by
Melissa and Lexy Webb
Mother and daughter team up to tell the tale of Zoe the Earless Kitten
When a young child launches the inevitable campaign for the acquirement of a family pet, they often envision a puppy or kitten that is cute, cuddly, and complete with all appendages attached. For nine-year-old Lexy Webb, a true pet owner’s love perceives no flaws or handicaps. With the help of her mother Melissa Webb, Lexy wrote the new book Zoe the Earless Kitten: The Adoption, the first in a series of books detailing family cat Zoe’s journey from being abused and left earless in a dumpster for dead, to finding loving, caring owners in Melissa and Lexy Webb.
According to pet-abuse.com, so far this year there have been 863 reported cases of animal cruelty across the United States, a number feared to be much higher when including unreported incidences. Thirty-Four of these reports were categorized as mutilation and/or torture cases. Melissa and Lexy hope their story will encourage others to take in animals who have been mistreated and disabled.
“We wanted to write a story that sheds light on animal cruelty,” says Melissa. “It seems like people know that it goes on, but they don’t seem to realize how prevalent it really is. I think it is safe to say you can take the number of reported incidences and multiply it three or four times, and that only starts to become more realistic. It is truly sad.”
In addition to creating more of an awareness of animal cruelty, Melissa and Lexy want to stress the value of acceptance and how crucial it is to instill this virtue in children at a young age.
“It is important to teach children early on about right and wrong and all that it encompasses, including how to treat both animals and each other,” explains Melissa. “That way they develop empathy, and they are more likely to carry that trait on as they grow up.”
Lexy, as she explains, agrees whole-heartedly with her mother and wants to set an example for kids her age.
"I could have picked a kitten that was healthy and had ears,” says Lexy. “But kittens and puppies that are hurt need a home too. And no one should be mean to animals or other kids that are disabled.”
“For a little girl, Lexy understands the value of acceptance,” adds Melissa. “When she sees Zoe, she doesn’t just see a cat that is deformed. She just sees her pet that she loves and adores.”
About the Authors
Melissa and Lexy Webb reside in Kingsville, Texas, near Corpus Christi. Melissa, a single mom, works as a bookkeeper for a hunting lease and volunteer’s at her daughter’s school in her spare time. She has published her own poems as well as contributed to an article in the Texas Monthly Magazine. Lexy, a Junior Girl Scout, is an honor student at her school and is a part of the “Gifted and Talented” program there. She hopes to become a veterinarian someday. Together they care for seven family pets and are currently working on the next installments of Zoe the Earless Kitten.
