by Jackie Fleming

Jackie Fleming is an Outreach Associate at Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California. Valley Animal Center shares their animal rescue adventures with us every month. Check out KRL’s interview with VAC to learn more about what they do.

A few months ago, a Good Samaritan came into Valley Animal Center with a rescued cat named Frankie who had been horribly burned. Frankie’s condition was so bad that the scar tissue on his eyelids were preventing him from blinking his eyes. This generous woman raised funds to give Frankie to our shelter and help cover some of the costs of caring for him. As soon as he was surrendered to Valley Animal Center, we were able to begin his long road to recovery from his terrible burns.

Frankie

His first major surgery involved repairing the badly damaged eyelids preventing him from blinking normally. Our amazing clinic staff was able to take skin grafts from his legs to repair his eyelids. Before this surgery, our staff had to administer artificial tears into his eyes to keep them from getting dry and irritated. He is now healing from his first eye surgery and we are all hoping his eyes will be back to their normal functionality in a couple of weeks.

Frankie will also need a few more surgeries to repair the scars on his head and neck where he has lost most of his fur. If these surgeries are successful, he will be able to lie out in the sun without the risk of painful sunburns where his fur was burned off.

We can only speculate as to how Frankie sustained such horrible burns to his face and neck. In addition to these burns, Frankie is also FIV-positive, the feline equivalent of human HIV. Our clinic and cat adoption staff will do everything they can to make sure Frankie is healed and rehabilitated from everything he has been through.

Frankie’s medical care has cost more than $3,000 and we anticipate more costs to accrue as more surgeries are performed. Valley Animal Center is a nonprofit no-kill shelter, so we do not receive any public funding to care for these animals in need. Contributions are greatly appreciated and allow our facility to continue the work we do. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.valleyanimal.org/donate.

Despite what he’s been through, Frankie is an amazingly good-natured, forgiving, and loving cat. Our one-year-old feline friend enjoys visitors and makes friends quickly. He will come by and say hi by rubbing up on you or waiting to be petted. This sweet boy also likes being held and giving hugs. Once his medical treatment is complete, he will be available for adoption and would be a great addition to any family.

Keep up with VAC’s animal rescue adventures here at KRL, and learn more about adopting from them, volunteering, and donating to VAC on their website.

Find more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section. Advertise on KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue.