A cruel attempt to seriously injure a kitten has almost come toa happier ending.

When Sally Ogden of Brookhaven came home from work a few weeksago and found the cat, now called Lefty, on her door step anddragging its front left leg, she didn’t think its chances ofsurvival were very good.

“I could hardly look at it. I didn’t think it would make it,”she said.

Lefty’s leg was severely infected because nine small, blackrubber bands were constricting all blood flow from the lowerportion.

Ogden said her heart broke as the long-haired cat meowed andrubbed against her in search of love and affection. She knew shewouldn’t be able to keep the cat if it survived, but she wanted togive it that chance, so she contacted the Brookhaven Animal RescueLeague.

BARL board member Jan Gove saw the cat needed immediate medicalattention and contacted a local veterinarian.

Dr. Linda Farris-Smith at the Animal Health Center offered totake a look at Lefty and see what she could do.

“Two of the bones were exposed, and we had to do emergencysurgery to amputate it at the elbow,” Farris-Smith said, addingthat the rubber bands had probably been on the cat for about twoweeks.

She was horrified at why anyone would treat an animal socruelly, especially when she discovered how loving Lefty is,despite his handicap.

“The little cat was purring and rubbing on us the whole time wewere looking at it,” she said.

As Lefty recovers at the Animal Health Center and awaitsadoption, Farris-Smith and her staff have noticed that the playfulattitude was a permanent characteristic.

“He’s got personality plus,” Farris-Smith commented. “He triesto reach out of the cage with his good paw and grab at us and playwith us when we pass by.”

Veterinary technician Kristy White admitted the staff does giveLefty a little extra attention because his will to survive touchedtheir hearts.

Although they have enjoyed Lefty’s company the last few weeks,the staff and BARL volunteers are searching for a permanent homefor the loving kitten.

“I hope we can find a good home for him,” Gove said. “It’s goingto need to stay indoors, and it will need some specialattention.”

Lefty has become extremely mobile, despite the missing foot, butFarris-Smith recommends it stay indoors away from possiblepredators, such as dogs, snakes or other cats.

“He can get along on his own, but he will need a lot ofattention because he likes to be loved on. He’s a people cat,”Farris-Smith said.

Anyone interested in adopting Lefty can contact the AnimalHealth Center at 833-7788.