Imagine being outside in the cold. Imagine being outside in the cold and hungry. Now imagine being outside in the cold, hungry and injured. In the last few weeks, we have received a couple of cats that in fact can imagine this, as the animals experienced it first hand. Let me tell you the stories of Madeline and Sampson.
Madeline came to us on a cold night a few weeks ago. She had been hit by a car on North Road and was laying in the road, scared and cold, with a broken nose and a very bad eye injury. A nice lady picked her up and called me. We met at the local vet and after examining her, Madeline came to my house. She was later seen by our vet and it was determined that she had a broken nose and would probably lose her eye, due to the fact that the impact of the car caused it to come unattached.
She received several stitches in her nose and we sewed her eye closed, to try and save the eye. She was started on eye medicine and for 3 weeks, I cleaned her eye and put medicine in it. She saw the vet a week ago and we are happy to say, after removing the stitches, that it seems she will be able to keep her eye. She will probably never have sight back in it, but she will not have to lose it. If it wasn’t for this nice person who stopped, Madeline’s fate could have been so much worse. She will be ready for adoption soon. She looks a little different, but we tell her different is better!
Now let me tell you the sad story about Sampson. He was found outside, dragging his back leg. A person who saw him contacted animal control and he was brought to the shelter. We immediately got him x-rays and it was determined he has three breaks in his leg.
We do not know how these breaks happened and in cases like this, sometimes we do not want to know. He also is missing an ear, most likely from frostbite. He not only was outside alone and scared, but also cold enough to lose an ear. He is currently staying at my house, with a cast on. He most likely will lose this leg, but we are trying all we can before making this decision. He is such a sweet cat, purring nonstop. He is finally warm and comfortable, two things he will never go without again.
These are just two of many sad stories we see. As I write this, the state animal welfare has shown up with eight cats, all of whom are very sick. When these cases happen, money is stretched. Stretched as far as it will go. We have to buy meds to help them get better, surgery if needed, fuel to keep them warm and food to keep them fed. All of this has drained us financially. If you are looking for a place to donate for the holidays, please consider the Houlton Humane Society. We can only continue this much-needed mission with your help. Happy holidays!
The Houlton Humane Society is located on 263 Callaghan Road in Houlton. To contact the shelter, email animal@ pwless.net or call 532-2862 or visit www.houltonhumaneso
ciety.org.
Heather Miller is the executive director of the Houlton Humane Society.
