Leo’s Journey: From a Pagoda to a Second Chance

Pagodas are not safe havens where animals will be cared for; while monks may share their limited food, they often lack the resources, medical knowledge , and facilities to properly care for them. This leads to malnutrition, disease and untreated animals if they have an accident or injuries in their pagodas. With your support, our volunteers visit these pagodas twice a day to provide food and care for all Cats in Need. One morning, we discovered a male cat lying in a corner; he was unable to move and refused to eat.

He was rushed to Animal Mama Veterinary Hospital & Emergency, where X-rays revealed fractured legs and a thoracic hernia, the result of severe blunt trauma. A cat with such severe injuries has clearly survived a major accident and requires urgent veterinary care. It was a long journey to save him. We wondered: Could we save him? Could we provide the support he needed for his treatment?

After a tense surgery and a few days of recovery, he pulled through. We named him "Leo". He still limps to this day, a quiet reminder of his past and a sign of his incredible will to live.

While we celebrate survivors like Leo and Mafuta, this week has been difficult. We lost several cats battling serious health issues, a heart breaking reminder that "happy endings" aren't always guaranteed. Even through these difficult times, we remain dedicated to our mission: promoting TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), fostering commitment, and ensuring responsible care for the cats in our community.

We hope the thriving lives of survivors like Leo and Mafuta inspire you to embrace Mahatma Gandhi’s wisdom: 'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.' Join us in making a real difference! Your support transforms lives, offering them hope and the chance for a loving home. We also have many cats in our shelter waiting for their forever families. We would be so happy to have you visit and meet them someday.💛