Let’s Change Lives Together 🐾 – GiveBIG and give them a second chance.

At Homeward Pet, we believe every life is worth saving—even when the road to recovery is long, complicated, and expensive. This GiveBIG, your generosity makes a meaningful difference for pets like Marlin, who need more than just shelter.

Marlin joined Homeward Pet in December 2024.  During his intake exam, he rubbed against the vet’s hands and purred contentedly. At six months old, he was drastically thin and malnourished. Our hope was that a few weeks of a healthy diet and a steady stream of love would be all it took to prepare this kitten for his forever life.

While at the shelter, he let the staff know that he was uncomfortable, and we were challenged to keep him eating. His sweet nature had volunteers flocking to his kennel to try unsuccessfully to find treats or a food combination that would entice him. He always leaned in for the love but away from the food with that wrinkle to his nose that only cats will make. You know the one.

As his time with us stretched into the holidays, Marlin’s weight stayed critically low, and his spirit showed weakness between the purrs. A staff member offered to take him home to see if that would help. His time in foster included sleeping on his foster dad’s chest, and requesting cheek rubs from his foster mom. However, he didn’t show the verve one would expect from a kitten and struggled to explore his playful side.

Marlin came to visit our clinic often and was tested for any disease that might be causing his symptoms.  Our staff consulted with multiple outside vets and researched conditions that might be less common. Marlin bravely leaned into the tech’s fingers for scritches while blood was drawn and curled into a volunteer’s waiting arms while his prognosis was discussed.

Marlin spent months in foster care.  In February, it seemed like the combination of meds and supplements prescribed had finally gifted our gentle boy with a reprieve.  He started to play; he jumped for the first time after a wand toy, and spent calculated time figuring out how to escape his foster room.

He was brought back to the shelter in hopes that we were close to being able to list him for adoption.  Volunteers welcomed him home with cheers and open arms. Despite his playful nature and hopes for his healing, he started to show pain in his mouth, which culminated in the removal of five of his teeth. Unfortunately, the upward trajectory of his health was not to be and his mouth has continued to become more swollen and more painful.  He struggled again to eat. His treasured face scritches started to cause him to flinch.

After thoughtful tests, he has been diagnosed with stomatitis, which is a severe inflammation of the mouth that can affect up to 4% of cats. It is a painful condition where the immune system overreacts to the bacteria in dental plaque, leading to inflammation and ulceration. Most often, the only cure is to remove the source of the plaque – the teeth. Yes, all of his teeth. Thankfully, Homeward Pet has had several litters of kittens where this was the diagnosis, and has a staged plan in place to ensure that the best decisions are made for the long term health of cats with this horrible condition.

Poor Marlin is now only ten months old but has spent his entire life battling mysterious ailments. Despite the pain he’s feeling, he continues to be a bright spot in our day, every day, giving us reasons to laugh and celebrate his silly personality. He still greets every volunteer with a purr and gentle taps with his paw. He patiently allows our clinic staff to poke and prod, confident that they have his best interests at heart. Not once has he growled, swatted, or been cranky about his care.

Marlin’s story reminds us why our work—and your support—matters so much. He’s still fighting, and so are we. When a pet arrives sick, injured, or in distress, they don’t know what’s coming next—but together we can make sure what comes next is healing, compassion, and hope.

Your GiveBIG gift isn’t just a donation. It’s a lifeline for pets like Marlin, ensuring that we never have to say “no” to an animal in pain because of cost or the time it takes to find a cure.

Your gift will be put to immediate use to treat, heal, and comfort more than 1,500 pets’ that come through our doors this year, including Marlin’s continued care. Thank you for being a part of our mission, and for giving animals like Marlin the care they deserve.

There’s still time to have your gift go TWICE as far this GiveBIG! Thanks to a generous matching grant, all donations will be matched dollar for dollar until midnight.

Give now. Give hope. GiveBIG.