Meet Marilyn, a sweet and sassy feline who survived being hit by a car, thanks to the heroic efforts of Officer Marlin Moore from Huntsville Animal Services and our dedicated team at NAVES.

Officer Moore didn’t hesitate to climb into a drainage ditch to save her. Soaking wet and dangerously cold, Marilyn arrived at NAVES with a body temperature below 96°F. Our team immediately got to work warming her up and assessing her injuries.

She couldn’t stand on her back legs and had a painful wound on her foot, but her spirit was unshaken. Once stable, we discovered a fractured ankle that would likely cause lifelong pain if repaired. So we made a decision: amputation over suffering.

After a few delays due to anemia and a UTI, Marilyn’s surgery was a success. And in the meantime, we all fell in love with her bold, comical personality.

Then, this three-legged wonder went to our friends at The Ark Inc. — ready to find a forever home that sees her for the resilient, radiant cat she is.

But wait... her story is not over yet! The Ark took her to Countryside Veterinary Hospital for a routine check-up and vaccines, and one of their vet techs fell in love with her!! She was adopted and has officially found her forever home.

This is why we do what we do. For pets like Marilyn. For moments like this.