Abandoned In Woods, These Natural Enemies Are Best Of Friends

While conventional wisdom considers them the worst of enemies, a furry duo rescued from an area park is defying the odds and remaining the best of friends.

Dubbed “Wags and Wiggles,” the pair, rescued from a Sheffield Lake Park, includes an extroverted cat that acts more like a dog and a dog so besotted by the cat, its rescuers had to use the feline to lure the dog to safety.

“A friend of mine was walking her dog in Ferndale Park and saw them huddled together in the woods,” Love-A-Stray volunteer Linda Edens said. “They were trying to protect each other. It was really weird. The dog would not leave cat and the cat would not leave the dog. Eventually the cat came right up to her.”

After putting the cat in the car, Edens, a 7-year volunteer and dog walker, tried with her friend for 45 minutes to catch the dog with no luck.

“It was dark, it was hard to see,” Edens said. Not helping was a bitter cold snap the area was enduring during the Jan. 5 rescue.

They called Love-A-Stray founder Connie Field to help. Love-A-Stray is an Avon Lake-based no-kill animal rescue non-profit that specializes in adopting out abandoned cats and dogs.

“(Field) tried a bunch of different things, including commands,” Edens said.

Field eventually figured out what the dog really wanted was the cat and a new plan was hatched.

“I rolled down the window and showed the dog the cat,” Edens said. “I had the cat by the window. We opened the door and the dog got into the car to be with the cat.”

According to Edens and Field, the reunion  of the pair, dubbed “Wags” and “Wiggles” was joyous.

“I'm not sure we could have lured the dog to the car without the cat; he was very scared,” Field said. “Once the two were together in the car, both instantly calmed down and became very relaxed. When we dropped off Wiggles to the cat division for neuter, Wags whimpered as he looked out the window. When they were reunited after they both were vetted, it was obvious to everyone involved that they have a very special bond. There was a lot of ‘wags’ and ‘wiggles’ going on during their reunion.”

After being cleaned up and neutered, the pair became residents of boarding and rehabilitation center in Avon Lake. Wiggles is the only cat currently permitted in the resort’s dog wing. Both animals are male. 

Love-A-Stray volunteers and Paws By The Lake personnel all agree the cat, which is less than a year old, grew up with the 2-year-old Wags. The cat has even adopted some of the dog's mannerisms.

Wendy Miller, a placement specialist with Love-A-Stray said the organization would like to get the pair adopted or fostered as soon as possible, due to the costs involved with boarding them. Miller, who adopted a dog, “Grace,” last year, said hearing stories about abandoned pets like Wags and Wiggles is difficult.

“The hardest part is trying to make sense of the situations like these,” Miller said.

Both animals are healthy and are ready for adoption or foster care… together. Interested parties can contact Field by email at  lasvolunteer@yahoo.com.