My beloved Mitzi died on July 7, 2017, after having given me nearly 17 years of love.
Just me, mind you...she hated everyone else, even attacked my daughters when they would visit. When she was gone, I decided she'd be the last pet I'd raise, cherish and then mourn.
No more pets.
It's 2022 now and the house we moved into just months after Mitzi crossed the Rainbow Bridge has been quiet and occupied by two people, a few television sets, music and occasional company.
It's been too quiet.
So, I started looking at pet adoption sites, all rescue to be sure. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of cats and kittens waiting for someone to take them home. Their little faces begged me to abandon my petless vow and adopt them.
One in particular struck me...right between the eyes and right in the heart. Selma, the shelter folks had named her. She was found on the streets and brought to the Burlington County Animal Shelter on December 27th. It was the end of January when I first saw her and February 2nd when Howard and I signed the papers and brought her home.
We didn't know what to expect. After all, at 7+ years of age, she had lived a wealth of experiences elsewhere. Had she been someone's pet? Was she on the streets for a long time? Would she accept or shun human affection? Lots of questions to ask of someone who can't answer verbally. We would have to wait and learn each other's habits, likes and dislikes.
Amazingly, little Selma, who weighs only 7.3 pounds, is a cuddler, a lap sitter, an affectionate little mite who begs for petting. She has a little tiny meow, barely audible when she wakes me at 7 a.m. She has beautiful coloring...dilute calico, the vet called her, and in the space of not quite two weeks, she's wormed her way into our lives and our hearts.
Our furniture is covered with fleece throws to discourage little claws from rearranging the microfiber sofa and chair that was delivered early in January. A spot has been cleared in the pantry for the cans of food. A litter box takes up a corner of our laundry room and is scooped out every morning. Life is different in the Smith household and we wouldn't have it any other way.
A pet brings so much joy. My only regret is that I waited so long to bring one into our lives.
