newsdurhamregion.com
News > Durham
Harrison Ford: action cat survived Hwy. 401 ride


Fri Aug 08, 2008

Font small font medium font large font
By Kristen Calis
Other Stories by this Author


PICKERING -- Harrison Ford landed in Pickering after the ride of his life a couple of weeks ago.
    
The black and white short-haired cat crawled out from under a small Ford car at Lone Star Texas Grill in Pickering on July 23. He had ridden underneath the car, hanging onto the exhaust, that travelled the 40 kilometres from Bowmanville to Pickering, including Hwy. 401. His journey can be proven by looking at his paws, which were badly burnt from the exhaust.
   
“He’s definitely very lucky to survive that trip,” said Lindsey Brenner, supervisor of Pickering Animal Services. “He’s one special cat.” You may think his name came from ‘Indiana Jones’, but staff at animal services said the name seemed to fit because his “hair is on the Ford.”
   
The driver recognized Harrison as a common stray in her Bowmanville neighbourhood, Ms. Brenner said. The scabs on his paws just came off and he’s been bandaged up, and once he’s back to normal in a couple of weeks he’ll be ready for a loving home. The extremely affectionate Harrison is about two years old and is one of many cats Animal Services currently shelters. It has responded to more than 100 calls regarding cats and dogs running at large this year and although almost all of the dogs have been claimed or adopted, nearly 30 cats remain at the shelter, at 15 Reesor Rd., in the Reesor Road and Taunton Road area of Scarborough.
   
Five kittens were recently brought in after being dumped outside of PetSmart. The Ontario Provincial Police found four-month-old Freeway at the side of Hwy. 401, and he’s ready for a new home. Lucky Bear was hit by a car and a truck and found on the same day and in the exact same spot as a black bear on the loose in Pickering in May. Another abandoned cat is not only feeding her four kittens, but is playing mother to another three at about four weeks of age.
   
“She’s now nursing all of them,” Ms. Brenner said.
   
Pickering Animal Services is filled with similar stories, and although the cats are well taken care of, they need a home, which will also makes room for the next ones that come along.
   
“Our top priority is sick or injured (cats) or kittens,” Ms. Brenner said.
   
Adopting a cat costs $85, which includes a pet licence, the initial set of vaccinations and sterilization. If a kitten is too young to be spayed or neutered, the new owner will receive a rebate certificate of $75. If cat owners haven’t already, they’re encouraged to get a licence since it makes it easier to reunite lost pets with their families, and to get them sterilized, which does more than just keep the pet population down, Ms. Brenner said.
   
“It’s been proven to improve some of their temperaments, decrease their wanting to stray and different types of cancers,” she said.
   
For information, to view cats that have been found, and those ready for a new home, visit www.cityofpickering.com/animals or call 905-683-7575.
Related Video
Video This Harrison Ford is one lucky feline
Harrison Ford is looking for a new home. The cat's paws were badly burned and is recovering at Pickering Animal Services. Kristen Calis files this report.

Photo By Laura Stanley  PICKERING-- 'Harrison Ford' the cat burned his paws and some of his whiskers after hanging on the underside of a Ford car traveling from Bowmanville to Pickering.
More Blogs
Blogs