Country cat gets second chance to live nine lives

From a dispiriting tale about a seriously injured cat comes a recent story of compassion and kindness from several animal lovers.

Amy Williams, president of the Montana Animal Rescue League, received a call from her friend Lynda Peterson last week who said that a cat had been taken to the Flathead County Animal Shelter that had been found in Hungry Horse, very thin, dragging his front leg and in need of immediate medical attention. It was likely that the cat would have to be euthanized.

Williams quickly located two veterinary clinics that offered to donate surgery to repair the cat's leg - Whitefish Animal Hospital and Alpine Animal Hospital - Alpine had the earliest appointment. Upon examination that afternoon, Drs. Pam Barker and Scott Smiley determined that the cat's leg had been shattered by a gunshot.

Unfortunately, saving the leg was not an option, and Drs. Hugh Rogers, and Smiley worked for more than an hour to carefully amputate the cat's right leg at his shoulder, also neutering him.

Dr. Barker reports that Gunner (as dubbed by the staff) was standing on his three legs to greet them when they arrived at the hospital the next morning. "Cats and dogs do just fine on three legs, and amputation isn't an issue for them," he affirms.

Recovering well, Gunner, a handsome green-eyed, gray-and-white 4-month-old feline, is now in foster care and will be put up for adoption at the Humane Society.

"He's a sweet cat and endears himself to everyone," says Williams. "He would make an awesome companion."

For more information about Gunner, call Williams at 261-4166 or the Humane Society at 752-PAWS (7297).

Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork was the site for the fourth biennial Artists for Open Space art show and auction this summer for the Montana Land Reliance. The lodge provided the perfect setting, reflecting one of the choicest of Montana's open spaces, and the event featured extraordinary art, culinary delights and entertainment for the more than 500 guests who attended..

Nearly 81 artists participated in the gala, donating at least one third of their proceeds. The auction ramped up into an occasion of competitive and lively bidding in its final hour, rounding up a breathtaking $110,000 in donations.

The money will help the Montana Land Reliance to continue its conservation work throughout Montana, protecting natural areas, fish and wildlife habitat, working farms and ranches, and the landscape we all love.

Up in the north end of the valley, cash was flowing in for relief efforts on the Gulf Coast and globally. The annual three-day garage sale in Whitefish, now in its fifth year, raised $3,000, which will be distributed equally between Doctors Without Borders, The International Rescue Committee and the American Red Cross for Katrina relief, report organizers Ruth and Sam Neff.

Ruth also gives credit to artist Kay Lynn, who donated part of her late aunt's estate to the fund-raiser, and to Glacier Unitarian Fellowship Church who supported the event and provided volunteers. "Once again people of the North Valley have shown their generosity and concern for those less fortunate."