"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
"What is essential is invisible to the eye,” the Little Prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember."
The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery
We at the Independent Cat Society hope that 2012 has seen hope and progress for you and your family. ICS has had many blessings this year: We built our new Rainbow Bridge Garden; we have had help from all of you with all aspects of shelter operations; indeed, we have been very lucky here at ICS in many ways.
But we still need your help. In June, a mom and six kittens were dropped at our shelter. Some of you may remember that day, a virtual team of volunteers dashing about treating and triaging the kittens with towels, flea treatment, and eye meds. You see, they were not well. They were all victims of upper respiratory infection, or URI, and were in the throes of full-blown eye infections. Crusty little pockets of dried pus enclosed their eyes, and it was our immediate task to clean them off to see what damage had ensued. If URI is left untreated, this is one of the results: eye infections that can lead to blindness. The infected tissue remains behind the eyelids and has nowhere to go but to attack the cornea. Depending on the severity and the duration of this condition, the eye can be destroyed by the infection.
After months of rigorous treatment, three of the kittens ended up normal in everyway, but each of the other three had one eye that needed to be removed. Despite these major surgeries, they have each come through with shining courage. Being just kittens, they do not know any other way to live! However, one of them, Pierce, is blind in his remaining eye. To watch him and hold him, you’d never know it! He has become accustomed to his new environment at the shelter, with the help of his brothers. Because of his condition, it is essential that he be adopted with one of his siblings to help him adjust to any new forever home. In the weeks since their surgeries, they roll, play, and cuddle, just like normal kittens. What they don’t have yet is their home with someone who will love them unconditionally. According to their foster mom, these three cuddle and love with more enthusiasm, more JOY than any kittens she has fostered.
Special homes are essential for these special kittens. Their surgeries complete, their future can be bright with the security of a good and loving home. These sight-impaired kittens see what is essential—what is invisible to the eye. They give life all they have, every minute of every day. At this time of giving, please consider making them a lifetime gift of their forever home. Please consider making their world one of perpetual love and kindness.
If there is no open place in your life right now, can you give an hour at ICS just petting and talking? Or can you be the kind voice or the gentle hand reaching out to pet a cat or kitten that might not otherwise be touched?
If time is hard to find just now, can you make a personal difference with a donation of any amount? A donation of even just $5 buys Rabies vaccines or a box of litter or a microchip, or helps us with the cost of those necessary eye surgeries. With your support, with whatever you can afford to give, we will apply that donation in the direction you designate. With your help ICS will continue to shelter animals in need in Northwest Indiana, because we really do consider you our PARTNERS in this endeavor.
We continue, in spite of adversity, because our efforts are so desperately and urgently needed. Helping makes everyone more human; helping the helpless makes the world more humane. Please join our efforts. Every dollar helps!
At this time in the history of ICS, we have accomplished much over our 35 years. With grants and volunteer effort, we built the Rainbow Bridge Garden together, this year, one brick at a time. As we begin our 36th year, it is because of you, the ICS community, that we can sustain, support, and continue to rescue, shelter, and adopt. We see what is essential and we count our blessings!
With deepest thanks,
The ICS Board of Directors and Volunteers |
