This story was written by Ollie's rescuer. 

 

Ollie came to me one August day. I have become the self-assigned neighborhood cat spay/neuter and rescue person for the past 8 years. What first got my attention was that he looked like he had rolled in something sticky and dirty. I watched him eat from my feral cat station. When it looked like he was done I went out to see if I could get a better look at him. This went on for a week and I started to realize that I was looking at an injury, with two wounds that were draining pus, This worried me as I was going to be leaving in two weeks for a two week trip to California. 

 

We made fast friends with food as the bribe. I named him Ollie after Oliver Twist. I picked him up and put him in my garage and started calling around to see if someone would help me, help Ollie. My own Vet works with our new Auburn Humane Societ and he said that he would not help. He gave me the number to have the Animal Control officer come out and take him to be put down because they call injured cats "none adoptable". 

 

So, I then happened to remember Lake Sawyer Veterinarian Clinic. They said that they would try to work with me. Everyone at the clinic was wonderful - they said that Ollie would need to spend the night and have surgery the next morning. Then I started to make a few more calls - South County Cats said they would pay for his neutering and Another Chance Cats Adoption said they would take him under their umbrella and help as well. 

 

Lake Sawyer Vet kept Ollie for almost two weeks while he recovered from having drainage tubes and antibiotics - three injections that lasted 10 days each. Raccoon injuries can get very infected. When I came to visit Ollie he would have on his cone and butt me with his head to tell me how happy he was to see me. Connie and I needed to come up with a plan for him and his vet bill was heading over $700. They really gave us a break because Another Chance Cat Adoption is a nonprofit and I think they were really happy to help out such an amazing kitty. 

 

Off we went to Another Chance Cat Adoption. We got Ollie all set up in a large kennel to keep him safe with his healing wounds. I was supposed to leave the next day to California and no sooner did I get home I received a call from Barbara, a friend of mine that I had told Ollie's story too. She said don't give Ollie away. Dan her son, who is a quadriplegic, heard about Ollie and wanted him. So I talked to Connie and off we went to Ollie's new forever home. 

 

It is always so hard to let go. You always hope you have done your very best for all the kitties you have been entrusted with. When I went to say goodbye to Ollie he looked so relaxed all spread out in a lounging position. It was like he was saying, "Thanks, I finally made it to where I was meant to be".

 

I check in with Barbara, Dan, and Ollie often and I am happy to report that Ollie continues to be an amazing companion kitty for Dan even with his physical challenges. Ollie learned right away to stay out of the way of Dan's electric chair, gives him head butts, rubs up against him, and helps him with his Boeing office work. He shows off to all his family and friends and sleeps with Dan by his shoulder so that Ollie is the first thing he sees when he wake up.