The Face of Desperation
Apr 13, 2022
Lauren Stanicek and her husband didn’t have much experience with cats before fostering with PAWS. But the moment they met their first foster kittens, they were hooked. Their most recent foster, Romney, was attacked by an animal. His face was covered in wounds, and he tested positive for FIV. But his recovery is truly wow-worthy.
Romney is Lauren Stanicek’s 23rd foster cat and, so far, her favorite. Which is saying something.
“I started fostering June 2020. My dad got COVID, and it was the very beginning when it was really, really scary. So, my best girlfriend, Victoria “Tory” Snyder, who’s a PAWS volunteer, suggested I get a foster cat just to have some comfort and distraction,” said Lauren.
Lauren and her husband, Derek, agreed it was a great idea.
“So, I got three little kittens. All sisters. I ended up having them for four months. My dad was positive for COVID for 17 days, and those little kitties helped me so much through that time.”
Surprisingly, Lauren had never interacted much with cats before.
“But after just a couple days, my husband and I were obsessed. We were like, ‘I guess we’re cat people now. This is it.’”
And that was just the beginning.
“Now, Romney is our 23rd foster. We just love it. We’re planning on, hopefully, fostering for the rest of our lives.”
Romney is a 5-year-old cat who was brought to the city shelter after being attacked by an unknown animal. He tested positive for FIV, and his face was covered in wounds and abscesses.
Despite all this, he was still making biscuits when we picked him up and brought him to the Medical Center.
Once safely at PAWS, our veterinary team carefully cleaned his wounds, applied topical medications, and administered IV fluids. After being stabilized, it was time to find this fella a foster home where he could comfortably heal.
Thankfully, Lauren was right there to help.
“My girlfriend, Tory (again!) sent me a screenshot of Romney in his little cone with his face all bashed up, and I just needed to have him,” said Lauren.
Lauren emailed PAWS right away and picked him up two days later.
“At the beginning, he was on four or five different kinds of medication, including liquid injections. I also had to put a hot compress on his face three times a day. I was so surprised at how much he seemed to want it. He pushed his little head up against the hot towel. It kind of broke my heart it was such a relief for him.”
Romney’s recovery didn’t take long, though.
“After a week in his cone and on medication, he looked amazing. His hair started growing back. His bones were healing, and he's just brand new. I don't have to do anything anymore. He is just an ideal cat. He’s so sweet. And he’s so freaking handsome!”
In fact, Romney is doing so well, Lauren recently got some great news.
“I just got a call about an hour ago. I'm going to bring him in on Sunday because he cleared for adoption. Very exciting.”
Whoever decides to adopt Romney is going to be one lucky duck.
“Every time I think about filling out the foster report, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘911! This is a 10 out of 10 cats. And we need a 10 out of 10 mom or dad for him!”
However, if you’re not looking to adopt, you can become a foster like Lauren and help the countless other cats in need of temporary homes.
“Just try it once and there is a really good chance you are going to become addicted. And if it doesn't work out or it’s not a good match, PAWS is so accommodating. And the PAWS foster community has such a great Facebook group—there are so many people who will help you. But, bottom line, there’s a good chance you’re gonna love it.”
In addition to changing the lives of nearly two dozen cats, Lauren and Derek’s lives have been changed as well.
“I just feel like my husband and I have a whole new joy added to our lives. We never knew what it was like to have an animal in our home. And life is just better with fosters,” says Lauren.
Romney is with his adopted family now, but we are always looking for new foster parents!