He Just Wouldn't GO AWAY!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I just had to vent even though this isn't about a doodle -- unless you count the one who almost got another feline sibling this afternoon.  I stopped by the pet store earlier today to pick up some dog food and 2 small girls were standing in front of a large cage.  This is the cat "adoption" corner, which I usually avoid -- but the cat they were looking at was magnificent.  Large, sleek, and absolutely gorgeous.  He was snow white with orange markings and I walked over to get a better look.  He raised his head and quietly watched me with one beautiful coffee colored eye. I thought he was winking or just waking up but turns out he only has one eye. Knowing full well I could get a nasty cat bite, I still reached in just a bit to stroke the side of his face.  He was soft and sweet.  His story was written on the side of the cage.  

Ricky was adopted as a kitten in the city and kept as an indoor cat.  Fast forward several years to this past winter when his owners decided they didn't want him anymore. Did they take him to rescue?  No.  They put him outside and closed the door, hoping he would just disappear. Ricky had to fend for himself finding food and water and a way to keep warm.  But he stayed on the back porch, waiting for someone to open the door and let him back into their lives.  The words of the frustrated owners, hit me like a slap: HE JUST WOULDN'T GO AWAY!  So they ignored him.  Week after week, month after month. Several months went by, through the coldest of winters, until they finally contacted rescue.  As I was reading his "story," I had my hand out next to the cage and I felt something.  I looked down and Ricky has stretched his paw out through the bars and put his paw in my hand. He laid his head back down and drifted off to sleep, leaving his insanely clean paw in my outstretched hand. I stood there paw in hand for several minutes until the clerk came over and handed me a tissue. How can he still trust? I was somewhere between anger at these horrible people and gratitude for the rescue and vets who gave this beautiful guy another chance. The clerk had a big smile and said, "Isn't he wonderful?  He's been adopted.  We know the family and he'll have a loving home forever now.  They're picking him up this afternoon." Oh thank goodness!  I made a small donation to the rescue, asked for another kleenex, and picked up an extra toy for Song.  One doodle and one cat is really about all I can handle right now -- but I wasn't going to leave him there.  If there were no other options, we would have made room.  I wish this loyal boy a happy life of open doors and someone to hold his paw once in awhile.    

[F, Calla & Luca]

People! I guess his former owners were surprised Ricky didn't just check into a hotel :-)

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Yep :( Imagine!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Perfect response, F.

P.S, Cheryl, as a child, I had a foster Kitty for the Humane Society named Ricky too  :)

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

My brother's name was Ricky.  As a little kid, I would have preferred a kitten, ha!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

How could they leave him out like that.. unbelievable.  I was waiting for you to say you brought him home and it sounds like you were very close to that decision! I'm glad he has a good home now. Oiy.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Yes, a happy ending.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

May he live happily ever after with his new improved family. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Ditto :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This totally breaks my heart...but their ability to trust over and over is truly inspirational.  Thanks for sharing this, and thanks for making the decision not to leave him there.  I just pray that he has a wonderful new life.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Hope so too.  I hope he's enjoying his new people tonight.

[Karen, Riley & Cooper]

What a wonderful heart you have Cheryl.  Some people.................

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Thankfully he was adopted by a loving family and his forever home!