It was Saturday night around 9:30pm on October the 22nd, when Minoo Rahbar, Team KR coordinator, spotted something black by the side of the road while on her way home. At first glance, it may have been little more than a discarded garbage bag, but after turning around for a closer look, Minoo was horrified to realize she was looking at an animal. Lying in a scruffy heap at the side of the road was the still body of a black cat. For all she knew, this poor animal was the tragic victim of being hit by a car.
Not willing to just leave him lying there, Minoo got out of her car and was blessed with a soft meow as the cat in question lifted his head in her direction. It was like a scene out of movie. Minoo dropped to the ground and spoke softly, not wanting to frighten a potentially injured animal and was blessed by a display of instant affection. Without any hesitation, this handsome fellow got up and walked straight over to his rescuer and began rubbing against her legs in a quest for love. When she sat down, he hopped into her lap as if to say: Take me with you!
He was famished and bordering on dehydrated. As Minoo waited for her friend and fellow Team KR member, Melanie Teller to arrive with a carrier, a man who lived nearby informed her that the cat had just appeared out of nowhere about a month and a half ago. With no one in the neighborhood feeding him, he had taken to scavenging whatever he could find, even trying to eat the paper out of a fast food bag in the few heartbeats it took for Minoo to fetch her phone from the car to call Melanie. A quick car ride to Minoo's place via Melanie's carrier gave the hungry boy a good meal and a huge bowl of water along with as much attention as could be showered upon him. Despite his affectionate and outgoing temperament, his physical condition lead to the conclusion that he had been living on the streets for some time.
The following morning, he was taken to the vet to determine the cause of his scabbed and scaly skin, along with a waterfall like amount of drooling. While no microchip was found, he was already neutered and judged to be about 9 to 10 years of age. The scabs came from the massive quantity of fleas roaming all over him, and the missing fur and scaly skin were a result of sarcoptic mange. The drooling was a result of ulcers and lesions in his mouth, coupled with horrible teeth and gums. There was also a small mass on his belly and he was suffering the effects of dehydration and severe anemia from all the fleas. After a nice bath, which was tolerable only because he was sedated to calm his terror, and flea treatment to keep the pests away, he was tested for FIV/FeLV and found to be negative for both.
Special donations helped raise the funds needed to get him on the road to recovery. This lucky man is now named Ziggy. Despite all he'd been through, a permanent home for Ziggy came swiftly to sweep him off into the lap of luxury. A former adopter of Minoo's couldn't get his sad face out of her mind and ended up adopting him. Ziggy absolutely loves his new home and mother, able to put his time on the streets behind him and enjoy life as a pampered pet.
This tale just goes to show you, that you never know where the next rescue will be, and Team Kitten Rescue are always on the look out to help animals in need at the drop of a hat.
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