Val's Story

Val was brought to an accredited Florida facility after a farmer shot her for killing his chickens. She sustained significant injuries to her left eye and front left leg. During her initial exam and x-rays, the Florida team discovered that Val’s front left limb was deformed. The x-rays showed that she had sustained a fractured sacrum in another previous injury that aligned with injuries sustained when hit by a vehicle. They decided to amputate her left leg to give her a fighting chance. The team also discovered that Val did not have vision in her injured eye. After recovering from her injuries, Val required extractions of previously broken canine teeth. The Florida team decided it was in Val’s best interest to remain in captivity rather than release her to attempt survival in the wild. Despite her trauma, Val has recovered and has come to love sanctuary life.

In early 2023, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) agreed to take 33 wild cats from the Florida sanctuary accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). Val was one of those 33 cats and now calls Freedom Field her forever home. Val is highly independent and wild and prefers to avoid people. She spends much of her time in the comfort of her igloo, where she feels safe and can still observe her surroundings.