by Dennis Dalman
After surviving an explosion/fire in a home, a 4-month-old kitten wandered in extreme pain and hungry misery for eight days before someone found her.
Those who saw her gasped at her painful, pitiful condition. The poor kitten had hideous burns on her ears, face and all four paws.
Her “sister” was found a week earlier right after the fire and also suffered severe burn damage.
Now, thankfully, both critters are recuperating, thanks to the care experts at Ruff Start Rescue, an animal shelter in Princeton.
Ruff Start welcomed the first cat not long after the fire and named her “Squiggles.” She is now recovering with a foster-care family and is being treated for the burn damage.
The other cat found eight days later was also brought to Ruff Start Rescue. Dubbed “Miss Piggy” by the staff, she weighed only three pounds and is about 4 months old. She was so emaciated and so burned that the staff thought it was a near miracle that she survived on her own for eight days. They gave Miss Piggy antibiotics, pain medication and bandaged her paws. She, too, is recovering under the watchful, tender-loving care of a foster family while she awaits adoption.
The explosion/house fire happened in mid-September in Wyanette Township, Isanti County, near the borders of eastern Benton County and Sherburne County and not too far from Ruff County Rescue in Princeton. The house was ruined by the fire, and several other cats died there. A woman was rescued and was taken to a hospital where she is recovering.
A staff member at Ruff Start Rescue told the Newsleaders in an interview Oct. 12 that both cats are thankfully doing fine, recovering very well. The good news is Miss Piggy will soon have an adopted forever home once she recovers. Squiggles, the other cat, awaits adoption.
To adopt Squiggles or other pets awaiting forever homes or to donate to help with expenses for those two cats and other pets, contact Ruff Start Rescue. Either google the “Ruff Start Rescue” website or call 763-355-3981.
This is how Squiggles looked when she arrived at Ruff Start Rescue in Princeton. Her paws were red-raw from being burned.
Miss Piggy is on the mend after enduring hunger and pain on her own for eight days after a house fire. The staff of Ruff Start Rescue in Princeton gave her tender-loving care to set her on her road to recovery. She will soon have a new adoptive home once her recovery is complete.