Special Donegal home sought for Cheeky the blind Cat - Animals in Need weekly column

Donegal's Animals In Need (AIN) are seeking a special home for an elderly blind cat called Cheeky.

From time to time, the charity is asked to find homes for animals due to a change in their family’s circumstances.

This was the situation Cheeky found herself in when her elderly owner had to move into a care home.

Cheeky is an older, much loved house cat of 15 years of age. She has always been well cared for and loves getting petted and is a good natured, gentle soul.

Although Cheeky is completely blind, she will run and walk around like any other cat once she is familiar with her surroundings.

Cheeky has been blind for a long time and is able to get around by using her other senses.

This lovely cat has had the full range of blood tests at the vets, which confirmed that she is in good health.

She will be having her teeth cleaned this week and then will be ready for a special, indoor home.

Cheeky is also neutered, is up-to-date with worming and flea treatments and is litter trained.

All she needs now is a loving, indoor home to spend the rest of her days. If you could offer Cheeky that special home, please contact the cat helpline for further information.

Tripod ginger cat John Joe is also looking for an indoor home.

He is young, lovable fellow who was found a few weeks ago with a badly twisted front leg, which had been caused by an old break that had not been treated and had healed badly.

John Joe had to have the leg removed but he has made a speedy recovery and is ready and waiting for a new home.

Everyone who meets him falls under his spell. He is so good natured that he purred throughout having his stitches removed, he just wants attention and his own human family. AIN volunteers have responded to several emergencies this week.

Six collie pups were rescued at Christmas 

One involved a cat found collapsed and freezing cold in a garden shed in Buncrana on Monday last.

This poor cat was little more than skin and bones and extremely dehydrated.

The cat was rushed to the vets in Carndonagh and is currently on a drip. Early signs have shown that the cat is beginning to respond, so fingers crossed for this little one’s recovery.

AIN has opened again for adoptions.

Although closed over Christmas and the New Year, the volunteers were still fostering rescued animals and responding to emergency cases, of which there were several involving dogs.

These included a dog who needed to be taken in after a family tragedy and an injured 10-year-old German Shepherd Dog who was found in a field near Holmes Beach in Mountcharles on New Year’s Day and whose rescue involved the volunteers scrambling through icy mud up the hillside, as they searched for her in the thick fog.

Thankfully the German Shepherd Dog was found and rushed to the emergency vet for treatment and her owners were later located.

AIN also took in two separate litters of collie pups, one from Letterkenny and the other from Clonmany. Each litter comprised three little pups of 10 and 12 weeks of age.

Often the pups who arrive at AIN have had minimal care before they are rescued and they can be poorly, but thankfully in this case, all six pups had been very well looked after and they are all healthy and well socialised and they will soon be found fantastic homes.

Finally, if you would be interested in becoming an AIN volunteer in 2023, whether that be as a fosterer, fundraiser, administrator, charity shop volunteer, driver or in any other capacity, please contact the helpline or message AIN’s Facebook for more information. The more volunteers on board, the more animals AIN can help.

Gorgeous John Joe is ready for adoption 

To help AIN’s animals, please donate €2 to AIN’s ‘Help Us To Help Them’ fundraising appeal via your phone by texting the word ‘KITTEN’ to 50300. Every last cent goes directly to the rescued animals for their food, bedding, vet bills, worming treatment and vaccinations.

McHugh's Miscellany: The first bradán caught on the Drowes River has become a yearly institution

For further information on adoption, fostering, volunteering etc, please contact the main helpline on 087 1356188. For cat/kitten enquiries please call 087 7644420. Animals In Need Donegal is also on Facebook and has a website at http://www.animalsinneeddonegal.com.