The clinic has said if they get half of the total cost by the end of the day that they will let Thunder remain there. We have received $73 for him so he needs an additional $290 to pay half of his costs. Please like and share to help this reach someone that may be able to help.
Thunder is severely burned. The story below does not explain how extensive his injuries are. He can not be allowed to go without pain medication which is why he has to stay in professional care. He would most likely die from shock if allowed to go home without pain meds. Thunder is still at the clinic getting treated but will be released if some effort to make payment is not made. If we all work together we can keep him in the clinic.
Dona never intended to fall in love. Of course love is not something one plans. It all started with a muddy, flea ridden, homeless, mess of creature. A ratty looking fella that stole her heart the moment she first picked him up. Donna was on her way home from seeing her father at the hospital. Rain was pouring down like it was coming from a huge spout in the sky. The thunder boomed almost immediately after every flash of lightning that lit up the sky. It was one of the worst spring storms that had hit South-East Kentucky in a long time. Donna was turning off the highway onto the gravel road leading to her house when something moving in the roadside ditch caught her eye. If the movement had been a little lower and out of the reach of her headlights, it probably would not have stood out to her. The rain was coming down so hard that it sounded like tiny gravel hitting the car, the ditch was flooded, and the wind was blowing so hard that the new spring leaves were turning loose from the trees and joining the rain in falling to the ground. This kind of weather was not fit for man or beast. Donna couldn't make out what kind of animal she was looking at but she knew something was wrong with it. She turned the car so she could pull up beside the ditch on the driver side of the car. She definitely didn't want to brave the storm any more than need be and she didn't want to get to close to the animal without knowing what it was. She lined the car up with the tiny creature right beside the door. She rolled down the window and a flood of rain came pouring in on her. Quickly she fumbled under the seat for the umbrella she had thoughtlessly not had ready to begin with. She finally found it after what seemed like a small eternity. Sticking the umbrella out the window and popping it open caused the downpour to cease over her head. She grabbed the flashlight that her father insisted she keep in the compartment of her driver side door and lit up the ground. Even with the bright light she was still not positive what the tiny beast was but when it called out she knew for sure that she was looking at a kitten. Knowing what she was up against Donna threw the door open and clumsily fumbled with the umbrella trying to pull it back through the window. Realizing how ridiculous she must have looked, she reached around the side of the door and finally got control of the umbrella. Donna ended her wet adventure by picking up the kitten and practically jumped back in the car. She closed the umbrella, shut the door, and rolled up the window. She looked over at the tiny baby she had surely saved from certain death. He looked up at her with his sky blue eyes and that is when Donna realized that she already loved this filthy creature. Lightning lit up the sky followed by the explosion of thunder and the baby called out......"meow". Donna assured the baby everything was o.k.. She got everything situated and got back to her drive home, she had already decided to keep this dirty baby. Lightning struck again, then the thunder, then another "meow". The same sequence happened four or five more times on their way home. Every time followed by Donna's reassurance that everything was fine, it was just thunder. When they finally arrived home, Dona had said it so much that she decided that this baby would be called Thunder. She took him in and spent a good hour cleaning him up revealing his smoky gray hair, a perfect match to both his new name and his blue eyes.
Donna says that night was both her most blessed and most cursed she has had throughout her entire life. A few hours after getting home she received a call notifying her that she should return to the hospital, her father had took a turn for the worse. She rushed to the hospital and not even a half hour passed before he left her for Heaven.
That was all a year and a half ago. Since then Donna has spent many days and nights snuggling with Thunder, cleaning his messes, and getting untold joy from watching her fur-baby play. She has received untold amounts of love and affection. She has also gotten all the comfort she gave Thunder that first night back hundreds of times over. Every tear she has shed in memory of her dear Father has been eased with head bumps and loving body rubs from Thunder.
Dona almost lost what was left of her world, including Thunder, yesterday (Monday). Donna has always had a fire place or stove for heat and with the recent cold spell has had to use it a lot. She only uses the fire place when she is home but lets the stove continue to burn when she isn't home. She was only gone long enough to get a few groceries and pay a couple of bills. When she was returning home she was passed by two emergency vehicles. She never imagined they were headed to the same place as her. When she turned onto the gravel road she knew immediately though because a police car turned in behind her. They blue lighted her and she pulled to the side. The officer walked up beside her car and ask if it was her residence at the end of the road (the only house on that road). She told him it was and he told her that there had been a fire. The first thing that crossed Donna's mind was Thunder...."Is my baby o.k.?" Donna ask the officer. "Was there a child in the home?" The officer ask in return. Donna told him not exactly and explained how Thunder was her baby and all the family she had left since her father passed last year. The officer informed her that he was not aware of Thunder being found. He ask her to ride to the home with him if she wanted to go. As any pet owner would know, of course she wanted to go. Dona got in the passenger side of his car and they made the short drive to her house.
Donna almost went into shock when they arrived at, what a few hours ago had been, her home. Not because of the house but because of what she saw laying on what looked like a plastic blanket. It was her baby Thunder. Only she would have recognized him though. His hair singed so badly that his gray hair now appeared black where it wasn't just pink skin. She ran over to her baby. Donna didn't know whether to cry for joy or sorrow when she saw that Thunder was still alive. Just like the first night she spent with him, she set down by him and he said "meow", only this time it was very sick sounding and only a partial "meo...." and just like that first night she assured him it would be o.k.. Donna didn't dare leave his side. She yelled to the officer that brought her out the road. When he came over she politely demanded "take me to the vet". "Of course ma'am" the officer replied. They arrived at the vet after the longest ride of Donna's life. She refused to leave her baby's side throughout the entire time they were at the clinic and the officer waited on her in his car after carrying Thunder in for her. The doctor treated his wounds and bandaged his burns, which was most of his body. He informed Dona that he would need to stay for a while in order to get proper care if she chose to have him treated. He told her that in most burn cases this severe the animal was usually euthanized because most people can not or will not pay for the extensive treatment. Donna told the doctor "Absolutely not, I will do whatever it takes. Just take care of my baby!".
Donna has been unemployed for months and the small unemployment check she receives only pays for utilities and food. She owned her home and she had not had insurance since the second month after she lost her job. Donna is very desperate to get Thunder the care he needs, she only has her unemployment check though and is going to have to stay in a motel until she can figure out better living arrangements which will take most of what she receives. Because she is unemployed and has no assets now, she does not qualify for care credit. She has ask us if we can help after hearing about our rescue efforts from a lady at the clinic Thunder is in. We want to help but can only do that with the help of fellow pet lovers. Thunder's care costs are estimated to be $735. This is a very big case but the least we can do is ask for help. This poor baby and Donna have been through a lot. We want to make it a Christmas gift to them from us and all of our supporters to get Thunder the funding to get the care he needs. If you would like to help us help them please click on the link below. No amount is too small. If you can't afford to make a contribution, you can still help by liking, sharing, and even commenting to help people that may be able to assist them to see the post. Thanks to all that will help.
Contribution link:
https://www.paypal.com/
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