We had some exciting times at StrangeSchool last week. A barely-able-to-walk-old kitten was wobbling around the school grounds. No one knew where she came from or how she got there, but given her condition it must not have been a happy story. A few of the Kindergarten teachers put out some food for her. The office staff promptly called animal control. Fortunately (though it must not have seemed so to the kitty) it was pouring down rain for three solid days and all the kids were kept inside and were thus unable to bother her. Trust me...they would have, too... Anyway, once the K staff found out animal control had been called, they decided to take matters into their own hands. The small but wary and swift kitten was cornered and given a lovely cardboard box and the call immediately went out for a foster-home. Ms. K (one of our LD teachers and therefore compassionate by nature)(actually, she's not LD herself)(that I know of)(but I know what she chose for a living)(come to your own conclusions)(but she's a very cool lady and she loves cats) came in and rescued the little cat and took her to the vet, and then to home.
This is Dodger, named after the Artful orphan of Oliver Twist. She was under-nourished and covered in fleas. Her left eye is clouded and the vet thinks it was a scratch of some kind, maybe in a fight, since there is a red line through it. The good news is that it's not a disease that caused it. Once she got warm and fed she revealed that she's a friendly and playful kitten.
Ms K has also provided a mentor for young Dodger, to instruct her in the infinite mysteries of cat-hood:
As long as Dodger gets to keep all of her milk, I don't think she'll see a problem with any of this.
BTW, the animal control guy did finally show up after two days, with a big metal cage and gauntlets past his elbow and the loop on a stick thingy. to his credit, he seemed vastly relieved that his target had been rescued.
Let's have a big Shout-Out for a compassionate school staff and Dodger. May her next couple of decades be happier than her first few weeks!
And if you have time, please check out this other Shout-Out!
What a great story!!! Dodger is a little cutie and the teacher sounds like a good mom. HooRay!
Posted by: Scooby, Shaggy & Scout | October 29, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Dodger is such a lucky kitten to have found a good home. Please tell that teacher that she is a hero for saving Dodger.
Posted by: Aloysius | October 30, 2007 at 12:35 PM
Not sure how to sumbit to the next carnival, Can I do it here? Here is my submission, it's a very cute video:http://onaridge.blogspot.com/2007/10/funny-cat-swats-dog-video.html
Posted by: windyridge | October 31, 2007 at 07:24 AM