The Summerland animal rescue, Critteraid, is hoping the story of their beloved rescue cat Ron Weasley (or Ron Ron) will inspire the community to lend a hand for animal welfare.
Ron was brought to Critteraid just over a year ago after being found on the doorstep of a Penticton resident, sick, thin and crying for help.
The ginger cat had contracted an eye infection in which his eyelids to sagged forward causing his eyelashes to scratch his lenses each time he blinked.
“He looked like his eye had been burnt, he was just covered in infection,” said Jess Byer, animal care director at Critteraid. “Everytime he blinked it was like sandpaper on his eyeballs.”
After months of fighting for a corrective and expensive surgery, Ron can finally see without pain.
“We were lucky to work some amazing vets to stepped up to bring him in,” said Byer.
Now Ron is back at his furrever home, which is the Critteraid property. His stitches have been removed and he is continuing on with his very important duty of patrolling the barnyard.
“Ron Ron wears a GPS tracking collar and gets to wander the entire 10 acre property, patrolling for mice, making sure the pigs stay out of trouble and ensuring he gets a treat from every staff member he sees,” laughed Byer.
Thanks to the success story of little Ron, Byer is hopeful that the community will step up to help the not-for-profit and volunteer-run rescue garner funds to provide medical care and attention to two new kittens in a similar situation.
“Right now we have two kittens, that are less than four months old, waiting to have an eye removed,” she said. “They were both born with upper respiratory infections they contracted from their mothers and sadly it has caused significant damage.”
Critteraid hosts a number of fundraisers throughout the year, helping to ensure they can get their rescues the care they need as soon as possible.
“Our main source of funding is through various events and our thrift shop, it’s our lifeline.”
“We pay for all our overhead and all our vet bills upfront, and if we need to host another fundraiser to make it happen we will, we will never not supply an animal with the care and love they deserve,” added Byer.
Once the kittens have their surgeries they will be ready to go to a good home. “They are the most adorable little loves you ever did meet,” said Byer. Adding that once the kittens get rehomed their work will still be far from finished.
“It never ends, when there is a cat on the street it is never just a cat on the street, there is a lot of infection, disease and a lot of really mean people out there, we are just thankful for the support we have gotten from the community that has helped us continue to do this.”
To learn more about Critteraid, the work they do or to donate you can visit their website.
