Hi everyone, Katie here.
It wasn't until after we clicked *publish* on our blog post announcing all of the winners in our giveaway gala last week that something really amazing and wonderful struck us.
All the shelter names and logos, all the addresses we had compiled, prizes big and small... a wash of emotion overcame us as we thought about the significance of single toy.
Glogirly was reminded of a Sunday afternoon in November, just a year and a half ago, when she drove out to the Animal Humane Society of Buffalo, Minnesota to meet the orange kitten she'd found on Petfinder.com just hours before.
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| L-R: Jackson (now Waffles) & Herbie |
The shelter volunteers introduced to her to "Jackson" and "Herbie." They brought her to a quiet room with the tiny orange boys and handed her a wand toy.
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| L-R: Herbie & Jackson (now Waffles) |
She sat on the floor, playing with them for the longest time. They jumped and flipped and twirled...everything new and exciting, they each had wonder in their eyes.
And yes, the thought of bringing them BOTH home was a serious consideration. There was another family visiting though ... a mom, dad, a little boy and girl, that really wanted to adopt one of the kittens.
After an hour or so, "Jackson" decided he'd had enough feather chasing. He hopped onto Glogirly's lap, curled into a little ball and stretched his neck up high, gazing right into her eyes. He purred with the sweetest of smiles. That was it. Glogirly had found Waffles and Waffles had found us.
That play session at the shelter with the wand toy...it was a bonding experience that Glogirly will never forget.
It warms out hearts to think of all the shelter cats who will have an opportunity to play with one of the toys that was donated on behalf of our readers. It's one step closer to a human connection for those cats. And one step closer to a forever home.
Thank you so much to our generous sponsors and to our loving readers for helping making a difference in the lives of shelter cats. One feather at a time.
Dat iz pawesome!!
ReplyDeleteCats find you. It is the way of the world. Waffles was meant to be your owner ;)
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ReplyDelete<3
ReplyDeleteWhen mommy came to pick me up and take me home she also played with some of the kitties. There was one who was a little wild and liked to attack. Mommy just stood there and played feavers with her and she calmed down considerably. We hope the feaver toy is a big help there!
ReplyDeleteWe pray the toys help kitties find their forever homes too!!!
ReplyDeleteBefore me, when Mum and Dad went to the farm to pick up ONE cat, she played with a small piece of thread, then Dad did it, and they finally came home with Céleste AND Loupi... Yes, cats find you ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteI think that was totally the best part of your giveaway. Paws up for an AWESOME job!
ReplyDeleteWonderful story. Thank you so much for sharing it. Brought (good) tears to my eyes <3
ReplyDeleteThat are such a cool story!
ReplyDeletedis am pawsome story of how waffles came to be your fur ever friend...
ReplyDeletepurrz,
Lil Bear
and Doobie Davey
Stoopy blurry screen!
ReplyDelete~Vicat
I never knew the story of how you first met Waffles. So sweet!
ReplyDeleteThis warms my heart.
ReplyDeletexxoo
Maggie
That is such a sweet story! I'm so glad Waffles found you, and I really hope "Herbie" got a great home, too!
ReplyDeleteGeez....mom needs a tissue. It is so true - mom sees it when she volunteers how important that first connection be.
ReplyDeleteHow cool that the giveaway may help lots of kitties find homes like "Jackson" and "Herbie." Pawsome!
ReplyDeleteGlogirly, reading this post brings home for me that "we too are one" as Annie Lennox sang back in the 80's. I mean too not two. It's multiples. So many of us enjoy your blog, and I couldn't help but wonder if your faithful readers experienced what I did when they read the winner's roll:My IMMEDIATE thought is, oh wow...I didn't win and I would have loved a (fill in the blank). That thought perishes as soon as I take in the reach of the contest--it's so wonderful to see all the kitties who will have toys and food and goodies... and right there, I feel like I did win. Because I'm part of a community of people who care about the health and welfare of rescued kitties searching for homes. "We too" hit the lottery with your carefully organized group of prizes. I hope your sponsors know there are people like me who will just turn around and purchase their products BECAUSE they donated to your contest which in turn benefits so many.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the power of helping a timid or not yet socialized cat learn to play and to trust, therefore sealing the deal for a furrever home. Just like your story with Waffles. Beautiful.
Thank you so much for your efforts and to Katie and Waffles for teaching all of us that rescued cats are worthy of love and their very own feather toys.
Peace, love and head bonks from the Squeedunk Cats and Laura....
Such a great post! Everything's gone blurry!! xoxox
ReplyDeleteThat is a most powerful adoption message! Never underestimate the power of a feather and a smile.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great message! When shelters win, kitties like Jackson and Herbie win. Not every cat is going to win worldwide fame like little Jackson did with his father toy, but their bonding with potential families and helping them to find forever homes is just as big a win. And it can happen every day of the week. Paws up to how those feather toy winner shelters are going to make even more forever homes for deserving kitties.
ReplyDeleteso touching..
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet story! We is so happy that Waffles picked you too.
ReplyDeleteSasha, Sami, & Saku
What a sweet story. I never knew that his name was Jackson. I sure like the name Waffles a lot better!
ReplyDeleteYay for shelter kitties! Yay for Waffles!
ReplyDeleteSQUEEEE!!!!!! Baby Waffles is so darn cute!!! And now a handsome mancat! Yep, all kinds of stuff helps rescues and we are thankful for your part in helping them!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious love story..Waffles if I would have been there I would have taken your cute little brother home with me..I am so happy to hear how you picked Glogirly and went home with her..If not for that we would never have gotten to have so much fun with you..May the shelter kitties everywhere find their magic feather that will send them home..HOME..to be forever loved..Hugs
ReplyDeleteHOPE IS the thing with feathers
ReplyDelete~Emily Dickinson
Oh this made Mom cry! Mom had a similar experience with a swing toy and her Finny. :Sniffs:
ReplyDeleteWaffles was such a cute kitten, and now he's a cute young adult. Hmmm, I don't think Katie would have been happy with two Waffles running around.
ReplyDeleteThat is how we helped mum pick us and we picked her. She wanted to play and we came through. She looked at other kitties, no one else really wanted to play and interact.
ReplyDeleteWe is glad Waffles came home with you, he was a great kitten and now an outstanding mancat.
This is one of the most heartwarming blog posts EVER.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteSue B
I loved hearing how Waffles came to his forever home. I am also a ginger boy and I picked out my lady too. She picked me up when I was waiting for someone to take me home from the shelter. I was only 3 months old and softly played with her necklace. That was it - she was mine! :)
ReplyDeletePurrrrrrrrrrs, Spike William
Catzowey! This makes my EyeTailYun mancat heart go bumpity bump bumpz. Meowvalous story . Mille meowster grazie for sharing
ReplyDeleteYeah!!!! That is PAWSOME!!!! Mom and I got together in somewhat the same way! There were 5 of us and she was playing with a feather toy with all of us and I was the one who socialized the best with her :)
ReplyDeleteMarty
We always say that shelter kitties choose their forever families. Sounds like that's how it worked with Waffles! :)
ReplyDeleteYou brought tears to my eyes. I never had that at the shelters. BTW, Jackson was Autumn’s nickname. Don’t ax.
ReplyDeleteYou are one lucky kitty kat
ReplyDeleteLily & Edward
Action Jackson becomes Waffles! LOVE it…and I love thinking about a difference one toy can make to one shelter pet..it really is everything and makes such a difference! Thank you for making a difference for so many!!!
ReplyDeleteAww, that's so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely the most heart-warming story. Bet Glogirly had no idea what a character Waffles would turn out to be. Katie, we can't imagine what you would have done if Glogirly had brought home two bouncing, orange, baby boys with her! YIKES! it's the best when cat and human find EACH other! XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
ReplyDeleteSo sweet. And those pictures of baby Waffles!! Adorable. Thank you and your sponsors for all that you do to help shelter animals.
ReplyDeleteAww, great story. We never knew about Waffles choosing you. Let's keep up the good work - one feather toy at a time!
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