Stray Thoughts 2016 Volume 2 | Page 2

Stray Thoughts Spring 2016 The Eyes of a Miracle cont. Then just as abruptly you are plucked out of the vehicle and placed in a new space with even more foreign sounds and smells. You have no idea what happened or what will happen and you are helpless. Your only comfort is that you have your brother with you; you are not alone. He will make sure you are safe, so you relax and trust. The sending shelter said they could be separated, but we wouldn’t dream of it. Until that day, we will work with Wonder, helping her learn to navigate new environments and keeping her safe from harm. We will learn when to intervene and when to let her use her own survival instincts while exploring her living space. Certainly, we have as much to learn about trust, resilience, fidelity and bravery from Stevie and Wonder as they do about family life from us. Whoever adopts these beautiful souls will truly be blessed, for they are exceptional beings. WSHS takes in hundreds of cats every year. Most of them take a day or two to settle in at the very least. For some, trusting humans is uncomfortable due to their pasts. Many feel insecure about being held and worry about falling. It is rare that a new shelter cat is loving and trusting upon arrival, which is part of what makes these two siblings, Stevie and Wonder, so unique. We are delighted when any cat arrives well-adjusted, but a kitty with no eyes who clearly has reason to be fearful and mistrustful, who purrs as soon as she is touched and can be carried around like a baby all while her senses are being assaulted by so many unknowns is nothing short of incredible. Stevie is a fantastic cat in his own right, but there is something miraculous about Wonder’s disposition. We can’t wait to see how this brother and sister enrich the life of their adopter. We took a leap of faith that night when the text message came. We worried how these cats would cope with change but knew they had no future if we didn’t act. We said yes and in fulfilling our mission of helping the helpless, we found ourselves the fortunate ones for being allowed to be a part of these amazing cats’ journey. Join us on the path. Every pet adopted, every dollar donated and every hour volunteered impacts the lives of all WSHS cats & dogs. You will never regret the decision to participate in saving lives. WSHS Wish List West Suburban Human Society Board Members: • Paper towels • Laundry detergent • Bleach • Anti-bacterial hand soap • Dish washing liquid • Food (our animals are on a specific diet: so that we don’t upset their digestive system, we must be specific) Purina One SmartBlend (Dry) cat and dog, kitten and puppy formulas. Any canned cat, dog, kitten and puppy food is fine. • KMR (kitten milk replacement), small baby bottles and nipples • Dog and cat toys (washable and indestructible!) +