The Story Of Trooper The COOL Cat
(Condensed Version)
On February 11, 2012, SCAPA (Society For The Care & Protection Of Animals) got a call early that afternoon about an injured cat at Stephenville Crossing (Newfoundland, Canada).
The people said that a cat was in their driveway since the previous evening and hasn’t moved. They thought his two back legs were broken. They told the people that they would be there shortly.
Within minutes they were on our way to get the cat. They then notified their vet clinic about this situation and they were waiting for them to bring in this cat in.
THIS is what they found upon arriving at the scene…
The suffering cat hissed at them when they first walked up to him, so they placed some food down for him and that was when they realized how bad the situation really was. Both his back legs, feet, tail and backside were FROZEN solid into the ice on this driveway.
The poor cat could hardly move. They got the people to bring buckets of warm water to melt the ice and it took several large buckets of the warm water to finally free him from the ice on the driveway. They then wrapped him in a large, warm blanket and headed to the animal clinic as fast as they could.
This poor cat spent ALL the previous evening, overnight AND all morning frozen to the ground on that driveway. All while that family slept in their warm beds. They told Gwen Samms (from SCAPA), that they called Animal Control and the town but no one would come out. And they didn’t call SCAPA until early the next afternoon.
Trooper (the name given to him by the vet) fought to stay alive even with everything he had to endure. Trooper had spent that last night in hell. But he IS a survivor!
He was finally stabilized at the vet clinic and they later determined that he needed some serious surgery and that surgery needed to be done at a better equipped facility. Donations, from generous animal lovers, poured in from around the globe so that he could have the surgery needed.
Gwen Samms (SCAPA) made arrangements to escort Trooper to Prince Edward Island for his life saving surgery at the Atlantic Veterinary College where he had to have his left back leg and his tail amputated. The surgery was successful and Trooper is REALLY a “TROOPER” for surviving what he went thru thanks to Gwen & Delores Samms (SCAPA) and those generous donations and supporters from around the world.
Upon returning to Stephenville, Trooper stayed at the home of Delores Samms (also an active volunteer at SCAPA) during his recovery from his major surgery. He is still there to this day. Those of us who are following his story closely are VERY happy to see him end up in THIS loving home.
Trooper also became even more of a celebrity. The popular Canadian rock band, TROOPER, got wind of what happened to Trooper and sent the little guy a package consisting of various signed Trooper gear and band items. The band later invited Trooper The Cat and his “entourage” to an upcoming concert where Trooper and his friends got to meet the band members backstage. How COOL is that?
Trooper has also become the “Spokescat” for the local Trap, Neuter And Return (TNR) program for stray cats. These TNR programs are where stray cats are humanely trapped and get taken to the animal clinic to get spayed/neutered. They are then returned to their areas and are placed with caretakers. This cuts down on all the unwanted kittens that are needlessly brought into this cruel world.
Two years later, Trooper is still doing FANTASTIC! May he have MANY, MANY more happy years with his loving family!!!
TROOPER … YOU ROCK! You touched a lot of hearts around the globe, mine included! You will NEVER be allowed to be cold ever again. YOUR family and friends will see to that! STAY well, my furry little friend from afar. Life awaits you!
Rick Wilson
Newport, RI USA
https://www.Facebook.com/corprebel
DEVASTATING NEWS For Us Trooper Fans:
On October 19, 2016, Trooper ‘passed on’ to the “Bridge” after being diagnosed with severe kidney cancer.
FAREWELL, Trooper, my furry friend from afar.
PEACE Forever… Rock ON at the “Bridge”!
