Trucker The Cat.

Jesse Joe · 12-14-2007, 08:58 AM

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Trucker the cat survived a threeday journey to Nfld. inside a truck.

'Trucker' the cat survives Incredible Journey

Feline stow-away survives three-day truck journey from Moncton to Gander

TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF Published Friday December 14th, 2007

GANDER, NFLD-LBDR - The incredible journey of a little black cat from Moncton isn't quite over yet -- he's still looking for his owner.
Bonnie Harris, manager of the SPCA here, said she got a call on Tuesday night from a truck driver who was delivering a shipment of goods from Co-op Atlantic in Moncton to the company's warehouse in Gander.
"When he opened his doors there was this little cat waiting for him," says Harris.
"He hadn't opened his doors the entire journey so the little fellow was without food or water the entire time and he was pretty cold too, I imagine."
Imagine it indeed.
'Trucker,' as he has been named at least temporarily by the SPCA staff, left Moncton on a frosty Sunday morning, crossed the barren wastes of the Tantramar and windy Cobequid Pass, then up Mount Tom, from whose lofty peak he descended into Antigonish County and up again into the rugged Cape Breton highlands.
Crossing the Canso Strait, Trucker then made his way to North Sydney, trundled his way to the ferry and, jostling amongst the noisy, exhaust-belching trucks that were his fellow travellers, braved the heavy seas of the North Atlantic Ocean to the forbidding, rocky coast of Port-Aux Basques.
Thence, another grueling eight hours to frozen Gander and finally, shelter.
"They fed him at the warehouse first thing," says Harris, "but he was still quite dehydrated when we got him and he has a bit of a runny eye -- probably a touch of cold in there -- but other than that he is in good spirits."
Harris figures the slenderly built unneutered male is anywhere from eight months to a year and a half old and it might well be that he was a stray before he took his big chance aboard the Co-op Express.
"He's not emaciated but his hip-bones are sticking out and you can feel his ribs, so I have a strong feeling he's been on his own for more than three days."
However Harris also has a strong feeling that Trucker might indeed be lost, because it appears he has had an owner at one time.
The Times & Transcript was alerted to the story by columnist Brian Poirier of Hump Day fame, who posted Trucker on his blog.
No responses to the blog had been registered by a claimant late yesterday.
Even so, Trucker is completely enamoured of humans, says Harris, a sure-fire sign he has been around them a lot at some time in his short life.
"He's extremely friendly," she says. "Once you've got him in your arms there's no getting him out."
If you think you know Trucker by some other name, you can contact the Gander SPCA at (709) 651-3002 or email ganderspca@hotmail.com.
Harris notes that if he isn't claimed in 10 to 14 days he'll be put up for adoption and Monctonian cat-lovers are free to apply.

timetraveler · 12-14-2007, 09:47 AM

I wish sweet Trucker all the best in the world & I hope that he does find a good home to go to. I lost one of my sweet little furry "children", Pup, nearly two weeks ago, and I'm hoping that the reason he's missing is because someone took a liking to him & made him a part of their family. Trucker deserves the same.

Jesse Joe · 12-14-2007, 09:59 AM

Exactly right timetraveler. Poor animals in this world, sometimes have life so hard, they deserve better.

Jesse Joe · 12-18-2007, 12:01 PM

Trucking company boss to bring home 'Trucker' the cat

TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
Published Tuesday December 18th, 2007

Trucker, the stray cat who survived an incredible journey from Moncton to Newfoundland in the back of a tractor-trailer, will likely be coming back to Moncton, but probably not before the new year.
Jeff Worton, president and CEO of Focus Logistics in Moncton, confirmed yesterday that he would adopt the wayward feline and pay for his plane trip home if his real owners are not found by the end of the week.
"When I read about it in the paper I knew I had to do something," Worton said yesterday.
"I'm a cat lover, my mother had always taken in strays so I wanted to do something. If it's somebody's cat, I'll pay the airfare to have it flown home. If no one steps forward by the end of the week, I'll take him and bring him back to Moncton. We'll adopt him as long as he's healthy."
Worton said he already has three cats and a dog so one more probably won't make much of a difference in the home.
And as the owner of trucking business, he can appreciate how cold and miserable it must have been for Trucker in the back of a tractor-trailer without food or water for several days on his wayward journey to Newfoundland.
"It must have been awful cold."
Bonnie Harris, manager of the SPCA in Gander, Newfoundland, said yesterday that Trucker is doing fine and putting on a little bit of weight, but his true owners have not yet come forward. In keeping with SPCA policy, they will wait until Friday. If his owners don't claim him by then, he will be put up for adoption.
Worton said the adoption process would likely take a couple of weeks, so it is unlikely Trucker will be back in Moncton by Christmas. He estimates the airfare to bring the cat home would be about $400.
The story of Trucker's incredible journey made news last week after the SCPA in Gander got a call from a truck driver who was delivering a shipment of goods from Co-op Atlantic in Moncton to the company's warehouse in Gander.
It was presumed that Trucker stowed away inside the trailer sometime before Sunday morning, Dec. 9, and was locked in before the two-day trip to Newfoundland, which included the ferry crossing from North Sydney to Port-Aux Basques.
Harris said it's likely the cat had nothing to eat or drink during the journey but he was in reasonably good condition when he arrived at the Gander shelter.
"He's doing fine now. He's got a bit of an upset stomach, but that's common for strays. They are usually scroungers who eat what they can and then get an upset stomach when they get good food."
Harris noted that Trucker has tested negative for feline leukemia and appears to be gaining a bit of weight and getting better.
"He's extremely friendly," she said last week. "Once you've got him in your arms there's no getting him out."
n If you think you know Trucker by some other name, you can contact the Gander SPCA at (709) 651-3002 or email ganderspca@hotmail.com.

patybear · 12-29-2007, 11:39 AM

awww,what a cute little kitty.I wish I could adopt him.I live in a 'no pets' apartment,so unfortunately-its not possible.
patybear

timetraveler · 12-31-2007, 12:41 AM

I always say a little prayer to St. Francis of Assissi when it comes to the welfare & well being of animals.

Jesse Joe · 01-03-2008, 09:33 AM

Trucker the cat expected home Jan. 3

If Trucker the cat had a Christmas wish to return to Moncton, it will likely come true -- even if it's a few days late.
Trucker, the wayward cat who survived a very cold incredible journey from Moncton to Newfoundland, is expected to fly back to Moncton on Thursday, Jan. 3.
Jeff Worton of Focus Logistics said Trucker will undergo a few medical tests and be neutered in Newfoundland before he comes home to his new family. Trucker is scheduled to go to the vet on Dec. 27 and will need a few days recovery time before his next journey. If all goes well, he should come home by courier plane on Jan. 3.
Trucker's story made headlines when he was discovered in the back of a tractor-trailer after a long trip by highway and ferry from Moncton to Gander earlier this month. It is presumed Trucker stowed away inside the trailer sometime before Sunday morning, Dec. 9, and was locked in before the two-day trip to Newfoundland, which included the ferry crossing from North Sydney to Port-Aux Basques. The driver took the cat to the Gander SPCA, where he was named "Trucker."
The cat had nothing to eat or drink during the journey but he was in reasonably good condition when he arrived at the Gander shelter. The SPCA never heard from the cat's real owners, so he was put up for adopton.
Worton, president and CEO of Focus Logistics in Moncton, said he would be willing to adopt Trucker if he remains healthy and pay to have him flown home. In an extra effort, Wes Penwarden, owner of Altimax Courier of Moncton offered to have Trucker picked up at the SPCA and delivered to the Gander Airport. Arrangements were made for travel aboard a regular courier flight.

timetraveler · 01-07-2008, 10:37 PM

i wonder how the little sweetheart fared on the trip?

Jesse Joe · 01-11-2008, 10:17 AM

VIKTOR PIVOVAROV/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
Trucker the cat greets Jeff Worton after arriving in Moncton on a plane last night.

Trucker the cat comes home

Feline who survived trip to Newfoundland flown home to new owners in Memramcook

TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF Published Friday January 11th, 2008

Trucker the wayward cat, who made headlines late last year after surviving a journey from Moncton to Newfoundland without food and water in a freezing trailer, was welcomed home by his new owner last night.
Trucker was flown to Moncton from Gander aboard a courier plane and met at the Greater Moncton International Airport by businessman Jeff Worton.
Worton, who runs Focus Logistics in Moncton, agreed to bring home the wayward feline after his real owners did not come forward. In doing so, he received many letters and e-mails of support from local businesses and cat lovers.
Worton, who has other pets, made arrangements for Trucker's trip home. The lucky feline will soon be on his way to his new owners -- Bryon Chapman and Kim Bartlett of Memramcook .
Trucker's story made headlines when he was discovered in the back of a tractor-trailer after a long trip by highway and ferry from Moncton to Gander, Newfoundland.
It is presumed Trucker stowed away inside the trailer sometime before Sunday morning, Dec. 9, and was locked in before the two-day trip to Newfoundland, which included the ferry crossing from North Sydney to Port-Aux Basques.

charlene · 01-11-2008, 04:09 PM

that darn cat has been to all the places I would like to see!
lol

Jesse Joe · 01-11-2008, 05:50 PM

It's a cat's world Charlene. lol

Nightingale · 01-13-2008, 02:03 AM

Hi everyone...newbie trying out the test forum.

What a great story. I love animals and have thirteen cats that I have rescued.
Got a little black kitty that looks just like Trucker but his name is Fuzzy Boo-Boo...lol.
Hey, don't laugh....it's a perfectly good name for a kitty.

Nice to be here and I am excited to meet other Gordon Lightfoot fans.

Jesse Joe · 01-13-2008, 08:53 AM

Hi Nightingale,

Welcome, your among Lightfoot fans here for sure.

Kerstin · 01-13-2008, 01:36 PM

Hi Nightingale,
welcome! 13 cats? Wow. And I always thought I had a lot of pets. Way to go!

Nightingale · 01-14-2008, 12:49 AM

Jesse Joe and Kerstin,
thanks for the nice welcome.
This is really a great site to visit. I have learned a great deal about Gordon Lightfoot and his music and I am enjoying all the pictures, articles, links and discussions.
I am not only a newbie at the forum but also as a fan. I have a long way to go but I am looking forward to eventually hearing all of Gordon's music.

Hey Jesse Joe, I saw on your profile that you like John Mellencamp.
He doesn't live that far away from me. I am about an hour away from his place.
I have never met him but I know lots of people that have. They say he is really nice and easy to talk to.

Kerstin, I am happy to meet another animal lover.
I have seven cats that are in the house and six little wild cats that live outside. They are true feral cats and I have worked really hard to get them tamed down enough to be able to take care of them. I have igloo houses for them and they have all been live trapped and had their shots and spayed.
The inside kitties are just plain spoiled and lazy..lol. They share the house with me and my husband and one sweet, old dog named Pepper.
Over the years I have had baby rabbits, raccoons and birds to raise.
My family has nick named me "Ellie Mae" from the old Beverly Hillbillies show...lol.
I do love critters!

Yuri · 01-14-2008, 02:49 AM

Nightingale - Once you have a taste Gord's music you'll find yourself addicted so understand there is no cure and you'll have to spend your days with the rest of us maniacs in this "Corfidian" asylum - babbling in "Gordspeak".

Seriously, you'll find this site populated with a great number of enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans who will be happy to discuss all aspects of Gord's music and then some.

Welcome and I hope you enjoy your stay...

Yuri

Jesse Joe · 01-14-2008, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightingale

Jesse Joe and Kerstin,
thanks for the nice welcome.

Hey Jesse Joe, I saw on your profile that you like John Mellencamp.
He doesn't live that far away from me. I am about an hour away from his place.
I have never met him but I know lots of people that have. They say he is really nice and easy to talk to.

I do love critters!

Hey Nightingale,

You live that close to John Mellencamp, do you want to be my friend??? {lol} I followed his career, interviews etc... After Gordon Lightfoot of course, this American rocker never ceases to amaze me. Great songwriter, good song topics. I like what he stands for.

I know in the 80's he was living on a farm in Indiana, but since then he's had a huge house built {mansion} somewhere in the woods. Is this the new place that you live an hour away from ?

Here is a pic of that place...

This one here is the estate...

charlene · 01-14-2008, 11:47 AM

Welcome to CORFID!
there's animal lovers, train lovers, canoe lovers, plane lovers, Lightfoot lovers here..the list is endless..
have fun!
Char

timetraveler · 01-14-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightingale

Hi everyone...newbie trying out the test forum.

What a great story. I love animals and have thirteen cats that I have rescued.
Got a little black kitty that looks just like Trucker but his name is Fuzzy Boo-Boo...lol.
Hey, don't laugh....it's a perfectly good name for a kitty.

Nice to be here and I am excited to meet other Gordon Lightfoot fans.

Fuzzy Boo Boo isn't anymore odd a name for a cat than the one I gave to one of my kitties. I named the little darling Pup, and his brother is named Pete. So welcome to the group Nightingale.

Nightingale · 01-15-2008, 12:45 AM

Thank You so much everyone,
You have made me feel very welcome and happy to be here.

Yuri, I am so looking forward to talking music, Gordon's and other artists as well, with all of you. He is such a talented artist and I am really happy to have re-connected with his music. For so many years I have only loved what they play on the radio and I am finding out that most of his best offerings are hidden away on his albums and never got any airplay.
Finding new music that I love and have a true communion with is pretty much a spiritual experience for me. There is nothing I love more and it doesn't happen very often. It truly is a special adventure for me and it looks like I will have some new friends to help me on my way.
What more could I ask for?

Jesse Joe, I think that is his mansion in Bloomington, IN. I don't know a lot about his house/houses here in Indiana but I do know that he has an estate in southern IN. and a farm in his old hometown. A friend of mine has an ex husband that worked on the construction of his house in Bloomington and said it was huge and everything in it was top of the line...he also said you would never meet a nicer guy.
I like what he stands for, too. He has some great music.
Yep, I will be happy to be your friend...lol. You can come here and we'll go crash the mansion gates together...lol.

Char...your post about Trucker getting to travel every where you wanted to go cracked me up..lol. As far as the "things we love" list, I like all of that except canoes and planes. Everyone I ever go canoeing with always thinks it more fun to dump me in the river than it is to float downstream...not fun for me...lol. Don't like to fly that much because I don't have any control. That tells you alot about me.
I loved your interview with Gordon. You did a great job and held it together much better than I would. I always get star struck when I meet someone that I love that much...lol.

Timetraveler, Pup and Pete...that's cute! I read above that you lost Pup. I hope he came home but if not, I hope too that he is safe with someone else and their family. The same thing has happened to me before and it is an awful feeling when you aren't sure where or how they are. My animals are like my kids so I know how it feels when something goes wrong.
Hey, I like cooking and classic rock, too. Moody Blues, ELO, Alan Parsons, Styx...just to name a few..lol.

Yuri · 01-15-2008, 09:32 PM

Nightingale - Classic Rock - Really??? You've got my attention! Gordon Lightfoot will always be special to me but I grew up on Rock. Deep Purple, Mountain, Cream, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Iron Butterfly, The Who, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Guess Who, Black Sabbath, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Blue Cheer, Uriah Heep, Neil Young, Rush, Emerson. Lake & Palmer, Styx, Boston & The Moody Blues - Just to name a few!

Canoeing is a love that both Gord and I shared in younger days. Gord's music was always the soundtrack to my wilderness adventures. If your friends find laughs in dumping you in the river it sounds to me as if your problem lies not with canoeing but with the campers you bring along.

""Love many, trust a few, and always paddle your own canoe".........Old Proverb

Yuri

Kathy Number Four · 01-15-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightingale

Hi everyone...newbie trying out the test forum.

I love animals and have thirteen cats that I have rescued.
Nice to be here and I am excited to meet other Gordon Lightfoot fans.

Dear Nightingale:

Welcome to the "Gord Board"....
And it's always great to meet a fellow animal lover too

.
I have 6 cats, and I'm glad to know there's someone out there who has more than me

. (At one time I was up to nine, but over the past 5 years or so, three have passed away due to old age.) All but three of the nine have been rescued strays. I don't think of six cats as "a lot", but when I tell people I have six, I get that "are you nuts?" look. I guess being a single middle-aged woman, I'm a walking stereotype. I could never understand why people consider it more acceptable to have a lot of dogs than a lot of cats. Cats are wonderful pets

don't you agree? (I love dogs, too, but I think they require a lot more attention than cats.)

Nightingale · 01-16-2008, 01:12 AM

Yuri, classic rock...really? Yes, it's what I grew up on, too. I see by your profile that you and I are the same age.
Yes, I love all the music you mentioned except for Yes and Rush. I don't know why I have never liked either band's sound or their lead vocals that much.
I used to sing myself to sleep listening to Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland) and any record by the Moody Blues. The MB's are still my favorite band and their music is really special to me. I have seen them in concert a gazillion times over the years and have been lucky to meet all of them.
Uriah Heep's "Easy living"...Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water"...Anything off of "Tea for the Tillerman" or "Tapestry"... Neil Young's "Harvest"...doesn't get any better than that. They are all a part of the soundtrack of my growing up years. I love those songs and so many more...lol.
Mountain???? I don't think I know any of their music. King Crimson...I have had so many people tell me that I would like their music but I swear I have never heard one song by them...lol. Were they really popular at some point or kind of an underground band?
I always go camping with relatives...lol...Need I say more about that?
I will remember your wise proverb in the future.

Kathy number four,
Happy to get to know another animal lover. That's so great that you rescue cats and give them a home. I wouldn't worry about what other people think or say about your kind hearted attitude for cats....if you and the kitties are happy to heck with the rest of it...lol. Trust me, I have had plenty of times in life when my animals could sense something was wrong and they were my best buddies through whatever was going on. They know more and love more than many people realize.
I have had lots of dogs, too. I can't say that I prefer one over the other....they each add their own kind of energy and love to a household but I do agree that cats are easier to take care of.
I think there is always room for one more animal...lol. Cats rule the house around here but mine are kind enough to let me sit on the sofa once in a while...lol.
California...great place to live. I could use some of your sunshine and warmth right about now. Indiana is pretty gloomy and cold in Jan.

Jesse Joe · 01-16-2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightingale

Yuri, classic rock...really? Yes, it's what I grew up on, too. I see by your profile that you and I are the same age.
Yes, I love all the music you mentioned except for Yes and Rush. I don't know why I have never liked either band's sound or their lead vocals that much.
I used to sing myself to sleep listening to Jimi Hendrix (Electric Ladyland) and any record by the Moody Blues. The MB's are still my favorite band and their music is really special to me. I have seen them in concert a gazillion times over the years and have been lucky to meet all of them.
Uriah Heep's "Easy living"...Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water"...Anything off of "Tea for the Tillerman" or "Tapestry"... Neil Young's "Harvest"...doesn't get any better than that. They are all a part of the soundtrack of my growing up years. I love those songs and so many more...lol.
Mountain???? I don't think I know any of their music. King Crimson...I have had so many people tell me that I would like their music but I swear I have never heard one song by them...lol. Were they really popular at some point or kind of an underground band?
I always go camping with relatives...lol...Need I say more about that?
I will remember your wise proverb in the future.

Kathy number four,
Happy to get to know another animal lover. That's so great that you rescue cats and give them a home. I wouldn't worry about what other people think or say about your kind hearted attitude for cats....if you and the kitties are happy to heck with the rest of it...lol. Trust me, I have had plenty of times in life when my animals could sense something was wrong and they were my best buddies through whatever was going on. They know more and love more than many people realize.
I have had lots of dogs, too. I can't say that I prefer one over the other....they each add their own kind of energy and love to a household but I do agree that cats are easier to take care of.
I think there is always room for one more animal...lol. Cats rule the house around here but mine are kind enough to let me sit on the sofa once in a while...lol.
California...great place to live. I could use some of your sunshine and warmth right about now. Indiana is pretty gloomy and cold in Jan.

Listen here Nightingale, King Crimsom...

They have very long songs...

YouTube - In the court of the crimson king

YouTube - King Crimson - Epitaph ( Live )

Jesse Joe · 01-16-2008, 11:07 AM

""Love many, trust a few, and always paddle your own canoe".........Old Proverb

I like this Yuri...


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