The Reintroduction of Grace

My dear Grace joined Gabby back in 1998 or 1999. I picked out Grace because she was rambunctious with pretty markings. Course the two cats didn't ever get along. When we got married in Aug. 2003, I took Grace with me and mom kept Gabby. The girls were finally at peace!

In November 2005, Hannah was just shy of 2 years old and we were expecting Jason early the next July. Hannah always liked to play with Grace, but Grace wasn't always willing to enjoy a toddler's antics. Hannah liked to put her face right up to Grace so Grace could smell her and Hannah could feel her wiskers. Well, one day it was too close for the cat and Grace bit Hannah on the face. There were fang marks on her forehead and in her eyebrow. I immediately called my mom and told her she needed to take Grace back. Who do you get mad at...the toddler who wants to play or the cat that wants to be left alone.

Fast forward to Dec. 2006. We moved and had a new baby when my mom said that Grace was sick and losing a huge amount of fur. The vet didn't know what it was, even after $800 worth of tests. He suggested we take her to a vet dermatologist to figure it out and couldn't specifically say what was wrong. Eric and I couldn't afford to pay more money to the vet to figure out what was wrong and mom couldn't afford it either.

So the difficult decision was made to surrender her to the Humane Society. They took her and would determine what was wrong. They would make her well and if not, they would put her down. If they did cure her, we could take her back and pay any costs that were incurred or she could be adopted out to another family. Grace's record showed that she wasn't to be adopted to any home with kids or other animals. Mom called for an update after about a month; turns out Grace was allergic to fleas and that's why she was losing so much fur.

January comes around, we are all still missing Grace. My Grandma Frog (my Grandma) called and said that Grace's picture was in the newspaper for the humane society and she was looking for a great home. I told my husband and he said we needed to have her back the next day.

I show up to the humane society when they first opened the next day, saying that I saw Grace's picture, and I really wanted to adopt her. I went in and 'met' Grace; after talking to her for a few seconds, she recognized my voice when I called her Baby Girl, one of several nicknames. Even the volunteer couldn't believe how much Grace was purring and loving all over me. Through conversation, they found out I was married, and insisted that my husband came down to 'meet' her as well. So, on a football play off Sunday, towards the end of the academy, Eric comes down and we wait over 3 hours to 'meet' Grace and finalize the adoption.

It did take her time to realize where she ended up but we are so happy to have our Baby Girl back. Despite her grandour, she can run fast from the kids when needed.

Christa

P.S. My camera is having issues, otherwise I'd put a new picture of Grace up. ;)