Happy Gotcha Day, Carmine!

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

Mes knows it has been forever since the Mom has helped us post, but today is a special day for mes, so hers put hers own writing aside to help mes post today!

TODAY IS MY GOTCHA DAY!!!

Mes and the Mom thought it would be fun to share the story of how mes got gotted!  This story is from the Mom's perspective - hers wrote about how mes got gotted for another publication once.

Here is what hers wrote:

"As I sit at my computer, my kitty, Carmine, sits a few feet away, watching me type.  He is my constant companion and best friend.  I adopted my cat through Every Creature Counts from the PetSmart Adoption Center.

In June 2005, I moved to a new apartment and I decided my kitty, Milita, needed a playmate and companion to keep her company, as I spent a lot of time in classes and at my internship (I was getting my Master's in Social Work at the time).  

A friend and I decided to check out the kitties in the adoption center at the PetSmart located near me.  I wanted a cat who was within a year or two of Milita’s age (approximately 2 years old at the time).  I have a vision problem, so immediately my friend pointed out this little orange kitten in the bottom row of cages she thought was cute.  I squatted down to look at him, and, sure enough, he was quite adorable!

Carmine: Even though mes is 12 years old nows, mes still acts like a kitten sometimes!

A PetSmart worker came into the room and asked if we needed any help.  We told her that we’d like to see the orange kitten, so she got him out for us.  The orange kitten’s name was Carmine.  I took Carmine over to a chair in the room and sat down to pet him.  I put him on my lap where he laid down and began to purr.  I fell in love with the little orange kitten right away!

Carmine had made it clear that he wanted to go home with me, so I asked my friend to help me fill out an application at the front of the store.  We gave the application to the PetSmart worker who looked it over and let us know that I would have an answer within 24 hours.  Every Creature Counts takes the time to look over every application for adoption.

The next day, I received a call that I was approved to adopt the kitten.  My friend drove me back to the PetSmart where I was able to pick Carmine up and take him home.  Before I could take him home, however, Every Creature Counts required me to sign a contract.  The contract stated that I agreed not to declaw Carmine and that if he did not work out in my home, I would bring him back to the adoption center.  The contract also stated that I could take Carmine back to Every Creature Counts if his scratching ever became an issue, as they are against declawing cats.  These terms were fine with me, as I had not planned on getting my kitten declawed anyway, as I do not agree with this practice.

In addition, the contract stated that I agree to provide all medical care, proper food, shelter, and water, to treat my kitty with kindness at all times, that I will not abandon or sell my cat, that if the kitty becomes lost, I will make every reasonable effort to find him, and if he is found by a shelter that I will retrieve him. 

Over five years ago, I decided to give a kitten a good, loving forever home.  I’ve enjoyed my companion and best friend Carmine since June 2005, and he’s enjoyed a good, loving home where he will be pampered for the rest of his life.  I am truly happy that I have had the privilege of giving such a loving, wonderful cat a great life."

This was written when Carmine was only 5 years old.  Carmine has now owned me for 12 years.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

Carmine: The Mom can't imagine how or why mes ended up at Every Creature Counts, but hers sure is glad that hers met mes that day.  Mes ams glad that hers decided to listen to mes when mes told hers to take mes home with hers!  

As many of yous might know, mes isn't a big lap cat, so the fact that mes curled right up in the Mom's lap and purred that day was mes telling hers that hers was the human mes wanted to live with.  

Happy 12th Gotcha Day, Carmine!  Milita and I are so blessed that you chose us to be your forever family.  We love you!