When six-month-old kitten Kiki, an inside cat, escaped from Tiffany Santos’ house, Santos doubted she would ever be reunited with her pet.
Santos asked for help finding Kiki, not expecting much.
“I posted on facebook with a photo and the next day called the radio station and SPCA and even followed cat prints in the fresh snow and talked to my neighbours,” Santos said.
Santos had given up her search when she went to Williams Lake a few days later.
“My sister called me to tell me someone had written on my Facebook post,” Santos said.
“The ladies said they were walking on the river walk and found Kiki in a pool of blood, she had been hit by a car.”
Luckily for Santos, Fauna, one of the ladies who found Kiki, brought the kitten to the vet.
“Thankfully Fauna brought Kiki to the vet, where they kept her alive,” Santos explained.
“The next day, she brought Kiki to Marshall’s vet hospital and they had to drain air out of her lungs and try to set her pelvis, as it was broken.”
All these injuries to Kiki ended up leaving Santos with a pile of vet bills to pay.
“My vet bill was $210 from the first night and $422 plus $50 for food,” Santos said.
“I posted this on Facebook as well because I have three kids and am on social assistance while I look for work.”
Santos tried to come up with enough money to pay off the vet bills many different ways.
“I asked for odd jobs, pop bottles, anything to help me come up with the money,” she explained.
“I was amazed by how many people offered to help me out.”
Santos said many people called the vets to arrange donations including a $50 donation from someone on the Alaska Hwy who also purchased a case of food for Kiki.
“I never really had faith in people until I saw everyone was willing to help out a kitten for someone they do not know,” Santos said.
Kiki is now safe at home and has five weeks of kennel rest left, but Santos still has $210 to pay off her vet expenses.
Santos is still working towards paying off the last $210 she owes and is very grateful for all the donations that have helped her. If there is any extra money donated, she will forward it to the Crooked Leg Ranch.
If you’d like to make a donation, contact Santos, 250-991-0909 or drop bottles off, 306 Winder St.