Viva

Viva's amazing rescue began weeks ago when Tao was walking along a residential street in Bensonhurst and suddenly heard a heart-wrenching cry coming from an abandoned shed.

After having to fight her way through three feet of ice and snow and force open the shed door, Tao saw a sight that broke her heart.

There inside lay a tiny kitten, nothing more than skin and bones, apparently because it had been trapped inside the shed without any food since the snowstorm struck two weeks earlier.

"Her nails were gone from trying to claw out, but there was no way she would have made it if someone hadn't come to rescue her," said Tao.

What astonished Tao even more was her feeling that neighbors must have heard the cries but had endured the kitten's continuous cries for help and apparently chose to ignore it.

"I can't believe not one person came to help her. People just don't want to get involved, I guess," she said.

AFTER RECEIVING THE proper medical attention, Viva has a second chance at life, but with her tiny body too weak to undergo testing it is too early to know just how much damage was done.

"After two weeks without food or water, the doctors say she probably isn't going to get away from this Scott free," said Tao.

The speculation is that Viva survived only because of water that dripped inside the shed from the snow outside.

But despite her trauma, Tao describes Viva as a very loving pet, with only one flaw.

"The ideal candidate to adopt Viva," says Tao, is someone with no other pets, preferably.

Donate To Help Viva

A Valentine For Viva
by Dee Tao

Viva, in Latin, simply means "life" or "to live". Viva, a 10 month old kitten who survived two weeks without food or water, has graciously accepted this name.

Walking past an abandoned house in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, I heard a cry of despair. Not recognizing it as a cat at first, I cautiously entered the front gate. The house, unoccupied, had not been shoveled after the huge snowstorm two weeks prior, and I was the first to set foot in the 2-3 feet of snow. The cry came again, agonized, louder. I then recognized it as a cat. Fearfully I looked around. I couldn't see the cat, but heard its distress. I called out to it and located the crying coming from an old shed. Horrified, my mind flashed to the thought of my footprints being the only in the snow. Whoever was inside was in there for about two weeks.

Running to the shed, I frantically tried to open the door. It was frozen shut, with about 3 feet of ice and snow around it. The cat continued to scream. Yanking hard, the old wood splintered, and the door gave way, splitting in half. I looked inside, and my heart twisted. A kitten, about 10 months old, emaciated to skin and bones jumped out. Her front paws were bloody, and her nails were almost gone from trying to open the door. She ran in a circle, then fell into my arms, still crying.

I raced home to feed her. As she ate, she continued to cry. After almost two cans of cat food, the cries became satisfied grunts. It was heartbreaking. Immediately, I decided her name was Viva. If anyone had a will to live, it was her. No food, no water, surviving subzero temperatures for over a week, constantly hoping someone would open the door and save her.

At the vets office, Viva weighed in at three pounds. She should be about eight or nine pounds, at least. They found it amazing she survived. Viva just stood tall and purred. I hugged her.

Valentines Day is right around the corner....

and Viva needs a Valentine! A forever Valentine....to make up for all of the heartache she has been thru in such a short lifetime. She doesn't need a box of candy, but a Valentine to help with her medical expenses...a Valentine with an endless amount of cat food and treats that would get lots of purrs and cuddles. Viva just loves life, food and love. A Forever Valentine with a warm lap that would put her right to the much needed sleep her little body needs in order to heal. Won't you be Viva's Valentine?

To send a check or money contribution for Viva:
Or charge Help Viva

Muffin's PC
9728-3rd Ave. B125
Brooklyn, NY 11209

	Famished Kitten Nearly Used Up All Its 9 Lives Before Cries Finally Brought Human Assistance By ENZA INTERLIGI The Home Reporter Newspaper
	Denise Tao has become attuned to hearing cries for help. Making a career of rescuing stray animals, her efforts have helped save the lives of countless kittens and pups. Most recently she rescued a kitten approximately 10 months old, that was trapped inside a shed after the city's major snowstorm several weeks ago. The kitten, now named Viva, was miraculously rescued from certain death simply because Tao went through the trouble of caring, when apparently nobody else did.
	TAO HAS JOINED FORCES with the non-profit community animal service organization Muffins.org in helping save cats, dogs and other abandoned animals. But Tao feels she has become the woman that strays in the most dire condition manage to find. "I'm getting a name for myself!" said Tao.
Viva's amazing rescue began weeks ago when Tao was walking along a residential street in Bensonhurst and suddenly heard a heart-wrenching cry coming from an abandoned shed. "I didn't know if it was a human, animal or what," recalled Tao. After having to fight her way through three feet of ice and snow and force open the shed door, Tao saw a sight that broke her heart. There inside lay a tiny kitten, nothing more than skin and bones, apparently because it had been trapped inside the shed without any food since the snowstorm struck two weeks earlier. "Her nails were gone from trying to claw out, but there was no way she would have made it if someone hadn't come to rescue her," said Tao. What astonished Tao even more was her feeling that neighbors must have heard the cries but had endured the kitten's continuous cries for help and apparently chose to ignore it. "I can't believe not one person came to help her. People just don't want to get involved, I guess," she said. AFTER RECEIVING THE proper medical attention, Viva has a second chance at life, but with her tiny body too weak to undergo testing it is too early to know just how much damage was done. "After two weeks without food or water, the doctors say she probably isn't going to get away from this Scott free," said Tao. The speculation is that Viva survived only because of water that dripped inside the shed from the snow outside. But despite her trauma, Tao describes Viva as a very loving pet, with only one flaw. "She doesn't like being around other cats!" muses Tao. "The ideal candidate to adopt Viva," says Tao, is someone with no other pets, preferably. Donate To Help Viva A Valentine For Viva by Dee Tao Viva, in Latin, simply means "life" or "to live". Viva, a 10 month old kitten who survived two weeks without food or water, has graciously accepted this name. Walking past an abandoned house in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, I heard a cry of despair. Not recognizing it as a cat at first, I cautiously entered the front gate. The house, unoccupied, had not been shoveled after the huge snowstorm two weeks prior, and I was the first to set foot in the 2-3 feet of snow. The cry came again, agonized, louder. I then recognized it as a cat. Fearfully I looked around. I couldn't see the cat, but heard its distress. I called out to it and located the crying coming from an old shed. Horrified, my mind flashed to the thought of my footprints being the only in the snow. Whoever was inside was in there for about two weeks. Running to the shed, I frantically tried to open the door. It was frozen shut, with about 3 feet of ice and snow around it. The cat continued to scream. Yanking hard, the old wood splintered, and the door gave way, splitting in half. I looked inside, and my heart twisted. A kitten, about 10 months old, emaciated to skin and bones jumped out. Her front paws were bloody, and her nails were almost gone from trying to open the door. She ran in a circle, then fell into my arms, still crying. I raced home to feed her. As she ate, she continued to cry. After almost two cans of cat food, the cries became satisfied grunts. It was heartbreaking. Immediately, I decided her name was Viva. If anyone had a will to live, it was her. No food, no water, surviving subzero temperatures for over a week, constantly hoping someone would open the door and save her. At the vets office, Viva weighed in at three pounds. She should be about eight or nine pounds, at least. They found it amazing she survived. Viva just stood tall and purred. I hugged her. Valentines Day is right around the corner.... and Viva needs a Valentine! A forever Valentine....to make up for all of the heartache she has been thru in such a short lifetime. She doesn't need a box of candy, but a Valentine to help with her medical expenses...a Valentine with an endless amount of cat food and treats that would get lots of purrs and cuddles. Viva just loves life, food and love. A Forever Valentine with a warm lap that would put her right to the much needed sleep her little body needs in order to heal. Won't you be Viva's Valentine? To send a check or money contribution for Viva: Or charge Help Viva Muffin's PC 9728-3rd Ave. B125 Brooklyn, NY 11209