Residents in St. Boniface banded together to help a stray cat that has lived in the neighbourhood for years.
Buddy has managed to survive for years on the streets by befriending people who fed him every day. Using social media, local cat lovers raised $1,300 to pay for Buddy’s vet bills.
Marnie Singer and Ron Sokol met for the first time on Sunday. The one thing bringing them together was Buddy.
“He looked like he was hungry,” said Sokol, who has fed Buddy for years. “He looked like he was on his own, so every time he came out, I'd give him something.”
The residents wanted to give Buddy a chance at a better future, so he was caught and given a check-up.
“It would have been a harder life, and him being a mature cat over seven years on the street, just wanted to give him a chance,” said Singer.
His face is scratched up from fighting and his ears have visible damage from frostbite. He's beaten the odds, but others like him are rarely as lucky.
“He's very lucky to be alive,” said Maureen McCurry of Quagga Stray Cat Rescue. “Most strays live only two years on the street before they succumb to either illness or usually cars.”
Residents used Facebook to spread Buddy’s story and bring attention to others like him.
Despite testing positive for feline HIV, Buddy is now cleaned up and otherwise healthy. He’s now the newest resident at Quagga.
“I've seen what they can do with him, I think it was the best thing for him,” said Sokol.
Buddy might need some time to get used to his new digs and his roommates. “He may get adopted, he may not, but he will be very happy in there,” said McCurry.
Quagga saidit wants to remind owners to spay and neuter their pets.
- With a report by Rajeev Dhir
