February 27, 2004
News This Week:
Also This Week
Super Adoption: A three-part video
A Dirty Little Secret: Temperament testing sounds harmless, but it can be abused.
Minority Report, Part One. African Americans in the animal welfare movement.
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An Angel Goes Home
By Barbara Williamson
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” – Hebrews 13:2
Last
week, Kitty-Boy was “tucked in” for the long night’s
sleep at Best Friends’ pet cemetery, Angels Rest. His courageous
battle against a legion of ailments was over.
Kitty-Boy was a stray cat, a shadow who came out of the Ohio woods and gave the people who befriended him the gift of becoming a force for good. He was at Best Friends for only a few months but everyone who met Kitty-Boy found him to be compelling – the essence of love.
“There was just something spiritual about him; he got to everybody,” said Willis Payne, who along with his wife, Debbie, rescued Kitty-Boy when he showed up at their home in Bellefontaine, Ohio, in June 2003.
“You were in his presence and he made you feel good. He made you want to reach inside yourself and try to make a difference,” Debbie said.
Debbie and Willis took him to the vet and found out the many health problems Kitty-Boy faced: He had both the feline immuno virus (FIV) and feline leukemia (FeLV). He was diabetic, and had liver, urinary tract and respiratory problems. They already had two rescued cats and could not keep him at their house.
Their vet recommended euthanasia. But Debbie and Willis knew this loveable cat was not ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge just yet.
Years ago, Debbie had seen a Best Friends newsletter and now, in her and Kitty-Boy’s time of need, she reached out for help. Best Friends’ Gloria Hill talked with Debbie to help determine the best course of action.
“Gloria was very supportive and gave me many resources. She told me cats with FIV or FeLV can live good lives with proper care. She suggested finding a home with people who had a cat with similar health challenges or at least people who were knowledgeable about the disease,” Debbie said.
Debbie, who had never used a computer before, now learned about e-mail. A friend helped her develop a website to help spread the word about this special cat.
After several
months, when Debbie and Willis were not able to find a home for Kitty-Boy,
he was accepted
at Best Friends.
His caregivers
were
deeply
impressed with how loving he was, regardless of his
illnesses.
Now, the legacy of Kitty-Boy’s life is how he is helping other special-needs cats. His website, developed originally with the hope of finding Kitty-Boy a home, now gets more than 1,200 hits per day. Several special-needs animals have found homes through his website. Many people have found the strength and the wisdom they needed to keep their ailing animals rather than euthanizing them or turning them into shelters.
“I believe there are animal angels sent to help us and Kitty-Boy was one,” Debbie said. “He stayed alive because he had a mission. He had to get to Best Friends; he had to get the message out about special-needs kitties.”
Ultimately, the disease that killed Kitty-Boy was cancer. On the overcast day he was buried, Willis and several people from Best Friends fondly remembered the brave spirit of the King of Head Butts. Faith, a dog who loves cats, also attended, gently kissing Kitty-Boy good night and burying a rawhide bone next to the grave. As soon as Kitty-Boy was buried, the sun broke through the clouds.
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