Our February Pet of the Month is “August,” a 7-month-old female cat owned by the Bedard family of East Granby. August was recently hit by a car, and the photo below, taken by …, shows poor August suffering the indignities of an Elizabethan Collar with good grace. Beth Bedard tells this brave cat’s story: “Our family was in Johnstown, NY in August of 2011, where my husband and son visited a dairy farm. There were a bunch of kittens running around, and while my son Todd Michael was holding a kitten, August ran up to him and started rubbing against his leg and clawing at his pant leg. He then picked her up and she started to purr and cuddle into him. I then got a picture text message from my son asking if he could take her home. When I saw the picture I fell in love and said yes. We brought her home and my two daughters also fell in love with her. August is such a wonderful cat and everyone that meets her loves her too. She loves to cuddle and sit in front of the fireplace. My family and I were devastated when we found out that she had gotten hit by a car. All the love and care from everyone at Suffield Veterinary Hospital and the love she receives at home has pulled her through and kept her with our family.”
    When Dr. Sabellico first treated August for her automobile injuries, the staff at SVH felt that she would never use her right hind leg again due to nerve damage from a pelvic fracture. Then large portions of the skin on her right hip and inner thigh sloughed due to damaged blood supply. At one point we were thinking amputation, but over time, with frequent bandage changes, she is using the leg and getting around well.
    We have chosen August as our Pet of the Month because we are all amazed at how sweet and brave she is, even though we regularly remove the dressings and apply new ones, a process that has to be uncomfortable. Instead of getting angry and lashing out, she purrs and rubs up against us through the whole ordeal. She reminds us of the stories you hear of how incredibly brave children with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses are during their hospitalization. August is inspirational to us all!