EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an ongoing series that features Burien CARES animal adoptees looking for loving homes.
This edition is sponsored by Sit ‘N Stay Pet Sitting:
By Cydney Moore
Marcell
This is Marcell, a 10-year old tabby who was brought in off the streets as a stray. When Marcell first came to Burien C.A.R.E.S., he was in a rather poor state – he had bad teeth, which was at least partially to blame for his malnourishment (they were so bad he couldn’t eat anything but wet food at first). He was much too thin, dehydrated, and had an eye infection. Thankfully, during his time at the shelter, Marcell has shown remarkable improvements and is making an amazing recovery. After having all the necessary dental work done on his teeth, Marcell was able to start eating dry food, and with the improvement of his diet, he has been gaining weight steadily. Although he does have a little trouble getting around steep inclines (he probably won’t be running up and down flights of stairs frequently), likely due in part to his age, according to the vet Marcell does not have any other health problems to speak of. When I was introduced to this lovable little fellow, the first thing I noticed was how very small he was. His frame was that of an average cat, but you could tell he had gone a long time without proper meals. I sat down in the middle of the room, and Marcell immediately came straight over to me in search of affection. Thoughts of his fragile figure were quickly dispelled by the vivaciousness of his demand for attention. This boy is a lover. After a few minutes, however, Marcell became distracted. He wandered over to the closed door of the room we were in, and sat determinedly in front of it. He looked at the door knob, and looked pointedly back and me. He maintained this position for a few minutes, glancing back and forth between me and the door, and there was no ambiguity in what he was asking – he wanted out. After a short while, he retreated from his spot by the door and came back over to me, happily receiving pets and scratches behind the ears, but then once again returned to his place by the door and began his routine of glancing back to me, staring up at the door patiently but with intent, and back at me. The purposefulness of his demand left me feeling devastated at not being able to just take him home right then and there, and when he stood up and put his paw against the crack of the door, my heart just about broke in two. He continued this pattern for the remainder of our time together – coming back to me, gladly receiving my attention, then back to the door to sit and stare. Back and forth this went on, until it was finally time for me to leave, and it took all my strength of will not to run out of the shelter with him in my arms. Marcell has been at the shelter since July. He is neutered, and has been treated for fleas and worms. I can 100% guarantee that this sweet, intelligent kitty will make an amazing and loving companion to whoever grants him his freedom, and gives him a forever home.
Spirit
Spirit is a incredibly shy, but remarkably sweet, 6-year old tuxedo. The first thing staff told me prior to being introduced to her was that it was probably going to take a while for her to warm up to me before she would be comfortable enough to show herself – and they weren’t wrong. The second thing they told me, however, was that once she does become accustomed to new people, she turns into the cuddliest, most affectionate cat anyone could want. This, too, turned out to be completely accurate. I imagine I must have sat on the floor of the room Spirit is kept in for about 10 minutes or so and bribed her with nearly as many treats before she drummed up the courage to crawl out from beneath the kennels she had been hiding under. She sniffed me, weighted her approval, and quickly rubbed her head against my hand to get petted. A moment later she started for no apparent reason, and skirted back under the kennels, where she hid for several more minutes before permitting herself to come back out and get more attention. There is no doubt that this girl wants love. She is skittish and nervous, and afraid to get comfortable with people, but she really, really wants to. As she continued warming up to me, she would spend just a little bit longer out before she would run back and hide, and get a little bolder; she began climbing into my lap, rolling around on the floor for belly rubs, and even started purring after a while. Though she was found as a stray in Burien and likely spent a good amount of time out on the streets, volunteers at C.A.R.E.S. feel fairly confident she belonged to someone at one point because she is so friendly. Over time, she has become more and more sociable with the folks at the shelter, and while she still is uncertain towards strangers, with just a little patience and a lot of love, it is clear she would be more than happy to become somebody’s best friend and lap cat. Spirit has been spayed, treated for fleas and worms, vaccinated, and microchipped. She has no known health problems, and has been at the shelter since mid-September. If you have room in your life to accommodate a shy girl who will eventually smother you with love, Spirit would make a wonderful addition to your home – and whoever adopts this gorgeous gal will be very lucky indeed.To learn more about Marcell or Spirit, or to find out how you can foster/adopt, please contact Burien C.A.R.E.S. at (206)-812-2737 or stop by during business hours at 909 SW 151st Street. Burien C.A.R.E.S. is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter serving the City of Burien; more info at Burien C.A.R.E.S. Volunteers and donations are always welcome.ABOUT THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR:
]]>Sit ‘N Stay Pet Sitting, LLC Serving Burien, Normandy Park, and Des Moines Phone: 206.370.0169 Website: http://www.wesittheystay.com
