Helen, a 7-year-old cat, and brothers Bruce and Willis, 10-week-old kittens, were brought into the Faithful Friends Society animal shelter with severe eye issues. Sadly, Helen had glaucoma. Her swollen eyes hurt her and made it difficult for her to stand still. The eyes of Bruce and Willis were diseased, bulging, and ulcerated. The Wilmington, Delaware-based rescue group opted to have the cats’ eyes removed to give them the best opportunity at leading pain-free, normal lives.
None of the cats, however, were doing well with the transition to living in the dark after their surgery. Sherry Stewart, a volunteer at Faithful Friends who has fostered over 80 animals, said to The Huffington Post, “Helen was so adorable but so distressed in her kitty box.” “I thought I could at least provide her with a temporary home where she could heal and learn how to adjust to life without sight,” said Stewart.
Bruce and Willis underwent difficult procedures that left them looking “awful compared to Helen,” so Stewart also decided to nurture them. She brought all three kitties home and built up a sizable playpen in the home she lives with two rescue pit bulls named Alfie and Frankie. Alfie, a gray dog with straight ears, was found starving in a shed in 2012 after being kept inside. Before Stewart decided to take him in, he was going to be put to sleep due to his physical state.
“I grabbed up Alfie and put him and my daughter in the back seat of my car. We knew he was ours when he kissed her and gazed up at her, Stewart added. Alfie has since become a registered pet therapy dog, paying it forward. Stewart said that Frankie, another rescue, “is a little over the top with his adoration.” The foster animals who come through Stewart’s home have, nevertheless, benefited from the loving characteristics of both pit bulls, especially in the cases of Helen, Bruce, and Willis.
Stewart stated, “They kind of act like surrogate mums.” “They appeared to understand they needed a little more tender loving care.” The three cats have thrived in Stewart’s home ever since they got there, thanks to her dogs’ love. The smaller of the two kittens, Bruce, actually nap on Alfie’s back since he is so at ease around Stewart’s two dogs. Willis, who was initially a little reticent and bashful, has broken out of his shell.
He doesn’t appear upset and has no trouble finding stuff, according to Stewart. He is now capable of jumping into her bed. Helen has adjusted to being blind the best: she can use stairs and knows where things are. Her recovery has been helped in part by Stewart’s dogs, but she flourished after developing a friendship with Hubbell, another foster cat.
Stewart recalled that although Helen was initially wary of him, he persisted and eventually won her over. Together, they would eat, play, and slumber. They truly developed a very remarkable bond in a short time. Hubbell was adopted last Saturday, but Willis, Helen, and Bruce are still looking for homes.
For information about adoption, please visit Faithful Friends if you are interested. Also, keep in mind that the Willis brothers need to be adopted together due to the trauma they have experienced.