Community Corner
Kitten Born Without Paw Seeks New Home
This kitty, thanks to veterinarians in Jamaica Plain and Waltham, is getting two more of her nine lives, and a prosthetic paw.

Photo credit: BluePearl Veterinary Partners
A lucky kitty’s going to get a new life, and a new back paw, thanks to veterinarians from BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Waltham and Black Cat Rescue in Jamaica Plain.
BluePearl is fitting Shelley, a three-year old black shorthair who was born without one, with a new left hind paw. Although she gets around well without the paw, she is at risk for developing arthritis and sores, according to an announcement from BluePearl.
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Rescuers from Black Cat Rescue are working to help find Shelley a forever home. The group consulted other veterinarians, most of who recommended amputation. Dr. William Snell, a surgeon with BluePearl, recommended getting Shelley a new paw.
“She’s a good candidate for a prosthetic leg because she’s young and healthy,” said Snell in a press release. “I’d really like to give her the opportunity to run and jump better.”
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The estimate of the costs of care is in the range of $3,000.
“She’s a terrific cat who loves snuggling and being around people,” Finn said. “We want to do everything we can to improve her quality of life. She’s going to be a wonderful pet for a lucky person.”
Read more about the surgery, and how to help, here.
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