JESSIE :) -NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION Persian Stoney Creek, ON

Jessie is our little miracle. Once unloved and riddled with neglect this little fellow ended up in an animal control facility.
Jessie's story: My name is Deanna of AARF Rescue. I work full time and in my spare time after taking care of my family I try to help by saving animals on death row. One evening after a long day of work, and rescue, I thought I would check my emails one last time before retiring to bed. There were the usual messages we rescuers receive on a daily basis i.e. so many pleas for animals in desperate need. Being a rescue it is overwhelming at times. There was an email from Nancy who frequently posts animals on death row, whose time has run out. I don't know why I clicked on that message as I am so over my limit with dogs and cats in my rescue, but I did, I read the usual plea for cats sitting on death row, I continued to read the message and saw a line that said "and the saddest is this persian who needs vetting asap", I scrolled down and there was a picture which horrified me. That night all I could think about was Jessie only having until Friday to find rescue help. I picked up the phone and called my contact at the facility; I asked if she could put a hold on him until Thursday. I had no idea what I would do to help this little soul, but there was just something that told me I would find help for him. I posted Jessie immediately on my rescue site with an urgent plea for a foster home. The next day, I checked my messages on my lunch and an email popped up referencing "urgent Jessie". My heart was racing and I couldn't open the email fast enough, there was a message from a woman named Wendy enquiring about becoming his foster mom and asked if I could call her. I immediately picked up the phone and we talked, I sent Wendy a foster application which she completed right away. Next, I called my vet to ask if I could bring him there as he was in immediate need of medical care. I was so anxious to go and get him but I had to wait until my work day was done. I arrived at the facility and went into the cat room, so many desperate faces peering at me with hope in their eyes; it is a hard place to go as death lingers around every corner. It is the sad reality of the facility that there are far too many cats and kittens to find rescue help. The worker directed me to a steel cage, as I approached I saw this poor little helpless face peering out at me, eyes so stuck shut with infection and fur so matted with feces and litter stuck everywhere. I opened the cage door and spoke softly to Jessie saying that he would be ok and that I was going to help him. I reached in and picked him up, he was so light and I could feel his bones protruding from beneath all the mattes; this poor soul had suffered so much. I immediately took him to my vets. It took the vet tech hours to work on him to remove the matting in order to give him some comfort. The next day I went to work, I was anxious to call the clinic to see how Jessie was doing. My phone rang at 8:30 am and it was the vet tech Jessica, she told me that when she arrived at 8:00 a.m. Jessie was dead, no sign of life, Jessica immediately picked him up and started giving him CPR. Within a few minutes Jessie gasped for air but he was still not out of danger, his heart rate was so low and he was struggling. The clinic worked feverishly to save his life. I was on pins and needles all day worrying about this poor little angel. I went that night after work to see Jessie; my heart sank when I saw him, his little body was struggling and he was so weak. I prayed for him that night that he would be strong enough to live. I called the clinic the next day and there were some positive signs, his blood pressure and heart rate had improved, his body temperature was better; he was by no means out of the woods but he was showing improvement. Everyday Jessie made improvement and the clinic was very positive that Jessie would have a good recovery. I went every day to go see him and sit with him and the team at the clinic was so wonderful and caring. As well, Wendy who will be Jessie's foster mom goes 3 to 4 times a week to spend time with him. Today Jessie is so much better; he has made significant improvement. He is stronger and is up and walking and running around the clinic, he is sweet and affectionate and loves to soak up all the love he is given. He is an amazing little one, and has taught me that you should never give up because miracles do happen.




Please note that Jessie is currently NOT AVAILABLE for adoption. Jessie is with me now as I am working on some of his health issues ie. chronic upper respiratory and building his immune system.

UPDATE: January 24, 2012 - I would have liked to have given a better update but Jessie has had a major set back. He was doing amazingly well, he went to the groomers and had a full groom and I have to say he looked very handsome! As you know Jessie's immune system is so compromised due to bad breeding/genetics. I was brushing Jessie and was shocked to discover large lumps on his underside. There were three in total one on his sternum and two quite large breast tumours. Diagnosis determined our poor little Jess had to undergo surgery to have them removed. The worry and stress at discovering these tumours was very hard, compounded with the risk of surgery and what the tumours may or may not be. Jessie made it through the surgery - he is such a fighter and I told him to stay strong and that he was so very loved by many. We sent the tumours for testing, those days waiting for the results were fillled with worry and anxiety. Finally, results..........they were fat and lymph tissue, such a relief to us all. Jessie's healing has been slow and complicated. Jessie's skin is very thin and paper like - the healing has not gone as smoothly as we hoped. The abdominal incision was not healing properly - his skin was shredding around the sutures. He had to go back for more surgery to try to repair the incision. it's been weeks and he is healing but very very slowly. There is still a loonie size part of the incision that is still not healed, but we are hopefull that he'll make a full recovery.



Jessie will stay with me as he cannot be adopted in his condition and I don't want to move him and put him through any more stress, he has been through so much considering he is only one year old. Jessie has settled in well with me and my troops. He has a "best buddy" now who is my rescue cat Nemo. Nemo is quite affectionate with Jessie and loves to groom him :)



Jessie has touched so many lives - near and far and I want to thank everyone for your love and support for Jessie. I willl post updates to Jessie's bio to keep you posted on his progress. Many, many thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement, well wishes, prayers and geniune concern for Jessie.