Life on the street can be incredibly difficult for a cat or dog. Although these animals are considered our most beloved pets and friends, many are abandoned or born into feral families. In the U.S., there are over 70 million homeless pets and around 600 million worldwide. While some of these animals grow accustomed to fending for themselves, many are at constant risk from things like cars and, sadly, malicious humans. Sivka the cat was unfortunately one of the later.

When Sivka was discovered on the streets of Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city, it was clear that she had been badly beaten up. Her jaw was visibly misaligned and part of the bone was sticking down her throat. Thankfully, her rescuer stepped in and took Sivka straight to a veterinary clinic for help.

Aid or Abuse?

Sivka’s case was clearly dire, so the veterinarian decided to act quickly to secure her jaw but sewed it in place using metal industrial wire. This is not a typical method used, however, it was the professional’s choice. After the procedure, the cat seemed to be in an inordinate amount of pain and it looked like the wire had been used to secure the wrong part of Sivka’s jaw, clearly something was terribly wrong. So the woman reached out for a second opinion from Desislava Stoyanova, a local animal rescuer, who runs the “Save Me” Facebook page for animals in need of aid.

Change of Luck

Desislava was more than happy to step in to help Sivka. “We can only imagine the pain Sivka went through,” Desislava tells One Green Planet, “And the idea that a vet can be so uneducated and irresponsible and careless makes my blood boil.”

Thanks to several kind people, Sivka was transported from Sofia to Plovdiv and taken immediately to the reputable vet Desislava uses regularly. The vet, shocked at the inhumane treatment she’d been provided with, removed the industrial wire and inserted feeding tubes into her mouth. According to the vet, the wire had caused an infection and inflammation, so Sivka was given all the necessary medication like antibiotics.

The vet didn’t know whether she’d survive because she’d been left for so long without the right treatment and without any food or drink. Over two days, Sivka underwent two major surgeries to repair the jaw and mouth but, hopefully, she won’t have to keep on suffering.

Help for Sivka

Sivka still has a long road to full recovery and needs more surgery but thanks to the medication and adequate amounts of food and drink, Sivka is growing stronger all the time and combined with her strong will, her chance of survival is ever increasing. The bad news is, however, that there’s something that could stop her from a full recovery: the veterinary bill.

All of Sivka’s treatment has mounted up to over 1,000 leva (about $600) and Desislava is struggling to pay the bill. Desislava is desperate for your help. To keep up with Sivka’s treatment and to pay for her outstanding bill, she needs as many donations as possible.

Sivka is just one of many, many homeless animals who desperately need the kindness of humans after they have endured nothing but abuse and neglect on the streets. A little bit of compassion can go a long way, for Sivka, and the many other animals in Bulgaria who have been helped by Desislava. You can make a donation to help Desislava get the treatment needed for Sivka, by clicking here.

All image source: Desislava Stoyanova