Surf City Kitties Rescue: Emergency Medical Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

This Emergency Medical Grant played a critical role in supporting Surf City Kitties Rescue by helping offset Ariya's medical bill. Grant funding allows nonprofit organizations to move forward with urgent treatments such as Ariya's emergency surgery, diagnostics, medications, and follow‑up care. Since nonprofit rescue organizations do not receive government funding, we are extremely grateful for the Petfinder Foundation that supports rescue groups.

The grants that this foundation offers enables rescues to take in more animals with serious medical conditions, provide timely and appropriate treatment, and improve overall outcomes for pets who might otherwise be at risk of suffering or euthanasia. This support helped Surf City Kitties Rescue stabilize the rescue’s finances and save the life of Ariya and her only surviving son, Norman.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

On December 13, 2025, at 8:30 p.m., Mama Ariya went into labor. After about an hour of pushing, her breathing became heavy and she began showing clear signs of distress.

Knowing something was wrong, we rushed her to Love Animal Hospital and Urgent Care. What started as a labor emergency quickly became life-threatening. It was determined Ariya needed an emergency C-section to save her life.

While being prepped for surgery, Mama Ariya delivered a healthy, big baby boy on her own. Despite this, her vitals continued to decline and the surgeon moved forward with the C-section.

During surgery, they found that one kitten had already passed and two others were alive but struggling. Despite every effort, those two kittens sadly did not survive through the night.

Today, Mama Ariya and her surviving baby boy are doing well, and we are incredibly grateful. This Emergency Medical Grant helped cover a significant portion of the cost of Ariya’s emergency C-section, surgery, diagnostics, and medications.

Ariya was adopted to a wonderful woman who fell in love with her story. Ariya is now living with her new mom and enjoying a nice cozy home full of love. She does not have to live in the car-dealer parking lot and is now spayed and forever litter-free.

Her son, Norman, was adopted by the woman’s daughter who initially reached out to us to rescue Ariya off the streets.