Wednesday,February24,2016The Nugget Newspaper,Sisters,Oregon13
Sisters resident rescues blind cat
By Jodi Schneider McNamee
Correspondent
Special-needs cats seem
to seek out Sisters resident
Robyn Holdman, president
of Citizens4Community.
Holdman and her husband,
John,havebeenpetparentsto
threespecial-needscatssince
1990.
Two years ago, Holdman
and her husband found an
emaciatedmalecatlyingon
theirpropertyonHarrington
Loop in Sisters just days
beforeabigsnowstormthat
dumped over three feet in
February2014.
“I had a hunch that this
was not a stray cat, as it
was too beautiful to be on
its own,” Holdman said. “I
finallywasabletogetclose
to it and discovered that it
wasrealthinandseemedvery
weak. I took off my warm
coatandwasabletowrapthe
catinit.IdroveittoBroken
TopVeterinaryClinicwhere
Dr.Baileyexaminedhim.”
BrokenTopidentifiedthe
catasapurebredBengaland
immediatelydeterminedthat
he was dehydrated, had ear
mites and then upon further
examinationdeterminedthat
thecatwasalsoblind.
“I asked Dr. Bailey to
do whatever it took to save
the cat,” Holman said. “I
left the cat with the clinic
andknockedonthedoorsof
neighbors near where we’d
found the cat. No one knew
anyonewithaBengalcat.”
B u t w h e n H o l d m a n
s t o p p e d i n a t S i s t e r s
Veterinarian Clinic and
inquiredaboutaBengalcat,
theytoldheraboutabreeder
thatlivedinthearea.
Holdman informed the
vet,andDr.Baileycalledthe
breederandlearnedthatone
of their cats had gotten out
ofthecatteryatleast10days
prior.
TheyoungBengalcathad
beenwanderingtheareafor
10days.
“Dr.Baileyaskedtheown-
ersiftheyknewthattheircat
wasblind,andtheydeniedthat
he was blind and demanded
hisreturn,”HoldmantoldThe
Nugget.“Dr.Baileydiscour-
agedthemfrombreedinghim
as the blindness could be a
geneticproblem,asBengals
canbecomeblindduetoreti-
nalatrophy.”
Dr. Bailey let the owner
knowthatHoldmanadopted
special-needs animals and
wouldbewillingtotakecare
ofhimfortherestofhislife.
Thefollowingdaythecat
breederwenttothevetclinic,
picked up the cat and took
himhome.
“On Monday the breeder
called me to let me know
that yes, the cat was blind.
She decided that she would
letmekeephim,aslongasI
promisedtogethimfixedand
tonotbreedhim,”Holdman
said.“Thiswasanexpensive
decision on her part. I did
nothavetopayanythingfor
him.Iwasexcited,butalittle
nervous.Wehadanotherspe-
cial-needs cat for two years
named Pumpkin that passed
awayfromcancertheOctober
before.Pumpkinwasathree-
legged cat and was blind in
one eye, and I still missed
him.”
Holdmanwenttopickup
thecatwithadeterminationto
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Gift Certifi cates
Available
541.549.2699
403 E. Hood Ave.
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Mon-Thurs 3:45
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photo by Jodi sChneider mCnamee
rubbed and petted on his
terms. His favorite play
time now includes chasing
a feather on a stick, hiding
in paper sacks, and chasing
a feather duster around and
aroundonthebed.Heenjoys
jumpingupintoawindowand
sittingtherewiththewindow
open,listeningtothesounds
outside.”
Entertainment/Arts/Events
Athletic Dept. Free and open
to all; required for athletes &
families in SHS spring sports.
For additional information call
Tim Roth at 541-549-4045.
Friday~Feb. 26
Starts
Friday
Fri., Feb. 26 – Thurs., Mar. 3
13 Hours in
Bengahzi (R)
Breakfast
& Lunch
makehislifethebestitcould
possibly be. She decided
to name him Harrington,
because they found him on
HarringtonLoopRoad.
N ob ody kn ow s w hy
Harrington went blind dur-
ing the 10 days that he was
missing.
“Harringtonhadsomeseri-
ous health issues,” remem-
bered Holdman. “His ears
werefilledwithmitesandhe
wasveryweak.Hewassuf-
fering from feline tritricho-
monasfoetusparasiticinfec- Harrington has found a new home.
tion. Cats and kittens from
shelters and catteries are at HumaneSociety13yearsago
high risk of contracting the whenMarblehadpneumonia.
intestinalparasitethatcauses
Harrington,whoisnow4
long-termdiarrhea.
years old, gets to run, play,
“We would delay getting and jump in a safe environ-
him neutered until we were ment.All of his toys, beds,
able to get him healthy,” andcatcondosaresetupina
Holdman explained. “I certainway,andheknowsthe
brought him home and set layofhisland.TheHoldmans
up his own safe area in our keephimcompanyonadaily
guest apartment above our basis.
shop.Isleptintheapartment
“He loves to stalk things
tomonitorhim.Heate,slept, and to play. He loves to be
andgrewstrongereachday.
He started out in the bath-
room,andthenexpandinghis
territorytothebedroomand
afterseveralweekstookover
the entire 800-square-foot
Wed.~Feb. 24
apartment.”
The Holmans also have
Sisters High School Gym
“Concussions in School
other furry friends, a senior
Sports” 7 p.m. Retired
blue heeler and an elderly
neurologist Dr. Robert Collins
catnameMarblethatRobyn
will speak, sponsored by the
rescuedfromCentralOregon
Sisters Science Club & SHS
Feb. 27 / Sat. / 8 PM
Brothers Comatose
with The Easy Leaves
Known nation-wide for lively,
high-energy performances.
Mar. 11 / Fri. / 8 PM
Randy McAllister
Blue-eyed cajun roadhouse
soul by one of America’s true
blues/roots originals.
Mar. 17 / Thurs. / 7 PM
St. Paddy’s Day with
Moon Mountain
Ramblers! !
A soulful interpretation of
traditional bluegrass,
jazz/swing & country tunes.
Mar. 23 / Wed. / 8 PM
Hot Buttered Rum
with Front Country
w
A sound that is tough to
describe and easy to love,
and it has found its way to
the most prestigious pop, ,
folk, and bluegrass
stages in the country y
PUB OPENS ONE HOUR
PRIOR TO SHOWS
BelfryEvents.com
Call for Details
541-815-9122
Cork Cellars Live Music
with Brad Tisdel 7 to
9 p.m. No cover! For more
information call 541-549-2675
or go to corkcellars.com.
FivePine Conference
Center Sisters Christian
Academy Annual Benefi t
Auction 6 p.m. Silent, live
& dessert auctions, hearty
appetizers & no-host bar.
Incredible auction items!
$30pp or $325 reserved table
for 10. 541-549-4133 or info@
sisterschristianacademy.com.
Galleries & Shops of Sisters
4th Friday Art Stroll 4 to
7 p.m. Shops and galleries
in town will have extended
hours, entertainment, and
refreshments! Maps are
available at the Sisters Area
Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday~Feb. 27
Sisters High School Sisters
Folk Festival Winter
Concert with Bumper
Jacksons 7 p.m. The hot and
sweet sounds of America’s
story. For tickets or info
call 541-549-4979 or go to
sistersfolkfestival.org.
Harmony Farm Sanctuary
Open Barn Day! 11:30 a.m.
to 1 p.m. at 16054 Perit
Huntington Rd. Meet the
animals and learn about
the mission of this nonprofi t
farm. Info: 541-390-2769 or
harmonyfarmsanctuary.com.
Caldera Arts Center Open
Studio at Blue Lake 1 to
3 p.m. Free to the public.
Meet the Artists in Residence!
For additional information go
to calderaarts.org or call
541-595-0956.
The Belfry Live Music
with Brothers Comatose
and The Easy Leaves 8
to 11 p.m. $15 online at
bendticket.com or $18 at
the door. Americana, folk &
bluegrass from this 5-piece
string bad. For information go
online to belfryevents.com.
Friday~Mar. 4
Sisters High School Mr. SHS
Pageant 7 p.m. After more
than a month of fundraising
events for Sisters FAN, the
2016 Mr. SHS will be crowned!
Don’t miss the fun. For more
info call SHS at 541-549-4045.
Cork Cellars Live Music
with Dennis McGregor 7 to
9 p.m. No cover! For more
information call 541-549-2675
or go to corkcellars.com.
Sunday~Mar. 6
Sisters Library Presentation
on Nutrition Myths 1:30
to 3 p.m. Dr. Julie Hood-
Gonsalves, COCC professor
of human biology, discusses
common myths of nutrition,
sponsored by Friends of the
Sisters Library. 541-549-2107.
Thursday~Mar. 10
Sisters High School Sisters
Folk Festival Winter
Concert with Darlingside
7 p.m. Four distinct voices
at a single microphone. This
Massachusetts based quartet
is a fan favorite of Sisters
Folk Festival. For tickets
call 541-549-4979 or go to
sistersfolkfestival.org.
Deadline to submit items
for the Events Calendar
is 5 p.m. Fridays. Email
teresa@nuggetnews.com