks to the kindness of our supporters, Guardian HEALS stepped in to help cover the cost, ensuring Bruce could get the crucial scan he needed.
Now, his family finally has the information to move forward with his care, giving them hope for better days ahead. Because of you, Bruce has a fighting chance at a healthier, happier life!
Phoebe’s Path to Healing: A Community Rallies for Raymond’s Best Friend this Giving Tuesday
When Raymond and his beloved dog Phoebe were in a serious car accident, his biggest fear wasn’t for himself—it was for her. While he walked away with minor injuries, Phoebe was left needing urgent surgery to heal her injured leg. Determined to give her the best chance at recovery, Raymond did everything he could — but he couldn’t do it alone.
Thanks to the generosity of our amazing supporters, Guardian HEALS was able to raise nearly $1,000 to help cover Phoebe’s medical expenses! With this support, Phoebe has had her surgery and is now on the path to healing, giving her and Raymond hope for brighter days ahead. Their bond is unbreakable, and because of you, they’ll get to continue their journey together. Thank you for making a difference!
HEALS Talks Turkey
By Joan Eve Quinn, Program Director
At holiday time, we’re especially grateful for the generous donors who enable us to provide life-saving veterinary care for pets in need all year round–and for the bounty of goodness we share on Thanksgiving.
To help keep your companion animals safe on the impending big feast day, the experts at HEALS have compiled the following list of safety tips:
Friends and family (and pets) love to gather in the kitchen during holiday meal prep time, but please watch out for some hidden dangers that may be lurking there:
- If your pet is on a special diet for medical reasons, don’t break the protocol just because it’s a holiday. If you aren’t certain whether to feed your pet certain holiday foods, consult your veterinarian first.
- Hot foods can cause mouth and throat burns–serve your four-legged feasters at room temperature!
- Bite-size pieces are best for avoiding choking hazards. Fully cooked vegetables are softer and safer to swallow than raw veggies.
- Avoid feeding your pets any foods on toothpicks or skewers! Don’t assume your pet will nibble the food off and leave the toothpick or skewer behind.
Delicious dos
Here’s some traditional American holiday fare that’s generally safe for pets to chow down on:
–Green beans
–Sweet potato (avoid sugary preparations)
–Broccoli
–Boneless, skinless turkey breast without seasonings. Bones can damage your pet’s digestive tract and skin contains fat, which can be hard to digest.
–Carrots and peas
–Celery
Dangerous don’ts
Companion animals can’t gobble down all the foods we can. Avoid these fixin’s:
–Raisins, Xylitol and chocolate. Sweets can contain ingredients that are poisonous to pets. Chocolate and sweets containing Xylitol are especially harmful. If you want to share treats with your pets, it’s best to buy treats made especially for them.
–Fatty foods such as turkey skin, butter, bacon, greasy meats, cream and other full-fat dairy products
–Raw meats
–Macadamia nuts
–Garlic and onions
–Cooked or raw bones
–Heavily seasoned, spicy or salty foods
–Raw bread dough can cause gas and possibly dangerous bloating
Talkin’ trash
We’ve all seen it: Four-legged pilgrims get a whiff of tasty treats, journey to the source and land at the rock in search of irresistible nibbles. But there’s no newfound freedom for them! Turkey pieces could be deadly. Dispose of all bones, other scraps, bags, strings, and other packaging in a well sealed garbage bag and place it in a tightly closed container.
Party hardy
Some pets are easily upset by visitors and hubbub. If your pet gets nervous around guests, put him or her in another room or in a crate with a favorite toy. You can also talk to your veterinarian about possible solutions to this common problem.
Playing tag
Even if your pet is comfortable in a full house, keep a watchful eye when people enter or leave. More pets go missing during holidays than at any other time of year. Sadly, many are never recovered. They should always have proper identification on them, especially a microchip with your up-to-date, registered information.
Just in case
Some signs of sickness include sudden behavior changes, depression, discomfort or pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Always keep contact information for your nearest animal emergency clinic handy. If you suspect that your pet has eaten something potentially troublesome, you can call the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
Happy harvest to you!
Have a little bit of vigilance and enjoy the many blessings of the Thanksgiving holiday to the fullest. May your day of feasting go as smoothly as home-made gravy and be as sweet as pumpkin pie. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
HEALS is one of the best animal charities to donate to. Your donation provides financial help for pets in need of life-saving veterinary care–when their owners BVtruly can’t afford it–right here in your own community. If you need help to pay for dog or cat veterinary care, contact us at 914-996-0001 or email info@healspets.org.
One Week – Two Lives Saved!
Thanks to our amazing donors, we were able to play a big part in saving the lives of two cherished pets in the last week!
Sayi – a five-month-old French Bulldog suffering from a debilitating spinal cord condition, and Ruby – an English Bulldog pushing through the end of a serious bout of pneumonia.
We’re pleased to report that both pets are recovering well. Because of you, they will spend this Thanksgiving at home with their loving families.
Would you like to donate to help save animals? HEALS is one of the best, most effective animal charities to donate to.
Your gift provides financial help for pets in need of life-saving veterinary care–when their owners truly can’t afford it–right here in your own community. If you need help paying for dog or cat veterinary care, contact us at 914-996-0001 or email us at info@healspets.org.
Hope for Jace: A Community’s Love Brings Help & Healing
Jace has been through so much, but thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, he’s getting another chance at the care he needs! This resilient pup, who has been his mom Brittany’s rock since her Lupus diagnosis, has faced countless medical emergencies, a major surgery, and the heartbreaking loss of his best canine friend. His family has done everything in their power to save him, but the mounting vet bills made it nearly impossible to keep up.
We were able to provide crucial support to help ease the financial burden and get him the urgent care he desperately needed. Through it all, Jace remains a happy, loving pup, still playing with his favorite toy and soaking up every moment with his mom. Because of you, he has a fighting chance—and we couldn’t be more grateful!
Rosie’s Road to Recovery: Helping a Family’s Best Friend
Great news — Rosie is on the mend! This sweet 4-year-old beagle-hound mix is the heart of her family’s home, bringing joy to her two little human best friends and the many animals she shares her small farm with. When Rosie needed emergency surgery, her family was faced with a difficult financial burden. But thanks to the kindness and generosity of our incredible supporters, Guardian HEALS was able to step in and help cover the costs of her procedure and post-op care.
Now, Rosie is receiving the treatment she needs to heal, and soon she’ll be back to running around the farm, playing with her family, and enjoying the happy life she deserves. Her family, especially her young companions, can’t wait to have their best buddy home again. We are so grateful to everyone who made this possible—because of you, Rosie gets a second chance at a bright and healthy future!
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