I had recently lost my best friend Tommy (turns out she was Tomassina) to cancer at 9-years-old. I was sitting in my second floor office when three raccoons tried to get through the window. I went to ask my vet if she knew anyone who did trap and release of wildlife. She said "No, but I have something for you" and thrust a tiny ball of black and white fur at me.
She was a stray the local TNR committee had brought to be spayed and released, but she was too young and small to let go free. They said her name was Bella, and she didn't like people. Turns out she didn't like women but was fine with me. She cuddled up on my neck and chirped just like the tribbles from Star Trek, so that was her name from then on.
When I took her home, she either avoided or attacked my wife and daughter for almost a year. She slept on my head, rode around on my neck, and when I got sick, she would sense an episode coming on and howl and jump at me until I sat down.
Sadly she passed away from squamous cell cancer about five years ago, and I still miss her.
Cote St. Luc, Canada
