Adam captures hearts across U.S.

<p>When a call comes into the Animal Hospital of Cotati these days, it's anyone's guess where in the United States the call is coming from.</p><p>What is certain is that the call is about Adam, the now-famous burned, but recovering kitten.</p><p>To track Adam's notoriety, hospital staff has begun keeping a map of the United States, using a yellow highlighter to check off the particular state the call is coming from.</p><p>"Ninety percent of all the calls I've gotten, about 100 of them, have been about Adam," said Heather Rommel, a hospital receptionist.</p><p>Rommel said the hospital has taken about 40 credit card donations from people all over the country who are hoping the burned kitten pulls through.</p><p>Adam was set on fire inside a cage on the banks of Paulin Creek in Santa Rosa's Apple Valley neighborhood on June 21. Eyewitness accounts of the incident have led to the arrest of two teenage girls that police believe committed the crime.</p><p>Adam was among six feral kittens and an adult cat that were trapped June 19 by a resident and were to be spayed and neutered by Forgotten Felines.</p><p>The resident, who was working independently of Forgotten Felines, left the caged animals unattended overnight outside his apartment and two of the cages containing the kittens were taken.</p><p>A kitten that is believed to be one of Adam's siblings was found and caught Thursday afternoon in the back yard of a Papago Court residence, not far from where Adam was torched, according to Jennifer Kirchner, executive director of Forgotten Felines.</p><p>Kirchner said the Papago Court resident reported seeing two black kittens that are the same age and color as Adam. She said the resident was attempting to capture the other kitten using a humane trap provided by animal control officials.</p><p>"Animal control left her a trap and she was successful in trapping one of the kittens," said Kirchner, adding that the kitten is male and has been given the name Sampson.</p><p>Animal control officials investigating the case have said they believed Adam's siblings were set free and that they have found no evidence they were harmed. Kirchner said the discovery of a second kitten should allay some fears.</p><p>"This should put to rest the fear that the other kittens were tortured," said Kirchner.</p><p>Meanwhile, a major skin grafting procedure for Adam that was scheduled for late this week has been postponed until Tuesday to allow the feline to build his strength. The procedure, an attempt to cover portions of his back where burned and dead skin has been removed, is the most involved to date.</p><p>Adam, who is now about three months old, has undergone three surgeries since he was brought to the Animal Hospital of Cotati with second- and third-degree burns over 45 percent of his body.</p><p>"The longer his back is exposed, the more he's at risk of infection," said Tina Wright, lead nurse at the Animal Hospital of Cotati.</p><p>Adam's previous surgical procedures include the removal of burned tips of his ears, the amputation of his tail, and pulling up skin from his sides to cover the surface of his back where damaged skin was removed.</p><p>"About 25 percent of the area that was exposed is now covered," said Wright, who has become Adam's principal caregiver when the hospital closes its doors at night.</p><p>Every night, Wright takes Adam home and watches over him, often setting an alarm clock to wake her up every three or four hours to render medical treatment. The periods right after Adam's surgeries require round-the-clock care.</p><p>Thursday afternoon, Adam made the most of his break between surgeries.</p><p>With the lower part of his body wrapped in bandaging that resembled a baby diaper, Adam played, ate and even pawed at his kitty litter.</p><p>The kitten's extensive medical care has thus far reached between $30,000 and $40,000, said Wright.</p><p>The amount does not include nursing care Wright provides every night when she takes Adam home. Nor does it include the specialized surgery being provided by veterinarian Lisa Alexander of the Animal Care Center in Rohnert Park.</p><p>Forgotten Felines is paying for much of Adam's medical expenses.</p><p>Kirchner, the organization's executive director, is also reporting a groundswell of interest in Adam, likely due to a report of the kitten's condition that went out over the Associated Press wire.</p><p>"By eight o'clock last night, we started to be bombarded by phones all over the United States," said Kirchner. "People are appalled and shocked. They want to help in any way possible and support our efforts in taking care of Adam."</p><p>Kirchner said that calls have come in from Philadelphia, Texas, Michigan and Tennessee. She said they've received e-mails from Australia and the United Kingdom and Rommel, the Cotati animal hospital receptionist, said they received a call from Portugal.</p><p>The Humane Society of the United States sent a letter Thursday to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office urging officials to aggressively prosecute the crime under California's felony animal cruelty law.</p><p>Last week, Passalacqua’s office charged the two girls with felony animal cruelty, a crime that carries with it a maximum penalty of three years confinement.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.</p>