Butterbean, who’s only nine months old, is way too thin. She’s also way too exhausted for a kitten who should still be playing, enjoying her kittenhood. Instead, Butterbean is recovering from a trauma caused by lack of caring on her owners’ part. While she was half-grown, because she wasn’t spayed, little Butterbean had kittens.

She was lucky. Butterbean survived. Some too-tiny mamas don’t. Butterbean is lucky, too, because she’s now safely resting in the shelter, after being a wonderful mother, despite her age.

Most of all, Butterbean is lucky because she’s spayed, vaccinated and has a chance to find a home. Maybe Butterbean will even be lucky enough to go somewhere where people will let her play, like she should have gotten to do before.

Sometimes people believe that they’re being kind, but the kindness they offer falls short. Eventually, the ones given the kindness, in this case a kitten named Chessie, suffer to death. Or, in 12-week-old Chessie’s case, almost to death. Chessie, her family and many other cats lived with an older gentleman, who fed them and let them live on his property.

But the man didn’t spay or neuter. And the man forgot that he was aging. The inevitable happened. There were too many cats to live well, and the well-meaning man became too frail to help them.

Sweet Chessie was one of the lucky ones. She moved into a foster home, then the shelter. Now Chessie is healthy, loving, spayed and ready for her proper home.

Arnold, a neutered, strawberry-blonde boy, with an expressive face and a heart-on-his-sleeve attitude, needs people to understand something. His life depends on it. The Grant County Animal Shelter is a “No-Kill” shelter. Yet, Arnold senses, seeing real tears on staff members’ faces, that doesn’t mean every animal’s guaranteed his happily-ever-after.

Being no-kill means that at least 90% of pets leave the shelter alive. Arnold is in danger of being one who doesn’t. Yet, Arnold has already left the shelter three times. And he’s been returned three times. Twice because the one-year-old, 50-pound fellow’s energy overwhelmed his new friends. The third time, Arnold and another pup battled.

Arnold is a good boy who went to the wrong situations. The staff wouldn’t cry if that weren’t so.

When a 12-week-old kitten lives in a cat colony grown out of control, it’s hard to feel special. But statistically, golden-girl Citrus is very special. Only 25% of golden cats are female. And, historically, golden cats, also called sunshine cats, are recognized as special. In ancient Egypt, they were good luck. In Asia, they meant wealth and prosperity. In homes worldwide, they’re known for their sweetness.

Citrus, who’s spayed and vaccinated, still hopes to be special to someone. The kind gentleman, who loved her family, made earlier generations feel loved. But he has health problems. He couldn’t help Citrus feel good about herself.

But, in the Shelter, Citrus is learning about love. She’s realizing she wants more of it and more humans in her life

Currently, three-month-old, neutered Midnight is deciding which world he’ll join, what sort of life he’ll live. He was born near people, but no one taught him to trust humans. So, Midnight is a kitten labeled “spicy”. He knows that he needs people, but Midnight hasn’t decided if he likes them.

His decision over the next weeks will determine whether he’ll live a long, comfortable life, as a house pet, or become a barn cat. A barn cat’s life can be meaningful, but it often isn’t as long or comfortable. It can also be lonely, depending on the barn.

Visitors to the Shelter’s cat-café-like cat/kitten room could determine Midnight’s choice. If he has company and human playmates, Midnight is more likely to become a lap cat.