I love Franchesca very much, and I want to help her all that I can. She is a wonderful cat – loving and friendly.
— Susan —
Having been a volunteer with animal welfare organizations such as Golden Oldies and All Creatures Great and Small, Susan has been an animal welfare activist her entire life. Now, at 76, she is retired and has had a beautiful fur companion Franchesca for the past 14 years. Franchesca joined Susan 14 years ago from the Hollister Animal Shelter, and the two have been inseparable ever since.
The past month, Franchesca began exhibiting distressing breathing patterns. Susan describes it as, “At the drop of a hat, her breathing rate will become very fast”. Not knowing what was occurring, Susan took Franchesca to the Pet Specialists of Monterey, where her labored breathing symptoms were diagnosed as an indication of an enlarged heart. After further tests, it was also determined Franchesca was experiencing kidney failure, with an estimated between 6-12 months to live.
Heartbroken but compassionate, Susan initially looked to Max’s Helping Paws to urgently help the costs with immediate treatment for Franchesca so she would be “as comfortable as possible during her last days.” Susan shared she “has already spent over $6,000 on the care for Franchesca. As someone who is retired, that is way more than I can afford and I don’t make a lot of money. I love Franchesca very much, and want to help her all that I can. She is a wonderful cat, loving and friendly.”
Without financial support, Franchesca would not have anywhere near 6 – 12 months left.
After providing initial financial assistance to get Franchesca stabilized, thanks to funds provided by Doris Day Animal Foundation, Max’s was able to provide the support needed so Franchesca could receive compassionate treatment that would help extend whatever time left she will have with her mom. Max’s Helping Paws will continue to assist Susan with the costs of regular treatments in order to ensure Franchesca’s comfort and happiness as she enters the sunset of her life.
We send our love to beautiful Francesca and her person as they navigate this next phase together.
About Our Veterinary Partner:
Pet Specialists of Monterey is the first to offer 24-hour emergency service and a surgical-referral clinic specializing in orthopedic and soft tissue surgery and internal medicine in this area. As a referral practice, Pet Specialists collaborates with other veterinarians – from San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz County – to ensure the very best medical care for pets. The emergency facility accepts patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.