Surely I’m not the only one that feels bad when I see an ASPCA commercial. Having grown up with animals, I hate seeing them feel bad. However, today I found stories that gave me hope for animals in need. These animals defied odds by finding ways to escape from cruel fate. If the following animals can find hope, maybe any animal (or person) can.
Lobstah The Cat
As you can tell, Lobstah is a cat with a deformed paw, shaped much like a lobster’s claw. He was found abandoned by a shelter, with many other health issues besides the paw. After having life-saving surgery, he’s now happily adopted by a family in San Francisco, and he’s gained some notoriety online. After all he’s been through, Lobstah can finally be normal. Just look at the video – he’s doing great.
Flipper The Cat
This poor little guy was born without a radius – a bone in the forearm. Unfortunately, that meant that he was unable to walk, which made his owner consider euthanasia. It’s a good thing that the RSPCA took him in – that means that he was able to get the surgery he needed to help his legs. Nowadays, Flipper is spending quality time with his adoptive family in Canberra, Australia.
Picasso The Dog
This pitbull-corgi mix is adorable in a funny way. What’s not adorable is that his life was in danger due to his deformity. After he and his brother Pablo were put in a high-kill shelter by a breeder who couldn’t find homes for them, a nonprofit shelter called Luvable stepped in. They’re now spending their days trying to find a good home, and they’ve had tons of offers! First, however, Picasso is going to need some dental surgery to ease pain caused by his deformity. Let’s wish him luck.
Sandy The Dog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMSul4xX-eY
Poor Sandy was abandoned by her owners in Greece, possibly because she was so bowlegged. Luckily, a U.K. charity called Mutts in Distress raised money to send her to Britain so she could have surgery. Said surgery involved putting plates in her legs so that she could walk better, and she continued physical therapy to aid in her recovery. Sandy now lives in Essex with her owner, living a happy and normal life.
This Stork With Cool Braces
This stork, found trapped between some ropes and debris, had little hope for recovery. Once freed, its legs were so badly injured and deformed that it couldn’t even stand up. Rescuers considered amputation, but ended up giving this bird some cool 3D printed leg braces. They’re not really a replacement; their purpose is mainly to strengthen the stork’s legs. They’re also very fashionable, too.
Landis The Dog
This pitbull’s deformity is due to growing up in a cage that was too small for him. After being taken in by Second Chance Rescue NYC, he thankfully got the physical therapy he needed. Since then, he’s been adopted by a family in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and has hydrotherapy sessions regularly. He also goes to the beach a lot – it’s good for his feet.
Noah The Dog
Noah was born without eyes and with deformed back legs, so he didn’t have a chance in the backyard breeding environment he was in. When Saving K9 Lives stepped in, he weighed just two pounds. He now has a good home in Wisconsin, a wheelchair, and a “halo” to help him navigate. He’s also a therapy dog – how inspiring is that?
If you’d like to see more inspiring animals, check out this article on Oddee.
Featured image via Oddee / © RSPCA ACT
