I came to the shelter so long ago…. I can’t even remember what year it was somewhere around 1987 or 1988. I arrived as a wild and crazy guy, but as I began to mature,  unbeknownst to me, the staff was slowly but surely making me into a domesticated feline.

 

Life at the shelter was always eventful. My day started with breakfast in the maintenance shop. Then I was off to escort employees from their cars to the shelter. By the time this was finished, it was my naptime. I took my nap wherever I felt comfortable preferably on the front cushy seat of someone’s vehicle when they forgot to close the car window. There was nothing like sleeping on a soft comfortable seat with the warm sun beating on you through the front window.

 

After lunch I usually made my rounds of checking out the parking lot and rear of the building. By now I had become the shelter sentry with full access even to the cafeteria.

 

My inquisitiveness caused me many mishaps once when I decided to check out an employee’s car, the heat from the engine was so inviting I fell asleep. Well, you can guess what happened…. Oh, yeah! Tender loving care and our Vet nursed me back to health and I was able to make a full recovery. You would think this would teach me a lesson. No! Not me! Once again I got caught in the underside of a visitor’s truck. This time no injuries thanks to the shelter staff coming to my rescue and cautiously removing me.

 

Woe to the poor dog who attempted to intimidate me. I was the invincible Mighty Cat!

NO FEAR, large or small. No canine was going to get me on my turf. 

 

I could go on and on with anecdotes of my life…I realize I was a pest and often very annoying, but the shelter staff loved me…

(How could they not). Everyone loved and cared for me unconditionally no matter what.

 

I sleep in peace now beneath the beautiful Cherry Tree that I climbed as a youngster in the shelter memorial garden. I must admit

I miss the pets, kisses, strokes and the laps of my shelter staff.

 

Till we meet again at the “Rainbow Bridge”, I am

 

       Your self-proclaimed mascot!

 

                 “BLACKIE”