Bolly, the Tailless Wonder
By Laura Hartley
13 April 2008
It was New Years, 2004. Jake and I were driving home from a party, middle of the night, down our country road, when he says, "Wow, believe it or not, I just saw a kitten." In the pitch dark? "No way," I thought. I mean, Jake wears glasses, and this road defines dark. "Yes," he insists, as he pulls over, "And he's going to freeze out here." We get out, and start calling it. We have a small sheep ranch. What's one more mouser? The barn is big, and there's plenty of room in the house.
So, I call, "Kitty, kitty." Nothing. "Where exactly was this kitten?" I implore Jake. "Right here, keep looking," the ex-Army officer commands. So, again, "Kitty, kitty..." and then, faintly, "Meow, meow," and the rustle, rustle, rustle of leaves. The process repeats, me calling, it meowing, leaves rustling louder, as the kitten draws near.
Suddenly, I feel the weight of the tiniest paws on my shoe just as the loudest "MEOW!" is heard. I pick up whatever it is, presumably a small cat, and we head back to the car. Once inside, Jake turns on the dome light, and we view the smallest, fluffiest kitten of blackest black. But something is wrong. The end of his tail feels crispy, and it oozes. It is taped, with firecracker debris clinging to it.
"Not again," Jake states flatly. Yep, another injured rescue.
We comfort him, take him home, and first thing next day, go straight to our vet. "Amputation," he says gruffly. "Gangrene." Two days later, we pick up the kitten. His tail is taped again, but there's barely 1/8th inch of it left. It is neatly stitched, as well.
Even so badly maimed and recovering, Bolly's personality remained true to that first night. He is a "people cat" like none we've ever seen, and being in the rescue business, we've seen a lot. We wouldn't have dreamed of placing this cat, either. He was just too personable. And so darned grateful.
Every day since, Bolly has shown his affection and gratitude, to a fault. This cat is into everything, no matter how high, how forbidden, unreachable, or locked shut!
Attached are a selection of photos of our beloved Bolly, the tailless wonder, Ruler of the Universe, Climber of All Things, and Destroyer of all that is Delicate, especially cat nip, as the last photo illustrates.
We adore him. Another animal, so, so worth having been saved. As for his abusers? We'll never forget that first night, and the horror, the ignorance and the needless cruelty. But Bolly? He's moved past that. He's got too much to do.
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