Helping Pets & People

Stumpy’s Second Chance: A Have a Heart Fund Success Story

Stumpy came into Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA’s care after being found in the front yard of a McGaheysville home. It was clear that Stumpy had suffered an injury to his left front paw, which had resulted in a severe infection leaving Stumpy unable to use the paw. Stumpy was put on a course of antibiotics to fight the infection and we were hopeful he would regain use of his leg. Sadly, the infection had already spread to his toes and bones in his little feet and our vets soon determined that Stumpy would need an amputation.

help my cat harrisonburg

Amputations are always a last resort and in cases like Stumpy can mean the difference between life and death. The infection in his foot was not responsive to the antibiotics and topical treatments. Our donor funded Have a Heart Fund was there again to save the day. We began soliciting a foster home for Stumpy to settle into while he awaited his big surgery scheduled a couple of days out.

When an animal is recuperating after their life changing procedure, our fosters play a vital role in giving them a comfortable place to do so. Claire Robitaille, a student at JMU, stepped in to foster Stumpy through his recovery. Students from the three local universities account for nearly half of all feline fosters at the Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA. Our foster program provides the students companionship while they’re away from their pets at home and their participation in our program provides much needed temporary housing for our animals.

foster a cat Harrisonburg

Claire made sure Stumpy made it to his surgery and the follow up exams. Stumpy recovered in the comfort of Claire’s foster home and also found his adoptive home while there. As Claire tells it, “I texted my friend Kaleb to come over because I knew that he would love him. And it was basically love at first sight.” Claire was right because Stumpy is now enjoying his best life living with his new best friend Kaleb.

cat surgery harrisonburg

Success stories like Stumpy’s would not be possible without the support of fosters and donors. Visit our foster page to learn more about our foster program and our donate page to learn how you can support programs like the Have a Heart Fund.