“Mom, can we go see the cats in Petco? Just to look at them?”- Me at 8 years old.

Of course, we came home with two kittens. Life with two cats is how it was supposed to be. I had lost the last member of my childhood kitty duo a few months prior, and things just weren’t the same. I think we were all missing life without the morning meows for food and pets, the comedy of nightly zoomies, and the satisfaction of being the chosen lap while watching “Survivor” on Friday night with the family (and had forgotten the periodic “gifts” of dead mice and rats in the living room).

Naturally, the first thing I did as an adult once I was no longer living in a tiny NYC shoe box was bring home a cat, Eloise. I quickly realized Eloise needed a friend and came across this picture of a tiny kitty looking at the camera with the cutest little scowl on the Lucky Dog website. 48 hours later I was in the parking lot of Dogma Bakery taking Benny (“Magic”) home! While I didn’t know it then, fast forward a little more than a year and I would have helped a little over 250 other cats make their way home from that little parking lot in Arlington.

Working with Lucky Dog has been such a rewarding experience in so many ways. I had the opportunity to visit our main shelter partner in Florence, SC twice now and it was truly amazing to see the work being done to save so many cats and dogs. While it can be sad and overwhelming to see so many animals in need, matching cats who were just in a small crate the week before to a loving home is the best feeling.

There is something truly special about cat people. Whether it is a member of our amazing cat team who spends hours each week facilitating adoptions, or our dedicated fosters who provide the support needed to transition from shelter to forever home, or a volunteer in South Carolina making a mama cat comfortable and fed as she cares for her babies, the entire ecosystem around cat rescue is a unique and special place.

So, the next time your 8 year-old just wants to look at the cats at PetSmart just say yes! And, if you want to save lives with us, please sign up HERE.