Samurai’s Story
as told by Jan Stagg
a HHFS Long Time Supporter
Samurai was originally adopted by a couple from an area humane society. However, it soon became apparent that they were unable to attend to his physical needs due to a condition called Cerebella Hypoplasia. This condition is thought to be congenital and affects Sammy’s neuromuscular movements, although it is not cat specific.
The couple contacted the humane society to return Sammy only to learn that the sweet brown tabby would be euthanized. Unwilling to accept that possibility, the couple reached out to Happy Hearts Feline Rescue for help. It has now been a year since Sammy’s arrival there.
During this time, Samurai, lovingly called “Sammy” has been living ‘large’ in his “hotel suite” where he can move around, and even crawl up into his “hidey hole”, a little wicker basket.
Daily rounds of care involves refreshing Sammy’s “suite” with clean bedding during which time he is allowed to move around on the floor, albeit with random and jerky movements.
As a frequent visitor to the rescue, I had somehow missed meeting Sweet Sammy. But, one recent spring morning was my first introduction to Sammy. I saw that sweet little guy lying quietly on his bed, his big black pupils fully dilated, intently focused on his favorite caregiver, Jeanne. It was then that realized that I was in love with Sammy!
That night I jerked awake thinking about that sweet boy. Then I remembered that I had seen little carts on television which enabled a disabled animal to easily move around. Or, to experience mobility for the first time, which would be the case for Samurai.
I jumped out of bed and went directly to my iPad to query carts for cats. It wasn’t long before I found several, but I focused on one company, K9carts, as a possible supplier. I waited until the next day, Monday, to contact K9carts to make some inquiries. Could we rent a cart in order to test how well Sammy might be able to move around? Would they give a 501C3 group a discount? Did they have a model to support Sammy’s whole body?
A short time later I had an email reply with a resounding “yes” to all my questions. I was ecstatic!
I contacted Jeanne at Happy Hearts and outlined my plan to purchase a cart for Sammy in hopes that he would be able to enjoy some new found freedom for the first time in his three short years of life. She was astounded by the offer and agreed to get the necessary measurements which I would then submit to K9carts for the building of the cart, which they call a wheelchair.
I did supply Sammy’s measurements, and just a few hours later I received an email back from Krys at K9carts, stating that she had found a small cart which had been donated to them. She wondered if I would be willing to pay for the shipping since they would like to donate the cart to Happy Hearts for Sammy! Aha, someone else had been smitten by sweet Sammy’s story! I promptly replied yes! A FREE cart for Sweet Sammy, I wondered? I was giddy and ecstatic with the concept.
Shortly thereafter the little cart arrived, a special day for Sammy to attempt his first foray into mobility. He struggled a bit as I put him in the cart, especially since he didn’t seem quite sure of what to do. His whole body was supported, but he wasn’t finding much traction with his poor little atrophied legs.
But then he spied the food bowl. That was all the motivation he needed as he struggled to make it there– which he did! This was the first time in Sammy’s short life in which he could stand at a food bowl and eat. It was nothing short of thrilling, and so very touching.
Since Sammy is not used to such strenuous exercise, he tired easily so we put him back in his “hotel suite” for a rest. An hour later he was awake, squawking as I entered his room, so I lifted him out of his suite and took him to his little cart which had been assembled, as well as adjusted, by board member Phil.
This time, Sammy seemed more comfortable in his new contraption and he made several attempts at forward movements, albeit his little atrophied hind legs were still uncooperative. We were encouraged, though, seeing the rather successful use of his front legs, especially since we had placed him on a carpeted surface, from which he could get traction. Once again, Sammy tired so he was returned to his “hotel suite” for the duration of the day.
The long term concept for Sammy was, and is, that he could/can experience freedom of movement for the first time in his life. The weekly plan is that every other day he be placed in his little cart to practice moving and getting some exercise, thus utilizing the gift of freedom from Krys at K9carts, and with but a small donation from a cat lover. Freedom for the rest of his life.
The couple contacted the humane society to return Sammy only to learn that the sweet brown tabby would be euthanized. Unwilling to accept that possibility, the couple reached out to Happy Hearts Feline Rescue for help. It has now been a year since Sammy’s arrival there.
During this time, Samurai, lovingly called “Sammy” has been living ‘large’ in his “hotel suite” where he can move around, and even crawl up into his “hidey hole”, a little wicker basket.
Daily rounds of care involves refreshing Sammy’s “suite” with clean bedding during which time he is allowed to move around on the floor, albeit with random and jerky movements.
As a frequent visitor to the rescue, I had somehow missed meeting Sweet Sammy. But, one recent spring morning was my first introduction to Sammy. I saw that sweet little guy lying quietly on his bed, his big black pupils fully dilated, intently focused on his favorite caregiver, Jeanne. It was then that realized that I was in love with Sammy!
That night I jerked awake thinking about that sweet boy. Then I remembered that I had seen little carts on television which enabled a disabled animal to easily move around. Or, to experience mobility for the first time, which would be the case for Samurai.
I jumped out of bed and went directly to my iPad to query carts for cats. It wasn’t long before I found several, but I focused on one company, K9carts, as a possible supplier. I waited until the next day, Monday, to contact K9carts to make some inquiries. Could we rent a cart in order to test how well Sammy might be able to move around? Would they give a 501C3 group a discount? Did they have a model to support Sammy’s whole body?
A short time later I had an email reply with a resounding “yes” to all my questions. I was ecstatic!
I contacted Jeanne at Happy Hearts and outlined my plan to purchase a cart for Sammy in hopes that he would be able to enjoy some new found freedom for the first time in his three short years of life. She was astounded by the offer and agreed to get the necessary measurements which I would then submit to K9carts for the building of the cart, which they call a wheelchair.
I did supply Sammy’s measurements, and just a few hours later I received an email back from Krys at K9carts, stating that she had found a small cart which had been donated to them. She wondered if I would be willing to pay for the shipping since they would like to donate the cart to Happy Hearts for Sammy! Aha, someone else had been smitten by sweet Sammy’s story! I promptly replied yes! A FREE cart for Sweet Sammy, I wondered? I was giddy and ecstatic with the concept.
Shortly thereafter the little cart arrived, a special day for Sammy to attempt his first foray into mobility. He struggled a bit as I put him in the cart, especially since he didn’t seem quite sure of what to do. His whole body was supported, but he wasn’t finding much traction with his poor little atrophied legs.
But then he spied the food bowl. That was all the motivation he needed as he struggled to make it there– which he did! This was the first time in Sammy’s short life in which he could stand at a food bowl and eat. It was nothing short of thrilling, and so very touching.
Since Sammy is not used to such strenuous exercise, he tired easily so we put him back in his “hotel suite” for a rest. An hour later he was awake, squawking as I entered his room, so I lifted him out of his suite and took him to his little cart which had been assembled, as well as adjusted, by board member Phil.
This time, Sammy seemed more comfortable in his new contraption and he made several attempts at forward movements, albeit his little atrophied hind legs were still uncooperative. We were encouraged, though, seeing the rather successful use of his front legs, especially since we had placed him on a carpeted surface, from which he could get traction. Once again, Sammy tired so he was returned to his “hotel suite” for the duration of the day.
The long term concept for Sammy was, and is, that he could/can experience freedom of movement for the first time in his life. The weekly plan is that every other day he be placed in his little cart to practice moving and getting some exercise, thus utilizing the gift of freedom from Krys at K9carts, and with but a small donation from a cat lover. Freedom for the rest of his life.