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On Wednesday, Aug. 3, Washington Parish Library staff members Waleah Dillon and Karen Galivan finally managed to catch a kitten that has been eluding library staff for weeks.

Outside of the Franklinton Branch, a family of cats has taken residence: the momma cat, the daddy cat, their three kittens, and another kitten (likely from momma cat’s previous relationship). Staff have been watching over the cats and were deeply upset when one of the kittens became stuck in what appeared to be the lid of a Slurpee cup that had been carelessly discarded.

For weeks, staff attempted to lure the kitten with food in order to free her from the plastic, but the kitten was too smart to be caught. Finally, Waleah Dillon and Karen Galivan spied the injured kitten in the staff parking area after the library had closed. Using a net and ingenuity, they managed to capture the kitten.

Unfortunately, the wound was too deep for them to remove the plastic and release the kitten back to her family. Washington Parish Library Director Sonnet Ireland raced the kitten to MedVet Mandeville for emergency care. Staff at MedVet expected the kitten to need surgery to heal the deep wounds and to lose her front right paw due to the damage from the plastic.

The Northshore nonprofit Scott’s Wish x Mardi Paws raised funds to help cover the cost of the kitten’s care. Dozens of people stepped up to contribute money for this kitten through Mardi Paws, but there was still the issue of finding the kitten a home. Luckily, a friend of Ireland’s and St. Tammany Parish Library staffer Stacey Demichiel stepped up to offer the kitten a safe and loving home. Demichiel and her wife Amanda Jacob say the kitten is doing well and using her injured paw more and more everyday. It looks like this kitten may get to keep all her paws at this rate.

Thanks to the hard work of library staff, the wonderful staff at MedVet, and the generosity of Scott’s Wish x Mardi Paws and their supporters, as well as Stacey Demichiel and Amanda Jacob, the kitten has a second chance at life.

Mardi Paws, the Northshore’s beloved parade for dogs that takes place each Carnival season in Covington, Louisiana, isn’t just about doing good one day of the year. It’s an organization that raises money all year round for Scott’s Wish, a nonprofit that’s been helping pets and people since 2008.

Scott’s Wish is 501c3 non-profit led by an all-volunteer team that strives to make a difference in the lives of both people and pets. Nearly every dollar raised goes toward helping sick people and homeless pets, both in the immediate community of St. Tammany Parish and further afield. Named in memory of Scott Lala, the organization has been spreading kindness, assistance, hope and joy since its inception.

Scott’s Wish helps patients of all ages who are managing cancer treatment, organ transplants, birth defects and ALS. The organization helps close gaps of financial need, assisting with travel, car repairs, clothing and supplies for families dealing with difficult health circumstances.

Pet-oriented beneficiaries include “In Honor of Duco,” which pays homage to the elite canines who play critical roles in the U.S. military and who need specialized medical care after their years of service, and the St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services, a no-kill shelter that never turns an animal away. Funds raised by Scott’s Wish allow the shelter to offer adoption programs, air and ground transport to permanent homes, and lifesaving medical care.