Michael, a local mural artist in Florida, was working on his latest creation when he received an unexpected visitor at his home—and she wasn't alone. A stray cat appeared on his porch, but she wasn't there to take in the sights. It was clear the cat was seeking help for the litter of sweet baby kittens she had just given birth to. Though Michael was unprepared to take in the adorable family, they depended on him to survive. Upon seeing the feline family in distress, Michael was determined to ensure each kitten would get a chance at life. He also wanted to prevent momma cat from enduring this struggle again. Michael knew he couldn't do it alone, so he reached out to PetSmart Charities® partner, the Humane Society of Vero Beach (HSVB), providing all the supplies Michael needed to help the struggling feline and her litter. Thanks to the resources and education he received, Michael fostered all the kittens until they were old enough to go up for adoption at HSVB. Mama Cat received the spay surgery she needed and was adopted by Michael. She is now a beloved family pet named Kitty and an avid art lover who spends her days watching Michael paint while she frolics around him.
"When Kitty came along, I could not pay for the care she deserved, like vaccinations and getting spayed. However, it is all about the cat; her well-being was most important to me. With the care she received through the program, she will now have a long, healthy life ahead of her,' said Michael.
The care Michael received was made possible thanks to Champions for Good like you. Your donations helped us to provide the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County with a two-year $152,000 grant to improve access to veterinary care in Fellsmere and Gifford. This grant enables HSVB to provide medical care to pets in communities with little to no access to veterinary care due to the cost and other barriers such as transportation and language.
"Our community members love their pets, and we want to make sure that every loved pet has access to veterinary care they need to be healthy, happy, and ultimately stay out of the shelter," said Kate Meghji, Executive Director. "Neither Fellsmere nor Gifford has a local veterinary clinic, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to provide these services."
Since 1994, through our partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs, and pet rescues across North America, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 10 million pets find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,650 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $400 million to positively impact communities, connect people and pets, help preserve families, and improve access to veterinary care through initiatives like this with HSVB.
