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On Sunday May 18th 2008 Shirley Maynard was presented with a Community Champion award for the category of Kindness to Animals. The award was the result of a a nomination from Anne Baker of Stenson Field, Derby, because of her dedication to helping sick animals.
Many of the residents in the St Francis Hospice came to the shelter because they have a virus called FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Due to the nature of the virus many rescue organizations find it difficult to house and re-home cats with this condition. St Francis Hospice acts as a last resort for so many cats with this condition that would otherwise be euthanized.
It has been a very sad day today as I have had to say goodbye to my special mate Misty II. Misty II arrived at the Hospice back on 25th October 2007. She was very frightened and wary of people. I don’t know why but I was drawn towards Misty II from the very first time I saw her.
I was at the hospice when there was a knock at the door, I opened it to see a young chap. He explained that the shop around the corner had given him our address and then he went on to tell me how the previous night he had been walking his dog across the fields in Sinfin when his dog started sniffing and barking at a cardboard box which was just lying in the ditch in the field.
As the residents at St Francis are all sick, elderly or terminally ill they all need regular vet care. This service is provided by Dr Abdul Rehman, DVM, MRCVS, from Blagreaves Veterinary Centre, which is situated just a few minutes away from the hospice. Abdul is always on hand when needed to care for any of the 42 cats which currently reside at St Francis.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (known as FIV) most definitely does not mean a death sentence and my two boys are living proof of how strong these special cats can be.
Stevie joined us in July, 2011. He's a loving ginger tom who's had a rough time. His most obvious disability is his recent blindness but, on the whole, this causes relatively few problems
