Tuesday, July 19, 2011

GOTCHA


Gracie Grace

In July of 2005 we lost our sweet and sassy little teeny tiny tortie girl named Button.
To this day we do not know what happened, but I now surmise that she simply went into the wooded area adjacent to our home and quietly laid down and died. But at the time we did everything we knew to find her, including making a dreadful trip to the local Animal Care and Control shelter in Clay County Florida.
We were waiting to go back and look in the cages to see if by some chance Button had been picked up accidentally by the ACC. You see Button was a true tortie girl, she had a mind all her own, and in her mind, she wanted to be the workshop cat. No thank you she refused to be an indoor girl. So she was free to roam around in the day, but at night she was happy to go inside my husband's workshop where she was safe overnight.
As we waited to go back inside the ACC, there was this young sweet tabby kitty right outside the front door mewing and playing and interacting with every single person that came inside the shelter. We asked the receptionist about the kitty and she said she had been abandoned and that they didn't want to take her inside because things did not look good for her as they are a very high rate kill shelter (kitties and woofies have 72 hours) and they were hoping someone would just take her, did we want her for free? WE laughed and said we were there to see if our kitty Button was there and no we would pass.
Well...I was in for the shock of my life.
To this day I will never forget being taken to the back room, the last stop before euthanasia.
I saw pure bred cats, I saw everyday cats, I saw fear and the smell of death.
I started crying and I'm even crying now.
I was so heartbroken.
All of these beautiful cats....
But no Button.
She wasn't there.
As were leaving, my husband paused as we passed by the front door with this young kitten playing and he said to me, "do you want to take her". What was I thinking? I was thinking she too was going to die if I didn't take her, so we said to the ACC tech, we'll take this tabby with us, and they went and got us a cat container and we picked up the little tabby and off we went back home.
As we were driving home, I thought what have I done?
A 5th cat!
What am I going to do?
I had just added Abby in June, and now I was bring another cat into the mix! (AND Abby had yet to adjust ... but that's another story)
So we brought her in.
Separated her and then took her to the Vet. She was 100% fine and do you know within a few hours after being given the medical A-OK she fit right in and has ever since and now you know Gracie's full GOTCHA story!

49 comments:

  1. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie. I bet Button was leading her family right to you you sweet little thing!

    Hello handsome Ping!

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  2. What a great story! Happy, happy gotcha day, Gracie!

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  3. You were Gracie's grace, all right. Maybe Button's little spirit just saw to it that you and Gracie found each other that day.

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  4. happy gotcha day Gracie!!!!!!

    from,
    BoBo Salem and his catlings

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  5. Wow, that is quite a Gotcha story, that's for sure. So glad you ended up with such a wonderful, loving family Sweet Gracie! Happy Gotcha Day! We hope you get lots of Num-Nums to celebrate. (And thanks for your purrs and for coming to the Comment-a-thon, we really appreciate it.)

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  6. Button knew what she was doing. We all got leaky eyes. Happy, happy, Gotcha Day Gracie!!! And thank you for sharing the Gracie Gotcha story. It's so sad and so beautiful.

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  7. What a very touching story about Gracie Grace. So sorry you lost your Button.

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  8. Happy Gotcha Day Grace...glad yoo were saved from dat awful place!

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  9. Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie! You have quite a story. I also think that Button's spirit led you to her.

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  10. Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie! You were such a lucky girl on that fateful day. Yes, we are sure that Button had a paw in this.

    We are also very sad for the animals in shelters like ones you have just described.

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  11. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie - you were so lucky to be in the right place at the right time so you got your happy furever home. Button must have guided your mom and dad to find you.
    We don't have shelters like that in the UK and we hate the thought of healthy cats being PTS. We were rescues and if we had been in the USA that could have happened to us.
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

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  12. Oh sweet and wonderful Gracie!! What a beautiful and very sad but with a wonderful happy ending of how your Gotcha Day came about!! Me and Charlie are so sad for those fur babies who didn't last the 72 hours. How awful and heartless,truly!! :-(

    We are so happy your mum and dad found you! Yay!! Enjoy your special day, sweet Gracie!! Take care
    x

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  13. What a lovely Gotcha day you have. Mummy says she shouldn't read bloggy at work as she is all teary now. Good job she is tucked away in the corner. Kitties come to those that love them and need them huh :) xx

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  14. Happy Gotcha Day, gorgeous Gracie!!...We are so happy you found such a loving home, sweet girl...We hope you get lots of extra cuddles and treats on your special day, precious friend...kisses...Calle, Halle, Sukki
    PS...So sorry about losing lovely Button; I had the same experience with my sweet Jax on July 9, 2007=MC/DC's son disappeared and I went to Animal Control every other day for 2 months=it was the same thing, left there every time crying...I never found his body, but I hope Jax and Button are playing together at the Bridge...xoxo...J

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  15. We are so sorry your didn't find your Button, but so very thankful that you rescued Gracie from that awful place. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie!!!!!

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  16. Happy Gotcha Day, Miss Gracie!!...It's sad about Button, But in another way I'm so happy for you to find your mommy
    You need hugs, Mommy need more hugs
    I give you both for a special day
    Hugs and Purrs
    xoxoxo

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  17. Happy Gotcha Day sweet Gracie, that is some story. I agree with the others, sweet Button was guiding the events that day fur sure!

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  18. A great big Happy Gotcha day Gracie. You sure were a smart kitty to pick that wonderful home that you arrived in. We are so glad your beans brought you home. We know what it is like for a cat to disappear. We have one gone right now. You are a pretty gal too. Take care and we hope you have a super day with lots of extra treats.

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  19. Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie. You chose a wonderful forever home and we're so glad you did. Hugs to your mom, too, because it's terrible to go into any shelter with tiny cages for the cats, and not much else, especially when it's a high-kill shelter.

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  20. What a tear jerker of a beautiful gotcha story, Gracie Grace! Have a wonderful day!

    Mom is going shopping today, finally, for presents for you guys for our Christmas in July gift exchange!

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  21. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie! Thanks for sharing your story!!

    The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie

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  22. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie!

    One day I purr and pray we can all live in a world free of high kill "shelters"...they shouldn't be allowed to be called "shelters".

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  23. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie! It's wonderful that you got out of the shelter and into such a lovely and loving home. We're sorry that Button didn't turn up, but we aren't surprised that you fitted in so well.

    Gerry & Oliver

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  24. Happy gotcha day you dearest sweet baby. Mommy loves each of you..she really does. We areso glad to know your story, little one.

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  25. You are a beautiful tabby cat, Gracie. We're sorry for Button, but glad things worked out so that you now have such a wonderful home!

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  26. I love this story! I think Button's spirit guided Gracie to you.
    Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie, from alla us at the Lounge--and especially yr Tuxie Mancat, Sylvester!

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  27. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie...it was also the first day of the rest of your most wonderful life.
    Grace is the purrfect name for you too.

    We are sorry you nver found Button but maybe just a tad of her spirit was in Gracie.
    Hugs Madi

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  28. We alsways say when one cat leaves us they are making room for someone who needs a home. Glad Gracie found yours. So sad to see the cats in a shelter like that. Scary that so many pets die before their owner finds them in those places - 72 hours is not long enough for a pet to be lost and found.

    Happy Gotcha Day Gracie and we send lots of hugs!

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  29. A sad story with a happy ending for Gracie. Or perhaps should we say, with a happy beginning for her.

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  30. Oh, we came over to say Happy Gotcha Day to Gracie, got all caught up in her story and forgot.

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  31. Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie. We sure are glad you and your mom and dad found each other that day.

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  32. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie! We hope your day is filled with all the toys and treats you could want.

    We too think that Buttons led your Mommy and Daddy to you, knowing they needed you, and you needed them.

    Cody and Gracie

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  33. Mmm.. I'd tend to agree that Button lead you to Gracie. (Sounds horrible the place you described). I've volounteered in a no-kill shelter for some years and could NEVER do it in a place that didn't have more respect for trying to acutally save the lives.
    Sounds like we are kindred spirits...
    xo

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  34. Oh Gracie! We are SO happy you got gotted!! Happy Gotcha Day!!

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  35. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie! Such a sad and sweet story all wrapped up in one.

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  36. We are sorry about Button, Purrs for that kitty.
    It was,however a wonderful day for Gracie!!!!
    It proves that it is always good to check the shelters :)
    Purrs Tillie and Georgia

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  37. What a great gotcha story Gracie.
    We say that with reservations of course, for all the other poor kitty souls at the shelter. May God bless them all and keep them in the palm of his hand.

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  38. Beyootiful gotcha story! Made mom teary-eyed. We are sum lucky kittehz. xoxo

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  39. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie! I think Button led you to each ofur. I am sorry you nefur found Button, but I'm glad you were gotted.

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  40. What a great Gotcha story! Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie! It was meant to be :)

    Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, and Hollie

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  41. Oh poor Button. But I'm so glad you saved one from the slaughter. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie!

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  42. We're sorry you were never able to find Button. But what a blessing it was that you went to the Shelter.

    And Gracie sure chose you, didn't she? Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie.

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  43. Happy Gotcha Day Gracie!!! What a wonderful story, I believe that Button lead you to Grace :)

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  44. Happy Gotcha Day Sweetie! It's nice that something wonderful came from such a sad thing. Purrs!

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  45. Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie!

    Mom Paula and Angel Praline

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  46. Sorry to be late with the wishes but a belated Happy Gotcha Day, Gracie from all of us at 3 kats and a kwilter!

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  47. Teri got very blinky-eyed reading this story...and was oh so happy to know it had a fairy tale ending...thank you for being there...for the cat we know as Gracie Grace now!

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  48. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful (and horrible) story. I avoided shelters for most of my life because I really don't think I have the heart to see what you saw. I have found that I can handle the no-kill shelters, though, thankfully. Miss Gracie, are we ever happy that you were Gotcha'd! And how neat that you fit in immediately!!! We love you!!

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>^,,^<
♥AngelAbby♥Annabelle♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥AngelGrace♥