Last February, a black-and-white cat found herself in serious trouble — she was spotted hanging from a wooden fence, her paw painfully wedged between the slats. Local police quickly called Frankie Floridia, a veteran animal rescuer and president of Strong Island Animal Rescue League, knowing the situation was critical.
“Depending on how long they hang on the fence, sometimes it severs the ligaments … and then the arm has to be amputated,” Floridia told The Dodo.
By the time he arrived, officers had managed to free the cat, but she was clearly injured and struggling to walk. They had secured her under an overturned hockey net until Floridia arrived. He carefully transferred the frightened cat into a carrier and rushed her to Long Island Spay and Neuter for evaluation.
While many rescue groups might hesitate to take on a cat facing a possible amputation, Floridia was determined not to give up. Thankfully, X-rays revealed her leg wasn’t broken — it was only a sprain. The veterinary team treated her with anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics, and vaccines, giving her the second chance she desperately needed.
That same night, as fate would have it, Lori Ressa came across a Facebook post from Strong Island Animal Rescue League about the rescued cat.
“[That] looks like a cat we feed,” Ressa commented.
She was right. The cat was named Christina, a local feral whom Ressa had been feeding for years. Even more amazing — eight years earlier, Ressa had helped trap, neuter, and return (TNR) Christina’s entire colony. She had even adopted two of Christina’s kittens herself.
After the accident, Christina went home with Ressa to recover. What started as temporary care soon turned permanent.
“She’s been doing great,” Floridia said. “No more going out or anything like that. So, she’s an indoor cat now and living the life.”
From a near tragedy to a cozy life indoors, Christina’s story is a powerful reminder of how compassion — and a little luck — can completely change a life.