[Gaborn]

His name is Corky and he was scheduled to be euthanized at a pound in Fargo, North Dakota. A little boy had spotted the cat dragging himself along the sidewalk next to a busy road. Corky has a congenital deformity called “Bilateral Arthrogryposis” and what that basically means is his back legs were backward and crisscrossed -- a “corkscrew,” if you will (hence the name “Corky”). It’s a condition you rarely hear about in cats because most of them are put to sleep. But Gail Ventzke and Carol Stefonek saw something special in the little guy. The pair are co-founders and directors of CATS Cradle Shelter and got a heads-up call that Corky was in trouble. “We have to have him,” Stefonek thought when she first met Corky. “I immediately put him in my jacket, next to my heart, and he’s been there ever since.” “He’s amazing,” Ventzke tells HLN. “He’s got a very playful little personality and he doesn’t know there’s anything wrong with him.” Just a few days after adopting Corky, Stefonek and Ventzke started looking at options. Many of the vets they spoke with didn’t want to tackle the case because they felt it was too complicated for them. But Dr. Dan Burchill of Castleton Veterinary Services took a look at Corky’s X-rays, gave him an examination and decided to take a shot at it. “He’s our hero,” says Ventzke. “He basically invented this surgery for Corky. He’s fallen for Corky, too. He comes in on his days off to personally change Corky’s bandages because he doesn’t want anyone else to touch him!” They originally thought the surgery would last about two hours and cost around $2,500. But it ended up going more than twice as long and Corky has been in intensive therapy since the beginning of April. They now figure it’ll cost them about two or three times as much as they originally anticipated. But Ventzke says money is the furthest thing from their minds. “He has grabbed on to our hearts like no other cat we’ve ever had and we owe it to him,” she tells HLN. “We’re going to give him whatever he needs to get through it.” After putting Corky’s story out on their Facebook page and receiving some attention from the local media, donations started pouring in from countries around the globe: Sweden, Australia and Argentina, just to name a few. Stefonek and Ventzke travel 40 miles roundtrip everyday to visit Corky at the hospital and they say he's been progressing extremely well. He has hydrotherapy, acupuncture, physical therapy and laser therapy several times a day. They believe he’ll be able to walk again -- although never like a normal cat could, due to the steel plates that are now in his legs. As far as the future goes, Ventzke and Stefonek say they’re taking it one day at a time. But they do have one idea in mind for him. “We discussed possibly making him a therapy cat and going into the children’s wards and showing them that, ‘You know what, if Corky can do it, you can do it, too,’” says Stefonek. After all the money and the therapy, we just had to ask the pair… is it worth it? “Absolutely!” says Ventzke. “I don’t think there’s anything I’ve done in the last four years of rescuing that’s been more worth it. This little guy is amazing.” “Every life is important, every life counts. Everybody can make a difference no matter how small they think it might be,” says Stefonek. “If people could concentrate a little more on the good, the caring and the compassion, perhaps our world would be in a better place right now.” You can get updates on Corky's progress by checking out his Facebook page. The CATS Cradle Shelter is also continuing to take donations on their site for Corky's ongoing care. You can also make checks out to CATS Cradle Fund, 9 Ninth Street, South Fargo, North Dakota 58103.

Story Here

[crowphoenix]

Oh my god. It is adorable!

[Persona7]

I truly hope Corky has a wonderful life.

[mantidor]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

[WonkersTHEWatilla]

Beautiful.

[Kagari]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

How is saving a life a waste?

[Gaborn]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

Well, two thoughts. First, obviously it's their money to spend or not as they wish. Second, surgeries like this that are rarely or even newly performed become more and more common later which makes them cheaper down the road. At one point a heart transplant was a super expensive super rare and super specialized surgery. While it's still uncommon and still specialized it's no longer the complete crap shoot of unknown territory it once was. Heck, you can go more recent since liver transplants were very rare until the mid to late 70s. If we look down on a surgery merely because it's new or expensive we're never going to advance medical technology.

[Salvadora]

How is saving a life a waste?

5000 is a lot of money. If I had a choice between going broke or saving a cat's life I know which I would chose.

[Digishine]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

The fuck is wrong with you ?

[WonkersTHEWatilla]

Seems like a lot of the cost was blunted by the donations. Wonder how much it cost altogether.

[XenoRaven]

5000 is a lot of money. If I had a choice between going broke or saving a cat's life I know which I would chose.

I guess cat.

[Aguirre]

reminds me of:


even scout had corrective surgey

[ckohler]

People waste $5000 on a lot more mundane things than helping an animal's livelihood. Here, it's justified. It's not even that much money considering what they did.

[Kai Dracon]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

Lets flip this around.

How many tiers of monetary waste exist on levels far above and beyond spending a few thousand to save an animals life? Uses of funds that have nothing to do with, at the very least, saving something that's alive.

People seem to single out cases like this because it's an easy target to criticize or feel is wasteful, while infinitely greater wastes of resources (that accomplish practically nothing, for anyone) is going on all around them. Those things are nebulous and discouraging to point out however.

Well, two thoughts. First, obviously it's their money to spend or not as they wish. Second, surgeries like this that are rarely or even newly performed become more and more common later which makes them cheaper down the road. At one point a heart transplant was a super expensive super rare and super specialized surgery. While it's still uncommon and still specialized it's no longer the complete crap shoot of unknown territory it once was. Heck, you can go more recent since liver transplants were very rare until the mid to late 70s. If we look down on a surgery merely because it's new or expensive we're never going to advance medical technology.

Also an excellent point.

That and I'd rather see someone who can afford it (or can get the donations together) spend $5000 on saving an animal instead of using it on stupid shit like a gold flaked ice cream sundae (THEY DO EXIST). Or even building a new computer to play Crysis 3 stretched across six monitors (THEY WILL EXIST).

That and in this day and age of distributed social networking, what if someone say, needs a few thousand grand to save a pet, and goes kickstarter? What if 5000 people each give $1 towards the effort? How is that waste of money for any individual involved, including the pet owner?

Recently in Oklahoma, a woman who was caring for a physically disabled kangaroo (lol kangaroo) was threatened because the city had no laws for exotic "pets" so should didn't have an avenue for keeping one. A bunch of donations gave her the money to fight it... and she won. Not just her right to care for an injured exotic animal, but actually had laws changed to allow others to get a license as well to care for animals that fall outside the typical range of "pet". Actual progress resulted on a large scale.

[D23]

i smile :)

[LabouredSubterfuge]

Lets flip this around. How many tiers of monetary waste exist on levels far above and beyond spending a few thousand to save an animals life? Uses of funds that have nothing to do with, at the very least, saving something that's alive. People seem to single out cases like this because it's an easy target to criticize or feel is wasteful, while infinitely greater wastes of resources (that accomplish practically nothing, for anyone) is going on all around them. Those things are nebulous and discouraging to point out however.

You could've made your point much more succinct and said 'Transformers 3'.

[Mumei]

This story is wonderful. <3

boooo mantidor, booo

[D23]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

do u have a pet?

[Mekere]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

It may be 5000$ for the owner, but it's also a not-that common surgery operation (as animals are usually put down) that is now a little better documented, the vet who made the operation and the post op' care is also more experimented. And this experience will be useful for the future vet, so for science it's not a waste at all!

[Izick]

It's getting misty-eyed up in here.

[ohhthegore]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

I spent $4000 of my French Bulldogs legs, I have no regrets

[SolidsnackooFoxhound]

“He’s amazing,” Ventzke tells HLN. “He’s got a very playful little personality and he doesn’t know there’s anything wrong with him.”

So damn cute and amazing.

[blainethemono]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

My dog tore her ACLs in both rear legs and had to get double TPLO surgery done...I believe it was like $4000 per leg just for surgery, plus she had to go through extensive rehabilitation and I still have to give her medication regularly. We had one leg done first, then after many months of rehab we had to do it all over again with the other leg.

She's doing fine now, don't consider it a waste at all

[Ignis Fatuus]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

I don't know about cats but a dog will die for you. How would you repay that loyalty?

[Dan]

It may be 5000$ for the owner, but it's also a not-that common surgery operation (as animals are usually put down) that is now a little better documented, the vet who made the operation and the post op' care is also more experimented. And this experience will be useful for the future vet, so for science it's not a waste at all!

Indeed. As long as people were perfectly willing to fund it, the operation's worth it for the added knowledge and experience.

[piddledy]

I only like animals when they're on my plate.

[mantidor]

How is saving a life a waste?

The fuck is wrong with you ?

I remember some miss universe contest when one of the contestants was asked if there was a fire in a museum with a dog inside if she would save some special masterpiece or the dog, and obviously she answer the dog. Every time I see stuff like this I'm reminded of that, is such a "beauty pageant" position to be on the animal side. I see the point and I agree somewhat, but this is extreme, because is still a cat, I would rather donate that money to some human cause, like doctors without borders or whatever. I guess I've just been really put off but this trend of caring more about animals than our own species, with some people being actually very explicit about it. Is not rare to find people posting that while animal suffering makes them twitch famines in Africa do nothing for them, and the worst is that they say it with some kind of pride, is really disturbing to say the least (not talking about anyone in this thread of course, is just a trend I've seen).

And honestly, I would save the masterpiece.

Well, two thoughts. First, obviously it's their money to spend or not as they wish. Second, surgeries like this that are rarely or even newly performed become more and more common later which makes them cheaper down the road. At one point a heart transplant was a super expensive super rare and super specialized surgery. While it's still uncommon and still specialized it's no longer the complete crap shoot of unknown territory it once was. Heck, you can go more recent since liver transplants were very rare until the mid to late 70s. If we look down on a surgery merely because it's new or expensive we're never going to advance medical technology.

I like this reasoning much more. And I agree people waste $5000 in worst and far more mundane things, so is not like I'm entirely against this.

[Shahadan]

Yay another good story thread ruined.

[Hasardeur]

How is saving a life a waste?

well, you could probably save a number of human lives with that money

[PseudoKirby]

“He’s our hero,” says Ventzke. “He basically invented this surgery for Corky. He’s fallen for Corky, too. He comes in on his days off to personally change Corky’s bandages because he doesn’t want anyone else to touch him!” They originally thought the surgery would last about two hours and cost around $2,500. But it ended up going more than twice as long and Corky has been in intensive therapy since the beginning of April. They now figure it’ll cost them about two or three times as much as they originally anticipated. But Ventzke says money is the furthest thing from their minds.

of course he comes to personally change the bandages and wouldn't let anyone else touch him, he is protecting his source of income.....




this story is cute and Its saddening to think of the car dragging his legs and all, but I still cant help but think about how much money these people have..

[TheMan]

you know, gaborn, you used to be known as the king of depraved news stories around here. Lots of people gave you shit, including myself on at least one occasion. But you know what? I kind of miss it. Now, you kind of remind me of a grade school teacher.

[fanboi]

It may be 5000$ for the owner, but it's also a not-that common surgery operation (as animals are usually put down) that is now a little better documented, the vet who made the operation and the post op' care is also more experimented. And this experience will be useful for the future vet, so for science it's not a waste at all!

This is a great comment and the only one that got me rethink my stand... but no I wouldn't put that amount of money on a cat in my current situation.

[Mumei]

you know, gaborn, you used to be known as the king of depraved news stories around here. Lots of people gave you shit, including myself on at least one occasion. But you know what? I kind of miss it. Now, you kind of remind me of a grade school teacher.

Hey, Gaborn still posts depraved news stories. You can't sell him short like that. Don't believe his PR Machine of puppies and kittens and butterflies and stuff.

[Gaborn]

you know, gaborn, you used to be known as the king of depraved news stories around here. Lots of people gave you shit, including myself on at least one occasion. But you know what? I kind of miss it. Now, you kind of remind me of a grade school teacher.

Here you go and here

I should say though that I've ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS posted a broad mix of stories. It was NEVER all negative or all positive.

[Hobbestetrician]

Cute little SOB. Would pay that in a heartbeat for my cat, love that little guy.

[TheMan]

Hey, Gaborn still posts depraved news stories. You can't sell him short like that. Don't believe his PR Machine of puppies and kittens and butterflies and stuff.

Here you go and here I should say though that I've ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS posted a broad mix of stories. It was NEVER all negative or all positive.

i stand corrected.

[K701]

Waste.

How is saving a life a waste?

Simple. When the effort does not match the result. The people who decided to save this cat couldn't afford it themselves, that's why they asked for donations. Even with the surgery the cat's legs will probably never be fully functional. If the person could easily afford it then it would not be a waste, since they have money to spare in case of emergencies/etc.

What is the use of this cat? is that worth $5000?

Is it worth $5000 to people who CANT AFFORD IT?

[Souldriver]

Waste. Simple. When the effort does not match the result. The people who decided to save this cat couldn't afford it themselves, that's why they asked for donations. Even with the surgery the cat's legs will probably never be fully functional. If the person could easily afford it then it would not be a waste, since they have money to spare in case of emergencies/etc. What is the use of this cat? is that worth $5000? Is it worth $5000 to people who CANT AFFORD IT?

What kind of ridiculous logic is this?


Because it's based on donations from people who wanted to help the kitty, the money got wasted because it helped the kitty? That doesn't make a lick of sense.


I know some people don't value the life of animals highly, but to go one step further and poopoo the people who do care for it is crossing a line. It's like bitching because someone is giving money to charity. "OMG what a waste! I can by 3 macbooks with that!"

[worldrevolution]

I'm assuming people saying it's a waste have never been pet owners. I would spend a million dollars if I had to to save my cat from dying, or to bring back my old family cat who passed away. I would spend 10 million, 100 million if I could. Of course I'd do the same for a family member or loved one, but to most pet owners there's no discrepancy. A pet is also a family member and a loved one.

[Derrick01]

well, you could probably save a number of human lives with that money

You're not going to save any humans with $5000. You could feed them temporarily and then once that's gone oops they're starving again.

[Kagari]

I'm assuming people saying it's a waste have never been pet owners. I would spend a million dollars if I had to to save my cat from dying, or to bring back my old family cat who passed away. I would spend 10 million, 100 million if I could. Of course I'd do the same for a family member or loved one, but to most pet owners there's no discrepancy. A pet is also a family member and a loved one.

This. I've always had pets growing up and even now they're treated as another member of the family. There's nothing wrong with that either.

[catfish]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

I would have given him the needle, seriously. 7 1/2 grand for some cats legs? How about university fees for a person instead.

[PhoncipleBone]

Dawwwwww. KITTY!

Great story.

[plc268]

This isn't about the money. If you develop an emotional bond with an animal, you'd probably do anything within your means to save it. Especially if the animal is young.

Yea, there's times where even the pet owner will put their animal down if it's a quality of life issue, but if you have the money, what's the big deal? Even if you don't have the money, I've seen people spend their credit on worse.

[Kyoufu]

I can't believe the scumbags who think 5000 dollars is more important than a living soul.

[Shahadan]

You're not going to save any humans with $5000. You could feed them temporarily and then once that's gone oops they're starving again.

It could be used to buy medicine or something that could save a life. Starvation isn't the only factor.
But even then it's a stupid argument (the one you quoted). You could save lives (human lives if you want, apparently humans are so precious) with your average yearly videogames/movies/apple products bugdet and yet we don't do it and don't see any problem with it.

[worldrevolution]

I can't believe the scumbags who think 5000 dollars is more important than a living soul.

I think they're more upset over the cat > human mentality. I'd be interested to see how willing they'd be to give some dying, starving, cross-legged human on the streets $5000.

[salva]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

You must be the life of the party.

[K701]

What kind of ridiculous logic is this? Because it's based on donations from people who wanted to help the kitty, the money got wasted because it helped the kitty? That doesn't make a lick of sense. I know some people don't value the life of animals highly, but to go one step further and poopoo the people who do care for it is crossing a line. It's like bitching because someone is giving money to charity. "OMG what a waste! I can by 3 macbooks with that!"

No. The article says the cat still needs therapy they need to pay. It's also vague on the amount that was raised so I'm gonna assume they had to pay some out of their own pocket.

I'm not poo poo ing anything. I'm just pointing out if you can't afford to save the cat, maybe you should re think before spending the money in case an emergency falls over you or your family.

I'm assuming people saying it's a waste have never been pet owners. I would spend a million dollars if I had to to save my cat from dying, or to bring back my old family cat who passed away. I would spend 10 million, 100 million if I could. Of course I'd do the same for a family member or loved one, but to most pet owners there's no discrepancy. A pet is also a family member and a loved one.

But it WASN'T their pet. It was a random cat they found and felt sorry for. I agree, IF YOU HAD the money to save the cat, by all means save it. IF YOU DON'T, like the people in the article DIDN'T (hence they asked for donations), then you have more important things to worry about.

[pje122]

Controversial opinion time. The little fellow is cute and all but expending more than $5000 on him just seems excessive, good for him I guess but I still see it as a waste.

How is this controversial?