Some Gifts Come With Fur

Not all presents can be wrapped and placed under the tree or by the menorah. Some gifts immediately snuggle in your lap and purr under your chin. As many people prepare to give gifts this holiday season, Kaitlin Neal is looking to give pets a new home through her new nonprofit, Rise Above Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.

“Our main focus is on the animals in the community that need the most help — those that are sick, injured, elderly, feral, or need extensive medical care,” Neal shared. “Our goal is to get these animals healthy and stable, and once they are ready, place them up for adoption. We are hoping that by creating this group, we are able to increase our reach, and with the help of other like-minded people, we can help even more well-deserving animals that otherwise wouldn't have a place to go.”

Helping animals is not new to Neal or her family. She said she is a veterinary technician who is constantly helping animals during her free time. Her work is done with her own funds, with occasional help and donations from close friends.

“I have always been drawn to animals that need a little more help than others,” she explained. “Word spread quickly about what I was doing, and I started to have people reach out to me daily for help. I started to gain a following of supporters and realized that together we were filling a need in the community. After a lot of thought and discussion, we decided that becoming ‘official’ would be a great option that allowed us to continue to grow and help even more animals in need.”

Rise Above Animal Rescue and Sanctuary has already had many success stories. Some of Neal’s favorites involve Ash, Wink and Pokie, which all came to Neal as 12-week-old kittens.

“All three were emaciated when they got to us,” Neal said. “Wink had a ruptured eye, while Ash had two bad eyes that looked as though they had previously ruptured. They did not have vision in these eyes and they were painful and infected.”

Both Wink and Ash have fully recovered and are waiting for their forever homes. Pokie, though, has shown possible neurological issues when eating.

“We discovered that he has an issue with his liver,” Neal said. “We are on a waiting list for a CAT scan and potential surgery at Virginia Tech, as long as we can raise the funds in time. This surgery will change his life, eliminate all of his health issues and will give him the ability to live a long, normal healthy life. Most pets regain normal liver function after having this surgery done.”

Neal said the specialist surgery at Virginia Tech is estimated to cost between $2,500 and $3,500. “To us, it is worth it since it will fix his issue completely and give this sweet little kitten a chance at a lifetime full of love,” Neal emphasized.

To learn more about Pokie’s surgery, visit www.gofundme.com/pokies-lifesaving-surgery. Being a nonprofit, the group has many needs. Monetary donations can be mailed to 8417 Miramar Road, Pasadena MD 21122, or sent via PayPal to paypal.me/KTKat19. The group also has an Amazon Wish List. To learn more about the group, visit the Rise Above Animal Rescue & Sanctuary Facebook page or email riseaboveanimalrescue@gmail.com.

Wouldn’t it be lovely this holiday season to give an animal the gift of health or a forever home?