Elizabeth, your instincts and kindness brought Sammy's life back and made his remarkable transition possible. Thank you for sharing an upbeat story with us.
Many of us a week after the election feel ravaged, so your timing was rewarding to everyone who has lived -- even part-time -- in the trenches. Your actions speak to what we've called "armchair humanitarians," too. Not everyone can secure the future of a stray cat in New York City, and over the last four years, there have been thousands released on the streets by people so ill-equipped, they can't cope with their own lives, much less a cat's.
That's why we're drawn to the strength of others. And identifying that characteristic among city politicians is some of the work ahead. They need to be inspired or motivated to care about the fate of dogs and cats as they occupy a place in the hearts and lives of city residents.
Meanwhile, Friends of Animals has an affordable spay-neuter program that's active in New York City with our participating veterinarians. To acquire a spay-neuter certificate, find our program at friendsofanimals.org, or call 1-800-321-PETS.
Elizabeth and we are planning a project to make 100 spay-neuter certificates available free-of-charge to residents in need. An event and date will be announced ahead.
Thanks, Priscilla for your wonderful words. You hit all the right notes. Yes, as you know and understand, I have been crawling my way back from Tuesday - first feeling shocked and angry, then depressed - but writing about Sammy made me feel good and I hope people get something out of it.
But more to your idea about FoA's spay/neuter certificate project. I will get on it. I promise - I have a lot to catch up on. Thanks again!!
Thank you Elizabeth for this awesome article that recounts for me and Preston how our New York story has become one that lead to basically a cat rescue sanctuary in Bushwick Brooklyn😻🐾. Sammy, your rescue of him, and our adoption of him certainly influenced more and more cat rescue in NYC for years to come! We have an ongoing gofundme link if anyone is interested in reading more about our rescue efforts that have spanned over 20 years through the lower East side and now Brooklyn and show any support. https://gofund.me/91b0d5e3 ...I do have interest and creating a legitimate 501c3 for what I currently call "Preston and Vanessa's Purrfect Vacation Cat Sanctuary!" Happy Blessed New Year 2025🙏❤️😻🐾😻🐾😻🌠
Thanks for your comment, Vanessa - Sammy's mom. :-) I am so glad we reconnected. I sent you a donation before I saw the GoFundMe but I hope others will donate. The point I like to drive home is that Animal Rescuers are not funded by the City of NY and do this out of their own money and anything they can raise. So please - whoever reads this -- This is Vanessa the subject of the article Sammy and Me -- She and Preston do TNR in Bushwook because NYC is out of control. Homeless cats and dogs are society's responsibility.
Wow this touched my soul😪🙁☹️so many different emotions surfaced. This is all too familiar but to detail it like this and see it with ur very eyes is heart tugging and very real....thank u for this...all of u r amazing people...I use to love Blossom, was disappointed that closed but imagine the owner saved a precious much needed life and was still saving lives while I ate. Amazing....God bless her, u and all involved. This really made my nite and I pray to GOD we get our own animal Committee, it is over due and the only true way to save these animals.....
I'm so happy to know you Ms. Forel, as only you could come up with a story so heart warming, that we need at this time. I always wondered if my animals could talk, what would their story be. Did they have a good family life? I bet lots of times, it's the life we provide them. They are so good and wonderful that how could anyone give up on them? Like they say in the shelter when giving up their animal, how wonderful they are, that I'm wondering how could they give them up then? Or I just wonder how a person could give up the animal that I have, because it is the most wonderful animal in the world? When I would ask my mother why we would have an animal so long, she would say because they're happy and loved. So it's 4 years, since I got my last dog at the Bklyn shelter. What a challenge, but a loved one.
Thanks, Joan and back at you as they say. You and I go back to the ASPCA days. I agree - how can anyone give up an animal - but many do it with such ease. When I did rescue, I did not like the adoption part -- but I think I managed OK - with the questionnaires, etc. But the ACC and most other big box shelters no longer do that and adopt to just about anyone with the odd name "Live Animal Release." There is too much emphasis on "no kill" - and not enough on reducing the number of animals through spay/neuter. I think some influential people are realizing that we can't adopt our way out of this problem - because there are obviously not enough good forever homes.
What a truly heartwarming story. RIP sweet Sammy❤️🙏🏼. I’m sure Sammy’s story is one of many of the homeless cats living on the streets of NYC. Just breaks my heart💔. So happy that the final 3 years of Sammy’s life was lived in happiness and truly feeling loved by this very special couple. I’m sure a lot of cats and just animals in general never get to feel these feelings which is so very sad😢. God Bless them both for devoting their lives to making a better life for all cats that they come in contact with. Thank you kind souls so very much! I totally agree that a special committee just strictly devoted to animal welfare needs to be formed in NYC and it has to happen quickly so the needless suffering of so many animals can end❤️🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
Thanks for your lovely comment, Susan. OH yes - Sammy's story is not unusual. I remember when I was looking for a home for him, some people who should have known better, commented on his "homely" unattrative looks and how difficult it was going to be. I thought he was beautiful and he had a beautiful soul. So glad Vanessa and Preston adopted him and so glad he had such influence on them.
Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for sending me Sammy's story. So beautiful. His mugshot made me laugh. His story made me cry, half-sad at the misery he endured, and half-elated at his wonderful life with Vanessa and Preston and stature as Head of Cat Household. Funny how much he liked and nurtured other cats given his street battles. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story (and the great, witty cat flyer) with me. His picture sprawled out on the carpet says it all...you can see his joy and contentment. I wish I could hug him. Sheila
Elizabeth, your instincts and kindness brought Sammy's life back and made his remarkable transition possible. Thank you for sharing an upbeat story with us.
Many of us a week after the election feel ravaged, so your timing was rewarding to everyone who has lived -- even part-time -- in the trenches. Your actions speak to what we've called "armchair humanitarians," too. Not everyone can secure the future of a stray cat in New York City, and over the last four years, there have been thousands released on the streets by people so ill-equipped, they can't cope with their own lives, much less a cat's.
That's why we're drawn to the strength of others. And identifying that characteristic among city politicians is some of the work ahead. They need to be inspired or motivated to care about the fate of dogs and cats as they occupy a place in the hearts and lives of city residents.
Meanwhile, Friends of Animals has an affordable spay-neuter program that's active in New York City with our participating veterinarians. To acquire a spay-neuter certificate, find our program at friendsofanimals.org, or call 1-800-321-PETS.
Elizabeth and we are planning a project to make 100 spay-neuter certificates available free-of-charge to residents in need. An event and date will be announced ahead.
Priscilla Feral
President
Friends of Animals
For the record, Friends of Animals
Thanks, Priscilla for your wonderful words. You hit all the right notes. Yes, as you know and understand, I have been crawling my way back from Tuesday - first feeling shocked and angry, then depressed - but writing about Sammy made me feel good and I hope people get something out of it.
But more to your idea about FoA's spay/neuter certificate project. I will get on it. I promise - I have a lot to catch up on. Thanks again!!
Thank you Elizabeth for this awesome article that recounts for me and Preston how our New York story has become one that lead to basically a cat rescue sanctuary in Bushwick Brooklyn😻🐾. Sammy, your rescue of him, and our adoption of him certainly influenced more and more cat rescue in NYC for years to come! We have an ongoing gofundme link if anyone is interested in reading more about our rescue efforts that have spanned over 20 years through the lower East side and now Brooklyn and show any support. https://gofund.me/91b0d5e3 ...I do have interest and creating a legitimate 501c3 for what I currently call "Preston and Vanessa's Purrfect Vacation Cat Sanctuary!" Happy Blessed New Year 2025🙏❤️😻🐾😻🐾😻🌠
Thanks for your comment, Vanessa - Sammy's mom. :-) I am so glad we reconnected. I sent you a donation before I saw the GoFundMe but I hope others will donate. The point I like to drive home is that Animal Rescuers are not funded by the City of NY and do this out of their own money and anything they can raise. So please - whoever reads this -- This is Vanessa the subject of the article Sammy and Me -- She and Preston do TNR in Bushwook because NYC is out of control. Homeless cats and dogs are society's responsibility.
Wow this touched my soul😪🙁☹️so many different emotions surfaced. This is all too familiar but to detail it like this and see it with ur very eyes is heart tugging and very real....thank u for this...all of u r amazing people...I use to love Blossom, was disappointed that closed but imagine the owner saved a precious much needed life and was still saving lives while I ate. Amazing....God bless her, u and all involved. This really made my nite and I pray to GOD we get our own animal Committee, it is over due and the only true way to save these animals.....
Thanks, Sassee - I appreciate your comments. We have to keep fighting the good fight. And it's very hard when the City Council ignores us.
I'm so happy to know you Ms. Forel, as only you could come up with a story so heart warming, that we need at this time. I always wondered if my animals could talk, what would their story be. Did they have a good family life? I bet lots of times, it's the life we provide them. They are so good and wonderful that how could anyone give up on them? Like they say in the shelter when giving up their animal, how wonderful they are, that I'm wondering how could they give them up then? Or I just wonder how a person could give up the animal that I have, because it is the most wonderful animal in the world? When I would ask my mother why we would have an animal so long, she would say because they're happy and loved. So it's 4 years, since I got my last dog at the Bklyn shelter. What a challenge, but a loved one.
Thanks, Joan and back at you as they say. You and I go back to the ASPCA days. I agree - how can anyone give up an animal - but many do it with such ease. When I did rescue, I did not like the adoption part -- but I think I managed OK - with the questionnaires, etc. But the ACC and most other big box shelters no longer do that and adopt to just about anyone with the odd name "Live Animal Release." There is too much emphasis on "no kill" - and not enough on reducing the number of animals through spay/neuter. I think some influential people are realizing that we can't adopt our way out of this problem - because there are obviously not enough good forever homes.
beautiful story elizabeth
there’s loving and compassionate people in this world. thanks for being one.
lonna
Thanks, Lonna. I appreciate your comments.
What a truly heartwarming story. RIP sweet Sammy❤️🙏🏼. I’m sure Sammy’s story is one of many of the homeless cats living on the streets of NYC. Just breaks my heart💔. So happy that the final 3 years of Sammy’s life was lived in happiness and truly feeling loved by this very special couple. I’m sure a lot of cats and just animals in general never get to feel these feelings which is so very sad😢. God Bless them both for devoting their lives to making a better life for all cats that they come in contact with. Thank you kind souls so very much! I totally agree that a special committee just strictly devoted to animal welfare needs to be formed in NYC and it has to happen quickly so the needless suffering of so many animals can end❤️🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
Thanks for your lovely comment, Susan. OH yes - Sammy's story is not unusual. I remember when I was looking for a home for him, some people who should have known better, commented on his "homely" unattrative looks and how difficult it was going to be. I thought he was beautiful and he had a beautiful soul. So glad Vanessa and Preston adopted him and so glad he had such influence on them.
People can be just so awful😢😡💔
Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for sending me Sammy's story. So beautiful. His mugshot made me laugh. His story made me cry, half-sad at the misery he endured, and half-elated at his wonderful life with Vanessa and Preston and stature as Head of Cat Household. Funny how much he liked and nurtured other cats given his street battles. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story (and the great, witty cat flyer) with me. His picture sprawled out on the carpet says it all...you can see his joy and contentment. I wish I could hug him. Sheila