Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada: On February 15th the story of sweet little Trooper, a cat found frozen to a driveway was published here. Sadly, the news about Trooper is not as positive as everyone hoped it would be and is now serious. It has been reported at the Facebook group "Troopers for Trooper" and by both The Guardian and CBC News that Trooper may have neurological damage and may have to have one of his back legs amputated. (Source.)
When Trooper was found, it was believed he had spent at least 18 hours frozen to a driveway after apparently having been hit by a car. It is now believed it was closer to over 24 hours that this precious boy had to endure the freezing cold and the pain from the pelvic fractures he suffered from the accident.
It took buckets and buckets of warm water on this already-shivering and terrified boy to free him from that icy prison. He was gently removed from the ice and immediately taken to see a doctor, where 3 pelvic fractures were discovered. He was having difficulty moving his hind legs, but it was thought that when his body finally warmed up, this would improve.
Initially it was believed the pelvic fractures would heal with cage rest and pain medications. However, last week Trooper was flown to Prince Edward Island to the Charlottetown's Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), since it was felt he needed surgery to repair the pelvic fractures.
Sadly, the reports now are that frostbite took its toll on Troopers leg and he also appears to be incontinent. While he had no injuries to that leg from being hit by a car, spending over 24 hours frozen to the driveway and unable to move allowed frostbite to set in and the lower part of his leg is now in badly damaged. In quotes from the article published by The Guardian on February 21st:
"Vet college staff completed examinations and assessments of Trooper Tuesday, confirming serious frostbite on one of his back legs, multiple pelvic fractures and nerve damage affecting his bladder. He now faces the possibility of a leg amputation or even end-of-life options by the end of this week. " (Source.)
The sad reality for Trooper is that if his neurological deficits do not improve and his bladder function does not return, a decision may have to be made to humanely euthanize this precious boy. That is a heartbreaking turn of events, considering how hopeful everyone was at the outset of all of this.
Donations are needed to help cover the ever-rising costs of Trooper's medical care. If you would like to donate towards his care, a Chip-In for donations can be accessed here or at the link provided below. So far donations have been coming in from around the world as far away as Australia, demonstrating yet again the generosity of compassionate advocates everywhere for an animal in need.
One has to wonder how many people saw little Trooper frozen to that driveway and simply ignored him or chose to just turn a blind eye and walk away. No one will ever know how much of his medical problems could have been avoided if someone had just taken the time to help him, or at the very least asked for help in getting this precious boy out of the ice before he had to spend those horrible hours frozen to the ground. Now he is in a fight for his very life.
Keep fighting to get better sweet Trooper. Advocates are all pulling for you from all around the world, hoping to see you get better and stronger and one day hear the news that you are healed and adopted into a new loving forever home, to be loved and cherished forever.
Click here for the Chip-In for Trooper's medical expenses.
Click here to join the Facebook group "Troopers for Trooper" to get updates on this precious boy.
Click here for the prior February 15th article about Trooper.
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