RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Bear, the one-year-old cat whose dramatic rescue from a 50-foot tree near McQueen High School after a lightning and thunderstorm captured local attention in November, is now recovering from successful liver shunt surgery thanks to an overwhelming outpouring of community support and donations. The procedure, performed Monday, Jan. 12, at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, addressed a congenital condition that prevented proper blood flow through his liver, causing dangerous toxin buildup.
Bear’s journey began with a harrowing ordeal, trapped high in a tree for over 40 hours during severe weather. Neighbors watched anxiously, even constructing a tarp below in case he fell. Upon his rescue, he was “soaking wet and cold,” according to Stacey Wright, his foster mother. Tests later revealed the critical liver shunt, necessitating specialized surgery.
Options Veterinary Care, a local nonprofit clinic, launched a fundraiser to cover the estimated $10,000 cost of the procedure. The campaign quickly surpassed its goal, raising over $22,000, said Bonney Brown, president of Options Veterinary Care. She says this includes money donated outside the online portal designed to collect funds for Bear. Donations poured in from across Northern Nevada and as far as Rhode Island, South Carolina, Michigan and Canada, highlighting the widespread concern and compassion for the feline’s well-being…