September to Remember
Lefty's Story
If you haven’t heard of our Community Cat Program yet, supported by Petco Love, then you’re missing out! This lifesaving trap-neuter-return (TNR) initiative has helped thousands of Warren County community cats and dramatically reduced overpopulation, preventing countless cases of suffering.
Lefty’s journey started out like many other community cats, but his story has a heartwarming twist that you won’t want to miss.
Lefty’s journey started out like many other community cats, but his story has a heartwarming twist that you won’t want to miss.
“In January of 2023 the community cat program received a request for help about a brown male tabby cat was living behind a grocery store. While the store owner was doing his best to care for him, he had a bad leg wound with a very nasty infection. My husband and I went to immediately to trap this cat, and we rushed him back to the clinic where he was given a brief exam and an antibiotic injection. The wound was grave – most of the skin on that leg was necrotic down to the muscle, and the leg was retracted and wasting away from lack of use. Our veterinarian asked me to make a judgement call. Do we save the cat’s life and amputate his leg? Or, do we end his suffering through humane euthanasia?
It can be inhumane to confine a feral cat to an indoor life. However, there was a chance that he would be social and become content living inside. It was impossible to know – we had spent so little time with him. But in that short time, I had gotten personally attached. I made the decision to amputate his leg and took personal responsibility for his long-term care. His leg was amputated a couple of days later, and he remained in our clinic for another couple of days to receive pain medicine.
The time came for him to leave the clinic and recover somewhere quieter and more permanent. I initially brought him to my house and set him up comfortably in my bathroom. He was eating and recovering well, but he was MISERABLE in my busy household. After about a week of this, I realized he needed more than I could give him. As a favor I asked my parents if I could set him up in the bathroom of their finished basement. He would have a much quieter environment without kids. They were hesitant because none of us knew how long this would take, but they agreed to take over his care.
For the first few weeks we couldn’t settle on a name. My mom chose Lefty because his front right leg had been amputated, and it seemed to fit him. Lefty was very slow to make progress, and seemed so scared that I often wondered if I made the right decision. As my parents were beginning to wonder the same thing, something almost magical happened around the two month mark. It was as if he woke up one morning and decided to be a house cat! He began to approach my mom when she came in to sit with him and read her books. He began to rub on their legs and eat in front of them. Little by little we made adjustments based on Lefty’s progress, giving him slightly more space and social interaction. He began to play with toys and started to vocalize and make happy chirps!
Now, about a year and a half later, we do not even recognize him as the same cat in those early pictures. He’s gained a lot of healthy weight, and even his coat looks different – he’s now a large, longhaired, friendly boy with an endless supply of toys and free range within the house. He knows when it’s time for his nightly treats! My dad is his favorite person, and he follows him from room to room bounding around on his tripod legs, which do not slow him down in the slightest.
Only a few weeks after Lefty went into foster care with my parents, they had txo make the difficult decision to say goodbye to their 17-year-old orange tabby, Stanley, who himself was adopted from our shelter all those years ago. Lefty came at just the right time. They were thrilled that he decided to trust them, and they made his home with them permanent through adoption. I will always be thankful that BGWCHS made a commitment to help Lefty, that my parents made room in their hearts and their home for him, and that Lefty decided to love them in return.”
-Emily Cothran, BGWCHS Community Cat Program Manager
It can be inhumane to confine a feral cat to an indoor life. However, there was a chance that he would be social and become content living inside. It was impossible to know – we had spent so little time with him. But in that short time, I had gotten personally attached. I made the decision to amputate his leg and took personal responsibility for his long-term care. His leg was amputated a couple of days later, and he remained in our clinic for another couple of days to receive pain medicine.
The time came for him to leave the clinic and recover somewhere quieter and more permanent. I initially brought him to my house and set him up comfortably in my bathroom. He was eating and recovering well, but he was MISERABLE in my busy household. After about a week of this, I realized he needed more than I could give him. As a favor I asked my parents if I could set him up in the bathroom of their finished basement. He would have a much quieter environment without kids. They were hesitant because none of us knew how long this would take, but they agreed to take over his care.
For the first few weeks we couldn’t settle on a name. My mom chose Lefty because his front right leg had been amputated, and it seemed to fit him. Lefty was very slow to make progress, and seemed so scared that I often wondered if I made the right decision. As my parents were beginning to wonder the same thing, something almost magical happened around the two month mark. It was as if he woke up one morning and decided to be a house cat! He began to approach my mom when she came in to sit with him and read her books. He began to rub on their legs and eat in front of them. Little by little we made adjustments based on Lefty’s progress, giving him slightly more space and social interaction. He began to play with toys and started to vocalize and make happy chirps!
Now, about a year and a half later, we do not even recognize him as the same cat in those early pictures. He’s gained a lot of healthy weight, and even his coat looks different – he’s now a large, longhaired, friendly boy with an endless supply of toys and free range within the house. He knows when it’s time for his nightly treats! My dad is his favorite person, and he follows him from room to room bounding around on his tripod legs, which do not slow him down in the slightest.
Only a few weeks after Lefty went into foster care with my parents, they had txo make the difficult decision to say goodbye to their 17-year-old orange tabby, Stanley, who himself was adopted from our shelter all those years ago. Lefty came at just the right time. They were thrilled that he decided to trust them, and they made his home with them permanent through adoption. I will always be thankful that BGWCHS made a commitment to help Lefty, that my parents made room in their hearts and their home for him, and that Lefty decided to love them in return.”
-Emily Cothran, BGWCHS Community Cat Program Manager
BGWCHS's Community Cat Program is supported by:
Donate Today
for 3x the Impact on Pets like Lefty
Lefty's story is part of our September to Remember campaign. We’re on a mission to raise $40k this September to unlock a matching donation from our friends Stan and Susan Mathews. Thanks to them, every $10 you donate turns into $30. Whatever amount you can spare today, big or small, will make a difference for shelter pets!
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"There are many worthy causes that don't have all the resources to accomplish all they want to do. We support the shelter because they make such a difference in our community. The innovations introduced by Lorri as director, the love and caring shown by the staff and volunteers, and the innocent lives saved are sufficient to inspire our donations."
- Stan and Susan Mathews |
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Questions about donating? Email or call us at 270-783-9404. To contribute by mail, please send a personal check or money order made payable to the BG/WC Humane Society to:
BGWCHS Attention: Lorri Hare P.O. Box 1456 Bowling Green, KY 42102 |
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Contact Us
Adoption Center
270-783-9404 Humane Society
270-842-8572 Clinic*
270-745-8646 Community Cat Hotline
270-715-0937 Fax
270-783-9474 |
Hours of Operation
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday | 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday | CLOSED Saturday | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday | 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm *Veterinary services are not available every day. Please call ahead to confirm that a Vet is available. Our Vet normally does examinations on animals between 10 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Other services may be available between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 1924 Louisville Road
Bowling Green, KY 42101 After-Hours EMERGENCY Line 270-202-9136 |
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