NORWAY – When Karen Wright of Waterford wanted to memorialize her cat, Amazing Gray-ce, she thought about some ways she could help other cats. Wright decided that a donation to Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills to help with the medical expenses of sick and injured cats was the best way to honor Gray-ce.

In September Wright presented Shelter Manager Lucille Moffett with a check for $5,000. Her stipulations were that the money be put into a fund called “The Saving Grace Fund.”

Wright said she would like the money to be spent to offset the costs incurred to care for animals with beyond expected medical problems that might be too costly for the shelter to provide.

Some cats have already been treated for life-threatening illnesses with the money from the Saving Grace Fund.

Kia, a large brown tiger cat, came into the shelter with an old, unhealed injury to his rear leg that prevented him from walking without pain. The fund paid for Kia to have his leg amputated. Now he is able to maneuver his way around the shelter.

Sunshine, a 3-month-old kitten rescued from a home with too many cats, had an ulcerated eye that needed surgery to prevent complications to his brain. Sunshine had his surgery with the help of the medical fund. He is now a playful kitten with the prospect of a long, healthy life.

Responsible Pet Care’s operating budget allowed for no more that $400 to assist an injured cat before the medical fund was established. Any additional charges over $400 required the shelter to raise the funds for the treatment.

There were instances in the past when severely injured cats were brought to the shelter by the animal control officer that had to be euthanized because there was no money to pay for extensive medical procedures.

Shirley Boyce, shelter president, said, “This fund will certainly give some animals a chance that wouldn’t have one otherwise.” She said, “Of course, it will help the budget because medical things that came out of general expenses to operate the shelter will now come out of the fund.”

Wright said she would like all cats to be given the opportunity to live a healthy life, but does not believe that medical procedures should be performed on an animal if it means prolonging suffering.

Decisions about using the money in the Saving Grace Fund are made by the consulting veterinarian, the shelter manager and at least one board member.

Wright adopted her cat, Amazing Gray-ce when she lived in Florida. Gray-ce, a feral cat, appeared outside her home one day with four kittens. She brought Gray-ce and her kittens to the veterinarian’s office, where it was discovered that Gray-ce had a life threatening disease that required expensive treatment which Wright agreed to pay for.

Gray-ce was given the treatment that saved her life and went to live with Wright. The cat died recently.

Additional donations to the Saving Grace Fund have already been made by several others. Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fund can send a check to Responsible Pet Care at P.O. Box 82 in Norway, ME 04268.

Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills is a feline shelter and adoption center on Waterford Road. More information about the shelter is available at www.rpc.petfinder.com.