Tommy Fund

The Tommy Fund is a special account for extraordinary veterinary expenses for cats that are rescued or helped by GNHCP. The Fund is used for cats who need special medical procedures, medications, or life-saving surgeries.

How To Help

By donating to the Tommy Fund, you will enable us to aid the many special needs cats that may not otherwise be able to receive the care they need. Donations to the Tommy Fund are tax-deductible and can be sent to GNHCP, P.O. Box 1432, New Haven, CT 06506 or sent online by clicking the “Send Donation” button.

Featured Cat: Brooklyn

Brooklyn was abandoned in New Haven. She is about 4-5 years old, and was clearly "out of sorts" with what was happening in her life. Brooklyn received all of the routine veterinary services and went into foster care, where she blossomed into a confident and pet friendly cat. The GNHCP President received a call one morning that Brooklyn was having difficulty breathing. The foster mom wasn't sure if she ingested something or had an acute upper respiratory infection, but she needed medical attention. Brooklyn was taken to a veterinary emergency hospital where it was determined she was having an asthma attack. She needed to spend 24 hours in an oxygen tank and receive medications while at the hospital until she could comfortably breathe. Brooklyn was released from the hospital and is currently taking steroids to help control her asthma. She will need to continue on the steroids, gradually tapering off, for several months. We do not yet know if her future will require steroids for the remainder of her life, and/or if an inhaler will be prescribed if Brooklyn continues to have asthma flare-ups.

History

The Tommy Fund began in 1999 to raise money to pay for a crucial ultrasound for a homeless four-month old kitten rescued from the streets in New Haven. GNHCP was able to raise the $200 necessary to provide Tommy with the ultrasound. After medical treatment, rest and lots of love from his adopted parents, Tommy lived a happy, healthy and extremely playful life. GNHCP has continued the Tommy Fund in order to provide care to other rescued cats requiring special care. Through generous contributions, GNHCP has been able to help many special needs cats, including those who have serious illnesses or injuries. Money raised will help cover veterinary care beyond the spay/neuter and vaccinations that GNHCP provides to all rescued cats. Extraordinary care includes diagnostic procedures (x-rays, ultrasounds, biopsies), as well as surgical procedures and on-going medical treatments (medicines, special foods, emergency veterinary visits). Tommy is a wonderful success story, but there are many other cats with special needs that require extraordinary care. GNHCP would like to be able to give every cat a chance to receive the medical treatment it needs.

SJ and Derica, two cats who were both able to get life-saving surgeries from the Tommy Fund. They have now found a home together and spend their time playing and cuddling.

Other Tommy Fund Recipients

Captain Jack
Raquel
Joe E
Hope
Wink
Bridget
Prince William
Chessie
SJ
Derica

Leonardo
Patrick
Natasha
Mr. Butler
Rej
Stevie
Simone
DALE
Matisse
Brooklyn

Rej, a senior cat who was abandoned by his owner and rescued by GNHCP. He needed medical care and medications, much of which was covered by the Tommy Fund.

the faces of tommy fund recepients

Tommy Fund Cats

Brooklyn

Matisse

Matisse is a 1-2 year old gray female cat who was rescued in New Haven. The origin of Matisse's wounds are uncertain, as her rescue did not involve a direct communication from the person who found her. Our veterinarian suspected a food allergy, and Matisse is now on a special "novel protein" diet." She has seen a feline dermatologist, and was on a course of medication for 8 weeks. Her fur has grown in completely (The "after" photo which i will get to you later today) and we are now under the care of our regular veterinarian. Once the food trial is complete, and GNHCP understands her dietary needs, she will be available for adoption.

Dale

When Dale was rescued, his right eye was swollen and discolored, and he did not have vision in that eye. Our veterinarian recommended the eye be removed. He was a little nervous because of this limitation, but he quickly overcame any disability and blossomed into a playful and loving cat. He was adopted in 2021 with another foster cat (pictured) and living a wonderful life!

Simone

Simone was rescued by GNHCP with a serious eye injury that required removal of her right eye. She was most likely abused before GNHCP found her, and we are thankful that we found her in time to provide treatment and get her the care she needed. Simone needed to learn to trust people again and became a long-term foster. She was recently adopted by her foster mom and is in her forever home where she will receive lots of love and proper care.

Stevie

Stevie was rescued from a feral cat colony in New Haven when he was 3 months old. He suffered an injury to his right eye before being rescued. Regular eye treatments failed, and GNHCP brought Stevie to an ophthalmologist. GNHCP was told the ocular pressure in the eye was fine, and that there was slight vision in the eye, to not remove it, but ensure Stevie was checked annually. In the interim, he developed an ulcer in his left eye, which did not respond to treatment and needed to be removed, and the pressure in his right eye increased to above the normal level.

Stevie is now an adult and has been adopted by a former GNHCP Board member.

Rej

Rej was GNHCP's permanent foster cat and resident Senior Kitizen at the GNHCP Center for a few years. He was blind in one eye and abandoned by his owner. While with GNHCP, he was treated for hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. Despite his ailments, he was energetic, happy, and loved by all of the GNHCP volunteers. He passed away in 2019.

Patrick

Patrick was the gracious Mayor of the GNHCP Center who greeted everyone who came in. He had irritable bowel disease and was given a special diet to manage his symptoms, but they never fully went away. Eventually, one of our volunteers took him home to provide a long-term foster home in a more comfortable environment.

SJ and Derica

SJ and Derica are 2 recipients of the Tommy Fund who were adopted by a GNHCP volunteer, and enamored of each other.

Derica needed emergency surgery to remove some magnets and a plastic bag she had eaten while on the streets, and SJ needed a full mouth dental extraction due to Stomatitis. The Tommy Fund covered both procedures, and they are now happy at home.

Raquel

Raquel was a GNHCP foster cat who needed to have surgery for hip dysplasia when she was 6 months old. X-rays determined Raquel needed two surgeries - one for each hip. The surgeries were successful and fixed the dysplasia. She healed very well and was adopted into a loving home.

Wink

Wink was rescued as a kitten with a substantial injury to one of her eyes. She became visually impaired in that eye, and it was affecting her ability to "navigate." The damanged eye was successfully removed. Her agility and overall playfulness imroved substantially after the surgery, and she is now bouncing around in her new home.