EDMOND —
I went puppy shopping with a friend last Saturday. I swore I’d never do that again. Still, it seemed foolish to let that other time six years ago stop me. I wouldn’t have gone even then, but King Tut had gone missing and I’d done everything else I knew to do. I’d canvassed the neighborhood calling kitty-kitty-kitty in an unsteady voice. I’d tacked Missing Cat posters to my addition’s light poles and placed a notice in the Lost and Found section of The Sun’s classified ads. When all of that failed, I drove out to the City of Edmond Animal Welfare Shelter east of I-35 off Covell.
A volunteer walked a yellow dog on a leash along the drive leading down to the shelter. A second young man roughhoused with a big laughing dog on the well-kept grounds as I pulled into the parking lot. I was greeted by a soft-spoken young woman sitting at a cubicle just inside the building, and I explained my mission. She showed me to a large glass window, beyond which were maybe two dozen cats in all shapes, sizes and colors. They lounged in various-sized wooden cubby-holes built flush with the glass and extending upward to the height of the window. They appeared to be healthy and happy, a fine addition to any family. But not to mine. Not then. Not while my loss was so recent and so raw. Only King Tut would do.
I filled out forms at a desk, a detailed description of my cat and contact information in case he showed up there. No one encouraged me to believe we would be reunited. On my way out, the tears in my eyes might have been responsible for the wrong turn I made, bringing me face to face with individual crates full of every kind of dog — all patiently waiting to be claimed by someone they loved or could grow to love. It struck me then that there’s a vast difference between the resilience of a cat and a dog. These dogs were as well cared for as the cats I’d seen earlier. Their crates and their blankets were clean, their food and water bowls were full, and I’d witnessed them enjoying their outings with volunteers as I’d driven up. It was their stillness that broke my heart, the longing in their dull eyes. It was their patience — call it faith — that drove me from the shelter vowing never to return. I had a dog. It was an irreplaceable cat that I’d lost.
Last Saturday was different. Many crates of every breed and off-breed of dog imaginable lined PetSmart’s storefront. Their smiling foster parents were with them, not seeming the least interested in giving them up. I had approached in fear and trembling. By the time my friend and I left two hours later, I’d petted most of those dogs before three-quarters of them had gone home with their new families. My friend and Pe-Pe had adopted each other in the first 10 minutes after we arrived. I get to be Godmother.
MARJORIE ANDERSON is an Edmond resident.
Features
AS I SEE IT: Pet hunt easier the second time around
- Features
-
-
In fan fiction, your favorite characters do what you want them to
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
-
Where to get the best deal on beer, haircuts, movies
Looking for a good deal on a six-pack of beer? Try Charlotte. A haircut that won't burn a hole in your wallet? Harlingen, Texas, is your best bet. A trip to the movies? Hilo, Hawaii, is supposed to be nice this time of year.
-
VIDEO: How technology helps predict tornadoes
At the National Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma, the team charged with predicting tornadoes relies on ever-changing technology to determine when and where storms may strike.
-
Rude teens an example of emotional narcissism
Q: I went into my 17-year-old’s bedroom to wake him this morning. After some urging, he eventually got up and then told me he hated me. What is the appropriate consequence for this sort of disrespect?
-
The would’a, could’a, should’as of Edmond living
“Would’a, could’a, should’a” might be the most useless contractions in the English language — especially when preceded by “if only” — but I’m not letting that stop me.
If only I’d known what was coming, I would’a stayed out of Edmond’s seductive garden shops last weekend, but it’s been a long, cold winter and I couldn’t resist all those colorful flowery offerings begging, “Take me! “Take me!” -
VIDEO: Man hands out Abercrombie clothes on Skid Row in bid to shame brand
Anger has mounted online against clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch due to comments made by its chief executive and its strategy of not making women's clothing in any size above large.
-
Feces contaminates 58 percent of public swimming pools
Human feces taints more than half of public swimming pools, a finding U.S. health officials are using to urge better personal hygiene as the summer months approach.
-
VIDEO: One by one, homes in Calif. subdivision sinking
Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March. Within two weeks their property dropped 10 feet below the street.
-
5 takeaways from the IRS report
What are the key takeaways from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration's report on the Internal Revenue Service's decision to subject conservative groups to heightened scrutiny?
-
How to get the most out of your air conditioner this summer
Experts say preventative maintenance on your air conditioner can save you hundreds of dollars.
- More Features Headlines
-
