Oreo’s tale of rescue and recovery
By John Gregory
The humanity of some residents in Scripps Ranch was shining brightly as a helpless creature was rescued a few days before Christmas
A small, badly injured male kitten was discovered abandoned behind a garbage dumpster in Scripps Ranch Community Park on Dec. 19 by Alisha Zeeshan. She walks through the park nearly every day, but it was just by chance she saw this tiny feline, alone and in pain. Zeeshan posted a photo of the kitten on the Scripps Ranch Information Exchange social media page.
Scripps Ranch resident Susan Kilmer happened to check the posts that morning and leapt into action, becoming the kitten’s guardian angel.
“I said I would meet her (Zeeshan), so I drove there immediately. I brought my cat carrier with me and an old towel,” said Kilmer, who owns two other cats. “She showed me where he was, and I scooped him up with the towel and put him in my carrier.”
The young cat was very weak and lethargic.
“The one thing I’ll remember is that he has yellow eyes. We just looked at each other. He made a high pitched meow,” Kilmer said.
The kitten didn’t struggle going into the cat carrier. He couldn’t move, she said.
One of his legs was maimed and he lost one of the digits on his other paw. His tail was also injured, and maggots were crawling around the wound, Kilmer said. Someone had wrapped the injured leg before he was discovered, yet they abandoned the kitten in the park.
“It tore my heart apart. I couldn’t imagine someone doing that,” she said.
The Humane Society was notified, but it did not specify a time when it would send anyone to help, Kilmer said. So, she rushed the cat to a local veterinarian. They examined the kitten and thought he was about seven to eight months old, and that the injury had happened about seven to 10 days earlier. The staff speculated that the tiny kitten might have climbed into the engine compartment of a parked vehicle to keep warm, which sometimes happens. When the vehicle was started, moving parts such as a belt or rotor might have caused the injuries.
They did not find an identification chip and recommended that she take him to a specialty veterinary hospital in Sorrento Mesa, which she did.
Kilmer was asked the name of the cat while communicating with the hospital by cell phone as she was enroute. Caught off guard, she named him quickly, calling him “Oreo” because of his black and white markings.
“As soon as they saw him they took him to the back. I waited while they did an assessment. I spent the entire day there,” Kilmer said.
The veterinary hospital staff had many conversations about Oreo’s condition. They were very concerned about his tail. Kilmer said she was concerned about the quality of life Oreo would have after his surgery. Then a veterinary surgeon was called in to help with the assessment. Finally, it was determined that the necessary surgery would have a positive outcome.
Kilmer immediately paid a $2,200 deposit so the hospital would make needed actions to make the cat comfortable while he awaited surgery.
“They cleaned up his wounds. … They wrapped both arms up. Gave him antibiotics and fluids,” she said.
Then Kilmer had to quickly find a way to raise the additional funds to cover the more than $9,000 additional cost for surgery.
“I created the GoFundMe page,” she said. “It was just crazy. The money kept coming in. The next morning when I checked, there was about $4,000. So many people keep reaching out.”
Oreo’s operation was held on Dec. 20. His damaged leg was successfully amputated, as was his tail. His other paw was repaired.
“They told me he did really well. No complications. He’s really fortunate,” Kilmer said.
Oreo was released from the hospital and is recuperating. He is purring and meowing, has a good appetite and is using the litter box.
“He’s just going to have to learn to walk on three legs,” Kilmer said.
Kilmer has adopted Oreo and will look after him as he recuperates.
“I’ve got to keep him. He’s too much a part of my life now,” she said.
Numerous additional treatments remain in store for Oreo, and they are costly – beyond the expenses for the surgery.
“The outpouring of support has been just amazing. I would really appreciate any (additional) help,” Kilmer said.
Those wishing to contribute may search the GoFundMe site for Oreo’s Urgent Surgery Fund: Second Chance.