Rattlesnake Sally
It was early May when I got the call from a guard at Folsom Prison. They had an injured cat that they found, and it was in urgent need of medical attention. I suggested they drop it off at Blue Ravine Animal Hospital as soon as they could so that it could be examined and treated as needed.
I checked back with the hospital later that day and did not get good news. It was still too early to tell what had happened to the cat. There was a lot of speculation as to the cause of her injuries, such as being hit by a car, animal abuse, or a coyote attack. The damage to her abdomen was extensive. It was swollen, distended, and the tissue was bruised and dying off in sections. She was immediately given treatment for blunt force trauma and was started on fluids for dehydration.
Her condition began to stabilize but she still had severe damage to her abdomen. Surgery was scheduled for the next day to see how much internal damage there was and to remove as much dead tissue as possible. It was later that day, after the swelling had reduced and the damaged area could be cleaned up, that a rattlesnake bite wound was found. At least now the veterinarians knew what they were dealing with and could begin specific treatment.
The cat was a fighter and she had a strong will to live. It also helped that she was a young cat, which probably got her into this trouble in the first place. Curiosity almost killed this cat.
Rattlesnake Sally, as she was named, had to go through another surgery to remove more dead tissue, and she was given a blood transfusion from one of the staff members' own pet cat. Rattlesnake Sally survived the ordeal, probably at the cost of two or three of her nine lives, and was finally on the road to recovery.
It is with the help of Folsom Feline Rescue's Viktor's Fund, and donations from the public, that we are able to provide this type of extensive care for special-rescue cases. Rattlesnake Sally's treatment cost more than $1000, and would not have been possible without emergency funds for this purpose.
I am happy to say that Rattlesnake Sally has recently found a loving home with one of our very own volunteers who fell in love with her after less than a week of fostering her.