A 'Penny' For Your Thoughts
Late last year, we received a call for help from an elderly gentleman who was feeding several feral cats and kittens in his backyard. Loaded with humane traps, we arrived at his home at dusk. The traps were baited and within a couple hours we had caught three adult and two kittens; however, mother cat and a third kitten just investigated the traps, but didn't enter. It was getting late so we decided to leave the secure traps by a large pile of household goods, partially covered by a blue tarpaulin. We would return at dawn. Then a movement from under the tarp caught our eyes. Out hobbled a fourth kitten! Even by moonlight I could tell this kitten had a horribly injured front leg. It painfully limped towards the trap where it could smell the food, but then turned to return under the tarp.
As thoughts of rats and black widow spiders crossed my mind, I sprinted across the yard. It was obvious that if this kitten didn't get immediate medical attention, the consequences would be dire. As the kitten disappeared inside the jumble, I began tossing aside the tarp to climb over, around and through old furniture, suitcases, boxes of books, etc. With my flashlight I would catch a glimpse of a tail or paw as the kitten limped through the maze. Then, through a small opening, an ear! I plunged my arm in and grabbed.
Our feelings of exhilaration that we had caught the kitten were mixed with horror when I clearly saw her front leg. It was grotesquely swollen and dark purple from infection. At home we treated her as best we could, but it was a long night waiting unitl we could check in with Dr. Novy. He started atibiotics, prescribed continued antibiotic treatment, but cautioned that the kitten may lose its leg. But the little black and white kitten made slow, steady progress. We often thought how lucky she was that she hobbled out of the tarp when she did and was able to be treated thanks to the the non-profit's Benevolent Fund. The kitten became our "Lucky Penny."
It took four months of antibiotic thereapy (and love), but the only reminder Penny has of her ordeal is two slightly deformed toes. Penny has been adopted by a wonderful family that had her spayed and keeps her safely indoors.
Side note: The mother cat and last kitten were caught the next morning. All the kittens were socialized, altered, and adopted out to loving, indoor homes. The non-profit spay and neuter program altered all the adult cats, which were returned to the gentleman's yard where he continues to care for them.
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