By Emily Fromm | Chief Development Officer
When the badly injured stray cat crawled under a family's house, he probably figured it would be his final resting place.
Little did he know that — thanks to the family, a local rescue group, a dedicated foster, and a Petfinder Foundation grant — his whole life was about to change.
"A local family contacted us when they saw a cat crawling under their deck for protection, clearly very injured," says Sandra Schaefer, Financial Coordinator at Arthur Animal Rescue in Ontario.
"They brought him food, water, and a blanket to keep him warm and saw the severity of his injuries. They immediately contacted us and Devon, our adoptions coordinator, dropped everything and drove over to pick him up."
Devon says: "I acted quickly, getting him into the carrier and starting the trip to our veterinary coordinator’s home. The drive was long, and I had to pull over several times due to the overwhelming smell from his infection.
"When the vet asked for a name, I immediately blurted out Swiftie — a nod to my 'Reputation' as a Taylor Swift fan — even though we didn’t yet know if he was a boy or girl."
"Swiftie was immediately transported to the Animal Hospital of North Fergus, where he underwent emergency surgery to amputate his back leg," Schaefer says.
"It was apparent he had been mauled by an animal days earlier, with his back leg taking the most damage and sepsis setting in." A Petfinder Foundation grant helped cover his treatment.
Swiftie's surgery was difficult, but "upon his discharge from the clinic, he went back to Devon's home to recover and soak in all the love and treats he could ever want," Schaefer says.
Devon adds: "He followed me like a shadow, curled up beside me for naps, and gave me that look — the kind that said he knew I had saved his life. It didn’t take long for me to realize that he was home for good."
Today, "Swiftie hops around with more agility than most four-legged cats," Devon says. "He’s a determined hunter, convinced that bread, pizza pockets, or any unattended snack is fair game.
"He’s also the sweetest companion — bonded with our resident cat Samuel L. Catson, buddies with our goofy golden retriever Cooper, and a welcoming foster brother to every kitten who comes through our home."
"Swiftie doesn’t let his past trauma define him," Devon says. "He may have lost a leg, but he gained a forever family who adores him — and 'we are never, ever, ever' letting him go."
Your support makes it possible for us to help Swiftie and thousands of other pets in need. Your gift will save more pets like him.
Thank you for all that you do to help homeless pets,
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