The Bible says when we take in someone in need we may be taking in an "angel unaware." That is what happened when I took in my cat, Ashley, a stray who had been mistreated. I never met a sweeter cat. Everyone here, please don't assume all strays are mean or have some terrible disease. Do something to help them--take them to the vet to see if they are healthy and if they are, take them in or find them a good home. It is very rewarding to help a needy animal.

Margo,

I have a few little angels that I have rescued over the years. I also have a couple purebreed cats in my house. I have one of my little rescued strays sitting in my lap as I type this. Her name is mort and she came to me as a kitten who was put out on the street by a man who nearly beat his wife to death. She is now 16 years old and is just a wonderful girl. She loves rides in the truck, she is leash trained, she brings her toys to us as gifts. I love my little ocicat and abyssinian and they have certain health issues with their breed. Sometimes even the purebreeds get abandoned and are left for stray. I love them all very much!!!

If there is a cat who needs my help I will never turn it away..

Kim

Dear Margo,

I agree 100%! Shiloh was a stray (I saved her from the town dog catcher who would've taken her out and shot her)...and she surely was an angel.
My latest stray is "Koda." He and his brother were dumped on the side of the road when they were only about 8 weeks old (that was about 6 weeks ago). He's a very frisky puppy, but when I look deep in his eyes, I see an old soul. Here's his picture...

Oh Kathleen, what an ADORABLE puppy!!!!!!
Please keep us posted with pictures as Koda grows older.
Who in the world could ever abandon such a precious little furbaby?!

Margo, I agree!!! I would never turn my back on a stray in need.
They are indeed Angels!

Kim, unfortunately you are correct. I have seen purebred furbabies dumped and abandoned. So sad

Cheri

GOOD LORD that is one of the cutest pics I have ever seen in my life - of any type of being

I think the reason we meet these "strays" isn't to save THEM but to save OURSELVES.

Margo,
All my life I have been one of those people that bring the strays home. In fact there was a time that my Mom said if I brought another home I would have to find another place to live In fact I have always been drawn to the ones that no one wanted.....people too. Stays are just furbabies that havent had the chance to be loved.
I would like to have a farm or something that I could take in the unwanted.

Kathleen, what's not to LOVE what a darling pic.....I just love it and the expression says it all. Pamela

Margo,

How true your words are. I have for the last year worked in rescue and I have seen first hand just how special these "second-hand" fur-butts are. A rescue (as all strays are) has such an appreciation for what you give them because they know first hand just how rough life can be and most of these pups are loveable creatures. Thank you for opening your home to them.

Hugs,
Beth

I am so glad to see you all agree with me on this. I hope if there are strays in need they will make their way to your door or mine. It saddens me to know there are so many of them still out there--I hope I get sent another stray cat.

I made some mistakes with Ashely at first--he wasn't used to being in the house and I didn't push it, so he ended up spending too much time outside, even in the cold, that first year. Also, I think I could have gotten Ashley to come up to me sooner had I been a little more clever. Like I said he spent almost two years coming to the house periodically to snatch food of the front porch, but wouldn't let me near him. One night I didn't have dry food so I just put a cat can out there. I guess he had never had one before, but he was so impressed that he came up to me and finally let me pet him! That is probably a good way to earn the trust of a stray, to give him a can.

The stray, Tom, that I tried to save was just in need of company. He just wanted a pat or two - I gave him food and water and he took it, but he only wanted companionship. He would sit beside me outside for an hour every once in a while, then disappear.

It's a pity he was so sick that our vet recommended putting him to sleep. I would have like to have gotten to know him.

I have never bought a cat or dog. I have always been blessed by the fact that somehow they find their way to my door. Bonnie, Tiggy and Ellie were all abandoned strays and the joy they brought was unimaginable.

Kathleen I am so happy for you ... he is soooo special. It's such a lovely name too.

I am sitting here at the moment with a new little kitty who has been coming through my catflap since Ellie die. I think I saw them playing together once in the garden. I'm not sure if she has an owner or not, but she spends a lot of time here now.

Tonight is the first night that she has jumped on my lap while I have been on my computer. She is purring away here just now.

It's lovely of course, expecially as today I was missing my little Ellie so very much.

This is a photo of Amber that we almost lost when I cleaned the carpets with a cleaner that was a pet formula. She spent many days in the hospital but they were able to save her.

Amber was a stray who had been declawed then kicked out on the street and nearly starved to death. She was around 2 years old when my daughter found her Amber was pregnant and had her kittens in my home as I babysit for my childrens' fur babies. We had no idea she was pregnant and she had them on my bed.

My husband paid to have Amber spayed soon after she had her babies. When Cinny was old enough we had him taken care of. My husband used to laugh and say he was working just to take care of our childrens' animals. We had the money so he didn't mind.

My daughter recently gave Amber and Amber's son Cinny to us along with her toy poodle Gypsy Rose. We had her spayed too. My daughter takes in many stray fur babies and was over run and could not keep up with vet bills. Food, shots and all of that.

Anyway Amber is a wonderful girl you couldn't ask for a sweeter girl. Her only fault is she steals socks and brags about it and I think it is so cute. One night she got into the laundry basket and lined the stolen sock up in a 3 foot line along the wall. She is a doll. Cinny digs the wall in our kitchen up but leaves the other walls alone. Gypsy Rose seems to have a split personality she is sweet one minute and growling at you the next. Anyway I just thought I would share Amber's picture.
Ann

This was a timely post for me...today, my family and I adopted a 1 1/2 year old lab pointer mix who was found on the streets as a stray at a local animal shelter. I thought it would take me much longer to be ready for a new dog, but we have been feeling lonely and wanting to provide a safe and loving home for a dog that really needs it. I hope Lucy would approve. This dog will in no way replace her, but we feel we have so much to offer a dog, we couldn't wait to much longer. I get to pick this boy up on Friday, after he is neutered. I told my husband that we should name him "Nick," because he was literally saved from being put down at the shelter "in the Nick of time." He was supposed to be put down tomorrow. So I am of course excited, but also nervous, as I still miss Lucy so very much and I hope we haven't gotten in over our heads with an unknown dog. I will have to just have faith that it will work out. I will let everyone know his name and how things are going soon.

Caroline

Oh Caroline I knew it would not be long before you got another baby. If you decide to name him Nick that is a wonderful name for him since you saved him in the nick of time. I hope that he will bless you with many years of love.
Love, Ann

Dear Caroline,

That's great you're getting a new furbaby. Lucy would certainly approve and is very happy, I'm sure that you're giving a "doggie in need" a good home.

Looking forward to hearing all about him.

Lynn

Ann H-----What pet formula did you use? I use all kinds, now you've got me worried

I too support strays and ferals. ALL of my pets were strays or ferals, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I wish I could make a career out of rescueing cats!

Caroline, I am so very happy for you. I know he will bring you great joy and Lucy will be happy for you too. Our dearly loved departed furbabies want us to find happiness. They know we will always love them so so dearly, but they want us to be happy too.

It will be so healing to have your Nick to love and care for and to give him all the attention that he has probably never had.

Ann, your Amber is a beautiful baby! I love your story of the socks. Our babies make us smile and that is the best medicine in life that there is.

Declawing sounds horrid. It is illegal here along with ear docking, etc. I'm glad about that because It seems very cruel to take beautiful animals and snipe bits off them, doesn't it? It makes me shudder. I'm so glad she has found a loving home with you.

love
jilly