Imagine being left out in the cold, with no food or shelter, and suffering from a severe inner ear infection that made it difficult to stand or even breathe. This was Magpie’s life when she was found abandoned in a trailer park in upstate New York, literally walking in circles from what would later be diagnosed as severe vestibular damage from ruptured eardrums.

A Good Samaritan eventually took pity on Magpie and brought her to the attention of our North Country Initiative (NCI), our program in upstate NY working to address the complex problem of feline overpopulation in the region. Unfortunately, they knew this area well as a place where pets were commonly dumped outside as residents moved in and out of the location. Now this sweet six-year-old was just another casualty of this dumping ground. But, with your help, we can change her life for the better.

Magpie was transported to our Pet Health Centers for a thorough evaluation. Once sedated, Dr. Mark Verdino, Senior Vice President and Chief of Veterinary Staff, found the cause of her discomfort. “When we looked down her ears, which she wouldn’t let us do awake because she was so itchy, we found that her eardrums were ruptured on both sides. We could also see large inflammatory polyps in her inner ear chambers that will require surgical removal.” If left untreated, these polyps could continue to grow out and into the throat region, creating even more difficulty for Magpie to breathe. Your emergency gift can ensure Magpie gets the medical attention she needs.

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