Fiona, a poodle mix and Scooter (Dan Brinzac)
Fiona, a poodle mix and Scooter (Dan Brinzac)
Fiona and Scooter, both survivors of harrowing adversity, share a moment in the spotlight yesterday at the ASPCA Awards in The Pierre hotel, where they were named dog and cat of the year.
Fiona, an 11-year-old poodle mix, was honored after her heart-wrenching story drew more than 5 1/2 million views on YouTube.
She was blind in both eyes, covered in dirt and ridden with fleas when she was found in a trash heap behind an auto-body shop in Los Angeles last March.
Two members of the LA animal-rescue group Hope for Paws cared for her and found she would be able to see in one eye if given expensive surgery.
Their YouTube video drew donations from around the world, and Fiona now has a new life with three poodle sisters in the home of an LA family that adopted her.
Five-year-old Scooter the cat — who got along peacefully with Fiona — was found injured and helpless on a Pennsylvania street with no use of his back legs.
A veterinarian built him a wheel cart, and Scooter became a therapy cat.
Also honored at the luncheon were three city law-enforcement officials who helped raid a dogfighting ring in The Bronx and saved 50 pooches being trained to fight.