I haven't had a house cat for years. Last winter when it was very, very cold out someone dumped a little cat outside in the cold. She came to our house and was crying. So we let her in the house. My husband said she could stay until it warmed up and then she had to go out. But she stole my heart and she is now my house kitty.
My son brought home this 6-8 month old abandoned Tabby kitty one cold winter night. The intent was to find her a good home which he thought he could do as we already had 1 kitty that he had rescued and he was not accepting of a new kitty in house. Well, Tabby kitty pretty much bonded with me first night as her bed on the floor was short term, she decided to snuggle in with me and purr her little heart out along with kneading of the paws on me for her contentment. We ended up keeping her and for few months we had a downstairs kitty and an upstairs kitty. They eventually bonded and became good pals sharing the whole house together. Sadly we have since lost the senior kitty, but have another story to submit of another rescue.
My son was young, and volunteering at our local Animal Shelter. He called me because a family of kittens and the Mama had been dropped off. They were extremely sick. My son told me about this one kitten that wasn't sick. He asked if we could have her. I told him that it wasn't possible because we already had 2 cats at the time. We hung up the phone. A few minutes later, he called to tell me that 2 of the kittens had passed away. Again, asking if we could have the one that was healthy. I had to again tell him, "no". We hung up the phone. A little time had passed, he called me yet again. He wanted to tell me that the Mama couldn't be saved. I then heard the sweetest meow. I said to my son, "Oh my goodness that was a beautiful little sound"! He said that it came from the little girl that he wants. Then reported that the last kitten was gone, and she was left alone. My heart couldn't take it. I told him to have her ready, I was on my way to get her! When I laid eyes on her, I saw the beauty that my son had seen. As I held her in my arms, she put her head on my chest. I knew from that moment, she was meant to be ours. We named her Alex. That was about 15 years ago. She still acts like a kitten, playing and running around the house. Every time I think back to the day that we got her, it hurts me that she lost her family. But because of that, she became a big part of ours.
In 2002 we found each other and that was that..my heart was his and he was the love we needed. My boys fell in love with him as much as I did and, well..he grew on my husband. But he was ours or rather, we were his. Buster was 1 1/2 when he came into our lives full of vigor and love with a smile that would melt your heart. My youngest grew up with him and as Buster grew older he never lost that happy puppy that was inside of him. Fast forward to 2012, Buster is looking bloated so a trip to the vet, some testing and an ultrasound later, we found out Buster had a tumor in his heart that would cause problems and he would retain water. We put him on meds, a trip to the vet every so often to drain off the fluid in his chest and Buster was Buster, happy as a puppy with a big smile. That went on for a couple years until it stopped working. After a trip to the vet on a Friday, he was bloated again on Sunday. Back to the vet on Monday and bloating again mid week. It was time, time to stop keeping him alive for us, he was suffering , and it wasn't fair to keep putting him through this. We had to explain to our youngest son still at home, even though he was all grown up by now, that it was time to let him go, he was suffering now. We had decided that we would take him in on Monday, we would have one last weekend with him. He didn't really want to eat but we let him have whatever he wanted....he loved chicken. We were scared, he was the longest we had ever had a fur baby in our lives and he would be the first one we would have to let go of and the first time we would have to go through this type of loss with. But we would do it together. How could I help my son understand this when I barely understood it myself. Buster knew better though. I guess he understood how and what we were feeling, and he died peacefully in his sleep at home, Easter Sunday, 2014. The loss was beyond heartbreaking for all of us. While we had a second dog, he wasn't Buster, my first true doggie love. We had Buster cremated and now he sits on the mantle. While we rescued another fur baby months later, and now had 2 fur babies again, things still weren't the same. Not that they ever could be. Buster ruled in a way no other dog could or ever would. In 2016 we found Dozer, a 10 1/2 year old cocker mix, with a heart murmur and more love than you could imagine. We knew we had given Buster the best life he could have had, yes we do spoil our fur babies...but wanted to give a senior dog the best rest of their life that they could have. Since rescuing Dozer, we have come to realize that Buster is back with us. I see him in all 3 of our babies. While my heart will remain a little fractured forever, I do have the love of our 3 fur babies that fills my heart with love everyday and makes me smile ear to ear. Our kids are all grown and I have managed to turn my husband into a full fledged fur papa who loves, spoils and cares almost as much as me. After all, I'm a momma, can anyone ever care as much as a momma does? Thank you God for bringing Buster to us. He taught us a lot about love and loss and, how to move forward even when it's hard to.
The youngest (8 almost 9 yrs old) of my two kitties, named Minnie (yes she was named that because she was small) developed chronic kidney failure and went downhill really quickly. I ended up saying goodbye to her as she was put to sleep on a cold Monday afternoon in February. Thankfully she was able to be held, loved, and kissed throughout the process.
After a couple days passed, my mom happened to be looking at cats on a shelter website. She read the description of this 5 month old torti named Gloria and told me: "I've found your kitty!" I knew eventually I wanted to have two again and was skeptical about getting someone so soon. But I went with my mom to the shelter 75 miles away to go check out this little kitty, who was very cute.
Before we had left I had called and talked to the shelter to get a little more information on Gloria. She had been adopted out once before and been returned for being too bitey. This later got her put on a bite hold at the shelter. I decided we would see her anyway.
When I first saw her I knew she was mine. She was adorable and totally unafraid of anything. She was also very spunky, a fearless explorer, and a rough player, hence her return to the shelter for being too bitey. She came home with us that day and her name remained Gloria. Gloria was a happy name, she was a happy thing, and it suited her.
With time Gloria and I worked together to reduce her rough play. All she needed was someone who knew kitties and would work with her.
Today she is a happy, spunky, still fearlessly exploring 3 yr old that sleeps on my pillow every night while her adopted feline sister Annie sleeps at the foot of the bed. She races to the door to great me when I get home from work. This wonderful little bundle of love and kisses came from a shelter to heal my heart with her unconditional love. I rescued her? No, she rescued me.
I have 2 shelter cats, 1 shelter dog and 9 rescue cats. We all get along and are a "Happy Ever" family. I wouldn't trade a minute of it! Love my babies!!!!!
In 2005 we were gifted with our Doberman Buddy. His birth was an amazing experience. He stole our hearts. In 2007 a stray in our neighborhood found her way to our home Ebonee blessed us with more laughter and joy. In 2017 we lost them both. Ebonee went first (Cancer). But before we lost Buddy (old age) he guided us to a dog who needed saving. He had been used in dog fights, he was only a baby. We rescued him and got him the medical attention he needed. We named him Mr. Grey. He's our heavenly blessing from our angel's Buddy and Ebonee.
My story begins in 2011. I had just lost my first Bernese Mt Dog to cancer. I was heartbroken. About a month later I heard a family had a Bernie that needed a good home. I called and was told to come over. As I walked in their home this little Bernie walked to me, I sat down on the floor and she crawled in my lap. I felt the tears roll down my cheek. At that moment I fell in love. Her name was Daisy. Throughout the years Daisy Mae had many health problems included cancer (three months of chemotherapy). I have always been by her side as she has mine. She came to me when I needed her most so I always say she rescued me at the same time I rescued her. She is my best friend and the love of my life. She will always be my valentine!
I went to a shelter and fell in love with a beagle. My first look into her big sad eyes i knew i wanted her. I did all the paperwork to adopt and when i went to pick her up i found out that because of her age ( over 10 years) no one wanted her. Because she had been there awhile they were going to euthanize her the next day. I didn't care about her age cuz i knew in my heart she was meant for me. I named her Gracie because it was by the grace of god i found her and saved her, and she saved me. Because of the tumor on her heart she had a hard time walking so we would put her in a wagon and take her for walks. Sadly she's crossed over the rainbow bridge but she had a good 4yrs with us full of love & hotdogs. Not a day goes by that she's not missed.
I had just lost my beloved Border Collie of 17 years (also my hearing impaired service dog) and my husband at the time decided he wanted a divorce about a week after his death. I fell into a deep depression with no support from anyone. I felt God wanted me to get a new furry friend to help me grieve and get through my sadness. I saw Xavier on Petfinder and knew he was the one. I went to the local shelter here and I adopted him. It was love at first sight. He was found homeless, timid, shaking and scared. Under all that fear, I knew I could bring him out of his shell with a lot of love. He was scheduled to be euthanized the next day. We saved each other. Together happily for 3 years now. We are inseparable and like two peas in a pod. We were meant to be!
