August 2004

On the road again . . .
As I've mentioned before, it seems that a Therapy Cat's work is never done. Whether I'm visiting old friends or making new ones, there is always someone who needs a visit and an encouraging purr from me. It is good to know that there are others just like me, all over the country, which give of themselves to bring happiness to people in all walks of life. In fact, I share my home with many other therapy animals. They each have their own wonderful stories to share, and I promise to tell you about them in the months to come. How very blessed I am to be doing what I do. Sometimes though it seems that there just isn't enough time. I wish that I could bring a little bit of sunshine into everyone's life. I wish I could help people enjoy their life more, no matter what challenges they might be facing. I wish I could let them all know that how much I care about them. It seems that there always will be empty laps to sit on and empty arms to fill.

Speaking about sitting on empty laps brings to mind another dear friend of mine. Her name is Millie. She is a very petite lady with long silver hair usually pulled back in a bun. She can be found hunched over in her wheelchair looking out the courtyard door, yet as far as I know she never has any visitors. Always, and I do mean always, she holds on her lap a stuffed toy animal. I wish you could see the look on her face when she sees me. She positively beams. Her smile is one of the biggest I have ever seen. She also likes to pet my canine partner Caleb, but the fact that she can hold me seems to please her more. After our visit is over and we are leaving I take a quick look back and I can see her clutching ever so tightly her stuffed toy animal.

Have I told you about Will and Ethyl? They have been married for well over 55 years and have spent the last few years sharing a room in one of the places we visit. She is a very pretty lady and I can tell that she is still very much in love with her husband. She loves cats and always tell me about the cats they use to own, or as she says "the cats who use to own them"! She is very gentle when she strokes me, and always has sweet little words to whisper to me. And she always tells me to be certain to go visit Will. He is confined to a wheel chair just like Ethyl, but he is not in as good of health as she is. One of his trademarks is that he likes to wear hats, and he really looks good wearing one. Even though his hands are bruised and it is difficult for him to do very much he never fails to pet me. I wish I could tell you I have seen a smile on his face, but I can't. I can see something in his eyes as he looks into mine and I can feel something in his touch, but I can sense a deeper longing of his. I have heard him refuse to take any extra treatment that would prolong his life saying that he is ready to go and meet the Lord face to face. I believe he knows something.

Oh, there is another dear friend of mine called Eileen. She is an animal lover from "way back when". It doesn't matter to her, as long as it has four legs and is covered with fur! She can't get enough "hands on". It really is good to have Caleb here with me to share in all the loving attention. Usually Caleb will sit in a chair next to her while I have the privilege of sitting on her lap. She has one arm around his neck, petting him and the other hand stroking me from head to tail. When she entered the nursing home she had to give up her canine companion friend of many years. His name was "Spunky". She gave him to a relative who lives on the east coast. In the beginning she would hear how he was doing, but has heard nothing in the last few years. I really believe that she would be happy to have some kind of closure where he is concerned. She always talks about him, wondering if he is still alive. I have noticed that most people have good intentions about doing something; but they need to realize that good intentions don't mean anything if there is no action taken or commitment made. She still has his picture in her room.

Another acquaintance of mine is Peggy. She is experiencing some emotional and mental problems. Her husband died in the nursing home last year and she is also dealing with some family issues. She has always loved and owned cats. It is not uncommon to see her wearing a cat shirt and or cat pin every time I visit with her. And she has cat statues all over her room. I really think it would be so very beneficial for her to have a pet of her own, but since it is not permitted for her to have any pets where she lives I will have to be a stand in. She really perks up when I am with her and for a little while she seems to be genuinely happy.

I would love to stay longer but it is time to leave. It has been a busy day for me, a happy day and a good day. On the way home I will be stopping at the Vet for a checkup. Caleb is very happy to stay in the car, the big brave boy that he is. I am already looking forward to tomorrow. It is a new day filled with opportunities, with more people for me to visit and with more stories for me to share with you! Love to you all, be happy and be blessed…

Another visit . . . .
Well it's me on the road again. How I do enjoy riding in the car. (Oh if only I could drive, now wouldn't that be something). My sidekick Caleb is with me as usual. Gosh, he is such a nice fellow; so mild mannered and gentle. Just goes to show you that whoever said cats and dogs don't or can't get along were wrong. As for me I have never met a cat I didn't like, I have never met a dog I didn't like and I have never met a person I didn't like. Sometimes though, I do need to take some that I meet "with a grain of salt". Everything and everyone takes a little time getting use to. We all need to remember to treat others the way we would like to be treated; can you imagine what the world would be like then. Can you believe it; with all the talking I've done we are here already.

People are everywhere, some sitting in wheel chairs in the hall, some walking about, some gazing out windows, some crying for help, some sitting in front of the TV and others looking for family members who never come. I'm not so foolish to think that Caleb and I being there can make everything right. But I do know that for this moment in time we can make a difference in someone's day. I've learned not to become so overwhelmed with the hurts people are going through; otherwise I might think what's the use, what good can I do. Instead, I have learned that what I have to offer is my heart filled with compassion, a love that is non-judgmental, and a listening ear. How simple yet how profound is the truth of the statement that says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive". Caleb says he has never met a cat that preaches as much as I do. Well. I'll just have to take that as a compliment!

Terry is another friend of mine. She is crazy about me. When I am with her I can do no wrong. She is well into her nineties and is still going strong. I can't even begin to tell you about all the felines she has had as companions over the years. She still has pictures of some of them in frames on her dresser and walls. She always wants me on her lap, and boy can she "pet"! She is a little hard of hearing but that doesn't stop her from sharing stories with me. She misses so much not having a cat to take care of, to sleep with, to talk, and to just be there for her. She made a very interesting comment to me that my ears perk up. She told me that having a cat to take care of every day gave her a reason to get up in the morning. That cat needed her, someone needed her and that made her feel needed. I let her know I love her.

Maggie is gentle soul; kind and thoughtful, who always seems to have a smile for everyone. She is quiet in her own way, yet constantly looks out for the needs of others. She adores cats, especially me. She too has had a long list of cats in her lifetime. She loves to hold me on her shoulder, close her eyes and gently rub her face in my fur. It's almost as if she is experiencing some by gone memories of happier times. I know at times it is hard for her to let me go.

I have another Vet appointment today so I will close by telling you about my friend Dolly. I usually visit with her in her room. She too is a lovely lady who, though confined to a wheel chair, is always happy to see me. Even though she is not an ardent cat lover she does make a fuss over me in the sweetest way. Her parting words to me are, "please don't forget to come back. I'll be waiting for you".

It has been said that life is not necessarily measured in the years you live, but rather how you have lived you life in the years you had. So as I look back on my life and how I have lived, I see wonderful people who have made a difference in my life, especially Tracy. I never stopped loving her. She was the one who "gave life back to me" and made it possible for me to give to others in my role as a Therapy Cat. She made me realize that nothing, not a handicap, not even a sickness can prevent anyone from living life to the fullest. I certainly have tried my best to bring joy and happiness into the lives of many of the dear people I have come to know and love. I have left my small paw print in many a heart. And I pray that yours is one of them. Remember, be happy and be blessed….

NOTE----
These stories are of the last visits that SUS made. It is with a saddened heart that I tell you SUS died on March 19th. He was an amazing cat, truly one in a million, a blessing to so many and he will be missed. Gone but not forgotten…

October 29, 2003
Story of SUS continues…
Yes, one of the hardest things I have to deal with is when someone I have become quite attached to isn’t there anymore for me to visit. It’s not that I play favorites mind you; it’s just that some people bond with me more than others. I feel that when I share stories with you about some of the special people I have known, you will get to know them personally too. They won’t be so easily forgotten, but will live on in your memory as well as mine. I’ll go into more detail later.

To be honest, once in a while, although not very often mind you, I will hear someone make a negative comment about me, and about my canine companions. I know this is hard to believe, but ‘tis true, and I quote, ”Did you say a cat is here?” I never did like them sneaky, good for nothing critters.” “Don’t like dogs either, the only place for them is chained in the backyard”. When I hear things like this I think how sad that they are judging me, and my dog friends too. They tend to jump to conclusions made from previous encounters without even knowing them or me. More often than not it is just from having some preconceived ideas. I do tend to see this trait among humans more than I care to admit: making a judgment call without knowing all the facts. How sad indeed, because when you get to know me you can’t help but love me! (Okay, at least like me anyway!)

Sometimes though, the invisible wall of fear that a person has built up about something, (or someone), can be torn down little by little, just by them being able to view a thing differently. Let me explain. I heard from Caleb, my Heinz-57 canine friend, what recently happened to him. I was not with him that day when he was walking the halls visiting with people. He was wearing his usual red therapy dog harness, (he does look good in red), and his ID badge, which lets people know that he is allowed in the building and that he is a dog with a gentle disposition. He was proceeding along at his usual slow but steady gait, being petted along as he went, when a lady matter of factly told Caleb not to come anywhere near her or her room, because she did not like dogs. Well, being the gentle soul that Caleb is, and not wanting to cause her any distress he changed the direction in which he was going. He said that she seemed like a rather nice lady, nicely dressed and refined of speech.

Well, the following week he was visiting with a group of people who had gathered in the sunroom of the nursing home. The majority sat in wheelchairs, just sat there, looking nowhere in particular and saying nothing. This day Caleb was decked out in his tuxedo, looking rather dapper and drawing quite a lot of attention. What had been a rather quiet room before he arrived now broke out in chatter and laughter, smiles were spreading on the faces of many gathered there; some of those faces hadn’t smiled in a while. The room became alive again, because Caleb’s presence in the room had sparked something deep down inside them, causing many of them to react in a positive manner. They began talking to one another and to him, and they were enjoying themselves. Many called out to him and reached out to touch him, to pet, him and to hug him.

As he scanned the roomful of people he was surprised to see a certain lady sitting across the room from him. You guessed it. It was the same lady who had told him not to come near her or her room. She sat there, not saying a word. She just sat there watching him and watching the reaction of the people around her as they made contact with him. Remembering what she had said he was careful not to get to close to her. Finally she spoke to him in a clear voice and said, ”I must say that I have never been fond of dogs, or cats for that matter. But I have to admit that after seeing the change that just took place when you walked in, and the joy and happiness you have brought to so many here, that maybe I have had the wrong idea about dogs”.

What was that I heard, a little piece of that lady’s invisible wall coming down? Yes!!! Now when she sees Caleb, she is not afraid of him. No, she doesn’t really want to hug him just yet, but she now admires him and sees all the good he does! We are smart enough to know that not everyone will want to make a fuss over us, and that’s all right. We just want people to be open to the happiness we can give, if they will only let us. Ahhh, the rewards of being a Therapy Dog and Cat!!

J V 2003

a woman coming towards me with both arms outstretched. She was small in stature with silver hair framing her wrinkled face. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she reached out to touch me. “Oh how I miss my Precious”, she said, “she was such a wonderful friend to me for so many years. We were growing old together, like two old ladies I used to say. As her gnarled fingers caressed my face she continued talking. “I took sick and had to come here, but nobody wanted her, too much trouble they said, no time, who wants an old cat anyway. So they took my Precious to the shelter. And I don’t know what’s become of her. I miss her so much. She slept with me you know; never let me out of her sight. I can only hope someone had pity on her. I can only hope”. She wiped tears from her face, gave me one last caress and then turned and walked down the hall still muttering to her self, “I hope, I can only hope, I loved her so”.

As I watched her walk away I couldn’t help but wonder if something couldn’t have been done, if someone couldn’t have given of their time to help her find a home for her furry companion of so many years. At least she would have had peace of mind about the situation. I know things can get pretty hectic at times and life can throw you a curve ball (or a hair ball for that matter), but does that mean you stop caring or getting involved? What about “Do unto others…”. I must say I don’t understand people. Anyway, I think I’m beginning to get too philosophical. I do that at times, so please forgive me. We must be certain to visit with that dear lady again, I thought. She definitely needs some love from me and some comforting words from Jean and Manny.

Our progress is slow. It is difficult to go more than a few feet at a time because I am such an unexpected visitor. It seems that everyone (I like to think so anyway) wants to look at me, pet me or hold me. All this love and attention I’m getting, it’s a tough job but if someone has to do it, it might as well be me! All this time Caleb has been very patiently waiting for some attention to come his way; and in time it does. I know you too will find this hard to believe, but there are people who prefer dogs to cats. But as sweet as Caleb is, it is no wonder that people are drawn to him too.

I suppose now is as good a time as any to give a little background on him. From what I hear tell, about seven years ago he was “dumped” in the neighborhood and left to die. The poor boy hadn’t eaten in a very long time. All his ribs showed and his skin just hung on his body. To make matters worse some neighborhood boys were throwing stones at him.

I know this sounds like the beginning of a novel but it was a cold, rainy day when he found his way to “our” house. He was ushered into the backyard, given a rug to rest on, offered food and water and then whisked off to the Vet for a complete “once over”. The results were shocking; he was emaciated, starving with not much longer to live. And on top of all that his body showed signs of being riddled with gun pellets! (I hear tell that you can still feel a “pellet” in his left ear). What was so amazing was that in spite of all he was suffering, Caleb, as he was soon to be called, was as sweet and gentle natured as could be. If he survived, he was a potential Therapy Dog in the making.

To look at him now you would never realize what he had been through. Dare I say that he is on the well endowed side now, not fat mind you, but really filled out! Don’t really know his bloodline, just a “Heinz 57” variety. Put together Poodle, Terrier, Schnauzer, Cocker Spaniel and who knows what else and you have “Caleb”! Oh and by the way he was named Caleb because when he found his way to this house, he really found the Promised Land. A place where he would never want for food or water, or for a place to rest; a place where he was loved and protected, a place called home.

OCTOBER 2003

Perhaps my greatest pleasure is visiting the old friends I've made in nursing homes and having the opportunity to make new ones. After much observation I've come to the conclusion that there are two basic types of "cat people"; those who love us and those who do not. It really is beyond my feline understanding, perhaps com-purr-hension would be a better word to use, how any intelligent human can dislike us! I imagine that just as there are people who are less than likeable, let alone loveable, there probably are a few of us too. But in their defense, ( of both cats and humans), I would venture to say that there must be a reason for this behavior, most likely it is the result of being hurt, neglected, mistreated, abused...who knows what else had to be endured in order to survive.

I speak from experience when I say that it was very hard for me to survive when, as a tiny kitten, I was abandoned to wander the streets alone. I remember some things, such as being oh so hungry and so very scared. Not all the people I encountered were very kind. Some saw me and turned away, not wanting to get involved, others chased me, and still others tried to hurt me. By the time I was finally rescued by some caring soul and given to Tracy at PAWS, I had a severe head injury that resulted in the loss of my left eye. But through it all, I learned what it was to be loved by someone, and that someone was Tracy. She could have said I wasn't worth saving, but she didn't. Thank heaven she didn't! She looked at me through the eyes of compassion and saw in me a life that needed a chance to live; and she gave it to me. Now was not the time to "cry over spilled milk", (I don't like milk anyway). It was time to see what lay ahead of me; a new home and a new life. I would make Tracy proud.

I do enjoy sharing my escapades with you, because every time I visit is a new experience for me.

I made a new friend today. His name is Art, a very nice fellow and an avid lover of cats. He has had some very special feline companions share his life and he wants to tell me about them the next time we meet. From his wheelchair he reached out his hand to touch me and commented on how soft I was and how good it felt to touch a cat again. To be able to "run his hand" through my fur really made his day. I look forward to seeing him again.

And then there is my good friend Cloe. She is a young 95 years of age, who doesn't look her age and is sharp as a tack! Anyone who visits her knows immediately she is an animal lover; especially of cats and dogs. Pictures and statues adorn her walls and dresser. One set of pictures are those of her beloved four footed friends. When her husband passed away and she eventually had to leave her home and move to a facility, she arranged for a friend to take care of her two faithful felines. She recently learned that both of her beloved cats died within the same week. She was saddened by the news, but told me that me being there makes her feel better. Her face always lights up with a great big smile when she sees me at her door. "Oh come on in here you beautiful thing you" is usually what she says. (I keep telling Caleb, my Therapy Dog companion who makes visits with me, that Cloe is talking to me first)! She has so many wonderful stories to tell that I could listen to her all day! This wonderful lady has rescued many a homeless stray in her day, never once turning any away. "It wasn't always easy" she told me, but she could never have lived with herself, knowing she could have done something but didn't. Is she some lady, or what?!? She definitely is the "cat's meow" to me!

Another sweet lady is Wilma. She spends most of her time in a wheelchair, but is very social with a big smile. If she is taking a little "cat nap" in her wheelchair when I arrive, she wants someone to wake her. I love to sit on her lap or prop myself up on her shoulder and stretch. She is a cat lover who has had her share of feline friends so she really knows how to pet me just the way I like to be petted. When she speaks of the feline friends she has encountered over the years there is such a tenderness in her voice. It is quite evident that she has experienced the special bond that can grow between an animal and a human, and this is what she misses very much.

I have noticed that when people can no longer live in their homes, they must give up their animal companions in order to be able to move to a facility. If it is obvious to me how much grief and anxiety this can cause, then surely it must be obvious to others too. I know this isn't the most pressing concern in society today, but it is real and it is a concern to many elderly folk whose lives are turned upside down when they have to leave their home. It makes me wonder, could there be some way to allow people to take their pets with them when they enter a facility to live??? There are probably many reasons why this can't be done, I can think of some myself right now; but then there are always negative obstacles to overcome. All things being considered, there must be an answer, a way, some way to be able to do this. I'll definitely have to give this some more "cat-sideration".

I recently lost a very dear friend. Her name was Cornelia. What a precious lady she was; a little lady in her late 80's, with hands gnarled from arthritis, confined to a wheelchair, dealing with some medical problems, but with the voice of an angel and the touch of a butterfly. She had her feline friend for many, many years and separation for them was difficult. How she truly loved my visits. I remember how her voice would almost sing words of praise when she knew I was coming. I would very carefully lay in her lap while she ever so gently caressed me the best she could. Because she couldn't see very well she loved to have animal stories read to her, especially stories about pets helping people, and stories with good endings. (I agree with that too; you need to know there are good endings not just bad ones, because there are enough sad stories to hear every day. It really is important to take heed what you hear, because it can influence your day and how you live!). It was a joy to know this special lady. There is an empty spot in the room where she sat, and there is an empty spot in my heart too. I will miss her.

I have so many other wonderful people to introduce to you; people you will come to know and love, just as I have. You will see them through my eyes and my heart...

Jean Vieira 2003

AUGUST 2002

Well it has been almost a year since I was adopted, and I can safely say that I am here to stay. This is my home and this is where I belong. I am needed, I am loved. At first I wondered why no one wanted to adopt me. Why did it take such a long time? Was it because I only had one eye, or was it because I wasn’t pretty enough or maybe the wrong color? All the wonderful people at PAWS, (especially Tracy), thought I was really something but apparently no one else did because no matter how many times I was shown it was without success. How unfortunate that very few took the time to really see all that I had to offer. People tend to forget that its not what’s on the outside that matters but what’s on the inside. But in time ( though not soon enough for me), the right people did come along and saw beyond my color, my whiskers and my one eye. They saw me as one of God’s creatures who wanted to be loved and who had much love to give in return. My life is good now, so very good.

I have found my niche in life, I am a Therapy Cat. My purpose is to bring love and joy to people who for the most part no longer feel loved or cared about, and to comfort the many who still mourn the loss of their beloved four-legged companions. Many of them had pets they had to give up and leave behind when they entered a nursing facility. So I am there for them to hold, hug and pet. I could never take the place of their special friend but I am there to temporarily fill an empty place in their hearts. I don’t mean to brag on myself because I know there are more like me, cats and dogs (horses, birds, rabbits and others) who have found their calling as Therapy Animals. What an awesome privilege and responsibility we all have!

I am sharing my home life with many other cats and dogs that my owners (Jean and Manny) have rescued. They all needed homes and they all have a story of their own to tell. Maybe sometimes in the future I will share some with you. I know they wouldn’t mind, in fact they would be most flattered to do so especially the cats in the household! You won’t be disappointed.

I have heard my owners say that many of you are very interested about my life since I was adopted from PAWS. You want to know about my adventures to the nursing places I visit and the special people I meet there. I am so honored! Where do I begin? There is so much to tell already! My life really has become one adventure after another.

I remember the very first visit I made. It was a beautiful morning and I was riding in the van next to Caleb, my good friend. He is one of the Therapy Dogs I make visits with. What a sweet fellow, a “Heinz-57 mix”, I heard him described as, “a little bit of this and a little bit of that”. What a story he has, but that’s for another time.

I love to go for rides and the nursing home we were going to was about thirty minutes from home. I must say I couldn’t wait to get there. When we entered the place I was happily lounging on Jean’s shoulder while Caleb walked along side Manny. We were not even in the door and people were already making a fuss over us. Caleb and I enjoyed every minute of it!

We took our time, going slowly down the hall because just about everyone we passed wanted to stop and pet us. Dogs are not an uncommon sight in these places but apparently felines are. “Is that really a cat” someone asks, as a dialogue ensues. “No it can’t be” another replies. “You need to get your eyes checked”. “But I tell you that is a cat, go look for yourself”. “Well if that don’t beat all, so it is”. “Now who needs to have their eyes checked”?!? Yes sir, I can cause quite a stir.

From my shoulder perch I could see people in wheelchairs, some with two legs and some with only one leg. Hey, I fit right in here! Nobody cares how I look either! There were people with walkers and people with canes and some just standing against the wall. There were people of all different sizes and colors, but that’s okay because cats come in all different sizes and colors too. (Although we do come in a greater variety of colors).

“Please, please come here” someone cried out. As I turned to see where the voice came from I saw…

(Continued next month)

By Jean Vieira © 2002

November 5, 2001

Letter to foster mom from SUS

Hi Tracy,

Just wanted to let you know that I am doing great. I know it wasn't easy for you to let me go, after all you did in saving my life when I was a tiny kitten. It wasn't easy to leave you either, but you did the right thing. Jean and Manny really need me to help them do what God has called them to do, ministering to people in nursing homes. Imagine that, me, a cat off the streets, with a future not looking to bright, now helping people. Sometimes people forget that God created us, the animals and "saw that it was good and He approved it".

I have been going to the nursing homes with them every week. People can't pass by without stopping to pet me. Everybody wants to hold me and have me sit on their laps. It must be my winning personality! And they even think that I am beautiful. Sometimes Jean and Manny bring Caleb their Therapy Dog with us, too. We ride in the van together side by side. Caleb didn't have a very good start in life either, but now he is as happy as I am.

Jean has been telling the people all about you and PAWS and what a special person you are. They are looking forward to meeting you and having you tell them more about the animals you rescue. She told them you might even bring one of your animals with you. They can't wait. I hope you can come sometime soon. I will be there too and I can't wait to see you!

Thanks again Tracy for all you did for me, and for giving me a new "leash on life". Keep up the great work you do, because there are others out there, (just like I was), waiting for you to help them.

With Love & Gratitude,

SUS