Kathy and Bob Rude, founders of ‘Rude Ranch Animal Rescue’, are changing the world one cat at a time. Today they house 30 special needs and hospice furballs and foster injured and critically ill kittens/cats for other rescue groups purr-paring them for adoption.
During the 2020 their impressive community contribution was paw-forming 7,000 spay/neuters at their ‘Spay Spa & Neuter Nook’ through public donations. To date they have facilitated the adoption of 8,000 felines.
A malnourished orange and white rescue, Pumpkin Wobbles, was born into a feral colony with cerebellar hypoplasia, a neurological birth defect affecting motor skills. His wobbling mouth missed his food dish!
His legs couldn’t support his body, so his walking and running where challenged. Physical therapy helped build his muscles as he learned to navigate. Fortunately, he met two assistants; three-month-old kittens, Sigfried and Simpson whose boundless energy was driving the older cats crazy.
It didn’t take long for Pumpkin to learn their games and his walking, running, and wrestling with the two playmates aided his coordination. Soon Pumpkin was initiating chasing Sigfried and Simpson, resulting in collisions with other startled cats.
Fortunately, Mr. Pumpkin Wobble’s early struggles have mostly resolved. He has mastered jumping and climbing onto the couch and he is learning how to traverse stairs. He is always the first cat to come out for treats or dinner. He dislikes dogs, which he frequently vocally explains to the Rude Ranch dogs.
Recently, Bob and Kathy were driving along a four-lane highway during rush hour when they spotted a tiny kitten running alongside the 70-mph traffic. They drove to the next exit, doubled back, and all the while prayed that the kitten would survive.
Bob pulled ahead of the running fur-baby and parked. They tried to herd the kitten towards the shoulder. Even though he was tiny, the kitten was still too quick to catch. Still terrified, the little feline kept running. Eventually, it ran into a brush pile and became stuck in the weeds.
The determined rescuers reached the thrashing kitten. They did not have any pet catching devices as nets or a carrier, so they brilliantly improvised. Bob took off his shoelaces and dangled them enticing the kitten. It worked! The three of them climbed 300 yards back to the car. Bob held the traumatized kitten, along with his dangling shoelaces while wearing just one shoe! Once back in the car, the exhausted kitten promptly fell asleep on Bob’s lap.
After witnessing the kitten’s endurance and freeway speed Bob and Kathy named him “Indie”.
Indie bonded with Mr. Pumpkin Wobbles, who purr-vided a fun source of sneak attacks, wrestling, and tail pouncing. All these movements were paws-itive therapy for Mr. Wobbles. Indie signed on permanently as his new friend’s physical therapist as they both await their forever home.
http://www.ruderanch.org/
