Thursday, February 28, 2008

Pepper

We are sad today. We received a message from a friend who passed on a plea for help from Pepper's mom. Now, most likely none of you know Pepper, but most of us do know the pain of having a sick kitty or woofie and reaching the point of needing more help than we can provide on our own.

Pepper has a page but not a blog. We would like to introduce you to her. And just for the record, Pepper's Jan is not our Jan.

Pepper is a beautiful Russian Blue stray cat and was originally owned by serviceman Mike Bustillos based at Air Force Base/SAC Headquarters, Bellevue, NE who was deployed for emergency service and is still engaged overseas in Iraq.

Mike became the original Pepper Person when he took her in as a kitten. He had her for just over a year when he was called once again to serve his country. He loved Pepper enough to let her go. He was not sure how long he would be gone and he felt it was not fair to Pepper to keep leaving her for long periods of time. With a heavy heart Mike surrendered her to the great people at the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha, Nebraska.

That was when Jan, Peppers present owner, came into Peppers life. December 15, 2007 and Jan and her son and husband were dealing with the grief of losing their wonderful family kitty Kitterz . In an attempt to overcome the pain of her loss Jan decided to stop by the local Humane Society not really expecting what she found. It was love at first sight. There was Pepper. With a pledge from Jan to the U.S. soldier, that she would love and take care of Pepper and give her a safe, loving home, off she went with Pepper in tow to start a new life together.

One month after getting Pepper, she started getting sick only I thought it was hairballs...she does have long hair and very silky too. After she started vomiting foamy stuff I took her to not 1, but 2 vets. They did diagnose Cholangitis (inflammation of the bile ducts) She couldn't keep food down, she had a fever of 103 and she was lethargic. The main cause of this disease is bacterial. Recovery from and recovery of the liver can be possible but involved a long period of antibiotics, fluid and food tubes for cats who loose their appetite. Pepper has had to have these tests done so far. Blood tests (CBC, blood chemical analysis), radiographs, ultrasonography, fine-needle aspirate, and liver biopsy.

She also suffered from Hepatic Lipidosis from not eating...but that can be reversed with feeding, hence the feeding tube in the neck.

The above are excerpts from Pepper's page where you can read the full story, see photos of Pepper and view copies of vet bills and estimates of treatment. There is a contact email address.

We hope Pepper is able to finish the necessary medical treatments and have a long, healthy life ahead of her. To visit Pepper, click here. (Update 3/7 -- Pepper died, her page is closed and fundraising efforts have ended.)

21 comments:

  1. Poor Pepper! We read her page and will help her as best we can.

    Chase

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  2. Oh poor Pepper - we'll see what we can do to help.

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  3. What a horrible disease! We'll cross all of our paws that she makes a full recovery!

    Sherman, Penny & Lola

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  4. Jan
    What a stowy..Poow Peppew..I'm heading ovew to see hew page now and see what I can do..IT must be vewy hawd to see hew suffew..Mommi falls apawt when that happens
    smoochie kisses
    Asta

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  5. Will pray for little Pepper and her family. Too sad when things are not good. Will stop over and check things out. Let's hope Pepper will get better.

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  6. Jan
    I know it's not you who has Peppew, but I still wanted to help..I put a link on my bloggie to you fow the stowy too ..I hope that's OK
    smoochie kisses
    Asta

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  7. Oh that is sooo sad, he is sooo sick. I will head over to Peppers page and read more and see if there is anything I can do to help out. Poor lil kitty
    Deetzy

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  8. Awe, poor pepper. I put a link on my bloggie for him....
    Deetzy

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  9. Dear Jan and Mates
    We hope Pepper will be okay. You are kind to try to help her. Each of us has to try to do what we can to help our animal friends.
    Also, thank you for your comments on my blog about Barkley. We are very interested. It is a real shame hoomans are so cruel and thoughtless. Mum read something the other day about hoomans not being able to survive if all the animals were gone.
    Love from Hammer

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  10. That poor kitty. We sure hope that she gets the treatment she needs..

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus and Louie

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  11. I hope Pepper has a happy and painless time on Earth. That is the only thing we animals really need; we are more simple than humans, you see, but it is precisely due to this simplicity that we are able to give humans what they so dearly cherish: uncompromising companionship, compassion and devotion. Do not cry for Papper if she must go over the rainbow bridge, but send prayers that she will be happy with us for a little longer, too! Good luck, kitty!

    -Charlie

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  12. We're sending major AireZen that Pepper feels better soon! Poor little guy!

    Love ya lots,
    Maggie and Mitch

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  13. Thanks for sharing the news about Pepper. We're trying to send her some good vibes and wishes to get strong. We'll keep our fingers crossed!

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  14. I left a message earlier but it is not there. I feel really sorry for Pepper and have left an announcement at the Cat Blogosphere about her. A few kitties are aware of her predicament. I am purring hard for her.

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  15. Jan & Everybody, we gave you an award. Come to my blog to find out more!

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  16. Thank you for bringing Pepper's plight to our attention. I saw it on the Cat Blogosphere and went and helped a little. I am hoping and praying that she can get the care she needs to recover completely.

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  17. We are hoping that she gets well soon. We will do what we can to help.

    Purrs for Pepper,

    Scylla, Charybdis & Socks

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  18. I would like to send a donation to help Pepper, but can't send it via paypal. Can you possibly get me a snail mail address so that I can get meowm to mail one? If you can get one please email it to me at juniorbabeeAThotmailDOTcom.

    Thanks!

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  19. Oh no... poor Pepper... We'll be praying for her!!
    (No wags :( ) Licks,
    Maya and Kena

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  20. Ooohhh. Our own Maw wuz stationed at Offutt AFB in Bellevue. We jist sent sum green paypers to Pepper's account.

    Luf, Us

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  21. Have you heard anymore about how Pepper is doing? We are purring with all our heart that she is getting better and will be able to go home.

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