Buddy

Right after Thanksgiving, my mother had to send her cat of 18 years across the Rainbow Bridge. With mom being 94 years old, I really didn't want to bring another cat into the home. But after days of listening to her cry and realizing how depressed and lonely she was getting, I decided to adopt one for her.

Because I'm a volunteer at the PetSmart in Latham, I knew of a very handsome declawed gray and white boy who had been returned for financial reasons. His name at the time was Brogan. Not many people had been interested in him because he was six years old and didn't have a lot of spunk - two reasons I thought he might be the perfect match for my mother.

I brought Brogan home and he immediately started investigating and exploring. He has made the adjustment beautifully and is now my mom's Buddy. He spends his days on his window perch checking out all the birds and squirrels or on mom's rocker or hassock - basically anywhere where he can take some long cat naps. He'll occasionally play with a toy, but he also likes to just hang out with mom. At night he sleeps with her for awhile and is always her little alarm clock.

Buddy has made a huge difference in mom's life - and mine. I know Mom is happier now that he has joined the family, and Buddy seems extremely content. He knows (and mom knows) that he will always have a home here because he will become mine if anything should prevent mom from keeping him. There is no way he'll ever be returned again.

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