When Suzume was found as a stray, she was heartbreakingly small and fragile. Her brother had already passed away, and when she arrived at Morris Animal Refuge, we quickly realized she needed extra help to survive. During her intake exam, our vet discovered something alarming—Suzume had one of the worst heart murmurs they had ever heard in a kitten so young and tiny. We knew we had to act fast.

A specialist confirmed that Suzume had a serious heart condition, one that put her at risk for complications down the road. But there was one clear way we could help protect her future: she needed to be spayed as soon as possible. In this particular case, spaying would significantly reduce potential health risks that could put even more strain on her delicate heart.

Because of supporters like you, Suzume didn’t have to face this journey alone.

Thanks to an incredible foster, she was able to heal in a safe, loving home instead of staying in the shelter while awaiting treatment. Her foster made sure she got to every appointment and provided the comfort and care she needed during her recovery. She even fell so deeply in love with her that she chose to adopt her!

Suzume’s story is proof of how vital spay/neuter and foster care are.

Spaying and neutering saves lives—not just by preventing unwanted litters, but by protecting pets from serious medical risks. And foster families make that lifesaving care possible by giving vulnerable animals the best chance at a healthy future. 

Now more than ever, we need your help to continue this work.

Your donation today ensures that kittens like Suzume get the specialized medical care they need. It helps us place more animals into loving foster homes, so they can recover in a stress-free environment. And it supports our ongoing efforts to provide spay/neuter surgeries, preventing future suffering before it even begins.