COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL May 25, 2016
7A
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
FAMILY AND GENERAL DENTISTRY
Brightening Lives One Smile at a Time
Devil to Angel!
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When a stray cat adopted Dick and
Barb’s neighborhood, it was upsetting see-
ing the starved animal dragging an injured
leg. Over the next three years, Dick and his
neighbor, Ned, fed it and tried catching it to
take to a veterinarian clinic so the “...little
devil would not suffer”. But with only three
good legs, the cat was still faster than the
men.
“The cat would not get close to us, but he
sure ate our groceries!” said Dick.
“The cat was so darn homely he needed
a name to live up to,” said Dick, who is an
old movie buff. He recalled the quote that
re-furred to dashing handsome men, “He’s a
handsome devil” and named the kitty Hand-
some Devil.
One night, Barb and Dick heard the neigh-
bor’s dogs “raising a ruckus over some-
thing.” The next morning, when Dick went
out to walk their dog, Pup, he found the
homeless cat lying up against their house.
“The cat looked horrible,” said Dick. “He
was obviously the object of the dogs’ ‘play’.
He was injured and appeared dead.”
Not wanting the “critter” to suffer, the
couple made plans to take it to the vet, but
they had concerns for their own pets’ health,
not wanting to place a fi lthy, diseased kitty
in their pets’ carrier. They phoned the vet
clinic, which immediately lent them a car-
rier.
Wearing rubber gloves, Dick gently and
carefully lifted the very still cat into the car-
rier.
Dick told the vet, “If you can save him,
save him, if not, euthanize him. He’s been
through enough this lifetime. If he can be
saved, clean him up inside and out of para-
sites, and give him a bath.
Eight hours later the vet’s reception-
ist phoned and announced, ‘Your kitty is
ready.’ Well, you should have seen our new
family member’s bill! We are retired, and it
was quite a chunk of change for a budget
that is already feeding a dog and another
cat! We’d apparently just bought ourselves
a wild cat — or so we thought!”
It turns out the once starving feral cat is
a domesticated cuddle bunny who knows a
good deal. And three years after that memo-
rable day when I phoned for this interview,
“The Handsome Devil” was not home.
Spoiled Mr. Handsome was over at the
Photo by Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe”
In cat years, this “Handsome” cat
must be 101 years old! Once a little
devil, Handsome, the once homeless
cat has turned into a loving house
cat.
groomer’s for his thrice-yearly trim, bath
and blow!
“Handsome tries biting the groomer,” ex-
plained Dick, “but his attempts are futile.
He has no teeth left. His years of starvation,
before we began feeding him, caused most
of his teeth to rot. The vet pulled the few
remaining ones to stop dental pain, which
also changed his health for the better.
After the vet cleaned up Handsome, Ned
came over for a visit and I heard ‘the rest of
the story!’
He, too, had heard the dogs’ ruckus and
went out to investigate. In the dark and
pouring rain, he saw that the cat had escaped
into his back yard and was lying there. Ned
nudged the cat with his toe and mentally
declared it dead. But to Ned’s surprise, the
next morning he went out to bury the cat
– but it was gone! Apparently Handsome,
in pain, had crawled under the eaves of our
house to stay dry. Now, Ned looked down
at ‘our’ recovering cat and exclaimed at the
once ‘dead’ animal, ‘That is one darn good
vet! I knew that cat was dead!’”
Barb built a warm shelter outside for the
convalescing cat. “He seemed content with
his new warm home,” said Barb.
“He used the shelter and ate our gro-
ceries,” added Dick. “Little by little Barb
moved the shelter closer and closer to the
house. Until Handsome is inside, sleeping
with us!”
“I was never nervous of Handsome,” said
Barb, “He has a wonderful personality, and
he was so homely you couldn’t but help
fall in love with him. He needed so much
mending. Just look at how handsome he is
now! Dick was right, the cat grew into his
name!”
Their dog, Pup, would like to be friends
with Handsome, but after that eventual
night, Handsome learned not to trust dogs.
Pup loves everyone, but Handsome does not
love Pup. The cat’s spirit has healed enough
now that he is peacefully co-existing with
the dog.
“Handsome follows Barb around like she
is covered in catnip!” said Dick. “He knows
he won the lotto with her care and love. In
the mornings, he even follows her to the
shower and sits on the throne until she is
done.”
And what about Handsome’s injured leg?
It took a year to heal, leaving him with a
soft limp.
“All he wants is to be loved,” said Barb,
“and to be brushed and petted. He sleeps
with me, actually on me, purring either on
my chest or up on my head like a hat. When
I was ill, he slept on my chest as a little
healer for three solid days. Who would have
thought a wild devil cat was really an angel
in disguise who wanted to teach about and
give love?”
TIPS
Groom pets daily. Cats purr-fur the feel
of a man’s soft-bendable black plastic comb
on their skin instead of wire combs/brush-
es.
Share your pet tips and tales.
angelscribe@msn.com
“Follow” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook.
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Tales
Adopt Loving Pets
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Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assis-
tance Program. (541) 942-2789
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SPECIALS
South Lane County Fire & Rescue has a
position open on the Civil Service Commission.
South Lane County Fire & Rescue services a 132 square mile area
for Fire/Rescue/EMS services based on voter approved taxing
rates, levies, and bonds equaling $1.80/$1000, beginning with
fi scal year 2016-2017. The current voter approved permanent
and levied rate is $1.50/$1000 of assessed property value,
including a house and fi ve acres within the District’s boundaries.
The District further provides advanced life support ambulance
service to an area totaling 850 square miles. The area outside
the District’s 132 square mile area does not provide tax revenue.
The District operates from four fi re stations and staffs the
Cottage Grove and Creswell stations 24/7, with a combination
of career/resident and community volunteer personnel. The
Saginaw station is staffed 24/7 with off duty residents and the
Camas Swale station with community volunteers. The District
is managed by the Fire Chief who reports directly to the fi ve
member Board of Directors. All other District personnel report to
the Fire Chief utilizing a chain of command.
NACHO
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The district is seeking an individual who has the desire to
contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing and improving
Fire Services in the South Lane County community. Interested
applicants must be at least 18 years of age, be an elector, or a
property owner within the district.
The Civil Service Commission’s primary responsibilities involve
overseeing competitive examinations for Firefi ghters and Fire
Offi cers on an as needed basis. The Civil Service Commission
meets quarterly to comply with the provisions of the Oregon
Revised Statues.
Interested persons may secure an application from the Business
Offi ce Located at 233 E. Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove, OR
97424 or by going to our website at www.southlanefi re.org or by
calling the Offi ce at 541-942-4493.
All Applications due by June 8, 2016 at 5:00pm.
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