COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
B
efore adopting, a
senior should ask,
“What happens to my
pet if I have an emergency, hos-
pital stay, enter a care home, or
die?”.
Most relatives won’t adopt
these pets because they already
have a house full of pets or they
live in a pet prohibited build-
ing. Include pets in your will,
so they don’t end up homeless.
Scott’s story illustrates what of-
ten unfolds.
“We never had a pet grow-
ing up,” began Scott, “because
my mother ‘wasn’t an animal
person’. Then after 40 years of
marriage, she was alone. We
watched her sink into depres-
sion and encouraged her to get
an older cat companion. Shortly
after Betty appeared on scene,
Mom experienced a comfort
that she had never known. That
angel cat transformed her life!
Mom’s loneliness and depres-
sion lifted because she had
someone to take care of and en-
tertain her, and Betty made for
wonderful conversation on our
phone calls and visits.
Mother’s motto was, ‘If one
is good, two is better’,” said
Scott, “so she adopted Bob.
When Mom entered the care
center, we called shelters to re-
home the now eight-year-old
kitties. After hearing how over-
whelmed and full the shelters
were, my wife, Anika, and I
mailed them a donation before
calling another.
We have heard the horror
stories of ‘Free’ pets ending
up as dog fi ght-
ing bait, alligator
or snake food,
or experimental
pets at labs. The
cats current situa-
tion caught us off
guard, because of
this we have our lives on hold
until we fi nd a good home for
them.
Caretakers feed the cats and
I make an hour’s drive to play
with them three times a week.
Their home won’t be sold until
they are re-homed.
Betty and Bob are gentle,
affectionate, lap kitties, play-
ful, quiet, trained, and never a
problem. Bob loves chasing
toys. They respect FUR-ni-
ture, use their scratching post
and love sleeping ‘with their
people’. They are not shy and
are friendly with strangers . As
wonderful, calm, mature, inside
cats, they never mess the house
and they have a long healthy
life ahead of them.
These days, Mum has Alz-
heimer’s and rarely responds.
She can’t remember her mar-
riage or her grandchildren. But
when we mention her cats she
lights up with emotion and in-
terest remembering the angel
cats who changed her life.
My wife and I make a life-
time commitment to the pets we
adopt, because they are family.
Anika was sharing our ‘kitty
dilemma’ with a friend and her
friend said, ‘But this is not your
responsibility or problem.’
Anika responded, “We in-
herited this commitment and
won’t give up on these cats.
And we won’t! This insepara-
ble cat-couple must be adopted
together as one would be heart-
broken without the other.”
If interested in the love birds,
send your purr-sonal references
and vet’s approval to Scott. It
does not matter where you live.
The cats can travel.
NOTE: After posting this
article on Facebook, readers
forwarded it like wildfi re! As
a result, Sandy read about Bet-
ty and Bob and adopted the two
kitties! Read their rare happy
ending in the next Pet Tips ‘n’
Tales!
TIPS
“Shelters have older loving
animals,” said Janetta Overhol-
ser, president of the Humane
7A
Society of Cottage Grove, “who
need homes. They arrive with
love, cuddles and manners.
Check out these purr-fect pets!”
How to set up a pet trust ac-
count. http://animalwellness-
magazine.com/setting-up-pet-
trust/
Angel Scribe Confession!
Our family was a kitten only
adopter until we fostered elder-
ly Persians for the Humane So-
ciety. Now, we purr-fur older
cats. Their purrs-onalities are
developed, they love laps and
are appreciative that you res-
cued them. They demonstrate
this with a deep love for you. It
is rewarding adopting a “not so
cute” but “full of love” pet!
Share your pet tips and tales.
angelscribe@msn.com
“Follow” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales
on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/
PetTipsandTales
Humane Society for Neuter/
Spay Assistance Program. (541)
942-2789
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Caregiver meeting
The October meeting of the Cottage Grove
Caregiver Network is meeting Monday, Oct. 2
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cottage Grove Bible
Church located at 1200 E. Quincy Ave. Along
with a potluck, the guest speaker will be Cascade
Health Solutions talking about the new hospice
home they are involved in. For more information,
call Shirley at 541-232-0966
New series at the library
Cottage Grove Public Library and Friends of
the Library present:Cottage Grove Community
Center, Shepherd Room. Monday, Oct. 2 6pm
What it is like to be a Muslim in Oregon. Speak-
ers: Ibrahim Hamide of Cafe Soriah and Dr. Hana
Elsherif, Arabic Studies, University of Oregon.
Monday, Oct. 9 6pm Film: "Mohammad:
Legacy of a Prophet"
Monday, Oct. 16 6pm Film: "Inside Islam:
What a Billion Muslims Think"
Tuesday, Oct. 24 6pm Live Conversation with
Mansoor Shams, Muslim Marine
VFW scholarship opportunites
Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been
the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars’ (VFW’s) premier
scholarship program.
This program provides high school students,
from 9th grade to 12th grade, the opportunity to
write and record a broadcast script on a patriotic
theme selected by the VFW each year. Competi-
tion begins at the Post level. A winner goes to the
District level to compete with students selected by
other posts. Those winners advance to the State
level and on to the National level. State winners
receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington,
D.C. Top National scholarship prize is $30,000.
The 2017-18 theme is “American History: Our
Hope for the Future”
Please have your entry to the VFW Post at 3160
Hillside Dr. by October 31, 2017.
You may call 541-942-7099 with questions.
Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th grade
students. This VFW sponsored youth essay com-
petition gives students an opportunity to write
essays expressing their views on democracy. All
entries are at Post level with students advancing
through Regional, then State levels to Nation-
al level. First place award at National level is
currently $5,000 plus an all expense paid trip to
Washington D.C. for the winner and a parent or
guardian.
The 2017-18 theme is “America’s Gift to My
Generation”
Please have your entry to the VFW Post at 3160
Hillside Dr. by October 31, 2017.
You may call 541-942-7099 with questions.
Community Sharing PSA
Community Sharing is experiencing a short-
age of food at this time. This is a time of the year
when our inventory would normally be low but
this year we are experiencing an extreme shortage
of food.
We are requesting assistance from the commu-
nity to help fi ll our shelves to meet the current
demand at our agency. Any help is greatly appre-
ciated – from one can to large donations or cash
donations.
We would like to thank the Cottage Grove com-
munity for all of the assistance we receive – we
couldn’t do the work we do without you!
ALLIGATOR
AUCTION
SATURDAY - OCTOBER 7
11AM-4PM
Businesses turn merchandise and
services into advertising dollars
Listeners receive great products &
services at a fraction of the cost
Call KNND 541-942-2468
for a bidder number.
E
R
O
T
S
E
R
E ND OF S UMMER
S ALE !
A LL G ARDEN AND Y ARD ITEMS
50% OFF
A LL P ATIO F URNITURE
25% OFF
Ask us about volunteering
with Habitat for Humanity
Habitat Offi ce and Warehouse
2155 Getty Circle ~ Unit #1
in the Cottage Grove Industrial Park
South on Hwy 99 past the High School
DONATIONS
WELCOME!
The Alligator Auction promises
fun and great deals for
businesses and listeners
A percent of the proceeds to benefi t South Lane Dental Clinic
Call 541.767.0358
for more information
Email
info@habitatcg.org