Recycled Pets:
After several years, circumstances led the family friend to find a new home for the cat, and Samson came to me. He was 15 years old, with failing kidneys and a sweet, loving disposition. His long black hair was greasy and full of flakes, and caked with poop and matts all around his rear end. He was too sick to groom himself, and his eyes were dull and sad. His teeth were rotted and he had advanced periodontal disease. After oral surgery and the removal of most of his teeth (the dentist said he had ten years of neglected dental disease), a change to a homemade diet for cats with kidney problems, subcutaneous fluids twice a week, and some special supplements from his holistic vet to help his kidneys, Samson is now fluffy, happy, and healthy.
His previous owner contacted me not too long ago, asking about getting him back. I was very unhappy at the prospect, but didn't need to worry. As soon as I explained about the special diet and twice-weekly fluids, his interest evaporated. (Not that I'd have let him go!) I hope to have many more happy years with Samson, but however long we have together, he's home now, for good. He'll never be "replaced" with next year's model or left behind while I move on. Daphne couldn't live without him... and I don't think I could, either. Patches The third time was the charm for a Basset hound named Patches, too.
When she walked up to the house, she said, "I heard you had a Basset hound you were looking for a new home for." The owner pointed vaguely to the yard and said, "That's her, you can have her." Ginger knelt down and Patches belly-crawled over, trembling. She stank of skunk and was covered with gnats. "I guess you're coming home with me," she said. Ginger and Patches' first stop was the groomer, where she was bathed several times before they got rid of the smell. A now clean Patches went home with Ginger, where for a long time she continued to tremble and cower when approached by strangers, and even her own family. Gradually she lost her fear and began to act like a normal dog, playing happily with Ginger's other Basset, Garth, and even getting comfortable enough to get into mischief. One day Patches and Garth decided to work together on destroying a corner of the fence, and ran off to play in the parking lot of a nearby bank. That unauthorized excursion earned them the nicknames of Bonnie and Clyde, courtesy of the cops who brought her home. Before Ginger managed to get the fence Patches-proofed, she wriggled out again, and this time was hit by a car. She got back into her yard, through the dog door, and halfway up the stairs before collapsing in shock. Ginger found her and got her to the vet in time to save her, although she had a broken leg that never really healed. Patches lived to the ripe old age of 13-and-a-half, safe and secure with her new family. She was blind at the end of her life, but still made the trek up the stairs to the bedroom with Ginger every single night, feeling for each step with her nose. The return trip was a bit more difficult, but Ginger's husband solved that by carrying her down over his shoulder every morning. Recycled Love If you are thinking that a cat or dog would make a good addition to your family, think about finding a recycled pet whose life could use a little love. You'll never regret it. Happy Holidays!
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Samson's first owners got rid of him when they got a new Golden Retriever puppy. The two pets didn't get along, and since the puppy was the exciting new addition to the family, Samson got the boot. He was headed for the shelter when a family friend took him in.
He is very deeply bonded to my cat Daphne, and even on the warmest nights you can find them sleeping curled up into a little ball together. They groom each other and he puts up with her bossy ways. He loves to sit on my lap when I read or watch TV, and he particularly likes to spend time out in his three-story, wired-in cat enclosure overlooking the creek. His hobbies include bird watching and naps. He and Daphne both long for the day I am stricken with a terrible disease which requires me to spend most of my time in bed (although not so terrible I can't procure meals on a regular basis).
Patches was abandoned by her first owners, and taken in by the local shelter. She was then adopted by a family whose adoption fee check bounced, and who paid even less attention to her than to their checkbook balance. The young hound became a familiar sight in her neighborhood, as she ran away from her new home every chance she got. She was seen to cower away from her owners in fear. Patches survived on handouts from local police officers who felt sorry for her, and slipped her bologna sandwiches. Ginger heard through the grapevine that a neglected Basset hound was in need of a new home, and stopped by to check it out.