Feline Ambassador
Suzie Q
In 2016, a human or group of humans made a choice…
and took out their frustrations on a young cat. They spray-painted her purple and shot her in the spine, paralyzing her and leaving her to die. But this cat was unlike any other, and when a safe human came by the next day, the cat pulled herself out from underneath a parked car and demanded to be rescued.
That wonderful person rescued and named the cat Suzie Q, and she undoubtedly saved her life.
When Suzie Q came to SCSCR, the bullet that changed the course of her life had already been surgically removed from her spine, but much of the purple spray paint remained, a constant reminder of the torture she had endured. As a young cat rescue, our staff had never witnessed an injury like Suzie Q’s, and we were unsure of what her future might hold. We attempted to relocate her to a rescue with more experience and more resources. With no luck, we realized very quickly that we needed to raise our skill and knowledge level to match Suzie Q’s needs, and we are so grateful that we did.
Suzie Q taught us so much about cats with paralyzing injuries. The first year she spent in our care, we put her in a bubble. She lived in a kennel in the center of our main room, never venturing out except for her many vet appointments. Suzie Q received acupuncture, laser therapy, physical therapy, and massage. Though her condition didn’t improve, her confidence did. But we were afraid. We didn’t want to push her too hard and hurt her. But about a year after her arrival, we finally let Suzie Q down from her kennel to scoot around our main room. And she never looked back!
It’s now been eight years, and Suzie Q is absolutely thriving. She enjoys frequent trips outdoors (yes, even in the blowing Wyoming snow) and has never once let her disability hold her back from what she wants to do. She is fast as can be on her two functioning legs, using her incredible strength to scale the tallest cat trees! Suzie Q serves as the leader of the office felines (the SCSCR kitties who reside in the humans' office space rather than the main area), and inspiring felines and humans of all ages as she gives back to her community.
The woman who rescued Suzie wrote:
"To whoever tortured, shot, dumped and hoped to end the life of this precious, beautiful creature, you did not succeed. As she dragged her paralyzed body from underneath a car in a parking lot, her eyes only asked for help. No crying, no biting, and complete, immediate trust to human hands. She welcomed the blanket in the dark, cold, windy night and accepted human comfort despite the hell she had been through that day. Obviously socialized and a former pet to someone, with traces of a recently removed collar, she quickly fell asleep on the ride to the vet. Was it from exhaustion, pain, relief, acceptance of her end? We can only guess and speak on her behalf.”
"To whoever tried to break this kitty's spirit, you did not succeed. She has fought through this and is now resting comfortably in a warm bed after her surgery today. The pellet was successfully removed from the area around her spine, but the prognosis on her ongoing paralysis is not yet known. But rest assured, this amazing little kitty will now receive the love, attention and compassion she so greatly deserves. And you, whoever you are, will fade away from her memory into the oblivion you deserve. We speak for the animals, and you, who tried to harm this kitty, will receive your karma in due time.”
