Co-worker Rescue

One never expects to be in rescue mode on one's way to McDonald's but on a sunny day in September 2019 a sudden decision had to be made.

While in our truck at a stop light waiting to make a turn towards McDonalds, a dash of something small and black could be seen crossing three lanes of traffic. Luckily, instead of heading towards a sewer water overflow drain this furry creature barely climbed the curb and headed towards a row of hedges in front of the fast food chains parking lot Drive-thru. My partner and I turned briefly to check and see if that was what we truly saw. As the light turned green my partner kept an eye on the hedge as I turned into the food chains parking lot.

As my partner got out and headed for the neatly trimmed hedge I parked and hoped that the furry creature, which we identified as a young kitten would not bolt from the hedge. While my partner could see the kitten deep within the hedge it was frightened and stayed just out of reach. Being a retired Animal Cruelty Investigator I knew I didn't have time to wonder how the kitten got to the area or who may have dumped it. I also no longer carried emergency pet items with me so the time for McGyver type creativity was now. The heavily trafficked lunch hour was approaching. I took an empty plastic Pepsi bottle and cut the bottom off and made a shallow bowl for some liquid. I then had my partner get a Happy Meal for the next part of the plan. We poured a small amount of milk in the makeshift bowl and un-breaded a chicken McNugget. My partner laid a food trail of chicken towards a small clearing where, when the time came, she could grab the kitten. Once the milk was put down the smell of it did the trick. We patiently waited while the kitten sniffed the food and headed for the milk. As my partner grabbed the kitten by the scruff of the neck I wrapped it in a towel that I kept in the car for my dog and we drove home.

Once there it was given a bath, food and water. It was so young we could not determine yet whether it was male or female but it was about 4 to 5 weeks old and solid black with bright blue eyes. As it tried to eat we noticed the poor little thing had difficulty opening its mouth to chew and pushed food up to the sides of its bowl. A veterinary appointment was made for a more complete examination, worming and vaccines. Apparently the kitten was a female and had suffered an injury to her jaw which had healed improperly. In order for her to be able to eat and groom herself she would have to have surgery. We knew that an adult cat surgery was expensive but for a kitten we knew it would be outrageous.

Other than soliciting funds from friends the only other option for an elderly couple, which was us, was to get a credit card! So, some $4,000 later and surgery performed thru The University of Florida's Veterinary school we now have a beautiful, healthy Bombay cat who loves to lay in my office chair and occasionally gaze out the window at an errant lizard walking across. She is a very pleasurable co-worker who has a forever job. She will periodically tap me on my leg when she wants to play fetch with her favorite expensive (NOT) cat toy....a foil paper ball. And yes, if you throw it she will pick it up in her mouth and bring it back to you!