I was shocked when I heard the news. My neighbor, who had this sweet, loving cat for years, moved in with her new boyfriend and left her cat outside to fend for herself. The reason? He “didn’t like cats.”
For weeks, I watched Bella wander the streets, confused and scared, clearly waiting for her owner to return. It broke my heart. One cold, rainy night, I couldn’t take it anymore and brought her inside. She was skinny, shivering, and desperate for love. Now, Bella is curled up on my couch, purring peacefully, safe and loved.
How can anyone prioritize a relationship over a loyal, trusting companion? Would you give up your pet for a partner who didn’t accept them? Would you leave behind a creature who’s been by your side, offering unconditional love, just because someone else couldn’t see their value?
The situation with Bella made me realize the deep bond between humans and animals. It’s a connection that transcends words, a silent understanding that only those who have experienced it can truly comprehend. Bella’s story is a stark reminder of the irresponsibility and cruelty that some people can inflict on innocent creatures.
I couldn’t help but wonder how many other pets are abandoned or neglected each year, simply because their owners prioritize new relationships over their loyal companions. It’s a heartbreaking reality that highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership.
As I watched Bella settle into her new home, I couldn’t shake the feeling of anger and disappointment towards her former owner. How could someone be so heartless? I’ve always believed that pets are family, and to abandon them is a betrayal of the trust they place in us.
In the weeks that followed, Bella continued to thrive. She gained weight, her fur became soft and shiny, and her playful spirit returned. She was no longer a scared, lost animal, but a happy, contented cat.
I often think about what might have happened to Bella if I hadn’t intervened. Would she have survived the harsh winter? Would she have found another loving home? The thought fills me with dread.
Bella’s story is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to care for our pets. Whether it’s a dog, a cat, a bird, or any other animal, they deserve our love, our attention, and our commitment. They rely on us for their well-being, and we must never fail them.
I hope that Bella’s story will inspire others to be more compassionate and responsible pet owners. Let’s work together to create a world where all animals are treated with kindness and respect.
Tragic events bring orphan colt, mare together
An orphan colt whose mother died shortly after giving birth has a new mom – a mare that had tragically lost her foal – thanks to the generosity of strangers and Washington State University veterinarians playing matchmaker.
Pairing an orphan foal and a nursing mare is a challenging task and one that commonly ends with failure. In this case, the connection was instantaneous.
“The mare had only been without a foal for about 24 hours,” Dr. Lisbeth Matthews, an equine medicine and surgery intern, said. “We walked her into the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and past him. He made a noise, and she went, ‘oh, there’s my foal,’ and started making noises back at him.”
It was a surprise to everyone how quickly the mare, named Shelly but affectionally called Mama by her owners, Roy and Faye Lions, accepted the colt. Equine veterinarian Jenifer Gold, who was helping to care for the foal and to supervise its introduction to the mare, said nursing mares frequently reject orphan foals, and when they don’t, the pairing process often takes days.
“She walked in and started nickering at him like it was her own baby – it was unbelievable,” Gold said. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I have never seen it happen that way.”
The foal, which has been named Laredo, was admitted to the teaching hospital by his owner, Spokane resident Rachel Williams, just days after he was born when he started showing troubling digestive issues. Shortly after the colt arrived in Pullman, Faye Lions placed a call to WSU to see if the equine team was aware of any orphan colts needing a nursing mare.
“Our foal was dead, and nothing was going to bring it back, so we were hoping we could help someone else,” Faye Lions said. “It just so happened there was a foal there.”
A day later, the colt and Shelly were introduced.
“For them to be so willing to basically hand over their animal to a complete stranger after experiencing their own tragedy was pretty phenomenal,” Williams said. “I feel like in this scenario it was the worst of the worst for everybody, but there was a little bit of silver lining to the story.”
Williams is also grateful for the care and treatment she and her foal received at WSU.
“I just can’t even find words to say how great the veterinarians at WSU were,” she said. “They went above and beyond. I am just happy I ended up at WSU. I am so glad we were able to match those two up – it is kind of a miracle.”
Shelly will live with Williams until the colt is ready to be weaned, likely in six months, before she will return to her home in Kamiah, Idaho.
“It will be tough to say goodbye because you just naturally start to bond with animals, and she has kind of been my lifesaver,” Williams said. “It will be bittersweet for sure, but I am sure her owners will be happy to have her back.”
During the spring, the equine team at WSU typically sees at least a handful of orphan foals. Equine medicine specialist Dr. Macarena Sanz said orphan foals can be fed a powdered milk formula designed for horses, but those raised by humans typically develop behavioral issues that can become problematic as the animal matures.
“They turn out to be socially weird, have no understanding of personal space, and they are more difficult to train,” WSU equine veterinarian Macarena Sanz said. “The fact that this orphan foal has a mare is really going to make a difference.”
Sanz strongly encourages owners to immediately call their veterinarian if a foal is orphaned, as early care is critical to the animal’s survival.
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