For several years I gave food to a feral cat that lived in brambles next to our office parking lot. Each summer I put up with outbreaks of poison ivy from climbing into the weeds. One day I learned two other co-workers were also feeding this cat. We succeeded in capturing her for medical treatment, including spay. Three tiny kittens with colds and eye infections were also captured. All were adopted. The runt -- a tiny female who was blind in one eye -- stole my heart. I named her "Ivy" and we have been entwined nearly six years now.

Madelyn Carroll
Cincinnati, OH