As the only animal shelter in Douglas County, Lawrence Humane staff are used to seeing animals in all types of health conditions come through our doors. But we had never seen a cat in the kind of deplorable condition that Bowie was in when he was brought to Lawrence Humane.
Bowie was about a year old, but weighed what a 2-month old kitten should weigh. In addition to being severely underweight and dehydrated, Bowie was covered in urine and feces, so badly matted that the only option was to shave off his fur. He was unable to stand or walk, and had been kept in a small kennel without any care or accommodations for his special needs.
You see, Bowie has an extreme case of Cerebellar hypoplasia. Cerebellar hypoplasia (CH) is a neurological condition that affects a cat’s balance and mobility. Cats with CH generally have a wobbly walk, lack coordination, and have body tremors. It is essentially the feline version of Cerebral palsy and there is no treatment for it. And while Lawrence Humane has had kittens and cats with mild cases of CH before, we had never seen a case as severe as Bowie’s. Bowie is completely unable to stand, walk, or sit upright on his own. This also means that he can’t use the litterbox, eat, or drink on his own. Bowie needed help and the kind of care he had not been receiving up until that point.
Not surprising given the state that he was in when brought to Lawrence Humane, Bowie seemed dejected and broken hearted…the light in his eyes had been put out. But Lawrence Humane staff were undeterred. A lot of places would have given up on Bowie, not believing that he could have a good quality of life. Not everyone might have wanted to invest time and resources into him, thinking that it might be best to euthanize him. But Lawrence Humane staff believed that Bowie’s story didn’t need to end there – he could still have a happy life.
Bowie went home with a staff member so that he could receive specialty care and build his physical stamina. He was reassured that all was going to be ok, each snuggle bringing more and more light back to his eyes. He was held upright for his meals, allowing him to eat and drink with more ease and get the nourishment that his body desperately needed. And as he got stronger, Bowie began to do some physical therapy to build the muscle tone that he had never gotten to develop.
Because Bowie will never be able to stand or walk on his own, Lawrence Humane purchased Bowie a wheelchair, giving him freedom of movement that he had never experienced before! This specialty wheelchair was purchased through the Humphrey Fund. Many of you will remember Humphrey, the stray cat who was brought into Lawrence Humane severely emaciated, dehydrated, and so terribly matted that his fur formed a multi inch-thick exoskeleton over his body.( You can read Humphrey’s whole story here!) While Humphrey eventually passed away in a loving foster home, his story continued to resonate. Dan Lowery, a Lawrence Humane supporter and cat welfare advocate, was so moved by Humphrey’s story that he made an incredibly generous donation that officially started the Humphrey Fund – a fund exclusively for the medical care of adult cats with extra needs!
To this day, the Humphrey Fund is utilized for adult cats who need more than a standard care routine (spay/neuter, vaccines, microchips, flea/tick prevention, etc.) in order to be healthy and available for adoption. This fund helps adult cats with things like major surgeries, amputations, care from veterinary specialists, dental surgeries, and more. While we are so grateful to have support from Orphan Kitten Club for medical care of kittens with extra needs, the Humphrey Fund is the first fund dedicated exclusively to adult cats that Lawrence Humane has ever had. And we are so grateful to Dan for getting it started!
Bowie now lives in his forever home with a variety of cat and dog siblings. He is a healthy weight, his fur has grown back, and his eyes shine brighter than ever! He meows to let his mom know when he needs to use the litter box and she holds him up in it, allowing him the dignity of going to the bathroom like a cat. And best of all, Bowie’s wheelchair allows him to race around the house and chase after his siblings, just like a normal cat! Bowie is a beloved member of a family committed to meeting his needs. And his favorite thing in the world is fostering kittens and getting to play with them!
Bowie’s story could have had a very different ending, but through the support of our community, Lawrence Humane staff were able to provide Bowie with the specialty care that he needed. Gifts like the one that Dan Lowery made in starting the Humphrey Fund allow us to provide individualized care to every animal that comes through our doors, making sure that no matter the severity or complexity of their unique situations, we are able to meet each animal where they are and find their best path forward. If there is ever a story or a situation that resonates with you and inspires you to want to create a specialty fund the way that Dan did with the Humphrey Fund, please reach out to us. We would love to work with you and find a way to help the animals in our care in a way that honors your gifts!
