Time To Come Out From Under The Chair

I have a new family member. Her name is Sammy and she is a 3-legged cat. Yup, that’s right she only has three legs, one front and two back, but it doesn’t slow her down one bit, she’s a little spitfire. That’s not the only unusual thing about Sammy though, she also has extra toes on each of her three feet and the most beautiful, slightly cross-eyed, blue eyes. She is absolutely beautiful.

As many of you are aware I do some volunteering with the Prairie’s Edge Humane Society. One of the things I enjoy doing for them is writing about the animals who pass through their doors. As you can probably imagine pretty much every animal there has a story. Typically, they have me write about the ones who need special medical attention when the shelter is in need of raising funds to help pay for those medical needs. We then put those stories out on their social media.

A few months ago I was asked if I would write about Sammy. She was found wandering with one kitten in tow in rural Rice County and brought to the Humane Society. She had a leg that was bent upwards with a twisted foot so she could only use three of her legs. After an exam by a veterinarian it was determined that since she was already only using three legs the best option to avoid future problems was to amputate it. No one knows if this was a birth defect or an injury that healed this way. Sammy’s story was posted on the Humane Society’s Facebook page and raised the $1500 that the surgery would cost in less than a week. People in the community cared about what happened to this little cat and it was a beautiful thing to see with all that goes on in our world.

Prior to writing about Sammy and the surgery she would need, I spent some time at the shelter getting to know her. This little girl was amazing. As time went on, I could not get her out of my mind. As I mentioned, she is beautiful, but that is not why I could not stop thinking about her. Even with her messed up leg she was the happiest, sweetest girl and just wanted to be loved. She obviously didn’t see herself as having any type of disability. She lived in my head rent free for almost two months. She had a terrible disability and deserved everyone’s compassion, but this little girl was so determined and happy and she just radiated love. She handled the surgery like a champ and within a few days she was running, playing and even jumping up on chairs at the shelter, although she really wasn’t supposed to be doing any of those things so fast. Like I said, she’s a spitfire and the only time she slows down is when it’s nap time and she finds her bed. She doesn’t seem to even realize she has only three legs. Animals are so amazing at adapting to any situation.

I had not had a cat in a few years, and I live with a dog who is more like a cat than a dog at times so when Sammy became available for adoption I knew she needed to be my next family member. Sammy was very unsure of things when she first came to my house as this was a big change for her. She spent the first 3 days hiding under a chair in my living room only coming out at night after I would go to bed to eat the food I would leave out for her. I can relate to her feelings, I’m not going to lie, it’s been a bit rough in the church office the last couple of months. Lots of unknowns, lots of questions, some anxiety and definitely stress. There have been days I too have felt like hiding under my chair just like Sammy. Change is hard for everyone and anxiety tends to bubble to the surface when being confronted with change. That is one thing I admire about animals; they are so adaptable to change. Sammy has dealt with so much in her short life. Surviving alone in the countryside, having a litter of kittens so young and with only one surviving that we know of, caring for that baby as well as herself with the use of only 3 legs, brought to the shelter, having her leg amputated and then getting a new home….with a dog. This little girl only weighs about 9 pounds, is estimated to be less than 2 years old and when I look at this little creature who is so brave, my heart is full. I think about the bravery and determination it must have taken to survive all of that and still seek out and give unconditional love.

So here we are; Fletcher my quirky dog, a three-legged female cat named Sam, and myself. My little family. Fletcher and Sammy are getting used to each other and are doing great so far. They are both rescue animals and I’ve always felt that rescue animals just look at the world a little bit differently and seem to be more accepting and gracious.

Maybe there is a reason Sammy came into my life right now. Maybe there’s a message there. I always look for those. Maybe it’s time to take a page out of Sammy’s book and come out from hiding under the chair, Sammy literally and me metaphorically. Change is difficult, can be scary, cause anxiety and even grief because of what is leaving us or what we are leaving behind. But change can also be exciting, fun, and lead to new relationships that are just as wonderful as the previous ones. Sammy was so loved by the people at the shelter, the time she spent at the shelter served her well and helped her transition to her new home with me. I know they miss her sweet personality at the shelter, but they are happy for her and excited for her future. So, to my beautifully odd little kitty with three legs, extra toes and slightly crossed eyes… thank you for the example you have shown me and for sending a subtle message in your own way that change is ok and although it’s scary and we might wish to hide under the chair, we’ll come out on the other side and be just fine.

Sandy Vesledahl, Office Administrator