Update on our household crew :)

I joined this site after we had the good fortune of little Gracie appearing in our garage on the coldest day in December. Emaciated and freezing, her litter mates were found frozen and dead in a neighbours yard, obviously a litter dump.
I received much help here on how to introduce her to our dogs, a Giant Schnauzer and a mini Schnauzer. In short order she took over our home and without doubt, all of our hearts. She was without question the most amazing little soul I have ever experienced. She bonded intensily with the dogs and made this confirmed "dog person" realize that I was also a "cat person" just waiting to happen.
Sadly, at the age of 5.5 months, Gracie passed suddenly to a congenital heart defect. She went peacefully in my arms at the vet after we received the devastating news. To say that she changed all of our lives doesn't come close. That is the reason that I stopped posting for a little bit.

Our Gracie... RIP



Without Gracie, our house changed, the dogs were morose and all of us had an aching need. I started visiting breeders and picked out an adorable Blue Pointed Ragdoll kitten, but he couldn't come home for another two months. In the interim, we adopted a flea bitten, eye-infected "pound" kitten Katie who has quickly become the light of our lives! Katie is a very fiesty Calico girl and the dogs accepted her instantly and she adopted them too. They are quite a pack and Katie rules the big guys with an iron (albeit loving) paw.

Our little Katie:



When it was time, our little ragdoll, Dexter joined the family He and Katie weren't thrilled with each other at first but have now become the best of friends. Our little family is complete. Why didn't I realize years ago, the JOYS of being owned by a kitten. Our lives are so much better for these amazing little souls!!

Our boy Dexter:



If anyone would have told this dyed in the wool "dog person" before December 10th that I would be living with two kittens, I would have told them they were crazy, but here I am, and I'm LOVING IT!!!

Cats and Dogs:

What lovely little pet family you have! I am sorry to hear of Gracie's passing, but she left a wonderful legacy, turning you in to a cat person thus making homes for two little ones. Welcome back to TCS.

Originally Posted by elmaynet

I joined this site after we had the good fortune of little Gracie appearing in our garage on the coldest day in December. Emaciated and freezing, her litter mates were found frozen and dead in a neighbours yard, obviously a litter dump.

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Did you see my poem that seems to fit little Gracie so well?

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LOST...AND FOUND

Dear God...
Or Allah...
Or Bast...

Or Whoever answers
The prayers of kittens.

Please help me.
It's a big, cold world,
And I'm a tiny, cold kitten,
Hiding here, under the bush.

<I hear you, little one.>

What did we do wrong?
Why did they throw us out
Of the warm house
Where Mama is?

They put all six of us
Out here, alone.
We huddled together
All night, in the cold.
But my brothers and sisters
Have all stopped moving.
It's getting very cold here,
And the rain is soaking me.
I don't know how to find food,
And I'm so tired.

<Your brothers and sisters
Have gone to a good place.>

Please help me!
Will I go there, too?

<Not now, not yet.
Cry out, little one.>

Help me! Help me!
Here! Under this bush!
I'm hungry! I'm cold!

<Louder, child.>

HELP ME! SOMEONE!
ANYONE! I'M LOST!
DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!
I WANT TO LIVE!

<Look in front of you.>

I see big shoes!

<I put them on the path to you.>

I see a face!

<I turned it toward you.>

Ah, warm hands have picked me up!

<They know kittens well.
They needed a new little one,
Like you,
To fill a hole in their heart,
And an empty place in their home.>

They have put me in their coat.
I will love them.
My purr will warm us both!

<Farewell, child.
Your prayer,
And theirs,
Was heard.>


--Mike Blanche

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I'm so glad you opened your heart to another precious soul.

Tears streaming! I felt like that was speaking directly to Gracie and myself. How such a dear little soul could have so much impact during such a short time on earth. I have no doubt at all that she was meant to arrive in our garage that day. It is never left open but my son had forgotten this one time.
Thanks so much for sharing that lovely poem, it has touched me tremendously.
Elizabeth

I am so sorry about Gracie

You have a goreous set of cats and dogs there

You have a beautiful fur family. I too was more of a dog person, until I stepped out my door and found Lucky. a newborn kitten laying on my lawn, an hour or so old. how could I possibly let this poor creature die. That was three years ago, now we also have Gus. He was a feral kitten. I kittynapped him and brought him inside. I can't imagine our home with out the kitties and the dogs.

Originally Posted by krazy kat2

What lovely little pet family you have! I am sorry to hear of Gracie's passing, but she left a wonderful legacy, turning you in to a cat person thus making homes for two little ones. Welcome back to TCS.

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Thanks heavens she graced our lives or I wouldn't know the utter joy that is cats!

Originally Posted by -_aj_-

I am so sorry about Gracie

You have a goreous set of cats and dogs there

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Thanks! Your babies are gorgeous too!

I am so sorry for your loss of Gracie, she was a cutie. But I am happy you took her in and she knew love and caring in her short little life.

The rest of your crew all look very happy together.

Originally Posted by mbjerkness

You have a beautiful fur family. I too was more of a dog person, until I stepped out my door and found Lucky. a newborn kitten laying on my lawn, an hour or so old. how could I possibly let this poor creature die. That was three years ago, now we also have Gus. He was a feral kitten. I kittynapped him and brought him inside. I can't imagine our home with out the kitties and the dogs.

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Gus and Lucky were lucky indeed!! How anyone could turn their back on one of these little ones is beyond me. I've been doing dog rescue for years and I never cease to be amazed. Bless you for kittynapping!

Originally Posted by KRZ

I am so sorry for your loss of Gracie, she was a cutie. But I am happy you took her in and she knew love and caring in her short little life.

The rest of your crew all look very happy together.

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Thanks KRZ, she gave back so much love and caring, it actually kind of made sense that the reason she died was because her dear heart was too big for this world.

Is this a tearjerker or what?!

Gracie's life was all too short, but she was most definitely blessed. Instead of dying alone in the cold, she had several wonderful months of happiness, love, and comfort. And then you gave her such a wonderful legacy, by opening your home to another animal equally in need of a home. She definitely left her mark on the world, in more ways than one!

I was also a self-proclaimed "dog person," until I came across a tiny abandoned black kitten near a relative's house. I figured I'd rehome her with a friend...but by the end of the first night, I knew that there was no way she was leaving me. Nearly a year later, not only is she still with me, but I rescued a second kitty to be her playmate! It always gives me a smile to hear others with a similar story of discovery.

Thanks so much for coming back and sharing, and congratulations to you on your new-found family. They are all gorgeous...the kittens are utterly adorable, and what sweet, gentle dogs you have as well. May you all have many happy years together, with Gracie watching over you!

Originally Posted by at129

Is this a tearjerker or what?!

Gracie's life was all too short, but she was most definitely blessed. Instead of dying alone in the cold, she had several wonderful months of happiness, love, and comfort. And then you gave her such a wonderful legacy, by opening your home to another animal equally in need of a home. She definitely left her mark on the world, in more ways than one!

I was also a self-proclaimed "dog person," until I came across a tiny abandoned black kitten near a relative's house. I figured I'd rehome her with a friend...but by the end of the first night, I knew that there was no way she was leaving me. Nearly a year later, not only is she still with me, but I rescued a second kitty to be her playmate! It always gives me a smile to hear others with a similar story of discovery.

Thanks so much for coming back and sharing, and congratulations to you on your new-found family. They are all gorgeous...the kittens are utterly adorable, and what sweet, gentle dogs you have as well. May you all have many happy years together, with Gracie watching over you!

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Thanks so much Amanda! I understand that 24 hour thing, it certainly doesn't take them long to steal a heart.
I've done dog rescue for years and both of mine have been used to foster dogs along the way but I didn't dream that they would not only accept kittens but they adore them too
Your babies are beautiful and I'm looking forward to reading about their adventures.

Oh hun... Gracie, thanks to you, had a chance to know what love is. She never would have known that without you.

Your fur family is SO gorgeous, all of them!

Originally Posted by Kailie

Oh hun...

Gracie, thanks to you, had a chance to know what love is. She never would have known that without you.

Your fur family is SO gorgeous, all of them!

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Thanks to Gracie, I got to know what kitty-love is and I'll forever be grateful to her for that

Ohmigosh!!! Your fur-family is stunning! I love the picture of Katie up under the chin of the big guy. So cute.

Gracie found a wonderful place when she found you. You gave the rest of her life alot of lovin'. And she certainly opened your hearts to the joys of giving your heart to a cat!

Gracie's time on earth was short, but you made it infinitely sweet. I'm glad she walked into your lives and opened your heart to the joys of cats. Katie and Dexter are beautiful (as are your dogs), and it looks like they are all best of friends. Welcome back.