Kitten found injured near train tracks will soon find a new home
A kitten that was found injured near the train tracks that run along Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg has probably used up one of her nine lives.
But now that she's had her leg amputated, she's looking for a new home where she can live out the rest of them.
The kitten was found nearly two weeks ago by a Good Samaritan who dropped her off at an animal hospital, where the staff dubbed her Trip.
Veterinarian Jonas Watson of Tuxedo Animal Hospital says her injuries were terrible.
"It looked like a nightmare. Like something from a horror story. But she was acting totally normal, just unfazed," he said. "She was not troubled by this at all."
Watson said the clinic quickly decided to help Trip, even though she had no obvious owner.
"She damaged the tip of her tail and severely damaged her leg, such that everything below her ankle was gone," said Watson.
The lower half of Trip's left hind leg was removed, as well as part of her tail.
Watson says it's unknown how the kitten was hurt.
"She may have been injured by the train, she may have simply got her tail and leg caught in some equipment," he said.
Watson says because she's still a kitten, she should have no trouble adjusting to life with just three legs.
"She's recovering amazingly well, as is usually the case with young animals that have had amputations done," said Watson.
"It hasn't held her back whatsoever and she's like every other bouncy, happy little kitten."
Lots of kittens looking for homes
Staff at the clinic say the waiting list to adopt Trip is long, but she should be ready to go to her new home in a week or so once she gets her stitches out.
Candidates wanting to adopt Trip will be interviewed to see who might have the best home for her. But Watson says there are lots of other kittens who are also in need of a loving home.
"There's been a lot of interest in Trip's story but I just want to remind the public that at this time of year animal shelters are busting at the seams with needy, orphaned kittens. If you are looking for a kitten, there are many, many kittens available in Manitoba besides our little patient here."
The Winnipeg Humane Society is currently offering cat adoption specials until the end of July. Cats six months and older can be adopted for free or up to $20. Kittens are $100 each or $179 for two, the humane society says.
