Spirit the kitten dies

Spirit, a feral kitten rescued with third-degree burns following a fire on the Carson Colony in July, died Friday of his injuries.

Susan Paul, president of Carson Tahoe SPCA, said the little black kitten's burns were too great for him to survive.

"After five weeks of fight and determination, our precious little boy let us know he had enough and his body could not go on any longer. His internal injuries and complications had become too much to bear," said Paul on the CTSPCA Facebook page.

On July 24, a fire, ignited by a spark from a metal grinder, destroyed a Wialaki Street home and scorched the property. Spirit, weighing less than a pound, was among three kittens found in the yard in the days following the fire. While the two other kittens were unharmed, Spirit suffered burns on all four leg legs, tail, ears, belly, bottom and nose.

The Carson Tahoe SPCA took the animals in. The two healthy kittens were placed in foster care and Paul diligently cared for Spirit at her home, changing his bandages daily and even taking him for acupuncture treatments in Reno to help him have a bowel movement, made difficult by the burns.

The problems with his colon ultimately claimed his life.

Paul said she wanted to thank Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital for caring for Spirit at no cost, and also Mike's Pharmacy for donating everything needed for Spirit's wraps.

"And there were also so many people in the community just pulling for him," Paul said. "There were so many people that wanted him to make it that it made it easier for us to help."

For more information on Carson Tahoe SPCA visit http://www.carsontahoespca.org/