When we first met Phantom, the mere sight of him was enough to make you cringe. With a gaping wound spanning his entire left eye and much of his forehead (too graphic to show you) we knew we needed to act fast. The Palmetto Animal League veterinary team was hosting a free vaccine clinic at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office when Phantom’s caretakers brought him in with a severe eye infection.
“Phantom had wandered up into their yard as a friendly stray,” says PAL President Amy Campanini. “They had the resources to feed him and give him shelter, but they could not afford vet care.”
Our staff asked Phantom’s caretakers to bring him to PAL immediately for urgent veterinary attention.
“He had been suffering for a very long time with a wound that had turned into an infection,” explains Campanini. “We did not know if the eye could be saved. We highly doubted it.”
Phantom’s caretakers wanted the best for him, so they let PAL take over custody and care of the ailing cat. PAL veterinarians got straight to work treating his eye, and the outcome has been better than we ever imagined!
“His wound has been healing very nicely, and as healing continues, we think he may be able to keep his eye,” says Campanini.
Phantom was no stranger to hard times, and he wasn’t about to let this wound get the better of him.
“Phantom’s 2 ½ year old body has seen a lot of hardship so early in life,” says Campanini. “He has used his time at PAL wisely, sleeping, eating, healing, and just hanging out.”
Phantom enjoys free reign of the PAL Adoption Center and gets along with the other cats. As for Phantom’s eye, only time will tell. One thing we do know is that pets heal better in the comfort of a real home.
“If anyone is interested in adopting this handsome guy, PAL will provide full support for the medical care of Phantom’s eye,” vows Campanini.
Phantom caught us by surprise when he showed up at our free vaccine clinic in desperate need of urgent veterinary care, and we hope he will surprise us once again with a full recovery!
“At PAL, we see access to high quality, affordable veterinary care as a vital part of our lifesaving mission,” says Campanini. “We’re glad we were in the right place at the right time to save Phantom from his suffering, so he can go on to live a full and happy life.”
Once you look past his marred exterior, you will find that Phantom is a very happy, affectionate cat. He is living proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Lindsay Perry, Palmetto Animal League Marketing Coordinator
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