[4] It was initially thought that Sam had been rescued by Tree following the February 2009 Victorian bushfires; however, the event actually occurred in the week before the worst of the fires, during backburning operations.

[5] Sam was subsequently taken to the Southern Ash Wildlife Centre in Rawson[8] where she was found to be suffering from second-degree burns to her paws and given painkillers.

[11] Gossip site TMZ.com mocked the rescue, calling Sam "pampered";[12] this drew significant reader backlash and attention.

The decision was made after exploratory surgery on her urinary bladder and uterus to evaluate the possible removal of cysts caused by urogenital chlamydiosis.

[18] An image of Sam with David Tree was used as cover art on a fundraising CD, Bushfire Aid, to which 35 national and international artists donated songs.