The City of Fort Wayne, Indiana Animal Care and Control announced last week that Sparkle, a young cat injured in an alleged animal cruelty incident last June, was ready for her forever home. The kitty has healed and grown, and had her spay surgery. The department selected Sparkle’s adopter in a lottery, and the six month old cat went to her new home after a news conference today. A local news crew released video of the happy occasion, with Sparkle and her new petmom, Lynne Ticen, of Fort Wayne.
WANE reported today:
At 10 a.m., Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control threw a “happy-new-home” party for Sparkle and her new family. A lottery was held to select the owner for Sparkle. Animal Care accepted applicants on Oct. 15 and 16. They then used a lottery system to select a candidate who met and interacted with the kitten on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
Lynne Ticen, of Fort Wayne, was one of 12 local candidates that submitted an application. She got the phone call on Wednesday that she had won the lottery.
“I was very excited. I was just very pleased and honored that I was the one selected,” said Ticen. “She is just such a beautiful cat, I was just amazed that she survived.”
Sparkle was just two months old when she came into the care of the Fort Wayne ACC in June, suffering burns and singeing that suggested she’s had fireworks tied to her tail. Sparkle’s paws were burned so badly that she had difficulty walking on them at the time. Sparkle has been in foster care for most of the time since her injury. As Lynne Ticen noted today, Sparkle does not look or seem like the same kitty today; she is healed, healthy, and has moved on.
We covered Sparkle’s story in June, with Kitten Healing After Fireworks Abuse Incident Brings Call For Caution As July 4 Nears, and again when Matthew Jerome, the young man responsible for her injuries, was arrested and charged in August; see Abuser Charged In June Kitten Cruelty Case. The young man and his friends claim the injury was accidental. Those prosecuting the case disagree. Sparkle was the kitten of Jerome’s girlfriend.
Hi Sue,
Thanks for the Bonfire Night safety reminder. My UK friends dread it for their pets every year, especially those with skittish dogs.
Did her paws heal completely?