ANIMAL ABUSE VICTIM
Buddy Update #2 — Not the News We Wanted
Back to the vet next week to reset the splint
For those of you who’ve followed my story of Buddy Cat’s shooting on April 28, you may remember his back leg was shattered by a neighbor air rifle.
I’m 99.9% sure of the shooter’s identity, but I can’t prove it unless someone close to him spills the beans. For the full story and first follow-up, see the links at the bottom of the page.
But here, I want to provide another update in response to the many Medium animal lovers who kindly expressed concern and dismay about this horrid and blatant case of animal abuse.
You asked for updates, and I’m providing them.
Today, it’s been three weeks since Buddy was shot, fell from our back fence, and drug himself to our back door. This event continues to torment me, not to mention poor Buddy.
Our vet placed a splint on his back leg, hoping the bones would knit back together to avoid amputation. Last week, after examining another set of x-rays, he told us the healing is not going as well as planned.
He has done many of these type splints over his 25 years of practice, and was fairly confident this procedure would most likely work in this case.
But, the x-rays tell a different story. (A photo of the x-rays with the pellet or BB can be seen in the original story about the shooting.)
Next Wednesday he’ll re-do the splint, and this time will use a wiring harness that he says may provide a better solution. We will then have to start once more at ground zero — six to eight weeks of healing before a final verdict is made on amputation.
The adjustment has been tough on Buddy. This little guy was an indoor/outdoor cat we rescued from another neighbor who all but abandoned him after they brought home a baby.
I’m not sure why they could no longer feed him, or attend to his other needs, but I guess that’s another story. I just don’t know.
I do know Buddy is depressed, and it’s killing us. He has nothing to do all day except eat and go to the litter box (with Michael’s assistance — day and middle of the night).
He lies listlessly on the bed or in a few favored spots while our other two cats run around the house, play and tussle as they do every day. Bernie and Bella have been inside-only cats all their lives and don’t miss the outdoor life as Buddy does.
At first Buddy seemed to be doing well. Looking back, I think we were projecting our own hopes of his speedy recovery.
We thought he was trying to valiantly tough it out. Maybe in some way he understood we were trying to help him get better. I now know that was magical thinking.
These days it seems he’s either bitter toward us (why are we holding him captive?) or simply resigned (life is not going to get better — why am I even alive?).
Of course we shower as much love and attention on him as we possibly can. We give him extra treats and try to entertain and cajole him into some gentle play.
However, very little interests him, and I’m constantly tormented with the thought that he feels he’s “just existing.”
I know this isn’t a cheerful post — and I do have dozens of topics and half written articles in Draft — but I am compelled to put into words how this experience is affecting Buddy, and us.
Michael and I hope this next round of treatment will yield more positive results. We have come to love this little cat dearly, and his welfare means so much to us.
We’re still pursuing justice for him, although we’re not getting much traction. A friend and neighbor who owns a liquor store offered to help deliver some “unofficial justice” but we can’t do that. At least not the things he suggested.
Some time next month I’ll let readers know how the new procedure is going. Hopefully the next round of news will be better.
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