We got a tip from Ellen's cleaning lady - try the Maricopa County Shelter. After a delicious burrito lunch, Richard, Larry, and I headed forth to the place. Lots of barking dogs...seemed like a place where animals were in residence. Three billion people lined up in a space designed for twelve facing a high counter with mostly closed wickets. A ticket dispenser on the far wall - we pulled 03 - only 10 away from service. While waiting, we searched out the cats and found a row of them in what looked like a pet-sized penitentiary. They howled and pawed at the bars like so many desperate prisoners. Some cages bore plastic signs declaring the pet's age, gender, and reproductive status - with a cheery "Ready for Adoption" attached.
Only the kittens had names. We settled on a blue-grey girl of 4 years, and took the sign back to the counter. The line was hijacked by several non-number carrying folk. Those of us on the sidelines silently seethed. Some not so silently.
Eventually, we were called. We want to adopt, we say... The agent of bureaucracy-gone-mad behind the counter wanted to know if we had visited with the chosen pet. Ah, no... She handed us a swath of paperwork and told us to go outside, go left and left, and have a supervised visit with the animal. Then we could come back, select another number, and wait.
We cleverly took a number prior to heading out for our "visit."
The visit did not go well. Blue-grey girl was very skittish and afraid. Probably not a suitable pet for Ellen. So we went to our fall-back position. A lovely grey and white girl of 6 years with a persistent sneeze. (Many fostered sneezers have made me an expert in this problem).
Yes, we'll take her. Better yet, she was already spayed and could be taken immediately.
Well, not immediately... several years later when our new number came up, we filled in more paperwork, paid our $25-Christmas-special-price and lined up at another location to have the cat brought to us. Apparently, this cat was destined for the big litter box in the sky before Christmas. Now she lies contentedly on our bed. Lucky cat.
Looking for clever name suggestions...
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6 comments:
How about Sneezy? Or better yet, Sneezy Milo!
Dead Cat Walking would be too long, but maybe Angel; because if you didn't get her for Ellen she would have been one.
Lots of love to all, Paul
Hey you guys both have digital cameras, why no new kitty picture?
No kitty picture because we don't have downloading capabilities... Larry is voting for Dead Cat Walking (or DCW). You are one funny guy pupaul. Meanwhile, cat has now had her first visit to the vet (did not like it)and is asleep again on our bed. Happy girl.
Call it Eleanor. She was under house arrest for years until her husband finally died and her son Richard released her. She had a few more good years running things after that. How can you tell I'm watching "The Lion in Winter"??
Ilike sneazy or something else..
i will look
I like the cat...
i love all the cat stories. cotton is adorable. now i just need you to help me convince chris that fletch and scarlett are ready for another sibling.
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