Thankful Thursday - The Love of Friends

Since it's Thankful Thursday, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you -- our amazing friends -- for your outpouring of sympathy, purrs and prayers since our sweet mancat Sammy departed for Rainbow Bridge.

Thank you Alasandra, the Cats and a Dog for this beautiful image of Sammy at the Bridge

The mom and the dad find the mornings and right before bedtime to be the most difficult, since these are the times when Sammy was always the most active.  Brofur Moosey, a very sensitive cat, is noticeably out of sorts.  He clearly misses Sammy, but we know he will be okay with time (just as we all will be).  Until we are, we take much comfort in the mantle of your care, compassion and love.  Thank you.  We appreciate you all.

Fly Free, Sweet Sammy

(Thank you to the Cat Blogosphere for this beautiful badge)

Our hearts are utterly broken.  This afternoon, we said goodbye to our sweet, 19-year old cat, Sammy. We were so very blessed to have him here with us for almost seven years.

We always marveled at Sammy's ability to survive and keep on going. He was found in a feral cat colony, and ended up at PAWS when they rescued him from a kill shelter. Sammy was the closest thing to a real-life Superman(cat) we've ever known. Nothing, it seemed, could stop him. Not a pellet in his leg (discovered years later during an x-ray). Not bartonella (diagnosed when we first adopted him). Not chronic anemia, kidney disease, a heart murmur, arthritis, or hyperthyroidism. None of these were a match for our Dootie.

But with Sammy's health issues increasing (and Pancreatitis now in the mix) over the past few months, and with much greater speed over the past two weeks, we knew we might soon be faced with a most agonizing decision. After two days of watching him really struggle, and seeing a look in his eyes that told us he was tired of fighting, we knew it was time to say goodbye. Our compassionate veterinarian, Dr. L., and vet tech, M., came to our house, and our beloved Sammy slipped peacefully into eternal slumber in his favorite basket, with the mom and the dad petting and kissing him.

There are so many things we will miss about you, our special boy. Your sweet and gentle, happy go lucky nature (we never, ever heard you hiss or growl ... not even once). The way you would let all those kittens jump on top of you during your time at PAWS. Your funny sounding meow. The way you covered your eyes whenever you slept. Your sweet and contented smile whenever you were sleeping. The way you curled up between the mom's legs every night. The way you would lick the dad's big toe, and rub your head-y on it (for whatever reason, you didn't like the mom's toe very much). The way you loved being brushed, and tried to take the brush and do it yourself.  The way you would freeze your paw in mid-air while cleaning your face.  The way you could still move pretty fast when food was involved (or your brofur Moosey made you mad). Seeing you slumbering in your hammock, or your wooden bed. And of course, the love, joy and laughter you brought into our home each and every day.

Thank you Ann and the Zoolatry Girls, for this lovely image

Rainbow Bridge

 Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here,
that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together...

------

There will never be another cat like you, Sammy. We love you always, sweet boy, and will see you when we get to the Rainbow Bridge. Wait for us, okay?

With all of our love,

Dad Kevin, Mom Tracey and brofur Moosey

Easy Like Sunday - Lap Cat Allie

Here's gorgeous house panther Allie, getting some quality lap time.  This sweet and snuggly girl is a genuine lap cat, likes to play, and has the softest fur ever.  She's a favorite with all the humans at PAWS, and gets along with other easygoing kitties.  Why, we all wonder, is she still waiting to find her forever home?  Come meet her today, and fall in love. 

FURever Home Friday - Over the Moon!

When our pal Roger was gotcha’d earlier this month, we promised a more extensive adoption update sometime in the not-too-distant future. We’re excited to say that TODAY is the day for that update!

Each and every time an animal leaves the shelter is cause for celebration, but sometimes there are adoptions that send our hearts soaring. So whose adoption, you’re wondering, has us over the moon?

Our sweet friend, Dottie :)

Beautiful 16 year-old Dottie found her way to PAWS when she was trapped in a feral colony and deemed to be adoptable. Early in her stay at PAWS, she was found to have very advanced glaucoma, precipitating the need to have both of her eyes removed. Despite losing her vision, Dottie kept her sweet disposition and adjusted amazingly well. She was even okay with other mellow cats in her room. Now all that was needed was someone to take a chance on a blind senior kitty. Well … two years later, that someone – our friend and former PAWS volunteer Maureen – is now fostering (with the possibility of adopting) Dottie! Dottie’s new housemates include Rosie, a very mellow cat, and Harvey, a super sweet little dog who also just happens to be blind. Thank you, Mo, and congratulations to you, Dottie, Harvey and Rosie!

Other lucky kitties who found forever homes include:

Stoney, who found his way to PAWS after being found as a stray after Hurricane Sandy

Roger

Scoots and Louie, who were adopted from PAWS as kittens, and came back when their owner was transferred for work out of the country

Scoots and Louie (Louie's picture courtesy of the awesome blog, Sundays at the Shelter)

Sunny

Here's the full list of all the cats in the most recent PAWS graduating class:

Agnes

Dottie (to foster)

Elvira and Eloise (together)

Eunice

Grayson

Indy

Irwyn

Joe

Mama

Roger

Scoots and Louie (together)

Stoney

Sunny

Tiger (to foster)

And finally, here’s a short "happy tail" from Parsley’s new mommy and daddy:

“At first we thought Parsley was not going to leave her room, and then she became sociable.  We are really enjoying her … thank you for all the work you and the people at PAWS did to make her a happy cat who makes us happy.”

Have a great weekend, everybody! :)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Here are (from left) Bunny, Mindy and Santana, hanging out in PAWS Cat Room 5 while they wait to find their forever homes.

Easy Like Sunday - 3 Views

PAWS graduate Sammy is spending the day lounging in his beloved bed.*

We hope your weekend is as relaxing as Sammy's. :)

* For those of you who asked in the comments of our previous bed post, we STILL have not been able to find out where the bed came from. It was donated to PAWS, and it seems to be custom-made, without a label, serial code, or anything else that would provide us with a clue.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Basket Girls

Roommates Cinnamon and Tessa are enjoying some

comfy cozy basket time in the PAWS records room...

Cinnamon: I sure do love this leopard-spotted cat bed (in my basket).

Tessa: Zzzzzzzzzzzz...

Halfway to the weekend ... hooray! :)