Amy's Story

Pet's name: Amy
Adopted by: Chelsea Champagne
From: Ottawa Humane Society, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Chelsea sent this story of Amy, who passed away recently, to honor her life and their time together: 

There’s nothing more reliable in this world than the connection you can have with your pet. My cat Amy was ALWAYS genuinely happy to see me. This cat slept on the corner of my bed every night for fourteen years. It was a part of our ritual; I'd scoop her up when it was time for bed and she would nuzzle right into the sheets. She had a weird habit of sucking on her smallest toe, and after a while this sound became the only thing that would allow me to drift off into sleep.

Amy was a loud cat from the beginning. She liked to make her presence known and was very vocal about expressing her moods. She absolutely loved food and was even known to purr while she ate! If you were on the couch, she would walk right up and meow her head off until you made enough space for her to cuddle. She also loved to sit right in front of the fireplace and soak up all the heat.

We adopted Amy from the Ottawa Humane Society in Ontario. From the moment my parents brought her home, I knew she was mine. Over the years, this cat came to know all of my secrets. She spent countless hours staying up late watching TV, comforting me when I was going through heartache, and never left my side throughout every cold and flu. When it came time for me to move out for university, I wasn’t able to take her with me. By that time, she was almost 14, and a university apartment was not an ideal setting for a "senior" cat. It broke my heart the day I moved out and tried to fall asleep alone in my new bedroom without my cat.

Sadly, this past summer we learned that Amy had a tumour on her spine. Because of this, she was progressively losing control over her back legs and eventually her bladder. After consultation with our vet, we were informed that our beloved pet was in great distress. My Amy, the cat that grew up with me every single step of the way, died in my arms.

I know that we often say that we "rescue" animals, but the reality is we are not the ones doing the rescuing. Pets give us so much more than I think humans will ever be able to give back. They teach us responsibility, they truly enjoy our company, and they show us this constant and unwavering love that you can only get from a pet. All of my pets hold a special place in my heart from the moment we bring them home. And although it kills me to see her pillow lying in front of the fireplace without her, I am thankful to have had such an amazing companion in Amy.

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If you adopted a pet from a shelter or rescue group and you'd like to share his or her story, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!