Hi everyone! Just thought I'd share my story about Scamper with you. A little over one year ago, I had to face a very difficult decision. A cat that was my not-so-little 25 pound boy named Chewey had to be put to sleep. It was a very difficult time for me, because Chewey was my little boy, and I loved him very much. (I still do!) I was working at Petsmart , where I had met Mary on many occasions, shared stories and basically talking about cats. Well, about a week after I lost my special little boy, I was talking to Mary at Petsmart . She told me about a beautiful little girl that she thought I would just love. I wasn't sure, because it was so close to the time when I lost my little boy. But luckily, I asked Mary to send me a picture of this little cat, with as much of her story as I could. Needless to say, as soon as I got the email, we arranged a date that I could pick up little Scamper. According to the volunteers at the shelter, she had previously been taken care of – as she was spayed and declawed . (That's a requirement for the apartment that I live in for my cats – that they're declawed ). However, she was left in a box at the back door of the shelter in the middle of summer. *How awful – but in hindsight, I wouldn't have her with me!*

I brought her home on November 26, 2003 , and I was a little concerned because I have another female who had just turned 8 years old. I was worried that they wouldn't get along, and that it wouldn't be a good match. Was I ever wrong! Within a couple of hours, Scamper and Melody (my other kitty) were teasing each other and chasing each other around my apartment. I was relieved that I could go to class in the afternoon and leave them together – knowing that they wouldn't kill each other while I was away. It turns out that class had been cancelled while I was on the way to school, so when I returned home I immediately went looking for the new addition to my family. I knew, being a cat person, that cats tend to hide in “high up” places… so I looked in the cupboards, above the dressers, everywhere I could think of. I couldn't find her, and I was getting worried. I went into my bedroom, and to my surprise, there was a lump underneath my blankets. I pulled back the covers and couldn't believe what I saw. My newest family member, sleeping away so very soundly – UNDER my blankets on my bed. I'll never forget how sweet that was – she really knew that she was at home, and it made me feel so great to know that this sweet little thing that had probably had a rough couple of years now felt comfortable enough to sleep in my bed.

Little did I know that it was only the beginning. It turns out that Miss Scamper has many special quirks! Her number one fettish – she LOVES feet! (I know, it's weird, but she loves them!) But she does many of the things that my little Chewey used to do. She likes it when I watch her eat (don't ask me why). Chewey used to do the same. She always sleeps at my feet, which Chewey also used to do. She follows me EVERYWHERE, and whenever I have a bath, she HAS to sit on either the counter or the floor beside me and wait for me to finish. Chewey used to do all of that stuff. She's become my little shadow, and she always is there talking to me, and cheering me up when I've had a bad day.

Keep up the amazing work that you guys do – you really DO find forever homes for your special little ones!

Jillian Barrie