http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/columnists/stu_bykofsky/10309
318.htm?1c

OK, here it is, but be warned, it's very disturbing...

Hugs,

CatNipped

Stu Bykofsky | Survivor!

SUGAR RAYE WILL HELP OTHER ANIMALS

THE TERRIFIED cat cowered defensively, head down, trying to make herself
small, as four boys in their mid-teens threw rocks and lighted matches at
her. Cornered, defenseless and hurt, neither flight nor fight was possible
from her heartless tormentors near The Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in
Bridesburg.

A 17-year-old girl passed by, a girl raised in a loving family with dogs and
cats. She was horrified when she saw the pitiful brown and tan cat being
tortured. Without a thought to her own safety, she yelled at the boys, and
being low-rent cowards, they backed down. The cat was saved from an
excruciating death by stoning or fire.

The girl, who's too shy to have her name used, at the time didn't know how
badly the nameless 3-year-old cat was hurt. She saw the bald spots burned in
the cat's fur by the matches, but she didn't know how much pain she had
suffered, how many fragile bones had been broken.
She brought the trembling cat home to care for, but eventually the wounds
made it necessary to bring her to the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control
Association.

Since the cat appeared to be a purebred, PACCA asked the Alliance for
Philadelphia's Animals to identify a rescue group. The Alliance contacted
Animal Underground, which provided a temporary home for the cat, until she
was determined to be a Bengal cat.

In stepped Bengal Cat Rescue, which found a foster home with Irene Meisel,
who had the cat examined by Dr. Barbara Flickinger, of House Call
Veterinarians, then called in Dr. Lynn Maletz, of Schwenksville Veterinary
Medical Arts Hospital, an orthopedic specialist. The vets cared for the cat
under reduced "rescue rates."

The poor Bengal had a broken tooth with the root exposed, a shattered
pelvis, a dislodged bone sticking into her rectum - and a metal BB bullet in
her spine.

The severe injuries were treatable, but even at the reduced rates the first
treatment cost close to $2,000.

Bengal Cat Rescue made the first $600 payment. The Alliance pledged to pay
the balance and follow-up care.

At this point, the Bengal cat is nameless no more. She is now Sugar Raye.

That's in part due to her sweet disposition, in part due to her fighting
spirit. She easily could have been dead by now, but showed the toughness of
another, different Sugar Ray.

"She's just a joy," says Meisel. "She's a very nice cat. She purrs. She's
always in good cheer, always in good mood, very affectionate."

There are monsters, like the teens, among us who cause pain and harm to
innocent, defenseless animals.

There are also angels among us who ease the pain and repair the harm. Their
good work requires heart, but also money.

Sugar Raye is out of the woods physically, but not financially. The Alliance
has created the Sugar Raye Veterinary Fund to pay her bills, then to provide
grants to shelters and rescue groups to cover emergency veterinary costs of
other animals.

It pains me to tell you there will be other cases.

If you want to join the angels, make out a check to Alliance for
Philadelphia's Animals Inc., mail to P.O. Box 58295, Philadelphia PA
19102-8295. Write "Sugar Raye Veterinary Fund" in the memo field.