In February, a black-and-white stray cat found herself in a life-threatening situation — her paw trapped tightly between the slats of a wooden fence.
When local police in Long Island spotted her dangling and in distress, they immediately called Frankie Floridia, president of Strong Island Animal Rescue League.
Floridia, a seasoned rescuer, knew the risks.
“Depending on how long they’re hanging, sometimes the ligaments are damaged so badly the leg has to be amputated,” Floridia told The Dodo.
By the time he arrived, officers had managed to free the cat and secured her safely under an overturned hockey net. But she was clearly injured and having trouble walking.
Floridia gently placed her in a carrier and rushed her to Long Island Spay and Neuter for an emergency evaluation. Thankfully, the news was far better than expected: her leg wasn’t broken — just badly sprained. With rest, anti-inflammatory medication, antibiotics, and vaccines, she would recover.
Some rescue groups might not take on animals with uncertain medical futures, but Floridia was committed to giving her a chance. And as fate would have it, this cat had more than luck on her side — she had someone looking for her.
That same night, a woman named Lori Ressa saw Strong Island Animal Rescue’s post about the rescued cat on Facebook. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“That looks like a cat we feed,” Ressa commented.
She was right. The injured cat was Christina — a familiar face from the feral colony Ressa had helped care for years ago.
Not only had Ressa been feeding Christina, but she had also spayed and neutered the entire colony as part of a TNR (trap-neuter-return) effort.
Even more astonishing, Ressa had adopted two of Christina’s kittens eight years earlier.
After the rescue, Christina went home with Ressa to recover — and she’s been there ever since.
“She’s doing great,” Floridia said. “She’s officially retired from outdoor life. Now she’s an indoor cat and living the life she deserves.”
From a terrifying accident to the comfort of a loving home, Christina’s journey came full circle — right back to the person who never stopped caring for her.
