It happens all too often. Loved ones end up in a nursing home, or pass on. It’s part of life. The beloved pets are left behind, usually with no plan in place.
A majority of our rescue cats come from our local communities, but on occasion we end up helping a furry friend out of town. As it is the case for Minnie & Daisy.
We were contacted for assistance when their owner was placed in a nursing home. A kind neighbor went into the house to care for pets left behind, two cats and a small dog. When it was understood the owner was never to return, the neighbor found a home for the doggie and took Minnie & Daisy in until a rescue could come through.
When we agreed to assist, they made their journey from CT on a ferry to Port Jefferson where our Director Lora was waiting for them. She took them to her home to foster and evaluate. While they were observed to be extremely friendly each time the neighbor visited them in their own home, Minnie & Daisy had been very unhappy in his home.
Lora was nervous.. how were they going adjust in her home, what if they are not friendly, what if they’re not adoptable.
Once we commit to a cat, we never give up you see. It’s a very big responsibility to accept a cat to the rescue.
They arrived safely in Lora’s house, the foster room, (use to be a mudroom long ago), as all rescues do when she takes them in.
Eager to make them feel at home and welcome, give them all the love they’ve been missing out on, she attempted to make first contact.
She got scratched. Daisy was the protector as it turns out. She doesn’t know you, she doesn’t know your intentions.. “What are you doing? Don’t you dare touch Minnie!”
Now what?!
After a consult with another director, it was decided, the scratch means nothing. Consider what these cats have been through. Trauma after trauma, all the while the dreaded unknown, what does the future hold? “Where is our owner? What will happen to us? Who are all these people? Why are we leaving the only home we know? Where are we? Where are we going?”
It’s impossible to know for sure what they’re thinking, but we do know they’re sad, scared, worried, all along the way. It’s not that hard to imagine.. not so different than when a child is left an orphan. Trusting is not easy.. after all, not everyone in the world has the best intentions. Appearing tough is the next best thing, to make sure one survives. Worrying about yourself is one thing, it’s even more difficult when you worry for a sibling.
So poor Daisy decided she would protect both of them and clearly was exhausted from such heavy burden on her shoulders.
Thankfully, foster Lora has the gentlest heart. The next time she went in there channeling that energy, all will be well, and we will wait as long as it takes, Minnie & Daisy understood.
It was all petting and purring from then on. Poor Daisy, finally able to relax, took the nicest nap while Minnie got all the love she had been craving.
We don’t know what the future holds but we know they’re in good hands now and we will work very hard to secure them a great home.
Please follow their journey and share with your own community to help us help them.
Thank you!