The nomination "Responsible for those ...": Doctor Sofia Sorokina refused to euthanize a hopeless cat, but on the contrary gave him a second life.
The story that happened in the small town of Kyshtym in the Chelyabinsk region in January touched the hearts of many. Ugolek, a three-year-old cat, almost fell victim to humans twice. By a happy coincidence, he was carried out of the fire by a firefighter, writes AiF – Chelyabinsk. It was because of its appearance that the cat got its nickname: it really looked like a charred firebrand. The fur burned in the fire was falling off, the ears were charred, the eyes did not open.
Compassionate people brought the animal to the Kyshtym veterinary clinic. But not for treatment. And for euthanasia. People explained to the doctors that there was nothing to treat the cat, they were not the owners, and there was little chance that he would pull through. And then Ugolek got lucky again. Sofia Sorokina, Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, met on the way. She also owns a veterinary clinic in Kyshtym.
"I decided to give him a second chance. Blood was taken to assess carbon dioxide damage to internal organs, intravenous injections of electrolyte solutions, painkillers, and sedatives were started. Fortunately, the cat had an excellent appetite. After a few days, burns began to appear. And the scale amazed. The skin began to break and peel off, but Ugolek did not give up and courageously endured all the procedures," said Sofya Sorokina.
Ugolek had to undergo anesthesia twice, the first time when doctors tried to wash him of soot, the second during sterilization and surgical treatment of wounds. After all, some fingers have melted and stuck together. At first, Sofia took over all the treatment of Ugolek, but then concerned citizens joined in.
It took a long time to fight for Ugolek's life. Only three weeks later, doctors began rehabilitation. Even though it was painful for the cat, the worst was over. Despite the terrible burns, Ugolek miraculously retained his eyesight.
"It's hard to describe the pain that a cat experiences every day while the burned skin is dying off. Those who have had even the slightest burns understand how painful it is. The situation is worsened by the fact that such burns take a very long time to heal. And this is only half the way, and there is a long process of regeneration of the skin on the paws, muzzle, and ears ahead," the veterinarians wrote.
The veterinarians later said that there were no victims in the fire where Ugolek was injured. That is, the surviving owners did not even rush to pick up the pet, although the news about the cat rescued from the fire spread throughout the Southern Urals. According to Sofia Sorokina, a little later a man called the clinic, introduced himself as the owner and promised to come for Ugolek. But it didn't go beyond words.
"The cat was scared; he was in shock. Those who saw him later wept, imagining the horror he had endured. But he survived. Twice! Ugolek won this life. I am grateful to every person who took part in his fate! Thank you to everyone who brought him food, diapers, and who paid for medical expenses at the clinic!" wrote Sofia Sorokina on her VK page during the treatment of the poor guy.
And after a while, Ugolek got lucky for the third time. He moved to a neighboring town for permanent residence, where he found a home. The new owners of the cat, Sergey and Tatiana, having learned about the story of saving him, came to the clinic, agreed with the doctors, and when the cat got better, they took him in.
"My wife Tatiana saw the publication about Ugolek. And almost immediately I made a decision: we’ll take him into our cat herd. We are both cat lovers, and we acutely feel the pain of all whiskered-tailed cats. In this story, we are just a family that has taken a tenth to its nine faces, albeit burned and badly battered by life. And the real hero is Sofia, who saved this incredibly resilient and brave beast," says his new owner Sergey Dmitriev about Ugolek.
In the Kyshtym veterinary clinic, a patient with such burns is the first. Although stray cats and dogs in serious condition are, unfortunately, not uncommon. Most of the costs for the treatment of such animals are at the personal expense of the head of the clinic, Sofia Sorokina.
"I believe that every living being has the right to life. And it doesn't matter where the animal comes from, whether it has a breed or regalia, it's alive. And that's the only reason I'm fighting for everyone. They feel pain just like us," says Sofya Sorokina.
Well, according to the new owners, Ugolek is physically practically healthy, they rate his emotional state at a solid four. Playful and active, he rightfully became one of the Dmitriev family's cat pride.
Photos from the personal archive of Sofia Sorokina and Sergey Dmitriev.