Willi came to out house one cold November night in 1991.
From the first moment I saw her I knew that she was going to be one of our special kitties.
Even though most people would have said that she was just a stray dumped at our house,
I could see the pride and dignity in her eyes, and in the way she carried herself.
At the time she came to us I had more inside kitties than I needed,
so I told Willi I would take care of her and love her and
she would have the freedom to come and go as she wished.
Well spring came and so did the pregancy.
The first litter of kittens she had away from the house so we couldn't help her,
and before we could have her altered, she was in the family way again.
This time she went into labor at the house and we took her
inside to try and save the kittens.
It had been so long since we had babies delivered here,
that I think my daughter and I were more nervous than Willi.
But finally, she produced six beautiful kittens.
As they grew we kept telling ourselves that we would find homes
for them
and of course, we kept them all ourselves.
My daughter Dawn took four of them and I kept the other two.
Willi was eventually spayed and remained an outside kitty
since at this point she was over that mothering feelings.
One of our neighbors threatened to kill her because she was getting on her car,
so when a vacancy became availabe at the place I work, I took Willi there.
She was housed at Golden Cat for three years until
they closed our research and developement down in 1996.
I then brought Willi back home, but now she was to be an inside kitty only.
She decided at this point that she would live in our bedroom away from the other cats.
This would become her home for the rest of her life.
In the summer of 1999 I noticed she was having some drainage from her right ear.
The vet found that she had a tumor that would take her life in only a short time.
The rest of her life was only to be four months,
but she faced them couragously and was always loving to me
when I had to clean and medicate her.
On October 16 we took our last trip together to end her suffering.
As the doctor gave the injection that would end her life,
I held her, telling her how much I loved her,
and stroking her fur to let her know I would be by her side.
I had her cremated the same day and when I picked up her ashes
I drove into the countryside never taking my hand from the box that held her remains.
I still think of Willi every day, I miss her so much,
but take comfort in knowing that she is in a better place.
The night of October 16, 1999, was the Humane Society Auction,
and as a staff member I needed to be there.
My daughter told me I should go to represent Willi,
since she too was a throwaway animal before she came to us.
I wanted to stand proud and tall
for Willi
but I wasn't able to keep my tears from flowing down my face as I saw
all the people there that love and work so hard for the animals .
Willi gave me so much love,
and she will always remain in my heart.
Won't you stand up for homeless animals at your local shelter?
There are many ways you can help as a volunteer.
Just a couple of hours a week can make
a difference to many homeless animals.
You could be the only love they ever receive!
I wanted to let everyone know that Willi was actually the only kitty
that we allowed outside.
When she first came to our house we tried to let her be an inside kitty
but for reasons of her
own she didnt like other cats.
All of our cats are inside only and have been for a very long time.
The life expectancy
of an outside cat is only three to five years.
They are much healthier and happier and live a longer life
being inside
kitties only.
The next time you see a cat around your house, in your neighborhood,
crossing a busy intersection,or sitting by the side
of the road where a thoughtless person has left them,
think of Willi.
Every homeless kitty has the potential of being
a loving and wonderful pet to a family,
just like Willi.
Won't you consider giving one of them your heart?
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