Baton Rouge District Judge Beau Higginbotham recently said a final goodbye to his 16-year-old black Labrador, T’Bo, a loss that left his entire family deeply saddened. While on his way to work one morning, he spotted a tiny kitten huddled in fear against a concrete barrier near a busy highway overpass.
Without a second thought, the judge stopped his car in the middle of traffic, rescued the frightened animal, and drove her immediately to the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The kitten was found to have severe injuries to her hind legs with dried blood and signs of infection; veterinarians warned that amputation was necessary to save her life.
Hospital staff asked Higginbotham if he was willing to take ownership or if the kitten should be processed as a stray. He could not bear to leave the tiny creature to fate or a shelter, so he decided to take her in. Although he initially named her "Lucky" at the clinic, he and his sons eventually settled on the name "Butterbean" once she arrived home.
Weighing only two pounds at the time of her rescue, the kitten had clearly spent days battling extreme heat and dehydration. Medical staff remarked that her survival in those conditions was a true miracle. Since her surgery, Butterbean has been wearing a protective cone and receiving round-the-clock care while her incisions heal.
Despite her recovery process, the kitten is full of energy, running and playing while gaining weight rapidly due to a hearty appetite. The Higginbotham family has found great joy in watching Butterbean adapt to her new home, bringing comfort to their lives following the loss of T’Bo.
This chance meeting between a judge and a kitten shows how an unexpected encounter can lead to hope and a new bond. Animals often provide essential support during grief, reminding us of the power of compassion and the ability to heal.
