The Phyllip Fund
We first met Phyllip in February 2021. He came through our TNR program as a community cat called Senor Feo. We neutered him, vaccinated him, microchipped him, and removed a few loose teeth. Afterward, he returned home to his caretaker’s workshop in Richmond’s Iron Triangle.
In June 2023, his caretaker reached out again, concerned about an injury on one of his front feet. Upon examination, we determined he likely had a cancerous mass on his left front paw. Despite his condition, Senor Feo showed his trust, purring and gently head-butting us. To give him his best chance, we recommended a limb amputation. His caretaker was unsure how he would adapt as a three-legged cat in her workshop, so Robin Post, RVT, offered to take him in for recovery.
The surgery was successful, and Senor Feo became Phyllip, joining Robin’s household. Phyllip spent six joyful months as a beloved companion. He dined on chicken and steak, lounged on the bed, and napped in the sun. Every day, he awaited Robin’s return, ready to snuggle on the couch with his human and dog friends. He was content and happy.
In September 2023, however, Phyllip’s cancer returned, affecting his other front leg. Soon after, Robin made the difficult decision to say goodbye.
The Phyllip Fund was established through the generosity of animal lover Madeleine Larsson. This fund ensures that community cats in need of critical, lifesaving surgeries can access affordable veterinary care at our clinic. Additionally, it supports our public TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program, which provides spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, microchips, ear-tipping, and parasite control for $45.
Please join us in growing this fund to provide essential care to community cats. By contributing to The Phyllip Fund, you will help more cats like Phyllip receive the care they need to live their best lives.
Every dollar you give honors the legacy of an “ugly” cat who touched our lives. Help us continue to provide lifesaving care to all the other Phyllips out there in our community.
The Phyllip Fund Beneficiaries
The Phyllip Fund Beneficiaries
In November 2024, a dedicated colony caretaker contacted us about a young cat named Cheddar. Spayed as part of a managed colony, Cheddar had always been a healthy and well-cared-for community cat - until one of her feeders noticed a severe injury to her right front leg.
Photos confirmed the extent of her injury, and after careful evaluation, we determined that amputation would be the best option to relieve her pain and improve her quality of life. Thanks to The Phyllip Fund, we were able to move forward with her surgery.
The transformation was incredible. Cheddar’s recovery was smooth, and today, she is thriving - living her best life as the very first beneficiary of The Phyllip Fund.
Carlos is a confident, chirpy guy who managed to charm an entire neighborhood. At just about a year old, Carlos lived alongside his brother, cared for by the collective kindness of his community. But Carlos had a problem: a traumatic tail injury from his past was causing him serious issues.
When a friend of one of Carlos’s neighbors brought him to our clinic, we saw that his tail injury had left him with a small, dislocated L-shaped stump. Unfortunately, the stump was causing chronic infections and fecal scald whenever Carlos had bowel movements, leading to significant discomfort around his hind end.
Despite all this, Carlos was in good spirits when we met him. He greeted us with chirps and meows and eagerly devoured every meal we put in front of him.
The AFC team determined that the best solution was to amputate the remaining tail stump to eliminate the source of infection and discomfort. During the same visit, Carlos was neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated. His tail surgery required a small flap closure, and he needed close monitoring to ensure a smooth recovery.
Carlos became a temporary resident at our clinic, where he lived in a dog run outfitted with a litter box, toys, classical music, and all the food he wanted to eat. His friendly, confident personality shone through during his stay. After a minor follow-up surgery to address a healing issue, Carlos made a full recovery—gaining noticeable weight and looking better than ever.
Carlos’s case is a perfect example of why the Phyllip Fund exists. With just a little investment in time, resources, and care, we were able to transform his life and help him return to his neighborhood, healthy and thriving.