Hooter's Story...

"Hooter" is a young, black and white tuxedo cat who acquired his name because of his big, yellow eyes that look like,  and blink in the manner of a hoot owl.  He has endured much in his three years of life.

His first year of life was fairly uneventful.  He shared it with a young family who cared for him.  As time passed however, family problems began a period of neglect.  When the family broke up in the early spring, Hooter moved in with a family relative.  It was here that he received two broken front legs when an open window slammed down on them.  His accident went unnoticed and untreated.  Several month later Hooter was given back to his original owner.  By then his front legs had become twisted and misshapen.  One veterinarian diagnosed his condition as being a congenital deformity and recommended that Hooter be put to sleep.  The owner couldn't go through with it, but the neglect continued.

It was in the following summer that Hooter became part of our family.  When hearing about his sad plight and seeing his condition, his miserable situation couldn't be ignored.

         "his front legs had become twisted and misshapen"   

Hooter was taken to Cascade Hospital for Animals where he began the still on-going journey to recovery.  His front legs were placed in splints and surgery for his left leg was performed.  An external fixator with tiny stainless steel screws held his leg in alignment.  Hooter became a well-known patient at Cascade with the many dressing changes and x-rays.  Eventually, a cast was placed on the right leg with the hope that it would straighten.  However, the previous period of malnutrition affected Hooter's bone growth.  Months passed and the warm, green days of summer were replaced with the crisp, colorful days of autumn.  It was then that Hooter met a new doctor at the Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine in East Lansing, Michigan.  Dr. DeCamp, a soft-spoken and gentle man, became Hooter's new orthopedic veterinarian.

The next four months saw two more surgeries that included bone grafts from Hooters hips along with internal metal plates and pins to straighten his still deformed front legs.  There were more visits with x-rays, wound care from the surgery, and care for the pressure sores from walking on the splints.  Finally, after some discouraging reports, signs of bone growth began and his prognosis became increasingly optimistic.

After enduring a year and a half of being in splints, Hooter became free of them.  His two fragile, weak legs still had pressure sores and required daily care.  But with an ever-present warm blanket, frequent offerings of favorite foods, and constant nursing care, his wounds began to heal.  The warm, sunny days of spring would lure Hooter into the sun room for his daily naps.  Sounds of birds at the feeders outside the windows seemed to regenerate his frail body and spirit.

As spring and summer passed, Hooter's sores had completely healed, hair again covered his once shaven legs and hips, and walking became easier.  As he gained strength, his limping became less pronounced and he became adept at climbing stairs with increasing speed.  Hooter is not, and will never be agile and swift creature he once was; but life has significantly improved.  Today it is shared with other cats, many of whom have endured suffering due to neglect and cruelty.  In spite of his experiences, Hooter has remained an easy-going, loyal affectionate companion.

This prayer, written by Albert Schweitzer, is framed and hangs above an antique doll bed that has become a favorite lounging area for Hooter and other feline family members:

Hear our humble prayer, Oh God, for our friends, the animals, especially for animals who are suffering, for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry, for all that must be put to death.  We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words.  Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the merciful.

For us, the experience with Hooter has given this prayer special meaning.

January 3, 2001 update...

We no longer have our dear "Hoot".  He developed a large abdominal mass, enlarged kidney and liver failure.  There had been a slow loss of weight and increased need to spend time in his bed on the heating pad.  The warmth comforted his arthritic front paws.  His attitude remained unchanged- an easy going, loyal, affectionate companion.  The warm bed where he spent much of his time is empty now.  Our other felines seem to be waiting for him to come home.  They sensed his pain and would curl up beside him to comfort him.  And in turn Hooter would comfort them, especially the kittens that needed grooming and snuggling.

He will be buried in our pet cemetery this spring.  The ground will warm, the sun shine and impatiens will cover his grave.  He will be remembered with love, especially on warm summer nights when the sounds of a distant hoot owl fills the still air with hoot, hoot, hoot.