Category: News

Desmond is our resident barn cat at Blue Rider. He is so much more than a barn cat and a mouse hunter. Almost everyone who has ever been to Blue Rider has had the chance to be greeted by Desi, who is our barn greeter, emotional support animal(to staff, clients, parents and anyone who needs him), our biggest cuddler and just an overall sweet loving cat. Desi will let you hold him all day long and loves riding on your shoulders. He does not ask for much but gives so much to everyone. He has been the rock the staff has held on to during the loss of four horses in the past six months.

On Tuesday morning, Desi was showing signs of distress. He made it clear to staff that he was having issues going to the bathroom. The staff decided that it was time to bring him to the vet. The vets were able to help him go to the bathroom. He stayed at the vet hospital for a couple hours on pain medication while the vets tried to figure out what was going on. The vets did an urine analysis and were unable to find anything significant in what was causing Desmond’s inability to pee. With the hopes that the pain medication, antibiotics and muscle relaxers would help him, he was sent home for the night.

He seemed to be more comfortable and in good spirits as staff left for the night.

On Wednesday morning, Desi was in the same boat as Tuesday but with major signs of discomfort.

We rushed him to the vet again and a staff member stayed with him for hours while the vets tried to figure out what can be done to help him. Blood work was done showing he was perfectly healthy besides this issue. An x-ray was done showing he was impacted but no crystals or stones blocking his urine output. It was decided that he should stay overnight with a catheter to see if that helped. He stayed until 4:00 this afternoon. There have been almost no signs of anything getting better for him since he has been back home today. He still doesn’t seem to be able to pee on his own.

On Friday morning, Desi was brought to Bilmar Vet for surgery. We thought that this would help him and solve the urinary problems. The staff at Blue Rider made the decision hoping this would be in Desi’s best interests and in hopes he would live the long life he was told he would never have when we found him. The reconstructive surgery itself was a success. Desmond came out of surgery around 130. Dr. Caine called Julia N. letting her know that there was a mass further up in the upper neck of his bladder. He was unaware of it until the surgery. Dr. Caine wanted to keep him overnight with a catheter to see if the surgery was helpful.

Unfortunately around 4:30, Julia N. got another phone call from Dr. Caine stating that Desi still had not been able to urinate and that for Desmond’s sake that he should be let go. Julia N. went back to Bilmar to be there with Desmond as he was put to sleep. He was very peaceful and surrounded with lots of love and care.

Desi joined our Ghost Herd around 5 o’clock tonight.

Unfortunately this was not the outcome any of us wanted or expected to have. We did everything we could for him and in the end he knew that all we did was love him and do whatever we could to help him. Desmond fought to the very end. He was the sweetest, loving, caring, and most expressive cat. There will never be any other cat like him.

Des was only 7 when we left the physical world, this was very unexpected and we will miss him dearly.

I don’t think any of us can imagine a Blue Rider world without him running up, meowing and greeting everyone.

Any little bit will help us offset the costs of taking care of our Desi.

We truly appreciate any and all donations. Thank you so much,

From the Sad Four-legged and Two-legged Staff at Blue Rider