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©2005 Life on Merritt Island
Website designed and
maintained by Kathy Bahr
All photographs posted on this site are
from the personal portfolio of Kathy Bahr
unless otherwise noted.
Website designed and
maintained by Kathy Bahr
All photographs posted on this site are
from the personal portfolio of Kathy Bahr
unless otherwise noted.
| For more Merritt Island News & Information click here or the button on the navigation bar to see our new page |
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Life on Merritt Island
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Who is Dexter?
| Dexter's Story by Tami Reed |
Photo by Tami Reed
| This page donated by Kathy Bahr - Life on Merritt Island |
The Space Coast
Feline Network
is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to the humane care
and control of the homeless
cat population of Brevard
County, FL
Space Coast Feline Network
(SCFN) is dedicated to
humanely caring for and
controlling the feral cat
population in Brevard County.
It is our mission to promote
and practice TNR
(Trap-Neuter-Return) and
feral cat colony management
in Brevard County, as an
alternative method of feral cat
population control.
SCFN is a Florida
not-for-profit corporation,
operated solely by volunteers
and funded entirely through
donations. All contributions
are tax deductible. Make
check payable to Space
Coast Feline Network and
mail to: Space Coast Feline
Network --PO Box 624,
Cocoa, Florida 32923
Feral Cat Helpline
321-631-SPAY
The Helpline pertains
specifically to feral cat
management by volunteers.
Please read below for Space
Coast Feline Network
services.
If you call the Helpline phone
number (321-631-SPAY), you
will get a recording. One of
our volunteers will return your
call as soon as they are able.
Please leave a clear
message stating your name
and phone number.
For more info:
Space Coast Feline Network
Feline Network
is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to the humane care
and control of the homeless
cat population of Brevard
County, FL
Space Coast Feline Network
(SCFN) is dedicated to
humanely caring for and
controlling the feral cat
population in Brevard County.
It is our mission to promote
and practice TNR
(Trap-Neuter-Return) and
feral cat colony management
in Brevard County, as an
alternative method of feral cat
population control.
SCFN is a Florida
not-for-profit corporation,
operated solely by volunteers
and funded entirely through
donations. All contributions
are tax deductible. Make
check payable to Space
Coast Feline Network and
mail to: Space Coast Feline
Network --PO Box 624,
Cocoa, Florida 32923
Feral Cat Helpline
321-631-SPAY
The Helpline pertains
specifically to feral cat
management by volunteers.
Please read below for Space
Coast Feline Network
services.
If you call the Helpline phone
number (321-631-SPAY), you
will get a recording. One of
our volunteers will return your
call as soon as they are able.
Please leave a clear
message stating your name
and phone number.
For more info:
Space Coast Feline Network
| VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Find out how you can help Click here |
About 1 year ago I looked out my front window and I saw
three skinny cats sitting together next to an empty lot across
the street. I decided to start putting out food to see if I could
get them to come hang around my home and not across the
street. After about 6 months all three were coming for food.
One of them is completely deaf and mostly blind but seems
to get around okay. I named him Mocha. Another one was a
female that appeared to be in good health. Her name is
Puddin. I named the third cat Dexter. When I first saw
them, I noticed Dexter was not walking correctly. His rear
feet would bend under when he walked and he appeared bow
legged. His feet were raw and bloody. I knew I needed to get
him help. I started trying to trap Dexter, and Mocha the
blind cat, since they were in the worst condition healthwise.
I managed to trap Puddin and then another cat that had
shown up to feed, named Blue Daze and I got them
vaccinated and fixed. It was awhile before I was able to trap
Dexter.
Dexter was always with Puddin and seemed to follow her
direction as far as when to approach food and he would
nuzzle her for approval. They seemed to be great friends.
Dexter was very raw from walking on the pavement so my
goal was to get them to routinely come for food and stay in
the yard as much as possible. After 6 months of trying to
trap Dexter, one day, it finally happened and I trapped him.
Off to the vet we went. The vet advised me to euthanize
Dexter. I adamantly refused and asked him to neuter and
vaccinate him. He informed me Dexter was already
neutered. That infuriated me knowing someone had owned
him at one time but here he was outside, living this life. The
vet vaccinated Dexter as I wished. I asked if something could
be done about his legs and he said no. I asked about surgery
and he said it wouldn’t help. I asked how this happened to
him and he stated that he was probably born this way, was
possibly hit by a car (however no broken bones) or he had
distemper as a kitten, that caused a neurological
dysfunction. Either way, this was how he would be for life.
Dexter then spent 10 days of isolation in a large dog crate.
He received anitibiotics daily. I wanted to give him more
room, so I tried to release him into a 9 ½ x 13 foot dog kennel
a friend and I built on my side yard. I put on a roof, sides
and several sleeping boxes for him. When I released him
inside he went crazy and tried to pull his little body through
the fencing. Since he would never allow me to touch him, as
he was feral, I just had to pray he would get himself loose. I
walked away and opened the kennel door and told him he
was free and could go. A short time later I went to check on
him and he was gone. The next morning he was back,
alongside his best friend Puddin, ready and willing to eat. I
was so thankful.
three skinny cats sitting together next to an empty lot across
the street. I decided to start putting out food to see if I could
get them to come hang around my home and not across the
street. After about 6 months all three were coming for food.
One of them is completely deaf and mostly blind but seems
to get around okay. I named him Mocha. Another one was a
female that appeared to be in good health. Her name is
Puddin. I named the third cat Dexter. When I first saw
them, I noticed Dexter was not walking correctly. His rear
feet would bend under when he walked and he appeared bow
legged. His feet were raw and bloody. I knew I needed to get
him help. I started trying to trap Dexter, and Mocha the
blind cat, since they were in the worst condition healthwise.
I managed to trap Puddin and then another cat that had
shown up to feed, named Blue Daze and I got them
vaccinated and fixed. It was awhile before I was able to trap
Dexter.
Dexter was always with Puddin and seemed to follow her
direction as far as when to approach food and he would
nuzzle her for approval. They seemed to be great friends.
Dexter was very raw from walking on the pavement so my
goal was to get them to routinely come for food and stay in
the yard as much as possible. After 6 months of trying to
trap Dexter, one day, it finally happened and I trapped him.
Off to the vet we went. The vet advised me to euthanize
Dexter. I adamantly refused and asked him to neuter and
vaccinate him. He informed me Dexter was already
neutered. That infuriated me knowing someone had owned
him at one time but here he was outside, living this life. The
vet vaccinated Dexter as I wished. I asked if something could
be done about his legs and he said no. I asked about surgery
and he said it wouldn’t help. I asked how this happened to
him and he stated that he was probably born this way, was
possibly hit by a car (however no broken bones) or he had
distemper as a kitten, that caused a neurological
dysfunction. Either way, this was how he would be for life.
Dexter then spent 10 days of isolation in a large dog crate.
He received anitibiotics daily. I wanted to give him more
room, so I tried to release him into a 9 ½ x 13 foot dog kennel
a friend and I built on my side yard. I put on a roof, sides
and several sleeping boxes for him. When I released him
inside he went crazy and tried to pull his little body through
the fencing. Since he would never allow me to touch him, as
he was feral, I just had to pray he would get himself loose. I
walked away and opened the kennel door and told him he
was free and could go. A short time later I went to check on
him and he was gone. The next morning he was back,
alongside his best friend Puddin, ready and willing to eat. I
was so thankful.
Dexter's Emergency!
Three days ago, I went out the front door to go out for the
night and Dexter was lying on his side in the bushes and I
could see flies around him. When I looked closer I could see
he had a huge gash about 2-3” on his left hind quarters and it
was wide open and there were maggots in it. He was also
very swollen and his feet were raw and bloody again. I
knew I had to trap him as soon as possible to get him help.
He had to be in severe pain. The next morning, Memorial
Day, I did not see him or Puddin as I usually do and I
feared the worst. Around 4 pm that afternoon, I put the
trap out front where I feed, and set it. Within a short time
Dexter came for food.. He went right in and set off the
trap. A friend of mine came and took him to the emergency
clinic since it was Memorial Day. The wonderful people at
the emergency clinic performed surgery to clean him up gave
him antibiotics, fluids, and pain medications. It looks like
we made it just in time! Dexter will be transferred to the
Animal Medical Clinic on Tuesday morning, for follow up
care and medication.
How can you help?
The bill for the services is estimated at $530-$880.00 just
for the emergency care. There will also be a bill from the
Animal Medical Clinic. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed
with a brain aneurysm a couple months ago and after several
diagnostic tests and seeing several Doctors here and at
Shands I am now scheduled for surgery on June 6 at
Shands. I have many bills for health care right now. This
makes it really difficult for me to come up with the money
to pay for all Dexter’s care, but he does deserve it and I will
do what I can to raise funds for him. I plan to sell some
items that I have here at home that I don’t use, to go into the
“Dexter Fund”. I will be out of commission for a couple
weeks, due to my surgery, so a friend will take care of
Dexter during his antibiotic treatment and then he will return
here to be reunited with his best friend Puddin.
If anyone would like to donate towards Dexter’s vet bills, I
would appreciate it tremendously. Donations can be mailed
to SCFN (Space Coast Feline Network), Attn.: Treasurer,
and send it to P. O. Box 624, Cocoa, FL 32923. I will send
them an itemized bill of what is paid out for this feral,
Dexter. Any funds above what his costs are will go towards
helping other feral cats in need.
Dexter didn’t choose to be homeless, someone chose it for
him. Most likely because he wasn’t perfect, but to me he is
perfect. I just hope one day I will be able to touch him.
Perhaps after he recovers that will happen. Prayers would
also be so appreciated for this little unfortunate soul. He
has been through so much!!!!
Thank you so much for caring about Dexter.
Tami Reed
For daily updates on Dexter, go to
http://www.angelsnuffy.com/Dexter.htm
You can also help Dexter by bidding on some
of the items on Ebay that are being sold to
raise money for his medical bills. Search under
seller fund4dexter
Three days ago, I went out the front door to go out for the
night and Dexter was lying on his side in the bushes and I
could see flies around him. When I looked closer I could see
he had a huge gash about 2-3” on his left hind quarters and it
was wide open and there were maggots in it. He was also
very swollen and his feet were raw and bloody again. I
knew I had to trap him as soon as possible to get him help.
He had to be in severe pain. The next morning, Memorial
Day, I did not see him or Puddin as I usually do and I
feared the worst. Around 4 pm that afternoon, I put the
trap out front where I feed, and set it. Within a short time
Dexter came for food.. He went right in and set off the
trap. A friend of mine came and took him to the emergency
clinic since it was Memorial Day. The wonderful people at
the emergency clinic performed surgery to clean him up gave
him antibiotics, fluids, and pain medications. It looks like
we made it just in time! Dexter will be transferred to the
Animal Medical Clinic on Tuesday morning, for follow up
care and medication.
How can you help?
The bill for the services is estimated at $530-$880.00 just
for the emergency care. There will also be a bill from the
Animal Medical Clinic. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed
with a brain aneurysm a couple months ago and after several
diagnostic tests and seeing several Doctors here and at
Shands I am now scheduled for surgery on June 6 at
Shands. I have many bills for health care right now. This
makes it really difficult for me to come up with the money
to pay for all Dexter’s care, but he does deserve it and I will
do what I can to raise funds for him. I plan to sell some
items that I have here at home that I don’t use, to go into the
“Dexter Fund”. I will be out of commission for a couple
weeks, due to my surgery, so a friend will take care of
Dexter during his antibiotic treatment and then he will return
here to be reunited with his best friend Puddin.
If anyone would like to donate towards Dexter’s vet bills, I
would appreciate it tremendously. Donations can be mailed
to SCFN (Space Coast Feline Network), Attn.: Treasurer,
and send it to P. O. Box 624, Cocoa, FL 32923. I will send
them an itemized bill of what is paid out for this feral,
Dexter. Any funds above what his costs are will go towards
helping other feral cats in need.
Dexter didn’t choose to be homeless, someone chose it for
him. Most likely because he wasn’t perfect, but to me he is
perfect. I just hope one day I will be able to touch him.
Perhaps after he recovers that will happen. Prayers would
also be so appreciated for this little unfortunate soul. He
has been through so much!!!!
Thank you so much for caring about Dexter.
Tami Reed
For daily updates on Dexter, go to
http://www.angelsnuffy.com/Dexter.htm
You can also help Dexter by bidding on some
of the items on Ebay that are being sold to
raise money for his medical bills. Search under
seller fund4dexter