Corky the kitten born with back-to-front hind legs can walk for the first time

UK Daily Mail ^ | 11:30 EST, 24 April 2012 | Leon Watson

[Outlaw Woman]

A kitten born with his legs back to front and abandoned by its owners has been given a new lease of life after pioneering surgery.

Corky was found by little boy dragging himself along a pavement in Fargo, North Dakota, and was brought into an animal pound, where he was due to be put down.

But Gail Ventzke and Carol Stefonek, co-founders and directors of CATS Cradle Shelter, heard about the brave moggy and were intent on saving his life.

Seven-month-old Corky suffers from a congenital deformity called 'Bilateral Arthrogryposis', meaning his back legs were the wrong way round, and also crisscrossed like a corkscrew.

Staff decided to name the courageous kitty Corky in honour of his determination to drag himself around...

[Slings and Arrows]

Not me. I’d take him in a heartbeat.

[trapped_in_LA]

“It’s called compassion.”

But I do have compassion, the cat is obviously suffering in its condition so the best thing for the cat would have been to put it down. Not make it suffer through God knows how many operations just so you can feel good about yourself.

[Jaded]

Looks like one of my cats. Pretty little thing.

[unkus]

Yes, very cute.

[patriot08]

What a beautiful little face.
Colette was right when she wrote, ‘There are no ordinary cats’.

[MrNeutron1962]

“We” is an awfully broad brush, when my late wife and I were told that we should consider aborting my daughter, we didn't. That was 16 years ago, since them I have also adopted a “Special Needs” child, that the unwed mother chose not to abort. After my first wife died, I rescued a kitten from a trash compactor, who needed much care, at no small expense. Compassion is compassion.

[little jeremiah]

You think mercy and kindness to animals is wrong?

[little jeremiah]

Or a leftist trait?

You must be a hard hearted person. Mercy and kindness are traits of civilized human beings.

[little jeremiah]

We have dominion over the earth and especially with domestic animals, it is our duty to care for them.

---

Exactly - the “dominion” means humans are meant to be caretakers, guardians. Parents also have “dominion” over their children. Not that parents can kill or eat their children!

Everything belongs to God and we are meant to be caretakers of His property and His children, which includes all living beings. Where does the “life” come from? From Him. Animals aren’t soulless machines.

[CT Hillbilly]

I understand what you mean and I didn’t mean that you were heartless...and it is a tough call when an animal is born with a birth defect. I have a kitty that was feral, was born with a dislocated jaw and she’s never grown bigger than 4 lbs. We took her in because she couldn’t eat and would have died outside. It took us 3-4 years to gain her complete trust (she was just skitish with strange noises)and we just cared for her and gave her a cushion of her own. We talked about putting her down, but she was so healthy once we took her inside.She is still with us and has the loudest meow I have ever heard; she’s the dinner bell.
.
To me, that kitty with the twisted legs looked pretty darn happy... Before and after the surgery. And personally, that is my way of deciding what is best; if an animal is suffering, no matter what I WANT, it is more important to give them what they NEED.I had to put down my 17 yr old terrier-it was THE hardest thing I have ever done.She was such a fighter, but she was suffering and she would continue to suffer just to be a good dog-for me. And I couldn’t let her do that....
I would never put an animal thru anything just to make myself feel better. I know there are people like that,( I think they’re called Liberals!!).

So I apologize; sometimes when you type words, they lack the gentle nature meant to go with them.....have a good night!

Mrs CT Hillbilly

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[Nowhere Man]

“It’s called compassion.”

But I do have compassion, the cat is obviously suffering in its condition so the best thing for the cat would have been to put it down. Not make it suffer through God knows how many operations just so you can feel good about yourself.

Yes, perhaps the people who helped the kitty felt good themselves too, there is nothing wrong with that as long as that action is making others fell good. Perhaps the kitty did suffer some during the procedure, but we all do when we are operated on to correct something and hopefully end the suffering or at least reduce it. I always think back to what Buddha said, "All life is suffering" and suffering is at the end of all existence. Even so, it is always good to at least help relieve some of that suffering, a tenant of most religions, I'm baptized Lutheran but can also see the wisdom in what Buddha said. It is also a Judeo/Christian thing as well most of the world's religions believe in the value of life and compassion. It is sad to see a beloved pet pass on from something you cannot do anything about and that is a fact of life at some point but I'm glad they were able to help this poor kitty. Life is to be valued and whenever possible, preserved.

[Nowhere Man]

BTW, he/she looks a lot like a cat I had who was named “Corky.” (1989-2007)

[Lazamataz]

brave moggy

I want a brave moggy.

But the judge says NO CONTACT WITH ANY WOMEN for one year.

[Nowhere Man]

For the record, I’m sure almost all of us here are pro-life and want to treat humans born with birth defects with dignity and respect they deserve, as well as help correct any problems if we can. Just because we are on the subject of the kitty right now doesn’t mean we ignore people too, we want to be compassionate to all.

[Bellflower]

Remember the Scriptures that talk about God’s creation of the animals, how He found them all good, how He cares for them. And recall how He stopped Balaam from beating his donkey——and that the donkey could see the angel, but Balaam could not.

So nicely put! My sister, I and two others were just a few hours ago talking about Balaam's donkey. God opened her mouth so that she could speak, the thoughts were her own. My sister also commented about how when Eve was talked to by the serpent she did not seem to think anything about the fact that the serpent spoke to her, which may mean that she was accustomed to animals speaking. Maybe before the fall they could talk.

[pbmaltzman]

If someone wants to spend the mone that is their choice. Not only that these types of surgeries can be used as analogs for procedures on humans.

Good points. A breeder, if these problems weren't so serious, might simply neuter the animal and give it away to someone who'd ake care of it, because this kind of deformity isn't what you want running through a line of purebred cats. However, I bet he makes a great pet, now that his legs have been fixed.

Poor cat! I can just imagine the poor little guy dragging himself along with his front feet. Glad he got found and treated. Hope they also neutered him at the same time.

This reminds me a little of that one cat whose hind legs were cut off by a piece of farm equipment. Some kind vet gave him prostheses, and he was walking fine on them. In he video I saw, the vet had tears in his eyes as he watched the cat hop around on his new hind feet.

I don't have that kind of money available for such a serious surgery, but I'm glad this kitty got treated. The article is interesting, because it reproduces x-rays of his legs before and after the surgery.

[pbmaltzman]

He’s quite a handsome cat, apart from those twisted legs! He looks like he might be part Maine Coon. Hope he has a great life from now on! What a lot he’s been through!

[pbmaltzman]

“Not worth the money that went into repairing it, should have just put it down instead.”

Perhaps. But I would spend my money on that kitten, before 90% of the people I know.

I'm with you on that... I'd do the same in their place and if I could scrape the money together.

[CatherineofAragon]

Wow, that’s food for thought. Have you heard of a book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn? He put forth that same possibility. He says we really have no idea of how much closer the bond was with animals in the Garden, and what level of awareness we had with each other. If that’s the case, God will restore it one day. Won’t that be something.