A stray cat whose experience of living on the streets left him with life-altering injuries has received the happy ending he so richly deserves.
When Ritchie the cat was rescued by the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) in Ireland, he was in a very bad way.
A DSPCA spokesperson told Newsweek: “He was found as an injured stray and brought to a local vet. Our inspector collected him and brought him back to the shelter. He was examined by our veterinary team, and the decision was made to remove his leg due to his injuries.”
DSPCA
Due to Ritchie’s status as a stray, little is known about his age or origins. However, on the face of things, he appeared to be looking at an uphill battle to be adopted.
A study conducted by Priceconomics highlighted the difficult task many adult rescue cats face to get adopted, compared with their kitten counterparts. The 2015 research, using data compiled from the animal adoption website Pet Finder, found that, while 80 percent of kittens listed on the website at the time ended up finding a forever home, that proportion dropped to just over 60 percent as soon as they entered adulthood.
Factor in Ritchie’s stray status and his additional needs as result of his missing limb, and many might have assumed that he would be facing an extended stay with the DSPCA.
But what that version of events fails to factor in is the involvement of a foster carer. Knowing that Ritchie would likely struggle to adjust to the demands of shelter life, the DSPCA lined up a foster carer to look after him during what has been a period of significant upheaval.
Foster carers make a huge difference to the lives of shelter pets. For one thing, they provide the animals involved with a much-needed break away from the noise and busyness of the shelter.
A 2015 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found that the experience of living in an animal shelter was associated with rises in physiological and psychological distress among both cats and dogs. There is also increased disease prevalence and behavior problems.
Foster carers also give the pets a chance to receive undivided attention while the people can take a closer look at what any potential owner might expect from life with a particular rescue pet.
Ritchie clearly made a positive impact during his stay with a foster carer. It was the best-possible impression, in fact, with the fosterer ultimately deciding to make it a permanent arrangement by adopting the three-legged feline at the end of his stay.
After a difficult few months spent living on the streets and then contending with the loss of a limb, it’s the perfect outcome for the stray cat. It also acts as a reminder of the importance of not just shelters but also foster carers in helping these animals find a place to call home.
The DSPCA previously hit the headlines in October after a box of puppies was found abandoned in a cardboard box on the doorstep of a home in the Irish capital. Thankfully, all of the pups escaped unscathed, though their abandonment sparked considerable fury.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.