Valentino was an animal shelter bound cat with little to no hope of ever leaving. The reason Valentino was likely never leaving the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter, a Los Angeles-based shelter, due to his sarcoptic mange. This condition, often the result of mites that reside on the cat’s skin, are a big enough problem that Valentino could not even open his eyes.
Sarcoptic mange is especially off-putting to most shelter visitors because it is actually contagious for humans as well. Although the results of having these mites may not be as devastating for humans, it became an easy turn off for most visitors. This was the fate Valentino was bound to until the right woman came into the animal shelter one day.
Elaine Seamans is a regular visitor at the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter. On one random day, she made her way to the shelter as usual, but when she walked past Valentino’s cage, she heard an animal softly meowing as if it was calling for help. As Elaine made her way to the cage, she noticed how Valentino seemed alone and depressed.
“He reached out with his little paw and made the tiniest meow. It was like he was screaming without verbalizing it: ‘Please help me.’ There are times when it’s not an option to keep walking, you just have to stop. This was one of those times” Elaine explained.
Without worrying about protecting herself from the potential risk of touching Valentino, Elaine grabbed him in her arms and let him rest on her shoulder. After holding Valentino, she knew she needed to get him to her friend and founder at the organization Leave No Paws Behind, Toby Wisneski.
“When I was talking to Elaine on the phone and she let me hear his little meow, I said, ‘That’s it.’ I could hear him. That sealed the deal” Toby said.
Wineski ended up taking Valentino from the shelter and immediately getting him to a veterinary clinic to be treated. Although he could not see his life changing, things were finally going well for Valentino.
“He’s so loving. You can tell he is very grateful. He will purr for them and try to rub up against [staff]. He knows he is safe” Toby added.
Valentino has a set of treatments to help him get back to the way things once were. With some time and help, Valentino will finally be able to see once again. The veterinarians even mentioned that other than his mange, Valentino is in very good health. With the help of Elaine, Toby, and Leave No Paws Behind, Valentino is on his way to a happy and healthy life.
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