Samantha's story - by Carol McNeese

Samantha relaxes with
the morning news

I looked in the fridge, and we were out of milk. The cupboard screamed “We’re out of bread!” After a long day at the office and an activity-filled evening, traipsing to the grocery store at 10:15 on a Tuesday night was not that appealing. But knowing that my family would not have milk for cereal or bread for toast in the morning seemed worse, so I hopped in my car and pulled out onto Dimond Blvd.

No sooner did I enter traffic than I noticed a cat lying in the left-hand turn lane. My heart sank. With traffic barreling in behind me, I was unable to stop. The few minutes it took to turn around, come back up Dimond Blvd. turn around again, and get my car back on a side street close to this kitty seemed like an eternity. I was prepared for the worst as I came upon the motionless cat, but this orange and tan tabby with a ringed tail like that of a raccoon was still breathing, albeit in shock. As I wrapped this kitty in my sweatshirt and tried to figure my next move, a guardian angel (whose first name I would come to know later as “Jeff”) drove up in a pickup and stopped traffic. His patch read “Community Service - EMT.” He said, “Can I help?” Without hesitation, I said, “You bet...you’ve got lights and a siren. She needs to go to Pet Emergency.” I placed the little kitty on the passenger seat of Jeff’s truck and off they went to Pet Emergency with me not too far behind.

The folks at Pet Emergency named her “Good Sam Kitty,” advised that she had a fractured leg, and that they would do what they could for her. The next morning I called to check on her, prepared to hear that she did not survive the night, but she had made it though another of her nine lives!! And so the search began for the owner. I called the radio program hosted by Marcus and April in the Morning and asked for their assistance in putting out the word on this kitty, a report was filed with Animal Control, an ad was placed in the Lost and Found section of the newspaper, flyers were distributed in the South Anchorage area, and my family checked with neighbors in our subdivision, but to no avail.

It was nearly time for Good Sam Kitty to be released to Animal Control. But it seemed to me that our paths were meant to cross, so I took her home to a quiet, small room (in which to restrict her movements), a heated bed, and plenty of TLC. On the way home, with “Good Sam Kitty” reaching through the carrier door in curiosity, I renamed her “Samantha.” Despite the trauma of being hit by a car, Samantha is a most resilient feline. Even with a broken leg, her independent spirit prevailed in getting herself to the litter box (I did assist her the first time, but she promptly hobbled out of the box and “chattered” as if to say, “Hey, do ya mind? The litter box is kinda personal...I’ll do it myself!")

A kitty in the cabinet
Samantha makes sure the
cupboard is ALWAYS full!

A few days later, x-rays confirmed a severe break in her right rear leg. A bone plate would need to be surgically implanted. I scheduled the surgery but but my bank account was screaming about as loudly as the cupboard had screamed, “We’re out of bread” . . . in every sense of the word! But as the miracle of this kitty began, so it continued, and the day before her surgery our bank account experienced an unexpected windfall. Thus any concerns about Samantha's future were now put to rest. The surgery went extremely well, and she was up and about within 24 hours. Samantha’s affectionate “purrr-sonality” won the heart of my husband and, since no one came forward in our search for her owner, she is now a member of our family.

Samantha’s story does not end there however. Her circumstances affected that of another of the feline world. Another kitty, badly cut from a tight rubber band around his neck, was at Pet Emergency the same night Samantha arrived. He won the hearts of the staff, and yes, you guessed it - this little kitty came home with me as well! Samantha and Mr. Knickers joined Crimson and Klover...the “grand dames” of the residence and, with the wonderful care provided by Southside Animal Hospital, we expect to have a happy and healthy household for years to come.

Fate is a curious thing, a series of “miracles” occurred which allowed not one but two kitties to live out their years in comfort. The moral of the story? When you see an animal lying in the road, *STOP*. You might be able to save a life.
Next time you have an extra dollar or two, consider making a emergency medical fund donation (to The Roscoe Fund at Pet Emergency, or The Sunny Fund at Friends of Pets). A windfall occurred for Samantha, and we were able to care for her. However, for others who are in need of emergency care, your help will go a long way toward saving lives that might otherwise be lost.