COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL February 17, 2016
7A
BIRTHS
Michael’s ‘Buddy’
M
ichael lives in a NO
PET building. So why
does he have one?
Michael and his 13-year-old
kitty, Tara, spent 2 1/2 years
care-taking Michael’s moth-
er. Shortly before his mother
passed, so did Tara. Michael’s
devastation and grief led him
to not focus on his business. He
sank into depression and eventu-
ally lost the house, so he loaded
up his car and moved to Cottage
Grove, Oregon.
His grief counselor told him
that she would know when he
had turned the “emotional cor-
ner” when he was able to take
on another pet.
“With my disability,” said
Michael, “a companion animal
was possible. I told the coun-
selor about our NO PET build-
ing. But, my awesome building
manager gave me the paper
work to legally qualify me for a
companion pet.
“Thrilled at the prospective of
being a pet parent, I went to the
Humane Society’s shelter look-
ing for a fur baby that would
melt my heart.
They had a neutered 12-week-
old kitty relaxing in a top cage.
I wiggled my fi nger at him and
he nonchalantly looked at me,
stretched, rather bored, sniffed
my fi nger and immediately be-
gan purring. My heart melted!
When I held him he climbed
up onto my shoulder and com-
fortably sat there. I asked him,
‘Am I your human?’ It is al-
ways a good union when the pet
chooses you because they bond
faster as family.
I originally named him after
the Sanskrit word ‘Vajra’ be-
cause he is the ‘light of my life’.
But I had to change his name to
Buddy — because we are best
buds.
My life is more fun now and
my FUR-niture is different.
Buddy redecorated my apart-
ment with a prominent 72”
cat tower! I rearranged ‘our’
apartment in compliance with
Animal Planet’s ‘My Cat From
Hell’ star, Jackson Galaxy’s
expertise allowing for Buddy’s
high-speed kitty-highway.
Buddy runs at full tilt; the
length of ‘our’ apartment, like
a racetrack, tears over the top
of his kitty tower, over the
bed’s head board and out of the
room...all the while he appears
to be smiling!
Buddy has learned that when
he brings me his squeaky toy,
I will toss it. He responds by
fetching it, over and over, until
my arm feels like it is falling
off. His other favorite toy is a
crumpled piece of paper over
anything I spent money on.
I can’t explain how wonderful
and beautiful it is to have a furry
companion sitting in your lap
who purrs. Occasionally, when
a friend asks me for a walk, I de-
cline because I have a sleeping
kitty on my lap, and at that mo-
ment, he is my joy and priority.
It is scientifi cally proven that
the vibration and frequency of
a cat’s purr has healing proper-
ties...and it is true for me.
It is the oddest experience to
be alone in your home, only you
and your pet, and you burst out
laughing! It happened the other
day when Buddy came running
out of the kitchen, jumped onto
the bed, and body slammed me
with joy and gusto. He was so
happy to join me that he made
me burst out laughing at his
exuberance. Yes, animals are
wonderful companions, and
their ability to heal depression
should be legendary. They are
vulnerable, so it is up to us to
appreciate and care for them as
the gift they are to us.”
TIPS
“Buddy’s sweet story il-
lustrates the power of a pet to
heal,” emailed Erin in Austin,
Texas, “and provide joy. My
friends and I call it the power
of the puppy, but it obviously
works for kitties, too!”
Feb. 8, 2016
Feb. 13, 2016
To Amber Dea Clemons of
Creswell and Mario Sampedro
of Eugene, a daughter.
To Jessika Kaziska an Dustin
Modrell of Cottage Grove, a
son.
To Aaron Scaletti and Shauna
Doughty of Lorane, a son.
LORANE COUNTRY NEWS
BY LIL THOMPSON
For the Sentinel
T
Photo by Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe”
The gift of a pet can be life changing. Michael discov-
ered this after rescuing his best bud, Buddy.
Sonja in Cottage Grove
emailed, “Photographing pets is
not easy, so when my dog, Ben,
received a present from his Ma-
rine K9 Trainer, Joe Gallagher,
I placed a tidbit of a weenie be-
tween my lips to hold Ben’s at-
tention. It worked!”
“We stopped giving/apply-
ing fl ea/tick/heartworm meds to
our Pomeranian, Sophie, years
ago,” emailed Suzka in Port-
land. “She had seizures from
all kinds of products. In my
opinion, that stuff smells and
acts like poison! Our Vet said it
wasn’t worth the risk, so I keep
Sophie well groomed, wash her
blankets and bedding often, and
vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.”
“Our indoor cat doesn’t of-
ten go outside,” emailed Kath-
leen of San Mateo, California.
“When she began scratching,
I did not think about fl eas, but
when I looked, they were crawl-
ing all over her!
I immediately started doing
what I had done for years, in
such emergencies, and within
one week, all the fl eas and eggs
were eliminated. A daily comb-
ing ends the fl ea cycle without
any kind of external powder or
other remedy. She loves being
‘gently’ combed and I dip the
fl ea comb into hot water killing
the fl eas.”
Does your pet have an unusu-
al adoption story?
angelscribe@msn.com
“Follow” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on
Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/
PetTipsandTales
his Thursday, Feb.18, the
Crow-Applegate-Lorane
School Board meets at Lorane
Grange. The executive session
is at 6 p.m. with the board meet-
ing open to the public at 7 p.m.
The public is invited this
Sunday, Feb. 21, to Sizzler’s in
Springfi eld for a friendship din-
ner with members of the Lorane
Christian Church. Everyone is
invited to enjoy this dinner and
wonderful company starting at
5:30 p.m. It is always fun and
inspirational.
Several ladies are hoping to
start an exercise group at the
Grange. Those interested can
call Pam Kersgaard at 541-942-
6193. There was an exercise
group there on Tuesday, so give
her a call for more information.
Next Saturday, Feb. 27, there
will be a delightful Spaghetti
Dinner and Bingo evening at
Lorane Grange. Dinner is at
5:30 p.m. and bingo begins at
Adopt Loving Pets
www.PetFinder.com
6:30 p.m. No one has won the
progressive black out yet, so it
has to grown. There is also a
50/50 drawing.
The Rural Arts Council/Lo-
rane Grange Talent Show is
Sunday, April 3 at 3 p.m., and
it looks like some intriguing tal-
ent has committed to perform.
To sign up in advance contact
Lil at 541-942-5701 or contact
the Rural Art Center at ruralart-
center@gmail.com. Perform-
ers may also sign in that day
by coming a little early.
Well, high-school seniors, be
sure to get your FAFSA applica-
tions in no later than March 1.
Several local scholarships are
due in the next two months. The
School District is still looking
for budget committee members.
Those interested can call Lee
Ann at 541-686-2100.
Congratulations to the stu-
dents and staff at Crow Middle/
High School for exceeding their
goal of 770 acts of kindness
with a grand total of 833!
Meet Dorian Perkey
Territorial Land Company welcomes
Dorian Perkey as a newly licensed Real
Estate Broker. Dorian was born and raised
in Cottage Grove. She is a graduate of CGHS
and of the University of Oregon. Her father
has been a local Real Estate Broker for over
25 years, so it would seem as though Real
Estate is in her blood. With ambition and
high expectations, Dorian plans on making
this a successful life-long career.
Humane Society for Neuter/
Spay Assistance Program. (541)
942-2789
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