More and more, Beatrix pokes her head out of her cat tree’s hidey hole. The four-year-old, spayed, always vaccinated, house cat has been hiding ever since her people brought her and her brother back to the shelter. The shelter staff doesn’t mind welcoming back former residents. Still, when the cats left as kittens, it’s painful.

 Of course, it’s more painful for the pets. Beatrix understood her world, its rules, its safe spots, its sources of love. Now she’s been dumped into an unknown, surreal universe. So, Beatrix has been hiding, waiting to awaken from what feels like a nightmare.

 However, Beatrix knows how to love people. In fact, that was her purpose, her joy. So, finally, Beatrix is peaking out, looking for someone to love.

 

Until the time they were through with him, Radar’s people must have been kind. Or, at least, one of them was because the five-month-old puppy is sweet and socially skilled. Radar knows how to coax someone to play. He knows how to sit politely indoors. Radar is a good pup, ready to be guided into being a great dog.

Yet, his photo shows Radar has more sadness than a puppy should. His eyes are apologetic. He droops a bit. Maybe there was one person in his life who Radar couldn’t please, no matter how he tried. Maybe Radar believes he’s a failure and that’s why he was discarded.

But Radar is young. He’ll forget whoever didn’t want him, if someone kinder takes him home forever.

Maple, a cat the color of maple syrup, and just as sweet, was carried into the shelter and described as a stray. Yet, the word “stray” doesn’t seem to apply to Maple. The three-year-old, neutered, gentle fellow must be encouraged to stray from the bed he’s claimed in the shelter’s cat room. Maple wouldn’t willingly wander from beloved people.

In fact, the main motivation for Maple to leave his bed is to get close to a person. The affectionate boy politely saunters toward guests. Then, like a perfect gentleman, Maple sits down next to his potential friend and waits to be noticed and, he prays, petted.

Maple, who’s a big, handsome boy, is begging for the role of lap warmer extraordinaire for one special person.

Five-month-old, golden boy, Bjorn, thought that maybe, if he demonstrated how great he looks dozing on a sofa, someone would get the right idea.  This handsome young gentleman understands how to be a house cat.  Of course, there’s one problem with Bjorn’s image.  He’s alone, instead of cuddling with a human friend.

It’s a myth, Bjorn would assert, that cats want to be alone.  Recent studies show that, unquestionably, cats care about people.  They grieve horribly when they lose their person.  Bjorn, even though he’s just a kitten, has already lost everyone he loved and trusted.

But Bjorn is a very sociable, charming, loving fellow.  When he was very young, when it mattered most, Bjorn learned to love people.  He longs to use that skill.

Lil Amigo, being a Chihuahua who’s no longer a pup, stays out of the way of moving feet.  He probably did that when his people were moving furniture, like the sofa Lil Amigo always enjoyed.  Lil Amigo, with his forever-loyal doggy faith, believes that’s why his people forgot him. They didn’t see him sitting, watching, waiting.

Of course, Lil Amigo’s people also left four other dogs.  All the dogs are at the shelter, demonstrating how trusting and adaptable they are.  It’s never occurred to them to have bad feelings about the people who abandoned them.

Maybe someone kinder, better, wiser will make up for those dastardly owners.  Lil Amigo would reward that person.  He takes up little space.  Yet he fills a home with love.