On the 7th of January we received a worried call -
"I've just seen a kitten alone in the garden. It looks like it has a hole in the side of its head! Can you come quickly?"

The local Centre dispatched an ambulance immediately - this kitten needed help, now!

Arriving at the property, the ambulance team heard a faint cry coming from under the house. Shining a light into the cramped space, there was no sign of the kitten's mother - she was all alone. Their torch beam reached out to the frightened kitten. She was curled up tightly with her back pressed against the wall, her tail tucked under her body.They could see straight away that something was wrong.

With some careful coaxing and quick reflexes, the team lifted the kitten out from her hiding place. And let out a gasp! The fur on her face was matted and stained with blood, an infected lump sticking out from above her left eye. But that wasn't her most shocking injury.

Vinny was missing her right ear.

The team rushed her to the local SPCA Centre and into the hands of the Veterinarian. Vinny urgently needed medical care and safety.

Checking her over carefully it was clear that Vinny was in a bad state. Her sticky, dusty fur clung to her thin frame. Her inner ears were filled with a nasty infection. The vet quickly gave Vinny pain relief, antibiotics and fluids to stabilise her condition.

Vinny couldn't tell us what terrible experience caused her to lose her right ear. At first the vet thought it could be a bite wound. But looking more closely, the edge of the wound is so straight that her ear might have been cut off with scissors or a knife.

At only a few weeks old, no kitten should have to endure such a terrible act of harm.

This is where your support plays such crucial role. Without you, injured kittens like Vinny don’t stand a chance. As a charity, SPCA can only do this work for kittens like Vinny – because of the support of kind and compassionate people like you.

Please donate today. Your gift will be a lifeline to more vulnerable kittens like Vinny.