Since Vinnie is a cat, I (Sandra) will tell his story instead of letting him tell it!
I am a groomer (I prefer to be called a "Dog" groomer! Because I love dogs and barely tolerate cats!) at a veterinary clinic in McPherson, Kansas. A few weeks before Christmas in 1996, our clinic receptionist came to my groom room carrying the most pathetic excuse for a kitten ever! He was runty and matted to the skin! I couldn't believe that an animal that young could have a coat in such horrible condition. She told me that he was a stray and asked if I could shave him off as a charity case!
This poor little ugly guy needed to find a home quickly and even with hair he looked like a used hanky - without hair he didn't stand a chance! I decided he needed to be brushed out! I was a gentle as I could be, but I tugged and pulled the poor
little guy's hair for what seemed like forever! I am not a real big cat lover but this little guy just sat there and took it! When I let go of him - whatever the reason - he didn't run off, but moved closer to me! By the time I was done pulling out all his hair he was even more pathetic looking than before. He also had a won my heart! That evening I took home my new cat! He lived at our house for a little more than a week when he developed bloody stool and went back to the clinic. He spent Christmas at the Vet clinic and just as he got over the one problem he began sneezing blood. In all he spent almost 6 weeks in the hospital before he was allowed to come home! I spent every spare moment I could with him during that time and we developed a very strong bond.
Our little runt has grown into a huge fat furball!
We love him!
He loves us!
He is an important part of our family!
Vinnie and Me (Sandra)
Vinnie and Daryl (Vinnie's dad, my best friend and husband!)
When we painted our house Vinnie was always around to help! He wanted to be wherever the action was! He climbed up and down the latter and even climbed to the top of the latter on the scaffold!
About a year ago we believe he fell off the neighbors latter and had head injuries. He was disoreinted and walked with a crooked head for quite some time! It was nearly 3 month's until he was himself again!
The unfortunate lad! He has been healthy as can be between his sickness and that accident. It just takes him forever to recover from the misfortune that he has. It's a good thing he has so little of It!
(Oh! Yeah! That really is green and purple that we painted our house! We had to give the people in our small town something to talk about!)
These are my before and after photos of Vince. Vinnie is a mighty hunter and always gets burrs and stuff caught up in his coat. Now that he has a permanent home where he is loved no matter how he looks I can shave him without guilt! So about 3 times every summer I take him to work and give him a good shave down! I love it when he lays around with his big fat belly up in the air! He truely is a rare treasure!
