We don’t know where Big Red came from, or how he ended up where he did. He actually announced his presence a few days before we actually saw him. At least we are pretty sure it was him that was knocking over all of Rude Ranch’s recycling and trash cans and going through the trash and cans for food. It might have been on one such trip looking for scraps that the hungry dog was so startled by the cars moving around the driveway he stopped to watch. That’s when we spotted him.

It didn’t take much to catch the old guy… he joints must have ached as he walked slowly with very stiff legs. Even a slow trot seemed like an effort for him. Once we brought him inside, we could see how beat up he was. He had lots of cuts and abrasions all over his body. He had spots of mange on his ears and face. He was pretty skinny. He gulped his first meal of regular dog food with complete joy.

It only took a few minutes and a couple of blood tests to figure out why he was so stiff and achy. He had lyme disease, heartworm, hook worm, and fleas. We immediately started him on antibiotics for the lyme disease and dewormers for the parasites. Unfortunately, he needed to be alot stronger and healthier before he can be treated for heartworm.

After several days of antibiotics, we are already seeing a difference in Big Red. He walks with a little spring in his step and actually enjoys his walks for potty breaks.

Although he is doing much better, he still has a major health hurdle with his heart worm treatment. In addition to the risks associated with the treatment, the cost of the treatment itself is very expensive.

Rude Ranch is making this special appeal for donations to help pay for the special treatment this dog needs and to help rebuild our medical fund so that we will be able to help more animals in the future. All donations are tax deductible and much appreciated.

Mail donations to:

Rude Ranch Animal Rescue

3200 Ivy Way

Harwood MD 20776Please include your name, address and telephone number on checks.

OR:

Donate online:

Use your secure Paypal account for a one-time donation of any amount. Just click on the following image:

Jenn C was on her way to work at the US Census Bureau yesterday when she saw a car hit a little fluff of fur in the road. She immediately stopped to see what she could do. Although badly injured and in pain, the little kitten purred when she petted him. Not knowing where else to go, she went to Prince Georges County animal control and asked the officer on duty to do what he could for the kitten. Jenn went to work, but kept in touch with animal control throughout the day. Later in the morning, the vet arrived and examined the kitten. She could immediately tell the kitten’s hind leg was mangled and would need surgery. He also lost a lot of skin off of his jaw bone. (Luckily, the jaw itself wasn’t broken) Unfortunately, the animal control agency didn’t have the resources to treat the kitten. However he was such a nice guy, they wanted to give him a chance. Everyone in the office started calling his or her rescue contacts to find a place for the kitten.

Fortunately, for the kitten, Rude Ranch had both the room and the resources to treat this guy. Once we agreed, arrangements were quickly made to turn him over to us. Executive Director Bob picked him up and whisked him to Dr. Harrison, our orthopedic guy. The kitten, now named Chevy by the vet clinic staff got another exam, x-rays and pain meds. Unfortunately, his knee is crushed and the surrounding tissue was destroyed by the accident. His leg will have to be amputated. He will also have to have minor surgery to reconnect the tissue in his jaw bone. (and he needs to be neutered!) Fortunately, Dr H can fit Chevy’s surgery(s) in today and will start operating on him at noon on June 15.

By the time he got to the sanctuary that nite, Chevy was so exhausted, he fell asleep with his head in his dish!

Rude Ranch is making this special appeal for donations to help pay for the special treatment these cats and kittens need and to help rebuild our medical fund so that we will be able to help more animals in the future. All donations are tax deductible and much appreciated.

Mail donations to:

Rude Ranch Animal Rescue

3200 Ivy Way

Harwood MD 20776

Please include your name, address and telephone number on checks.

OR:

Donate online:

Use your secure Paypal account for a one-time donation of any amount. Just click on the following image:

Betty and Veronica are two incredibly cute kittens that don’t realize they were born with problems. Betty was born without an eye. Although she had some depth perception problems at first, she has figured it out and plays like a maniac. Her sister, Veronica is “wobbly”. Although she may fall over a couple times, she will definitely get to her destination.

The sisters were abandoned on a diary farm on Maryland’s Eastern shore when they were just a few weeks old. The owner of the farm felt that these two kittens were too special to become barn cats and asked Rude Ranch to care for them.

Rude Ranch is making this special appeal for donations to help pay for the special treatment these cats and kittens need and to help rebuild our medical fund so that we will be able to help more animals in the future. All donations are tax deductible and much appreciated.

Mail donations to:

Rude Ranch Animal Rescue

3200 Ivy Way

Harwood MD 20776Please include your name, address and telephone number on checks.

OR:

Donate online:

Use your secure Paypal account for a one-time donation of any amount. Just click on the following image:

Ziva’s story started in a feral colony in a run down area of Fort Washington, MD. Her life started out pretty normal, however, when she was about 16 days old, both her eyes developed an infection, crusting her eyes shut. Although her mother still cared for the sick kitten, she was worried that Ziva’s illness would spread to the rest of the kittens in the litter. Sadly, Ziva’s mother abandoned her to save the rest of the kittens.

Cold, hungry and blinded by the infections, Ziva made slow progress as she stumbled through the underbrush looking for her mother. Then she tripped over a branch and tumbled into a fast running stream. Luckily, she latched onto a rock and managed to pull herself up onto it enough to keep her head above the water. The terrified kitten wailed for her mother as loudly as she could. Although her mother didn’t hear her, two other people did. Fortunately for Ziva, two of her feral colony feeders were nearby and heard her. They waded into the stream and plucked the kitten off of the rock.

Knowing she needed immediate care, they rushed her to Rude Ranch. Once under our care, we were able to warm her up and start treating her. Unfortunately, the damage to her right eye was too severe and the optic nerve was destroyed. At the tender age of 6 weeks, she underwent emergency surgery to remove the eye.

Although she’s been through a lot, Ziva doesn’t realize what a tough start she’s had in life. She is recovering from her illness and living each day to its fullest.

Rude Ranch is making this special appeal for donations to help pay for the special treatment these cats and kittens need and to help rebuild our medical fund so that we will be able to help more animals in the future. All donations are tax deductible and much appreciated.

Mail donations to:

Rude Ranch Animal Rescue

3200 Ivy Way

Harwood MD 20776

Please include your name, address and telephone number on checks.

OR:

Donate online:

Use your secure Paypal account for a one-time donation of any amount. Just click on the following image:

Derek Hoffman was just a few days old when a small grey kitten named Storm came into his life. From that day forward, the two were inseparable, with Storm often curling up for a nap with Derek. Once doctors realized Derek was autistic, the relationship between him and Storm became even more important as Storm gave Derek the confidence and stability he needed.

One day two years ago, while Derek’s mom Krystal was getting him out to the car, Storm shot out the front door. Krystal wasn’t able to watch Derek and go after Storm immediately and once things settled down, Storm was nowhere to be found.

Krystal and Derek put up signs on every street corner in their neighborhood near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Storm also had a collar with an ID tag and was microchipped. Krystal and Derek hoped that somehow these things would combine to get their beloved Storm back to them. Sadly, Storm was never found, but Krystal and Derek kept looking.

Krystal and Derek moved to Las Vegas last year. However, before she left, Krystal asked her neighbors to please keep looking for Storm, hoping against hope that he would be found.

Two weeks ago, a stray cat was found in Pasadena, a suburb of Baltimore (more than 10 miles from where Krystal and Derek lived in Baltimore) The cat was turned in to the Anne Arundel County Animal Control agency. The intake officer scanned the cat for a microchip, and traced the information from the chip to Krystal. The stray cat was Storm!

Although Krystal and Derek were thrilled to know that Storm was safe and wanted desperately to be reunited with him, they were now almost 2500 miles away! They couldn’t exactly hop in the car to pick him up! Robin Small, director of the Anne Arundel Animal Control agency suggested she contact Rude Ranch Animal Rescue to see if we could help get Storm home.

Rude Ranch Executive Director Bob Rude picked Storm up yesterday, and was purred at and snuggled all the way home. Storm will stay at Rude Ranch while he undergoes the necessary veterinary requirements to certify him to fly in a plane. We are hoping to reunite Storm, Krystal and Derek in Las Vegas in time for Thanksgiving.

Rude Ranch is currently seeking donations to help pay for Storm’s airfare.

ail:

Rude Ranch Animal Rescue,

3200 Ivy Way

Harwood, MD 20776

Donate online:

Use your secure Paypal account for a  one-time donation of any amount. Just click on the following image:

Xena had been living on her own near a nice lady’s house for almost a year when she got into trouble. Someone other than the nice lady used Xena for target practice and shot her with an arrow.

Scared and hurting Xena went to the only person she knew. Not knowing what else to do, the caring lady called Anne Arundel Animal Control for help. The AC officer carefully picked Xena up and loaded her into the truck. However, Xena needed care quickly and the Animal Control staff vet had already left. Needing a veterinarian quickly, a call was made to Rude Ranch to see if we could help. Fortunately, Dr’s Harrison and Alexander (Belair Veterinary Hospital) were available and able to help Xena. Xena was very lucky that the arrow did not go through any vital organs and was easily removed. Xena is now recuperating at Rude Ranch while AA Animal Control investigates.

Rude Ranch is currently seeking donations to pay for Xena’s Care.

Mail:

Rude Ranch Animal Rescue

3200 Ivy Way,

Harwood, MD 20776

Donate online:
Use your secure Paypal account for a  one-time donation of any amount. Just click on the following image:

Tiger BuBu was a cute friendly kitten until he grew up and the family didn’t want him anymore. Soon he was packed up and dropped off at a farm in Somerset County, MD. Tiger was able to survive on the food that the farmer put out until one day he was in an accident and broke his leg. The farmer didn’t believe in spending money to “fix” barn cats and left Tiger alone, figuring he’d either get better or would die. The broken leg healed a little, mostly just the splintered bones fused themselves together. Tiger could still get around. Then an infection set in. The infection slowly ate away at the muscles and tissue in the leg until his leg was an open wound that wouldn’t heal.

Although the farmer didn’t want to pay for vet care for his barn cats, when a volunteer from Road Runner Rescue came by to offer spay/neuter surgeries for the barn cats,the farmer agreed. Humane traps were baited and set. Tiger smelled the tempting food and went in for a treat. The trap door shut behind him and a blanket was thrown over his cage. Although Tiger was in immense pain and terrified, his life was about to get better.

He was taken to Rude Ranch’s Spay Spa & Neuter Nook to be neutered. While he was there, the vet looked at his injured leg. Although the leg itself could not be saved, she was able to amputate his leg to save his life. Now the only problem was that he couldn’t go back to the barn to recover. Fortunately, there was room for him at Rude Ranch. Tiger, now called Tiger BuBu felt immediate relief because the infection and pain was gone. He was so grateful that whenever anyone comes near him, he purrs and rolls over.

Rude Ranch is currently seeking donations to pay for Xena’s Care.

Mail:

Rude Ranch Animal Rescue,

3200 Ivy Way

Harwood, MD 20776

Donate online:
Use your secure Paypal account for a  one-time donation of any amount. Just click on the following image: