On a cool and damp Saturday morning we made our first trip to Atlanta Pet Rescue on or around September 5th, 2008. We had just lost two of our cats within 5 months of each other; one 18 and the other one 19 years old. We only went there to try and donate a few items that we no longer needed.
I remember the morning visit to Atlanta Pet Rescue very, very well. It was a difficult visit holding back tears and feeling guilty for looking at other cats. The gravitation of the cat room pulled us in, it was just to take a peek, one little harmless peek. Just an hour before, we had both threatened each other, no more animals for a while as we needed to grieve. Before I realized what had happened upon entering the cat room, I was suddenly attacked by what felt like was a very sharp and precise machete on my left arm, to my surprise this swat came from an angry but beautiful Calico feline so appropriately called Francie, the crankie Calico. I just remembered thinking what a little witch (among other names), no wonder you are here? After we learned a little bit about her, I thought to myself you need to change your attitude or you'll never get a home Missy. My partner decided to be brave and try to pet her up in one of the beds, he quickly pulled back a bleeding thumb
and I could not quit laughing. "I told you," I said. We looked at a few other cats and left for the day; me with a bleeding left fore arm, and him with a tooth wound to his thumb.
Not too much was said about Francie the cranky Calico, other than she is a little feisty. About a month later, we took another Saturday trip to Atlanta Pet Rescue and met Lyndel, we went back in the cat room and there was Francie. We had learned she had been there for a year and a half, well it is no wonder I thought to myself? Once again we looked around and left the cat room with puncture wounds. On our way out, Lyndel said she was the only one that could pet her and we learned another volunteer had gotten a swipe across his bald head and other volunteers spoke up by saying she does not discriminate, she bites everyone.
We both travel frequently and are like ships that pass in the night. We were getting transferred to Denver, the house was on the market and our lives were too chaotic. Greg called me one morning and said; do you know what I am thinking about? Off the cuff, I said that crankie Calico named Francie? He replied with a surprised yes and we could not believe the mental telepathy between us. He was traveling home on Friday as we were commuting from Denver to Atlanta and back and suggested we take a ride to Atlanta pet Rescue on Saturday just to try and take a another peek at this Francie girl.
Another Saturday and another trip back to Atlanta Pet Rescue, both saying we really needed a cat like we needed a hole in our heads. We walked back in the cat room and I got swiped and bitten, Greg got bitten twice. Francie, was up on the top cages, like a wild cat waiting to attack. Greg is 6'8 and could easily stand up to see her eye to eye. He went back for more when he tried to touch her paw and got a bite on the other hand. He had about a 10 minute conversation with her, just Greg and Francie as she intently starred him down while I walked around loving on the other kittens. We left convinced we just couldn't take Francie. Our other babies were complete love bugs, this Francie was just not making any head way with me.
The next Saturday, we are back at Atlanta Pet Rescue, Francie is still there; no surprise to either of us. I had learned my lesson to just ignore her but Greg went back for more and pulled back another bloody hand. They had yet another conversation, just Francie and Greg. I was just happy not to be wounded again, as the last bite really hurt and was sore for a good week. Greg suggested we fill out an application, I moved with the flow as I thought we would get two kittens and since he is the planner and organizer of the relationship, I wasn't surprised the application was in progress and if we bonded with someone we could get them that day or any Saturday we were there.
On Sunday night, Greg just out of no man's land said "you know I saw a twinkle in her eye when I was talking to her"? I said who are you talking about? He said Francie. I said you are crazy and have lost your mind! He was convinced he saw that twinkle in her eye but could not explain it. By the way, I never ever saw even an inkling of this eye twinkle. By this time, I'm kind of familiar with her and she and I are cordial during visits. She has somehow managed to give me a soft spot in my heart, but Greg and her had their own love hate relationship and they were at least talking. I thought if we did get her she will at least be easy, you will never see her and she will just hide all the time. At the very least, she'd have a home and be safe. Oh geez, we are approved to adopt? It is getting too easy to get a cat in our house I thought to myself? After many more conversations we decided to adopt Francie after Thanksgiving. After we finally made the decision, I got a l
ittle excited and the soft spot in my heart was growing with excitement. I was up for the challenge, and she was after all a very gorgeous girl.
I headed out to Denver for a visit and a trip to Aspen. As we were walking through this beautiful city, we looked at each other and both agreed that we could not wait a few more weeks and immediately called Lyndel and said we are coming next weekend to pick up our Girl. One thing I knew is she hated it there at Atlanta Pet Rescue. We had one major request, her nails must be trimmed. Lyndel happily agreed when we arrived she would be all prettied up. As we think back on our visits, I believe Lyndel and others must have held their breath and I'm not sure anyone could really believe Francie the cranky Calico was going to a forever home, everyone seemed happy but reluctant I think that we would take her.
That was the longest week of my life. It was finally Saturday; we were up early and going to get our girl. We arrived, her nails were cut, trimmed and everyone welcomed us. We took our cute little family picture and away we went. I think she knew! She didn't bite or fuss for our family picture.
It was an emotional trip home; I think we both cried with just pure relief. The minute we got into the car, we changed her name to Phoebe (named after the very assertive and bitchy Phoebe Tyler from All My Children) and we think she looks like a Phoebe. On our way home, she let out two little meows. We promised her we would always keep her safe; give her fresh food, water and a clean litter box. Most of all we would love her and this was her forever home and forever family. We never had a what if it doesn't work out conversation.
Needless to say, she moved right in and adjusted to her new home within 30 minutes. She never ran and hid, just walked around with a little bit of attitude. We left her alone and let her explore. That night she completely surprised us and joined us in the bed and hasn't left since.
She loves her Red Bandana dry crunchies, will not eat any canned wet cat food or any other dry mixes to include people food. She is however partial to a bite of Costco roasted chicken here and there but only on her terms and not always when offered.
She loves her two water glasses in our master bathroom. Only drinks there and prefers them to be changed daily, sometimes twice daily. She has the nerve to sit and wait on us to refresh them.
She is the most lovable cat, follows us around like a puppy dog, tail is always up and always curled around over her back like a little monkey?
She loves our bed and always sleeps with us; she has migrated upwards to sleep around our necks and chest. The only problem is lights go out at midnight, but she doesn't turn her very loud motor box off until much later amongst her constantly being a bed hog.
She still doesn't like you to come at her face with your hands; something must have traumatized her maybe a small child with busy fingers, or all those hands at Pet Rescue. She no longer bites and has learned to play; if she does bite they are love bites. She loves to get her fur brushed and to bird and squirrel watch on our back deck, she has a little fountain out there where she drinks rippling water and loves it. It is safe and secure like a tree house and she is only out while supervised and doesn't always want to go out.
We cannot believe how incredibly lucky we got by taking a chance to invite her into our lives. She has helped us heal! We love her more than you can imagine, we rush home to be with our girl. She is so happy and well adjusted she is a different cat, nothing like what she was in Atlanta Pet Rescue.
Each and every day, she gets sweeter and we notice another positive personality change, she has become very verbal and now likes to talk.
The only thing that has changed is we're staying in Atlanta, we still travel for work and she has a cat nanny named Rebecca. She comes daily to check on our girl, they sit together on the sofa, Phoebe in Rebecca's lap, both watching CNN and Rebecca sipping a little scotch.
We would not take a million dollars for our girl. She is here to stay with her forever family in her forever home. She gets many kisses each and every day and is learning to like being held in our arms.
It is very appropriate as I sit here with our girl, Miss Phoebe. She is watching the computer screen and the cursor, almost like she can read and understands what I am doing. I think this is her paw of approval for everything everybody did to get her a forever home.
We thank you Atlanta Pet Rescue! This girl has us wrapped around her paw?
Stephen and Greg
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