Please Help Harley

Harley. Where do I start? His story is one for the books! This is just a part of it. My sister and nephew didn’t choose Harley. In 2015, He chose them. Even when they found his owner.

7 months later, as much as my sister tried keeping him away, he would hide under her deck all day and then sneak inside to get her pets food at night. Even after finding his original owner and getting him neutered to stop him from roaming - after a few days of recovery he was back and hasn’t left since. It was clear to see that Harley had made himself at home and wasn’t going anywhere. He became part of their family.

He’s got a personality I’ve never seen in a cat. He’s usually big and sturdy, fluffy, paws like a Lion and we joke that if he could talk, he would probably sound like Barry White. He’s got a heart of gold and always the first to greet visitors. Purring loudly, giving head buts and nudges.

6 weeks ago, my sister had to go to Dunedin for a hospital appointment. She had a friend looking after her pets while she was away, but when she returned, he was nowhere to be found. After posting on lost pet pages, searching for him in surrounding streets and advertising in local flyers, the reality of seeing him again was fading.

Today, she was given some hope. She drove to Alexandra to confirm it was him and was greeted with loud purring. Harley is eating but is so weak, he can’t stand, but he was so pleased to see my sister and my nephew. He has some organ damage due to dehydration and has lost a lot of weight. It seems that he has been locked up somewhere. With the Central Otago heat, I’m amazed he is still alive. He’s a real fighter! Harley still has plenty more chapters to write!

We are all wishing for a full recovery but with my sister being a single mum on a sickness benefit, we are trying to get Harley home to his forever home, and need help funding his vet care to make this possible. Harley’s life is worth the effort and expense, but my sister can’t afford it herself. He really is part of the family, and they’d be devastated if they couldn’t get him home due to the cost.