VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

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This article is the forth in a series that we are publishing, written by a fellow animal lover who has generously shared her heartwarming true stories with us.

Janet Bennett

The elderly couple knew immediately the exact kitten they wanted.  "The dandy of the bunch," the husband said, the wife agreed.  For 40 years, the couple had only Siamese cats.  Expensive, papered, and irresistible.  It was their preference, they couple afford the top of the line as well as provide the finest life had to offer.

The prized kitten was named Dandy and he wanted for nothing.  For two full years the three shared a peaceful life of contentment and happiness.

When the mane fell to cancer, the cat was devastated.  Dandy had the love of the woman and she clung desperately to this beloved cat.  They were never separated for even one day.

A year passed and the woman fell ill to cancer.  She had to relinquish her cherished cat before she left this world.

Dandy spent four months at a clinic with at least 60 other cats.  He was distraught and grieved deeply.  The traumatized cat was overwhelmed with grief and misery.  Other cats were adopted but not Dandy.  It was accepted he would be a "lifer" at the clinic.  Being severely depressed, he stopped grooming himself and had unsightly tangled masses of hair knots.  He hid at all times and hated the generic food.  Dandy neither socialized with the other cats or with any human.

When I was informed of this plight I went into action, determined to conquer this cat's pain and sorrow.  And that I did!

With profound patience I spoke softly to him, calling his name over and over again.  I understood his anger to be sadness, his frustration was the confusion of being separated from his first home.

Lying on the floor beside this beautiful cat, I persevered with calmness, coaxing and coaxing.  When is the turning point when they begin to trust?  How do they know a trusting person?  When did he realize I was a friend?

All the time invested in Dandy and at last came the big payoff.  He allowed me to embrace him.  I have never stopped embracing this great, big, gorgeous feline.

When removing him from the clinic, our first stop was the groomer's where he had to be completely shaved to eliminate the countless tight knots.

Upon stepping out of the carrier into his new home, he was amazingly calm and relaxed.  He seemed to clearly understand the worst of his life was over.

Once again, Dandy was "home."

I have five other cats, two are Siamese, but this one is truly the "Dandy of the bunch!"