Tiny Kitten Defies Odds, Shows her Strength at Helen Woodward Animal Center
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (May 12, 2020) – In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, two truths have become abundantly clear… that life is not only incredibly fragile, but that every life matters, no matter the size. At Helen Woodward Animal Center a tiny life is lifting spirits and demonstrating that when people work together, all odds can be defied. An itty-bitty kitty originally nicknamed Piccalo the Purrito, is a tiny life many would have likely given up on. Through her unique medical battle, the kitten has earned her stripes (and the new name of Arya like the fierce Game of Thrones character), proving that despite her size, she has an unmatched fight within her.
The COVID-19 crisis has brought the significance of every single life renewed prospective. That is evident in the force that recently came together at Helen Woodward Animal Center to fight for orphan kitten Arya’s survival, including her first volunteer foster family, the entire Center medical staff of veterinarians and technicians, and two very special foster department employees.
Arya arrived at Helen Woodward Animal Center at just five days old from an animal rescue partner in the Long Beach area. The kitten was part of litter of six who were found whimpering on the side of a road alone as tiny, fragile newborns. It is believed that their mom was tragically hit by a car and killed. Their rescue was just in the nick of time, as their chances of survival alone through the night would have been incredibly slim.
Arya and her siblings arrived at the Center, received initial medical checks, and were quickly placed into a foster home. As young kittens without a mom, Arya and her siblings required around-the-clock bottle feedings every two hours. The foster quickly noticed Arya seemed to be particularly struggling with feedings. While her siblings would gulp down their food, Arya could not keep her formula down. In fact, within seconds, Arya would regurgitate her entire feeding.
Arya’s inability to keep her food down, not only prevented her from getting the nutrients she needed, it put her life at risk. While aspirating, the food threatened to get into her lungs and cause pneumonia, too serious a disease for such a fragile kitten.
Immediately, she was brought in to be seen by Center adoptions veterinarian Dr. Ralph Tran who came up with a unique action plan. She would need to be held upright during her feedings and for 30 minutes following each feeding.
Coming to her rescue, Center’s Foster Program Lead Brooke Hardy and Foster Assistant Manager Morgan Hamm volunteered to take turns fostering Arya in their homes every night to facilitate her special feedings. The unconventional procedure involved delicately tube feeding Arya, sending food directly into her stomach, and wrapping her up in a tiny swaddle or “purrito.” They then placed her in a small satchel in an upright position which they would hang around their necks while she processed her food.
“It was not easy. We feared all the time that Arya wouldn’t make it. We had a lot of setbacks, a lot of trial and error but also a lot of small victories,” explained Hamm. “Through those late night feedings every two hours, fighting off sleep, we would sit with Arya holding her upright hoping she would keep her food down and celebrating her every time she did. She’s a little fighter who wouldn’t give up hope, so neither could we.”
For the last several weeks, Arya has made big strides and has started to navigate her way through wet food.
“Arya is such a spunky little kitty with a fierce personality and such a will to live,” Hardy said. “Even though she only weighs about one pound right now, she’s grown so much and it’s been such a joy to be a part of her success.”
Arya, still has more obstacles to overcome. Once she hits the two pound mark, she will receive her spay surgery and soon after begin her search for a forever home.
For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center go online at www.animalcenter.org.