Last Friday, I left my lights on in my 2006 truck. I essentially drained the battery so low that it couldn't recharge and we replaced it after finding out that it was 6+ years old anyway. I left it in the North Campus parking lot from 2-8 before I picked it up.
Between those times, my mother and I went to a shelter in Stroudsburg to visit a cat that was recently surrendered there. My mom had seen her on Facebook and jumped at the opportunity to see her. Her name is Angel. She is 12 years old and was living in a house, before the shelter, with an older couple that died. When we went to see her, she buried herself under the pillow in her cage but as soon as she saw us coming to pet her, she came out. We could tell that she was very stressed. She was losing fur constantly, and the shelter volunteers said that she didn't eat very much. So, we spent a little bit of time with her and getting to know her. I have wanted a cat for a few years since our other one had passed away a few years ago, and I thought this was my opportunity to have one. She was very alert and skittish, although she was in a smaller room with other cats that were just as stressed out.
My mother and I decided to adopt her. It was impulsive but it was the best decision we could have made. She spent most of the first day at home under my bed. Then, she started to come out more and walk around my room. She was still afraid of noises, for example my parents coming up and down the stairs of our three-floor house. As she realized none of us were there to hurt her, but to comfort and help her settle in, she started to explore outside of my room and play.
Now, Angel follows me around. She knows her name and she talks A LOT. If I'm even slightly later than 6AM or 5PM to give her wet cat food, she follows me around and yells at me. She runs around and plays and she has even sat on the counters in the kitchen. I'm super excited to have my own cat and I'm very grateful to have her.
Rescue stories always make my heart so happy! I am so glad that you guys were able to see that she was just stressed and scared instead of thinking she was unfriendly. It happens to so many older animals and it breaks my heart because they want to be loved just as much but you have to break that outer-shell of mistrust.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think the best (and most fun) way to adopt an animal is spontaneously. I'm glad you were able to get another cat, especially one that had no where else to go. I'm sure she is just as grateful to have you.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you adopted Angel so spontaneously, and she's a rescue too! My family spontaneously adopted our dog Bailey from a rescue too. We just went to look at the puppies from the shelter shortly after my last dog past away, and we didn't really expect to adopt one. It was a great decision though!
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