meow

About a week ago, I took Sal out to dinner ... I wanted to celebrate a recent career achievement with him. Such a happy night. Until ...

... on the way home, on a dark stretch of road, a cat darted right in front of my car! OMG, it happened in an instant, I didn't even have a chance to move my foot to the brake! I was devastated and in total shock ... I made a U-turn to check on him/her, hoping that maybe it was only injured, that we could rush it to a vet. (Thankfully, Sal was with me, was more composed, and helped me.) Unfortunately tho, it died instantly. So awful !! I am hoping it didn't suffer even for a second. And he/she wasn't wearing a collar, so I couldn't even contact the family. It was a terrible feeling, I still can see it all clearly in my mind.

From what I saw of the cat in my headlights, it was an adult, light gray, with a little bit of striping. A precious life, ended by me. {tears}

I've been searching for a way to somehow "give back". I know that this was an unavoidable accident, but as someone who works daily on behalf of all animals for their welfare and protection, this has left me grieving and wanting to somehow "make up for" what happened.

And last night the answer came when this story aired on NBC Nightly News about helping animals in tornado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri ... it touched me immediately:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

They told of how donors are "sponsoring" animals, donating cash to assist with placing animals in forever homes. I went to the Joplin Humane Society sponsorship page ... searched for a light gray adult cat with a little bit of striping, hoping to give him/her the life that was taken from the cat here in the street. And look who I found:

His name? BUDDY! OMG, just like my precious beagle! How special is that?

So, I'm his sponsor and I hope it helps him find a forever home very soon! I think with those adorable whiskers, it won't take long.....