well, Not sure if it's a holiday story or not but my Tabby was my teacher. She passed away in 1996 at the old age of 20. She taught a abused child how to love again and how to trust. And what it means to love. She was my best friend.  She used to climb the christmas tree LOL. when She passed I wanted to get another cat. Not getting another felt like I was going backwards from what Tabby had taught me.  I had to move forward and not go back to that place. So I felt so much love for Tabby I got another kitty to shower with all that love.    

Now my kitty now is Orbie. Orbie was adopted at the age of 5 months in August 1999. She was the only female in her age group at the shelter.  She was also the ONLY black and white kitty their. I brought her home and showered her with love. In November, Close to Thanksgiving.   She kept waking me up and would not allow me to go to bed or stay in bed. I was so frustrated. I needed to sleep. I'd fall asleep just to be awaken my Miss Orbie. Then suddenly there was banging at my door and someone yelling "FIRE". The whole upstaires was on fire. I grabbed My little hero who had kept me awake so I'd not fall asleep and succomb to the smoke. I left that place before it was to late. The upstairs ceiling caved in on my bed that night. Right where I was sleeping. Believe me I don't care NOW if she keeps me awake NOW. I'd like to think that   Tabby is somewhere going, "good girl, Orbie, Good girl. Good job in protecting our girl"
   

I got my Miss Abby from a pet rescue in out city.A terrier mix of mainly Jack Russel, Beagle and Rhode Island Ridge Back. She has a cute ridge of hair on the back of her neck. White, with red spots and beautiful white blaze up her nose. I fell head over heels in love with her from the begining.

First she was ill with Kennal Cough. That cleared up and then we discovered she had tape worms. Just a few months later she contracted Pancreatitis. I ended up giving her IV's at home to get her through the pancreatitis. She was so sick and could not eat or drink. Soon though she started taking in some chicken broth and then soup. To my delight she lived and is now one devoted pup!

Now by this time Miss Abby was following me everywhere and to this day she is never farther than 3 yards away from me. It's like she has a umbilitical cord thats uncut. 

Abby has seen me through several operations, total knee replacements, stomach surgery and the last one double oopharectomy and abdominal repair. She would always be at my feet making sure I was okay.

The last home we lived in had a black rat that we heard in the bushes but could not get rid of or find. One night she went out and found it in the bushes. She killed it and then came and got me. She must have known that we felt that rat was bad news and we wanted it gone.

We moved from that home to a house that has a field behind us. I'm scared of the field mice, snakes and such. One evening I took her out and she scared a snake out of the yard. Soon after she killed a field rat. I go out with her all the time and she has always protected me from the vermon that lives behind us.

Abby is so special and so smart I don't know what I would do without her. My whole family is in love with her.  We love her so much we decided to go and get a cat from the rescue. We were blessed with a kitten that was found on the street at just 2 months old. The resuce mom had named him Scooter because he can play hockey with his mice and his foil balls. He can also fetch the balls and bring them back. Miss Abby we find is a great CAT-DOG!! Both animals get along quite well and sleep at my feet, together!! I am one lucky owner to have such devoted pets. But my Abby is my compainion in all I do. I'm so greatful to have her in my life.

I sent my family off to the grandparent's home (in another state) for Thanksgiving and am staying at home to nurse my cat, Buddy.  My daughter rescued him in 2006 and gave him to me for Mother's Day that year.  He was suffering from extreme stress and anxiety...but gradually calmed down after getting regular food and attention.  His dull, scruffy, infested coat soon became purrr velvet!  He was such a healthy little guy....until he contracted a blood born pathegen (from ticks and fleas) called Hemobartonellosis.  He almost died August of 06....but survived...due to such strong will to live.

Now the vet says his liver is "failing".  And he's not even 2 years old!  He is jaundiced but has been taking his medicine, forced feedings and hydration (thankfully!).  He sleeps a lot (on top of me!)  So, I'm not doing too much except staying close to home and feeding him every few hours.  Apparently the liver is very resilient and responds to diligent care.  When the vet took an x-ray to see if she could see a tumor....she did find a bullet lodged in his back, between two ribs!  She says it is not unusual to find bullets in stray animals.  (How sad is that!)  I know one of the ways he survived on his own, was by catching bugs to eat....but apparently he also survived a gunshot wound from a small caliber gun.  So I'm guessing he is on life #4.....and is not ready to leave our family just yet.  Blessings all,