July 8 – 14, 2024
Any donation for the Radiothon will be appreciated. Our challenge is great, but we know you will do what you can for the animals who have no hope without ALL of us.
Some animals (like some people) go through horrendous things, both physically and mentally debilitating them to such an extent that their lives are in jeopardy. When we “rescue” them, we have one basic policy: we will do whatever we can to help them heal, both physically and mentally. Once an animal is “rescued” by Animals In Distress, they have a home with us for a long as necessary – for life if we don’t find them a loving, forever home.
Our annual WAEB Radiothon devotes 100% of donations to rescue and rehabilitation of some of the most desperate and friendless cats and dogs – those who would probably not be saved otherwise.
- Radiothon Events and Information
- How To Donate
- Click here to see some of the rescues your donation makes possible. These animals would have no hope without Animals in Distress and YOU. Some of the photos may be graphic so please use your judgment. These animals can’t talk in words, but they are so appreciative of our help—and their lives.
Rescue Stories
Alden
With your help and support, we have been able to provide many senior pets with a loving place to spend their final days. For example, this is a cat named Alden, who was seen starving and wasting away. A nice woman tried to help him. She couldn’t afford much in the way of medical care but did what she could. She spent one month calling various places for help. Either she was ignored, or told to euthanize the cat, or to just put it back outside where “Nature would take its course.”
Cocoa
We saved an 8 year old dog who had been neglected for a long time, shuffled from house to house as the various human dramas played out. The dog was subjected to domestic abuse in several of the homes. In fact, it got so bad at one point, that the drunken abuser actually kicked in the front door and beat the dog’s owner so badly that she woke up with a concussion. The abuser was sentenced to prison for awhile, but got out and tried to resume the abuse.
Gingersnap
Gingersnap was a stray who showed up in a woman’s yard. She fed him for several days, before sending a picture to the shelter that showed his eyes actually dripping thick yellow drainage while he was trying to eat. He was unable to open his eyes due to severe infection and pain. The condition, where the eyelids turn in and cause the eyelashes to irritate the eyes, is called entropion. Gingersnap’s case was quite severe.
Gucci
One of our volunteers was driving along a country lane between fields. By some miracle, he noticed what appeared to be a small carrying case in the tall grass, almost hidden from sight. Out of curiosity, he stopped to take a look. As he moved closer, he heard a pathetic sound, like a wounded animal. Imagine his surprise when he finally got to the object: A terrified and starving young cat in a small cage filled with feces and urine. Not only was this animal abandoned, but it was left to die a most horrible death.
Luna
We received a desperate plea from a woman who had found a dog in a very bad area of a large city. The dog was covered with cuts and wounds, and various growths and masses, one of which dangled 4 inches from her body. The dog reflected years of neglect and cruelty. It appeared that the dog, which is a bully type, had probably been used for breeding purposes. She could have been exploited by a dog fighting ring as a breeder, and then, possibly, as a bait dog.
Mercedes
Mercedes, a 6-8 week kitten we rescued from certain death on the streets. People saw her from time to time, but no one claimed her: she was Nobody’s Cat. Where she slept was Nobody’s concern. Whether she got food was Nobody’s worry. She was a Nobody, almost invisible, certainly not worth anyone’s effort.
This is a picture of Mercedes when we first rescued her. She was literally blind and in great discomfort due to the infected and grotesque swelling and decay of both eyeballs.
Miso
Someone was seen abandoning some pet bunny rabbits in a field near an old country store. Concerned people who witnessed this cruelty searched the fields for the bunnies and were amazed to discover a Siamese cat lying in the field. It didn’t appear to be injured from what they could tell, but it was weak and lifeless. His ears were swollen and malformed, he was crawling with ticks sucking whatever blood he had left, and unable to get up. He was screaming—in fear and in pain. He had gotten to the point where struggling to stay alive had exhausted him, and he was left to die—alone and unloved—in a field
Ozzy
It is hard to describe the condition of this poor animal. It is a young cat, but you can hardly tell its age because its body is so wasted. It has open wounds, it’s crawling with maggots both inside the body and outside.
It’s really beyond the power of words to describe the condition of this poor animal.
PawPaw
A nice elderly woman who had been feeding stray cats in her area, showed up with a cat whose tail had been bitten through the bone, and part of its tail had already fallen off. The nice lady had been feeding a colony of outdoor cats and had already taken this female to be spayed and gotten her vaccines. Now the poor cat, who she named PawPaw, was in serious trouble. The lady who had been feeding the stray cats had taken her to an emergency vet hospital, but she could not afford the thousands of dollars to amputate the tail. She was heartbroken. She couldn’t let the cat suffer, and she could not afford thousands in vet care.
Pippin
We took this poor soul in and transported him directly to the veterinarian where he was found to be severely anemic from a flea infestation. Pippin had severe bite wounds on his legs and tail, in addition to wounds between his toes. It is believed he laid on his back attempting to kick away whatever it was that was attacking him.
This is a picture of Pippin when first arriving at the vet. He looks so sad, but relieved.
Stanford
It was obvious to the people visiting the neighborhood that this stray cat had had a very rough life. A very elderly man felt sorry for him and put food out. However, he had to go into a nursing home, leaving no one to give the poor cat even food.
He was starving, filthy, suffering from a horrible smell coming from his many rotting gums and broken teeth…the list of symptoms goes on and on.
Thomas
We were contacted by a desperate person who found a cat unable to walk. All four feet had open wounds, and in those wounds were maggots crawling around and eating the cat alive. The kind person reached out for help from several places and was turned away. Someone suggested that she call Animals in Distress, and she knew this was her last hope.
Ziggy
Many of the rescues we get involved with are high pressure: the animals might survive IF we get immediate medical help for them, and their chances of survival if we don’t do anything are very poor.
The story of a white cat we named Ziggy illustrates that point quite dramatically. Ziggy was a stray observed for months, living in a barn area. Ziggy started to appear to have a problem with his face/ear area.
There Are No Words…
No words needed. Without your help, these animals have no hope.
Your donation makes saving them possible. Please help us help them.