Michele Dunagan Brinegar : “ I was at Petsmart looking for a cat . As I was walking past , I felt a tug on my coat . I looked down and this cute little black and white kitten had put his paw out to get my attention . They took him out of the crate and put him on my shoulder ! He dug his claws in and started purring ! I told my husband ‘ I think I have to take him home !’ We did ! We named him Irish and hid 11 years old now !”
Laura Brennan : “ We had to put down our almost 17 year old dog , Panda a week or two before meeting Leia . My daughter worked with a family that was fostering Leia , and knew I needed another walking Buddy . Leia came for a visit to see how she would interact with our cats , and it was love at first sight . She came back a few days later for an overnight visit , and we have had her since then . That was 6 years ago this past January . One of our cats likes to play with her and the other has stayed away as much as possible until recently .”
Cheryl Trimble : “ My Cat Opie was a stray that showed up at my daughter ’ s house . My other Cat Tigger was a stray at the Dollar Store and I took him home .”
Geraldine Tarter : “ My Tripp on mother ’ s day after losing my Torro . Love my yorkies .”
Marsha Sofianopoulos : “ My beloved cat was a dumpster kitty . We had just returned home from vacation to be informed that a member of our household that was unable to go on vacation with us had Covid . We rented a hotel for a week in Somerset . I had gone out to my car for a few items and was greeted by a barking dog on the loose . A little frightened , I jumped back into my car . Then I noticed the dog dart toward the dumpster , he had spotted a beautiful orange kitten that couldn ’ t have been but 4-5 weeks old . The poor baby was scared to death . I put on my warrior momma face and shoo ’ ed the dog away to rescue that kitten . I took her inside the hotel and she stayed with me all curled up by my side . That was the beginning of her life with me . She will be 3 this year .”
Josh Ford : “ We saw a litter of kittens hiding near our garbage bins at the New Vista kitchen . Through some leftover bits from our meals we spent hours catching them in a raccoon trap , each getting a home among the staff . 2 years later have a spoiled little boy named Salem who loves scritches and treats .”
Tasha Hall : “ One day I was in my kitchen cooking and kept hearing a small ‘ Meep ’ far off in the distance . It continued , and finally I went out in my back yard to investigate . We had a deep hole beside our house from some work being done and down at the bottom of that hole I found a tiny little 4-week-old kitten all by herself . She had mud all caked in her fur and eyes . We washed her up best we could and took her to the vet . They gave us medicine for her eyes because they were both infected . Sadly one eye was permanently damaged and is now just black so she can only see out of one eye . But she is about to turn 6 and is a happy fat kitty cat named Leela .”
Becky S Moore : “ I found my little dog on the side of the road on Hwy . 27 in front of old Burtman Feed Meal . He is a chihuahua . Someone had burn him with cigarettes all over his body . He was so scared to come to me he got under my car wouldn ’ t come out , so I started my car up and he came out and he jumped right in . I called the vet , and now he is so protective over me . People say because I saved him he is protective me . He is my TINY BUG now , that is his name . He is so rotten . I love him so much . I have had him about 7 years now .”
Carol Spaw : “ My momma cat had babies and she wouldn ’ t take care of any except baby . Baby had worms , lice , ear mites , fleas and was very sick . I brought him in and took him to the vet , and now he a beautiful red bobtail . He is 9 months old and mean as a snake . But we love him . He is a lot of company for me since my husband passed away in July .”
Donna Martin : “ Rufus the cat showed up right after Thanksgiving ... got mad cause I was not getting him moved inside quick enough ... slammed against the door and gave me a good talking too and left the neighborhood . Fast forward , he was spotted back in the neighborhood about a month and half ago , and it took me three weeks maybe more to catch him and bring him inside . He seems happy to be back and inside , however he has been sick , probably from roaming and eating and drinking whatever and wherever he could . So after two shots [ and ] twelve rounds of antibiotics , we are still struggling with finding what the problem might be , BUT he is our Rufus and with us he will remain as he is NOT allowed out any more !!!”
Rebecca Estes : “ 9 years ago my daughter wanted to use her 10 dollars she got from the Easter bunny and adopt a cat at the animal shelter . It just so happened they were doing the $ 10.00 adoption that week , so she picked her kitty and named him Captain , and he ’ s been the best $ 10.00 kitty ever . He ’ s 9 years old now , he goes by fat cat , lover kitty and Captain .”
Brandon Douglas : “ Well I am a EMT for Somerset-Pulaski Co . EMS , and went out for a call one day . We arrived on scene to find that our patient had not been seen for days . Long story short the patient had unfortunately passed away . Family on scene was naturally upset but one thing I keep hearing them say , ‘ I don ’ t know what to do with Bud .’ I asked if Bud was their deceased family ’ s nickname in which they replied , ‘ No ,
44 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky april 2023