CHESAPEAKE
Trooper, the kitten whose publicized story of being tossed from a moving car and rescued by a motorist inspired thousands of dollars in donations, has died. He was 8 weeks old.
Trooper seemed on the mend less than two weeks ago. But he underwent surgery Thursday to install a catheter, said Gabrielle Reed, a licensed veterinarian technician at Mount Pleasant Veterinary Clinic, where he was being treated.
The kitten stopped breathing shortly after the procedure.
"We performed CPR for 10 to 15 minutes," Reed said. "We couldn't resuscitate him."
Trooper, who got his name from veterinary staff, was thrown onto Route 168 South on the last morning of July. Michele Laney of Moyock, N.C., said she stopped to try to save the barely 1-1/2-pound feline, delivered him to the nearest animal clinic.
She'd hoped to take him home late last week. But the kitten apparently had suffered internal injuries that were not detected in initial X-rays.
"Because he was so tiny, they weren't really detectable," Reed said. "He was too small to handle them."
Trooper's kidneys were failing and both of his lungs had collapsed, she said.
He was a favorite at the clinic and grew a bit spoiled by so much attention. His story made him famous - well-wishers donated so much money for his $2,000-plus surgery that the vet's office had to stop accepting them.
Reed said the veterinarian, David Banta, is deciding what to do with that money now. They plan to give it back to the community, she said.
Reed, who was Trooper's primary caregiver, said the days since his death have been fuzzy.
"He got through what is known in medicine as the hardest days. I allowed myself to get attached," she said. "My heart is broken."
Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5555, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com
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Trooper's Death
Maybe we need to investigate Charles to see if he is the one that threw the kitten from the car. By his logic he, by possibly doing this act, saved hundreds of animals' lives in the future. Charles, your logic is absurd. I do agree with you that there are countless of negligent pet owners who do not spay and neuter their pets which has led to an over population of both cats and dogs. But even if we did not have the over population issue, animals through evolution have instincts that can not be over ridden simply because they are a so called domesticated animal. Cats do what cats do. Dogs will do what dogs do. You can not stop mother nature. The Bible clearly states we are the guardians and oversears of the world and by what I see we are doing a really crappy job of it. To abuse an animal in any shape or form is just a few steps away from becoming a serial killer. One has only to research the vast majority of serial killers and I would say about 95% of them starting out abusing animals and moving up the food chain until it ends up being humans. For those of you who do not see this as an important issue and how we should be focusing more on prople story maybe you need to stop and thi
Putting it to rest
So many people have been so kind and careing about this little fellow that it warms the heart. We need closure! It may be too late, but Trooper should have been buried at one of the pet cemeteries in the area, and the public invited. I need a good cry!
Charles, I guess you do not
Charles, I guess you do not eat meat?
R.I.P. Trooper
Kudos to The Virginian-Pilot for covering the valiant efforts of those who worked to save lil' Trooper -- Michelle Laney, Gabrielle Reed, Dr David Banta, the staff of Mount Pleasant Veterinary Clinic, and the dozens of folks who donated money to pay for Trooper's care. Tossing a kitten, or any living creature, from a speeding car is an evil that I cannot fathom. It's comforting that Trooper received compassionate care and affection following his injuries, but worrisome that the person who committed this crime hasn't been caught. Cruelty, in all its forms, is an abomination. Surely someone knows the identity of the person who threw Trooper from their car -- I hope they have the courage to provide this information to the police so that justice will be served. Rest in peace, lil' Trooper.
So sad to see some cold hearted people's post
I agree with Amanda so much. I do not post that often, but I find it so sad to hear the cruel and cold comments made here. Animals are special creatures as humans are. Maybe not the same, but they are caring and loving. Actually some are more caring and loving than some human beings are. Whatever the animal, rather a dog or cat, etc. it has a right to live! We are humans and we know better. Most people love their "pets", their children! How can anyone be so cold to post negative thoughts about this helpless cat. I think animal cruelty should have much stronger penalties and I hope they find the sick individual who did this to little Trooper. We have two dogs that give "unconditional love"! They ask for nothing in return. They are our children! The world needs more compassion! Obviously the Pilot feels the same in respect to this helpless cat. I guess some just want to see the murders, election, etc. Not th
Think About It
I followed this story from the very beginning and felt very sorry for that incident kitten what he went through that day. I was heartened by the heroic act of the lady who braved traffic on that busy and dangerous bridge to rescue this kitten and the swarm of public compassion that followed. While some see concern for this animal as wasted and misdirected, I beg to differ for to me any form of caring, concern, and compassion is a worthy effort. Does the reality that we can’t fix all the world’s human ills disallow us this random act of kindness?
hey robertw16922 >
Could you please explain why you bothered to make a comment at all? I'm really curious.
I really don't wanna feed trolls but...
I'm a compassionate person and I guess I hate to see anyone go hungry, even trolls.
For those of you who are sick of this story, don't read it.
For those of you who think war, crime, guns, Election 2008, child neglect and abuse aren't getting the coverage because of this one little bittersweet kitten story, I just don't think that there's a daily story limit, so do you really believe that? Now go read about the double shooting at the beach.
"ANIMA"
"ANIMA" is the Latin word for "SOUL"
We ALL have one -- every living being.
we are ALL connected
Hey Fluff, yo charlesr85353
Let's face it -- as far as the Bible is concerned only the HUMANS were thrown out of Paradise.
Be kind to animals -- you never know when you may be Entertaining Angels Unawares.
And Charles-- did you know that 7 MILLION birds are KILLED each year by Lawn Chemicals?? Not to mention kids with BB guns and collisions with h-rise windows and collisions with windshields!
Did you know that the WORST CAT that kills birds is the CATerpillar Bulldozer that knocks down trees and DESTROYS habitat? It has been proven that the birds and animals who are displace by habitat dsetruction DO NOT reproduce in the same numbers as they did before their habitat was destroyed by Man "Kind" (NOT KIND)
As far as coverage of an INNOCENT being who was the victim of Man"KIND"'s injustice-- we are ALL connected-- what we do to ANY living being is felt by ALL of us.
"A Nationa Is Known By the Way It Treats Its Animals"
"ANIMA" is the L
Heartless people
I cannot believe that I am sitting here reading comments from others with comments such as "So, before you bemoan the death of this animal think about the animals it would have killed once it was an adult. This is not a great loss." and also the fact that some of you want to use this comment page as a complaint service to the pilot concerning the way they handle the news articles...or how so many people because they are sitting at there computer, it seems somewhat easier to be heartless and hateful and a coward to say that this was not tragic or worth the time of day...when in reality this kitten died from injuries caused by someone being cruel, someone who indeed is a murderer. I feel saddened that there is more hate in our world than love. As for Trooper he may be a cat but he felt love and pain and did not deserve the PAIN and SUFFERING inflicted upon him. HAVE A HEART... Dont forget the Pilot has a customer
Preditor cats
Man is responsible for the killing humans, goats, sheep, pigs, calfs, birds, fish......etc.etc,etc. So by that logic I suppose it is no great loss if a human dies.
charles & fluff
Charles, I see you failed to mention the excellent work cats have done for thousands of years keeping grain stores and cargo ships rodent-free. Not to mention keeping the spread of plague under control (until organized religion decided cats were in league with Satan and millions were killed). Don't begrudge an outside cat a dinner of a robin or lizard. They have definitely earned it.
Fluff - I bet you were the kid that pulled the wings off flies and lit the neighbors' dogs tail on fire. Why post here unless it is to troll? It is not welcome.
Hey Pilot!!!>>>
...great job on the kitty story, I've been able to check in on kitty almost every day for the past 2 weeks....so...what about that Navy Lt who got shot a month ago in Norfolk in front of his kin???...or that poor little girl in Portsmouth???...how about a little real reporting for a change???...people are concerned about them as well!!!
HUMANS
Now now we humans are the superior race please act like one.
awwwwwwwwww
I have 6 cats and love them and it's so sad Trooper didn't make it.
I hope the POS who tossed him from the car has had to watch the
love shown to the kitten and has to live with knowing how all these
people must despise him for what he did to one of God's helpless
creatures.
charlesr85353/clewis
Charles, irresponsible owners are definitely a huge problem and hopefully this will serve as another reminder of what can happen to animals that are allowed to roam free. However, there is no indication that Trooper’s new owner would have been irresponsible, no evidence that he would have ever been let out and no proof that Trooper would have ever killed another animal. I have a feeling that Trooper would have led a much pampered indoor only life. When a child dies we don’t ponder the people it might have killed in the future even though that possibility exists. All life is precious. To the contrary, this is a great loss.
Clewis, the person who threw the cat is definitely sicker. You, however, are now running neck and neck with Prairiedog for second place!
Because they're attention starved
Trolls are immature and attention starved sad little people. Just ignore them.
Response to Fluff
Why are you bothering reading all 32 now 33 comments then?
Fluff
That's all this is. I'm not certain who is more sick, the person who threw the cat, the Pilot for running this ridiculous story, or the many posters who are on here crying and whining about a cat... ridiculous waste of energy by all parties.