Posted on 12/29/2005 7:42:10 AM PST by HOTTIEBOY
Cat Thrown Off Bridge With 16-Pound Rock Rescued Firefighter Takes Cat Home To Daughter
POSTED: 7:13 am EST December 29, 2005
MISSOULA, Montana -- There has been a happy ending on what started as a case of animal cruelty.
Passers-by spotted the calico house cat Tuesday morning while crossing a footbridge by Montana’s icy Clark Fork River. They called for help, and Missoula firefighters responded. Firefighters lowered a boat onto the ice, and retrieved the soaking-wet cat.
Someone had put the animal in a cage, along with a rock weighing about 16 pounds, and tossed it over the bridge. But instead of landing in the water, the caged cat landed on the ice and bounced several times, coming to a stop in an icy puddle of slush.
It's unclear how long the cat had been there.
Despite its ordeal, one of the cat's rescuers said she was really friendly, and dined on leftover Christmas turkey at the firehouse.
One of the firefighters then took the vet-checked cat home to his daughter. They named their new pet "Lucky." Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I don't particularly adore cats, but whoever did this is about as low a form of life as there is. Take it to a shelter or just turn it loose so it will at least have a chance to fend for itself.
> I don't particularly adore cats, but whoever did this is about as low a form of life as there is
Agree. I dislike cats, but that's no excuse for this kind of cruelty.
> Take it to a shelter or just turn it loose so it will at least have a chance to fend for itself.
Never "turn it loose" it into the wild to fend for itself. Have it humanely put down instead. Letting a cat into the wild allows it to go "Feral". When it goes Feral it becomes a predator at the near-top of its food-chain, with a devastating effect on wild native animals. Its progeny revert to ancient, nondomesticated cat ways. After a few generations they become quite dangerous.
In NZ and Oz, Feral Cats are a major pest. They probably are, too, in North America, except you may not notice it as much, given your landmass. You may never know how many species of native wildlife you may have lost.
Adopt the kitty. Jail the so-called owner for a LONG time. Animal cruelty isn't funny, it's sick.
Thank God the cat was OK and has found a new loving home. Sickos who do something like this to a helpless animal really boil my blood.
Please do not just turn your cats loose in the wild.
We live in the country. And in the last couple of months, we have had to kill at least 4 cats that city people dropped off in the country.
(The Humane Shelter no longer will pick up the animals. So they leave it to us to put the animals down in a "humane way." Usually a .22 in the back of the head.)
One more ping.
Chicago White Sox Suck
> When I say turn it loose, I am thinking that it is better than abusing it.
It's sad, what people can do to animals. I agree with your sentiment: no animal should ever be abused. That was never God's intention.
Chicago White Sox Suck
Yes don't they!
I feed 8 cats, four are mine and the others are my deck cats. I hope St. Francis has some rewards for me.
Perhaps a good way to do it would be with about a 100 pound rock tied to his cowardly neck before we throw him into a river.
And don't be bitter about my White Sox...they may not win another World Series in my lifetime...and I'm only 31. ;)
The sorry excuse for a human who did this should be euthanized. I have no interest in seeing taxpayers shelling out tens of thousands of dollars a year to keep this scum in prison. The money would be better spent on veterinary care for abused animals and on spay/neuter programs.
That was unnecessary.
My wife and you would be good friends. Its amazing how cats spread the word about a "soft touch" in the neighborhood. She is a cat magnet.
Wonder if cats have ESP ;^)
I propose that should the reject responsible ever be found he or she should have a rock slightly greater than their own body weight tied to them. Then both miscreant and rock should be thrown off the same bridge - while the cat watches.
I know I am bitter, Bitter bitter bitter. I try to be a good sport! :)
Sorry for the graphic (???) description.
Unfortunately, we do not have tranquilizers and painless leathal injections, last meal rights, etc. for the cats.
But that is life in the country.
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