Home > Out of the Cage! > April 2005 > Picasso Veterinary Fund in Action: Trinity: An Easter Blessing

Picasso Veterinary Fund in Action

Trinity – An Easter Blessing

When the young cat arrived at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Associates on Easter Sunday, her condition was grave. Part of her front left leg was missing, including all of the weight-bearing pads on her foot, and bone was exposed. That injury, plus a nasty tail wound, pointed to the likelihood that the cat had been injured as a result of being caught up in some kind of machinery.

Najiyyah Ali, New Hope Coordinator at Brooklyn's AC&C shelter where the cat had been brought in, had alerted the Mayor's Alliance about the cat and requested help from the Picasso Veterinary Fund to pay for emergency surgery. Pat Anderson, New Hope Coordinator at the Manhattan shelter, devoted her day off to transporting the cat from the Brooklyn shelter to Fifth Avenue Veterinary Associates.

Despite her wounds, the cat, who veterinary staff named Trinity because of the connection with Easter (and also because it was likely that she would leave with only three legs), showed a clear desire to pull through.

After examining Trinity, who seemed to enjoy giving the veterinary staff playful "head butts," the doctors offered two possible options. In one scenario, they could attempt reconstructive surgery to try to save part of the injured leg. This option would involve multiple surgeries with an uncertain outcome as to how successfully the procedures would restore partial use of the leg, and allowed for the possibility that a full amputation would still be needed if the reconstructive surgery were not successful.

The second option was to amputate the leg at the shoulder — a single surgery that would allow Trinity a swifter, less stressful recovery, and have her walking again, only on three legs. After extensive discussions among the doctors and the Mayor's Alliance, who had agreed to use the Picasso Veterinary Fund to pay for Trinity's surgery, the decision was made that amputation provided the more humane route for Trinity. Dr. Philip Pacchiana, surgeon at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Associates, immediately performed the surgery, removing Trinity's leg and a part of her injured tail.

By Wednesday night, the brave young cat, sporting a stitched up nine-inch incision and a cool green tail bandage, was on the road to recovery in foster care with the Alliance's Director of Programs, Janell Granier. For the time being, Trinity needs to remain relatively inactive while she heals (although she manages to walk and hop up onto a futon with relative ease, and appears to be adjusting quickly to three-legged mobility). When she's not trying to scurry about, she loves being a lap-cat. Once her stitches are removed and her coat begins to grow in, she'll be ready to court potential adopters. She'll also be spayed as soon as she's recovered from the more serious surgery.

Trinity has a lot to be thankful for — from the caring AC&C staff who believed she could survive, to the compassionate and skilled doctors at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Associates who gave their best in terms of advice in arriving at the best decisions for Trinity's surgery and the actual surgery, to the Mayor's Alliance's concern and interest in making the right choices for Trinity and providing post-surgery foster care. Soon she'll be ready to express her appreciation to her next benefactor — the lucky person who brings Trinity home for good.

If you or someone you know is interested in providing Trinity with a new home, please e-mail the Mayor's Alliance at info@AnimalAllianceNYC.org; please include "Trinity" in the subject line.

The Mayor's Alliance extends a tremendous "thank you" to all of the caring individuals whose generous donations to the Picasso Veterinary Fund have given animals like Trinity a second chance for a good life. The Fund relies solely on private donations to provide financial assistance to pay for life-saving medical treatment for animals taken in by NYC animal shelters and rescue groups. To donate to the Picasso Veterinary Fund, click here.