Pogo the Three-Legged Cat

A friendly neighbor posted a plea for help on the NextDoor app. She spotted a black cat with a mangled front leg crossing a busy street. We sprang into action and staked out the area looking for the injured cat. It took us a few attempts, but we finally trapped the cat who would eventually come to be known as Pogo. Our veterinarian neutered Pogo and amputated his mangled front leg after assuring us that if he had to return to the streets, he would be able to get by just fine on three legs. Pogo recovered in a large dog crate in my guest room for two weeks, where I spent time talking to him every day. We were hopeful that Pogo would show signs of being friendly, but it eventually become clear to me that Pogo would be happiest on the street, so we released Pogo back into his colony. We went back a few weeks later to trap a different cat, and it warmed my heart to see Pogo come running towards me on three legs before stopping dead in his tracks and running the other way. Since then, the lady who originally alerted us to Pogo has seen him around her house, and she always texts me to let me know he’s doing okay.