After Brutal Attack, Buddy The Cat Gets Adopted By Vet Who Saved Him

Many shelter pets have a sad backstory, but Buddy the cat has an especially heartbreaking tale.

The black cat arrived at the shelter after being brutally mauled by two dogs sicced on him by juvenile delinquents in Philidelphia. The cruel and unprovoked attack (which was also captured on film) left Buddy with horrific wounds that threatened his life.

Buddy’s injuries were so severe nobody thought he’d make it at first, but the stray cat turned out to be a fighter. Despite everything that had happened, Buddy persevered and pulled through, earning thousands of fans in the process.

“Buddy has touched so many lives,” Gillian Kocher, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania SPCA, told the Philidelphia Inquirer. “He has been cheered on from all corners of the globe, and he gave us all something we desperately needed — hope.”

Buddy’s heartbreaking plight also inspired people to donate thousands of dollars to help pay for the cat’s medical care. The overwhelming response helped Buddy get the surgery he needed and allowed the shelter to create a special fund to help other abused animals.

When Buddy was finally feeling better, the injured cat went home with Kate Venanzi, one of the veterinarians who helped save Buddy’s life. This was meant to be just a temporary arrangement, but the scrappy cat quickly became a “foster fail.”

Now Venanzi and her husband have decided to give Buddy a forever home where he’ll never be hurt again.

“Today, Buddy spends his days basking in the sun on a windowsill or watching the world go by from the front screen door,” said Kocher, the shelter spokeswoman. “He has all the toys a cat could want, though his favorite seems to be an empty cardboard box for lounging. He is loved, and he is home.”