Cat left for dead, nursed back to health

PLATTE CENTER - When volunteer Toni Quinlan arrived at the Platte County Animal Shelter early on July 20, she expected an ordinary day.

Going about her business at the Platte Center facility, she let the shelter's numerous dogs out into the yard through a door that, strangely, had been open since her arrival. When the animals outside began barking, she knew something was not right.

What Quinlan found broke her heart.

As she describes it, a half-dead cat was lying just feet from the shelter's doors. Although there is no way of proving her theory, Quinlan believes someone hit the cat with their car, drove it to the animal shelter where they laid it on the ground and then left.

“We couldn't even touch it,” Quinlan said, explaining that the cat was in such poor shape that she had to use a shovel to bring it inside of the building. “I can't believe someone actually did that.”

The cat, a “young-adult” Siamese, was immediately rushed to a veterinarian's office, where it was discovered it suffered severe head trauma, including brain damage.

Unable to take the cat back to the animal shelter for fear it might suffer further trauma, Quinlan brought the animal to her house, where she has been nursing it back to health.

Today, the cat, who Quinlan named Chance, is alive and well. According to Quinlan, Chance eats well, but the effects from her accident are still visible.

“I think she's getting better every day,” Quinlan said. “But sometimes I don't know if she can see. Sometimes she's wobbly.”

Quinlan, who has two dogs of her own, is now hoping to find a good home for Chance. However, Quinlan will not settle on just any family. She is looking for people who spend much of their time at home and who could give Chance the attention and care she needs. She also suggests the family not have small children, however other animals are OK.

“She's a lover. She definitely wants attention,” Quinlan said of Chance, adding that the cat is house broken. “She needs a loving home.”

Anyone interested in adopting Chance can call the Platte County Animal Shelter at 246-4064. Free-will donations are being accepted to help Chance and the shelter's other animals.