A few years back I walked into Abandoned Pet Rescue with every intention of adopting a beautiful new furry friend. I had every intention of shopping around for a super playful companion I could spend hours chasing around with a light toy or observe going into “crazy kitty” fits. I certainly had my choice in that department. In a far backroom I spotted this little gray thing trying to run but falling on her butt. It was as though her back end was trying to outrun her front end. I watched with amusement for a few minutes when it occurred to me that if I didn’t adopt her no one else probably would. No one seemed to know if she had been born with a spinal problem, abused, hit by a car or what. That was quite a few years ago, and Jenna is still falling on her butt when she tries to run. I nicknamed her FLOPalong CATsidy. With a few exceptions, she is the sweetest, most loving little critter I’ve ever had.
Shortly after I adopted Jenna, my son presented me with a gift of a kitten that had gotten stuck in a volleyball net at the high school at which he taught. A group of boys were jabbing her with sticks when my son intervened, rescued her and gave her to me. Jessie was so traumatized it’s taken me nearly 10 years just to get to the point where she will let me walk up to her on her cat tower and pet her. There’s something special and meaningful about the bond you form with a special needs cat. I think it’s because she senses the compassion and empathy I feel for her. Animals that even partially overcome physical or emotional challenges are a true inspiration. She’s a remarkable little kitty. If only my wishes came true, I’d like to be locked in a small empty room with each of those boys for about 5 minutes, after which the world would gain some new sopranos.
When you adopt a special needs animal from the shelter, you make a difference not only for the animal you adopt, but several others. Every time a rescue animal is adopted, the shelter receives the financial support needed to continue saving these innocent lives. Though all animals deserve a loving forever home, animals without disabilities have a better chance of finding it. When you offer a special needs cat or dog a loving home, you give them a chance they might not otherwise ever get. You may feel that you haven’t the heart or patience to deal with an animal with a disability, and I admit that this may not be right for everyone. But it just could be that it will awaken strengths and emotions in you that you never knew you had. And don’t ignore them just because they’re not kittens or puppies.
It is estimated that there are more than 3 million cats in our shelters today. Every single one deserves a loving home but the ones with special needs often suffer rejection. It’s a big win-win when a cat or dog is adopted from a shelter. It’s a trifold win-win when a special needs animal is given a home. It is a very special person willing to provide the care required for a special needs animal, and I’m asking some of you out there to become one of those special people as I leave you with a quote by Anatole France: “Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.”
Litterally sincere,
Allie
P.S. Did you know that pet owners in general have lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. You can check this out for yourself on a site called WebMD.
