Norwood Cat “Ginger” Saved After Car Accident-August 30, 1997

A midsummer accident, a case of mistaken identity, and a network of compassionate animal lovers have given an adventurous Norwood feline a second lease on life. Affectionately nicknamed “Peg-Leg Petey,” the orange-and-white cat—whose real name is actually Ginger—survived being struck by a car and undergoing major surgery, thanks to two caring neighbors, the Neponset Valley Humane Society (NVHS) in Canton, and a bit of serendipity.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

The drama began when Ginger wandered several blocks away from his home. A passing driver accidentally struck the cat and immediately began searching nearby houses to find the owner. The driver knocked on the door of two Norwood residents, Valerie Dwyer, 65, and Dee Beasley.

Seeing an injured orange-and-white cat that matched the size and soft fur of their own pet, the women assumed it was their cat, Watson, who had suffered two broken legs. Without hesitation, Dwyer and Beasley rushed the animal to an emergency veterinary center in Walpole.

Upon returning home, however, they were greeted by a startling sight: Watson was sitting calmly on their front porch. The women immediately called the veterinary hospital to clarify the mix-up, but insisted on keeping the cat’s treatment going until the true owner could be located. “We wanted to keep him alive until the owner was found,” Dwyer said.

Rescue Effort and Mounting Bills

The emergency veterinary care cost Dwyer and Beasley $450 out of pocket. When two days passed without the owner coming forward, the hospital contacted the Neponset Valley Humane Society, which stepped in to fund $1,000 in critical surgery to repair the cat’s broken legs.

“We were glad that we were able to help the cat, but it’s an awful lot of money to spend on one kitty — more money than we can spend,” said Bonney Brown, president of the humane society.

A Happy Reunion—and a Plea for Help

Eventually, the mystery was solved when the humane society received a call from an elderly Norwood widow who had been frantically searching for her missing pet and tracked him down through the Walpole emergency center. Wishing to remain anonymous because she lives alone, the 69-year-old owner expressed profound relief.

“He’s a lucky Ginger because I couldn’t have afforded to spend all that money on an operation,” she said. Now safely back home and recuperating, Ginger is adjusting to a strict indoor lifestyle: “He’ll stay in the house whether he likes it or not.”

While the owner made a donation to the humane society, she could not cover the entirety of the medical bills. As a result, the Neponset Valley Humane Society is actively seeking public donations to help absorb the surgery costs and repay the two women who initially stepped up. Brown noted that recovering these funds will allow the non-profit to help other animals in need.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger