Katie

Katie, stole my heart from the moment I met her. She was relinquished by an owner who could no longer care for her. On a recent Saturday, I was working in my office when a co-worker came in and said she needed to talk. She said there was a sweet cat that was on "the list" and she could not go through with the euthanasia. I was the person in charge that day, so I agreed to go meet this kitty and determine her fate. When I walked into the clinic room, I was greeted by two more co-workers who were holding this sweet small adolescent kitty. She literally had her arms wrapped around one of them as if she was hugging her. She was shaking and scared. I reached out to touch her and as soon as I did I realized she did not have eyes. I rubbed her chin and she began to purr. So, I crossed her name off the list and pardoned little Katie.

Staff set up a kennel for her in the "nursery" where it would be quieter and less scary. I went back to work but before too long, I started thinking about her again. I decided to go check on her and see how she was doing. She was still very nervous and frightened and when I opened her kennel door she belted out a cautious hiss. After years of taking a special liking to the scared and "mean" animals, I could tell she was all talk. So I scooped her up and took her into my office. It only took her but a few minutes before she began to purr. Then she began to nestle her face on my chin and then she eventually fell asleep purring in my lap. And that was when I decided, I wasn't going to let this kitty go anywhere but a loving home. 

I still had to get approval from my supervisors to make Katie a candidate for adoption. So, after the weekend I began what I am sure some would say my "annoying" quest for Katie. I called her previous vet where I learned one of her eyes was surgically removed when she was just a young kitten. The other "eye" was ruptured and had been for a long time and would also need removed. She began a round of antibiotics and I pled with my supervisors to have her other "eye" removed. Alas, they agreed and off she went to be spayed and have her eye surgery. 

The day after her surgery, I had to take one of my dogs to the vet for a suture removal and it just so happened Katie was there waiting for transport back to the shelter. The staff brought her out for me to see her. She was as frightened as ever but quickly recognized my voice and started to purr and head butt my face. (A signature Katie move.) She went into foster care upon returning to the shelter. She stayed with them for 2 weeks. I received frequent updates on Katie along with some pictures of her recovering. 

She is currently at the shelter awaiting adoption. A very nice family came in yesterday and filled out an application for her. She spent all of the morning in my office today. On my desk, in my lap, in my chair and at one point perched on my shoulders. I have no doubt this family will provide a loving home for my sweet Katie. But saying goodbye and putting her back in her kennel for the last time, was one of the harder moments I have had while working at the shelter. But then again, this is why we do it right?