Why we do the things we do

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animal-adoption1With the recent addition of a fourth cat, I’ve had some folks ask why I did that.

It wasn’t an easy decision. There’s always the risk of clashing feline personalities. (I worked in Human Resources. I know all about clashing personalities. Felines are much nicer than human ones.)

Even though it was considered a “special needs” cat there wasn’t anything “special” she needed (except a home). It was all cosmetic.

When I adopted my first one-eyed cat I vividly remember a friend freezing and shriveling when she looked at her. Morgan (one-eye number one) is a beautiful cat except an eye is missing. It was sewed shut so there was no gaping hole (that would freak me out).

In that nanosecond I understood what people with visible handicaps go through. It only made me want to be sure that Morgan would never feel revulsion or rejection.

There are a lot of people who only want baby pets or beautiful pets. For me beautiful is giving a home to an animal that may not get one.

There is no judgement here. If you have a “special needs” pet, whether you adopted it prior to the “need” or decided to keep it after it got special, you are awesome.

If you adopted an older pet, you are awesome.

If you adopt from a high kill shelter, you are awesome.

If you adopted any pet and gave it a safe home and lots of love and attention, you are awesome.

If you can’t adopt but instead volunteer, you are awesome.

I you can’t do any of that but donate, you are still awesome.

(If you supported a crazy wife who adopted four cats, two of which are one-eyed, you are awesome.)

Each of us awesome people do things in our own style. We do it in a way that fits our lifestyle and our conscious.

Colin adopted a barely socialized dog and stayed with it through an expensive heart worm infestation. Turned his life upside down in a good way. (You really have to read his book!)

Debra not only helps run a Trap, Neuter and Return service for feral cats but adopted a blind dog (and takes fabulous pictures of all). She also has many lovely cats.

Someone adopted a dog found at a rest stop. No tags or collar and no one reporting her missing. (For heaven’s sakes people! If you have a pet, get it microchipped. If you travel, get a gps system for dogs so you can track them. Perhaps even if you don’t travel. Too many “lost dog” signs around.)

Several bloggers adopted animals that showed up in the back yard. Awesome.

I worked with a woman who went home at lunch each day to medicate her pet. Every. Single. Day. (That made my two shots a day for a diabetic cat look pretty easy peasy.)

Someone else I know adopted an orphaned child, not because it was in the plan but because the need was there and so was the love. (Love is not rationed. You can love more than one.)

Some people volunteer at hospitals or food banks or other places. There are so many wonderful stories.

People all over do wonderful things in their own way. Let’s celebrate them all.

 

 

52 thoughts on “Why we do the things we do”

  4. I like that Gracie is a female so not to compete with the late, great Jake. And just because she winks, does that really make her a special needs kitty? How bout just special. And I think she and Morgan will be best pals winking at one another all day long.

    No Kill Shelters should be the norm, and think you gave yourself the best birthday gift ever, and i love the name Gracie…think…Gracie Allen, Grace Kelly, Grace Moore the opera singer. I know an adopted pit named Gracie…grace..it’s such a lovely word…says so much.

    Here’s looking at you Kate. 🙂

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    • Jake could be a royal pain in the ass but I only remember him as a great cat. See what death can do! If he were around, he’d smack my head and say, “WTF were you thinking?” He really was a great cat with a wacky attitude. Gracie fits her name. She’s small (they say she’s fully grown although I’ll wait to see…) and her meow is very soft and delicate. Definitely very ladylike. No biker howl like Hazel. She and Morgan just look at each other. Not sure if they think it’s all mirrors!

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  6. awesome post, Kate! all of the rescues are worth gold, whether they purr, bark or fly, or something else, lol. I love how you related the shock your friend experienced when she viewed your one-eyed kitty. so. very. relevant!

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    • Absolutely. Jake (my old cat that passed on) was with me through cancer treatments. Although a large cat, he would put his paws and head on my abdomen and purr. It was like an injection of soothing. When they were over, he stopped doing that.

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  9. I volunteer/foster with a rescue group. It is amazing to watch a dog transform from a homeless, starved, disease-ridden skeleton into a beautiful creature. I believe all rescue animals feel the love they receive after being so neglected. I currently have 9 dogs and 4 cats.

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    • You are awesome! I love watching transitions too. I’ve seen some terrified unsocialized animals become loving friendly pets. Warms my heart. I would be a foster fail. I once found a 3 month old cat in my back yard. Very nice and sociable. I wondered if it had been dropped off. I took it in and to the vet. I sent out messages to all my cat-friendly friends and found a home in 2 days. I was so sad to see him leave. He was a wonderful cat and my cats loved him. I always regretted not keeping him.

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  10. Wonderful post! So many Awesome people in the world doing Amazing things. So easy to get discouraged with those in the world who seem to be causing trouble. The ones all over the news, but so refreshing to hear that there really are so many Wonderful people in the world as well!

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  12. This is a lovely lovely uplifting post Kate… Wonderful you, and wonderful too to read about all the other loving people… I had seventeen dogs, three at a time, all rescued except two… I know what you mean about your precious one-eyed cats.. love to you all…

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  16. Ha, I am so awesome, according to your blog. 🙂

    It’s a great point, though — I get so tired of people insisting that their way of helping is superior. Everyone helps, in their own ways, according to their ability and finances.

    Except Trump. He’s the antithesis of awesome.

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