Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine

Left to right: ECC Intern Dr. Chen Lin, fourth-year veterinary student Chloe Letsinger, OVDL Quality Assurance Manager Donna Mulrooney and Wyatt, fourth-year veterinary students Jennifer Lewis and Rosalie Duval.

August 20, 2024
Words, photo and video by Jens Odegaard

Donna Mulrooney was driving to work early one morning a few weeks back when she saw a lump in the road. At first glance it looked like a dead skunk.

She swerved into the other lane to avoid it, but as she drove by, “I saw it move,” she said. “I just thought: Oh my gosh! That kind of looks like a kitten.” 

Mulrooney pulled over, turned on her hazard lights and went to check on the lump. 

She was right. It was a white, black and tan tabby kitten. 

“He wasn't completely smashed, but he wasn't in good condition,” she said. “He was panting heavily and couldn't move really well.”

Into her hands and then into the car he went. 

Mulrooney headed on to work with her injured passenger. 

It’s Off To Work We Go

Mulrooney is the quality assurance manager for the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which is housed in the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. The college is also home to the Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

“I brought him into the small animal hospital, and they took him in right away,” Mulrooney said.

The kitten was rushed to the hospital’s emergency and critical care unit, also known as ECC. “The initial examination revealed he was unstable, in shock and had evidence of trauma, including an abrasion on his right upper lip and nostril, rapid breathing and an obtunded state,” said Dr. Thandeka Ngwenyama, one of the hospital’s board-certified ECC specialists. In addition to Ngwenyama, “the care team included four senior veterinary students on their ECC rotation, an ECC intern and ICU technicians,” she said.

The team got the kitten stabilized with oxygen, pain meds and liquids. “After that we did several tests making sure that he had no fractures or internal bleeding. Fortunately, there were none of those very critical findings,” said Dr. Chen Lin, ECC intern.     

However, there was some concern that the kitten may have a sacrococcygeal (the area where the vertebrae of the spine and tail join) injury. “We were really worried about him. He was dull. He wasn't super responsive. It was clear that he'd had some injuries with his neurologic system,” said fourth-year veterinary student Chloe Letsinger who was on rotation when the kitten arrived. “His hind legs were splaying out. When he walked he wasn't able to hold himself really well. His tail was just drooping, and then he was very scared.” 

Dr. Ngwenyama suspected this was from his tail being jerked as he was injured or due to “sacral fractures not visible on the radiographs. This injury may be temporary or permanent, and we typically allow a month for healing before determining prognosis.” 

A Name And A Home

While the team worked on the kitten on the north side of Magruder Hall where the hospital’s small animal clinic is located, Mulrooney worked in her office in the lab on the south side of the building. 

Throughout the day, she received updates on the kitten’s condition.

The kitten ended up needing to stay overnight, and the next day Mulrooney took him home. 

“We fell in love with him, and we named him Wyatt,” Mulrooney said of herself and her husband. “He's a survivor, and we were thinking of Wyatt Earp.” 

A week after she found him, Mulrooney brought Wyatt back in for a visit with the folks that helped get him back on his feet. 

“Today, I see him and he’s walking perfectly” said Lin. “I’m really impressed by what kind of improvement he’s had so far.” 

“It's really heartwarming to get to see him here with a mom who cares about him so much! And to see him looking really like a normal kitten at this point,” added Letsinger. “I'm grateful that I'm here and got to experience this case. Grateful for the guidance of Dr. Lin and Dr. Ngwenyama in stabilizing this kitty – definitely skills I'll take into the real world after school and be able to practice in the future.”

In addition to the human care, Wyatt’s case received some financial assistance from the hospital’s Dr. Olive K. Britt Animal Care Fund, which helps cover some treatment and care costs for rescue animals or animals whose owners can’t afford life-saving treatment. The fund was established in 2006 at the Oregon State University Foundation by the estate of OSU alumnae Dr. Olive K. Britt. Over the years, numerous other donors have contributed to the fund, helping countless animals at the hospital.  

Over the next few months, Mulrooney will continue to bring Wyatt in for periodic check-ups. For now, things are looking excellent with no major concerns for long-term neurological damage. He’s settling into his new home.   

“He's doing great every day,” said Mulrooney. “He's getting stronger and he's getting to know the other cats that I have at home. One of the cats is completely ignoring him, but the other cat is pretty curious,” she said with a chuckle.