Poor airport cat.

[Diana]

I flew into an airport in Oklahoma today to pick someone up and encountered a poor airport cat that needs some help. The airport manager at the airport seems detached and unconcerned about the poor kitty. He obviously isn't going to do anything. The cat has had some kind of recent trauma and has an injured/smashed leg with an open wound. I'm so tempted to drive back down there and take the poor kitty and get it to a vet for treatment. Tom and I are both worried about the cat and want to do something, but don't know what to do.

Dave...suggestions????

 

[Tristar]

You could call the local Oklahoma town animal humane society. They'll pick kitties up and care for them at no charge or liability if no one claims it.

 

[Diana]

You could call the local Oklahoma town animal humane society. They'll pick kitties up and care for them at no charge or liability if no one claims it.

Hmmmm, that's a thought. I wonder if it would get better care in the long run? I don't know who *owns* an airport cat. This guy feeds it, but evidently doesn't take care of it when it's injured. This is kind of a gray area. Poor kitty.

 

[gprellwitz]

Follow Tristan's suggestion. The welfare of the kitty trumps "ownership" considerations! As Leslie (and others) will tell you, Dogs have Owners, Cats have Staff.



Fire this staff!

 

[ScottM]

You could call the local Oklahoma town animal humane society. They'll pick kitties up and care for them at no charge or liability if no one claims it.

Actually in this case they are more likely to pick it up and then euthanize it. There is never a lot of money to help animals and you are usually better finding a no kill shelter that can care for it. But even then injured animals are a tough sell. When I have done this it is also with a donation of $$$ to help pay for the care.

 

[Henning]

I flew into an airport in Oklahoma today to pick someone up and encountered a poor airport cat that needs some help. The airport manager at the airport seems detached and unconcerned about the poor kitty. He obviously isn't going to do anything. The cat has had some kind of recent trauma and has an injured/smashed leg with an open wound. I'm so tempted to drive back down there and take the poor kitty and get it to a vet for treatment. Tom and I are both worried about the cat and want to do something, but don't know what to do.

Dave...suggestions????

I think you already know what to do....

 

[tonycondon]

yea sounds like that airport cat just needs a new airport. one with a couple grass runways...

 

[Diana]

yea sounds like that airport cat just needs a new airport. one with a couple grass runways...

I thought about it. But, as slow as it moves now, it wouldn't survive one night with our coyotes.

 

[Diana]

I just called him and he's taking the kitty to the vet this afternoon. I offered to help kick in some money for the vet bill and he sounded really appreciative. So, I'll quit worrying about it so much now.

 

[jason]

I just called him and he's taking the kitty to the vet this afternoon. I offered to help kick in some money for the vet bill and he sounded really appreciative. So, I'll quit worrying about it so much now.

I'm sure that wasn't an easy conversation. Kudos to you for doing it anyway.

 

[tonycondon]

that's great news Diana.

 

[SCCutler]

Something in the way you care about things like this, a compelling comment on your humanity.

 

[TMetzinger]

Diana, you will get to come back as a pampered cat in your next life (which, based on the life of MY cats, is the highest state of physical existence).

 

[dmccormack]

We had a cat in our barn -- we called her "Barn Kitty."

She was very affectionate, but had no use for indoors. The barn was her home and she kept it clear of any and all intruders.

She started looking sickly and losing weight -- she'd had all the normal shots, but something was wrong.

We took her in only to learn she had feline leukemia -- which is contagious. They had to ethanize her immediately.



We had to destroy (burn) everything she had ever touched.

 

[bullwinkle]

Helping cats builds karma.

 

[etsisk]

We had to destroy (burn) everything she had ever touched.

Why? Did you have other cats? It's not zoonotic, that I know of, so you couldn't get it and it won't live outside the cat but for a few hours...

 

[dmccormack]

Why? Did you have other cats? It's not zoonotic, that I know of, so you couldn't get it and it won't live outside the cat but for a few hours...

We had other cats.

 

[Ted]

Don't take it to the humane society if you want to s ee it live, they'll just kill it. They'd probably do that with a dog, too, but they'll almost certainly do it with a cat - especially one that needs "work."

Not saying anything bad about humane societies - I work with a number of them. The problem is that overpopulation among dogs in cats in many parts of the country is so excessive that they don't have much of a choice.

 

[kevin47881]

Good on you, Diana!

 

[McBuzz]

Diana,

Just another example, you are the person we think you are.

 

[Diana]

I'm sure that wasn't an easy conversation. Kudos to you for doing it anyway.

Thank you Jason. No, it wasn't an easy conversation to start, but presentation is everything...my mom says that about preparing food, too.

Something in the way you care about things like this, a compelling comment on your humanity.

Spike, sometimes you can't just look the other way.

Diana, you will get to come back as a pampered cat in your next life (which, based on the life of MY cats, is the highest state of physical existence).

It sounds like your cats have the good life.

Helping cats builds karma.

I really think it DOES.

Good on you, Diana!

Thank you Kevin. Well, I'll call tomorrow to see what happened. And then try to figure out where to get the money I told him I'd send him for the vet bill. Hopefully something can be done for the cat to make it's life better. The guy said he wonders if it got caught in a trap. I just hate traps.

 

[Diana]

Diana,

Just another example, you are the person we think you are.

What a nice thing to say. Seeing a human in pain and suffering is tough, but seeing an animal in pain and suffering is a different kind of tough.

Thanks again to Dave Taylor for the words of wisdom in the PM.

 

[woodstock]

Diana, I'm glad you are looking out for the kitty! How is he doing today...

 

[Diana]

Diana, I'm glad you are looking out for the kitty! How is he doing today...

I called this afternoon and he said the kitty was at the vet's...he was busy working on airplanes and said he'd call me back tomorrow. He mentioned that they will give the kitty all it's shots when it's there.

 

[Tristar]

Good to hear it diana.

Btw, that's why you'd call a no kill shelter. Don't take an injured animal to animal control.

 

[Diana]

I just talked to him and he said they had to amputate the leg, and the kitty will be back at his hangar probably on Monday. It really didn't look like the leg was salvageable when I saw it, and it had to hop on three legs and drag the other crushed one along on the ground. The kitty will be in the hangar or the FBO building, so it should be OK now.

We're sending him some money and he's also going to put a can on the desk at the FBO for donations for the vet bill.

 

[Tristar]

Aww that's great Diana. Sounds like he has a soft spot after all.

 

[JOhnH]

I own a veterinary hospital in Ormond Beach. My wife is the doctor and I am the practice manager. One day a man that looked like Brutus in the old Popeye cartoons (and acted and sounded like him too) came in carrying a little kitten wrapped in a towel. He said he managed an apartment complex and some people slipped out without paying their back rent and abandoned this kitten. He found the kitten squirming on the pavement where it had been hit and he asked how much to help fix the kitten. We took x-rays and the whole leg was smashed. The bones looked like a pile of broken glass shards. There was no way to save the leg so we gave him an estimate on surgery to remove the leg and for post surgical care since he would not be able to care for it. He couldn't afford it so he asked how much to euthanize it. He paid that amount and left. Later, two doctors, three receptionists and seven vet techs came to me with euthanasia solution drawn up and tears in their eyes and asked if we could keep the kitten. Since Brutus had already signed a euthanasia form and paid, I said we could not keep the kitten without his consent. I called Brutus and explained the situation. He got quiet for a minute and I thought he was going to get mad and yell at me because I was second guessing his decision and passing judgement on him for electing to kill the cat when it could be saved. (That has happened several times in the past and it wasn't pretty). Finally after a pause, Brutus started sobbing like a baby and between sobs all he could say was Thank you Thank you Thank you. The cat is still with us and many of our clients come in just to say hi to BooBoo. You really can't judge just how much somebody else really cares.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

We have had many patients over the years with only three legs, I bet the little guy does great.
Yall have probably seen something like this before, they are all over youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXPJJeISuXo&feature=related

Can you post the FBO address so we can send a contribution? (not sure of the poa rules)

ref: Feline Leukemia Virus...not zoonotic (only cats get it). Spread between cats by close contact or in utero, bodily fluids. Labile virus, poor survival in environment. No need to burn things!
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=189&A=1482&S=2
its a little out of date - I think their prognosis is a little pessimistic, and there are some treatments now.

Great Job, Diana!

 

[DCat22]

We have had many patients over the years with only three legs, I bet the little guy does great.
Yall have probably seen something like this before, they are all over youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXPJJeISuXo&feature=related

That is an awesome dog!

Cats seem to get along pretty well too...it's amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC7F0dx31b0 (or some impressive kitties with only two http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6jxiEwXaW4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4m6NPG43sM )

Sometimes seem like they are better at coping...at least with the acceptance part...than we often are.

Glad your airport's kitty is getting help!

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Diana,

Just another example, you are the person we think you are.

Diana's definitely one of the good ones.

 

[Diana]

We have had many patients over the years with only three legs, I bet the little guy does great.
Yall have probably seen something like this before, they are all over youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXPJJeISuXo&feature=related

Wow! Thanks for posting that link, Dave. What an impressive dog!

Can you post the FBO address so we can send a contribution? (not sure of the poa rules)

I'll send the info in a PM to you and anyone else who might want it. I'm sure that any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Dave.

 

[SCCutler]

FWIW, I know of no PoA rule which would in any way be violated by simply posting the name and address of the FBO. This kind of thing might make me choose these guys over someone else when I am picking a fuel stop.

Nice story, who doesn't like a happy ending?

 

[Diana]

Re: Poor airport cat

I own a veterinary hospital in Ormond Beach. My wife is the doctor and I am the practice manager. One day a man that looked like Brutus in the old Popeye cartoons (and acted and sounded like him too) came in carrying a little kitten wrapped in a towel. He said he managed an apartment complex and some people slipped out without paying their back rent and abandoned this kitten. He found the kitten squirming on the pavement where it had been hit and he asked how much to help fix the kitten. We took x-rays and the whole leg was smashed. The bones looked like a pile of broken glass shards. There was no way to save the leg so we gave him an estimate on surgery to remove the leg and for post surgical care since he would not be able to care for it. He couldn't afford it so he asked how much to euthanize it. He paid that amount and left. Later, two doctors, three receptionists and seven vet techs came to me with euthanasia solution drawn up and tears in their eyes and asked if we could keep the kitten. Since Brutus had already signed a euthanasia form and paid, I said we could not keep the kitten without his consent. I called Brutus and explained the situation. He got quiet for a minute and I thought he was going to get mad and yell at me because I was second guessing his decision and passing judgement on him for electing to kill the cat when it could be saved. (That has happened several times in the past and it wasn't pretty). Finally after a pause, Brutus started sobbing like a baby and between sobs all he could say was Thank you Thank you Thank you. The cat is still with us and many of our clients come in just to say hi to BooBoo. You really can't judge just how much somebody else really cares.

What a neat story, John. Thanks for sharing it here. And you're right about not being able to judge how much somebody else cares. I think this guy really cares about this cat, too.

That is an awesome dog!
Sometimes seem like they are better at coping...at least with the acceptance part...than we often are.

They really are.

Diana's definitely one of the good ones.

What a nice thing to say, Troy.

FWIW, I know of no PoA rule which would in any way be violated by simply posting the name and address of the FBO. This kind of thing might make me choose these guys over someone else when I am picking a fuel stop.

Nice story, who doesn't like a happy ending?

I'll take a photo of "Turbo" and post it if/when I make it back down there to pick up the other airplane we left there.

The guy who is taking care of "Turbo" is Paul Dolph, the airport manager and mechanic at Miami Municipal Airport, Miami, OK.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/MIO

 

[wabower]

Answers to "Lucky"

FWIW, I know of no PoA rule which would in any way be violated by simply posting the name and address of the FBO. This kind of thing might make me choose these guys over someone else when I am picking a fuel stop.

Nice story, who doesn't like a happy ending?

 

[Ted]

Good to hear it diana.

Btw, that's why you'd call a no kill shelter. Don't take an injured animal to animal control.

It's hard to find no-kill shelters with any available space in that part of the country. That's why ARF has such a high demand for transporting animals up north, we have significantly more room up here.

 

[Stevel]

The check is in the mail

532JS is still on the mend, so Turbo can have her 100LL allowance for this weekend.
________
Marijuana sativa

 

[Diana]

Re: The check is in the mail

532JS is still on the mend, so Turbo can have her 100LL allowance for this weekend.

That's really nice of you.

Paul said the updated airport address is:

MIAMI MUN. AIRPORT
P.O. BOX 224
MIAMI, OK 74355

I told Paul that some of us were kicking in to help pay for the surgery and he was really surprised and very appreciative. He said a few of the local pilots were donating some money, too. The bill is over $400 so far.

Turbo is back home in his hangar and is eating well. His incision looks good and Paul is giving him his antibiotics.

 

[Stevel]

Re: The check is in the mail

That's really nice of you.

Sometimes you just gotta pay it foreward :yinyang:

Paul said the updated airport address is:

MIAMI MUN. AIRPORT
P.O. BOX 224
MIAMI, OK 74355

I told Paul that some of us were kicking in to help pay for the surgery and he was really surprised and very appreciative. He said a few of the local pilots were donating some money, too. The bill is over $400 so far.

Turbo is back home in his hangar and is eating well. His incision looks good and Paul is giving him his antibiotics.

I'll see if it is still in the mailroom and change the box number. I'm guessing that it would still get to him if I don't catch it.
________
Iolite Vaporizer

 

[Diana]

Re: Poor airport cat

We flew down there today to pick up an airplane and check on Turbo. He seems a lot healthier than last time I saw him. There was a lady there loving on him, so he was pretty happy about that, too. Paul said he and the other guys have a time giving Turbo his antibiotic, but manage to get most of it down him.

Paul hasn't been to check his P.O. Box yet, or the one the City has for the airport address, but he seemed very appreciative that other people wanted to help out with the vet bill. It looked like people were putting money in the Turbo can, too.

Nobody really *owns* this cat since it's the airport cat, and the airport manager inherited him when he took the job. I'm glad Turbo finally got taken to the vet and had surgery.

Thanks again, y'all.