Have you ever wanted to smile and cry at the same time?

[Nightingale 0]

Today, I went shopping to pick some christmas stuff.

I walked into a pet supply store, thinking of picking up a christmas gift for my kitties, and the store was doing pet adoptions today, cats, dogs, and a few rabbits. I usually try to avoid rescue days at the pet store, because I just want to take all the furry ones home, and always leave feeling sad, but today, I had to get some stuff, so I went inside.

I was looking around, when I noticed a lady in her mid 40s, reading a sign that was on one of the cages for two kitties up for adoption. All of a sudden, the lady burst into tears and started crying on her husband's shoulder. She took a moment to compose herself, and then walked over to the table where the pet rescue people were sitting. I took the opportunity to walk over and read the sign.

The sign on the cage with the two cats said that the cats had belonged to a local marine who was killed in action in Iraq, and that the cats were very attached to each other, and the rescue was hoping to find them a home together.

I overheard the lady telling the rescue workers that she wanted both the cats. The lady explained that her own son had been killed in Iraq, and that she wanted to do something to help out the animals that were left behind because of another marine's death. She showed the rescue staff a picture of her son, all dressed up in his uniform.

After hearing her story, the rescue staff didn't even want to charge her for the cats, but she insisted, and from what I could guess by their reactions, she wrote her check out for quite a bit more than the required donation for the kitties. After picking up the basic requirements for new kitties, the couple left, and it seemed like half the store wanted to cry because of the sad story, and smile because two little furballs had found a new home.

When I left the store, two more people were approaching the rescue table wanting to adopt a critter.

I walked out with a smile on my face, and a tear in my eye.

I'm glad those two kitties found a home, but there are so many more out there...

[mjosparky 4]

Kris,

You are a person and I am proud I know you.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[airborne31582 0]

Wow Kris, thats an amazing story, hopefully those pets can bring some joy to their new family .

Chris
I thought of the odds of me succeeding, versus the odds I was doing something incredibly stupid, and I went ahead anyway.

[adamjenner 0]

we "adopted" two stray cats that just showed up at our house one day. They're ours now!!! basically, these families in the neighbourhood didn't want their cats so they started to come to our house for food. I just let them in cuz one, i love cats and two, i'm not about to let them starve and be cold. They kept coming back and so my parents were like "let them stay here, who cares" haha i love my stray cats...we got to make names for them and everything

the only time i smile and cry is if i'm laughing really hard.

[cocheese 0]

Weird what reading those words can do to a guy like me. Thanks for sharing that story.

[TheAnvil 0]

Quite special.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[mouth 0]

Adopting a pet from a shelter or bad situation is such a great thing. All three of my dogs have been adpoted either from a neighbor who was "taking her off", a family member who had to go into a retirement home, or the local pound. Yeah, I'm a sucker for a stray dog.

Your story is so touching. Thanks for sharing.

--
Hot Mama
At least you know where you stand even if it is in a pile of shit.

[leroydb 0]

quite an awesome story!

Leroy


..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio...

[flyangel2 2]

Well I think I am just as big a sucker as you. In our house we have three dogs and three cats. Just got the kitty about a month ago. Heck, what's one more mouth to feed

Side note story: A few days ago a friend of mine was talking about wanting to get a new dog in the house for her daughter for Christmas. I told her to head to the pound or get on line and find a dog that needs to be rescued. She found a lady in town that does rescues, when to the place that all the dogs are at, and decided that it was just too hard to look at those dogs, dogs that had been mistreated, starved, or had health problems. My friend went to a private breeder and spent $350 on a toy poodle. I guess it really does take a special person that is willing to take a pet with health issues or behavior problems caused from abuse, and love them, and provide them with a good home. Two of the three dogs I have had serious health and behavior problems, but with lots of love and patients, I have provided them a happy home, and they in turn have become the most loving dogs.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[Kramer 0]

Well reading that made me want to smile and cry at the same time, so...yeah.

The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!

[Paige 0]

Great story girl, thanks for sharing. I'm tearing up just reading it and not even seeing those cute critters I so long to adopt

Tunnel Pink Mafia Delegate
www.TunnelPinkMafia.com

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

wow..goosebumps

_________________________________________

[Michele 1]

Smile and crying, at the same time? Yup, I've done it. More than I care to remember.

The last time I was at a rescue day at the pet store, Simon came home (he's now 6 months, 7 lbs, and getting snipped tomorrow...). Yeah, I know what you mean, Kris. With 5 at my house - all rescues, too - there's no more room. But Pengy let me touch her for the first time yesterday, after 9 months of living in my house.

That woman was very special, and it was a wonderful thing for her to do. And thanks for sharing the story.

Made my morning! (And made me go hug and kiss the 4 who'll let me touch them, and wave at Pengy, too.)

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[ladyskydiver 0]

Way cool.

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile.

[akarunway 1]

My new kitty of 3 months decided to take the leap off the balcony the other day. Whereabouts unknown. Damn tired off getting attached to animals and have em think the grass is geeener.......... Taught the the bird to talk and would'nt clip his wings. He even had a room off his own. Guess I'm not cut out to have animals. The last dog, an Akita, I made so friendly he'd run away to play w/ all the neighborhood kids. Got him back three times once as far as 60 miles away. I GIVE UP ON ANIMALS

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Nightingale 0]

try leaving food out for the kitty. many times, if something hasn't happened to them, they'll come home when they're hungry.

[jumpinjackflash 0]

Wow,

I just hope the cats help ease their pain. Losing a son in such a manner, has to be completely and totally heartbreaking.

As parents, were supposed to go before them, to have to continue your life on, without the most wonderful thing you've ever known...

Prayers for them both.


J

It's a gas, gas, gas...

[GARYC24 3]

I just wish I had a place of my own to have a pet.