I’m a sucker for a stray. Dogs, cats, turtles- you name it- if I’m in the car and I see one, I gotta bust a u-ey, and at least try to rescue it.
And because of the comments left on some of my animal-related blog posts, I bet there’s a lot more pet picker-uppers out there reading this too! I had lunch with one of my pet pick-up’in girlfriends yesterday. She told me about a “turtle” she made a u-turn for not too long ago, only to discover it was actually a camouflage-colored baseball cap sitting in the middle of the street- LOL!
It’s been a while since we’ve had to move a turtle off the road, but Kev and I did have a crazy, stray kitten adventure on Thursday morning…
We were driving on the busiest road in town, and as we were approaching an extremely busy intersection, I noticed a little black kitten running as fast as it could across the street in front of us. The lower part of it’s left leg was completely dangling behind it as it darted across the road. I couldn’t believe it was able to make it across without getting hit. It was SO scary/sad watching that all go down!
After we crossed through the intersection, Kev made a u-turn and we pulled into the lot behind a recently closed down gas station. Here’s a shot that shows the busy road we were previously on, and where we parked our car…
I jumped out of the passenger side while the car was still rolling, and was relieved to find the kitty huddled up against the wall of the gas station…
It was panting really heavily, and crying it’s little heart out so I slowly walked up to it, and kept telling it it was going to be okay in my best “please-don’t-be-afraid-of-me-kitty” voice the whole time. I managed to crouch down about three feet away from it, and I thought I was going to be able to pick up it- when all of a sudden, it got up and quickly hobbled over to our car, dragging its little leg behind it the whole way. It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch and I felt so bad for making it think it had to run again! And to make matters more intense, it climbed right up and into our engine. Aaaahhhhh! (Note: the engine was not running.)
But it was right about that time that Kevin noticed we were parked right next to an animal clinic. Hallelujah!
I ran over there, and told the lady sitting at the front desk what had just happened.
She rounded up the doctor and two of his assistants, and everyone came out to our car to see if we could get the kitty out.
Long story short, they managed to coax it out with a broom handle, and then they took it inside the clinic to see how they could help it. (The Doc said since we took the time to stop and help it, they would take the time to help it get healthy again. Yay for friendly vets!)
The doctor called me a few hours later and said that the lower part of the kitty’s leg had completely dislocated from the upper part, and that it had some worms and ear mites.
They began treatment for the worms and mites immediately, but they’re going to wait to do surgery next week when it’s not quite as freaked out as it is right now. The doc was also kind enough to say we could come up and visit the kitty in the meantime, so of course we jumped back in the car that day, and spent some time petting it’s sweet little head…
It was on a lot of pain medication at the time, but hopefully it’ll begin to understand that we’re all just trying to make it feel better!
(I love the little white “heart” below it’s nose!)
They didn’t remember to check if it was a boy or a girl, because they didn’t want to move it around very much- but one of the vets seemed to think it was a girl.
I’ll keep you posted on *her* progress, and in the meantime, if you live in the area (Prattville, Alabama) and you’re looking for an indoor house kitty to love on- drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch with the people at the clinic. We’re not home very much these days, and I would love for *her* to live inside with someone who can really take good care of *her*!
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Aaww…so sweet! You and Kevin are amazing to help the little kitty! I hope “she” finds a good home! 🙂
Aw, thank goodness you came along… now this little girl will have a fighting chance for a loving home, The vets at the clinic are also awesome, everyone taking time out to help this scared and injured kitty, very cool indeed. 🙂
I loved you guys before, but now I really love you! You are the complete package and a more genuine couple is not to be found….just the best!
A woman after my own heart! We had a Momma kitty dropped off here at my property only to find out she had been hit by a car. Two of her itty bitty kittens crawled out from where they were born in search of food a few days later. We took them in. We fed them every 2 hours with a syringe and took them to the vet. They were only 3 weeks old! They are doing great!
Layla,You are truly a girl after my own heart. Mark Twain once said that one can judge the character of a man by the way he treats a dog. I think the same can be said about a woman and any animal. I firmly believe that God will one day hold us accountable for the way we treat those over whom we have dominion. My son and daughter-in-law once adopted two newborn kittens the mother had abandoned. My (doctor) son fed them by hand (even at 3:00 am) and massaged their behinds to get them to pee and poop. The vet held out little hope for them. Today they are two healthy, beautiful, happy adults who make complete the lives of the sweet couple who eventually adopted them. I’d say both you and my children will one day have extra stars in your crowns!
Awwww That is so awesome Layla I think you were put in that spot on that day right next to the vet just so you could help that innocent little kitty. I find stray’s all the time and try my best to get them back home or get them a good home. I have been shocked at how people will discard them or leave them behind when losing a home to foreclosure. We need more kind hearted people in this world for the animal’s that have no voice…Beautiful kitty hope she gets a new home….Hey lets name her HOPE…
What a great story and wonderful of you and your husband to rescue the kitty 🙂 I had a similar situation happen a few years back with a cat that got hit on the side of the road. I stopped , picked him up and put him in the back of my car & drove him to the vet 🙂 I got both my boxers from rescue and did alot of rescue work so I LOVE when I hear stories about someone taking a minute to help out an animal in need 🙂 I hope the kitty finds a new loving home! XO !
Wow! What a post. As I write right now I have a stray dog (I’m calling him Dug) at my feet that my husband picked up from the state park next to our house. We have made arrangements for our dog to stay with friends over the weekend so Dug can hang out at our house, but on Monday we will have to take him to the humane society — unless there is someone out there in the Nebraska panhandle who wants to adopt him…
Layla,
You know I am a fellow animal lover. Because we are by the water I am constantly stopping {at least once a week} to move turtles out of the road; even snappers. I love that you stopped to assist the little kitten and get it the care it desperately needed. I hope one of your readers is able to adopt it and provide a purr-fect home!
Your Friend,
Deborah
I have 5 rescue kitties. I just teared up reading that. My friend is a vet in training and she tries to save anything. I <3 her for that. Thanks for turning around!!!
God bless you.
I am totally an animal picker-upper and foster-outer. I recently adopted a 3-legged kitten. He is AWESOME. And what he can’t do with missing a leg, he makes up for in his CLAWS. God help my leather furniture…
Btw, his name is Thomas Sullivan Magnum, in homeage to shorty-shorts wearing Magnum PI. Dead sexy, yes, indeed. ; )
I’m glad I’m not the only one! My heart breaks to see strays! My mind flashes with so many bad things that could happen to them! I’m glad you stopped to take care of this sweet kitty! May blessings come to you!
Bless you guys for taking the time to help this little creature. I would have done the same also, but a lot of people wouldn’t. You just have to wonder how something so small was left out in this big world to fend for itself. I sooooooo wish people were more responsible when it comes to animals. Please spay and neuter. It saves so many from ending up in this same situation or worse.
Layla – I think you and Kev are awesome peeps, but you have just endeared me to you guys even more. I am a animal lover to the core. I can’t tell you how many dogs and cats (and yes turtles crossing the road) I have saved. I am on first name basis with the Wild Animal Rescue Clinic. It seems I am always finding hurt baby bunnies, baby birds fallen from their nests, etc. My husband said he thinks some people were put here on Earth to be protectors of Animals. I’m not sure if that is true, but I know I can’t drive by an animal in need. God bless you my animal loving friends. I hope you are able to find Kitty a home.
Thank you for rescuing that sweet little kitty! And thank that Vet Clinic for all of us too — they are definitely angels! My daughters have been rescuing animals of all sorts all their lives…. every cat we’ve ever had has been a rescue. I agree with so many others out there — rescues make the absolute best pets! Hope this sweet little thing finds a great new home!
First you were my design hero. Then you were my adoption hero (I’m an adoptee). Next you were my compassion hero, and now you’re my animal rescue hero! -You rock!
I do wish I lived closer, but I’m in California. Otherwise, I’d be glad to adopt her. I’m going to pray that God finds her a home. His eye is on the sparrow, so surely its on kitties too! : )
Thank you for stopping and taking the kitten to the vet.
Awww cute!
I wish more people would take care of animals like that! Hurray for you!
Aw! Poor little kitteh….keep us posted on its surgery!
Thanks for helping the stray kitty. It proves you not only have a beautiful house, you have a beautiful heart.
Thanks to the vet clinic for helping, too.
Oh Layla, that is so sweet that you both have such a soft heart for animals. My hubby and I are the exact same way 🙂 You probably saved *her* sweet little life!
I saw this yesterday but was too frazzled to post my comment: our 12 y ear old little terrier mix was discvoered to have a huge growth under the base of his tail and we’ve been bandaging and rebandaging it waiting for the return of the vet in our office who does the surgery. It’s been bleeding and worst of all, he’s in such pain despite all the meds etc. I’ve been feeling so guilty and depressed all week, and then I read your uplighting story of the injured kitty. I’m so glad you wre willing and able ti intervene and to have that vet office right next dorr seems nothing short of providential to me! Sniffles and kudos!
I have always picked up strays. So glad that yours has a happy ending, once in a while they don’t. But most of the time they do, and they are so worth the extra time, trouble, and effort. I have found dogs and cats, but also horses, llamas, goats and a stray herd of cattle once!! lolol THAT was a fun day on the old homestead!!
God bless you for your soft heart, they are God’s creatures too.
Hugs, Fi
I love this!!
Layla,
Have you found the kitten a home yet?
I actuually live close to you…..
Email me!
Oh, Layla. God bless you and Kevin for helping that little kitty, and the vet who was RIGHT THERE. It really was Divine intervention. Prayers that *she* gets well soon, and finds a loving forever home!
Ah, as a fellow hoarde…rescuer… I totally understand. I just found my 8th small wonder in the top of a tree. Better to have loved; just better.
I got tears in my eyes reading this. Thank you!! Thank you for taking the time to help a kitten and really seeing it through to the vet and everything.
I wish more people were like you!
Bless your heart for being so kind. My husband and I are exactly the same way and it gives us hope that others feel the same way we do. Thank you.
I’m so glad there are people like me out there! Last week I rescued a dog that was hit 5 or so cars ahead of me. He was crying and trying to stand up in the middle of the road, but no one would stop. Everyone kept driving around him. Since I’m a huge animal lover, I stopped my car and picked him up. I rushed him to the vet, but he ended up passing away during the middle of the night from internal injuries. Ughh…it was heart breaking! I don’t understand how someone couldn’t stop to rescue the poor dog. Why do people have such cold hearts?
I didn’t think I could be more enamored of the two of you as an amazing couple/partnership/team (I kow, I probably sound like your moms, but I am about the same age so that figures)! After this post – I am! Just more proof of why you deserve good things in life to come your way!
Oh, you have no idea how happy this makes my heart. Bless *your* hearts, and those of the folks at the vets for tending to this tiny critter. Good on all y’all.
I love stories like these. y’all are such good people…and I said “good people” on purpse! this one made me tear up. my wife and I have been known to rescue dogs, cats and turtles too – oh my! we even rescued an escaped ferret. we eventually tracked his owner down. good for you and I hope everything goes smoothly for the little guy/girl.
As soon as I saw the first picture I yelled out “there’s a vet right next door!” Of course I looked rather foolish to my co-workers and you found the vet without my shout out. I wish we could have *her* but I’m afraid my house my be too traumatic her. We have 3 indoor dogs (tiny little critters) and one huge mostly outside cat that looks just like this little kitty. I’m still going to talk to my hubby tonight because she needs a good home and we did bring our huge kitty into our home without too much trauma.
Aww, you guys! My dad brought home a little kitten when I was 13 and she too had a gimpy leg and ran out in front of his car. He took her to the vet and they warned us that she might lose her leg, but we gave her a film canister (old school!) with rice in it and she played with her “rattle” so much that her leg was strong enough for her to walk on. She was one of the sweetest animals I’ve ever known and she had lots of happy years with us. My husband isn’t a big cat person, but I always hope to find a stray kitten – how could he say no?! Thanks again for stopping. You changed that little baby’s life!
Poor little kitty, I’m so glad you guys happened to be passing by and stopped to help! I hope it finds a loving home, and with your blog readers I’m sure you will find someone soon.
I got so teary eyed reading your story and to know there are such
unbelievable people out there in the world that would be so concerned
and take the time to help defenseless animals. I love reading your blog listening to my playlist and when I hear Far Away by Nickleback I think of you guys. Thank you for being so compassionate for the little black kitty.
Ohh how cute, I am so with you Layla I have rescued 7 dogs now & one of them is living with my friend due to her falling in love & the owner what not allowed to have back at they were getting her pregnant all the time.
Just cannot go past a stray dog with out doing something about it!!
I’m new to your blog, and this post totally won me over. Yay for other animal picker-uppers!