Brielle
With green eyes as round as the moon and an angelic face framed by long white whiskers, Brielle’s beauty would inspire Renoir. Yet no sooner do you admire Brielle’s loveliness than you notice something else: she’s as sweet as pudding.
Stroke her silken fur, and Brielle will purr you a symphony. Pause petting her, and you’ll hear her singsong, “pet me.” chirp. At naptime, Brielle will cuddle up close, happy just to be near you. Brielle’s sweet spirit stole the heart of a human angel earlier this year (2013). This remarkable person’s selfless love and generosity made it possible for Brielle to come to Tabby’s Place through the Exceptional Circumstances Program – and we are all forever grateful.
So why is such an enchanting cat not yet in a forever home? Brielle was born with a set of mutations similar to osteochondrodysplasia, also called Scottish Fold osteodystrophy, which predominantly strikes Scottish Folds. (Brielle, of course, is a stunning Domestic Shorthair.) This condition is characterized by deformities in the spine, metacarpal and metatarsal (front and rear paw) bones, and toes, due to the development of bony growths. These abnormalities can lead to severe, painful arthritis and an abnormal gait.
Brielle’s symptoms are unmistakable. Our tuxedo girl’s petite frame is exaggerated even further by her unusually short legs. Her front paws are misshapen, looking almost like lobster claws. In addition, Brielle has a very short, chunky tail.
Happily, these “quirks” generally do not appear to cause Brielle pain. She walks and jumps gracefully, and has even been seen prancing along the top of the tallest file cabinets in our Community Room. Her only sign of discomfort is that Brielle prefers not to have her lower back and tail touched. This is likely due to the fact that the vertebrae in this part of her spine are fused, making them stiff and sensitive. (Brielle seems unable to bend that little tail at all.)
Although she does not currently need medical intervention, it is likely that Brielle’s condition will lead to arthritis in the future. We are at the ready to provide her with outstanding veterinary care of whatever kind she needs, whether that should include medication, surgery, acupuncture or laser treatment. Whatever Brielle’s future may hold, it’s guaranteed to bubble over with love at Tabby’s Place.
We know that it will take a very special adopter to take on Brielle’s uncertain future. In addition to her osteodystrophy, Brielle has a history of having been adopted twice from another shelter, and returned due to inappropriate elimination. Although she hasn’t exhibited this behavior at Tabby’s Place, it’s possible she might display it again (especially if she’s agitated by other cats, which seems to have been the issue previously).
Caring for Brielle’s needs is a very small price to pay for the joy and love she brings to our lives. Will you please cherish sweet Brielle as her sponsor?