Photo from Atlantic Wildlife Institute Facebook
The Atlantic Wildlife Institute is self-described as “A wildlife rehabilitation, education, and emergency management service [who has been providing service] for 20 years in the Province of New Brunswick and the Atlantic Canada Region.” On December 27th, 2021, they received an interesting house call, regarding a young bobcat found in a resident’s barn. The baby bobcat was found unresponsive but still alive and was taken to get medical attention.
The Douglas Animal Hospital was the veterinarian clinic on call the evening of the animal’s discovery. The bobcat was rushed to the Douglas Animal Hospital in Fredericton. Posted to their Facebook page, was a description of the bobcat’s injuries. “Our juvenile bobcat has had quite the battle. She was so dehydrated, cold, starved, and anemic (low blood count) on admission that her organs began to fail her.” It was decided that the only way to save the baby bobcat was through a blood transfusion.
The Fredericton SPCA was contacted and were luckily able to lend of few of their stray cats in the hopes that one of them would be a potential match. A very special cat named Smuckers came to the rescue when he was a match for the bobcat’s blood. According to the same Facebook post from Douglas Animal Hospital, "Smuckers was a match for our bobcat and the blood transfusion went very well.” The post went on to say that although the blood transfusion was successful, there would still be lots of work ahead for both the baby bobcat and the veterinary professionals at the animal hospital.
On January 5th, 2022, the Fredericton SPCA posted an update on their Facebook about the heroic cat, Smuckers. The post said “We are amazed at the love for Smuckers! He has been adopted and is on his way to a new family that will love & spoil him.” Smuckers is now living in his forever home, and he is happy and healthy!
The Douglas Animal Hospital also posted an update on their Facebook about the tough baby bobcat. “Our recent wildlife patient, "Feisty Fiona" the young bobcat, went to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute earlier this week where she continues to recover and do well.” Fiona the bobcat will stay at the rehabilitation center until spring when she will be able to return to the wild.