A Legacy of Friendship....

I want to share with you a very special story about a cat named Tabby who captured the hearts of his human parents in such a way that they have created a legacy in his honor that will live on....in the most awesome way imaginable.

In April of 1999, Jonathan Rosenberg and his wife learned that their beloved cat, Tabby, had untreatable cancer and only months to live. Jonathan began soul searching during this time of pure sadness and he began to re-evaluate his life. He wondered how he could live differently and honor his friendship of 15 years with Tabby.

Jonathan Rosenberg resigned from his job as Chief Technology Officer at CNET and committed himself to creating Tabby’s Place: a Cat Sanctuary, in memory of Tabby. Four years later, Tabby’s Place officially began its mission.

Tabby’s Place currently consists of one building, designed to accommodate 95 cats. Their long-term vision is to accommodate 400 cats by erecting two additional buildings on their eight acres of property.

Tabby’s Place is a public charity (501c3 non-profit corporation). Jonathan Rosenberg donated sufficient funds (2 million dollars worth) to construct the first building and allow the sanctuary to get a running start on its operations.

What is Tabby's Place?

The following is an exact description from their website...

Tabby's Place is a cage-free sanctuary that provides refuge to cats in hopeless situations. Our residents come primarily from public shelters where they had once been scheduled for euthanasia.

This one-of-a-kind facility serves as:

• An Adoption Center, finding loving homes for cats;


• A Hospital, providing medical and surgical treatment for sick or injured residents;


• A Hospice, providing palliative care and a warm, loving environment for chronically or terminally ill cats to live out their lives in comfort.

Cats with Special Needs

Tabby’s Place does not turn cats away due to age, medical need, or “lack of adoptability.” It is, therefore, a safe haven for several older, chronically ill, or handicapped cats. These cats have special needs such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or blindness. At Tabby’s Place, these cats are able to live full and happy lives with the medical care, love, and affection they deserve.

Unique Features of the Sanctuary:

• Provides communal living environments for cats, with plenty of horizontal and vertical space for exercise and play.


• Provides outdoor enclosures for cats to enjoy fresh air and sunlight.


• Contains special group rooms for cats who are FIV+, overweight, or on prescription diets.


• Contains an in-house medical facility.


• Uses specialized materials to facilitate cleaning and encourage a disease-free environment.

I first heard of Tabby's Place after watching the video below and I was so touched by this story and inspired by these remarkable people. Have a look....

I hope you will take the time to to visit Tabby's Place and if you think you can help in some way, I have listed below a few ways to do so.

Ways You Can Help

Tabby's Place is a public charity. They receive no government funding and depend on donations from the public for their continued operation. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, donations to Tabby's Place are tax deductible.

• Make A Donation
Make a one-time donation to be used where it is most needed.

• Sponsor A Special Needs Cat
Support the care of a cat with special needs and receive monthly updates on your "adopted" feline. You can make the sponsorship a gift for a friend or family member.

• Donate In Honor Of A Person Or Pet
Create a personalized card to be sent to the recipient.

• Donate In Memory Of A Person Or Pet
Create a personalized card to be sent to the recipient or engrave a brick on our memorial walkway.

A few direct links to my favorite spots around Tabby's Place below

• Tabby’s Place Blog


• Adoptable Cats


• Virtual Tour

Note...

Tabby succumbed to his cancer on September 15, 1999, four months after diagnosis.

And Now a Note from Mikey's House

Loving animals is not easy for us animal lovers, it comes naturally but it is difficult because we are touched by the experiences that animals endure. Sometimes the battle for animal rights and welfare seems like a long one and sometimes there are days when it feels hopeless.
But then a story like this one comes along and hope gets restored because we are an army, a dedicated army and there are more of us than we realize. Standing up for animals, helping them in any way you can is always worth the effort even if it seems as if it will not make a difference....it does make a difference to the animal that you help.
Never underestimate the power of love.

Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg...you are heroes...Bless you for all of the kindness you show these animals that need you so much. You are an inspiration.

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Thanks for reading.

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Peace Doesn't Wear Fur

"I have peace, but peace does not have a cold nose, a pink tongue, whiskers or a warm purr. Peace does not use the litter box, hurl hairballs or wake me at two in the morning because it got lonely and wanted to crawl under the covers.
The sure knowledge that I did the best I could does not demand fresh running water in the bathtub, lose its toys under the living room couch or chase moths. And even that wonderful sense of love I knew after my kitty-cat crossed, does not meow when I come home late or interrupt me at the computer with a warm paw on my leg, asking for a lap and a cuddle.
And though a fresh new set of paws will one day walk into my heart, the here-and-now, day-to-day presence of a creature who knew me better than I know myself, loved me better than I love myself (and let me know that on a regular basis, conceited little creature that he was), is gone.

Peace is a wonderful thing, but it doesn't wear fur.

And when I miss that fur so much, when the grief swells and threatens to consume me, the memory of my bond with my fur-person grounds me. It tells me to look forward and celebrate the joy that bounded into my life so many years ago; to pause and ground myself, let the love that was there surface and know that the love is still there. It's lonelier on this side, but if I ride out the grief I come full circle back to the peace.
It doesn't wear fur and it doesn't stop tears, but it does bring the memory of love and changes the tears from those of desperate sorrow to those of healing and of hope."

These words were found on a Tanya's Comprehensive Guide to Feline Chronic Kidney Disease in the chapter titled SAYING GOODBYE It's listed under Marvie's experience.

The moment I read them the tears just fell. No where have I read a more perfect description of what this feels like to me

Because Peace really doesn't wear fur.


_{Roo was put to rest on November 28, 2011.
His presence in our lives is missed every single day.
Roo’s spirit taught me so much about appreciating life…right now.
His sweet soul and kind heart will live on…
for as long as I live, he shall not die.}

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Mikey's Latest

When You walked Into My Life

I waited all that time
Counting minutes as they passed
Searching for a sign
Wishing for the best
And just when my hopes were wearing thin
You taught my heart to love again

When you appeared
Like sight to the blind
Like music to my ears
Like a reason to a rhyme
And just when I thought my chances were gone
Love came to me with open arms

Like a miracle out of the blue
You rescued me like the angels do
You shook the heavens and cracked the sky
When you walked...when you walked into my life

Mikey and I became best friends almost 9 years ago. Our friendship began because I had just lost my little boy at birth. Mikey was only a few months old then but he rescued me, he saved me from that dark place a person goes to when sorrow fills their soul.
Mikey was born deaf and at the time I thought he really needed me. Turns out it was me who needed him.
He has never let me down.
This is Mikey, he is my best friend.

Song is by Lila McCann

Pure Mischief
Mikey is such a character, his personality has always been bigger than life. He is so animated, his expressions sometimes are just priceless.

In this photograph Mikey is just looking for something to get into, like always.

My Get What I Want Face


And it so works for him like you would not believe, this cat has me wrapped around his little paw and he knows it. LOL

Model is Mikey....my best friend.

Just Knowing You

Makes me a better person.


Model is Mikey

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Remembering Roo...the Video

I finally finished Roo's Video, it was tough to get through but I feel better now.
The song is by Joe Cocker and my 6 year old Haley says that Roo is singing this song to us from Rainbow Bridge.....

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