Every time I drive up to my house, I expect to see Rosie come running across the neighbor’s lawn, making a beeline to her feeding area. For two years this was how it was. Rosie was “displaced” for lack of a better word from her home. Two tomcats moved in and Rosie was “evicted,” left to fend for herself. “She’ll find a place,” her owner said.
I’d brush her with her little purple brush and tell her that I was looking for a home–a real home. I’d pick her up, look into her glassy green eyes and say, Rosie, I promise I’ll find you a home, before the end of the year. The weather forecast was predicting some heavy storms; not good conditions for an outdoor kitty.
I became more determined and posted on our neighborhood website. A few responded, but didn’t follow up. Some asked, “how is she with dogs?” Some asked if she “got along with other cats, or children?” I said that Rosie had been with other cats, dogs and children. Everyone had a reason not to take Rosie–until I received an email while I was in my Arlington, VA hotel room at the tail end of December. “Have you found a home for Rosie?” was the subject line. Excitedly, I responded that no, I hadn’t. She went on to tell me that she’d lost her kitty two years prior and added, “my broken heart is ready to love again.” I knew she was the one! We emailed back and forth for two weeks and then, two days before the year ended, Rosie showed up for an afternoon snack. I texted her “new mom” and asked, “are you home? Rosie’s here.” She was. Into the carrier she went, YOWLING all the way to her new home!
