#to be clear I love dogs and I adopted my 2 cats but this is one of those things that it is morbidly funny because it is a horrible

[complainingnihilist]

Roughly 31 percent of dogs in shelters are euthanized.

Me a dog food sales man:

The dog shelter:

I'm not crazy just a capitalist.

[abbysimsfun]

Sims In Bloom: Generation 2 Pt. 58 (Adopted by Another Stray!)

On a rainy autumn night, Mayor Whiskers started scratching feverishly at the front door. Heather got up to let him out, but a small, soaked black cat raced through the opening and into the bedroom at the end of the hall.

This black cat was nervous and aloof, and it took several attempts to lure her from under the bed with treats. But she liked Buttercups as much as any pet, and Heather slowly earned her trust.

"She's cute," acknowledged Conrad. "But we've already got two cats and Gord!"

Heather smiled at the untrained stray. "She needs a good home, and she seems comfortable here," she said. "I know our life is always busy and our upstairs hallway looks like a cheap greenhouse right now, but one more cat won't hurt!"

Conrad wasn't going to seriously argue against adding another pet to their household, and Heather took their new black cat to her clinic next door for a check up. One x-ray made clear why she suddenly wanted a warm roof - she was expecting kittens. There was no way Heather would turn her out again in her condition.

"What we name her?" Ash wondered as he watched the cats play together outside.

"What do you think we should name her?"

"Cupcake!" he shouted. "I love cupcakes!"

Heather smiled. "Just Cupcake?"

Ash shook his head, grinning. "No, mommy. Queen Cupcake! Like King Tut!"

With that, Queen Cupcake had her name, and their new pet started to make herself at home. To celebrate, she picked a fight with Mayor Whiskers(!), but it wasn't long before Whiskers and Cupcake were nuzzling, as enamored with each other as Heather and Conrad! Heather was relieved the cat was already pregnant, but she made a note to have her spayed as soon as the kittens were born.

She was far more aggressive than any of her other pets, but Heather hoped this was a side-effect of her maternal instinct, hoping it might fade once she'd safely delivered.

"Training bad habits out of you might not be easy, huh?"

Queen Cupcake's responsive meow sounded distinctively like a 'yeah,' but cat-loving Heather was ready for the challenge.

Before long, Queen Cupcake delivered two small black kittens, the spitting image of their mother, named Duchess and Lady. Their house was overflowing with pets!

Heather's son was almost as friendly with cats as his mother, and loved spending time with Queen Cupcake's tiny new kittens.

"These kitties small like me, mommy." Ash could pick up Duchess and Lady, who fit in the crook of his small arm, to pet their fuzzy black fur. "They soft."

They bought a self-cleaning litter box to try to handle the influx of felines, but all five cats still preferred to use the old one that needed manual cleaning, much to their dismay.

"What if we just got rid of it?" suggested Conrad. "Then they'd have to use the new one, right?"

"I know we should," said Heather. "I have a feeling the Watcher keeps meaning to do that, but you and I are both neat so we just keep cleaning it and she forgets."

"Are we talking about the Watcher Watcher making changes while we sleep, or are you saying the Watcher made you forget to throw out the old one?"

"Maybe both?" She laughed as their conversation bordered on ridiculous. No one got her sense of humour as much as he did. "What if the cats are just attached to the old one?"

Conrad considered this. "The old one does have a certain smell... Should we be worried about a Watcher who's so disorganized?"

Heather shrugged. "She helped the doctors save my son, so I won't begrudge her one smelly litter box."

"Fair point," agreed Conrad with a smile. "I'll go get the scoop."

Active full-time jobs, five cats, a dog, and a toddler kept Heather and Conrad busy, but they still carved out every moment they could together - which usually meant crashing on the couch to watch their favourite shows until they fell asleep.

They worked hard, but their life together was a perfect fit. ->

<- Previous Chapter | Gen 2 Start | Gen 1 Summary | Gen 1 Start

NOTE: Me, writing about how stressed and busy they are as a slightly meta dig at my own gameplay this gen, proceeding to add 3 cats. Honestly it's for Heather because more cats don't stress her out at all. She also always needs to have 2 cats per the challenge rules and Boomer is getting up there, so I'm game. I might not keep all five forever but Queen Cupcake is here to stay.

WCIF Sofa Pose? Cozy Couple by @toofcc. I really love it, and it's exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for sharing!

[lucywritesagain]

I wouldn't say no

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈﹕Loki masterlist ꒰ ᐢ｡- ༝ -｡ᐢ ꒱ Navigation ﹕┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

Please note that this story is a repost from my old blog @lucywrites02.

Summary: Loki pays you a visit, saying that Bubbles- his cat- may be allergic to Thor. Is Loki serious or is it another excuse to hang out with you?

Word count: 0.7k

“You again?”

That was the way you greeted Loki as you walked into your office- a few folders under your arm and a box of medical gloves in the other. Your white coat flew behind you with every step like a cape, making you feel like in a movie. In all those years working as a vet it had never gotten bored.

“It’s nice to see you, too.” The trickster replied with a playful smile.

“What seems to be the problem, buddy?” You leaned over the table and gently patted your little friend’s head who purred in approval. “Why did your dad bring you here this time?”

“I think he’s allergic to Thor.” Loki said.

“Ha, that’s a good one!” You giggled, but stopped when you noticed their dead serious expression. “That’s a joke, right? Tell me you’re joking.”

“Why would I?” The god put his hands in the pockets of his dark blue jeans- something they didn’t wear often. “I noticed that Bubbles acts differently every time my brother visits.”

You weren't sure if it was a prank or if Loki really thought his cat could be allergic to his brother. The first time you met the god they barged into your office right before closing because the cat he just adopted was sleeping too much and refused to leave until you explained to him how the cat's body worked in great detail. You found it sweet how much Loki cared about that little creature and how eager they were to learn more. And what better way to learn than to take your information from the professionals? The second time they visited was to give Bubbles his vaccines and make a file for him. One time Loki ran into your office while you were in the middle of examining Clair- a beautiful ball python who has been your patient since the day she hatched- just to tell you that Bubbles made a chirping noise while watching birds and if it was normal for a cat to do this.

“Different? How?” You straighten your back, giving all your attention to the trickster.

“He’s really affectionate with Thor and he always hated people”

“Let me get this clear-” you had to hold your laugh for Loki’s sake. You were a professional after all and Loki- although a friend- was still your client. “You think Bubbles is sick because he likes Thor?”

“Obviously.”

“Alright.” You sighed and put on a new pair of gloves. You pretended to examine your little friend, feeling Loki’s eyes on you. Thankfully Bubbles was a very brave patient and you never had much problems with him. He even let you touch his belly. That’s why instead of looking for the cause of the cat’s ‘unusual behaviour’ you just tickled him here and there- which he really liked.

“If you wanted to ask me out you could have just said so. Or you could always just call me.” You have my number.” You broke the silence while still giving all of your attention to Bubbles, who happily flipped on his back, demanding belly scratches.

“I’m not- that’s not-” The god of mischief stuttered, suddenly taking an interest in that one picture of your dog on the wall. You have figured out his little plan and that was just embarrassing to him.

“I wouldn’t say no.” You smiled, looking directly at Loki who was still refusing to meet your eyes.

“Pardon?” The god asked, surprised.

“If you asked me out I wouldn’t say no.” You left Loki speechless. Their heart was beating like crazy and his mind was completely empty. “You know how much I love it when you and Bubbles pay me a visit every 2 hours, but I have other patients waiting for me so….”

“Oh yes, that’s-” The god took his cat into his arms and awkwardly stood in the middle of the room, thinking about their next move. “So if I asked whether you had time for dinner tonight you wouldn’t say no?” The god of mischief asked, still unsure of your answer.

“Only if you pay.”

“I guess it’s a date then.” Loki opened the door to finally exit your office. Their heart was still beating fast and almost stopped when you said-

“I guess it is.”

[alwahyeonie]

put that cat in the bag ⋆.˚

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yn’s friend group

4 baddies 1 chenle 1 elsa

yn- nursing major

mother of 2 cats kiki and mocha, spends most of her income for her cats, loves to tease chenle with others but actually loves all of them very much, she met her bestie giselle in primary school when she was getting bullied and giselle stood up for her, she also works at a local cafe to earn some money

giselle- music major

baddie. has a soft spot for dogs, learned how to play the guitar but doesn’t know what to do with this skill, adopted ningning and julie in the friend group, social butterfly much

ningning- fashion major

sexy to describe her. loves dressing up her friends especially chenle although he says he hates it shes sure he secretly likes it, always up to party and have fun

julie- fashion major

always smiling unless you piss her off. transferred from the us to neo culture technology to advance her studies in fashion, closest to ningning as they are in the same major, super duper extrovert like giselle and was a ballerina

chenle- music major

not gay that’s clear. always getting teased by everyone but still loves them in a friendly way, sugar daddy of the group, he would always pay whether he wants to or not cause he’s rich RICH got dragged in the group by giselle and can’t leave, steppcurry biggest fan

xiaojun- film major

mood maker in the group. plays the guitar better then giselle but she does not believes it, chenle tricked him in the friend group by saying there’s free snacks if he joined and now he can’t leave because he gives the best advice in the groups and make everyone happy

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note:

this took longer than i expected oh my god i don’t think i can post that frequently tbh i’m just gonna post whenever i can igg

pervious | masterlist | jaemin’s friend group

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if you liked this blog, please like and reblog!! thanks you!

[blouisparadise]

Upon request, today we have a rec list of fics where Louis, Harry, or both of them have pets. This is a great group of fics, so please be sure to check them all out and show the authors some love! If you enjoy our rec lists, please also like and reblog this post to help spread the word. Happy reading!

1) Maple | Mature | 5,255 words

Prompt 30: Louis is crazy about animals, so Harry is determined to get him all the pets he wants even if they are unconventional, like a baby goat. Louis is over the moon when they get to adopt a goat family, but there’s one little problem, and that is the goat not liking Harry…or even letting him get close to Louis. At first it’s all endearing fun and games, but when it starts affecting their sex life and Harry’s dick feeling neglected, he’s determined to try win over the goat so he let him be with Louis. It’s easier said than done - who knew goats could screech that loudly? (Tip: google goat screaming to get an idea how loud.) ***Change to a cow, I hope that is okay.

2) At The End Of My Rope | Mature | 5,608 words

"Baby?" Harry mumbles, voice laced with sleep and a shiver goes through Louis at hearing the term. He hasn't called him that in so long, in that voice and, clearly, even Louis' body fucking misses it. "Did you cheat on me?" Louis finds himself asking. If he's being honest it's more so he can see Harry's reaction, than a genuine question, but what has he got to lose? Sure enough, Harry's face changes from sleepy to the most incredulous look Louis' ever seen on him. He actually looks terrified, all wide eyes, mouth gaping like he can't believe Louis would even assume that and Louis would laugh at it, but he's so done with the way Harry's been acting, he just wants to know what the hell's going on.

3) If This Room Was Burning | Explicit | 8,629 words

Where Louis' cat gets stuck on the roof and Harry is the firefighter who ends up saving her.

4) I Built This Bed For Two (I Built This Bed For Me and You) | Explicit | 8,942 words

Harry and Louis broke up after uni and haven't seen each other since—until they're roped into doing a Buzzfeed video together. Featuring awkward cuddling and a reunion that just needed a kick in the arse, gleefully provided by Niall.

5) Glistening Under The Sun (You’re My Honey Soaked Love) | Mature | 8,996 words | Sequel

“Oh Petal,” he picks her up nuzzling the top of her head with his cheek as she nibbles on the lavender, “How lucky are we? I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy, the only thing we have to be sad about is that soon I won’t be able to hold you like this,”

6) Candle Wax & Polaroids On The Hardwood Floor | Explicit | 13,082 words

Prompt 463: Clumsy modern witch Louis AU where he accidentally gives his roommate Harry a love potion and he has a crisis because he thinks he will get in trouble with the law for technically poisoning someone and Harry’s heart eyes aren’t helping.

7) A Vivid And Wistful Melody | Explicit | 13,137 words

"Slowly, he takes his violin out of its case, listens for a few more minutes to Louis’ flute, before joining him as best as he could. The flute stops for a few seconds, and Harry imagines Louis blinking cutely, taken aback, before huffing with a smile, and starting to play again, on a suddenly far happier tune. Harry closes his eyes as he twirls around the living room, violin in hand and music filling the air. He pictures Louis doing the same in his own flat while being careful as to not step on his cat. Somehow, even with heavy eyes and tired limbs, this is the happiest Harry has ever felt in years."

8) Absolutely Smitten | Mature | 20,120 words

Louis is walking his dog. Harry is walking his cat. Leashes get tangled, and feelings too.

9) I Didn't Fall For You (You Fucking Tripped Me) | Explicit | 20,681 words

These days Louis tends to steer clear of dating alphas. He’s dated too many knotheads in his time, and he’s ready to just focus on school and his friends and his pet monitor lizard, of course. Too bad the alpha next door won’t take a hint and stop using the worst pick up lines of all time on him. He’s really got to stop laughing with him--and talking to him and walking to class with him and letting him bring him coffee and tea and gifts for his lizard and watching Netflix together and...

10) Nocturnal Creatures Are Not So Prudent | Mature | 24,558 words

Louis is a white witch with a little black cat named Hemlock and a best human friend Liam (they're a lot like Samantha Stephens and Louise Tate). When he's dragged out to a new club Liam's heard about from a friend and classmate, Louis comes face to face with that which witches do not touch: a charming vampire by the name of Harry.

11) Weightless | Explicit | 25,332 words

Harry is the best dragon racer the world has ever seen and Louis is an almost-vet who feels like he is carrying the weight of the world.

12) A Common Place Affliction | Explicit | 36,508 words

“You should go home,” Louis muses, and Harry can feel the omega crouch down to become eye level with Harry, poking his cheek with a dainty finger. Harry lifts his arm, taking a peek at Louis’ face. Louis looks tired, he notes, but not exhausted, and there’s an eyelash stuck to his cheek. Harry doesn’t hesitate to lazily reach out and thumb over his cheek. “Can’t,” Harry croaks, blindly twisting his hand around to grab at Louis’ offending finger and just holding it. “C’mere. Take a nap with me,” he asks after a beat, opening an eye to look at Louis. Louis raises an eyebrow. “M’not going to nap with you in the middle of the ER, H.” Sighing, Harry squeezes the young nurse’s finger. “Nobody cares.” He knows they do; they’ll annoy nurses and probably worry patients when they catch sight of a nurse and surgeon sleeping on the job. Let alone in the middle of the emergency ward hallway. Harry can hear the complaints now: ‘these are the people we’re supposed to trust with our lives?��

13) You Wish I Was Yours And I Hope That You're Mine | Explicit | 36,992 words

The one where Harry's a bit strange and Louis doesn't give up easily. Of course, they fall in love.

14) Give Me Love | Explicit | 41,041 words

Louis doesn't feel like a good omega, Harry doesn't remember how to be an alpha, and they figure it out together.

15) This Glass House | Mature | 43,072 words

While deployed, Alpha Harry gets injured by an IED explosion, leaving him to deal with severe injuries in its devastating aftermath. During his road to acceptance and recovery he learns with the help of Louis and their children just how important family can be for the mind, body, and soul.

16) Breakable Heaven | Mature | 44,594 words

“What do you think?” Louis gets captured by Harry’s green eyes, unable to look away or even take a breath. “I think you’re the most magnificent creature I’ve ever met.” “You must not have met many creatures then.” Harry’s eyes glance downward to Louis’ lips and his tongue darts out to wet his own. “None like you.”

17) Yesterday Came Suddenly | Explicit | 48,504 words

They don’t talk about it. The way Harry deflects any and all questions about his past and Louis pretends he isn’t confused or hurt by it. The way Harry keeps a distance between them and Louis acts like he can’t see it creating a wall between them. The way Harry doesn’t always answer honestly and Louis goes along with it as if he can’t tell. They don’t talk about it. Harry knows Louis feels like he doesn’t know him well enough, and it pains him. It pains him every time Louis gets that look on his face that’s a mixture of disappointment, frustration, and confusion. And sometimes, self-blame. It pains him because Louis is wrong. Because even though there is a lot Louis doesn’t know about him, there is so much that he does. He knows what Harry is like at his most vulnerable: curled up on this bed with him in the dark where it’s safest. He knows Harry in a way no one else does.

18) So Much We Didn’t Say | Mature | 53,584 words

Harry’s near fatal accident exposed the cracks in his and Louis’ eleven year marriage. A serious error in judgement by Louis shattered it completely.

19) Secret's Safe With Me | Explicit | 59,208 words

When bad turbulence and three glasses of wine have Louis spilling all of his secrets to the man sitting next to him on the plane, it's embarrassing, sure, but it's also easy enough to shrug off and block out of his memory forever. Or at least, it was until Louis went into work on Monday morning and realized that the man from the plane is the new CEO of his company.

20) Tug-Of-War | Explicit | 63,000 words

Louis' husband dies suddenly and he is left with nothing. Well, not really nothing. He has Harry. And a St. Bernard puppy named Link, whom his late husband left behind for him. Louis takes care of Link and Harry takes care of Louis. Everything is okay until suddenly, it isn't.

21) Sweet Creature | Explicit | 78,282 words

Prompt: "You're having a nightmare and I feel bad because you're trembling and crying so I crawl into bed with you and hold you so you feel safe, but in the morning you wake up with my arms around you and you're really confused and embarrassed."

22) Elysian | Mature | 81,886 words

Harry is running out of time to fall in love, but with Louis, it seems as if there’s all the time in the world.

23) Beautiful War | Mature | 103,379 words

Five years ago, Louis was nearly the next victim in a string of murders plaguing Portland, Oregon. He managed to escape and the Angel Killer was apprehended and sent to prison. Now, Louis' a best-selling author that assists state police with minor cases. He still suffers from the events of the days he'd been held hostage, but he's found ways to cope. That is, until the killings start up again. A body was found in the woods. A body that bared the same signature the media had dubbed: The Angel of Death. Special Agent Harry Styles leads the case, and he doesn't buy into the clairvoyant bullshit that Louis spewed to save face five years ago. He's certain that Louis Tomlinson was involved. Until they meet, and they're both left questioning everything they'd thought to be true.

24) Only You Can Be My Alpha | Explicit | 212,387 words

In a world where one was either an Alpha or an Omega wolf, Louis found himself in a body that could be neither. Born an Omega without the expected characteristics of one, he felt broken, choosing to live as Alpha a lifestyle as he could. Harboring a serious lack of respect for Alphas and their authority complexes, Louis managed to get himself banished from his home, forced to wander the unforgiving woods for years, facing the elements and fighting enemy rogues each time they arose. Unbeknownst to Louis, in a tribe to the southwest of his home, there lived a dysfunctional Alpha, the orphaned pack leader Harry, who had never felt satisfied enough with anyone to settle down and continue his royal line. Living their lives apart thus far, the both of them assumed that they might be alone forever, making the best of things despite this even though it hurt. Chance, luck, or maybe fate brings Louis to this tribe when he’d least expected to receive kindness and shelter from a stranger, and when he arrives, something in his soul pulls him to Harry like a raging river current. The two don’t get off to a good start, but everyone around them can sense the chemistry—and in time they do too.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

[cheerforrevenge]

The reason why animal shelters are so careful about adopting out dogs is because [checks notes] they want animals to have adequate homes. They want to ensure the animals go to people who will care for them appropriately, that they will have less chance of ending up back in the shelter.

I volunteered at my local cat shelter for approximately a year. They were very diligent in getting references and checking and explaining how to introduce a new animal into your home especially when you have pets already.

We still had:

- people returning pets within a week because their pets didn't get along (they didn't do a slow introduction)

- a family adopted a cat and the day they brought the cat home, decided to go to (nearest big city which is over 2 hours away) and left their NEWLY ADOPTED CAT outside so that the cat could "play". They never found the cat again. No idea what happened but we live in a place with: many large predators, cars, etc.

- we had a cat who was returned repeatedly to the point where she's now 16 years old and looking for a place just to live out the rest of her life. She was there when I volunteered in 2018-2019

- we had people adopt the cat and return because they didn't like the personality of the cat in the end. Too clingy, too scared, hid, was always under foot. The medical need was too much to handle (despite being told previously). Nothing these cats did seemed just right.

Meanwhile, my town has: found kittens in a bag at the rec center (Alive and well), had cats come in extremely injured needing surgeries to remove eyes and limbs and ears. Found cats that were clearly tortured before their horrible deaths. And that's not even to talk about the dog shelter, which I can't speak to because I never worked there but I DO see the posts from them about similar issues.

When I adopted mine (Michael), I knew I needed to clean his ears regularly to avoid infection due to injuries he had sustained pre-shelter. I also knew he can't ingest fish because he is allergic (he gets bad tummy problems, which is what he was struggling with at the shelter, but it turns out he also has tummy problems when he's upset/stressed just like me lmao because it cleared up as soon as he came home with me).

I slowly introduced him to my dog and later my new kitten, and they all get along SO well. I took my time, followed directions, and now he's spent 6 of his 9 years in a loving home. No more worries for ending up in the shelter.

So excuse shelters for not falling over backward to hand out living creatures to just anybody who shows a vague interest. Pets are an investment. Time, money, love, and sacrifices you have to be willing to make consistently. Many people prove themselves to be unwilling to do so and shelters are at max capacity all over the place. If they didn't have to be so picky that'd be great but they do.

[rubypasha1]

Headcannons for the readers in my fics

Feel free if you have any questions related to them or anything else to do with my fics. Happy to answer!

Stolen Souls

Green thumb

Can cook like a chef it’s so good

Book worm

Socially anxious

Kids: loves em

Shows affection through gift giving and paying attention to small details

Ex-older sibling

Coping mechanism is work and hobbies

Green thumb!

Easily manipulated

Little shy

Puns!

Cat and dog person, more dog person

Can withdraw herself to try and protect her feelings

Has died before

Wife material

Girlfriend material

Liked watching her friend play video games

Not a party person

Magic!?

Absaloutely terrified but hopeful

A spider in a graveyard

Student of Spiderman, unofficially adopted by he and Deadpool.

The latter gifted her a knife

Can’t bake for shit but cooks okayish. Lasagna is amazing.

Traumatized by experience of being experiment on to aquire powers

Slightly Arachnophobia

Cheats at Uno, doesn’t care if she wins the only worse torture is scrabble

Loves carnival games

Puns are life

Has kissed her nemises

Willing guardian of three crazy super powered kids

Pretty serious but uses jokes as a distraction/to aggravate enemy

Sleeps in odd positions + glows

Kiss under her jaw by the neck and she melts

Odd relationship with symbiote

Can be bashful/shy when genuine and romantic shows of kindness are given.

Workaholic in rehabilitation

Tech savvy

In the very thin line between morally true and an overworked superhero

Has multiple eyes- not good with bright light

Will hang upside down and glow like a disco ball- with bribery

Self conscious and using her superhero identity - Starspider - as a coping mechanism

“Stop flirting with me!”

Rainbow lightning

Set the sails

Half blind and missing half a leg

Grew up in war

Has the skills and experience to be a doctor but doesn’t like to be called one due to respect and . . . stuff

Eats 1 or 2 meals a day

Green thumb- medicine and poison

Numerous war crimes

Body and face heavily scarred but not self conscious. She’s proud of her scars

Subconsciously hates clear skies

Has never killed anyone (they don’t deserve that mercy)

Good fighter, will dislocate your joints

Okay with tying patients down

Will hunt people down so they take their medicine

People on her island live and fear her

A certain marine tries to make her life horrible - regrets if later

Kids: Okay

Makes medicine, ointments, salves, creams.

Carving wood is side hobby

Do not touch her books

Okay cook

Loyal

Hates marines and the world government

Doesn’t smile, mainly looks neutral or angry

Slight aggressive but mainly when provoked

Deeply traumatized

A victim of war

Is an amazing gambler, it’s just luck she wins 90% of the time even when she doesn’t know how to play

Addicted to weed (but not in the way you think-)

Is kind in a “I will beat/restrain you so that you won’t die” kind of way

Made a deal with the devil and lost, now his brother calls her angel

Fought in a fighting ring

Loves pies

Has lost so many people she’s subconsciously afraid of making connections continuously trying to see new people she makes friendships with as only patients but inevitably fails and becomes so protective to others it’s seems as extremely aggressive but she has to because people DONT BLOODY LISTEN

Okay shooter, not that great but can somewhat hit a target sometimes

Highly respected on her island

“Thief”

[zeromorph]

okay I feel like my vet med posts are usually annoyed or stressed so here is an incomplete list of fond memories from work

the stray dog found across the street from my second internship, who came in trembling and shying away from anyone who looked at him, and became a different dog in the span of three hours--once we cooled him down, got a meal in him, and shaved out the most painful sections of matting, he was cuddling up to us. he got adopted by a friend of the person who found him and came back to us a few weeks later for vaccines with a proper haircut and wagging his tail on the way in.

the pit who took four people for an ear cleaning--one holding her hips, one holding her chest, one furiously rubbing her face to distract her, and one doing the actual ear cleaning--not because she was aggressive or hated having her ears touched but because she was so overwhelmingly excited to meet new people that she could not stop wiggling. like, whole-body, bang-her-hips-into-your-legs wiggling. while trying to lick our faces. she was a pain in the ass and I loved her so much.

the old lady parrot who stayed at my hospital for about two weeks and was very cranky but also loved being pet--she would make a big show of holding your finger in her beak before asking you to scratch her neck.

the baby deer at my first internship who was born healthy but too short to nurse and had to be bottle-fed. it was touch and go initially but once she started putting on weight I swear she got bigger and lankier by the day. my last day at that internship was the week they were preparing to reintroduce her to the herd--I wish I'd gotten to see that, but I'm told it went well <3

we stay close to our animals' heads when they're coming out of anesthesia so that we can extubate them immediately if they wake up dysphoric and try to thrash (which can damage their throat if the tube is still in). occasionally, the first set of things that particularly sweet dogs do when they wake up is open their eyes, see us standing right there, and start wagging their tail.

the silk-soft tripod cat whose meow could be heard across the clinic. not a scream or a yowl, her normal everyday meow. three of us heard her and immediately pulled out our phones for video.

resuscitating neonates after a c-section is about 2% getting their airways clear and 98% harassing them into actually breathing. it takes forever and you have to keep at it for a while even after they're moving, until you're sure they won't crash if you let up, and at least this early in my career, it's scarier than CPR in some ways. they're deathly still for far longer than it seems like they should be, and the first time I did it I was terrified that I was doing it wrong and the puppy would never wake up. but then she yelled up at me with this piping little voice and I could have cried out of relief-affection-delight. it was an honor and I love her and I hope she's having just the absolute best time being a puppy out there.

[crownsofesha]

15 questions for 15 mutuals

-

1. Are you named after anyone?

My first name my mother had picked out since before she met my father. It was the title or the book and main character. My middle name is for my great great grandmother. It is also a very common tradition in Judaism to name your child after a dead family member. All of my siblings middle names are also named after family members. My hebrew name is after my grandmothers hebrew name.

2. When was the last time you cried?

As of writing this, this morning when i was reading something heart wrenching.

3. Do you have kids?

Nope. Maybe one day.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Not really? Sometimes but the tone of my voice is not very clear so sometimes my friends take it wrong.

5. What sports do you play/have you played?

When I was very young my parents had me try out ballet, gymnastics, and soccer. I hates them all. When I got older I started Ice skating lessons but I cracked open my chin and had to get stitches after falling on the ice. Then I started Ice Hockey and i have stuck with that since. I still play it to this day.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about other people?

Their physical appearance.

7. Eye colour?

My eyes are hazel. Mostly brown and green.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

I’m not a big fan of horror movies and between these two options, happy endings.

9. Any special talents?

I know a lot of random facts.

10. Where were you born?

New York (I’m not giving any more information on that)

11. What are your hobbies?

Other than the sims, I hike, forage, practice herbalism, work on a fantasy novel that I hope to one day publish, and i also love cooking.

12. Do you have any pets?

I currently have two dogs. Nala and Kai. I hope to one day adopt a cat or two.

13. How tall are you?

I am 5'6” or 167 cm

14. Fave subject in school?

History and art classes. I took a ceramics class that i absolutely adored.

15. Dream job?

I have no idea. Maybe being my own boss and being able to sell the things I make.

-

@bunnipocalypse @henfordroyals @funkyllama @whitmoreroyals @stthomaspalace @covingtons @miyuzarry @bridgeportbritt @royalgreyfall @trhor @asimofmanyhats @theroyalhouseofwindenburg @simshousewindsor @simswhitehouse @calmtrait

[wolfhowlwitch]

Hello, I'm C. If your free readings are open, may i ask for one please? I'm a bit old and I've been single for over a decade or two due to circumstances. However I do want to have a forever partner and get married to him, and have a life together. I'm also child free i.e. never had any children by choice. And even though I was very broody for just a couple of years, I've recently come to the conclusion that I don't want any children and this decision has made me feel very liberated! And I'm glad that i didn't go through any kind of process in the previous years to get a child. I love babies, but that's quite literally the only stage that I love of having a kid, nothing beyond that, lol. So I wanted to know, whether in future will I have a husband for me and will he be happily child free and child less? I don't want to be a step-parent btw, whether of younger or older kids, nor do I want to adopt. I just want me and my husband and a dog or two, and our happy, cozy retired life (maybe babysitting our friends' kids once a while, lol). Thanks a lot for this opportunity!

hello there C! I will absolutely do your reading, but first I wanted to be very open and honest with you. your ask made me very emotional and I felt it important that before I let the cards speak, I speak from my heart.

you do not need tarot cards to tell you that you CAN find the love of a man who is just as happy childless as you are. I can tell you that myself. I struggled quite a bit through my adolescence/young adulthood with partners that very much expected me to “get over” my complete lack of interest in having children. many of them planned a future despite my disinterest, setting it in stone that I would grow out of this and someday I would need to satisfy some appetite for parenthood.

this day- as I knew it wouldn’t- never came. rather than outgrowing my intentions to be child-free, I outgrew the men who insisted they were just waiting on the day I came into some kind of parental instinct.

what DID come was my husband. someone who is as disinterested in having children of our own as I am. someone who respects my wishes and loves me FOR, not DESPITE, them. we live a quiet and happy life, with a silly little cat, free of the cost of child-rearing, able to sleep in on days off, simply sharing our love with each other and never being interrupted. it is truly beautiful. and we’re going to be really cool uncles to all our friends’ kids someday.

it IS possible and it CAN happen for you. I am truly firm in my belief of that, because I have first hand experience. I wish for you the same peaceful, childless, loving bliss that I have.

and that’s my bit of preaching- onto the cards now!

card 1- will you find a husband that has no previous children?

card 2- will you find a husband that wants to remain child free?

card 3- will you have to convince him to not have children?

card 4- what will your life together look like

card 5 (for fun)- how will he feel about dogs?

card 1- the Star

— the Star is a definite yes

card 2- 8 of Wands

— the 8 of Wands is a definite yes

card 3- 8 of Cups

— the 8 of Cups is a CLEAR no

card 4- Queen of Pentacles

— the Queen of Pentacles speaks to security, confidence in a relationship, financial independence. you and your husband will have worked hard to get to a place where you can enjoy the luxuries of life and the luxuries of each other.

card 5- the Ace of Cups

— the Ace of Cups is a positive, affirmative card- he will like dogs.

[ask-chef-teruteru]

Les go

Plushie part 2!!! Electric bugaloo!!!

(Side note sorry if this is too many plushies and too much plushie l o r e)((also also sorry if this is really long and annoying))

This is yunobo!

He used to be a dog toy but i deemed him too cute to be a dog toy so i stole him <3

He's also used to be boyfriends with this other plush but i felt bad for liking yunobo more then the other plush so i broke them up lol

He was named after my irl bird yunobo

This lil dude

Unfortunately he was REALLY skittish and i wasn't prepared to take care of him, i barely did any research and it didn't help that my mom was scaring him more by tyring to make him be around people

He just wasn't a people bird so i had to give him to a bird sanctuary, i hope hes happy there :>

This is coment (star) and coral (crab) i got them at edisto and i plan on taking them again when i go back this year (maybe, idk its not set in stone)

They're siblings but its more like coral adopted coment as her brother, also coment thinks he's from the stars but he's really just a star fish and coral doesn't have the heart to tell him otherwise

This is sticks (hedgehog) and twig (sloth) my gran gave me sticks from her trip and she gave twig to one of my little brothers but they're not very good at taking care of they're plushys... and we have dogs who like to chew up plushies.... and i found him on the floor... so he's mine now :)

Also they're boyfriend and partner (sticks goes by any pronouns but twig is a boy)

Also sticks like to find metel in the woods with coment so that they can make a space ship so that coment can "go back home"

This is tutu! I found this one dirty cat ballerina at the thrift store so i bought it, cleaned it, tore its face off and turn it into tutu!! Also he's not hostile :)

He's like kitty (that one backrooms guy) he just likes cute stuff, he means no harm <3

Also I'm suprised nothing has fallen off him? I'm not the best at sewing but i am still kinda proud of him

This is blondy! My mom made her for me when i was really little, she made everything from the pants to the shirt to well... the rest of her lol

My mom also made another doll that looked more like me and her name was dolly, unfortunately i don't know where dolly is but shes like blondy but with brown hair and green eyes

This is... i don't know yet i haven't thought of a name! I got this plushy today actually at the thrift store

I remember being a lil teensy bit jealous of my sister cause she had a star projector when i was little and now i can be like: who's the cool one NOW B]

And finally, heres amari

Shes not a plushy, but she is kinda dumb and lays around a lot so i guess shes plushy like

Shes got a nub tail, a mustache, thumbs and also looks like a football

Shes also a stinky little freak :]

Well thats... a good chunk of my plushies

I hope you liked them all :))))

“Aww, they’re all so cute! I think it’s real neat that they all got their own stories n’ lore! It’s clear that ya love n’ take good care o’ all your lil’ guys. I appreciate you sharin’ ‘em with me! It always warms my heart seein’ the things my lovely lovely patrons feel so strongly about!

They’re all precious! I think it’s sweet that Yunobo used to be a dog toy that wound up with a much more cherished existence. Givin’ Tutu a new face must’ve been no small undertakin’, and I think y’all did good! Your mama makin’ Dolly for y’all is real nice too— stuff that’s handmade with love like that is always so meanin’ful.

Amari might not be a plush, but she’s cute n’ I’m happy to have gotten to see her too!

It’s kind o’ y’all to share so much with me— I don’t think it’s annoyin’ in the slightest, so don’t worry your pretty lil’ head about that none, okay? I appreciate you n’ I hope y’all have a wonderful day— and I hope all your lil’ friends do too!”

[wingsy-keeper-of-songs]

15 Questions for 15 Mutuals

Tagged by: @alphedhel

If you're not comfortable with answering, just say "I plead the 5th." I find it hilarious

1. Are you named after anyone?

I was going to be named after my uncle if I was a boy, but that didn't work out. She didn't like the female version, so she went with something Christmas-y since I was born so close to Christmas.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Today, as a matter of fact. In a fit of rage while trying to dispose of a very stubborn and very rude cottonwood sapling.

3. Do you have kids?

No, but if I were in the right headspace and had a partner who wanted them and we were financially secure, I wouldn't mind adopting or fostering a couple.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

It's one of my love languages. But I will admit to needing to lay off the snark once in a while.

5. What sports do you play/have you played?

I was a hockey player as a kid and I played soccer (football for you Europeans). Now, I take long walks with two obnoxious dogs and my parents. I'm not very sports oriented anymore due to a back injury.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about other people?

If they have a dog or not. I'm an anxious person and I don't like looking at people out of habit, but if there's a dog, I'm asking to pet it.

7. Eye Color?

Green. The only 1% I'm part of is the percentage of the population with natural red hair and green eyes

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

(Spanish girl "why not both?" meme)

I love happy endings and horror movies. And when a horror film has a happy ending? Even better.

9. Any Special talents?

I can unnerve a voice teacher with an unusual vocal range, maybe? My usual speaking voice is considered really low and normally shouldn't be able to clear three octaves. But my singing range is about four and a half octaves to five.

10. Where were you born?

Alaska and I have been stuck here for nearly thirty years. It's a beautiful state, don't get me wrong, but egads I want to leave. And no, we cannot see Russia from our house. That's in Wasilla and that's because of all the crystal meth they cook.

11. Free space (there was no 11 on the prompt I received)

My favorite movie of all time is the Princess Bride. I watched it so much as a kid that I wore out the old VHS tape. My mom got a copy of the DVD and we quote it at the screen when we watch it sometimes to annoy my dad. (he loves it)

12. Do you have any pets?

Two dogs named Luka and Rosie and two cats named Selina and Brucie.

13. How tall are you?

About 5'7 or 5'8, depends on the doctor

14. Favorite subject in school?

English and Social Studies. I was one of those kids who loved every book we read in class and would read ahead because I wanted to know what happened next. I read during class and got in trouble when I supposed to be doing work. And I'd read ahead in my history book to find out cool shit and then look that up in the library. The other kids thought I was weird as fuck. Wouldn't find out until I was 13 that I had The Autism™

15. Dream Job?

Used to be Disney World, but the Mouse destroyed my dreams and crushed my soul like a grape. Now it's something involving wild animal rehabilitation or something like that. I like critters and I want to help restore habitats and endangered species and things like that.

[imafrickinglion]

idk this post is a rats nest

We close on my old house tomorrow. The one mom bought on husband 2, not even husband 3 (and current real legit father, thanks for adopting me bucko).

I wasn't so young that I've forgotten everywhere we lived before then. I can clearly remember the home on mechanic street where we lost husband 1. He stole our cat and our money jar, our fish tank, and oddly the door frame that we measured me against and penciled in the ages. I don't remember that dad a lot. He forced mom for visitation and he took me to this other house a couple of times that I have flashbacks about because good things didn't happen there. Eventually she sued him and I never had to go there again.

But there are good times in that old place. Painting my bedroom pink, various renters we had in the 3rd bedroom, parties, our first Atari, our first Hurricane. Pumpkin carving one year. The old washing machine with the squeezey thingie and washboard we used for a while.

After that we moved into a duplex in another city for a while. I have clear memories of good times there, too. We still helped people out in our church community by letting them live in our basement sometimes. I had a huge fish tank in my bedroom window and we had to use pastry rollers to get it into the bathroom to wash it. We had parties there, a tree house. One year a couple of kids sold us some of our favorite handmade Christmas ornaments on our back porch.

So it's not like this third house is the only family house we ever lived in. But it's the first house I lived in with my sisters. It's the house they mostly grew up in. It's the house we *all* grew into adulthood in. And it's a house that all three of us have moved back into here and there to take refuge from bad situations.

Seeing it so empty was difficult. But I could not take care of it. It was a broken down husk of a house by the time I got to it. A contracting situation never resolved. I spent from 2017 to 2023 freezing to death in my own kitchen and living room. We had no idea how *awful* the air was until we left it (lots of open walls, open ceilings, old house dust, construction dust, dirt that just magically came from nowhere and never cleaned).

I never could take care of the overgrown gardens, or trim the lilac bush my mother picked out and had specially planted, or take care of the red Japanese Maple she did the same with.

I'm sad, and I feel like I'm hitting the end of things I can focus on to distract myself from finally facing the truth of all this. It feels like standing on the edge of a cliff, with less and less things to stop you from falling.

But also I hope the investors make it beautiful again. I hope they clean it up and put new floors and open up the living space and make the bathroom shine again. I hope they put that gorgeous farm style kitchen in that'd make that small kitchen shine and that some small family or couple just starting out cook together in it and create great memories, like we did, baking pies and cooking for thanksgiving and new year's parties. I hope someone makes the gardens pretty again.

I hope whoever buys it takes such, such good care of it.

And that's kind of the best thing I can hope for. It makes it bittersweet. I couldn't take care of this family home but another small family might. I hope they do. I hope they fill that house with joy instead of misery and shame. I hope they build fires in the fireplace and snuggle up cozy in the winter. I hope they get a couple of pets, too. Maybe put in a new fence and get some dogs. We used to have this huge gorgeous black lab named Beauty, and when she had puppies, we also kept one named Ralph. We've had mice in that house, hamsters that escaped and got lost (but always found again). More than one or even three black cats.

I just... I hope the house gets loved again. I hope it gets used again. And that the next people can keep up with it and it never feels neglected again. Through mostly no fault of my mother or my own, it got neglected so much. You could feel it giving up, just like I did. I want the spirit of the house to be proud again.

So yeah, just... thoughts.

[insipid-drivel]

Other tricks I used to battle my nyctophobia:

-Started a bird seed garden outside my window that has also become attractive to a small family of raccoons and a couple of deer (I'll just scatter seed on the ground in some spots for birds that strictly eat on the ground, like quails, and deer and raccoons just happened to enjoy snacking on the same stuff). Now, I'm more a participant in the outside world, and nocturnal visitors from deer and other animals are familiar and something I can get excited to see.

-Got an off-brand Happy Light, or Vitamin D Light. I live in a latitude where the sun actually can't produce adequate vitamin D generation in people, so mental health issues are very common. Between a vitamin D supplement and my Happy Light (a light designed to simulate vitamin D production you'd ordinarily get from the sun). Whenever I'd get anxious at night, I'd turn it on and close my eyes and visualize daylight. It's okay to need to sleep with a light on at night if that's what makes you feel secure enough to rest, especially if you're still in the process of addressing the problem.

-ASMR videos of familiar daytime-sounds like birdsong, cars passing by, etc. I also find that, if I leave on a familiar television show or something in the background all night at a low volume, I'll sleep better and longer than if it were silent or I were using something like an ambience generator that becomes too repetitive.

-Started gardening in my house. Grow-lights with built-in timers are pretty inexpensive, and so I can set my plants to "wake up" around the same time I usually did with my anxiety at night, and there are a lot of very bulletproof plants that you can grow at home with minimal upkeep (I started with apple seeds I harvested from apples I'd gotten as snacks from the store). If I was fidgety, I could fuss over them and feel like I was doing a good thing with my anxious energy rather than sitting there and letting it nail me. (Also, studies have shown that the smells of potting soil, dirt, and plant life is calming to humans, and is one of the reasons they garden on board the ISS in space; it literally keeps astronauts sane)

-Adopted my cat, Nimue, and dog, Tama. Nimue's usually awake when I am, and so I can focus on her if I want to and she'll enjoy my company. Tama's just turning 5 months old and starting to sleep through the night, so I can snuggle her and focus on her breathing and snuffling in her sleep to further prove to my limbic system that everything's alright. Nimue's a 2-year-old Maine Coon calico mix that I rescued from out-of-state, while Tama is a 5-month-old Pomsky my mom surprised me with from a reputable health-and-behavior-focused breeder and obedience trainer.

-Found video games I enjoy that I'll reserve for when I'm Awake At Night And Nervous. I won't play them during the day, so when I have that panicky, anxious energy at night, I can get a hard hit of dopamine late at night rather than a hit of adrenaline.

-Talked to someone. I live with my family in a house with some property, because we care for each other and because it just makes the most financial sense and provides the best living experience for us. I started opening up to my mom and brother about being panicked at night and usually waking up freaked out. My mom spent an entire month sleeping in the same bed with me to help crush the cycle of panics down to just some insomnia (I also deal with chronic pain). My brother hugged me and told me I could knock on his door anytime, even though he sleeps like a drunken carcass, but the sentiment was heartfelt and really made me feel more accepted and that I was seen.

-Tried Metta Meditation, or Loving Kindness Meditation. It's different from the conventional "clear your mind and breathe" kind of meditation, which I can't do because of a rare mental condition called DDNOS-1B (my brain is Loud). There are lots of guided Loving Kindness meditation videos free on youtube, and the process focuses on self-acceptance, focusing feelings of love, healing, and peace toward yourself, and then outward to help replace adrenaline with endorphins, and can help get you to sleep or at least calm down a little. My favorite video even instructs, "Allow yourself to accept yourself as perfect as you are," and tickles my System in a way that gets them snuggly and helping me with pleasant thoughts and feelings of self-love and acceptance.

-Talk to a professional. It may be that a low-dose medication will help with addressing panic and sleep disorders, but it can take time and trial and error to find out what works best for you. Some nighttime anxiety and panic issues can go into remission with a course of medication to break the cycle of stressors and triggers and help you un-learn some panic-minded spiral patterns. Sometimes, a sleep or anxiety disorder can secretly be a mild pain disorder you usually just ignore that just requires a nighttime dose of tylenol. Not all sleep medications are psych meds, and a good provider will give you a wide array of options to choose from after they've listened to your unique symptoms and needs.

[safereturndoubtful]

A Journey to a Sacred Grove

Thursday 2nd November 2023

One of the restaurants in the village was open last night. I arrived and ordered a beer. They were quite happy for Roja to go inside, preferable to the tables outside, which were a bit cold at 10C. I was invited to join a group of three at the neighbouring table. It was an Irish couple of teachers from Donegal, not long from retirement, a self-build campervan at home, but here on a week’s midterm break. And a younger guy with a Dutch mother and Chilean father, here for a couple of weeks. We had hiking and love of mountains in common, and that was enough for a very enjoyable 3 hours conversation with some decent food as well.

As last night, there were thunderstorms most of the night, though they began in the early hours this time. But by first light they were gone, leaving most and cloud behind, which at this time of year, takes its time to ascend and disperse. So Roja and I took our time also. I read an obscure Simenon and Roja watched the cats from his bed. It hasn’t taken him long, but he’s used to them now, and it’s important he is. Here in Greece cats are thought of highly, fed and looked after by many. His first thought, naturally, is to chase. But it helps that most of these don’t want to run. I told him a couple of times to let them be, and now, I think, I hope, he is..

Just after 11 I decided it had cleared enough for a wander up the hillside, though to make sure, I stopped for coffee in the village; a good coffee, but an expensive one, as I could have guessed. Generally coffee has been about 2 euros, but this was double that, with an added tip, making it 5 euros. I suppose these places must keep going in the off-season, but it is the sort of village, with such vistas from the terrace, where prices will be heft up.

I worked out that a nook between hills, at 1350 metres, with the name Agia Kiriaki, was my destination. The path climbed very steeply out of the village, but on loose rock which is really difficult for me, so slow going. Once above 1200 metres, everything, the abrupt beginning, the curses of wobbly stones, the mysterious terminus, was justified. The views opened up above the canopy of the forest, and most of the cloud had cleared.

Agia Kiriaki is a Sacred Grove, a knot of juniper and pine trees on a rocky promontory wedged up under the flanks of Lapatos hill, with breath-taking views over to Astraka, the Papingo Towers and the Vikos Gorge. There is the ruin of a chapel there also. Though not religious, I can quite see the spiritual nature of a place like this. In the Lake District I hold onto a couple of places as being very special, one in particular where I have put a small plaque on the rock to commemorate my brother, Nigel. It’s easy to see why this place was, and is, special to local people.

Back at the van, to my surprise, I was surrounded by three other German self-build vans. Soon, we were chatting and showing off our quarters. A solo lady, though with a German van, was from Namibia, and probably about my age. She was on the road indefinitely, heading north, pretty much the way I had just come from. Another van, beautifully decorated, was a German couple, I guess mid-thirties, on a two year Gap from work, heading to Turkey. They had recently adopted a Croatian dog, half Lab, half Pekingese.. They asked where I had been hiking, noting that there was a sign in the village about sightings of brown bears in the last few days. There are apparently far more than usual, around 40, in the few kilometres around the village. Just before the Grove, I had seen some scat, certainly from bears, (it’s a specialist subject of mine since those times in Colorado) but it looked more than a few days old. The Irish woman I dined with last night said she wouldn’t hike alone, but it didn’t cross my mind; with grizzlies most definitely, but I don’t think these brown bears are aggressive. Roja always leads the way looking out for problems just like this..

They were both heading down the zig-zags to stopover at the river below, where I am headed tomorrow, so I may see them again.

Though it’s not very humid at all, an ideal temperature for me at least, more storms are forecast tonight, and then a serious warning for thunderstorms, my weather apps agree on, for Friday night and Saturday.

[thinkoutsidethefox]

In the end of 2021, we lost one of our old man kitty-- YinYang. He had been with me for almost 13 years and he was my everything. I was broken when he died. After 2 months of mourning, it was clear to see I wasn't the only one mourning YinYang's death. But his brother Mozart was also missing him greatly. He would wander around and cry for him and he would mope around the house. So I made a very hard and self-less decision: I had to get Mozart a buddy. As sad as I was, I was nowhere near ready for another cat, but seeing Mo as broken as me and knowing I could maybe make things better for him... I had to get another cat. So I started my search for a kitty friend for Mo. It was very difficult. And let me just add: As someone who worked in animal shelters before, I've never seen any shelter as empty as the ones I walked into during this search. We went to about 4 shelters and no cats or dogs. It was rather odd for me. So we found the one. A fluffy little orange boy that looked like a spitting image of Mozart just a lot smaller because of his age. We loved him. He was so sweet when we visited with him. Put in an application and got a call back almost immediately that evening. I was away at a party for a friend leaving and I didn't hear my phone. About an hour later I noticed I had a missed call. I stepped out and returned their call only to realize they had called to tell me if I wasn't available to pick him up "within 2 hours", the kitty was going to the next family. (This shelter knew I drove over an hour to their location. So there was no way we would have gotten there in time.) I told them to let him go to the next family. It was the right thing to do. A little while later I saw Lincoln on one of the shelter sites. And I was IMMEDIATELY drawn to the cute little scar she has on her lip. I called about setting up and appointment. We met her, super sweet. They told me there was a long list to adopt her and that our application would be the 7th in line. Our hopes were low on this one but instead I decided to put the application in anyways. It scared me how much I had already fallen in love with her and knowing it was a small chance I would get her-- I cried the whole drive home. The following day the shelter called me. I missed the call because I was busy at the time. I started to have deja vu! They were calling me to tell me that she was no longer available. I knew it. My anxiety was through the roof, I was already crying because I knew that it was a long shot. Expecting to hear this woman tell me I wasn't able to adopt Lincoln, I took a deep breath and called them back about an hour later when I had time to settle down. "You can come to pick her up tomorrow." I honestly didn't hear anything else after that. I was crying in disbelief. I was so sure we wouldn't get her. I cried so hard and for so long. When we went in the following morning the lady explained to us that our application was the newest one and she saw how much we liked her. So she followed up on the other applicants and most of them were either no longer interested or had found another cat. We took her home right after her surgery. And she honestly fit in almost perfectly, once Mozart stopped hissing at her EVERY TIME SHE MOVED! There were no fights or anything. They got on together after maybe a month of him sizing her up. She came into our home and started doing things our YinYang had done before her. Link followed me everywhere I went, she would try and cheer me up when I was sad-- brought me any toy she could carry. It was heartbreaking to think that we had not only found such a sweet little girl but that it was like YinYang had guided her to us himself. Taught her everything she needs to know about me so she could look after me now. Everything happens for a reason. We went through that process for a reason. And I think the reason was so we could have the perfect cat to heal this family.