Dr. O'Keefe holds HBC

I stopped in to Riverside Drive Animal Care Center yesterday and Dr. O’Keefe happened to be around. When she saw me, she asked if B and O could help with a special needs kitty that she had nicknamed, HBC.  HBC originally stood for “Hit BY Car.”  A nice couple found the tiger tabby cat by the side of a busy road, stumbling around and acting traumatized. They thought he had been “Hit by a car.” So like any good samaritans, they rushed the cat to Riverside. After an initial investigative check up, Dr. O’Keefe decided that HBC had not been hit, but instead had a neurological condition due to having a type of larvae in his brain.  

Poor HBC, who is now Humphrey Bob Christenson, had vision and stability problems. He had problems walking and would stumble and fall.  With treatment for the larvae, Dr. O’Keefe has noticed significant changes in his movement and his vision.  She now thinks his sight has returned in one eye.  Dr. O’Keefe feels that with continued treatment, HBC will improve even more.  While he might not ever be completely normal, she feels he has a good chance of regaining much of what was lost due to the larvae.

Now here is the problem.  Dr. O’Keefe can’t keep HBC at Riverside forever.  She needs to find a quiet place for him to recover and has graciously offered to donate her services to give HBC vaccines and other medical care if someone will foster him or adopt him.

HBC is very docile and loving.  He wants nothing more than to be held and carried around sort of like a big stuffed toy.  When Dr. O’Keefe was holding him he just hung from her arms in a very contented manner.  He reminded me of the comic strip, “Calvin and Hobbes.”  Maybe the “H” could stand for “Hobbes” who was the stuffed tiger toy in the cartoon strip, who through Calvin’s love magically came to life.  HBC just needs love to return him to life, as well.

If you are interested in fostering or adopting HBC, please either contact us or Riverside at 614-766-1222.  Dr. O’Keefe has fallen in love with this big guy and wants to give him a chance after all he has been through.

HBC or "hit by car"