From the WSB Pets page: A cat, a car, and caring people

Someone lost their cat last night and may not even know yet that he won’t be coming home … he was hit by a car. Some caring people tried very hard to help, and asked that we share the story (crosslinked on the Pets page):

Please share the attached photo and info so this kitty’s owners can find some peace.

My wife and I saw a large white and orange cat on the side of the road on 35th between Barton and Henderson on January 11th at 11:30PM. We drove by initially thinking he was killed by a car as he was not moving, then saw him lift his head slightly. We’re cat people. We pulled over, found him bleeding from the mouth, breathing heavily, coughing blood and struggling to get out of the street but unable to do so. We pet him and diverted traffic away from the lane he was in.

Within a few moments, West Seattle neighbors from the Barton Court apartment complex and multiple drivers pulled over and turned on emergency lights to keep oncoming traffic out of the lane.

One driver used his phone to identify the nearest late night vet. Thank you to the half-dozen people who treated this kitty with utmost dignity. Two people provided very nice soft blankets that kept him warm on this icy night and helped ease his transition to the vets. We spoke to him on the way. His breathing remained heavy and he bled on the way. He fought hard.

Around 11:45pm we reached South Seattle Vet Hospital at 11033 First Ave South who kindly took him in just before closing time. X-ray found internal damage. They advised invasive surgery would be risky and required to keep him alive. They estimated cost of $2000.

At this point we had to take financial responsibility for this kitty, making a decision for his human companions as he was not microchipped and had no collar. We asked the vet to ease his suffering with pain meds as quickly as possible and then to end his life. Throughout this process we stayed with him, pet his head softly, spoke to him and for what it’s worth, gave him kitty reiki.

He was a sweetheart throughout and died softly. It was hard to see him go because he was such a strong cat yet struggling with something beyond his capability. It was clear that his injuries were severe. We want you to know we treated him as one of our own.

When we got home at 12:40 am we turned on the radio. The song playing at that moment on KPLU was ‘He Was The Cat’ by the Uptown Jazz Vocal Quartet. So this kitty let you know, in some round-about, wild way, whispering in a DJ’s ear from wherever he was, that there’s a tune in his heart for you.

Dan & Tina Doherty
Gatewood neighborhood

If you need/want to see the photo they shared: click here.

91 Replies to "From the WSB Pets page: A cat, a car, and caring people"

  • Emmyjane January 12, 2013 (8:16 am)

    What absolutely wonderful people you are. Thank you for being so kind. You brought tears to my eyes.

  • Elizabeth January 12, 2013 (8:19 am)

    So nice…

  • Valerie January 12, 2013 (8:21 am)

    This story moved me to tears. Dan & Tina, you and the others who helped this beautiful kitty through his transition are angels, all of you. Thank you for reminding me once again of all the good that’s in this world and in this community. Thank you for doing all you did.

  • Brenda January 12, 2013 (8:35 am)

    Oh my goodness you two are so thoughtful and generous and your actions last night bring warmth to my heart knowing the sweet little kitty was surrounded with your love. It’s these actions that remind me, oh yes, kindness and goodwill are very much alive in our community.

    Thank you for sharing with us.

  • ColesMom January 12, 2013 (8:35 am)

    Dan & Tina – thank you for the loving kindness given to this beautiful creature. Your presence allowed this sweet boy to be surrounded with love and dignity in his final hours. A reminder to all of us that there are beautiful, caring people in this world. Kitty may you rest in peace.

  • Babs January 12, 2013 (8:36 am)

    This was so hard to read but please know, you are beauiful humans who did such an amazing thing!

  • WS Family January 12, 2013 (8:48 am)

    Thank you for making a difference, bringing our community together to help one special cat in need and encourage others to interrupt their everyday lives and take real action, however inconvenient. Your compassion is contagious and miraculous. You truly inspire each of us to take action and do the right thing. The world is a better place this morning, thanks to you.

  • miws January 12, 2013 (8:49 am)

    Dan and Tina, you are class acts, as are all the folks that helped.

    .

    Mike

  • kayo January 12, 2013 (8:56 am)

    Tears. You are good and kind people for helping this poor kitty.

  • Megan January 12, 2013 (8:58 am)

    Thank you, Dan and Tina, for your kindness. A lucky soul indeed to have its last moments surrounded by beings that cared enough to help, even if life could not be saved. I am moved that there are others out there who care enough to take what must be such a difficult but correct measure. May karma smile on you all.

  • Mike January 12, 2013 (9:01 am)

    As sad as it is that this kitty suffered for a bit, it’s nice to read that there are good people who care about life enough to help ease the pain this kitty was in. If my cat was in a similar situation, I’d hope people would do the same if we’re not there for him.

  • j January 12, 2013 (9:01 am)

    Wow, what wonderful and compassionate people.

  • D-mom January 12, 2013 (9:03 am)

    Tears streaming down my face after reading this story. So nice to know that this cat had such wonderful, caring people find him. Thank you from another animal lover. I wish he had pulled through.

  • Tammy January 12, 2013 (9:04 am)

    THANK YOU so much for giving this poor little kitty some grace and peace. You are fantastic people as well as everyone else that was involved in this kitties last few hours. I’m so thankful that there are people in our world like you and I know that little kitty was thankful too. Much love to all of you.

  • sbre January 12, 2013 (9:09 am)

    There is nothing I can say that hasn’t already been said by previous responders, and like them I too am typing through tear-filled eyes.

    On the bright side, my wife loves it when I get sappy like this and kisses my salty face after wiping it dry.

    Thank you Dan & Tina for giving so much of your time, money and compassion.

  • Alki Resident January 12, 2013 (9:10 am)

    Well thank you for making me cry this morning. We too are cat lovers and this kitty was so lucky to not have to die alone. So many side of the road deaths and people just drive by. It’s a tough decision to make deciding if an animal should pass or not, I’m sure the owners will be very grateful to you and everyone involved. What a scene to have driven by, seeing so many people trying to help. All with the common feeling of a broken heart.

  • Dana January 12, 2013 (9:22 am)

    My heart breaks for what you, Dan and Tina, went through, for Orange Kitty’s mom and dad and most of all for a kitty who was exploring his world and walked into tragedy. You all are wonderful. I know x-rays aren’t cheap and yet you invested to know the path to choose and gave him that chance. I love that you gave him reiki massage as well. Since I can’t stop crying, I’m going to find my own cat, hug him and tell him he’s an indoor kitty.

  • Amy Lea January 12, 2013 (9:28 am)

    Thank you for the reminder of human kindness and devotion to others and to our animal friends. I lost one of my dear kitties to a hit and run 4 years ago. I wish that she had people near her this way when she passed, so she knew she was loved. I still think of her often.

    South Seattle Vet has been a part of my family for many years. They have supported the work my mom does in rescue, and have been an excellent partner in care for me and my kitties.

    Bless your kind souls, I hope the kitties owners get an opportunity to meet and thank you.

  • enviromaven January 12, 2013 (9:34 am)

    Very touching and sweet story. I had an orange and white kitty who was hit years ago and wasn’t shown this kind of compassion. Many thanks to all of you who participated in making the world a kinder place last night.

  • Renaissance Red January 12, 2013 (9:37 am)

    Thank you Dan & Tina for your kindness and caring…I welled up with tears and hugged my big orange tabby.

  • Doug January 12, 2013 (9:46 am)

    I appreciate the compassion shown by all those involved.
    A positive example of human behavior.

  • Traci January 12, 2013 (9:51 am)

    Oh, there goes my morning cry. You gave that cat the gift of a dignified and warm death. You are amazing.

  • DCo January 12, 2013 (9:57 am)

    Thank you

  • Amrakx January 12, 2013 (10:05 am)

    Thank you for sharing your heartwarming experience. We live in a better world thanks to people like yourselves who take the time and effort to focus our attention on the small day to day events that we tend to overlook. Thank you for being the humanitarians that you are.

  • Jena January 12, 2013 (10:12 am)

    This is right in my neighborhood. Tina and Dan thank you so much for being so compassionate. This world needs more people like you. I am so glad that you were with the orange tabby and took the time to give him love and compassion. You truly are heroes!

  • Tammi January 12, 2013 (10:26 am)

    Thank you for being so kind and loving to this kitty in his last moments. I’m crying as I write this as Im a huge cat lover myself. Knowing there are people like you in our world make me hopeful.

    Thank you for sharing.

  • ET January 12, 2013 (10:37 am)

    ditto everybody. thank you, dan and tina.

  • KRM January 12, 2013 (10:40 am)

    Thank you Dan and Tina for your compassion. So sad.

  • lisa town January 12, 2013 (10:44 am)

    Thank you for your compassion and humanity. I’m thankful that both of my kitties are safe but if such harm came to either of them, I’d wish kind Souls such as yours to be there for them.

    You are a reaffirmation… There IS Good in this world. My heart goes out to the family who lost their friend.

  • Heidi January 12, 2013 (10:53 am)

    THANK YOU! Feeling very discouraged by all the news lately of people acting at their worst, but your stepping-up in this situation (and that of the others who stopped) reminds me that the good is still there, just sadly often goes unnoticed and unreported. Thank you for your efforts and love for this poor kitty and to WSB for publishing your report!

  • David January 12, 2013 (11:22 am)

    You guys truly are lovely wonderful people and it warms my heart, through my tears, that this sweet kitty had you with him at the end. The thought occured to me that maybe the cat was a stray in which case it is even more touching that you provided him such loving kindness at the end. Again, makes me so proud to be a West Seattlite!

  • Kate January 12, 2013 (11:41 am)

    A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.

    Albert Einstein

  • charlabob January 12, 2013 (11:45 am)

    There’s nothing left to say except thank you from all the katskys and their mom and dad.

  • karlyross January 12, 2013 (11:47 am)

    This made me cry!!!! Thank you for being such caring souls and not letting the Kitty suffer.

  • pigeonmom January 12, 2013 (11:50 am)

    Bless you two.
    I recently had to put my 14 year old doggie to sleep, I am in tears.
    My Chico will greet this kitty over the rainbow bridge and make him feel safe.

  • Carol O. January 12, 2013 (12:17 pm)

    Kate, thank you for sharing the thoughtful quote from Einstein and thanks also to the the kind people that helped the kitty.

  • anti-obstruction January 12, 2013 (12:21 pm)

    Truly a moving account of the goodness of humanity. I’m one who feels bad when I see a possum or racoon that’s been hit by a car, so this story has me crying buckets.
    Stacy, I’m sorry to hear of your loss–I know how much you and Chico loved each other, it’s so hard to lose our beloved animal friends/companions. Pauly-wog

  • Sybil January 12, 2013 (12:25 pm)

    That is so amazing. Thank you for helping and also for reaching out to alert the cat’s owners. This story struck a painful nerve for me, as I was once “this” cat owner, someone found my cat while he was in distress and took him to the vet and went through all that you did. I didn’t find out for a long time what happened and the person who took him never came forward.

  • tjbplumber January 12, 2013 (12:43 pm)

    That’s why I love west seattle.

  • Greenpeace January 12, 2013 (1:24 pm)

    Wow. Speechless. I too own a big sweet orange tabby, and what you two did for this animal is incomparable. Thank you for staying with that cat and giving him the dignity and peace in his last moments.

  • KD January 12, 2013 (1:35 pm)

    Typing through tears too, Tina and Dan should be nominated for some award for the extra compassion. I know, in doing cat rescue(and a few dogs), that you put out the $$ knowing that it will not feline your pocket, but know that the dear animals deserve it and there is no question of having them suffer. For all reading this.. SouthSeattleVet is way cheaper than ALL the vets, regular hours AND especially after hours(usually when one is in emotional angst, and the other after hour ones all around the region rip you off knowing you and the animal
    are in pain. They have been extremely helpful to many rescue groups also. Folks, keep their ph# handy in case of emergency. They are 24/7, and cost three/fourths the price the others charge. (206)242-8338. May all do what Tina and Dan did even of its not an animal you know. They deserve it, and maybe the good karma will overturn all the animal abuse someday!

  • mehud January 12, 2013 (1:43 pm)

    Thank you Dan, Tina, South Seattle Vet, and all those who stopped to help ease the suffering.

  • KD January 12, 2013 (1:43 pm)

    CORRECTION; I meant ‘reline’ your pocket,(darn autocorrect!), but no pun intended. Also I meant 3/4 LESS the amount of after hours walkin fee compared to others ‘hundreds’ just to walk in the door, even before seen. Many more animals are helped due to a reasonable emergency fee, instead of animals being declined help due to huge fees!

  • pigeonmom January 12, 2013 (1:44 pm)

    Oh, Pauly-wog.
    Thank you for the kind words.
    <3

  • m January 12, 2013 (2:28 pm)

    Also writing through tears…can’t find any more words beyond what so many others have expressed so beautifully. Certainly no accident that you and that cat all came together with one another in the space of that precise moment. Peace to you both.

  • anonyme January 12, 2013 (2:29 pm)

    Thank goodness this cat was found by compassionate people. Unfortunately, this is the most common end for cats who are allowed to roam freely.

  • Diane V January 12, 2013 (2:45 pm)

    I am sad for the kitty, but I love the rest of this story…it is very encouraging to know how good people really can be. Thank you.

  • nemobeansmom January 12, 2013 (3:11 pm)

    Dan & Tina>>>there is a spot in Heaven waiting for you both!

    This is the exact reason why both my Cats are indoor kitties, because I love them and want no harm to ever happen to them.

  • Quilter January 12, 2013 (3:44 pm)

    It’s good to be reminded that there’s kindness in the world! You are very special people. I’m so sad the cat died, but it makes my heart glad to know that the cat died surrounded by caring people. I think I’ll go hug my own sweet cats now. Thank you!

  • Livin' in West Seattle since '91 January 12, 2013 (4:21 pm)

    Thanks to all of you who stopped for your compassion in helping this sweet kitty.

  • LivesInWS January 12, 2013 (5:14 pm)

    Blessings to you for your compassion and actions, and to all who helped. So sad, but what beauty to know of humans with compassionate hearts. Peace in the Summerland, Orange Cat.

    (goes to hug own housecats and sniffle)

  • Carolyn January 12, 2013 (7:07 pm)

    Bless You , Bless You, Bless ALL of You for your acts of kindness!

  • Cait January 12, 2013 (7:25 pm)

    Never have there been more consecutive positive comments in a WSB blog story – for this ALONE I am thankful. But the compassion you showed is just, in a word, exceptional. I’m going to hug my kitties extra tight tonight.

  • Rainier January 12, 2013 (7:51 pm)

    <3

  • West Seattle Hipster January 12, 2013 (9:07 pm)

    Good people

  • Susan January 12, 2013 (9:26 pm)

    Thank you for easing this cats end of life transition. You are amazing.

  • tricia January 12, 2013 (9:34 pm)

    Story nade me cry. You are beautiful cat people. Little kitten thanks you and God loves you for your kindness.

  • tanyar23 January 12, 2013 (10:06 pm)

    Blessing to Dan and Tina, thank you for your compassion and the love you showed this cat in its transition. Thank you for reminding me of the grace we can have by being the ones to stop and help.

  • Bonnie January 12, 2013 (10:48 pm)

    Thank you for taking care of the sweet kitty.

  • Dana January 12, 2013 (11:31 pm)

    I can hardly control my tears, you precious people that stopped to help this sweet injured helpless boy in the freezing cold bleeding, scared and alone, your all simply angels I cannot believe the kindness in your hearts! Bless all of you! RIP sweet orange and white furry angel!

  • libertygirl January 12, 2013 (11:34 pm)

    Echoing the sentiments of others, may God bless Dan & Tina and everyone else who tried to help this poor kitty.

  • cj January 13, 2013 (4:26 am)

    What a beautiful and strong thing to do. We need more human beings like this.

  • Jasperblu January 13, 2013 (9:59 am)

    Good people. Thank you for easing this kitty’s journey to the Rainbow Bridge so beautifully. Poor baby.

  • elaine January 13, 2013 (10:00 am)

    Oh, just like all the other cat crazy loving people here — this made me cry — we can all picture our little kitties in such a horrible situation and can only hope that there would be such nice strangers to help out our kitty this loving and caring way.

    Now let me go get my kleenex…

  • Steve January 13, 2013 (12:19 pm)

    Wow, just wow. Dan and Tina , thanks so much for your efforts and compassion. Warms my heart on this cold day. Any word on who the kitty belonged to?

    • WSB January 13, 2013 (12:59 pm)

      Steve, we haven’t heard anything. Maybe the word will eventually get around to the kitty’s person/s – maybe, as someone suggested, he was a stray – if we ever hear anything, we’ll update. – TR

  • CEA January 13, 2013 (2:43 pm)

    I am really, really grateful there are people like Dan and Tina in the world. From one animal lover to another, thank you for helping this animal find some comfort in what must have been a painful and frightening situation. I’m holding my own orange and white guy right now – and giving him an extra hug. Thank you for your courage and compassion.

  • cammie January 13, 2013 (6:06 pm)

    I have tears in my eyes…

    Thank you, and bless you, for stopping to care for this sweet one. I only wish there were more people in the world like you!

    Godspeed sweet kitty…

  • Georgia January 13, 2013 (8:22 pm)

    The world is a better place with people like you in it. Thank you for your strength and compassion.

  • Anna Eileen January 13, 2013 (9:30 pm)

    not everyone is as good a cat parent as Tina and Dan and not everyone cares as much about their pets – with no collar nor microhip it could have been another nameless neighborhood cat but the cat died with dignity and compassion. I have tears in my eyes that no one has come forward.

  • hotsaucedogmama January 13, 2013 (9:43 pm)

    There is something so beautiful in this tragic story. Thank you for your loving compassion.

    • WSB January 13, 2013 (9:56 pm)

      One thing I meant to say sooner regarding a few who assumed this was an outdoor cat … we can’t assume that; indoor cats do escape sometimes. Mine have been indoor-only dating back to childhood, but the one who shared her life with me/us for 18 years did get out more than once despite numerous preventive measures, while the two who are with us now, former shelter cats adopted as adults, seem to have less-than-zero interest. – TR

  • Rachel January 13, 2013 (10:56 pm)

    When I was just 12, I saw my orange and white cat hit by a car, which continued on. I ran out into a busy road and scooped him up, running home with him bleeding the same way from the mouth. I still can’t wash the image of the spots of blood on my white canvas shoes. He also passed. Had someone like you stopped and helped us, he may have made it.

    This story flooded back this sad memory, but made me so happy to know there are people like you.

  • phil dirt January 14, 2013 (6:40 am)

    This is so sad. My wife and I have a cat that came to us as a stray over three years ago. Unfortunately, she hates to be kept in the house and begs to be let out. If we deny her access to the outdoors, she soon becomes very depressed. Consequently, we do allow her to go out but as little as we can get away with. We constantly worry for her safety from cars and coyotes.

  • Sassy January 14, 2013 (9:40 am)

    God Bless you – all of you for helping a sweet animal in need.

  • Maggie January 14, 2013 (10:37 am)

    Through sobs and tears I reiterate the words of all the others. Tina and Dan and all the others who gave love and aid to this kitty blessings to all of you. Because of people like you this world is still a good place to be! My heart goes out to the parents of the kitty who has passed. He is now with many others like those who helped him!!! You truly are earth angels. Thank you!

  • Deanne and Rusty January 14, 2013 (10:14 pm)

    Today my husband and I found out that our sweet cat “Goldie Locks” would not be coming home. We had been worried for a couple of days now not knowing where he was…so this morning I decided to send off an email to our neighbors in our “block Watch” group to let them know we were missing a cat and if anyone had seen him to please contact us. Shortly after I sent it off we received a message back from one of our neighbors with a link to the story that was posted about a cat who had been hit by a car and she wanted to know if that was our cat that we were looking for. We pulled up the link on the West Seattle blog and began to read the story about this fatally wounded cat and as we continued to read it we broke down in tears and especially after opening the link to the picture that confirmed that it was our cat we were looking all wrapped up in those warm and loving blankets. So many tears have been falling today….but on the other had our pain and broken hearts will mend in time. Just knowing that all the people that reached out with everything they had to try and save this sweet boy and believe us he was all of that and more. He was indeed one of the most gentle and sweet natured furry friends we ever had over the years.

    Thank you to all the people who were involved in trying to save our “Goldie Locks.” And our deepest and sincere thanks to Dan and Tina who stayed by his side as he fell off to sleep feeling loved and free of pain…I remember putting a few of other furry friends down over the many years and just to be there to comfort them on the journey is the most loving thing we can possibly do.

    Thank you also for the loving comments written here on the blog… by so many caring people…please know that you have helped make this loss a little easier for his family. However, before we sign off we just want all of you to know that from the day he appeared on our deck out of the blue over a year ago…he found a very loving home place to call home. Even though he loved being a free sprit out doors…he always knew he had a warm place to sleep, and eat, and to love and be loved by……

    Deanne and Rusty Cantalini

    • WSB January 14, 2013 (10:35 pm)

      Deanne and Rusty – thank you for letting us know that you found this. We are sorry for your loss. – Tracy

  • Meghan January 14, 2013 (10:44 pm)

    So very sorry for your loss. It sounds like he had an incredible, loving family.

  • Cait January 14, 2013 (10:48 pm)

    Deanne and Rusty – I am so so sorry to hear about this, but he sounds like he had a really blessed life with you and he was equally lucky to find an angel when he needed one. Sending healing thoughts your way – it’s always hard losing a pet. :(

  • Kat January 14, 2013 (11:06 pm)

    One more person typing through tears of sadness for poor Goldie Locks and his people, and gratitude for Dan and Tina for their compassion and love. Thank you for sharing this story.

  • libertygirl January 14, 2013 (11:09 pm)

    Deanne & Rusty – I’m also sorry for your loss. God bless you for giving Goldie Locks a sweet loving home, and God bless Tina & Dan as well as everyone who helped your cat. I’m sure he’s at the Rainbow Bridge, waiting for the day he can return all the love he was given.

  • LivesInWS January 15, 2013 (6:54 am)

    So sorry about your loss.

  • LivesInWS January 15, 2013 (6:56 am)

    Dan & Tina — How may I donate something to the vet bill?

  • Dan Doherty January 15, 2013 (9:19 am)

    Deanne and Rusty

    Glad this has come full circle, even though sad news. The responses people have left here sum things up better than I can say.

    Despite spending less than an hour with Goldie Locks I’m tempted to think that the tune KPLU played Friday night suited his personality. He left on an upnote :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voQ2l56a1qY

    Tracy – thank you for your grace and WSB for creating a place for this kind of communication.

  • AH January 15, 2013 (9:54 am)

    So proud of my neighborhood and community and sorry for your loss.
    Is there an emergency number to call for animals in instances like this? Or is it just a case of finding a 24 hour vet as mentioned above and keeping the number in your phone?

    • WSB January 15, 2013 (10:10 am)

      AH – A kind reader compiled a list of resources a year or so ago and it is linked atop the WSB Pets page (where all our lost/found pets notices are published) – https://westseattleblog.com/pets – Not sure if any of it has changed; I don’t have the resources to update something like that, but if anyone knows of information on the list that’s no longer current and lets us know, we’ll revise – TR

  • Floraista January 15, 2013 (1:43 pm)

    Hi this story is so touching. The wonderful people who cared for the cat who helped this cat in need. The link to the song.
    Restores faith. Thanks Tracy for helping create this beautiful life quilt that is West Seattle!

  • Kristen January 15, 2013 (9:24 pm)

    Like.

  • Mary E OConnor January 16, 2013 (5:00 pm)

    So many kind people in this special community, I am in awe.

  • Sassy January 17, 2013 (2:54 pm)

    Deanne and Rusty,

    I’m so sorry you lost your sweet boy kitty.
    But thankful that you were able to know what happened to him – that he was loved & nurtured by some incredibly selfless people to the very end.

    I can only hope that all of the cats & dogs missing/lost on this page cross the paths of people like Dan & Tina Doherty.

    What a lucky lad he was.
    xo

    ps – props to you WSB. you do any amazing job getting the word out about all the lost furry people.

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