April 17, 2005: Click for an update!

What happens when a not-for-profit animal rescue league has a foster animal who needs major medical work? One of two things happen. The option that keeps the animal alive is to have financial help from the public. That is why we are talking to you now.

Molly needs a special surgery called a bulla osteotomy for her nasopharyngeal polyp. This surgery has to be performed by a veterinary surgeon. For images of the type of surgery (Warning: Graphic), see bulla osteotomy. The low estimate we have gotten is $1,200 for her surgery. For an organization that operates strictly by donation and with volunteers, that's an impossible amount of money to spend on one animal. Molly has been in our care for seven months. We have to do our best to help little Molly. Please allow us to tell you her story.

We had a kitten in our rescue named Moe. For many reasons, Pet Harbor believes kittens need other kittens. So we went to a rural county shelter and asked if they had a litter of one. They had a solitary kitten who had come in as a stray. Out came a scrawny, sickly little gray and white kitten who was so ugly she was adorable that we named Molly.

It wasn't love at first sight. Moe hated her, and she was an independent spirit who didn't need him. Three days later, they became an item and have remained so. When they are not playing together and flying through their foster home, they usually are curled up together in a ball. When they are in their together world, no other kitty exists, although Molly will step away from the union long enough to sashay in front of nearby dogs. Molly & Moe share catnip birthday cakes in May 2004, their birthdays about a week apart.

When Molly came to us and through the present, she's had medical issues. She had upper respiratory symptoms at first and was treated for those. With antibiotics, the symptoms would subside, only to return with a vengeance. No longer sneezing and runny eyes, she would now gasp for breath. Back to the vet. Each time another round of antibiotics, different antibiotics. Same cycle over & over. We switched vets. Finally, Dr. Grissom at Caroline Animal Hospital found the real problem. Molly has a nasopharyngeal polyp. See the picture on this page at the bottom right: Nasopharyngeal Polyp. For now we can sustain her with antibiotics, but the only cure is a specialized surgery. Fortunately, with the surgery, she will be 100% improved.

Molly is an animated kitty, the most personality-filled kitty in the world. "Good golly, Miss Molly" is a common puzzlement around her foster home because she never ceases to amaze. If you leave a speck of food at the table for a second, Miss Molly cleans it all up for you as soon as you turn your back. If you wad a piece of paper, lickety-split Molly comes from the other corner of the house. She sits under the ceiling fans, contemplating how to get up there. She's already been through her allotted nine lives. Wherever you go, Molly follows. If you are near a sink, she runs and sits by the faucet, waiting for you to turn on the water so she can fish in it. Just when you think everything is quiet, she whizzes by you with some object in her mouth. In her foster home, she knocked the plastic ducks in the bathtub & entertains herself with them for hours. She even taught Brennan, the blind foster kitten, how to join her. Molly is a real character. She loves her people. When you go to sleep, she climbs on you before you even get situated and makes her self-staked perch for the night.

Please help us help this precious little girl who has grown into quite the beautiful lady. We just can't let this little girl's life end because we don't have the money for her surgery. With our spay/neuter expenses and the surgery for the blind kitten and Molly's exorbitant medical expenses to date, we can't help Molly. Please help us save her life. Pet Harbor thanks you, Molly thanks you, and Moe thanks you for all you can do. And Moe & Molly are looking for a home, too - together, of course!

If you can help, please send tax-deductible donations to

Please indicate your payment is for the Molly Fund. You will see your name here in my list of angels, and Pet Harbor would be delighted to send you a receipt at your request. As contributions are received, the new balance will be posted here.

Still needed as of May 2, 2005 is