Ce-Ce & Friends volunteer and devoted animal lover KAREN S. knew she'd fall in love with Sunshine and her son, Champ, when she offered to foster them back in 2001. What she didn't know was that she'd love them SO much, she just couldn't part with them!
Sunshine and Champ are now happy, loved, and PERMANENT members of Karen's family. Way to go, Karen - and way to go, Sunshine and Champ!
Thanks to Karen for providing these photos of the happy mom and son duo!
Sunshine
The following sections are a history of Sunshine's plight and rescue. Sunshine now has a home and thanks to your generous donations, the Sunshine Fund has been "retired". THANK YOU!
NOVEMBER 2000:
A HAPPY ENDING...AT LAST!!!
SUNSHINE IS RESCUED!!!
Thanks to some very hard work and wonderful perseverance on the part of volunteers--namely KAREN O'NEIL, ALAN BORGAL of THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BOSTON, and many others, Sunshine and CHAMP, her one remaining uncaptured kitten, are safe!!
KAREN SAVALIO of Ce-Ce & Friends relates the wonderful story of Sunshine's journey to safety:
"Sunshine and her 6 month old son Champ were rescued together on Friday, November 10th, 2000.
This is how it happened:
Karen O’Neil had Friday off from work, and she and her neighbors withheld feeding Sunshine and Champ throughout the day. Karen and I had telephoned Alan Borgal of The Animal Rescue League of Boston; it was Alan’s day off and he did not hesitate to call his partner to meet Karen O’Neil with 2 nets. Sunshine and Champ were sitting in front of Karen’s bedroom window waiting to be fed. That is when Alan and his partner snuck up on them and cornered them. As they tried to escape, they slammed the nets down on them. Once they were confined in the nets, they were then put in a dog kennel, safe at last and together.
Alan then rushed them to a local vet were they stayed overnight to be spayed and neutered the next day. They got all of their shots and seem to be friendly and in good health. We caught them just in time...on Wednesday night, Champ had been bitten severely in his neck and had lost a lot of blood. We do not know what type of animal bit him, and he may have gotten into a catfight. He had surgery on his neck and must be confined indoors for 6 months due to a “WOUND OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN”. Thank God we caught him when we did; he would have gotten a severe infection with the open wound.
I (Karen Savalio) picked up Sunshine and Champ at the vet's on Sunday, November 12; they are resting comfortably and eating well in my home. Champ is on antibiotics. As far as Sunshine’s leg, the vet said to wait 2 weeks once she recovers from her spay and to then bring her back for the x-ray and leg diagnosis. I know she is in pain, because when I touch her injured leg slightly, she whimpers and gives me a little nip, as if to say “DON’T TOUCH”. Other than that, they both let me pet them and seem friendly and content. They are very attached to each other and cannot be separated.
A special thanks goes out to Alan Borgal and Karen O’Neil for their fantastic rescue. Another special thanks goes out to Ce-Ce & Friends volunteer Mary Sweeney. Mary has offered to care for Sunshine and Champ until they are adopted. She has a special room all set up for them: it is called “SUNSHINE AND CHAMP’S DOMAIN”. Mary has about 12 cats; she is an angel to all the cats and is always willing to take in more. Mary called me every day asking about Sunshine’s capture and she, like all of us, is so very happy that they are finally out of danger.
Thanks to all who have been thinking of and praying for Sunshine and her family...and special thanks from Sunshine and Champ!"
Sunshine in her foster home--safe and sound!
Sunshine with her young son Champ...cozy as can be!
THE ORIGINAL SUNSHINE STORY...
Let us share with you a story about an extreme case of animal abuse that happened in an apartment complex in Weymouth, MA...a story about a cat we call “Sunshine”.
Sunshine is a beautiful orange tabby roughly about 5 years old. In her short life, she has sustained horrific torture that would make you shudder with disgust. In her 5 years, she has given birth to 12 litters. She is an extremely good mother, watching ever so intently over her young. She witnessed the brutal beating and burning of her first litter as someone beat, burnt the tails off and fatally crushed the skulls of all her newborn. Just because somebody wanted to get revenge on a woman in the complex building who was feeding Sunshine, they took their anger out on Sunshine and her family. Sunshine has endured such atrocities as having boiling water thrown down at her from a window while she was eating, burned with flames, attempted poisoning, and having a steel jaw leg hold trap set that broke the wrist and elbow of her right paw. She presently cannot put any weight on her paw and to top it off, gave birth to her 12th litter only a few months ago. In spite of all this, she remained faithful to her young. It was heartbreaking to watch her stumble 100 yards, have to rest, and watch her kittens follow in succession right behind her stepping where she does. Thankfully, her kittens were captured and were adopted through Ce-Ce & Friends into wonderful homes.
She has had a broken leg for 2 years now and must be in tremendous agony, climbing up and down the rocky wooded area were she lives (also shared with foxes and coyotes).
Except for her leg, she is however, still physically unscarred and a beautiful animal that needs love. With her history of abuse, she is deathly afraid of any humane trap to capture her to give her the medical treatment she desperately deserves. She does get somewhat close to a select few people that show her attention, such as food and a kind, soft voice.
One of those special people is Karen O'Neil, who has done all in her power to comfort Sunshine in her greatest time of need and has been instrumental in starting her rescue effort. Karen's huge heart and immense kindness in helping Sunshine has known no bounds: Karen is the person who originally trapped and paid over $900.00 in vet bills for Sunshine's 11th litter. Karen also was the first person to call and alert Ce-Ce & Friends about Sunshine's plight. After two of Sunshine's kittens, Murphy and Oliver, were returned by the people who had first adopted them, Karen took them in herself; they now live in a loving home with Karen and her Siamese, Jasmine. The "feline family" gets along fabulously and is spoiled rotten with tons of toys and love.
Karen continues to watch over Sunshine while we are trying to capture her. In essence, she is the only person that Sunshine trusts completely; she recognizes Karen's voice and will respond to her. Sunshine owes her life to this wonderful lady..so, from Sunshine and from us..THANK YOU KAREN!!
Ce-Ce & Friends was just recently informed about Sunshine's plight and we are doing all in our power to help her and her kittens. Our mission right now is to capture her and get her the medical treatment she so desperately needs. When we do capture her, we will be looking for a foster home or someone who could care for her while her leg heals, possibly even “ADOPTING HER”.
SUNSHINE'S BROOD, ALL NOW ADOPTED INTO WONDERFUL HOMES OF THEIR OWN:
Sampson
Tootsie (adopted with Sandy)
Twinkie(adopted with Tabitha)
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO STILL KEEP SUNSHINE IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
Thank you for taking the time to read her story.
A THANK YOU with Sunshine purrs goes out to the following people, who have provided publicity, graphics, trapping assistance, and/or donations to the Sunshine Fund:
If you have a link to Sunshine's page, have sent in a donation, or have otherwise contributed to Sunshine's Fund in any way, please let us know so we can add you to our list of THANK YOUs from the heart...from us, and from Sunshine!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS.
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