Kate W. in Missoula, who adopted blind Luke from us several years ago, just sent us this photo of Luke with his new best friend, Pearl. Kate wrote:
"Just emailing to let you guys know I adopted a 14-year old cat a little over 10 days ago and things are going great! Luke has always loved kitties. He likes to smell them, follow them around and be groomed by them. (Yes, my sister's cat grooms Luke, and he will sit there for as long as Chubs is willing to groom.) So I finally committed to the idea of a litter box and adopted a kitty.
I named her Pearl. She's a 14 year old Himalayan X. She was brought in after her owner died with another elderly cat and a Rottweiler.
I'm sending a photo of Luke and Pearl on day number two! Already snugglin' on the couch together. She sleeps in bed with us and follows Luke and me all around the house. It's so nice to be loved by two wonderful animals! Although I do think Luke is getting jealous of the fact that Pearl fits in my lap, and he doesn't."
(Our experience is that the bigger the dog, the more they think they're a lap dog. Somehow I suspect this is related to the issue of big dogs seeking out the tiniest possible beds to sleep in, too.)
Kate subsequently told us she took Pearl to the vet a few days later, and suddenly she had a very vocal and freaked out cat in the exam room. So Kate brought Luke into the room, and instant calm prevailed. Pearl took one look at Luke and that was all she needed.
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Our friends at the New Hampshire SPCA not only made it into the top 50 shelters in this contest, but placed 5th in the nation overall in number of votes cast! Thanks to everyone who helped them make it into this qualifying round!
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The current Shelter Challenge started on Monday, April 4th, and ends at midnight on Sunday, June 19th. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up.
Because of your votes, we won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the Shelter Challenge that ended in March. Please help us win more money for the animals here by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!
I remember when Kate adopted Luke. He's looking great! What a treat for him to have Pearl around and she seems to love him already, as evident by her visit to the Vet. Great adoption story Kate! Wishing you more and more joy and happy stories to share with us...
Posted by: boundforglory | May 04, 2011 at 10:10 AM
Luke, Pearl, and Kate: I love your beautiful family!! You guys are perfect for eachother.
Posted by: Wendy M. | April 21, 2011 at 11:41 PM
Thanks for all of the wonderful comments! I have my mother and rolling dog ranch to thank for exposing me and encouraging me to open my home and heart to disabled and senior pets. These folks set a great example for me and all of us really. Thank you Mom and Rolling Dog!
Posted by: kate & luke | April 21, 2011 at 06:50 PM
How wonderful that Luke was able to calm Pearl down at the vet office with meerly his calm presence. One can only imagine the trauma that Pearl experienced from the lost of her former human and fellow pet family. Luke has become her anchor for a new life with he and Kate. Kate, you have once again done a wonderful thing by adopting a pet who was in need. God bless you.
Posted by: Evelyn | April 21, 2011 at 11:35 AM
I LOVE this picture! Pearl is a beautiful little girl and looks like she has settled in very well with her new buddy, so content. He looks like he is listening to make sure nothing happens to his new girlfriend. Beautiful picture.
Posted by: Anne in FL | April 20, 2011 at 02:57 PM
Updates like this just make me smile. What a wonderful story for Pearl and Luke!! And Kate, you are a very special person, not to mention lucky to have two such animals in your life!
Posted by: Kenna | April 20, 2011 at 11:30 AM
What a darling twosome - Thank you Kate, RDR and all connected for giving these sweethearts such happy lives. This beautiful picture captures their peacefulness.
Posted by: Angela | April 20, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Dittos to the last comment from Marla. :-)
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | April 20, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Oh Kate, how lucky you are! Pearl looks like she and Luke have been buddies for years. I am so glad they both now have a friend of the furry kind. This post started my day on a wonderful note. Senior pets are just more life experienced and most times make even better pets. Congratulation to all 3 of you. Smiles and hugs to all. (very nice to see Luke again, we missed seeing that big boy)
Posted by: Anne in FL | April 20, 2011 at 08:50 AM
Couch buddies! Looks like they've been pals forever. The old "I've got your back if you've got mine." Excellent photo!
Posted by: Cathy Silvestro | April 20, 2011 at 07:43 AM
Thanks, Kate, for this wonderful update on Luke and his new BFF Pearl. They look so content together on that comfy couch :)
Thanks for having given Luke a forever home a few years ago and for giving Pearl a new forever home and a new friend in her senior years!
Posted by: Ann | April 20, 2011 at 04:24 AM
Kate, you're truly an angel for adopting lovely Pearl! The photo of her with Luke on the couch is priceless! What a sweet couple...:-)
May the three of you spend many happy years together.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | April 20, 2011 at 02:57 AM
Hip Hip Hooray for Kate W, Luke and Pearl. I love hearing about Senior adoptions. Double hooray for NH SPCA.
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | April 19, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Yay! For adopting a SENIOR animal (in addition to already adopting a "disabled" animal). They definitely bonded immediately. Hugs to all of you!!!!!
[Last year I adopted two "disabled" rats from the MSPCA. One had micropthalmia (one eye that didn't form and grow normally; the other eye is fine) and the second rat's "disability" was that he was old. That's MY disability, too, BTW. ;-)]
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | April 19, 2011 at 07:36 PM
God bless Kate W. for not only adopting a special needs dogs but also a senior citizen cat!! I work with cats at a local rescue and it seems everyone wants the young ones. I always feel especially bad for the older animals who have been in a home all their lives that end up in the shelter for various reasons. I hope everyone who reads this will make solid plans for their pets should they become incapacitated or pass away. It could happen to any of us at any time so it takes proactive planning to make sure our beloved furbabies do not spend their final days scared and alone.
Posted by: Marla from Kansas City | April 19, 2011 at 06:15 PM