Protective Dachshund adopts paralyzed cat

[Are_grits_groceries]

Video of Idgie and Ruth:

In this dog-eat-dog world, we should all be so lucky as to have a friend like Idgie — a friend who refuses to leave our side, even if we're lame and lying in the dirt by a busy road.

That's how Seminole County Animal Services found Idgie — a pudgy 2-year-old Dachshund — standing guard over a 7-month-old paraplegic cat. It was early October and still hot, and someone apparently had dumped the animals by a gated driveway outside Geneva, perhaps hoping the homeowner would take pity on them.

Idgie growled and barked protectively whenever anyone approached. The kitty, it turned out, could only move by dragging herself along by her front legs. The back ones were limp and useless, the paws twisted.

"We actually don't know what's wrong with her," said Diane Gagliano, program coordinator for Seminole County Animal Services. "We think it may have been something she was born with. It was really a strange situation — both of them were found in fairly good shape, not filthy or malnourished, so it seems as though they probably had a home at some point. But on the flip side, no one came and claimed them, and how could the cat get very far without the owner knowing?"
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Much more: http://touch.orlandosentinel.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78768274/

Such pals!

[Blue Owl]

1. Couple of sweet things, there!

That kind of love and devotion is on the highest level.

[lillypaddle]

2. So sweet

animals have so much love and loyalty to give.

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. That is adorable!

So glad they have such a great forever home, too.

[Le Taz Hot]

4. Precious precious babies.

May karma come swiftly to those sub-humans who dumped these two beautiful fur babies.

[Beaverhausen]

5. Thanks for sharing

there's something in my eye...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Thank you for the depiction of good people helping those in need.

[shenmue]

7. Awww!

So sweet!

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Thanks for posting this

It's uplifted my mood considerably.

[RockaFowler]

9. Dachshunds are the best

I should know - I have 3 of those fur-babies


Oh and here is an oldie but goodie

[AngryOldDem]

19. Yes, indeed.

Not exactly an unbiased opinion because I have one, but it's the truth. Such sweet, loyal little doggies.

[hamsterjill]

10. If humans were only half as compassionate!

Sure would be a better world, wouldn't it?

[firsttimer]

15. But ..but they are just property

[ReRe]

11. My diagnosis on the kittie...

... her back was broken early in her life. Thank you Agg. Who knows what caused the cat's paralysis. The point is, this is clearly a miracle, that the dachshund adopted the kittie
and the Animal Services group of Orlando adopted the inseparable pair.

[Are_grits_groceries]

13. I wasn't sure I wanted to watch the video.

However, it wasn't horrible to watch. I thought the kitteh would upset me a lot. I do feel sorry she was paralyzed, but she is such a fighter and a cutie that she was inspiring.

We all need a friend like Ruth who will take care of us. Her love keeps Idgie going. I am also glad that they were adopted by Animal Sevices. They will be able to give Idgie proper care and provide her with the best treatment as she ages.

Somebody really took care of Idgie. The way they left those two was horrible, but she would not have lasted this long in such good shape if somebody hadn't helped her since she was hurt.

[ReRe]

14. Yeah, probably a sign of the times we are living in...

... they did look like they had been well taken care of. Tuxedo cats are amazing survivors.

[justiceischeap]

18. My parents bought a kitten at a flea market once

out of the trunk of someone's car. We named him George. He was paralyzed in the back-end too. We don't know if he was born that way or if something happened after he was born. He was slightly more mobile than Ruth (his front legs worked much better). We also had a Great Dane at the time, his name was Roofus. Those two were inseparable. They'd chase one another around the house and Roofus was so patient with George. Sadly, when we moved, George somehow got out of the house and was never seen again. He was a great cat.

[ReRe]

21. The reason I say...

... the cat's back was broken is because I lived through a situation where the kitty's back was broken and paralyzed like this cat. Sadly, we chose to have it put to sleep. We had no idea that the kitty could actually live like that, had no other pets to take it under their wings. I cried for a week.

[Iliyah]

12. K & R

[Packerowner740]

16. Poor kitty

It's great to see such a good friend. My kitty and German Shepherd are best of friends.

[Beacool]

17. Who's peeling onions?

I'm glad the story has a happy ending for the two furry babies.

[shenmue]

20. Squee squee!

Awesomeness!!

[NuclearDem]

22. Alert: Squee levels approaching critical.