After our cat, Ashley, passed away, we found ourselves without an animal in our home for the first time in our lives. My husband wanted time to grieve before we got another cat and I understood that, but I found myself "just looking" at the pictures of the cats at our city shelter. I was immediately drawn to a picture of two sisters. The shelter website said that they must be adopted together because they were very heavily bonded to each other. I emailed my neighbor, who works at the shelter, and I told her that while we weren't ready for another cat quite yet, we would love a pair of cats like the sweet sisters that I saw at the shelter website. She immediately called me and said, "I don't want to pressure you, but if you think there is even a possibility you want to adopt these girls, you need to get to the shelter right away. We are closed today, but come here anyway." I asked her if they were in danger of being euthanized and she wouldn't answer me. She just said, "Come meet them and see what you think, and if they aren't the right ones, there will be plenty more cats when you are ready." My husband was reluctant because we were still heartbroken about losing our Ashley, but he agreed to go meet the girls. Thankfully they both jumped right into his arms as soon as we walked into the visiting room, and there was an instant connection. After the longest 24 hours of my life without an animal in the house, we brought Anna and Zoe home. We later found out that the shelter was filled to capacity and that Anna and Zoe were the next in line to be euthanized because they had been at the shelter the longest. I am so glad that didn't happen, because they give us so much joy every day. I now volunteer at the shelter so that I can help all the other animals find homes, and while it's emotionally difficult, it is very rewarding.

Jennie Wright
Norfolk, VA