Have you been following the saga of the tubby tabby found prowling a patio in South Jersey? Weighing in at 44 pounds—just 2 pounds shy of the 1987 Guinness World Record for overweight cats—it was taken to the Camden County Animal Shelter where employees dubbed the furry feline “Captain Chunk” until a closer examination brought about a name change to “Princess Chunky”. But wait. There’s more.
Princess Chunky began making the media rounds, including interviews yesterday by Fox New York and MSNBC, and TV spots on “Good Morning America” and “Live with Regis and Kelly” where a veterinarian examined “Princess Chunky” and pronounced her… a him!
But here’s the sad part of the story. It turns out that the portly pussycat had belonged to an elderly woman who lost her home to foreclosure and had been unable to find a new home for her kitty. Oh, and his name is actually “Powder”.
All the media attention has resulted in several serious offers to adopt “Powder”, so it’s likely he’ll go to a loving family. But I have to wonder about someone who would abandon a pet. Sure, the owner lost her home. And maybe she doesn’t have transportation or know anyone willing to help. But what prevented her from calling the shelter? Fortunately, things worked out. This time.