A 10-week-old feral kitten named Serena is receiving care at Kansas State University after a donated flight arranged by Muddy Paws Rescue, WOWT reported. Serena has twisted leg syndrome and can use only half her paws. Rescue volunteers spent a week trying to catch her before she could be transported from Omaha.
Serena walks on her hocks. Rescue volunteer and veterinary technician Jessi Corbin told WOWT that the kitten gets around pretty well, but said a prompt examination was important. Kansas State experts are expected to focus on improving her quality of life.
A Donated Flight From Millard to Manhattan
The transfer was a donated flight from Millard Airport to Manhattan, Kansas, rather than a road trip. Volunteer pilots Bob and Vicki Dyer covered their time and aircraft costs. With Corbin and Serena aboard, the trip took about an hour and a half, according to the station's report.
Bob Dyer, who has flown dogs and people on Angel Flights, said Serena was his first cat passenger. Vicki Dyer said the couple wanted to give back and love animals.
What Comes Next for Serena
After landing, Corbin sent photos showing Serena with Kansas State veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Muddy Paws Rescue is paying for her care, and WOWT reported she will be ready for adoption once treatment is complete.
Kansas State’s veterinary resources
The Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center says it provides routine animal care as well as specialty services from board-certified veterinarians, including surgery. Kansas State also lists small-animal orthopedic surgery faculty whose clinical work includes canine and feline traumatology and orthopedics, according to the university’s faculty information. These listings describe the center’s services and expertise, not Serena’s specific treatment plan.
Volunteer flights for animals in need aren't unique to Nebraska and Kansas. A nonprofit network of volunteer pilots based in Winter Park, Florida, has flown more than 12,000 rescued dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters to adoptive homes, according to The Times of India. In California, Amelia Air's volunteer pilots fly unwanted dogs from rural kill shelters to urban rescue centers where they have better odds of finding homes, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Elsewhere, volunteer-pilot missions have carried more than just cats and dogs — one network's flights have included a great horned owl relocated from Maryland to a Minnesota sanctuary and a chinchilla awaiting its own ride, per the School of Media and Journalism, Kent State Today.
For now, Serena is in Manhattan while veterinary staff work toward improving her mobility before she is cleared to find a permanent home.
