Cat hit by car drags himself home

Ginger, a ten-month-old cat, was hit by a car in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and despite his terrible injuries dragged himself back to his own doorstep in Woolwich.

His owner, Mrs Carr and her children, Joe, 5 and Sean, 11, found Ginger lying helplessly on the doorstep in the morning. He was in shock and could not get onto his back legs, and needed urgent veterinary care. As Mrs Carr qualified to receive subsidised veterinary care from The Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria, she was able to take Ginger in for immediate treatment. Ginger was assessed, stabilised and had multiple x-rays taken which revealed he had a badly ruptured abdominal wall, an injured liver, a fractured leg and other minor injuries.

Within 24 hours he had been given a blood transfusion and was taken into the operating theatre, where Blue Cross chief veterinary surgeon Jess Gower repaired his damaged abdominal wall, leg and hip. She also installed a closed urine collection system and an active suction drain.

Mrs Carr said: "I was horrified when I saw Ginger just lying there. I thought I was going to lose him. The Blue Cross hospital was amazing, and have really looked after him. They’ve done so much to make him better, and soon I will be able to take him home."

Jess Gower said: "Ginger has been through a lot but he is a tough cat. His instinct to drag himself home probably saved his life, and the rapid treatment he received at our Victoria animal hospital means he is likely to make a full recovery. At The Blue Cross, we believe that every animal should be given the chance to live a full, healthy life so we provide veterinary treatment to the pets of owners who cannot afford private vets’ fees."

The Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria celebrated its centenary last year and has not shut its doors once since it opened in 1906. It is equipped with state of the art veterinary facilities and treats thousands of pets every year.

Media contact: Susan Crown
Direct line: 0207 932 4066
Mobile: 07880 781 637

Notes to editors
The Blue Cross is Britain's pet charity, providing practical support, information and advice for pet and horse owners. Through its network of animal adoption centres it rehomes thousands of animals each year. Its hospitals provide veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees.

Photos Ginger post-op and in recovery are available on request.

More information can be found of the website www.bluecross.org.uk