118 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com StellaLuna and Ellie are under a year old, but their journey has been anything but easy. Found in a feral colony last December as 4-to-6-week-old kittens, they were barely holding on. StellaLuna was dangerously ill with a viral infection that caused a high fever and impaired her eyesight. Ellie was found with a severe eye injury and stayed curled up for days until she felt safe enough to move around. East Cooper Pet Relief, a Mount Pleasantbased nonprofit animal rescue, took them in without hesitation. StellaLuna eventually made a full recovery after several rounds of medications. While Ellie’s physical recovery was quicker, her emotional recovery has been a lengthier journey. Her eye remains scarred, but her vision is unaffected and she’s now thriving thanks to the kind folks at ECPR. “They’ve been through everything together. All they really know is each other,” said Jenni Fulton, director of ECPR. The two are now a bonded pair, meaning they are inseparable and emotionally dependent on one another. “Ellie is still shy and looks to StellaLuna for reassurance. If they were adopted separately, Ellie would struggle and experience significant emotional distress. They need a loving family to understand what they’ve been through, give Ellie the time she needs to adjust and welcome them both into their home,” explained Fulton. Adopting out bonded pairs is already challenging, but Ellie’s cloudy eye makes her stand out from the “pictureperfect” kitty some adopters imagine. Now, at 9 months old, they’re also being passed on for smaller, younger kittens. Despite the challenges, these two have so much love to give and someone out there will see how special they truly are. Kitten season is only making things harder. “We are seeing a massive overpopulation of cats all over the U.S., but it is especially challenging here in the South with our milder weather. Cats can start having kittens as early as 4 months old and have three to four litters per year. The ASPCA reported that over a quarter-million cats had to be humanely euthanized last year due to overpopulation,” said Dr. Leslie Steele, ECPR’s founder and lead veterinarian. The result is an overwhelming number of animals that need our help. “We’re growing exponentially, but our resources aren’t,” Fulton added. She and other shelters are forced to turn away animals daily due to a lack of foster homes. Fulton has even taken it upon herself to house multiple animals until they get adopted. That’s why spaying and neutering are so important. Trap-neuterrelease (TNR) programs are the only proven method of controlling the cat population. If you would like to help, follow East Cooper Pet Relief on Facebook and Instagram for updates on available animals, fostering opportunities and adoption events. Scan the QR code to donate funds or supplies and consider giving StellaLuna and Ellie the forever home they’ve been waiting for, where they can safely enjoy their days pain-free and grow old together. Rescue of the Month StellaLuna & Ellie our pets
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