7 days ago
Woman Fosters Dog Hit by Car, She's Not Prepared for Rescue Cat's Response
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Hearts have well and truly been melted by the adorable friendship between a rescue cat and a three-legged foster dog who hit it off immediately.
In January, Faith Poschwatta, 30, adopted Zora, a 2-year-old cat from Nashville's Humane Society. As soon as she laid eyes on the sweet feline, Poschwatta knew she "couldn't leave without her."
But after saving one animal from shelter life, Poschwatta wasn't done there.
While scrolling through Facebook in early July, she saw a post by Big Fluffy Dog Rescue asking for volunteers to foster some of their shelter dogs. They were expecting an influx of dogs to be brought in following the devastating Texas floods, and they needed to make space in the kennels to help as many as possible.
Poschwatta, who resides in Nashville, Tennessee, told Newsweek that while she had never fostered a dog before, she "thought reaching out wouldn't hurt."
Zora the cat and Ainsley the foster dog playing together on the floor.
Zora the cat and Ainsley the foster dog playing together on the floor.
@faithposh / TikTok
"When I reached out and told them what kind of dog I would like to take in, they told me about a dog that they thought would be the perfect fit," Poschwatta said. "They sent over a few photos of her and shared a brief part of her story, and I fell in love with her."
Indeed, Poschwatta went to collect her foster dog, Ainsley later that day. She's an Australian shepherd mix who was hit by a vehicle and "left to die." Fortunately, two teenagers found her and drove her to the rescue for help.
"She was pregnant and successfully delivered her babies (all of which have been taken in by other families who joined the Big Fluffy Dog Rescue). Ainsley has been taken in by a lot of foster families since February. But ever since her accident, she's been hopping around on three legs," Poschwatta continued.
She still has the fourth leg as she needs to complete heartworm treatment before having it amputated. However, the affected limb has calcified and doesn't cause Ainsley pain.
From the moment Poschwatta brought Ainsley home, there was no denying how happy she was. She was jumping around, leaping on the sofa, and of course, acquainting herself with Zora.
While Ainsley was more than happy to become besties straight away, Zora took a little convincing. She was initially cautious of the "new intruder," but after around an hour, she was comfortable.
It seemed that Zora was curious but cautious of Ainsley for the first night. But by the next morning, Poschwatta caught the duo chasing each other and becoming inseparable.
Poschwatta told Newsweek: "I really didn't know what to expect because I don't know much of Zora's history from before I rescued her (besides that she was in two shelters). Zora loves to play and is affectionate, and I could tell she needed a friend, but I was shocked to see Zora warm up to Ainsley that fast."
It was so rewarding for Poschwatta to see the unlikely duo become close friends. She shared a video of their precious bond on TikTok (@faithposh) and the clip went viral with 71,400 views and 11,400 likes at the time of writing.
Unfortunately, Ainsley's health took a turn and Poschwatta had to rush her back to the animal hospital. She was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia, or fluid on the lungs, that was a complication of her heartworm treatment. She was placed on oxygen and given round-the-clock care.
During that time, it was clear to Poschwatta that Zora was missing her friend. She was "calling out for her" in the night and searching the house throughout the day.
Poschwatta was considering adopting Ainsley once she'd recovered, but as it turned out, she had already found a new owner as the vet tech at the hospital asked to take her in. As much as she'd love to give Ainsley her forever home, Poschwatta is delighted that she's in capable hands and will be taken care of.
By posting the TikTok video of Zora and Ainsley, Poschwatta hopes to inspire others to foster or adopt an animal in need. It certainly hasn't been easy, but it's been ever so fulfilling. She also encourages people to donate to Big Fluffy Dog Rescue if they can, as Ainsley's medical bills have amounted to $4,000 already—with an amputation yet to come.
"I understand that fostering may not be for everyone and it's scary to open your heart to something temporary. But taking care of Ainsley taught me so much about myself and I would encourage people to try it. Although it may not be forever, love is never wasted," Poschwatta said.
Among the comments on her viral video, plenty of TikTok users praised the 30-year-old for bringing Zora and Ainsley together and saving their lives.
One comment on the post reads: "Ok now they are a bonded pair."
Another TikTok user wrote: "instant besties."
While another person replied: "Wow it's like they always knew each other."
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