Ducky: A Cat with Broken Wings

“Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
― Langston Hughes

He may be a cat, but Ducky knew what it felt like to be that “broken-winged bird because he was nearly physically and emotionally broken back in November 2017 when Animal Control Officer Jonsen picked him up as a stray.

In his kennel at the shelter, he hissed and tried to dart out. But our kennel supervisor, Sue, was able to get him inside a hiding den and bring him to her office where she discovered that, despite being an adult cat, he weighed just 3 lbs. 4 oz. She noted that she could feel all his bones and he was covered in a black, oily substance (her hands were turning black just from handling him.)

Ducky: only 3 lbs. 4 oz. when he arrived at AACC.

We knew this boy needed more than what we could provide in a shelter environment so we contacted Kitty and K-9 Connection, one of our rescue partners, and asked if they had room for him. The answer was “yes!” The newly-named Ducky was transferred to KK-9 and placed under the care of Amber. Little did Amber know just how long Ducky would be with her.

Two years. That’s now long. Here’s what Amber tells us about those two years, “He is very slowly started to come out of his shell. He still has many behaviors that show his previous traumas (hissing if approached to quickly, doesn’t like to be picked up and hides if startled). However, 99% of the time he is an amazing boy.”

Ducky: when he first entered foster care with Kitty and K-9 Connection

Ducky earned his keep during that two years – by helping his foster mom care for the many foster kittens she took in. Who knows, maybe nurturing others was helping Ducky to heal himself?

Ducky: watching over his flock of foster kittens.

Amber tells us that during this time, “He has had several people show interest over the years but no one gave him the opportunity.” But now, after two years we got this news from Amber, “ I am over the moon to say, Ducky goes to his furever home tomorrow. A wonderful couple has decided that Ducky is worth the time and effort needed to become their furever kitty.”

Thank you to his foster mom for holding fast to the dream that there was a home for Ducky!

P.S. Our rescue partners have accepted 305 animals, including cats, dogs, birds, and small animals from us as of 12/12/19. They are our partners in life-saving!

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