Long Island Cat Rescue - Tigger-Bear's Near Tragedy

One day a patron of Selden Petco spotted Tigger-Bear in his cage and fell in love with his handsome angular face. She decided to adopt him thinking that he would make a nice addition to her family and a wonderful companion to her dog, an affable Labrador Retriever.

On June 30th, Rose Sofia and Dara Keenan delivered Tigger-Bear to his new home. Tigger-Bear's cool laid-back personality made him a good candidate for living in a home with a dog. However, upon entering the house, the Labrador Retriever suddenly pounced on the cat carrier nearly scaring poor Tigger-Bear out of his stripes! The dog meant no harm. He was just excited to see his new companion. However. Tigger-Bear was not aware of this.

Seeing how the introduction got off to a bad start, Rose Sofia explained the proper procedure for introducing the cat and dog. Basically this required that they be separated for a least a week, which would allow each to become accustomed to the other via scent and sound without having physical contact. After becoming familiar with one another in this manner, frequent chaperoned meetings between the cat and dog would consummate the enter-species relationship!

Tigger-Bear's new owner was anxious to put him and the dog together right away but agreed to follow Rose Sofia's advice. After all seemed well, Rose Sofia and Dara Keenan left Tigger-Bear in his new home. Three days later something went terribly amiss.

Tigger-Bear's owner called Dara Keenan in a fit of rage. "I want that cat out of my house!", she screamed! Dara Keenan rushed to the house to get Tigger-Bear. There was no telling what the owner was capable of doing in her state of mind. According to the owner, the Labrador Retriever pushed its way into Tigger-Bear's room and playfully charged at him. Tigger-Bear, not knowing the dog's intention, reacted defensively by swatting the dog in the eye and scratching one its corneas.

Dara Keenan was doubtful of the owner's story about the dog pushing its way into Tigger-Bear's room. She believed that owner tried to put them together too soon. Nevertheless, she removed Tigger-Bear from the house. A few days later Tigger-Bear's former owner called Dara Keenan asking to have a second chance with Tigger-Bear and basically admitted to making mistakes, which confirmed Dara Keenan's initial suspicion. No second chance was granted but fortunately this story has a happy ending.

After being removed from the home, Tigger-Bear was placed back in his cage at the Selden Petco where someone else spotted him and fell in love with his handsome face. He is now in a home with a "purrfectly" responsible and loving owner. The Labrador's eye injury was superficial and he is expected to make a full recovery.

This is just one of many cat rescue adventures in annals of Rose Sofia and the volunteers at The Paw House.

Ariel Keis

The Paw House - Long Island Cat Rescue