Sad situations often can turn into good ones with a little human ingenuity and compassion.

Such was the case with Funyun, an orange tomcat whose owners surrendered him to the Animal Clinic of Eagle Harbor about three years ago.

Funyun had been stepped on by a toddler, which injured his spine and legs. Rather than get him proper veterinary care, the owners left him to languish in a garage for eight months, possibly endangering any chance the severely injured cat might have had at a full recovery.

The Funyun Fund was started to buy the cat a wheelchair so he could scoot around with his still-functioning forelegs. Sadly, after about a year of providing much joy and entertainment for employees and visitors at the clinic, Funyun died about a year after his initial arrival.

But rather than simply mourn Funyun’s death and sometimes-tortured life, clinic employees hit upon the idea of changing the Funyun Fund into the Furr Foundation, which will help raise funds to offset the charity care that Animal Clinic of Eagle Harbor provides.

The foundation aims to help people who couldn’t otherwise pay for veterinary care and also will operate as a rescue group. It is a fitting tribute to Funyun, and we hope it will help save or enhance the lives of many companion animals and their humans.

The clinic, located at 13609 Carrollton Blvd., will sell T-shirts and bandannas to raise money, and monetary donations also are welcome. A bake sale also will be held at Pet Paradise across the road on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the clinic will also run a 50-50 raffle.

Call the clinic at 238-2738 for more information.