Angel  Morris  Cage  Sidewalk  

Almost everyone who has been close to a pet in their life knows what we are talking about when 
we ask for the heart stories, for the fur-face memories, for the whisker tales. There are those 
pets who just touch a part you, a part of your heart and soul, and even after their passing, or 
after they move out of your life for whatever reason, they are never truly gone. 

Some of these stories are inspirational and courageous. Some are sad and heartbreaking.
They are all meaningful, and none will ever be forgotten.

These are some of the heart stories of the PAW society. 









      

        

  

    
     "Angel - I'm Still Waiting"
      
      
- Submitted by Anna Crawford

  








Angel was my friend. She was born in a dump outside of Calgary, Alberta. She had five brothers and sisters. Angel was the only calico in the litter. Petland in Calgary supports the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) and it was through this organization that I acquired Angel, on a Halloween night. Angel's birthday is August 30th 2001. She is a tortoiseshell calico.


We left Calgary (winter of 2002) and many mistakes behind us to start a new life. I had to get my life together and figure out what path I was going to follow in my life, and of course, Angel was right there by my side. She was my pedestal of responsibility and loyalty. I knew I had to get it together, if only for her sake. She deserved everything.


 In our bedroom, I hung a long elastic string with a dangling toy from the light, and Angel would do flips trying to catch it. We played like that alot of nights, laughing at her antics until our abs hurt. Angel was very smart, and loved to play games like that. She also fetched small toys, more faithfully than your average dog. She learned cute commands like 'sit', and 'wave', and 'shake a paw'. She was not your average housecat. She was so much more.


 We moved to a small town in southern Alberta in the Spring of 2004. On the chilly morning of November 1st 2004, I opened the front door and let Angel outside, as we had done every day.
I did not realize that I was putting my beautiful friend's invaluable life in danger. 


She did not return.


For many months, we put up 'Missing' posters of Angel, with a beautiful color photograph. We recieved two phone calls, but they were not Angel. I cried every day the first month she was gone, and begged for her safe return. I tried to come to grips with the idea that something may have happened to her, or that someone may have taken her.


 We have no idea what happened to Angel, to this day. Not knowing is what kills us. Not knowing is what hurts the most. It has been almost a full year, and I still have hope. I still cry.


 I am still waiting for my friend to come home. I will always be waiting.


      

    



  Editor's Note: 
Cats should be indoor-only for their own safety. Sadly, Angel's story proves this.
There are many natural and man-made predators that are a risk to the lives of 
domestic cats if they are left to wander outside. Cats can have healthy and full 
lives when kept indoors, as long as they are supplied with scratching posts, toys, 
and, of course, lots of love and playtime. 

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     "Morris - A Strong Survivor"
      
      
- Submitted by _______

  








Allowed to roam outdooors, Morris had been missing for 3 weeks in a rural 
area when he finally showed up on a neighboring acreage. He was in terrible 
shape. He was very emaciated, had a large wound on his side, and both his back 
legs were broken. (The vet felt that one explanation for his wounds was that 
he could possibly have been picked up by an owl or an eagle and then dropped.)
His person was not in a position to cope with the substantial cost of his health 
care and so, even though he was much loved, the sad decision was made to 
euthanize him.



The vet looked at this little survivor and thought that just maybe ... PAW could 
give him one more chance at life? He contacted PAW to see if we could take him into 
our program. How could we say "no"? And so, instead of being euthanized, Morris was 
surrendered to PAW. Morris had the worst of his two broken legs surgically fixed on 
April 6/05 and his movement will be quite restricted for the 6 weeks following surgery. 
It took 20 stitches to close the wound on his body. Morris is being fostered and cared 
for by a PAW volunteer who will see him through his recovery with as much love as 
possible.

      

    




  Editor's Note: 
Morris has a darling and trusting personality, facts that prove he was very 
loved by his person. However, he is now looking for a new home where he can 
be safely kept indoors (which, of course, is what PAW promotes for all its cats).

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     "Cage
      - A Foster Brother"
      
      
- Submitted by Anna Crawford

  







Cage was a rescued kitten who, when
he was a young baby, couldn't seem to get enough love and attention, and he grew
into a juvie who couldn't seem to give enough of it away! He lives in a very
loving home with one other permanent cat, and often finds himself being
foster-brother to a new foster cat each month. 


Cage seems to be a natural foster
brother. He is one of those cats who does not understand the concept of 'fight',
but instead, only wishes to play with and groom other cats. If a nervous or
unsure foster cat comes into our home, Cage doesn't waste any time making them
feel welcome, and it takes only a matter of days, sometimes even hours, for Cage
to have the new cat playing or grooming or even cuddling and sleeping. 


He seems to have a natural instinct
for getting other cats to feel at ease and comfortable. 


Cage is also a natural foster
'Mama'. He has had two opportunities with young kittens and has proven to be
very good with the babies. He grooms them with care, talks to them with a soft
mewling voice, and sleeps close by, almost as if he is guarding them carefully. 


He is the best foster family member
any cat could wish for, and has shown himself to be a big help around our
household.

      

    




  Editor's Note: 
Cats (as all animals) are very adaptable when offered the right circumstances 
and environment. Some animals have a natural personality such as Cage's, but 
any animal, if raised with love and affection, in a safe and secure environment, 
can grow to accept and understand the prescence of other animals in their 
surroundings, and even welcome them.

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