A Sad Truth

I really need to invest into a camera of my own, because I haven't been able to keep the chronicles of my ventures properly documented. Anyway, what I want to write about today is something really hit me super deeply. I had met Kelly and she had told me the good news that there had been a cat adoption, and there was a new face to see. I was really excited. I get to the cat room to greet the wonderful new face. My heart stops. I recognize this face. This face belongs to the cat that my neighbors had been pet sitting a year ago. There is no way I could ever forget that little cats face. I take her out of the pen, I read her chart and see that she is just the right age to be the cat who I think she is. As soon as I hear her meow, it's all set in.

I get her in the play room and begin to pet her and everything she does tells me it's her. She was just so happy to be out of her cage and to have some interaction. I never had a doubt in my mind that it was her. You can't forget a cat like her. Why haven't I called her by a name yet? It's because she still hasn't received one. When she was being pet sit by my neighbors, her name was Luke. We used to think she was a he, until we kept noticing that my neighbor was calling her a she. Luke is a strange name for a little girl, but that was the name her owner had chosen. Sadly, now she is without a home.

While reading her charts, I saw that her status said stray. I was a little relieved. I thought that perhaps she had gotten out of where ever it is that she was living and that her owner just hadn't found her yet. I had read that she had been brought in on June 1st, but I try to stay optimistic. I spent what time I could with Luke (currently without a name) as I could to make her feel safe and secure, and then I moved along with my day and took out other cats. I had four cats out today and felt pretty successful. I couldn't wait to get home and talk to my neighbors. I saw one of the employees and told her the situation, and that's where my happy relief fell short. She informed me that "Luke" had been surrendered. She had also just given birth to a litter of kittens. It was impossible to believe, but I knew it was true. I worry what happened to the other cat that she been with when I knew her as a kitten, whether he is back there too waiting for his chance at adoption.

I think the most important thing to learn from this is to spay/neuter your pets. It's horrible to think that there are so many unwanted animals out there that are stuck in shelters because no matter how great the shelter is, the shelter is not the same thing as a home. It hurts that I had seen this sweet little kitty start to grow into a young adult, and now I see that fate has reunited us in the last place that I would want to see her. I can only hope that she is quickly adopted! I'll be sure to post pictures of her when I get access to a camera, and to update everyone on her name!