Meet Nikita. Nikita was set on fire by teenagers in the Philadephia area weeks ago. The Cat Shack, a rescue based near Allentown,PA, pulls (takes/saves) cats/kittens from other shelters in order to help find them a home. Nikita was discovered by one of its volunteers at the PSPCA’s intensive care unit.
After speaking with Theresa Clifford, volunteer/ board Member of the Cat Shack, the woman got the ok to bring Nikita “home”.
This poor kitten has had to endure so much in her very short life thus far. Theresa wrote me the following about Nikita’s condition:
“Although the kitten was badly charred, infested with ear-mites and covered with wounds, she immediately greeted us with purrs and face-rubs. She smelled terrible- there was a strong odor of burt flesh, hair and nails. Her entire left side was burned, her whiskers were gone and her nose burned. Her ear tips were burned off and the end of her tail was a loss. The worst wound was an area of exposed bone on her rear leg.”
I can only imagine the pain she has endured by viewing the photograph and reading about her horrific injuries. Nikita has needed two types of ointment applied to her burns three times a day plus weekly cleanings and tissue removal at their veterinarian’s office. Theresa says that Nikita has responded so well to treatment and is healing very nicely.
But I believe from what Theresa has told me that Nikita’s spirit is the driving force behind her recovery. One would think this poor kitten would be too traumatized to have the strength to live but it is quite the opposite. Nikita has remained sweet and trusting in spite of what these teenagers did to her.
Unfortunately these teenagers have not been found. I wonder if they have hurt other animals since then or before then. The answer is most likely. And this sets the stage for the perpetrators to hurt people. It is a known fact that kids who torture or kill animals go down the unsavory path of committing the same evil acts against people.
I think Theresa said it best with the following statement:
“I’m angered that anyone could do this to a tiny animal. At the same time, her ability to remain sweet and trusting after her ordeal is so inspiring. She has an amazing strength of character, a strength that was obviously lacking in the people that tortured her.”
And Theresa also told me that Nikita means unconquerable. Perfect name.